Man stunned to be sued by luxury car dealer over his ‘lemon’ Porsche Google reviews
A CUSTOMER being sued by a Melbourne luxury car dealer over allegedly defamatory Google reviews of his $148,000 “lemon” Porsche purchase vows to vigorously defend his views.
Law & Order
Don't miss out on the headlines from Law & Order. Followed categories will be added to My News.
A MAN who claims a Porsche he bought was a lemon says he’s “flabbergasted” the dealer who sold him the luxury car is now suing him for comments he made about his purchase on social media.
Last week, the Herald Sun revealed Srecko Lorbek, the owner of Port Melbourne’s Lorbek Luxury Cars, and his brother and salesman, David Lorbek, had lodged a writ in the Supreme Court which accuses Mr King of waging a campaign against them to have them prosecuted as frauds and banned from selling cars.
DEALER SUES CUSTOMER OVER ‘LEMON’ PORSCHE REVIEWS
The dispute centres on a 2011 model Porsche Panamera Turbo Mr King, who now resides on the Sunshine Coast, purchased for about $148,000 in July last year.
Mr King said he would vigorously defend any proceedings, alleging the car was unroadworthy when he bought it. He said: “I’ve got nothing to hide. I’m flabbergasted that he’s even carrying on with it.”
Mr King said the car had spent two months off the road being fixed, and that most of the work was carried out by Porsche under his extended owner’s warranty after the Lorbeks refused to fix it.
He claims the Lorbeks ignored his complaints, including that the brake discs were undersized, and instead accused him of abusing the car.
The Lorbeks claim that four posts by Mr King which they say are defamatory appeared after Magistrates’ Court proceedings between them had been settled.
Mr King’s posts claim that settlement in March saw Lorbek agree to pay for the cost of repairing the luxury car. Mr King claims a Porsche dealer told him the car was not roadworthy, and that brakes, tyres and suspension all needed to be replaced.
HOW TO NAB A BOXING DAY BARGAIN
WHICH MOVIE TO WATCH ON BOXING DAY
The Lorbeks allege the “reviews” by Mr King on Google and Law Answers defamed them by suggesting they knowingly and criminally sold a car with a fraudulent roadworthy and were dishonest and untrustworthy.
Srecko Lorbek — whose wedding to Dr Chantel Thornton in March was attended by Foreign Minister Julia Bishop — and David Lorbek claim Mr King has refused to apologise or retract his allegations, which they allege were sensationalised for the express purpose of damaging their reputations with reckless indifference to the truth.
They are seeking unspecified aggravated damages, interest and costs, and an injunction to have the offending items removed from publication.