Car dealer sues customer over ‘lemon Porsche’ claims

A Melbourne car dealer is suing a customer for allegedly trashing his reputation online by claiming he was sold a “lemon Porsche” and telling other customers to “turn and run”.

Car dealer Srecko Lorbek with his wife, Dr Chantel Thornton.

A millionaire Melbourne car dealer claims he was the victim of “internet road rage” and wants a “customer from hell” to pay up over a series of bad online reviews, a court has heard.

The first day of a Supreme Court defamation trial on Monday heard Srecko Lorbek, owner of Lorbek Luxury Cars, was seeking at least $250,000 in compensation from Peter King, who posted he had been sold a “lemon Porsche”.

Barrister James Catlin, for Mr Lorbek and his salesman brother, David Lorbek, told the court the siblings “take their standards extremely seriously” and that their good reputation in the car sales industry had been tarnished.

“Because of Mr King, through his insidious campaign, he has seeded in the minds of the public that they sell faulty Porsches,” Mr Catlin said.

He said his clients had been met with jibes about selling dud vehicles when in public, and that a Google search of “lemon Porsche” came up with photos of Srecko Lorbek.

Peter King and the 2011 Porsche Panamera Turbo he bought from Lorbek Luxury Cars.

He said Mr King’s reviews were “entirely false”.

“He could have said ‘my experience was substandard — I’m not happy’ but he didn’t stop at that because his intention was to do maximum damage,” Mr Catlin said.

“He goes on the internet and says ‘my car is dangerous; these guys are frauds’.

“They are called liars, dishonest, and fraudulent. That they’ve broken the law by knowingly selling an unroadworthy car.”

Mr Catlin acknowledged the brakes needed repair, and that the Lorbeks had offered to do that for Mr King.

“But he wanted this dispute,” Mr Catlin said. “He enjoyed the aggression.

“This is a very pushy man. The customer from hell, in essence.”

The court heard Mr King purchased the black 2011 Porsche Panamera turbo car from Lorbek Luxury Cars for $148,000 in July 2016.

But he claims they sold him an unroadworthy vehicle, and that in the first two minutes of test-driving it, steam came from the engine bay. A strap broke on the door soon after.

Other issues surfaced with the brakes, tyres and suspension.

Mr King stood by his April 2017 Google reviews, which stated: “If you’re thinking of dealing with Lorbek, turn and run away. They don’t deserve any stars”.

Representing himself, Mr King told the court it was an “open and shut case” with his reviews being about a company, not individuals.

Dr Chantel Thornton and Srecko Lorbek’s wedding was attended by former foreign minister Julie Bishop.

“There is nothing in my reviews that was false — I just think my reviews detailed my experiences,” he said.

“They all knew that car had major faults with it, and they proceeded with the sale.

“It’s a big thing to be aware after the fact you have been duped.”

He disputed the Lorbeks claim they had offered to pay for the brakes, saying there was no evidence of this.

“I would have loved that,” he said.

Instead, he said he was forced to take the Lorbeks to VCAT and then the Magistrates Court, where he was awarded $8000.

Mr Catlin argued that is when the matter should have ended.

He said David Lorbek was entitled to less compensation of about $150,000 because he was not the face of the company, nor did he “cut ribbons” with politicians at special events like his brother, Srecko.

Srecko Lorbek is a successful businessman, and his 2017 wedding to breast cancer surgeon Dr Chantel Thornton was attended by former foreign minister Julie Bishop.

The judge-only trial, before Justice Michael McDonald, continues.