Kaufman County Judge Dismisses DTPA Claims, Awards $3,975 to Defense
One person filed a lawsuit against a company alleging violations of a deceptive trade practices act. The company argued the claims were not valid and were exempt from the act. The court agreed with the company and granted their motion for summary judgment. The company was awarded attorney fees and costs.
Case Information Updated: October 2025
Case Outcome
- Outcome
- Verdict-Defense
- Amount
- $3,975
- County
- Dallas County, TX
- Resolved
- 2021
Injury & Accident Details
- Injury Type
- Other
- Accident Type
- Other
- Case Type
- Motor Vehicle Accident
Settlement Context
This verdict-defense of $3,975 is above the median of Undisclosed for other cases resolved by verdict-defense. The typical range is Undisclosed to Undisclosed, based on 144 cases in our database.
Case Overview
A Texas company, with its principal place of business in Kaufman County, filed a lawsuit against Valvoline LLC on September 8, 2020. The plaintiff, whose owner previously operated an automobile body shop, asserted various violations of the Texas Deceptive Trade Practices Act (DTPA) against Valvoline, a Kentucky-based limited liability company.
Valvoline responded with a motion for summary judgment, arguing the plaintiff lacked standing as a "consumer" under the DTPA and that the claims were exempt because the underlying contract value exceeded $500,000. Valvoline also contended the claims related to contract termination rather than goods or services, amounted to disguised breach of contract claims, and lacked sufficient evidence.
On October 19, 2021, the court granted Valvoline's motion for summary judgment. The court concluded the plaintiff's claims were exempt from the DTPA under § 17.49(g) of the Texas Business and Commerce Code, finding that the transactions related to the same project and involved a total consideration of more than $500,000. Valvoline was later awarded $3,975.35 in attorneys' fees and costs on November 17, 2021.
Understanding This Case
- This case went to trial and resulted in a jury verdict. Verdicts can yield higher awards but carry the risk of receiving nothing if the jury rules against the plaintiff.
- This case was resolved in Dallas County, Texas. Local jury tendencies, judge assignments, and regional economic conditions all influence case outcomes in this jurisdiction.
- Resolved in 2021, this case reflects the legal and economic conditions of that period, including medical costs, insurance practices, and jury award trends at the time.
VerdictlyTM Score
This outcome differs from typical similar cases
This score is calculated by analyzing injury type, accident details, geographic location, temporal trends, and comparing against 2,000+ similar cases in our database.
Want to check your case value?
Get a free case evaluation to understand what your motor vehicle accident case might be worth based on cases like this in Dallas County.
Similar cases you may find useful
Handpicked by matching injury type, accident details, and outcome to this case.
One driver stopped in traffic due to construction. The other driver rear-ended the stopped vehicle. The injured driver claimed ankle and back injuries. The defense argued the accident was unavoidable or that the driver acted as an ordinary and prudent driver. The jury found the second driver liable but awarded no damages.
One driver rear-ended another vehicle stopped at a red light. The driver who was hit filed a lawsuit seeking damages for medical expenses and pain and suffering. The parties reached a settlement agreement.
One driver's pickup truck was struck from behind by another pickup truck. This happened shortly after the first pickup truck was struck by a third vehicle. The driver of the first pickup truck claimed an injury. The second pickup truck sustained significant damage.
One driver was traveling on a tollway when their vehicle ran out of gas and became disabled. The other driver, who was following behind, struck the disabled vehicle. The first driver claimed injuries to their neck and back. The jury found the second driver 80% liable and the first driver 20% liable.
One driver was proceeding through an intersection when their vehicle collided with another vehicle making a left turn. The injured driver claimed injuries to their back and neck. The case involved a claim against the injured driver's own insurer for underinsured motorist benefits after an initial settlement with the at-fault driver's insurer.
Explore More Cases Like This
Browse similar cases by injury type and location to get a better understanding of case values in your area.