St. Paul, MN — The Minnesota Court of Appeals has unanimously upheld a temporary injunction against Midwest Car Search, a Fridley-based used car dealership, and its owner Scott Spiczka, in a significant win for Minnesota consumers. The ruling keeps in place restrictions originally ordered in July 2024 by the Anoka County District Court, following a consumer protection lawsuit filed by Attorney General Keith Ellison.
The lawsuit alleges widespread fraud and deceptive practices by the dealership, including:
- Misrepresenting used vehicles as “certified” when they were not.
- Illegally adding high-cost vehicle service contracts without buyers’ consent.
- Failing to provide legally required warranties.
- Omitting critical disclosures, especially in Spanish, while targeting Spanish-speaking consumers with unregistered advertising under the name “Coches MN.”
“A car is a necessity for many, and Minnesotans should be able to shop for cars without having to worry about being deceived or defrauded,” said Attorney General Ellison. “I applaud the Court’s decision confirming that they must provide customers with honest information and the fair dealings they are entitled to when buying a car.”
Court-Ordered Restrictions
The injunction, now upheld by the appellate court, forces Midwest Car Search and Spiczka to:
- Cease marketing or selling vehicles as “certified.”
- Disclose and honor warranty obligations.
- Clearly inform customers about optional service contracts.
- Provide “Buyer’s Guide” disclosures in English and Spanish.
- Stop doing business under unregistered names targeting Spanish speakers.
- Offer all contract documents in Spanish when sales are conducted in Spanish.
The Attorney General’s Office began investigating the dealership after receiving numerous consumer complaints, particularly from Spanish-speaking buyers. From 2017 to 2022, over 3,200 vehicles were sold by Midwest Car Search, with zero of them meeting the legal standard for being “certified.”
In one example from the Attorney General’s complaint, a consumer identified as H.H. reported being told all vehicles were certified and skipped a test drive. After purchase, the car required major repairs, including to the steering and exhaust systems.
Hidden Fees and Unlawful Contracts
The investigation revealed that between 2020 and 2022, Midwest Car Search added vehicle service contracts averaging $1,800 to more than 99% of financed purchases—often without customer consent. This illegal practice added an estimated $4.5 million in hidden costs to unsuspecting buyers.
Further, many customers were misled about warranty coverage. Roughly half the vehicles sold by MCS during the five-year period qualified for mandatory warranty protections under Minnesota law. Despite this, MCS often sold them “as-is,” directly violating state consumer laws.
Exploiting Spanish-Speaking Buyers
The lawsuit also outlines how the business targeted Spanish-speaking consumers, advertising in Spanish under the name “Coches MN” while failing to register the name or provide legal disclosures in Spanish. Consumers were routinely shown Spanish-language ads and spoken to in Spanish, only to be handed English-only contracts that contradicted verbal promises.
“Midwest Car Search aggressively targeted Spanish speakers… only to have those speakers sign documents in English that bore no relation to the promises made to them,” Ellison said.
Next Steps
The Attorney General’s lawsuit is the first major enforcement action under Minnesota’s newly updated Used Car Law, which took effect in August 2023. Ellison’s office is seeking to:
- Make the current injunction permanent.
- Secure consumer refunds and civil penalties.
- Recover investigation and legal costs.
The lawsuit remains ongoing. Consumers who believe they may have been affected by deceptive practices at Midwest Car Search are encouraged to contact the Minnesota Attorney General’s Office at (651) 296-3353, (800) 657-3787, or through the Attorney General’s website.
