Car Owner Awarded Partial Compensation in Haifa Small Claims Court
Translated & summarized from Bizportal by baba
Eliyahu Vonunu sued Prime Motors garage for 38,494 shekels after alleging engine damage during a routine service in May 2025. A Haifa Small Claims Court awarded him 8,750 shekels plus fees. The garage denied negligence, citing the vehicle's age and prior neglect, but offered goodwill repairs. Vonunu's claims for lost workdays and full legal fees were dismissed, but he received compensation for emotional distress and partial expenses.
The story in 5 lines · by baba
- Eliyahu Vonunu received 8,750 shekels from Prime Motors garage for alleged engine damage.
- Vonunu initially sued for 38,494 shekels after a routine service in May 2025.
- The garage denied negligence, citing the vehicle's high mileage and prior issues.
- Claims for lost workdays and full legal fees were dismissed due to insufficient evidence.
- Compensation was awarded for emotional distress and partial expert witness fees.
Eliyahu Vonunu brought his 2018 Toyota Proace Long commercial vehicle for routine service at Prime Motors garage on May 2, 2025. He alleges that during a timing belt replacement, garage employees negligently damaged the engine. Vonunu subsequently sued for 38,494 shekels in the Haifa Small Claims Court, ultimately receiving 8,750 shekels plus a refund of court fees.
Following the initial repair, Vonunu reported that a warning light illuminated and the vehicle struggled on inclines. Prime Motors provided a quote of 12,246 shekels to replace the turbocharger. Vonunu sought service elsewhere, where it was determined the issue could be resolved by replacing only a vacuum valve. This second garage also allegedly found broken bolts in the turbo, which Vonunu attributed to Prime Motors' work.
Prime Motors denied negligence, characterizing the vehicle as high-mileage (over 300,000 km), neglected, and serviced at multiple locations. They claimed the engine damage resulted from a faulty fuel pump, unforeseeable at the time of service. As a gesture of goodwill, the garage reportedly refurbished the engine head and replaced the fuel pump at their own expense, approximately 7,000 shekels plus VAT, and provided a complimentary Toyota Corolla as a replacement vehicle. The garage asserted that turbo issues and oil leaks predated Vonunu's service.
During a September hearing, the parties agreed Prime Motors would pay 5,000 shekels for mechanical damage and diminished value. The remaining claims, including legal fees, lost workdays, expenses, and emotional distress, were decided by Senior Registrar Milad Tilhami. Vonunu's claim for 19,780 shekels in lost workdays was dismissed due to insufficient proof of income loss directly caused by the incident. His claim for 6,000 shekels in legal fees was also denied for lack of proof of payment for a demand letter.
However, the registrar awarded 1,250 shekels for emotional distress, considering the faulty repair, the two weeks the vehicle was unusable, and the inconvenience. The registrar also awarded 2,500 shekels for expenses, including 1,770 shekels for an expert witness report, though he deemed the full amount requested for the report excessive due to discrepancies in documentation. Prime Motors was ordered to pay a total of 5,000 shekels by agreement, 3,750 shekels by judgment, and 385 shekels in court fees within 30 days. Vonunu will receive less than a quarter of his initial claim.