### Trucker Sues Dealer Over Lemon Truck—Court Tosses Case
An Ohio appeals court slammed the door on a trucking firm’s lawsuit against a truck dealer, ruling that Mahadev Logistics LLC waited too long to sue over a faulty semi-truck.
The Fifth District Court of Appeals upheld dismissal of the case on April 20, 2026, finding Mahadev missed Ohio’s strict four-year statute of limitations for product liability claims.
**The Breakdown:**
Mahadev Logistics bought a new Freightliner Cascadia truck from Columbus Truck & Equipment Centers in 2019. Almost immediately, the rig was plagued by breakdowns—engine failures, transmission woes, and endless shop visits. Frustrated, Mahadev sued in 2024, alleging the truck was defective and the dealer failed to fix it properly under Ohio’s lemon law and product liability rules.
The core legal fight: Did Mahadev file within the four-year window from when they first discovered the defects? The trial court said no, and the appeals court agreed. Under Ohio law (R.C. 2305.10), the clock starts ticking from the injury or discovery of the harm—not when you buy the truck. Mahadev’s issues surfaced by mid-2020, making their 2024 suit years too late. The court stressed no “equitable tolling” applied—no fraud or hiding by the dealer justified extending the deadline.
**Why it hits trucking hard:** Fleet owners and drivers know downtime kills profits. This ruling warns: Document defects fast and sue quick, or lose your shot. Dealers get a shield if buyers drag feet, potentially cutting repair accountability but speeding up business.
**Bottom Line:** Four years from defect discovery—or no lawsuit. Clock’s ruthless.
https://www.courtlistener.com/opinion/10845658/mahadev-logistics-llc-v-columbus-truck-equip-ctrs-llc/
Ever had a lemon truck bleed your fleet dry? How soon did you sue?