Fraudster Mechanic Must Pay $7.2 Million After Decade-Long Fraud

Dec. 28, 2022 10:09 AM ET byChase Bierenkoven Offbeat /3 Comments

Good mechanics are hard to find, but $7.2 million will be much harder to find.

Former Angie's List CEO Bill Oesterle is looking at a big pile of cash following a legal battle with a classic car mechanic, reports theIndy Star. Oesterle will take home $7.2 million after an Iowa mechanic misrepresented classic cars he bought in addition toovercharging for repairsto cars.

Oesterle is a prolific car collector, and vehicles in his stable include classic cars like theMaserati Ghibliseen below. The ex-CEO's legal battle dates back to 2020 when he took Healey Werks Corp. and owner Craig Hillinger to court over the then-alleged misdeeds. The suit states that Hillinger deceived Oesterle over their 10-year relationship.

In 2010, Oesterle sent the aforementioned '67 Ghibli, which he bought for $16,000, to the shop for restoration. TheStarreports Hillinger told Oesterle work would take anywhere from a year to two years, and that costs should be under $200,000. However, four years on, the Ghibli wasn't done. Meanwhile, Oesterle got an invoice for a massive million-plus dollar sum.

For reference, a '67 Ghibli is worth around $200,000 on today's market. Hillinger was accused of completely restoring cars against Oesterle's wishes, often when Oesterle had declined work or asked for smaller projects on cars to be completed instead. Hillinger also misrepresented anAustin-Healeyhe convinced Oesterle to buy with him. The ex-CEO spent $50,000 incorrectly believing the Austin was a 100M, an incredibly rare model.

Instead, it wasn't. Hillinger held onto the car until 2021. When Oesterle finally saw it, he realized the deception, but not before being handed an invoice for over $130,000.

"It's a difficult process to find authentic parts and materials, and tofind credible peoplewith the expertise to properly restore these beautiful machines," reads Oesterle's statement. "Often that means you have to trust people across the country, or even the world, to deliver on what they say they have and what they can do. I would hate to know other collectors have been treated this way."

In November, Iowa District Court Judge James N. Daane found Healey Werks guilty of fraud. In addition to the massive $7.2 million judgment, Healey Werks must pay court costs and attorney fees for Oesterle. Hillinger filed quickly for bankruptcy protection, but Healey Werks has not. The former CEO's suit against the company itself has gone to trial and is pending a verdict.