clarinews@clarinet.com (02/03/90)
DETROIT (UPI) -- Chrysler Corp. said Friday it has started mailing consumers $500 checks related to its 1988 settlement of an odometer fraud case. Company spokesman Tom Houston said the No. 3 carmaker begain mailing a total of $13.8 million to more than 27,000 buyers in 47 states, Puerto Rico and Guam. ``The checks started going out on Thursday, and it will take as long as it takes to make out 27,000 checks,'' Houston said. The settlement came from a 1988 lawsuit filed in federal court in St. Louis by the attorneys general of 10 states. Checks will be mailed to consumers who were in the class settement, Houston said. Missouri Attorney General William Webster said Friday consumers who filed claims may receive additional checks. He said the settlement provides for possible additional restitution after guaranteed payments of $500 are made, and after fees and expenses are disbursed from a $16.3 million fund. Chrysler was accused of violating state and federal odometer laws by disconnecting odometers in about 40,000 vehicles driven by company employees in an evaluation program.