Doctor Wins $150K After Mechanic Parts Out Rare Porsche
An esteemed university professor took her rare Porsche to a ‘trustworthy’ mechanic, who held it hostage for years before returning it permanently damaged.
Dr. Penelope Horlick, an anthropology professor at England’s famed Oxford University, bought the Porsche of her dreams – a 1997 Porsche 911 Targa – in 2008. You know the one, the one with the Targa roof and folding rear window. Dr. Hornick’s also had the 3.6-liter flat-six and Triptonic auto transmission. For two years, it was the “fun” car she’d occasionally drive to work. In today’s money, it’s worth around USD 106,289.
In the fall of 2010, Dr. Hornick was involved in an accident while driving the Targa. She’d swerved to miss a pothole during a storm, forcing her to seek a mechanic who could repair the car. Dr. Hornick trusted Jhally of JJ Engineering, who charged her well north of USD 12,000, which she quickly paid.
After a few months passed, Dr. Hornick began asking questions regarding the progress of the repairs. Jhally, according to the UK’s Daily Mail, answered her questions with “viscousness and hostility”, which made Dr. Hornick reasonably uncomfortable. She let Jhally work in peace for a few more months. Then a few months turned into a few years. After four years, she reportedly accepted the fact that she’d never get it back, and bought an Audi as a replacement.
Legal Action
In 2016 – nearly a decade after she brought her 993 in for repairs, she asked for another update. Jhally allegedly kept to his previously hostile ways. Dr. Hornick then found a few other specialized technicians who agreed to do the repairs, but the outlet reported that Jhally refused to release the Porsche.
Six more years passed before Dr. Hornick filed a court claim against JJ Engineering. Not long after the courts received her complaint and proceeded with it, the professor woke to find her Porsche dumped in front of her home. However, it bore the scars of a gut-wrenching robbery, as the engine, transmission, and a few other valuable items were removed. All she had left was the chassis.
Dr. Honick funneled her rage into her legal pursuit against the shoddy mechanic. As of September 30, 2024, she was awarded USD 152,000 in damages.
Judge Partial Towards Porsche
The judge declared JJ Engineering breached the contract by failing to repair the car and for conversion. He also condemned Jhally for deceiving the professor. Jhally reportedly countersued for storage fees, parts, and repairs, and argued he had legal rights over the car.
“He didn’t complete the work with reasonable care and skill, indeed he didn’t complete it at all, although there is no significant criticism of the way he undertook his diagnosis,” the judge said, according to the court recorder.
The judge was also recorded saying, “Nobody buys a Porsche to have a car – they buy a Porsche to have a Porsche… The car had a particular value given its status and performance,” after Dr. Hornick argued it was her “prized possession.”
To Be Continued…
While Dr. Hornick is the rightful victor in this unfortunately long story, more court dates are coming. Interest rates for the damages, legal costs, the ability for Jhally to make payments, and whether or not he can appeal the decision are up in the air.
Photos: Porsche
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