Motor Vehicle Official Agrees Nissan Can Pull Dealership
AP 10-APR-98

RICHMOND, Va. (AP) The state motor vehicles commissioner agreed Friday that Nissan can revoke the dealership of a man accused of using racial slurs.

Dealer Bob Crumpler will retain the dealership while he appeals. Nissan Motor Corp. USA asked the state to revoke the franchise, saying Crumpler's racial slurs, which were recorded on videotape and widely broadcast on television in 1996, damaged its reputation.

Nissan also accused Crumpler of defrauding Nissan on warranty work.

Commissioner Richard D. Holcomb agreed with Nissan, finding that Crumpler's "inappropriate, unethical and discourteous conduct" had hurt the automaker's reputation.