Lawyers defending the government-orchestrated deal by which Chrysler
was purchased by Fiat and hundreds of dealers were thrown out of the
network have raised President Barack Obama's eligibility for office as
a possible issue in the dispute.
In a footnote in their latest court filing, attorneys
representing the old car company at the firm of Jones Day have cited a
"scheme" purportedly on the part of the lawyers for the former Chrysler
dealers – the plaintiffs in the case.
"Although the debtors have no independent knowledge of these
matters, the debtors have taken note of certain public statements
connecting the motion to a crusade involving the movants' counsel to
challenge Barack Obama's legitimacy as president of the United States,"
the court filing states. "For example, one report has stated: Birthers
are launching yet another scheme … [that] involves a legal maneuver
known as 'quo warranto,' a prerogative writ requiring the person to
whom it is directed to show what authority he has for exercising some
right or power (or 'franchise') he claims to hold."
Attorney Stephen Pidgeon, who along with Leo Donofrio is representing more than 70 former Chrysler dealerships put out of business
by the machinations involved in granting massive quantities of taxpayer
funds to Chrysler, which then was taken over by Fiat, said it's a good
sign for the case.