Christopher Conte, the owner of World Class Motorcars in Chesterfield, Mo., is suing AutoNation for negligence. Conte blames the group for the loss of a 2023 Bentley Continental Flying Spur that went missing after he purchased it from the AutoNation-owned Mercedes-Benz of Delray Beach (Fla.) for $171,562.

The suit was filed June 2 in Palm Beach County Circuit Court. Conte says he hired a transporter through an online broker and scheduled a pickup at the Mercedes-Benz store for July 28, 2025. Dealership workers allegedly gave the keys to a tow truck driver who failed to offer identification or a bill of lading. The unit has not been seen since.

A person claiming to be a dispatcher called Conte two days after the handoff to say a mechanical issue with the tow truck would delay delivery. Further attempts to reach the “dispatcher” — likely an operative in a transportation fraud ring — or get material assistance from the selling dealer, Mercedes-Benz USA or Delray Beach police were unsuccessful, all according to the complaint.

Conte’s attorneys argue AutoNation owes a duty of care to the vehicles in its possession.

“The Defendant breached such duty of care by releasing the Vehicle to an unidentified individual without taking any steps to confirm whether such release was appropriate, requiring proper documentation for the transfer of possession of the car, including a bill of lading, contacting the Plaintiff or following standard industry procedures or the Defendant’s in-house policies and procedures,” the complaint states.

Read the complaint at Palm Beach County Clerk’s Office