RV dealership faces suit in fraud case

Attorney General Thomas F. Reilly filed a civil lawsuit yesterday against the owner and former managers of an RV dealership in Shirley and Ayer, accusing them of defrauding customers out of at least $2 million.

The lawsuit filed yesterday in Middlesex Superior Court, accuses David Hirsch, the owner of the now-defunct dealership, and two managers, Catherine and Robert Hirsch, of committing "multiple acts of consumer deception."

Kevin Coleman of Tyngsborough went to Adventure World RV in Shirley to refinance his $48,000 loan. But according to Coleman and the attorney general's office, the dealership never paid off the original loan and did not apply payments from Coleman to the refinanced loan.

"I'm on the hook for both loans," said Coleman. "I own my own business. I would never do this to my own customers."

Reilly alleges that the dealership did not pay thousands of dollars in outstanding loans on RVs traded in by consumers, provide titles to RVs sold, deliver vehicles and extended warranties purchased by customers, or make promised repairs.

Robert Hirsch, reached by phone at home, said he was not aware of the lawsuit. "I didn't do anything wrong," said Hirsch, brother of David Hirsch. "I was a salesperson." Hirsch said he is personally owed $100,000 in back pay and loans.

A hearing on a request for a preliminary injunction to block the Hirsches from selling RVs in Massachusetts again is scheduled for June 4. The lawsuit also seeks restitution of at least $2 million to the 29 people who have filed complaints with the attorney general's office.