The Spectre Saga: Auto Outlets Report on Case Against Rolls-Royce, Texas Dealership
February 6, 2026 – National automobile platforms reported today on a lawsuit by Brewer client Marci Donovitz against Rolls-Royce and Texas authorized dealership Avondale Dealership over a defective Rolls-Royce Spectre, a new electric vehicle model from the luxury car company.
Filed in the 134th Judicial District Court of Dallas County Texas on February 3, 2025, the lawsuit asserts claims for breach of contract, breach of express and implied warranties, deceptive trade practices, and unjust enrichment under Texas law.
As reported by Carscoops, “According to the filing, the vehicle ‘experienced a sudden and serious malfunction’ in October, just months after delivery. The plaintiff claims the EV would ‘soon become inoperable’ and sent it to the dealer for inspection.”
Carscoops reports that “the dealership reportedly informed her [Ms. Donovitz] by text that parts had been ordered, but were on backorder with no estimated delivery date. After 40 days with no progress, Donovitz retained legal counsel and sent a letter to Rolls-Royce requesting that it repurchase the vehicle and issue a refund. The company declined. As of February, the lawsuit states, the Spectre remains in the possession of Avondale Dealership and has not been repaired. The filing refers to the luxury EV as a “lemon.”
As reported by National Today in the article, “Texas Woman Sues Rolls-Royce Over $546K Spectre EV Failure,” “this case highlights growing concerns about the reliability and durability of high-end electric vehicles, especially as automakers like Rolls-Royce expand their EV lineups. The lawsuit could impact consumer confidence in the brand and raise questions about Rolls-Royce's ability to properly diagnose and fix complex battery issues in a timely manner.”
Read more:
Her $546K EV Failed In Four Months, And Rolls-Royce Still Hasn’t Fixed It | Carscoops
Texas Woman Sues Rolls-Royce Over $546K Spectre EV Failure - National Today
Firm Represents Hotel Operator in Lawsuit Against Gansevoort Hotel Group, LLC
Brewer, Attorneys & Counselors announced that it has filed a lawsuit against Gansevoort Hotel Group, LLC (“Gansevoort”) on behalf of its client, the operator of Gansevoort Turks + Caicos, a Wymara Resort (the “Resort”). The lawsuit claims the Resort has been adversely impacted by Gansevoort’s failure to maintain and grow the Gansevoort hotel brand.
Filed in New York Supreme Court on October 26, 2018, by Wymara Ltd. and Wymara Developments Ltd. (together, “Operator”), the suit seeks declaratory relief to safeguard Operator’s significant financial investment in the Resort, as well as monetary damages to compensate it for the losses the Resort has incurred as a result of Gansevoort’s breaches of contract.
“Our client believes Gansevoort Hotel Group failed to meet its obligation to maintain the quality of the brand, leaving our client with significant damages,” says William A. Brewer III, partner at Brewer, Attorneys & Counselors and lead counsel for Operator. “In fact, our client’s resort is now one of only two Gansevoort-branded properties remaining in the world – and there are no plans to grow the brand in the future. Of course, this reality is a far cry from the promises made to our client – that Gansevoort would be a luxury brand.”
The New York Post reported on the lawsuit in an article dated Oct. 30, 2018, titled “Caribbean resort sues to get out of pact with ‘outdated’ Gansevoort Hotel.”
NYLJ Reports on Firm Representation of NRA at Hearing
The New York Law Journal reported that Brewer, Attorneys & Counselors Partner Sarah Rogers represented the NRA in arguments in federal court in New York on Sept. 10, 2018. The coverage appeared on the front page of the NYLJ print edition on Sept. 11, 2018, in an article titled, “NRA: Discovery Could Show State Coerced Companies Cut Ties.” The NRA alleges that the New York state Department of Financial Services (DFS) and Governor Andrew Cuomo violated the NRA’s First Amendment rights in connection with regulatory guidance issued to financial institutions urging them not to do business with the NRA.
The coverage noted that Rogers argued that a press release issued by the DFS included targeted language from DFS Superintendent Maria Vullo. Rogers reportedly argued that “Incurring the favor and disfavor of DFS is going to be very important to any insurer in New York.” Rogers additionally argued that the lawsuit is over state regulation the NRA argues will limit its advocacy efforts. She reportedly added that, “The NRA does not sue Governor Cuomo for criticizing it… What he can’t do is issue official regulatory directives.”
New York Law Journal Reports on Firm’s Advocacy for NRA
The New York Law Journal reports that the NRA submitted a new filing in federal court in New York on August 24, 2018, urging a federal judge to reject a motion by the state of New York to reject the organization’s lawsuit. The NRA alleges that the state violated the NRA’s First Amendment Rights in connection with regulatory guidance issued to financial institutions urging them not to do business with the NRA.
The article quoted Partner William Brewer, lead attorney for the NRA in the matter. Brewer said of the state’s motion to dismiss that, “They created a narrative that they want to respond to with little or no resemblance to the complaint we actually brought that they seek to dismiss.”
“The NRA is not complaining about the fact that defendants seek to regulate insurance generally, or inquire about Carry Guard specifically,” Brewer added. “What the NRA is complaining about is that defendants are attempting to coerce insurance companies and banks to blacklist the NRA—to extinguish what are concededly lawful business relationships. And, at least in some instances, we already know they’ve been successful.”
Brewer also emphasized that, “Government officials have First Amendment rights too.” He added, “But when government officials use their position to coerce private actors, not persuade them, to adopt a particular point of view, that conduct is subject to strict scrutiny.”
The Wall Street Journal Reports on Firm Matter
Wall Street Journal Assistant Editorial Page Editor James Freeman wrote on August 27, 2018, about one of the firm’s current matters – the NRA’s lawsuit against New York Governor Andrew Cuomo and the state Department of Financial Services (DFS). The lawsuit alleges the state violated the NRA’s First Amendment Rights in connection with regulatory guidance issued to financial institutions urging them not to do business with the NRA. Freeman writes that the ACLU sided with the NRA by filing an amicus brief in federal court in New York.
Freeman writes in part, “New York Governor Andrew Cuomo has earned a new opponent in his assault on liberties enumerated in the Bill of Rights. Better late than never, the American Civil Liberties Union is standing up against Mr. Cuomo’s abuse of the National Rifle Association. The happy result could be not just expanded liberty in New York but safer financial institutions as well.”
New York Law Journal Reports on ACLU’s Support of NRA’s Free Speech
The New York Law Journal reported on August 24, 2018 that the American Civil Liberties Union moved to file a brief opposing the state’s motion to dismiss the National Rifle Association’s lawsuit against New York Gov. Andrew Cuomo and the state’s top financial regulator. The firm is representing the NRA in the matter.
“If true, those allegations represent a blatant violation of the First Amendment,” the proposed brief [from the ACLU] said. “Although public officials are free to express their opinions and may condemn viewpoints or groups they view as inimical to public welfare, they cannot abuse their regulatory authority to retaliate against disfavored advocacy organizations and to impose burdens on those organizations’ ability to conduct lawful business.”
The article included comment from firm partner William Brewer.
“The ACLU’s amicus brief is testament to what we have contended all along—Gov. Cuomo and the DFS violated the First Amendment rights of the NRA,” Brewer said. “The ACLU is a leading voice on legal and constitutional issues, and we welcome their advocacy in this important case.”
Judge Grants Motion for Sanctions in High-Profile Life Insurance Case
The United States District Court for the District of Colorado granted a motion for sanctions filed by Brewer, Attorneys & Counselors on behalf of firm client DCD Partners, LLC against Fred Albracht, Chief Actuary for the North America National Reinsurance Company (NANRe), for attempted evasion of a subpoena.
The August 8, 2018 award constitutes the second sanction levied against actors involved in the implementation of a massive and unlawful increase in the rates charged by Transamerica Life Insurance Company on life insurance policies held by DCD – policies which provide thousands of dollars in benefits to a non-profit organization and thousands of disadvantaged families in South Los Angeles every year.
The underlying litigation, styled DCD Partners, LLC v. Transamerica Life Insurance Company, 15-cv3238-CAS-GJS, captured headlines and sparked a national conversation about improper rate hikes when a federal jury agreed with Brewer and found that Transamerica and NANRe “contrived” the rate increase in breach of contract. The jury awarded DCD nearly $6 million in compensation for the breach.
“We hope this decision, and the prior sanction against Transamerica, underscores that insurers cannot continue to take advantage of policyholders and then hide behind the costs of discovery caused by gamesmanship,” says William A. Brewer III, partner at Brewer, Attorneys & Counselors and lead counsel for plaintiffs. “Beyond the impacts to the case in question, we hope these developments help shine a light on rate increases and the impact they have on unsuspecting policyholders.”
Firm’s Case Chronicled in The New York Times
August 9, 2018
The New York Times chronicles one of the firm’s current advocacy campaigns in an article, “The NRA Has Declared War on Andrew Cuomo. He Couldn’t Be Happier,” dated August 9, 2018. The piece explores the firm’s representation of the National Rifle Association (NRA) and a lawsuit by the organization against New York Governor Andrew Cuomo and the New York State Department of Financial Services.
Partner William Brewer is quoted extensively in the article, offering insights into the firm’s position that the State of New York has violated the First Amendment rights of the NRA.