Family Furious After Car Dealership Sold Elderly, Disabled Blind Man a Car: ‘How Dare They?’

A car dealership in Georgia is facing criticism and an ongoing negotiation with a local family after it sold a car to a blind man with mental disabilities.

Thomas Johnson, 74, lives alone under the care of his sister, Darlene, in a senior apartment building in Atlanta. Despite his disabilities, he navigates the bus system and stays busy with small jobs.

Last October, he took $15,000 he’d saved up from working at McDonald’s and other jobs to Heritage Volkswagen in Union City with the dream of driving a car again. The salesperson sold him a 2013 Mini Cooper with 42,000 miles for $14,100, then drove him home in it because he could not see, according to Atlanta News First.

His sister told the outlet that, in addition to being mentally disabled, Thomas is totally blind in his left eye and can only see shadows out of his right. When asked by Atlanta News First to read the logo on the top of the contract he signed, he could not identify even the largest print on it.

When Darlene confronted the dealer who sold her brother the car, he claimed he believed Thomas when he said he could see better with his glasses on. Additionally, Thomas had a valid driver’s license that he renewed in 2021. The outlet reports that having the means to buy the car as well as the license made him legally competent to make the purchase.

Eventually, the dealership offered to buy the car back for $4,800, ultimately raising that price to $6,500 — a $7,600 loss for Thomas, which Darlene calls “total exploitation, unscrupulous, immoral.”

“How dare they take this money and then put him in the car knowing that he can’t drive, that he can’t see?” she added.

In a statement provided to the news outlet, Heritage Volkswagen said it will continue to work to rectify the situation.

“We are committed to fair, thoughtful, and respectful business practices,” the statement reads. “We take the Johnson family’s concerns seriously and have offered to buy back the vehicle. We remain ready to complete that process and are committed to working with the family toward a resolution.”