Palm Beach County, FL - Bruce Springsteen's drummer, Max Weinberg, is suing the owners of a Florida car restoration company, alleging that they defrauded him out of $125,000 by promising him a top-of-the-line restored 1957 Mercedes-Benz 190SL and then using his money for personal expenses.
Weinberg is seeking $375,000 in damages from Arthur Siegle, his family members, and their company, Investment Automotive Group Inc., in a lawsuit filed Sunday in Palm Beach County.
According to the lawsuit, Weinberg contacted Siegle and his son, Stuart, in April 2021, about the 1957 Mercedes-Benz 190SL they were restoring.
He told them he wanted a car that could be entered in Concours-level shows, which feature vehicles restored to like-new or better condition using almost entirely original parts.
The Siegles assured Weinberg that the car they were restoring would meet that standard and would be a "work of art" and "best of the best."
Weinberg paid them $125,000, a down payment on the $225,000 sale price.
However, Weinberg quickly became concerned about the car's condition and hired an expert to inspect it.
The expert found significant rust, improperly done welds, evidence of a previous accident, and several other major problems.
He also determined that the car was actually a 1956, not a 1957.
When Weinberg confronted the Siegles with these findings, they refused to refund his money. He then filed a complaint with the Broward Sheriff's Office.
An investigation by Detective Scott Schaefer revealed that the Siegles had deposited nearly all of Weinberg's money into personal accounts, with almost $50,000 covering credit card and other personal payments.
Schaefer wrote that he found "no transactions that could have been attributed to the work being done on (Weinberg's) vehicle."
Schaefer recommended that Siegle be charged with grand theft, but the Broward State Attorney's Office has yet to file charges.
Weinberg's lawsuit alleges that the Siegles' actions constitute intentional theft and seeks triple damages under Florida law.