The City of Cincinnati has agreed to pay nearly 16,000 dollars to a man after it mistakenly sold him a stolen Porsche at a public auction, ending a legal dispute that lasted several years.
The case involves Srinivasa Gowda, who purchased a 2014 Porsche Panamera at a city-run auction in December 2021 for 35,000 dollars. The vehicle had been seized by Cincinnati police during a drug-related investigation before it was later sold to the public.
However, problems emerged more than a year after the sale when investigators discovered that the car’s identification number had been altered. Court documents stated that a fake vehicle identification number had been placed over the original one on the dashboard.
Authorities later confirmed that the Porsche had originally been reported stolen in the Atlanta area. This finding raised serious questions about how the vehicle was processed and cleared for auction.
After discovering the issue, Gowda sought a full refund from the city in 2023. City officials refused the request, arguing that the municipality was legally protected from liability in the case.
To retain the vehicle, Gowda was also required to pay 10,000 dollars to the original owner’s insurance company, which had already compensated the victim of the theft. The insurance company demanded recovery of the vehicle or compensation for its loss.
Gowda’s legal team argued that the situation amounted to a breach of contract. They claimed that once the city accepted his winning bid at auction, a legal agreement was formed between both parties.
City officials, however, maintained that no enforceable contract existed and that they were immune from liability under state law. The dispute ultimately centered on whether auction sales by a public authority create binding contractual obligations.
Court filings show that Gowda filed a lawsuit in 2024 seeking reimbursement of his purchase price and related costs. An entry filed in Hamilton County Common Pleas Court on June 8 confirmed that he agreed to dismiss the lawsuit after reaching a settlement.
As part of the agreement, the City of Cincinnati will pay Gowda nearly 16,000 dollars. The settlement brings an end to a dispute that raised broader questions about oversight in public asset auctions.
The case has drawn attention because it highlights how stolen or improperly documented vehicles can sometimes enter public auction systems. It also raises concerns about verification processes used by authorities before selling seized property.
Legal experts note that public auctions are typically governed by strict rules, but mistakes can still occur when items pass through multiple stages of seizure, storage, and resale.
In this case, the Porsche had been seized in a criminal investigation before being transferred to auction. The discovery of tampered identification numbers only came after the sale had already been completed.
The City of Cincinnati has not issued a detailed public statement on the settlement. However, the agreement effectively closes the case without further court proceedings.
For Gowda, the settlement provides partial financial recovery after a long legal process. The situation also serves as a reminder of the risks buyers may face when purchasing high-value items through public auctions.
The case is now closed following the dismissal of the lawsuit, ending a legal dispute that began nearly three years after the original purchase.
