German courts rule on Ferrari ownership and insurance liability

German courts have issued rulings regarding vehicle ownership disputes and insurance liabilities.

The Oberlandesgericht Frankfurt am Main rejected a claim for the return of a Ferrari Daytona. A collector argued that the transfer of ownership to a car dealer was a sham transaction intended only to facilitate German registration. However, the court ruled that the claimant failed to provide sufficient evidence of a lack of intent to transfer ownership, noting that the dealer had maintained possession and used the vehicle.

In a separate matter, the Amtsgericht Rheinbach ruled that an insurance company may be liable for lost profits following a vehicle accident. A man had reached a verbal agreement to sell his SUV for 21,000 euros, but the deal collapsed after the vehicle was damaged in a collision. Because the owner was forced to sell the damaged vehicle for only 17,000 euros to meet urgent deadlines, the court determined the difference in value constituted a compensable loss.