Monarch Dodge, the Lauderdale Lakes dealership fighting a Chrysler shutdown, on Monday filed a civil suit against a nearby dealer, alleging the rival influenced Chrysler in order to gain Monarch’s business.

Monarch and its president, Mark S. Hodos, sued Massey-Yardley of Plantation and its president, Herbert G. Yardley, in Broward County Circuit Court. The 11-page complaint seeks damages and a jury trial.

Massey-Yardley’s attorney, Thomas Yardley, called the allegations “absolutely not true.”

Monarch is among 789 dealers nationwide that struggling Chrysler seeks to close June 9 to emerge leaner from Chapter 11 bankruptcy. Massey-Yardley is not on the shutdown list. A U.S. bankruptcy judge in New York is expected to rule this week on Chrysler’s reorganization and dealer closings.

The complaint alleges Massey-Yardley and its “agents engaged in a campaign with agents of Chrysler LLC to acquire Monarch,” denigrating Monarch and convincing Chrysler to close it. That would allow Massey to take over Monarch’s business and reopen its locale as a Massey dealership, the suit said.

But Massey doesn’t want Monarch’s location, attorney Yardley said.

The suit alleges “various acts of interference” by Massey and its “agents” that suggest “early knowledge” Monarch would be shut. Those include contacting Monarch employees before Chrysler released its closure list, telling them Monarch would be closed and they should work with Massey instead, the suit says.

The complaint reiterates Monarch’s claim it deserves to stay open. The company said it has consistently ranked as the ninth most profitable Chrysler dealer out of 26 dealers in South Florida. No dealer ranked higher was targeted for closure, and many ranked lower will remain open after June 9, the suit said.

Monarch has been rallying support among employees, clients and community leaders to fight Chrysler’s move to shut the 35-year-old dealer.

Lauderdale Lakes officials are “very concerned” about the small city losing its only new car dealer – a taxpayer that employs 67 people, said Danny Holmes, community development director.

City leaders aim to ask members of Congress to contact the federal “car czar,” Holmes said.

Doreen Hemlock can be reached at or 305-810-5009.