Iranian-American owner of so-called "Taliban Toyota" wins millions
Iran news search engine, Kodoom.com quoting Reuters: Iranian-born Shawn Esfahani, owner of a large car dealership in Daphne, Alabama, derided as "Taliban Toyota" by a competitor has been awarded $7.5 million in damages ($5 million of it as punitive) after a jury trial for his slander claim. Esfahani sued Bob Tyler Toyota, claiming employees at that Pensacola, Florida-based dealership falsely portrayed him as an Islamist militant to customers. Esfahani's lawsuit said that Bob Tyler sales manager Fred Kenner in 2009 told at least one couple considering buying from Esfahani's dealership that Esfahani was of Middle Eastern descent and was "helping fund the insurgents there and is also laundering money for them."
Esfahani left Iran for Spain with his family at the age of 14 and then to United States where he finished his college education. He is not a stranger to malicious gossip and smear campaigns. A local blog reported in 2010 that gossip and innuendo regarding Esfahani's Headquarter Nissan were being tossed around in Columbus just as it was in the Mobile-Pensacola area where he also owns dealerships. Local emails referred to an article in the Mobile Press-Register that reported Esfahani was born in Iran and left “rather than be drafted into the Iranian army because he didn’t want to fight for his country.”
Esfahani has been a positive influence in the local economy and charities. For example, in 2007 his dealership, through matching funds, donated $40,000 to USA (University of South Alabama) Mitchell Cancer Institute.
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