Case Explained: GOLDEN V. FORD MOTOR CREDIT COMPANY LLC, ET AL.

Court: United States Court of Appeals for the Ninth Circuit

Filed: 2026-07-08

Docket: 2:24-cv-02935-SB-JPR

The Ninth Circuit affirmed the district court’s entry of final judgment against Chiddy Golden following a jury verdict in favor of Ford Motor Credit Company LLC. The court held that the jury’s verdict was supported by substantial evidence, finding that Golden failed to make payments required by his lease agreement and that Ford did not violate the Fair Credit Reporting Act or the California Credit Reporting Act by reporting the missed payment. The court further determined that substantial evidence supported the jury’s conclusion that Ford was not estopped from enforcing lease provisions requiring continued payments while Golden retained possession of the vehicle. In reviewing the trial proceedings, the court applied an abuse of discretion standard to evidentiary rulings and trial management, concluding that Golden waived objections to admitted exhibits by failing to raise them at trial through his prior counsel. The court found no error in the district court’s imposition of time limits or its judicial conduct, noting that the judge’s interventions were aimed at ensuring orderly proceedings and did not demonstrate bias or partiality. Additionally, the court dismissed Golden’s challenge to the denial of a motion for a new trial under Federal Rule of Civil Procedure 59, ruling that it lacked jurisdiction because Golden failed to file an amended notice of appeal within the thirty-day window required by the Federal Rules of Appellate Procedure. As a result of this decision, the jury verdict and final judgment against Golden remain in full force and effect, and his claims regarding the credit reporting dispute, trial errors, and post-judgment relief are conclusively rejected.

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