MADISON, Wis. – The Wisconsin Department of Justice (DOJ) and the Wisconsin Department of Agriculture, Trade and Consumer Protection (DATCP) have secured a $48 million consumer protection judgment against Cudahy-based Midwest Auto Recycling LLC, and its subsidiaries, including Engine and Transmission World, Quality Used Engines, Engine Shopper, among others, and its owner, Alfred Talyansky, for making systemic and widespread misrepresentations about the used auto parts they sold.

“Those who violate the trust of their customers should be held to account,” said AG Kaul. “Thank you to those who helped secure the outstanding judgment in this case.”

“Misleading consumers is an unacceptable business practice,” said DATCP Secretary Randy Romanski. “I am grateful to DATCP’s Bureau of Consumer Protection team who have worked hard to protect consumer rights in our state.”

A Milwaukee Circuit Court judge has ordered judgment against the defendants after a jury in November 2025 returned a verdict in favor of the State. Under the judgment, the defendants are ordered to pay more than $1.2 million in restitution to 472 consumers, pay more than $400,000 to the State for costs of investigation and prosecution, and pay over $47 million in forfeitures and surcharges.

The jury found that the defendants made misrepresentations about the mileage of auto parts in 9.3 million sales quotes, as evidenced by testimony at trial that the used auto parts had, on average, over 88,000 miles more than what was quoted to consumers. The jury also found the defendants made multiple misrepresentations across 10 websites, including statements about having the “largest nationwide used inventory,” that “engines and transmissions are tested, visually inspected and cleaned,” and false statements about being located in Kansas, Oklahoma, and Missouri. As demonstrated at trial, Defendants maintained a miniscule inventory of parts, did not routinely test their auto parts, did not certify their auto parts, and only ever operated out of Cudahy, Wisconsin. The jury also found that defendant Alfred Talyansky had knowledge and the ability to control both the websites and the sales quote misrepresentations. 

In addition to the monetary judgment, the court imposed a permanent injunction on the defendants prohibiting them from representing to the public that:

  • A used auto part has a certain mileage or estimated mileage, unless the representation is made about a specific used auto part that is in the possession of the defendant at the time the representation is made.
  • They have the “Largest Nationwide Inventory” or have “access to the largest inventory.”
  • They have a used auto part “in stock,” unless that part is physically present in the defendant’s facility at the time the representation is made and has not already been sold to a customer.
  • They have “ASE Certified Mechanics on Staff.”
  • The used auto parts offered for sale have been “tested.”
  • The used auto parts offered for sale have been “certified.”
  • The used auto parts offered for sale have been “visually inspected” or “cleaned,” unless the defendant making the representation has completed a visual inspection and cleaning of a part in its possession.
  • The defendants are located at a location or address unless they conduct business at that location or address.

Wisconsin DOJ prosecuted this matter on behalf of the State with the assistance of, and upon referral from, the Wisconsin Department of Agriculture, Trade and Consumer Protection. The Better Business Bureau of Wisconsin also assisted with this matter.

Cases like this often rely upon consumers filing complaints with agencies like DATCP. To file a consumer protection complaint, please visit DATCP’s Bureau of Consumer Protection at http://datcp.wi.gov, send an email to DATCPhotline@wisconsin.gov, or call the Consumer Protection Hotline at 1-800-422-7128.