Woman Wins Small-Claims Suit Over Honda Hybrid The Southern California owner of a Honda hybrid car has won her unusual small-claims court lawsuit against the auto giant over the vehicle's failure to deliver the promised mileage. A Los Angeles Superior Court commissioner has awarded Heather Peters $9,867. Peters opted out of a class-action lawsuit in order to attempt to claim a higher payment for the failure of her Civic to deliver the 50 miles per gallon that was promised when she bought it. She also hopes to inspire a flood of such lawsuits by other Honda owners. A proposed settlement by Honda would give aggrieved owners $100 to $200 each and a $1,000 credit on purchase of a new car. In small claims court, the top damage award is $10,000.