In 1994, Millard G. Ripley and Dwayne Hawkins negotiated with the owners of Wilson Davis Ford, Inc., in Plant City, to buy their Ford dealership. Ford Motor Co. objected to the transfer and refused to approve it. As a result, the deal fell through. Ripley and Hawkins then sued Ford in federal court on grounds that Ford had violated Florida statutes restricting the ability of auto manufacturers to interfere in the sale of dealerships. After their suit was dismissed, they appealed to the Eleventh Circuit, which certified a question to the Florida Supreme Court about the interpretation of the statute.