This is a big deal here in stl.. I can see problems on both sides. I think they could've worked things out rather than letting it go to an actual lawsuit. Small claims at worst..
One thing that IMHO is kinda crappy is somebody watching. And in the newspaper article they say the guy has edited the recording, and won't show it to anyone.
The dealer guys are on flat rate I'm sure, and again, IMHO, if circumstances were the same, but at another shop, the charges would have been calculated similarly.
I'm not taking sides, but......I just think it'll be interesting to see, if ever, how things are settled.