A license plate check revealed that the Expedition had been reported stolen on Dec. 1, 1999, by someone who rented the vehicle from Budget Rent-a-Car.

Headquarters simply dialed Budget Rent-a-Car and rented a car for the boss.

Salesi had been a courtesy-van driver for Budget Rent-a-Car.

"Product liability is the most important matter for me," said John Lee, a senior lawyer for Budget Rent-a-Car, who was at the Chicago luncheon.

After establishing Galpin Ford, he moved to Budget Rent-a-Car as a franchise owner.

She was divorced nearly 20 years ago from Jules Lederer, the founder of Budget Rent-a-Car, after 36 years of marriage.

As a result, the company had to rent autos from Budget Rent-A-Car to handle its other customers.

The Gibbons firm joined the management of Budget Rent-a-Car in a buyout last year and has since sold 20 percent of that venture to the public.

When Budget Rent-a-Car started its luxury car rental business in Los Angeles eight years ago, it had only one car.

In Washington, a Porsche 944 from Budget Rent-a-Car costs $89.99 a day with 50 free miles.