By any chance, had you just had an oil change? If they left the plug loose, or (much more common) if they used the wrong oil filter, it wouldn't take long to pump five quarts out onto the ground. If you could show (by a receipt or by a windshield sticker) that you got an oil-and-filter change at x miles, and ran out of oil at x+200 miles, you'd have a strong case that the shop caused the problem and owed you an engine.
Happens more frequently than you'd imagine.
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-- Carl
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