The purchase of any new product comes with expectations that it will work as intended, especially if that product comes with a warranty. Unfortunately, this basic premise is not always true. Since your purchase, you may have had continuous problems with the product resulting in multiple repairs, impairment of its use, decreased value and/or increased safety risks. If this describes your situation, you may have purchased what is known as a “lemon” and you may be eligible for a refund of your money, a replacement product or a cash settlement.
Federal and state laws protect consumers who purchase products with a written warranty; these are commonly referred to as “Lemon Laws”. Each state has adopted its own provisions, in addition to the overarching federal law. However, many times the law varies from state-to-state and some of the requirements or conditions may be materially different. Thus, it is best to have an experienced Lemon Law attorney advise you of your rights under applicable state and federal laws.
The main source of the federal Lemon Law is the Magnuson-Moss Warranty Act. In 1975, Congress passed this Act which requires manufacturers of consumer products to provide consumers with detailed information about the product’s warranty coverage. It serves to help prevent manufacturers from using unfair warranty provisions and agreements. The Magnuson-Moss Warranty Act also makes it easier for a consumer to receive warranty information, review warranty information and bring a warranty case against a manufacturer by providing for the payment of attorneys’ fees should you receive a successful outcome in either settlement or at trial. For more information on the Magnuson-Moss Warranty Act, please visit our website here.
When most people think of the “Lemon Law,” they think of motor vehicles. However, each state has adopted different rules and many state laws and the federal law will apply to a multitude of consumer products, you can click on any state to see its respective Lemon Law here, but most state laws have three (3) main components:
- What specific vehicles are covered under the law? Does the law apply to just new cars, or are used cars also covered? Are other vehicles such as motorcycles or motor homes covered?
- What is the minimum number of repair attempts or the minimum number of days the vehicle has been rendered unavailable while being repaired?
- What is the coverage period? Most states have alternative periods whether it be one (1) year or 12,000 miles or two (2) years or 24,000 miles.
The experienced attorneys Krohn and Moss, Ltd. Consumer Law Center ® have also provided many helpful resources regarding the Lemon Law. We have been successfully representing consumers of lemon products since 1995, and have a long list of successful stories to share with you, including personal testimonials regarding Lemon Law cases. We offer a FREE CASE REVIEW for you to assess whether we can assist you with your matter and a free and quick Lemon Law case evaluator. Please do not hesitate to contact us toll free at 1-800-875-3666 or visit our website at http://www.yourlemonlawrights.com.
About the Author
Mr. Moss founded Krohn & Moss, Ltd. in 1995 with the goal of providing affordable, effective legal representation to those who have been victims of defective cars, trucks and consumer products and/or have been victims of consumer fraud. Since that time, he has been instrumental in assisting thousands of consumers to achieve their desired results against automobile manufacturers and dealerships via settlement, court ordered arbitration, mediation and trial where he has successfully litigated numerous bench and jury trials at both the State and Federal Court level.