Attorneys make millions of dollars

off lemon laws, at the expense of consumers and taxpayers.

Consumers lose because the system is broken

CALIFORNIA’S LEMON LAW IS NOT WORKING

Even though auto reliability significantly improves each year, the number of lemon lawsuits continues to skyrocket. In Los Angeles County alone, lemon lawsuits have doubled in the last few years.

ATTORNEYS, NOT CONSUMERS, ARE THE BIG WINNERS

Lemon law has been hijacked by plaintiffs’ attorneys who collect tens of millions of dollars each year in fees by continually delaying resolution of lemon lawsuits. Because of these delays, consumers are often put through months and even years of unnecessary court proceedings. Consumers deserve a quick resolution.

REFORMS ARE NEEDED

These abuses undermine the law’s intent. We need to ensure that consumers have a clear, direct path to the auto manufacturer to get their vehicles repaired, replaced or repurchased quickly and fairly.

The Knight Law Group is a plaintiffs’ attorney firm, which a court found excessively billed for 11 lawyers for just one case — the court determined six of the lawyers were unnecessary.

[Morris v. Hyundai (2019)]

The Knight Law Group also double-dips to obtain even more fees, by collecting both fees under the lemon law statute and additional fees from clients. For example, under one of its fee agreements, it was entitled to collect a whopping 40% of all award amounts that exceeded “actual damages” from its clients. [Hanna v. Mercedes-Benz USA LLC (2019)] Plaintiffs’ lawyers with the Knight Law Group have also been sanctioned for their “obstructive conduct” in court.  [Hobart v. Ford (2019)]

"Plaintiff's counsel's interference with such basic lines of questioning, by dint of coaching and meritless objections, bespeaks an improper purpose… It appears to be acceptable [for the Knight Law Group] simply to ignore the Federal Rules with respect to deposition conduct. Under these circumstances, it is more appropriate to sanction the firm, rather than the individual counsel who appeared at the deposition and, presumably, was following firm directives." — U.S. Magistrate Judge Frederick F. Mumm

REFORMS ARE NEEDED 
TO STOP LEMON LAW ABUSE

Judges recognize the need for reform

Attorneys Profit at the Expense of Consumers

Over two years after the manufacturer offered to repurchase the consumer’s vehicle, plaintiffs’ Attorneys recover over $6,000, while the consumer recovers nothing.

[Elaine C. Bierman and Stefanie E. Bierman vs. Hyundai Motor America (2015)]

Defendant offers to settle for $24,000 to no avail. The case went to trial, and the plaintiff won a lesser amount of $17,163.83. Attorneys then request $125,055.

[McCollough vs. FCA US LLC (2015)]

Plaintiffs’ attorneys turned down an offer to settle for $30,000 plus attorney’s fees. After one full year, the jury gave a defense verdict and the consumer was left with nothing.

[Patricia J. Mitchell and Jeannette W. Heinzelmann vs. Hyundai Motor America (2016)]

Plaintiffs’ attorneys turned down a settlement offer that would have made their client $43,000 in damages, even though they were well aware they would lose since the case was outside the statute of limitations. The consumer was left with nothing.

[Ronald D. Foster vs. Hyundai Motor America (2016)]

After a jury awards the consumer $35,805, plaintiffs’ attorneys request $344,639 in fees. Court is “aghast” and finds that billing records vastly overstate work performed by attorneys.

[Mikhaeilpoor vs. BMW of North America (2018)]

After three years, two trials and multiple offers for settlement from the manufacturer up to $72,000, plaintiff’s attorneys lost the case and their client was awarded no money. Attorneys recovered over $25,000 in fees.

[Connie Marie Romero vs. Hyundai Motor America (2015)]

Plaintiffs’ attorneys lost their client over $30,000 when they declined two separate settlements. After two years, attorneys received over $15,000 in fees and the consumer was left with nothing.

[Tyler Tuomi vs. Hyundai Motor America (2016)]

Despite the manufacturer’s offer to settle for over $7,000 over the final jury award of $30,412, plaintiffs’ attorneys draw case out for three years and request a shocking $560,985 in fees for three plaintiffs’ law firms.

[King vs. Hyundai Motor America (2000)]