Tennessee Lemon Law Attorney

Do you have a lemon?

Sometimes you will hear a person refer to their vehicle as a "lemon," but what does that mean from an official standpoint? Well, it is a product or appliance that has a defect that substantially impairs its functionality. It must have been sold or leased after January 1, 1987 and require multiple repairs while under the manufacturer's factory warranty to qualify under state or federal Lemon Law. The manufacturer, its agent, or an authorized dealer must have failed to fully repair the appliance or product after at least three or four attempts. If the lemon is a motor vehicle, being out of service for a cumulative total of 30 days or more during the term of protection also applies. For the defect to be considered a substantial impairment under Lemon Law, the vehicle, appliance, or product must be rendered unreliable or unsafe for normal operation.

The Lemon Law only applies to products or appliances purchased new, not used items, on the state level. On the federal level, used vehicles are not covered under the lemon law unless you have a manufacturer's warranty, original or extended. The term of protection is therefore defined as one year from the term of warranty or from the date of delivery, whichever comes first. The Tennessee Consumer Affairs Division requires that the defect be reported within the term of protection. While many people believe lemon laws only apply to motor vehicles, they actually apply to all types of consumer products including motorcycles, RVs, boats, computers, home appliances, as well as numerous other consumer appliances and products under federal law. The Magnuson-Moss Warranty Act covers these additional products and provides for fee-shifting. This means that as long as your product costs $25 or more and came with a written warranty, the manufacturer will have to cover all attorney costs on top of your compensation if your property is deemed a lemon. If you are a not-so-proud lemon owner or leaser, you have the right to take legal action and to stop being plagued by a product that did not live up to its promised condition and abilities.

What a Tennessee Lemon Law Lawyer Can Do for You

Tennessee Lemon Law and the federal Lemon Law provide for compensation to consumers of defective appliances and products. An experienced Tennessee lemon law attorney can offer legal insight into the full procedure. If you have a lemon, you are required to notify the manufacturer of the problem in writing by certified mail. If the manufacturer cannot repair your product or appliance, but has an informal dispute settlement procedure that is in compliance with Federal Trade Commission regulations, you must submit to the procedure. No matter what the manufacturer decides, you do not have to accept it. An experienced lemon law attorney at the National Lemon Law Center can help you with various legal remedies including petitioning for a replacement or reimbursement. If there is no such procedure in place, we can help you file a law suit and get the justice you deserve. It is important that you contact an attorney as soon as possible to ensure you are able to file your claim before the time limit expires. Do not worry about cost. If you have a lemon, federal law ensures that the manufacturer will have to cover all attorney costs, not you.

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If you own or are leasing a lemon, contact a Tennessee lemon law attorney today and see what we can do for you.