what are reasonable attorney fees under wv lemon law

by Prof. Seamus Keebler DDS 8 min read

What is the West Virginia lemon law?

Sep 16, 2019 · Mallard Coach Co., 406 S.E.2d 725, 731 (W. Va. 1991) (concluding that a manufacturer's failure to assess defect in recreational vehicle until morning of last day of trial brought under lemon law was not bad faith, vexatious, wanton, or oppressive action; thus, purchaser was not entitled to award of costs under equity.). See Trade Well Int'l v ...

Why do I need a lemon law attorney?

The WV Lemon Law contains a fee-shifting provision which means that if the consumer prevails, the manufacturer must pay all attorney fees and legal costs on top of what you receive. If you submit a claim to Kimmel & Silverman, and we accept your case, you will not pay anything out of pocket, win or lose.

Can I file a lemon law claim before my vehicle warranty expires?

West Virginia Lemon Law. West Virginia offers protection against the purchase of "lemons," vehicles that don't meet the requirements and obligations under the terms of warranties. The West Virginia lemon law allows vehicle manufacturers a certain number of attempts to repair your vehicle's defect/malfunction before they are required to offer ...

When do you qualify for a lemon law replacement car?

Sep 23, 2020 · West Virginia Lemon Law. Under the West Virginia lemon law, a consumer who purchases an unreliable passenger vehicle (known as a lemon) may file a claim to request a replacement automobile or a full refund if he or she does so within one year of purchasing the vehicle from a dealer. Under the law, a consumer may also choose to file a claim ...

How is a reasonable attorney fee determined?

One of the most significant factors in determining a reasonable fee is the amount of time spent. [3] Thus an attorney who fails to keep adequate time records, or uses the questionable practice of “lumping” time or “block billing” may have difficulty meeting the burden of proof.Mar 25, 2016

What damages could be recovered if a lemon lawsuit is won?

What happens when you win a lemon law settlement? The answer should be fairly simple: a full refund of your purchase price or replacement of the defective vehicle with one that works.Apr 24, 2018

How does the lemon law work in WV?

How does the WV Lemon Law work? The West Virginia Lemon Law covers drivers whose vehicles suffer a nonconformity or defect within the first 12 months of ownership, that is not repaired after repeated attempts (normally three) by the manufacturer's authorized dealership.

Is there a lemon law in the state of West Virginia?

Is there a lemon law in West Virginia? Yes. West Virginia's lemon law applies to cars, pickup trucks, vans, and any self-propelled chassis of motorhomes—as long as its purpose is for personal use. The vehicle must have been purchased and registered in West Virginia to qualify for lemon law protection.Apr 27, 2022

What is a cash and keep settlement?

Cash Compensation

Many times the problems with a vehicle may not rise to the level of a “substantial impairment.” In these situations, the manufacturer will often pay the consumer a “cash and keep” settlement. This is where you will keep your vehicle and receive a sum of money for the problems you experienced with it.

What is a cash and keep offer?

In a cash and keep settlement, the manufacturer accepts that the vehicle in question is a lemon or at least accepts to compensate the consumer. Also, the consumer maintains possession of the vehicle usually through either ownership or continued leasing of the vehicle generally until the end of his or her lease period.Jul 20, 2020

How long is the Lemon Law Good for WV?

They're given one year from the delivery of the car or the warranty period to complete those repairs. If the manufacturer can't fix the vehicle within this period, then the state statute outlines how they must replace or repurchase the car instead.Nov 1, 2019

Can you return a used car if it has problems?

As mentioned, according to Section 56 (2) of the Act, consumers can return a car to a seller within a 6 month period, but only under certain conditions. Defects due to "wear and tear" will not count.Aug 16, 2018

Can you return a used car in WV?

The law requires the dealer to do inspections. The buyer has three days to return the vehicle. McMahon said the law gives the upper hand to the used vehicle dealer.Jul 7, 2019

What does the WV Attorney General do?

More specifically, the Office of the Attorney General is responsible for prosecuting and defending legal actions on behalf of the State, and for ensuring that the rights of the State and its citizens are protected in matters before the circuit courts of this State, the West Virginia Supreme Court of Appeals, and all ...

What is Lemon Law in Ohio?

Ohio's Lemon Law protects you if you buy a new car but find that it has serious problems. The law covers warranty issues that impair your personal car or truck's use, value or safety, as long as those problems first occur and were reported within the vehicle's first year or within 18,000 miles, whichever comes first.

How do I buy a car in WV?

A notarized Bill of Sale (Form DMV-7-TR). A valid vehicle inspection sticker.
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Required fees and taxes
  1. $10 title fee.
  2. $30 registration fee.
  3. Sales tax which is usually 5% of the purchase price or $25 if the vehicle's purchase price was $500 or less.
Jun 14, 2020

What is the lemon law in West Virginia?

The West Virginia Lemon Law covers drivers whose vehicles suffer a nonconformity or defect within the first 12 months of ownership, that is not repaired after repeated attempts (normally three) by the manufacturer's authorized dealership. Top of the Page.

How to contact Lemon Law?

Ask away. Give us a call at 1-800-LEMON-LAW (1-800-536-6652) 24 hours a day or feel free to email us and we will be glad to get back to you as soon as possible.

What is the lemon law in West Virginia?

The West Virginia lemon law allows vehicle manufacturers a certain number of attempts to repair your vehicle's defect/malfunction before they are required to offer you a replacement vehicle or a refund of your purchase.

How to get a refund for a lemon?

When you're having difficulty getting a replacement or refund for your lemon, you'll want to consider hiring a lemon law attorney. When searching for a lawyer, keep the following tips in mind: 1 Hire someone local to West Virginia with experience in lemon law .#N#Lemon laws vary depending on your state. 2 Ask for recommendations or referrals. 3 Ask about fees and payment terms .#N#Make sure there aren't any hidden costs.

How long can you be out of service on a lemon?

As part of the state lemon law, consumers may also qualify for a replacement vehicle if their automobile is in for repairs and “out of service” for at least 30 consecutive or nonconsecutive calendar days within the vehicle’s first year of operation.

How to tell if a car is a lemon?

To determine whether your new vehicle is a lemon, consider the following: 1 Did you buy the vehicle brand-new, or is it still covered under the manufacturer’s warranty? 2 Does the vehicle have reoccurring problems? 3 Has your vehicle been serviced multiple times within a short period? 4 Has your vehicle been “out of service” for anywhere between 25 to 35 consecutive or nonconsecutive days since you purchased it?

What is the lemon law?

In 1975, Congress enacted the Magnuson-Moss Warranty Act, which is often referred to as the federal “ Lemon Law .” This law provides that if a warrantor of a consumer product fails to comply with the obligations of its warranty, i.e. repair defects in materials or workmanship, after being afforded a reasonable opportunity to do so, that the consumer may bring suit not only for damages, but also for attorneys’ fees, and costs. This is extremely important, because it allows law firms to represent consumers without charging them for their time and expenses. In essence, this “fee-shifting” provision levels the playing field so that an individual consumer may hire an attorney who is experienced in handling “lemon law” and “breach of warranty” claims to take on some of the world’s largest corporations. Moreover, this provision allows consumer attorneys to do the work that state agencies are often too burdened to handle by making “private attorney generals” responsible for enforcing the law.

What is the Magnuson Moss Warranty?

The federal Magnuson-Moss Warranty and state Lemon Laws allow private citizens to redress wrongs that have the ability to impact all of us. The “fee-shifting” provisions of these laws give them teeth and make them enforceable, which benefits all of us.