On behalf of a South Carolina consumer, Andrew R. Hart, Esq. successfully won a lemon law claim filed against FCA US LLC. As part of the award, the consumer will receive all money back that was paid for the defective vehicle.
The case arose out of a consumer’s lease of a new 2018 Jeep Grand Cherokee from Big O Dodge in Greenville, South Carolina. Within days, the Jeep Grand Cherokee would not start, and the consumer had to tow the vehicle to a dealership for inspection. As more than a month passed without the vehicle being repaired and without any solutions presented, the consumer was forced to maintain payments on the lease in order to maintain their credit.
Even after filing of the case, FCA US LLC denied responsibility, claiming that the parts needed to fix the Jeep were on “national backorder” and that because the parts were expected to arrive nearly 3 months after the consumer first brought the vehicle in for repair, a lemon law claim was “not justified and premature at best.”
Applying the clear standards set forth in South Carolina for Lemon Law, the arbitrators unanimously agreed with the consumer and awarded a repurchase of the Jeep Grand Cherokee, which includes a refund of the lease down payment, all monthly payments, trade-in allowance and sales tax or other fees paid at purchase. The decision shows a clear rejection of the manufacturer’s argument that a consumer should have to abide by a manufacturer’s timeline for the repair of a vehicle, and represents a victory for South Carolina consumers raising lemon law claims against FCA US LLC.
For more information about South Carolina Lemon Law, contact us to set up a time for a consultation.
About Hart Consumer Law, LLC
Hart Consumer Law, LLC is a law firm based in Spartanburg, South Carolina serving consumer clients in South Carolina (including Greenville, Spartanburg, Cherokee, Pickens, Anderson, Greenwood, Laurens, Oconee and Union County). Alford & Hart, LLC exclusively represents consumers in State and Federal court, and represents consumers in cases of lemon law, used vehicle sales, unfair trade practices, breach of warranty, undisclosed damage, and other consumer matters.
