AUTOMOBILES: The Lemon Laws protect a person who has purchased a new car that turns out to be a “lemon”. While there are more complex definitions and exceptions, in general, your new car is a lemon if it has less than 18,000 miles on it (in its first 18 months) you take it to a dealer for a serious repair (involving danger to life and limb) and they fail to fix it in one attempt; or if you take it to the dealer for the SAME repair and they fail to fix it in three attempts; or it spends more than 30 days cumulative in the shop in its first year, or for eight separate problems that impair value.

BEWARE! Dealers are well aware of the definitions. They will attempt to write up repairs to the same parts of the car and same problems “differently” so as to avoid triggering the three times rule. YOU must take the initiative and insist on an accurate write-up of the problems with your car to help protect your rights.

Successful lemon law suits allow you to rescind the transaction (and get your reasonable attorney fees for knowing violations) or get your actual damages, treble damages, and your reasonable attorney fees.

For USED CARS, if you are ripped off, possible remedies include suits for fraudulent misrepresentation, breach of contract, statutory violations of the Consumer Sales Practices Act, and other legal theories.

CREDIT PROBLEMS either with your car financing or with mistaken reports involve remedies under the Fair Credit Reporting act, the Fair Debt Collection Practices Act, the Retail Installment Sales Act, and other theories. These laws also provide for you to recover various fines, multiples of your damages, and reasonable attorney fees upon a successful suit.

There are also laws designed to protect you from bogus “Business Opportunities” and Ponzi schemes. If you feel as if you have been cheated, and wish to explore your possible remedies, call your local bar association for a referral. If you are in Northern Kentucky or Greater Cincinnati, feel free to call us at (513) 701-5529.