lemon law

Ford Motor Co. has filed suit against multiple prominent Southern California law firms and attorneys, alleging that they engaged in a vast and sophisticated fraud scheme to collect at least $100 million in “phantom legal fees” under the state’s Lemon Law.

Under the Song-Beverly Consumer Warranty Act, commonly known as California’s Lemon Law, automakers are required to pay for legal work, court fees and related expenses associated with defective vehicles.

Kyla Christoffersen Powell, president and chief executive of the Civil Justice Assn. of California, said in an emailed statement that the alleged fraud scheme highlighted longstanding problems with the state’s Lemon Law.

“The shocking attorney conduct outlined in today’s filing by Ford underscores the need for the Legislature to consider additional reforms to the lemon law that remove perverse incentives for attorneys,” she wrote.

It’s been on the airwaves for about 50 years — almost as long as California has had its pioneering Lemon Law protecting us from getting stuck with junkers.