Los Angeles · Lemon Law Guide
California rewrote its lemon law at the start of 2025 and then narrowed it again in the Supreme Court, and most pages on this subject have not caught up. The filing deadline is shorter, a written notice to the manufacturer now comes before a civil penalty claim, and a large share of used cars lost the buyback remedy outright. We compared three lemon law lawyers in Los Angeles on State Bar of California licence records, the work each one actually takes, published fee terms and verified Google reviews, then set out who each one suits and where each one falls short.
DJA Editorial · Legal Directory Research
Checked against state bar licensee records, court sources and public review platforms ·
The short answer
Three practices, each built for a different kind of lemon claim. This is a shortlist rather than a ranking, and the firm in the top slot has the smallest verified review base of the three.
1
Lemon Law Now
Best for a buyback you want closed without filing suit
2
California Consumer Attorneys, P.C.
Best for a case the manufacturer is going to make you try
3
Timothy Abeel & Associates
Best for a warranty claim that crosses state lines
At a glance: Lemon Law Lawyers in Los Angeles, compared
| Firm |
Best for |
Focus |
Bar record |
Fees |
Rating |
| Lemon Law Now |
Best for a buyback you want closed without filing suit |
Manufacturer buybacks, settled before suit where possible |
Brett Shainfeld, California licence 245093, active |
No fee to the client, manufacturer pays |
5.0 · 60 Google |
| California Consumer Attorneys, P.C. |
Best for a case the manufacturer is going to make you try |
Litigated claims and civil penalties |
Michael Rosenstein, California 1993 |
No fee to the client, manufacturer pays |
4.8 · 191 Google |
| Timothy Abeel & Associates |
Best for a warranty claim that crosses state lines |
Multi-state lemon law and warranty claims |
Timothy Abeel Jr., California licence 331275, 2020 |
No fee to the client, manufacturer pays |
not verified |
Lemon Law in Los Angeles: the local picture
120,000
The number that decides what you get back
A buyback is not a full refund. The manufacturer deducts a usage charge calculated as the odometer reading at your first repair visit for the defect, divided by 120,000, multiplied by what you paid. On a $50,000 car first brought in at 8,000 miles that is $3,333. Miles driven after that first visit cost you nothing.
6 years
The deadline that got shorter in 2025
AB 1755 took effect on 1 January 2025. A claim must now be filed within one year after the express warranty expires and never more than six years after the vehicle was first delivered. Since 1 April 2025, a civil penalty claim against a manufacturer that opted in also needs 30 days written notice first, with your name, the VIN and the repair history.
40 days
The free route almost nobody uses
State-certified arbitration costs nothing and usually produces a decision within 40 days. Three programs are certified in California, covering most major makes. Honda, Acura, Lexus, Subaru, Volvo and Mitsubishi run none, so their owners go to court or to free mediation through the New Motor Vehicle Board on (916) 445-1888.
What clients in Los Angeles say: Read the Google listings across these three and the praise is almost never about legal argument. It is about pace and about being told what is happening. Reviewers count the weeks: a buyback agreed in a month, a cash and keep settlement in six. They name the person who answered, whether that is the founding attorney at the smallest firm or a case coordinator and a tracking app at the largest. The complaints elsewhere in this practice area follow the same logic in reverse, files that go quiet while a manufacturer stalls. Ask at the consultation how often you will hear from the firm when nothing is happening.
How we chose these Lemon Law Lawyers in Los Angeles
We looked at practices handling lemon law claims for Los Angeles drivers, then compared them on things you can check yourself: the State Bar of California licensee record for each named attorney, the case types the firm actually takes rather than the ones it advertises, whether it publishes fee terms, the offices it staffs in Los Angeles County, and the visible client reviews on Google.
The three are a shortlist, not a ranking, and each leads for a different situation. Firm details come from each firm’s own site, cross checked against Google Business Profile listings, State Bar of California and Pennsylvania Disciplinary Board records, public attorney directories, and the statutes and agency sources behind the cost, deadline and arbitration figures. Licence numbers and discipline records we could not confirm against an official bar record during this update are flagged on the page rather than filled in, and no settlement figure or success rate appears here unless the firm publishes it itself, in which case it is labelled as the firm’s own number.
1. Lemon Law Now
Best for a buyback you want closed without filing suit
★★★★★ 5.0 / 5 · Google · 60 reviews
The one-attorney practice here, and the one that sells speed over litigation. Brett Shainfeld founded Shainfeld Law on North San Vicente and does lemon law only, across cars, RVs, boats and motorcycles, with a manufacturer library that runs from the Chevrolet Bolt to the Mercedes-Benz EQS. The pitch is that most files close before a complaint is ever filed. If you want a Los Angeles lemon law lawyer who answers the phone himself and aims to settle the buyback rather than build a trial file, that is the shape of this practice.
Identity and footprint
Office750 N San Vicente Blvd, Suite 800, Los Angeles, CA 90069
Address noteThe State Bar record gives the same suite as Suite 800 West and places it in West Hollywood rather than Los Angeles. The 90069 ZIP straddles the two cities.
Phone(310) 295-1888 local and (888) 567-2279 toll free. Two further toll free numbers appear elsewhere on the homepage.
HoursThe Google listing shows open 24 hours, seven days a week
Legal nameTrades as Lemon Law Now, incorporated as Shainfeld Law, P.C.
AttorneyBrett Shainfeld, founder and principal
Emailinfo@lemonlawnow.com
CoverageCalifornia city pages from Bakersfield to Sacramento, and the site states it handles cases from across the country
Practice and scope
Core workLemon law only, described on the site as the firm’s sole focus
Vehicle typesCars, trucks, SUVs, RVs, boats, motorcycles and planes
Manufacturer depthSeparate buyback pages for roughly 30 makes, down to model level for Audi, BMW, Cadillac, Ford, Mercedes-Benz, Nissan and Volvo
Used vehiclesKeeps a California used car lemon law page, which matters because the 2024 Supreme Court decision in Rodriguez v. FCA removed the buyback remedy from most used cars carrying only the balance of a factory warranty
Consumer contentSeparate pages on the lemon law presumption, how to file a claim, and recall news, plus recent posts on manufacturer case managers and on dealership closures during a warranty
Firm claimsStates a 99 percent success rate and that most cases settle without a lawsuit. These are the firm’s own figures and cannot be checked independently.
Page currencyThe site FAQ still gives a four year filing window measured from when the defect was noticed, which is the pre-2025 rule. Confirm which deadline applies to your delivery date.
Credentials and licensing
State Bar of CaliforniaBrett Shainfeld, licence number 245093, status Active, no discipline shown on the licensee record (State Bar of California licensee search, checked this run)
AdmissionJ.D. from Loyola Law School, Los Angeles, 2006. Public directories describe him as licensed for 19 years.
Federal courtsThe firm states he is admitted in all four United States District Courts of California
UndergraduateB.A. in communications and international relations, University of California, Davis
MediationThe firm states he is a California Certified Mediator (firm bio)
Directory listingHolds a Distinguished Justice Advocates listing, with the badge displayed on the firm homepage
RecognitionThe firm displays an Avvo rating of 10.0 and an Avvo Clients’ Choice award for 2019, plus inclusion in a Top Attorneys of North America directory for 2019 to 2020. Inclusion in a list is not a rating of skill.
Claim not carried hereOne third party directory describes him as holding a State Bar of California certification in this field. The State Bar certifies attorneys in ten named areas of law and consumer or lemon law is not among them, so that entry is left off this page.
Fees and consultation
StructureNo fee to the client. The firm states the manufacturer pays its legal fees on a successful claim and that the client never receives a bill whatever the outcome.
Why that worksCivil Code section 1794(d) makes a prevailing buyer’s attorney fees and costs recoverable from the manufacturer. Every firm on this page runs on the same provision.
ConsultationFree case review, advertised through the site form and the toll free line
What still comes out of your moneyThe mileage offset. Ask at the consultation what the firm estimates yours will be, because that figure is deducted from your refund and nothing the lawyer does removes it.
What clients say
✓ Buyback closed without a lawsuit
✓ The attorney answers directly
✓ Mercedes recall matters recur
· 60 reviews, smallest verified base here
· One visible review names another firm
Reviewers describe the same arc each time: documents in, manufacturer contacted, buyback agreed, no complaint filed. Two of the most recent concern Mercedes-Benz EQB battery recall work. Several name Brett Shainfeld and describe him walking through the process on the first call. One thing a close read turns up: at least one visible review praises an attorney and a firm unconnected to this practice, which is what a merged Google listing looks like. Read the entries rather than the average.
Why they fit Los Angeles: The right call when the claim is clean, the repair orders are in order, and what you want is the manufacturer to take the car back without a two year lawsuit. You get the founder rather than a coordinator, the reviews are consistent on that point, and the manufacturer library means the firm has probably seen your defect pattern before. Go in knowing the trade offs. This is one attorney with the smallest verified review base on the page, the 99 percent figure is the firm’s own and cannot be checked from outside, and a practice built on settling is not the same as a practice built on trying cases. Ask what happens if the manufacturer refuses to make a sensible offer, and who takes the file to trial if it comes to that.
2. California Consumer Attorneys, P.C.
Best for a case the manufacturer is going to make you try
★★★★½ 4.8 / 5 · Google · 191 reviews
The trial shop. Founder Michael Rosenstein has been licensed in California since 1993 and the firm states he has tried more than 25 automotive warranty cases to verdict, with partner Sepehr Daghighian adding jury and bench trials of his own. Seven named attorneys, offices in Westwood, San Diego and Sacramento, a full Spanish language site and a client tracking app. If you want lemon law attorneys in Los Angeles set up to put a civil penalty claim in front of a Los Angeles County jury rather than take the first offer, this is the practice on the page built that way.
Identity and footprint
Los Angeles office10866 Wilshire Blvd, Suite 1200, Los Angeles, CA 90024, in Westwood
Other offices6920 Miramar Road, Suite 327, San Diego, and 717 K Street, Suite 520, Sacramento
Address noteThe founder’s public directory profile still gives the northern California office as 980 9th Street, Sacramento. The firm site gives K Street.
Phone833-353-6667, which spells 833-LEMON-FIRM, on the site. Google lists 310-340-7419 for the Westwood office.
HoursMonday to Thursday 7am to 6pm, Friday to 5pm, Saturday 9am to 5pm, closed Sunday on Google. The site header advertises availability around the clock.
AttorneysMichael H. Rosenstein, Sepehr Daghighian, Brian T. Murray, James P. Martinez, Michael William Oppenheim, Alastair F. Hamblin and Cheri Johnson
LanguagesFull Spanish language site at 833limones.com rather than a translated page
Practice and scope
Core workLemon law and consumer warranty litigation only
Vehicle typesCars, boats and watercraft, motorcycles, motorhomes and other RVs, electric vehicles, and luxury and exotic cars
Defect pagesAuto recalls, automatic emergency braking systems, vehicle fires from auto defects, paint problems and water leaks
Scope limitThe site’s own contact form states the firm is not accepting used car cases at this time, and its vehicle year selector starts at 2021. Worth knowing before you call.
Trial posturePublishes jury outcomes including a Los Angeles County verdict against BMW and a Kern County result against Chrysler, and states it regularly recovers civil penalties above what the client paid for the car. These are the firm’s own figures and cannot be checked independently.
ToolsPublishes a buyback calculator, a buyback demand letter page and a downloadable guide to the California lemon law
ReferralsRuns a page for referrals from other lawyers, which is how a fair share of contested files reach a trial firm
Credentials and licensing
Michael RosensteinAdmitted in California in 1993, status active, no misconduct recorded on his public directory profile
Sepehr DaghighianState Bar of California number 239349, J.D. Loyola Law School 2005, physics degree from UCLA
Dual affiliationDaghighian’s own directory profile lists him at Hackler Daghighian Martino & Novak in Beverly Hills rather than at this firm, while the firm site names him as a partner. Ask which entity signs your retainer.
Trial recordThe firm states Rosenstein has tried more than 25 cases to verdict in automotive warranty litigation, and that both partners have won back to back jury trials against BMW North America
LanguagesDaghighian’s profile lists English and Spanish
EducationRosenstein attended UCLA and Southwestern University School of Law
Fees and consultation
StructureNo fee to the client. The firm states all of its fees and costs are paid by the automakers and that you pay nothing without a recovery.
Why that worksCivil Code section 1794(d) shifts a prevailing buyer’s attorney fees and costs onto the manufacturer
ConsultationFree case evaluation, advertised as available 24 hours
Fee arbitrationUnder the 2025 statute a pre-litigation dispute over lemon law attorney fees can now go to binding arbitration through a BBB National Programs panel. That runs between the firm and the manufacturer rather than with you, but ask how it affects your timeline.
What clients say
✓ Largest verified review base here
✓ Client app and email updates named
✓ Whole team described, not one lawyer
· Cash and keep outcomes described
· No critical review in the readable set
At 191 reviews this is the deepest record on the page, and the tone is procedural rather than personal. Reviewers describe an app for tracking the case, email updates at each stage, and several departments rather than one attorney, which is what a firm this size looks like from the client seat. Named outcomes include Subaru and Chrysler matters and a Tesla cash and keep settlement reached in about six months. No critical review surfaced in the readable set.
Why they fit Los Angeles: The strongest fit when the manufacturer is fighting, when the claim is worth chasing a civil penalty on, or when you want a firm that has actually put lemon cases in front of Los Angeles County juries rather than one that settles everything. The bench is real: seven named attorneys, three offices and a Spanish language practice. Two honest caveats. The site says plainly that the firm is not taking used car cases at present, which rules out a large share of Los Angeles buyers after the 2024 Supreme Court ruling, and at this size your daily contact is staff and an app rather than a partner. Ask which attorney is assigned to your file and who would appear if it is tried.
3. Timothy Abeel & Associates
Best for a warranty claim that crosses state lines
The national option. Timothy Abeel Jr. runs a consumer warranty practice out of Glen Mills, Pennsylvania, with location pages in all fifty states and a California licence held since June 2020. His State Bar record carries a Los Angeles business address on South Sepulveda Boulevard, though the site itself publishes no California street address at all. If you bought in one state and now live in another, or a manufacturer dispute followed you across a move, a lemon law attorney in Los Angeles who is also admitted in six other states is a different kind of useful.
Identity and footprint
California address on recordTimothy Abeel & Associates, 3415 S Sepulveda Blvd, 11th Floor, Los Angeles, CA 90034
Not on the siteThe Los Angeles page publishes no street address, only the 888 number. The address above comes from the bar record.
Head office45 Regency Plaza, Glen Mills, Pennsylvania
Phone888.611.5481 on the site. The State Bar of California record and his directory profile both give 888-830-1474.
Entity nameThe site masthead reads Timothy Abeel & Associates, P.C. and the footer reads LLC
TeamTimothy J. Abeel Jr. as managing partner, John A. Sczepanski as partner, a Florida managing partner, one associate, paralegal and intake staff, and around eighteen of counsel attorneys tied to named states
California coverageNone of the of counsel attorneys on the team page is designated for California
Google listingNo verified Google Business Profile surfaced for the Los Angeles address during this update
Practice and scope
Core workLemon law and warranty claims only, described as the firm’s exclusive focus
ReachLocation pages for all fifty states and Washington DC, with California city pages for Los Angeles, Glendale, Orange County, Fresno, Sacramento, San Francisco and San Jose
Intake limitThe case review form accepts model years 2022 to 2026 and the site banner says 2023 to 2027. Older vehicles are not routed through the form.
ToolsA buyback calculator, a problem vehicle search and a ten point lemon law tips page
RV workKeeps a separate recreational vehicle lemon law page, which several California-only firms do not
Page currencyThe Los Angeles page was last updated in October 2025. It explains the 18 month or 18,000 mile presumption window but does not mention the 2025 changes to the filing deadline or the pre-suit notice requirement.
Credentials and licensing
State Bar of CaliforniaTimothy J. Abeel Jr., licence number 331275, admitted 1 June 2020, status Active, no discipline shown
PennsylvaniaAttorney ID 209961, admitted 15 April 2009, active, no pending proceedings and no disciplinary history
Other admissionsNew Jersey 2008, Ohio 2021, Arizona 2022, Michigan 2025 and Texas 2025, each shown as active with no misconduct found
Law schoolWidener University Delaware School of Law
PartnerJohn A. Sczepanski, Pennsylvania attorney ID 324439, admitted 16 October 2017, active with no disciplinary history
InsuranceThe Pennsylvania record shows professional liability cover of at least $100,000 per occurrence and $300,000 in the aggregate, which Pennsylvania requires attorneys to declare
RecognitionAvvo Clients’ Choice awards for 2016, 2017 and 2019, and a Super Lawyers Rising Star listing, per his directory profile. Inclusion in a list is not a rating of skill.
Fees and consultation
StructureNo fee to the client. The firm states California’s fee shifting provisions require the manufacturer to pay its fees and costs and that there are no out of pocket costs.
Why that worksCivil Code section 1794(d), the same provision the other two firms rely on
ConsultationFree case review through a four step online form. His directory profile lists a free consultation of up to 60 minutes.
ContingencyThe Los Angeles page describes the arrangement as contingency, paid only on a win or settlement
What clients say
· No verified Los Angeles review base found
· Testimonials are firm-selected
✓ Speed of buyback is the recurring claim
✓ Reviewers name Tim personally
These come from testimonials the firm publishes on its own site rather than from a verified platform, and no Google listing for the Los Angeles address surfaced during this update. What the selected testimonials describe is pace: one buyback agreed inside a month, another refund secured within 14 days, and replies to email late in the evening. Treat them as the firm’s own selection and ask for California client references before you sign.
Why they fit Los Angeles: Worth the call when the lemon problem does not stay inside California: you bought in Arizona and moved to Los Angeles, the manufacturer is fighting on two fronts, or you want one firm holding the file through a relocation. Seven state licences with no misconduct on any of them is a real credential and one you can check yourself in ten minutes. The caveats are all about local presence. The Los Angeles page names no California attorney, no California of counsel appears on the team page, the site publishes no California street address even though the bar record carries one, the intake form only accepts model years 2022 and newer, and no verified Google review base surfaced for the Los Angeles office. Ask who would actually stand up at a hearing in Los Angeles County Superior Court.
What to check before hiring a Lemon Law Lawyer in Los Angeles
✓ Look up the licence yourself, it takes two minutes
The State Bar of California runs a free licensee search showing licence number, admission date, current status and any public discipline. Search the individual attorney who will sign your retainer, not the firm name. Only one of the three firms on this page publishes a licence number anywhere on its own site.
✓ Work out your mileage offset before the first call
Find the odometer reading on the repair order for your first visit about the defect. Divide it by 120,000 and multiply by what you paid. That is roughly what comes off your refund, and it is set by statute rather than by negotiation. Knowing the number stops a firm from quoting you a headline figure you will not actually receive.
✓ Check whether your manufacturer opted in
SB 26 made the new pre-suit procedure optional for manufacturers, and those that elect in are bound for a five year term. The Department of Consumer Affairs publishes the list each December. Whether your automaker is on it decides whether you owe a 30 day written notice and an early mediation before you can sue for civil penalties.
✓ Put your delivery date against the new deadline
For vehicles caught by AB 1755 the claim must be filed within one year after the express warranty expires and never later than six years after first delivery. If you are driving a car delivered five years ago on a five year powertrain warranty, that window may be months rather than years. Raise the date on the first call, not the third.
✓ Ask whether your car is still covered at all
After the 2024 Supreme Court decision in Rodriguez v. FCA, a used car sold with only the balance of the original factory warranty is generally not a new motor vehicle, so the refund-or-replace remedy does not apply to it. Certified pre-owned cars and cars issued a fresh warranty usually still qualify. One firm on this page is not taking used car cases at all right now.
✓ Try the free arbitration first if your make has one
State-certified arbitration costs nothing and usually decides within 40 days. It also matters procedurally: if your manufacturer runs a certified program, you have to use it before you can rely on the lemon law presumption in court. Honda, Acura, Lexus, Subaru, Volvo and Mitsubishi run no certified program in California, so their owners skip this step.
Lemon Law Lawyers in Los Angeles: frequently asked questions
What does a Los Angeles lemon law lawyer actually cost?
Nothing out of your pocket, at any of the three firms here. California Civil Code section 1794(d) lets a buyer who wins recover attorney fees and costs from the manufacturer, so lemon firms bill the automaker rather than you. That is the whole business model, and it is why every lemon law site in the state says the same thing. What it does not mean is that a buyback returns every dollar you paid. The mileage offset comes out regardless, and no lawyer can remove it.
How much will the manufacturer deduct from my refund?
Use the statutory formula. Take the odometer reading at your first repair visit for the defect, divide by 120,000, and multiply by the purchase price. A $50,000 car first brought in at 8,000 miles gives a deduction of about $3,333. Miles you drive after that first visit do not count, which is why the date of the earliest repair order matters so much. Under the Supreme Court’s decision in Niedermeier v. FCA, what you got for trading the car in is not deducted on top.
How long do I have to file a lemon law claim in California now?
Less time than most pages say. AB 1755 took effect on 1 January 2025 and sets the deadline at one year after the express warranty expires, with an absolute cutoff six years after the vehicle was first delivered. The old rule was four years from when you discovered the defect. If you also want civil penalties from a manufacturer that opted in under SB 26, you must send written notice at least 30 days before filing, giving your name, the VIN and a summary of the repair history.
Does the California lemon law still cover used cars?
Much less than it did. In Rodriguez v. FCA US, decided in 2024, the California Supreme Court held that a used vehicle carrying only the remaining balance of the original factory warranty is not a new motor vehicle, so the refund-or-replace remedy does not reach it. Certified pre-owned cars and cars sold with a fresh warranty generally still qualify. Other routes remain, including the 30 day repair provision, the federal Magnuson-Moss Warranty Act and claims against the dealer, but they are different cases with different remedies.
Do I have to go to arbitration before suing?
Only if your manufacturer runs a state-certified program, and only if you want the benefit of the lemon law presumption in court. Three programs are certified in California and between them cover most major makes. Arbitration is free, a decision usually lands within 40 days, and you do not need a lawyer to file. Honda, Acura, Lexus, Subaru, Volvo and Mitsubishi run no certified program here, so their owners can go straight to court or try free mediation through the New Motor Vehicle Board.
How many repair attempts before my car counts as a lemon?
There is no single number, but there is a presumption. Within the first 18 months or 18,000 miles, the law presumes a lemon if the dealer made two or more attempts at a defect likely to cause death or serious injury after written notice, four or more attempts at the same substantial defect, or the vehicle was out of service for repairs for more than 30 cumulative days. Outside that window you can still win, you just have to prove that the number of attempts was unreasonable rather than lean on the presumption.
DJA Editorial
Legal Directory Research
Compiles Distinguished Justice Advocates city guides from state bar licensee records, statutes and agency sources, and publicly visible client reviews. Firms appear as a shortlist rather than a ranking. Figures a firm publishes about itself are labelled as such, and anything that could not be verified is flagged on the page rather than estimated.
Sources and method
- State Bar of California licensee search: licence numbers, admission dates, current status and public discipline for each named California attorney, with anything unconfirmed flagged on the page.
- Pennsylvania Disciplinary Board attorney records: admission dates, status and disciplinary history for the Pennsylvania-admitted attorneys at the national firm.
- Firm websites, attorney bios and intake forms: office addresses, phone numbers, named attorneys, practice scope, published results, consultation policy and case acceptance limits.
- Google Business Profile listings for each firm’s Los Angeles office: ratings, review counts, opening hours and the review text behind the client themes.
- California Civil Code sections 1793.2, 1793.22 and 1794: the refund-or-replace remedy, the mileage offset formula, the lemon law presumption, civil penalties and the fee shifting provision.
- Assembly Bill 1755, Senate Bill 26 and Code of Civil Procedure section 871.26: the 2025 filing deadline, the 30 day pre-suit notice, the early mediation track and the manufacturer opt-in.
- Rodriguez v. FCA US, LLC and Niedermeier v. FCA US, LLC, both decided by the California Supreme Court in 2024: used vehicle coverage and what may be deducted from restitution.
- California Department of Consumer Affairs Arbitration Certification Program and the New Motor Vehicle Board: the certified arbitration programs, which manufacturers participate, timelines and the free mediation route.
