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You waited a long time to get that gorgeous boat so you could spend afternoons on the lake and Saturdays boating in the Pacific Ocean. But then you realize something’s wrong with the engine and you’re spending more time in dry dock for repairs than you are on the water. What a disappointment! If this has happened to you, contact a boat lemon law lawyer at Neale & Fhima. There may be a legal remedy.
Many people don’t know this, but California’s Lemon Law applies to boats as well as your vehicles. This act was passed by the California General Assembly to protect unsuspecting consumers who buy defective boats and vehicles in good faith and don’t find out about the defects until after they sign the sales contract. The boat lemon law in California is consumer-friendly, and it was established to give boat buyers legal recourse if they’ve been stuck with a lemon. If you find yourself in a situation that involves a faulty boat, contacting a boat accident lawyer might be essential. This means you don’t have to put up with a defective watercraft.
California has one of the most extensive boat lemon laws in the nation to ensure consumer protection. If it turns out that your watercraft is a lemon, your options are (1) to have the manufacturer repurchase or replace your boat or (2) negotiate a cash settlement with the boat manufacturer. Find out more in: What to Do if You Have a Lemon.
If you’ve recently purchased a vessel that turns out to be defective or has chronic mechanical problems, contact a boat lemon law attorney at Neale & Fhima. As experts in lemon law firm expertise, we’re here to help. We offer a free initial consultation, so call us today at 888-407-2955.
The Boat Lemon Law Claims Process
The California Lemon Law for Boats helps consumers who purchase watercraft with a defect or series of defects that compromise the safety, usefulness or resale value of the boat. Consumers can obtain relief by requiring boat manufacturers (such as Stingray, Jeanneau, Maritimo, Custom-Craft and many others) to replace or reimburse them for the vessel, including purchase price and cost of repairs. Your vessel may qualify under the law if boat dealers or authorized repair facilities could not adequately correct the defect after repeated attempts. The boat lemon law covers large and small vessels – from jet skis to yachts and everything in between. The process starts by sending a demand letter to your watercraft’s manufacturer. One of our boat lemon law attorneys at Neale & Fhima can do this on your behalf. At Neale & Fhima, we pride ourselves on creating legal strategies that win. We have achieved a 99% success rate on behalf of our clients. Find out more in: The Lemon Law Claims Process.
Our boat lemon law attorneys work on contingency, our fees are paid by the manufacturer as part of a settlement agreement or jury award. If for some reason your claim is not successful, then you owe us nothing.
Neale & Fhima has achieved a 99% success rate on behalf of our clients.
When a Boat Is a Lemon
A “lemon” boat or watercraft is one that has constant issues that need repair or diminish the value of your vessel. Whether it has leaks, faulty navigation, poor floatation or a motor that only starts once in a while, these boats suffer from chronic flaws no matter how many times you take them in for repairs. To qualify under the boat lemon law, you may need to consult with a trusted lemon law lawyer, you must have a warranty on your vessel. Find out more in: Do You Have a Lemon?
For a claim to prevail under California Lemon Law, officially known as the Song-Beverly Consumer Warranty Act, you will have to show that you made “reasonable attempts” to have your watercraft repaired by boat dealerships or certified boat repair facilities, so you will want to keep all receipts, work orders and used parts from every repair appointment. California law does not define “reasonable attempts” with precision, but there are guidelines that a boat lemon law attorney can explain in greater detail.
What Is the Boat Lemon Law Statute of Limitations?
The statute of limitations for filing a lemon law claim in California is four years from the date you knew or should have known that the boat was a lemon. This does not mean that if you have had your boat for more than 4 years, you cannot bring a lemon law claim. Our attorneys at Neale & Fhima have successfully “lemoned” vehicles and boats that are over 10 years old. If you have purchased or leased a lemon, you’ll want to start the buyback process as soon as possible. After the statute of limitations has passed, a judge may dismiss your case, but don’t hesitate to contact our team if you have questions about the statute of limitations. Collect copies of your repair bills, work orders, and receipts and call a skilled lemon law lawyer today.
California’s Lemon Law Applies to Boats
Generally, any vessel sold with a valid warranty qualifies under California’s boat lemon law. This includes boats that do not have motors. Some types of vessels include:
- Jet skis
- Catamarans
- Yachts
- Speed boats
- Sail boats
- Fishing boats
- Motor boats
- Pontoon boats
- Pleasure craft.
The Lemon Law in California stipulates that eligible vessels must have “nonconformities,” which are defined as any defect or malfunction that is covered by the boat manufacturer’s original warranty. Just as accident claim lawyers handle issues related to accidents, a skilled and experienced boat lemon law attorney focuses on these nonconformities, which can compromise the use, value, or safety of the watercraft. They can explain such issues in greater detail and help you decide whether or not you have a legal claim.
Neale & Fhima can successfully pursue lemon law claims for boats as well as vehicles. We’ll fight aggressively to get the justice you deserve.
Call Our Attorneys Today
Our lemon law attorneys at Neale & Fhima are highly skilled and experienced. We’ve helped many boat owners by taking these cases to court and winning. Our clients love us, as you can see in these testimonials. Our legal team is among the best and the brightest, and we provide outstanding client service. There are a lot of attorneys out there, but here are a few of the reasons you should choose us:
- Experience. Our attorneys have more than 40 years of combined experience representing clients.
- Results. We have achieved a 99 percent success rate on behalf of our clients.
- Free Consultations. We will always discuss your watercraft situation with you in a free initial consultation before you make any decisions about a claim.
- Remote Availability. We settle most Lemon Law cases without our clients’ ever having to step into our office. If you live near one of our offices in Dana Point, San Diego, or Los Angeles, we welcome you to come meet with us in person. If you live somewhere else within the state, we’ll be happy to discuss over the phone.
If you have been stuck with a defective yacht, jet ski, pontoon, sailboat or other watercraft, you should talk to one of our boat lemon law attorneys. You don’t have to put up with repeated and unsuccessful trips to the boat repair shop. Call Neale & Fhima today at 888-407-2955.
Attorney Aaron Fhima
Aaron Fhima is a trial attorney who has secured numerous settlements and verdicts against large corporations and some of the largest auto manufacturers in the world. Representing consumers and injury victims throughout the state of California, Aaron’s practice areas include personal injury, and lemon law litigation. Aaron has a long record of success taking on large defense firms; and he doesn’t hesitate to take cases to trial when necessary to enforce his clients’ rights. [ Attorney Bio ]
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At Neale & Fhima, we have extensive experience helping clients file successful Lemon Law and Personal Injury claims. We offer free consultations for clients who need assistance with either claim.
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