The Lemon Law Practical Guide

My name is Tabatha Branch, and for more than twenty five years I practiced law as a plaintiff's attorney in Arkansas and Texas. I represented people, not companies. My clients were teachers and truck drivers and nurses and grandparents, everyday folks who had been treated badly and did not know where to turn. I sat across from them at my desk, listened to their stories, and then went to work.

I loved helping people. That is the plain truth of it. There is no feeling quite like taking someone who walked into your office beaten down and confused and watching them walk out standing a little taller because somebody finally took their side. That is what kept me going through long days and stubborn cases.

Most of my work centered on vehicles. Cars and trucks are the second biggest purchase most families ever make, right after a house, and they are also the purchase where people are most vulnerable. You walk onto a lot, you are tired, you are hopeful, and you are dealing with a salesperson who does this every single day. The deck is stacked before you even sit down.

I wanted to protect the consumer. That was the whole of it. The law gave me tools to do that, and I used them. But over the years I came to understand that the tools only help if people know they exist and know how to pick them up.

Consumers were getting scammed, and often they did not find out until months later when the transmission failed or the paint blistered or the insurance company refused to cover a car with a salvage history. By then the dealer had their money and the buyer was left holding a problem that was worth far less than what they paid.

That is why I wrote this book. I want you to know what to look for before you sign, and what to do if you have already signed. I want you to understand the law well enough to ask the right questions, keep the right records, and stand your ground when somebody tries to brush you off.