Lemon Law: A Historical Background
John J. Woodcock III, a Connecticut State Representative, was the promoter of the first "Lemon Law" ratified in the United States. Governor William A. O'Neill signed the bill (PA 82-287) into law on June 4, 1982. This is an Act Concerning Automobile Warranties provided "for a statutory warranty of two years or twenty-four thousand miles, whichever is less, on new cars sold in this state and.. require [d] the replacement of vehicles under guarantee when repeated attempts to repair them are failed." (Connecticut General Assembly. Legislative Record Index, Final Edition, Regular Session, February 1982 . . .). The so-called Lemon Law II passed in May 1984 establishing an "independent arbitration modus operandi within the Department of Consumer Protection." (Connecticut General Assembly. Legislative Record Index, Final Edition, Regular Session, February 1984, . . .).
President Ronald Reagan's policy of deregulation left consumers caused to undergo fraud and other abuses by manufacturers. A federal law, the Magnuson-Moss Warranty Act of 1975, and Uniform Commercial Codes provided some protection for the consumer, however the way in which these laws were written meant the consumer usually ended up filing a claim against the manufacturer. Seeking reimbursement under either statute led to "frustration, delays, expense and uncertainty." (Kegley and Hiller, 1986, p. 88). As a result, there was a need for a more consumer-friendly procedure.
In 1980, California tried to pass a lemon law but the automobile dealers and manufacturers prevented the bill's passage. John J. Woodcock III, a relatively new member of the state legislature instigated the similar legislation in Connecticut based on cases he handled in his private law practice. He observed an increase in cases concerning poorly made vehicles. He studied case law and saw that consumers had no legal option for their grievances............
