Lemon Law Legal Help Comes to Massachusetts

TOPSFIELD, Mass., Jan. 27, 2005 -- Kimmel & Silverman, a nationally recognized consumer advocacy firm that has provided cost-free legal help to more than 30,000 consumers over the last decade; has expanded into Massachusetts. The firm has opened an office in Topsfield, MA, and is the first law firm to offer free lemon law and breach of warranty assistance to distressed drivers throughout The Old Bay State.

With full-service offices in Ambler, PA; Pittsburgh, PA; Cherry Hill, NJ; Owings Mills, MD; and Wilmington, DE; Kimmel & Silverman has been helping consumers fight for their rights under the State Lemon Laws and the Federal Warranty Statutes since 1991. The Firm has grown to include nineteen attorneys, five ASE-certified mechanics and a support staff of over 50 professionals; and is the only lemon law firm ever honored by the American Bar Association. Kimmel & Silverman currently handles one in four lemon law claims filed in the nation, recovering more than $125 million for consumers, making it the largest practice of its sort in the nation. In addition, the Firm lobbies extensively for additional consumer protection and has been involved in the passing of several House Bills. Currently, the firm is making headlines for its role in developing the first-ever Computer Lemon Law.

"Consumers are often not aware that State and Federal Laws provide provisions which enable us to represent consumers for free," says Craig Thor Kimmel, Managing Partner of the Firm. "Many drivers invest significant monies into automobiles and then feel like they have nowhere to turn when they suffer significant and continuous repair problems. Our firm provides assistance at no additional cost, handling almost all correspondence through telephone, Internet, and postal mail. Best of all, we require minimal participation from the client."

Jerril J. Krowen, Esq., a nationally recognized consumer attorney for more than three decades, will manage the Massachusetts office. Mr. Krowen has previously worked as a Special Assistant for the MA Attorney General and served on the Board of Directors for the Better Business Bureau. He also manages his own firm, handling family law and all other general areas of practice, including real estate and collections. A graduate of Fairleigh Dickinson University, he earned his J.D. from New England School of Law and is a member of the Massachusetts, Boston, Essex County and North Suffolk County Bar Associations.

Jacqueline Bradford Porro, Esq. has joined the firm as an associate. Ms. Porro graduated from Providence College magna cum laude with a B.A. in political science and theatre arts. She received her J.D. from Fordham University School of Law where she wrote for the Fordham International Journal of Law. While in law school, Ms. Porro was a member of the Brendan Moore Trial Advocacy Team and interned at the United States Attorney's Office, Eastern District of New York. Before joining Kimmel and Silverman, she worked in Massachusetts as an Assistant District Attorney prosecuting criminal cases.

The Massachusetts Lemon Law provides assistance to drivers whose cars suffer a non-conformity that cannot be fixed after a reasonable number of repair attempts. The non-conformity must first be reported in the first 15,000 miles or 12 months, whichever comes first. The law also contains special provisions for used car buyers. The Magnuson Moss Warranty Act provides protection for consumers whose cars suffer a defect during the manufacturers' original or extended warranty period, which cannot be fixed despite reasonable repair attempts. Remedies under these Laws include full or partial refunds, extended warranties, or new vehicles. The Laws provide a fee shifting provision, which states that if the consumer prevails, the manufacturer must pay all the clients' attorney fees and legal costs, in addition to the award. If the consumer uses the Firm's services and doesn't prevail for whatever reason, there is still no charge.

For more information regarding Kimmel & Silverman, or to find out how to obtain cost-free lemon law help, visit their website, http://www.lemonlaw.com/ or call 1-800-LEMON-LAW (1-800-536-6652).