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Media

Some examples of National and Local Media which have contacted our office for information on the Wisconsin Lemon law as well as other automobile warranty claims:

Bring on Goliath: Lemon Law Justice in America
Drawing on 14 years of experience battling the auto industry, or as he calls it, “the Giant,” Attorney Vince Megna takes a revealing, informative and oftentimes humorous look at an industry motived by profit, the frustrations and victories of his consumer clients, and the relief available to lemon owners.

Bring on Goliath is simply the best book I have ever read on consumer justice in the matter of gaining compensation for cars that just don’t work.” –Warren Brown, The Washington Post

*available at Amazon.com, Barnes & Noble, or directly through the publisher, Ken Press, Ken@Kenpress.com.

The Washington Post
Attorney Megna was interviewed for the February 26, 2006 article “Recourse for when that Sweet Ride Turns Sour” in which he discusses the auto industry, various states’ lemon law, and resources for consumers.  The Washington Post calls Mr. Megna arguably, “America’s foremost Lemon Law lawyer.”

*This article also appears in The Atlanta Journal-Constitution, under “Consult a Lawyer if Your Car’s a Lemon” , on March 11, 2006.

The South Florida Business Journal
Attorney Megna was interviewed for the June 16, 2006 article, “Miami Lawyer is ‘Case in Point’ for Ethics Expert” wherein he discusses ethical standards for attorneys in regard to their clients, fees, and settlements.

JSOnline
Attorney Megna was interviewed for a March 20, 2006 article, “Lawyer has Terrible Luck with Lemons” in which he discusses his personal experience with his own lemon vehicles.

MJS and Lawyers USA
Articles “Lemon Worth $185,000" (1/17/06), and “Car Company Must Pay for Lemon” (3/30/06), featured in the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel as well as the article, “Lemon Law Specialist Lands Record $385,000 Verdict” (4/24/06), featured in Lawyers USA, reported on the lawsuit and verdict of Mortle, et al. v. DaimlerChrysler Corporation.  Both Attorney Megna and client Jim Mortle are quoted.  Mr. Mortle and his business partner, Mr. Kiriaki, purchased a 2003 Dodge Viper SRT-10 and shortly thereafter requested a refund from DaimlerChrysler due to ongoing problems with their vehicle.  DaimlerChrysler refused to provide relief.  The case went to trial and the jury found in favor of the plaintiffs.  DaimlerChrysler ended up paying out over $385,000.00 in damages.

CBS News' 48 Hours
Attorneys Pocan and Megna appeared on 48 Hours in a lemon law story which was televised in 1995 on an episode of the news magazine called "What Drives you Crazy?". CBS News came to Wisconsin to film Pocan and Megna both in their offices and in Court. The television show followed a Wisconsin consumer who had filed a lemon law action.

Kiplinger's Personal Finance Magazine
Attorney Megna is quoted in a lemon law story entitled "Drivers with Chronic Clunkers are Putting the Squeeze on Carmakers" that appeared in the September 2001 issue of Kiplinger's Personal Finance Magazine. The article reported on two cases handled by Jastroch & LaBarge, S.C. In the first case, Ford was required to pay the clients $40,806.00 for their $16,508.00 Tracer. In the second case, Kia paid $27,800.00 for the client's $12,609.00 car.

Lawyers Weekly U.S.A.
Attorney Megna is named one of 10 “Lawyers of the Year” in the December 22, 2003 edition in the article “Landmark Cases, Tobacco Suits and Tort Wars Spotlight Small Firm Lawyers” where he is recognized for “...representing the ‘average Joe’...” and for embarking “...on a national crusade against automotive lemons.”

CNN
Attorney Megna was consulted by CNN Business News for the June 30, 2004 article “Dealing with a Lemon 5 Tips: Lemon Laws and How They Can Help.” The article discusses what a consumer can do if he or she purchases a lemon.

Washington Post
Attorney Megna was interviewed for the December 2, 2003 article “Some Lemon Laws are Really Lemons,” in which he discusses the effectiveness of various states’ lemon laws.

Bloomberg Television
Attorney Megna was interviewed on Bloomberg Personal Finance on October 14, 2003 where he discussed both his book Bring on Goliath: Lemon Law Justice in America as well as the auto industry and what a consumer can do if he or she has a lemon.

The Tennessean
Attorney Megna is quoted in the June 27, 2005 article “Spotting Sour Deals” that highlights the limited legal protection for those consumers purchasing used vehicles in which manufacturers’ warranties have expired.

The Detroit Free Press reported on engine noise in certain GM trucks in the November 14, 2003 article “Customers Knock GM on Noisy Engines.” This article includes our clients’ case Martiny, et al. v. General Motors Corporation, which eventually settled for $20,150.00 in damages, plus payoff of the consumers’ loan and attorney fees.

Various news sources including U.S.A. Today, Chicago Sun Times, CNN, Automotive News and the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel, reported on the lawsuit Garcia v. Mazda Motors of America, Inc., et. al. and followed our client’s case through the years. Garcia had lost at both circuit court and the State Court of Appeals but was victorious in the State Supreme Court which overruled the previous courts’ decisions; her case returned to the circuit court. She ultimately settled the matter with Mazda in July of 2005 for $60,900.00, double what she had paid for her 2001 Tribute.

The Madison Capital Times reported on the Wisconsin District II Court of Appeals ruling in Kiss v. General Motors Corporation in the article “Lemon Law’ Case is Won By a Trucker”, which appeared in the May 10, 2001 edition. This ruling was also reported in the article “Court Overturns ‘Lemon Law’ Ruling” in the May 11, 2001 edition of the Waukesha Freeman.

The Wisconsin State Journal inteviewed Attorney Megna for an article entitled "Court Rules Against Saturn Corporation" appearing in the June 22, 2000 edition, relating to the Jastroch & LaBarge case of Chariton v. Saturn Corporation. The Wisconsin Court of Appeals ruled in favor of Ms. Chariton (and all Wisconsin consumers) by prohibiting manufacturers from requiring consumers to sign a general release in settlement of prelitigation settlement.

Automotive News
In the March 5, 2001 edition of Automotive News, Attorney Pocan is quoted in a lemon law article titled "Ford Loses Lemon Law Appeal". The case featured in the article is Herzberg v. Ford Motor Company, which Ford had appealed after Jastroch & LaBarge, S.C. had won in the trial court. The article points out that the Court of Appeals had affirmed the trial court that had awarded the Jastroch & LaBarge clients $34,416.00, which was twice the purchase price, tax and finance charges, plus attorney fees, interest and court costs.

In the June 3, 2000 edition of Automotive News, Attorney Megna is quoted in an article entitled "Wisconsin Court Let Lemon Law Suit Proceed." This article follows the Jastroch & LaBarge case of Dieter v. Chrysler Corporation all the way to the Wisconsin Supreme Court. Dieter had lost at both the trial court and the Court of Appeals. However, the Supreme Court reversed the lower court and ruled in favor of Dieter. The Dieter case protects all Wisconsin consumers who purchase new vehicles with known damage or problems at the time of delivery.

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JASTROCH & LaBARGE, S.C.
640 W. Moreland Blvd. — Waukesha, WI 53188
(262) 547-2611Toll Free 877-635-6220

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