Watch: Lemon Laws

Disclaimer: This resource is provided for general information purposes only, and shall not be construed as legal advice on any subject matter. Any advice we provide does not create an attorney-client relationship. We are not acting as your lawyer and are not barred to practice in your state. We would recommend connecting with a lawyer in your state if you are able. Legal advice is dependent upon the specific circumstances of each situation and the law may vary from state to state. Some information in this resource center may not be correct for your state or for your specific circumstances. This resource was prepared only in accordance with U.S. law and does not reflect the laws of any other country. Good Dog expressly disclaims all liability in respect of actions taken or not taken based on any or all of the contents in this resource center.

Transcript

Monica DeBosscher [0:00] Many states have some version of a puppy Lemon Law that requires sellers to provide certain guarantees for the puppies they sell. Usually the law provides for remedies if the puppy is found to be ill or carrying some kind of hereditary problem or disease within a certain period of time. Many of these laws include a provision that the rights created by the law are non-waveable. This means that even if your contract with a buyer doesn’t mention the Lemon Law, even if the buyer explicitly states in the contract that they waive all of their rights under the Lemon Law, or even if there is no written contract at all—chances are that if your state has a puppy Lemon Law, it will still apply to you. 

[0:47] About 22 states, including states like New Jersey, have Lemon Laws. We can see on this slide New Jersey’s example. Some common remedies that will apply to a breeder if there is an illness or a congenital or hereditary defect include things like replacement of the animal, maybe a refund of the purchase price, or reimbursement of vet expenses. New Jersey’s, you’ll see, is actually pretty generous to the buyer. A lot of states will cap the amount that you owe to a buyer to the purchase price of the dog. You’ll see here New Jersey caps it at a maximum of two times the purchase price, which is a little bit more generous than other states have. Again, these will vary state by state, so you’ll just want to check your state’s law.