auto dealer in black and red logo
MenuMENU
SearchSEARCH

‘King of Lemon Laws’ Files Suit Against Tesla

Wisconsin Attorney Vince Megna filed a lawsuit against Tesla Motors this week, claiming that the car it sold to his client was a lemon.

‘King of Lemon Laws’ Files Suit Against Tesla

 

2 min to read


MADISON, Wis. — Wisconsin’s self-proclaimed “King of Lemon Laws” filed a lawsuit against Tesla Motors this week, claiming that the electric automaker failed to refund his client for a defective vehicle.

Starting in November, Robert Montgomery of Franklin, Wis., sent Tesla three separate notices requesting that he be given a refund calculated in accordance with the state’s Lemon Law. According to the complaint filed by attorney Vince Megna on Monday, Montgomery’s 2013 Tesla SP Sedan experienced a litany of problems such as malfunctioning door handles, inoperative controls, fuse problems and failure to start, among others.

“This Tesla turned out to be a lemon and it was in the shop for 66 days during the first five months,” Megna told F&I and Showroom. “[Montgomery] just drives it around town; doesn't even take it out even a hundred miles because you never know when it’s going to break down or not start.”

Tesla did not respond to Montgomery’s notices within the 30 days allotted by state law. Megna, who has been working lemon law cases since the 1990s, said this entitles his client to double damages — in this case, about $200,000 plus attorney’s fees. The Tesla SP Sedan cost Montgomery $94,770 plus taxes and fees, according to the complaint. 

The lawsuit garnered media attention on Monday after Megna uploaded a humorous YouTube video promoting the case. The video, which has racked up more than 22,000 views since it was posted, follows Megna as he heads to the Milwaukee courthouse to file the complaint. Along the way, he stops to chat with a cardboard cutout of acclaimed actor and former Tesla owner George Clooney that was seemingly left on the side of the road.

“You were one of the first cats to own a Tesla,” Megna says to the cardboard cutout. “I know you had problems. It put you on the side of the road a lot. Do you need a ride?”

Megna said his office has been inundated with calls since the video was uploaded. In fact, the clip is about to get international attention, as it will be part of a South Korean documentary on American lemon laws, Megna said. The attorney will also be interviewed by Fox News later this week.

The one person Megna hasn’t heard from yet is a representative from Tesla. The company will have 20 days to respond once it is served.

“They are being served in California, so the paperwork is headed out there to be served by a process server,” Megna said. “But they definitely know about it.”

Originally posted on F&I and Showroom

More Dealer Ops

Auto Dealer Today, Dealer Debrief, 07/15/2026, with Lauren Lawrence
Dealer Opsby Lauren LawrenceJuly 15, 2026

Dealer Debrief: Defection Data & EV Updates

In this week's debrief, host Lauren Lawrence discusses how to use defection data to your advantage and the latest on EV sales and charging infrastructure.

Read More →
Two professionals shake hands while exchanging a car key fob beside a vehicle, symbolizing a vehicle sale, lease agreement, or dealership transaction.
SponsoredJuly 8, 2026

How Defection Data is Bridging the Dealership Conversion Gap

Lead volume is flat, cross-shopping is up and brand loyalty is in retreat. As confident sales teams keep losing buyers they thought they had, daily industry sales data is showing dealers exactly where their funnel is breaking and how to fix it without buying a single new lead.

Read More →
Auto Dealer Today, Dealer Debrief, 07/02/2026 with Lauren Lawrence
Dealer Opsby Lauren LawrenceJuly 2, 2026

Dealer Debrief: Where are you losing customers?

In this week's debrief, host Lauren Lawrence discusses the hidden leaks in dealerships where you might be losing customers without even realizing it.

Read More →
Ad Loading...
Auto Dealer Today, Dealer Debrief, 06/25/2026, with Lauren Lawrence
Dealer Opsby Lauren LawrenceJune 26, 2026

Dealer Debrief: Improving Your Inventory Management

In this week's debrief, host Lauren Lawrence covers a new survey that shows what service technicians really want and two launches that could help improve your inventory and vehicle life cycle management.

Read More →
group of people standing in a circle holding puzzle pieces together
Dealer OpsJune 1, 2026

Ladies and Gentlemen, This Is a Dealership: Why the Fundamentals Still Decide Who Wins

A teaching moment by a legendary football coach happens to apply perfectly in the auto retail space. Learn what it is and how to use it to your store’s advantage.

Read More →
Cover image for a BOK Financial report titled “Timing the market: How avoiding volatility entirely can hurt long-term reinsurance program performance.” The image shows several road construction barricades with flashing amber warning lights lined up in a nighttime work zone. Beneath the image, red text explains that avoiding volatility can mean falling behind inflation and missing market rebounds that drive long-term surplus growth. The BOK Financial logo appears at the bottom right.
SponsoredMay 8, 2026

What Market Timing Mistakes Mean for Your Reinsurance Program

When volatility hits, dealer-owned reinsurance programs face a familiar temptation: pull back and wait for calmer waters. New data from BOK Financial shows why that instinct can quietly cost you years of surplus growth.

Read More →
Ad Loading...
two cars on a billboard, No Hidden Fees
ComplianceMay 1, 2026

Dealer Ads and the FTC

The agency has made it clear in recent enforcement actions and warnings, in auto retail and other industries, that advertised prices must include all nonoptional costs to the consumer.

Read More →
Closeup of white car's headlight, front end
Dealer Opsby Hannah MitchellApril 17, 2026

Used Autos Supply Dwindles

The March shopping surge, despite high prices, cut into inventory by the most since the thick of the pandemic, Cox Automotive analysts calculated.

Read More →
hands making protective frame over red car, Risk Reality Check, Be Proactive, Auto Dealer Today logo
Dealer OpsApril 1, 2026

Managing Risk Effectively Through Changing Times

The variables influencing risk pricing have changed significantly over the past five years. Being proactive and responsive to emerging trends is not optional but essential.

Read More →
Ad Loading...
Car key, stacks of coins, and a paper car cutout with AutoPayPlus logo, representing auto financing, loan terms, and vehicle affordability trends.
Dealer Opsby StaffMarch 31, 2026

Survey Reveals What Won't Fix What's Breaking Car Sales

AutoPayPlus says extra-long auto loans are trapping consumers and threatening the dealer trade-in cycle, and that the industry is leveraging the wrong tools to combat high MSRPs.

Read More →