Rutledge Issues Statement on Passage of Farm Equipment Lemon Law
March 28th, 2019 by Submitted
Arkansas Attorney General Leslie Rutledge today released the below statement following the Arkansas Legislature’s passage of the Farm Machinery Quality Assurance Act that will provide “lemon law” type protection to consumers in the purchase of new self-propelled farm machinery and equipment which do not conform to the manufacturer’s warranty and attempts to repair the problem fail.
“Farm equipment is a major and necessary expense for farmers, often costing thousands, even hundreds of thousands of dollars,” said Attorney General Rutledge. “But when that equipment doesn’t work and can’t be repaired, it can be disastrous. With the passage of the Farm Machinery Quality Assurance Act, farmers are no longer vulnerable to potentially devastating financial losses due to faulty equipment.”
The Farm Machinery Quality Assurance Act applies to new self-propelled equipment over 25 horsepower that is typically used for agricultural purposes. It requires the consumer to notify the manufacturer of nonconforming issues within 1 year of purchase or 600 hours of operation of the equipment. Similar to the motor vehicle lemon law, the manufacturer then has three opportunities to repair the problem. If the repair attempts are unsuccessful, the consumer has the right to a refund or replacement of the equipment.
The bill has passed both chambers of the legislature and will now go to the governor for his signature to become law.
About Attorney General Leslie Rutledge
Leslie Carol Rutledge is the 56th Attorney General of Arkansas. Elected on November 4, 2014, and sworn in on January 13, 2015, she is the first woman and first Republican in Arkansas history to be elected as Attorney General. She was resoundingly re-elected on November 6, 2018. Since taking office, she has significantly increased the number of arrests and convictions against online predators who exploit children and con artists who steal taxpayer money through Social Security Disability and Medicaid fraud. Further, she has held Rutledge Roundtable meetings and Mobile Office hours in every county of the State each year, and launched a Military and Veterans Initiative. She has led efforts to roll back government regulations that hurt job creators, fight the opioid epidemic, teach internet safety, combat domestic violence and make the office the top law firm for Arkansans. Rutledge serves as Chairwoman of the National Association of Attorneys General Southern Region and re-established and co-chairs the National Association of Attorneys General Committee on Agriculture. As the former Chairwoman of the Republican Attorneys General Association, she remains active on the Executive Board.
A native of Batesville, she is a graduate of the University of Arkansas at Fayetteville and the University of Arkansas at Little Rock William H. Bowen School of Law. Rutledge clerked for the Arkansas Court of Appeals, was Deputy Counsel for former Governor Mike Huckabee, served as a Deputy Prosecuting Attorney in Lonoke County and was an Attorney at the Department of Human Services before serving as Counsel at the Republican National Committee. Rutledge and her husband, Boyce, have one daughter. The family has a home in Pulaski County and a farm in Crittenden County.
Choose another article
Newer article: Connelley Family Medical, “A Passion for Healing”
Older article: HJS Cheerleaders Announcemef
