Florida Attorney General - Volume 7, Issue 22

Publication of the Office of the Attorney General • Volume 7, Issue 22 • June 5, 2009

Sunny Outlook for Lemon Law Concerns

Over the past few weeks, many of our state's auto owners have been concerned about their protection under Florida's Lemon Law. Earlier this week, I was pleased to announce that under the approved sale agreement for Chrysler, the new Chrysler Group LLC will honor the Lemon Law obligations to Chrysler, Dodge and Jeep buyers.

This development, negotiated by my office and several other attorneys general, was a significant victory for consumers who may need to seek recourse under the Lemon Law. Florida's Lemon Law protects consumers for 24 months after buying or long-term leasing a new or demonstrator vehicle. My office's Lemon Law Arbitration Program, which celebrated its 20th anniversary last July, has recovered over $385 million for consumers since its inception.

Our state's auto owners deserve the protection from defective vehicles provided by Florida's Lemon Law. As Attorney General, I will continue working with other attorneys general to protect consumers’ Lemon Law rights.

Hover over each image for a larger size.

A Pensacola man has been arrested on charges of possessing and promoting child pornography. Michael Whaley was taken into custody today by law enforcement with the Attorney General's CyberCrime Unit and the U.S. Marshall Service's Fugitive Task Force.

Florida Attorney General McCollum announced the new Chrysler Group LLC has agreed to honor the Lemon Law rights of Chrysler, Dodge and Jeep buyers when the new company effectively takes control of Chrysler. The new Chrysler Group LLC will be owned by the Italian automaker Fiat, the United Auto Workers, and the U.S. and Canada. The Sale Order was approved earlier this week.

On the opening day of the 2009 Atlantic hurricane season, Attorney General McCollum joined the American Red Cross to encourage Florida residents and guests to prepare early for hurricanes, thereby avoiding scams like price gouging when storms develop. The Attorney General noted that aside from the physical devastation storms can cause, hurricane season is also a time when con artists try to capitalize on the vulnerabilities of storm victims by price gouging on essential supplies such as food, water, ice, gasoline or a place to stay during an evacuation.

A Manatee County gang member was sentenced to 30 years in prison for criminal charges of racketeering and conspiracy to commit racketeering. Keith Pahrm was a member of the Third Shift criminal street gang operating in Manatee County. Pahrm and 11 co-defendants are being prosecuted for their criminal activities by the Attorney General’s Office of Statewide Prosecution.

A Gadsden County woman is in custody after she defrauded the Florida Medicaid Program out of more than $6,000. Tyesha Bradwell, a health technician at the Veteran Affairs outpatient clinic in Tallahassee, was arrested today by law enforcement officers with the Attorney General's Medicaid Fraud Control Unit.

A Miami-Dade County man has been arrested for defrauding the Florida Medicaid Program out of more than $44,000. Jorge Alonso was arrested today by law enforcement officers with the Attorney General's Medicaid Fraud Control Unit.

Manatee County Gang Member Gets 30 Years in Prison

McCollum Commends Productivity Award Winners for Millions of Dollars in Savings, Recoveries to Florida's Public

Veteran Affairs Health Technician Arrested for Defrauding Florida Medicaid Program

Pensacola Man Arrested for Possession, Promotion of Child Pornography

Miami-Dade Man Arrested for Defrauding Florida Medicaid Program

McCollum Applauds New Chrysler Group for Honoring "Lemon Law" Obligations

Attorney General, American Red Cross: Prepare For Hurricane Season Early To Prevent Scams

Attorney General McCollum applauded members of his staff for winning 21 Prudential - Davis Productivity Awards for both team and individual efforts to increase productivity and save money for Florida taxpayers and businesses. The estimated total savings from the productivity improvements, innovations, consumer recoveries and potential future savings is nearly $290 million. Last year, the Attorney General’s Office received 17 awards, a significant increase over the past 20 years’ collective total of 21 awards.