California’s Lemon Law Update: What AB 1755 Means for Legal Professionals and How One Legal Supports This Change

On April 1, 2025, California’s Lemon Law underwent a significant procedural update with the enactment of Assembly Bill 1755 (AB 1755). The law introduces sweeping reforms designed to reduce court congestion, promote early dispute resolution, and clarify the expectations placed on both consumers and manufacturers.

For attorneys, paralegals, and legal administrators working on Lemon Law cases, these changes demand new workflows and tighter timelines. The good news? One Legal’s services are built to help legal teams adapt quickly and operate efficiently under the new framework.

Here’s a breakdown of the bill’s key changes—and how One Legal can be your litigation support partner through it all.

AB 1755: Key procedural changes to California’s Lemon Law

1. New pre-litigation notice requirement

Before a consumer can file for civil penalties under the Lemon Law, they must send a formal written notice to the vehicle manufacturer at least 30 days in advance.

The notice must include: 

• Full name and contact details

• Vehicle Identification Number (VIN)

• Repair history and description of defect(s)

• A request for repurchase or replacement

2. Streamlined discovery process

Within 60 days of filing suit, both parties must exchange a defined set of documents:

• Purchase/lease agreements

• Repair invoices and service logs

• All relevant correspondence

• Warranty paperwork and manufacturer communications

Beyond that, all other discovery pauses until mediation concludes.

3. Mandatory mediation is now in effect

Early resolution is no longer optional. AB 1755 mandates good-faith mediation between consumers and vehicle manufacturers early in the litigation process.

What this means for your team:

• Mediation must be scheduled within 90 days of the manufacturer’s response

• Mediation must be conducted within 150 days of the manufacturer’s response

This structured mediation period comes with a limited discovery window—codified in California Code of Civil Procedure § 871.26—where only specific documents and limited depositions are permitted.

After mediation, standard discovery resumes.

Manufacturer obligations upon notice:

• Acknowledge receipt of the consumer’s written demand

• Offer restitution or replacement within 30 days of receiving the consumer’s written notice

• Complete the restitution or replacement within 60 days of receiving the notice

• This notice step is a critical threshold—and one that must be documented and executed precisely.

4. Clearer civil penalties guidelines

The statute also sharpens the criteria for civil penalties when manufacturers act in bad faith, which benefits claimants and counsel alike by removing ambiguity from potential damage calculations.

How One Legal helps you stay efficient

With increased pressure on timelines, stricter notice procedures, and mandated mediation windows, execution matters more than ever. That’s where One Legal delivers measurable value to Lemon Law firms.

Meet pre-litigation notice requirements with confidence

AB 1755’s 30-day pre-filing notice is non-negotiable. If you currently manage physical mailing in-house, consider offloading this task by using One Legal’s Service by Mail.

Service by Mail:

Avoid the cost and administrative burden of printing and mailing your own documents, not to mention the inconvenience of a last-minute drive to the post office. One Legal has a dedicated team with an office setup ready for handling physical mailing, ensuring your notice is mailed within one business day.

You’ll know the moment the manufacturer acknowledges receipt, so your team can move on to the next stage of the case without delay. If the manufacturer fails to respond within 30 days, you’ll have proof to back your attempted notice and can proceed to scheduling mediation.

Streamline discovery exchanges with One Legal

The bill mandates strict document exchange timelines. When you choose eService through One Legal, you can easily and efficiently manage the process of sharing all required documents, no matter how large or cumbersome.

One Legal’s platform helps legal teams stay organized:

• Consolidated view of all shared documents and their status.

• Shared documents are already in electronic format and can be quickly disseminated to everyone in the firm who needs to see them.

• No more digging through folders or inboxes to find what’s been shared and when.

Support when litigation moves forward: File and serve from one platform

When pre-litigation efforts don’t lead to resolution, One Legal helps you take that next step—whether you’re filing the complaint, serving the manufacturer, or submitting a motion down the line. You can handle it all in one place, without bouncing between systems.

How One Legal supports legal teams:

• eFiling coverage in all eFiling-enabled California superior courts

• Physical filing handled by experienced court runners for eFiling exempt documents and courts that don’t accept electronic submissions

• Same-day CT/CSC service at no extra charge when placed by 11 a.m.

• Service of multiple recipients at the same address at a reduced rate

• Courtesy copy delivery to any California courtroom—printed, assembled, and hand-delivered by experienced court professionals, with proof of delivery included

• Bundled file-serve-file options to keep service and filing workflows in sync

• Upfront payment of court and witness fees so your team only sees one simple invoice

• Real-time updates and status tracking, so your team always knows where things stand

Whatever stage your case is in, One Legal helps you stay organized and in-the-know with transparent tracking every step of the way. You can rely on us to deliver your documents accurately and on time.

Tighter timelines, higher stakes—let’s get it right together

The AB 1755 updates aren’t just regulatory fine print—they’re a reset on how Lemon Law litigation is structured in California. From mediation to discovery to service timelines, precision is now a business imperative.

By choosing One Legal, you gain a reliable, trusted Court Filing and Service of Process partner that scales with your caseload and keeps your cases moving on schedule.