On Wednesday, May 21, 2025, Reuters reported that Ford Motor Company filed a lawsuit in Los Angeles federal court against several California lawyers and law firms, alleging fraudulent overbilling practices under the state’s Lemon Law.
The automaker accused nine defendants, including Knight Law Group, of engaging in a scheme to inflate legal fees across thousands of cases involving multiple automakers. Ford claimed the misconduct went undetected by spreading the improper billings across numerous cases.
The complaint highlighted instances where lawyers allegedly billed excessive hours, including one case where Knight Law Group partner Amy Morse reportedly charged 57.5 hours in a single day on November 30, 2016. This included 12.9 hours for handling requests for admission, where parties confirm the authenticity of facts or documents.
Another lawyer was accused of billing 29 hours in one day to prepare for and attend two trials on the same day in Los Angeles and near San Francisco, approximately 400 miles apart.
Ford alleged that Knight Law Group orchestrated the scheme by involving multiple law firms to overstaff cases, sometimes employing 10 to 15 lawyers per case. The automaker estimated losses of at least $100 million over five years due to the alleged fraud. Ford is seeking $300 million in damages, citing violations of the federal Racketeer Influenced and Corrupt Organizations Act (RICO).
California’s Lemon Law, formally known as the Song-Beverly Consumer Warranty Act, allows attorneys to recover fees based on reasonable time spent representing vehicle owners.
Source: Reuters
