CONNECTICUT STATUTES AND CODES
Sec. 42-181. Department arbitration procedure. Records. Appeals.
Sec. 42-181. Department arbitration procedure. Records. Appeals. (a) The Department of Consumer Protection, shall provide an independent arbitration procedure
for the settlement of disputes between consumers and manufacturers of motor vehicles
which do not conform to all applicable warranties under the terms of section 42-179.
The Commissioner of Consumer Protection shall appoint as arbitrators individuals who
shall not be employees or independent contractors with any business involved in the
manufacture, distribution, sale or service of any motor vehicle. The arbitrator shall be
a member of an arbitration organization and shall serve with compensation. The Department of Consumer Protection may refer an arbitration dispute to the American Arbitration Association or other arbitration organization in accordance with regulations adopted
in accordance with the provisions of chapter 54, provided such organization and any
arbitrators appointed by such organization to hear cases shall not be affiliated with any
motor vehicle manufacturer, distributor, dealer or repairer. Such arbitration organizations shall comply with the provisions of subsections (b) and (c) of this section.
(b) If any motor vehicle purchased at any time on or after October 1, 1984, or leased
at any time on or after June 17, 1987, fails to conform to such applicable warranties as
defined in said section 42-179, a consumer may bring a grievance to an arbitrator if the
manufacturer of the vehicle has not established an informal dispute settlement procedure
which the Attorney General has certified as complying in all respects with the requirements of said section 42-179. The consumer may initiate a request for arbitration by
calling a toll-free telephone number designated by the commissioner or by requesting
an arbitration hearing in writing. The consumer shall file, on forms prescribed by the
commissioner, any information deemed relevant to the resolution of the dispute and
shall return the form accompanied by a filing fee of fifty dollars. Prior to submitting the
complaint to an arbitrator, the Department of Consumer Protection shall conduct an
initial review of the complaint. The department shall determine whether the complaint
should be accepted or rejected for arbitration based on whether it alleges that the manufacturer has failed to comply with section 42-179. The filing fee shall be refunded if the
department determines that a complaint does not allege a violation of any applicable
warranty under the requirements of said section 42-179. Upon acceptance of the complaint, the commissioner shall notify the manufacturer of the filing of a request for
arbitration and shall obtain from the manufacturer, in writing on a form prescribed by
the commissioner, any information deemed relevant to the resolution of the dispute.
The manufacturer shall return the form within fifteen days of receipt, together with a
filing fee of two hundred fifty dollars. Upon written agreement of the parties, signed
after the consumer has initiated a request for arbitration, the case may be presented to
the arbitrator solely based on the written documents submitted by such parties. A lessee
who brings a grievance to an arbitrator under this section shall, upon filing the complaint
form provided for in this section, provide the lessor with notice by registered or certified
mail, return receipt requested, and the lessor may petition the arbitrator to be made
a party to the arbitration proceedings. Initial determinations to reject a complaint for
arbitration shall be submitted to an arbitrator for a final decision upon receipt of a written
request from the consumer for a review of the initial eligibility determination and a
filing fee of fifty dollars. If a complaint is accepted for arbitration, an arbitrator may
determine that a complaint does not allege that the manufacturer has failed to comply
with section 42-179 at any time before such arbitrator renders its decision on the merits
of the dispute. The fee accompanying the consumer's complaint form shall be refunded
to the consumer and the fee accompanying the form filed by the manufacturer shall be
refunded to the manufacturer if the arbitrator determines that a complaint does not allege
a violation of the provisions of section 42-179.
(c) The Department of Consumer Protection shall investigate, gather and organize
all information necessary for a fair and timely decision in each dispute. The commissioner may issue subpoenas on behalf of any arbitrator to compel the attendance of
witnesses and the production of documents, papers and records relevant to the dispute.
The department shall forward a copy of all written testimony, including all documentary
evidence, to an independent technical expert certified by the National Institute of Automotive Service Excellence or having a degree or other credentials from a nationally
recognized organization or institution attesting to automotive expertise, who shall review such material and be available to advise and consult with the arbitrator. An expert
shall sit as a nonvoting member of an arbitration panel whenever oral testimony is
presented. Such experts may be recommended by the Commissioner of Motor Vehicles
at the request of the Commissioner of Consumer Protection. An arbitrator shall, as
expeditiously as possible, but not later than sixty days after the time the consumer files
the complaint form together with the filing fee, render a fair decision based on the
information gathered and disclose his or her findings and the reasons therefor to the
parties involved. The failure of the arbitrator to render a decision within sixty days shall
not void any subsequent decision or otherwise limit the powers of the arbitrator. The
arbitrator shall base his or her determination of liability solely on whether the manufacturer has failed to comply with section 42-179. The arbitration decision shall be final
and binding as to the rights of the parties pursuant to section 42-179, subject only to
judicial review as set forth in this subsection. The decision shall provide appropriate
remedies, including, but not limited to one or more of the following:
(1) Replacement of the vehicle with an identical or comparable new vehicle acceptable to the consumer;
(2) Refund of the full contract price, plus collateral charges as specified in subsection (d) of said section 42-179;
(3) Reimbursement for expenses and compensation for incidental damages as specified in subsection (d) of said section 42-179;
(4) Any other remedies available under the applicable warranties, section 42-179,
this section and sections 42-182 to 42-184, inclusive, or the Magnuson-Moss Warranty-Federal Trade Commission Improvement Act, 88 Stat. 2183 (1975), 15 USC 2301 et
seq., as in effect on October 1, 1982, other than repair of the vehicle. The decision shall
specify a date for performance and completion of all awarded remedies. Notwithstanding
any provision of the general statutes or any regulation to the contrary, the Department
of Consumer Protection shall not amend, reverse, rescind or revoke any decision or
action of an arbitrator. The department shall contact the consumer, within ten working
days after the date for performance, to determine whether performance has occurred.
The manufacturer shall act in good faith in abiding by any arbitration decision. In addition, either party to the arbitration may make application to the superior court for the
judicial district in which one of the parties resides or, when the court is not in session,
any judge thereof for an order confirming, vacating, modifying or correcting any award,
in accordance with the provisions of this section and sections 52-417, 52-418, 52-419
and 52-420. Upon filing such application the moving party shall mail a copy of the
application to the Attorney General and, upon entry of any judgment or decree, shall
mail a copy of such judgment or decree to the Attorney General. A review of such
application shall be confined to the record of the proceedings before the arbitrator. The
court shall conduct a de novo review of the questions of law raised in the application.
In addition to the grounds set forth in sections 52-418 and 52-419, the court shall consider
questions of fact raised in the application. In reviewing questions of fact, the court shall
uphold the award unless it determines that the factual findings of the arbitrator are not
supported by substantial evidence in the record and that the substantial rights of the
moving party have been prejudiced. If the arbitrator fails to state findings or reasons for
the award, or the stated findings or reasons are inadequate, the court shall search the
record to determine whether a basis exists to uphold the award. If it is determined by
the court that the manufacturer has acted without good cause in bringing an appeal of
an award, the court, in its discretion, may grant to the consumer his costs and reasonable
attorney's fees. If the manufacturer fails to perform all awarded remedies by the date
for performance specified by the arbitrator, and the enforcement of the award has not
been stayed pursuant to subsection (c) of section 52-420, then each additional day the
manufacturer wilfully fails to comply shall be deemed a separate violation for purposes
of section 42-184.
(d) The department shall maintain such records of each dispute as the commissioner
may require, including an index of disputes by brand name and model. The department
shall annually compile and maintain statistics indicating the record of manufacturer
compliance with arbitration decisions and the number of refunds or replacements
awarded. A copy of the statistical summary shall be filed with the Commissioner of
Motor Vehicles and shall be considered a factor in determining the issuance of any
manufacturer license as required under section 14-67a. The summary shall be a public
record.
(e) If a manufacturer has not established an informal dispute settlement procedure
certified by the Attorney General as complying with the requirements of said section 42-179, public notice of the availability of the department's automobile dispute settlement
procedure shall be prominently posted in the place of business of each new car dealer
licensed by the Department of Motor Vehicles to engage in the sale of such manufacturer's new motor vehicles. Display of such public notice shall be a condition of licensure
under sections 14-52 and 14-64. The Commissioner of Consumer Protection shall determine the size, type face, form and wording of the sign required by this section, which
shall include the toll-free telephone number and the address to which requests for the
department's arbitration services may be sent.
(f) Any consumer injured by the operation of any procedure which does not conform
with procedures established by a manufacturer pursuant to subsection (b) of section 42-182 and the provisions of Title 16 Code of Federal Regulations Part 703, as in effect
on October 1, 1982, may appeal any decision rendered as the result of such a procedure
by requesting arbitration de novo of the dispute by an arbitrator. Filing procedures and
fees for appeals shall be the same as those required in subsection (b) of this section. The
findings of the manufacturer's informal dispute settlement procedure may be admissible
in evidence at such arbitration and in any civil action subsequently arising out of any
warranty obligation or matter related to the dispute. Any consumer so injured may, in
addition, request the Attorney General to investigate the manufacturer's procedure to
determine whether its certification shall be suspended or revoked after proper notice and
hearing. The Attorney General shall establish procedures for processing such consumer
complaints and maintain a record of the disposition of such complaints, which record
shall be included in the annual report prepared in accordance with the provisions of
subsection (a) of section 42-182.
(g) The Commissioner of Consumer Protection shall adopt regulations, in accordance with the provisions of chapter 54, to carry out the purposes of this section. Written
copies of the regulations and appropriate arbitration hearing procedures shall be provided to any person upon request.
(P.A. 84-338, S. 1; P.A. 85-331, S. 2, 6; P.A. 87-342, S. 3, 5; 87-522, S. 3, 6; P.A. 89-173, S. 3, 7; P.A. 90-8, S. 1, 2;
P.A. 96-259, S. 1; June 30 Sp. Sess. P.A. 03-6, S. 146(c), (d); P.A. 04-169, S. 17; 04-189, S. 1; P.A. 07-212, S. 1.)
History: P.A. 85-331 changed department panel to arbitration panel, deleted the requirement that a consumer return
the complaint form within 5 days from Subsec. (b), sanctioned the use of a technical expert with credentials from a nationally
recognized organization, prohibited the commissioner from altering the decision of an arbitration panel, and allowed either
party to appeal the decision of an arbitration panel to superior court in Subsec. (c), and in Subsec. (f) required the attorney
general to establish procedures for processing consumer complaints and maintaining records; P.A. 87-342 amended Subsec.
(b) by extending the provisions of the section to leased vehicles; P.A. 87-522 amended Subsec. (b) by providing that the
department of consumer protection shall conduct an initial review of a complaint, and that such initial review may be
reviewed by an arbitration panel upon written request of a consumer, provided such panel may determine that the complaint
does not allege a violation of Sec. 42-179 at any time and amended Subsec. (c) by providing that the failure of the arbitrators
to render a decision within 60 days shall not void any subsequent decision or otherwise limit the power of the arbitrators,
eliminated the remedy of repair of the vehicle, requiring a party moving for an order confirming or modifying any award
to mail a copy of the application as subsequent entry of judgment to the attorney general and provided that each day a
manufacturer fails to perform all awarded remedies shall be deemed a separate violation for purposes of Sec. 42-184; P.A.
89-173 amended Subsec. (c)(4) to exclude repair from the list of remedies; P.A. 90-8 amended Subsec. (c) to specify that
arbitration panel is to base its determination of liability solely on question of compliance with Sec. 42-179, to specify that
decision is final and binding subject only to judicial review and to specify limits of inquiry under judicial review; P.A. 96-259 amended Subsec. (d) to require the department to compile statistics annually rather than at intervals of no more than
six months; June 30 Sp. Sess. P.A. 03-6 and P.A. 04-169 replaced Commissioner and Department of Consumer Protection
with Commissioner and Department of Agriculture and Consumer Protection, effective July 1, 2004; P.A. 04-189 repealed
Sec. 146 of June 30 Sp. Sess. P.A. 03-6, thereby reversing the merger of the Departments of Agriculture and Consumer
Protection, effective June 1, 2004; P.A. 07-212 amended Subsec. (a) by replacing provisions re establishment of dispute
settlement panels and appointment, number, qualifications and terms of panel members with provisions re appointment,
qualifications and compensation of individual arbitrators and by adding provisions re referral of dispute to other arbitration
organization, amended Subsec. (b) by deleting provision re complaint form to offer consumer choice of presenting subsequent testimony orally or in writing and adding provision re case to be presented to arbitrator based solely on written
documents upon agreement of parties, and made conforming and technical changes in Subsecs. (b), (c), (d) and (f).
Cited. 203 C. 63. Cited. 209 C. 579. Lemon Law II cited. Id. Cited. 212 C. 83. Lemon Law II cited. Id. Cited. 213 C.
136. Lemon Law II cited. Id. Cited. 218 C. 646. Lemon Law II cited. Id. Cited. 239 C. 1.
Subsec. (c):
Court concluded general assembly intended to authorize arbitrators to award reasonable attorneys' fees to consumers
who prevail. 209 C. 579. Judicial review procedures are constitutionally insufficient. 212 C. 83. Cited. 226 C. 475.