Rafael Recalde
All Auto Warranty Lawyer matters are led by Rafael Recalde, founder of Recalde Law Firm, P.A. Rafael is licensed to practice in Florida and the District of Columbia, with over 18 years of experience representing clients in transactional, regulatory, and litigation matters before Florida state courts, federal court in the Southern District of Florida, and the Eleventh Circuit.
His Florida Lemon Law practice focuses on owners of new luxury and electric vehicles whose manufacturers have failed to repair substantial defects within the 24-month Lemon Law Rights Period. The firm has handled claims involving several of the largest luxury and electric vehicle manufacturers in the U.S. market.
Rafael is fluent in English and Spanish and speaks working French, Italian, and Portuguese.
Why We Take These Cases on Contingency
Florida's Motor Vehicle Warranty Enforcement Act allows a prevailing consumer to recover reasonable attorney fees and costs from the manufacturer (Fla. Stat. § 681.112(2)). That statutory framework is what makes a contingency practice in this area economically viable.
We take Florida Lemon Law cases on pure contingency: no retainer, no hourly billing, no out-of-pocket cost to you. If we don't recover for you, you owe us nothing — no fee. The specific fee arrangement, including how attorney fees and costs are handled in any individual case, is set out in writing in our engagement agreement before any case begins.
Why Florida-Only
Every state has its own lemon law framework, with different rights periods, different repair-attempt thresholds, different arbitration requirements, and different fee-shifting provisions. We practice only in Florida because that's where we have the depth of experience, the relationships with the state-certified arbitration programs, and the courtroom familiarity that produces consistent outcomes for clients. If you are a Florida resident or your vehicle was purchased or leased in Florida, we can help.
Why New Vehicles Only
The Florida Lemon Law applies only to new motor vehicles. Used vehicles fall outside Chapter 681. Federal warranty statutes (the Magnuson-Moss Warranty Act) can sometimes apply to used vehicles with remaining warranty coverage, but the remedies are different, the fee-shifting is different, and the economics are different. We limit our practice to qualifying new vehicles so we can deliver the best outcome for the clients whose cases we accept.
Contact
Call (305) 792-9100, email rafael@recaldelaw.com, or submit a free case review online. Our office is located at 1221 Brickell Avenue, Suite 900, Miami, FL 33131.