Practice areas: Consumer Law, Appellate, Personal Injury; view more
Licensed in California since: 2014
Education: Thomas Jefferson School of Law
Selected to Rising Stars: 2020 - 2024 Call today:
619-878-7037
Free Consultation Auto Law Firm, PC
500 La Terraza BlvdSuite 150
Escondido, CA 92025 Visit website
Michael A. Klitzke received his undergraduate degree from San Diego State University (B.A., Political Science 2011) and his law degree from Thomas Jefferson School of Law (2014), where he graduated summa cum laude (2 of 201). During law school he was an Editor for the Law Review and a National Competitor for the Mock Trial Team. Mr. Klitzke worked at the Auto Fraud Legal Center from 2015 to 2023 before opening Auto Law.
Mr. Klitzke handles personal injury, Auto Fraud, and Lemon law cases throughout California in state and federal courts. He is passionate about helping victims get the justice and money they deserve.
Mr. Klitzke’s most notorious case was Pulliam v. HNL Automotive, Inc., 13 Cal.5th 127 (2022). In this case, the dealership made false representations about a 2015 Nissan Altima. Because the dealership arranged the financing, Ms. Pulliam was able to sue the dealer and the finance company. The California Supreme Court ruled the finance company was required to pay all of the attorney fees incurred during the case in addition to having to pay to buyback the 2015 Nissan Altima. This case is extremely important because it makes it possible for consumers in California (eventually nationwide) to obtain an attorney with little or no money out of pocket because the attorney can recover their fees from the dealership and finance company at the end of the case.
Practice areas
Consumer Law, Appellate, Personal Injury - General: PlaintiffFocus areas
Appeals, Auto Dealer Fraud, Consumer Protection, Fraud, Identity Theft, Lemon Law
- 80% Consumer Law
- 10% Appellate
- 10% Personal Injury - General: Plaintiff
First Admitted: 2014, California
Professional Webpage: https://www.autolawfirm.com/about.html
Verdicts / Settlements (Case Results)
- Pulliam v. HNL Automotive, Inc. - trial court award of attorney fees against car dealership and the finance company affirmed on appeal and again by the California Supreme Court. This case overturned two prior appellate cases to hold the finance company was liable for attorney fees under the FTC Holder Rule in addition to the damages recovered by the consumer. The defense Cert petition to the United States Supreme Court was successfully opposed. , 2023
Pro bono / Community Service
- Represented 4 veterans at Stand Down - San Diego., 2012
Honors
- "Michael A. Klitzke is a distinguished legal expert specializing in auto fraud and "lemon law" cases.", Marquis Who's Who in North America - Top Attorney, Marquis Who's Who, 2025
- Obtained one of the top 100 trial verdicts in California for 2022, Best of the Bar - Top 100 Verdicts California, Best of the Bar, 2022
- Who’s Who in America for the State of California, Who's Who, 2020
- Presented by Jeffery Joseph to the top student in Civil Procedure., Silver Long Arm Award, Professor Jeffrey Joseph - TJSL, 2012
- Neighborhood Hero Award, City of San Diego, 2013
- Veterans Clinic Alumni Scholarship Award, Thomas Jefferson School of Law, 2012
- AmJur Awards in 15 of 24 graded classes at Thomas Jefferson School of Law, AmJur Awards, Thomas Jefferson School of Law, 2011
Educational Background
- Rank 2 after receiving the high grate in most of the law school courses. Editor with the Thomas Jefferson Law Review National Competitor with the Thomas Jefferson Mock Trial team. Research/Faculty assistant for 4 professors and taught Business Associations when the professor was hospitalized. , 2011-2014
Scholarly Lectures / Writings
- Marjorie Cohn, Drones and Targeted Killing (2014) (editor). , Editor, Drones and Targeted Killing, 2014
- Panelist at at the ABA Business Law Section’s 2024 Fall Meeting discussing the FTC Holder Rule, FTC CARS Rule, and FTC Junk Fees Rule, Panelist, ABA Business Law Section’s Fall Meeting discussing the FTC Holder Rule, FTC CARS Rule, and FTC Junk Fees Rule, ABA Business Law Scection, Banking And Finance, Auto Fraud, 2024
- Spoke as a panelist at TJSL on behalf of Consumer Attorneys of California., Panelist, TJSL Panel for Consumer Attorneys of California, 2016
- Michael Klitzke, Bypassing Bryant: A Bright-Line from Davis to Confrontation, 36 T. Jefferson L. Rev. Online (2015), Author, Bypassing Bryant: A Bright-Line from Davis to Confrontation, Thomas Jefferson Law Review, 2015
- Alan Mansfield and Michael Klitzke, How does Sanchez v. Valencia Holding Co. Change the Arbitration Equation in California, Association of Business Trial Lawyers (2015), Author, How does Sanchez . Valencia Holding Co. Change the Arbitration Equation in California, Association Of Business Trial Lawyers, 2015
- Panelist for Consumer Attorneys of California presentation at Thomas Jefferson School of Law, Panelist, Consumer Attorneys Of California, 2016
- Marybeth Herald, Your Brain and Law School (2014) (editor), Editor, Your Brain and Law School, 2014
Other Outstanding Achievements
- National Competitor, Thomas Jefferson Mock Trial Team. Competed at: Buffalo-Niagara (2012); TYLA (2013); ABA Labor & Employment (2013); AAJ (2014)., 2012
- Editor, Thomas Jefferson Law Review, 2012
- Enright Inn Of Court(2015-2017)
Office location for Michael Klitzke
500 La Terraza Blvd
Suite 150
Escondido, CA 92025
Phone: 619-878-7037
Selections
- Rising Stars: 2020 - 2024
