Migliaccio & Rathod LLP is investigating whether Briggs & Stratton improperly restricts homeowners and independent generator technicians from diagnosing, programming, commissioning, and repairing standby generators by limiting access to proprietary electronic tools, firmware, service information, and component-initialization procedures.
What Consumers Report
Consumers and repair professionals report:
- Being able to identify a failed Briggs & Stratton component but not complete electronic setup.
- Replacement controllers or communication components requiring manufacturer-specific programming.
- Having to use an authorized service provider for commissioning or resets.
- Paying high diagnostic or software-related service fees.
- Waiting for dealer availability while the generator remained inoperable.
- Losing backup-power protection during storms or utility outages.
- Having limited access to complete service documentation.
- Learning about proprietary repair requirements only after the system failed.
Why Consumers Should Be Concerned
A standby generator may remain unusable even after the defective physical part has been replaced if manufacturer-controlled programming or configuration is still required. Consumers may therefore be forced to pay an authorized dealer for the final electronic step of an otherwise routine repair.
These restrictions can reduce repair competition and create serious consequences when the generator is needed for heating, refrigeration, sump pumps, medical devices, or other essential household systems.
Potential Claims May Include
- Unfair and deceptive trade practices
- Consumer protection violations
- Failure to disclose repair restrictions
- Breach of express warranty
- Breach of implied warranty
- Magnuson-Moss Warranty Act violations
- Unlawful repair-service tying
- Unjust enrichment
Signs You May Be Affected
You may be affected if:
- You own a Briggs & Stratton standby generator.
- An independent technician could not complete the repair.
- A replacement controller or electronic component required authorized programming.
- You paid dealer charges for activation, resets, or commissioning.
- Your generator remained unavailable during a power outage.
- You incurred property losses or emergency expenses.
- You were told that only an authorized technician could restore the system.
If you have encountered these issues, we would like to hear from you. Please complete the contact form on this page, send us an email at [email protected], or give us a call at (202) 470-3520.