Pryor, Ramirez & Amar LLC have successfully litigated and/or settled hundreds of claims with vehicle manufacturers and dealerships, although settlement is often preferable for both consumers and defendants to litigating through arbitration/trial. Over the course of their legal careers, the Firm has developed amicable professional relationships with the representatives of both motor vehicles manufacturers and dealers. Ultimately these relationships benefit the consumers that Pryor, Ramirez & Amar, LLC represent by aiding in the resolution of their disputes.
Shalev Amar
Shalev Amar is a Managing Partner and co-founder of Pryor, Ramirez & Amar, LLC. Mr. Amar has an outstanding academic background having graduated Cum Laude from both the University of Arizona (where he majored in Political Science) and the Arizona State University College of Law. Mr. Amar was the Philanthropy Chair of Phi Alpha Delta Pre-Law Fraternity and Sigma Alpha Epsilon Social Fraternity while he attended the University of Arizona. In Law School, Mr. Amar participated in Junior Law, a program where middle school students are taught debate.
Since May of 2004, Mr. Amar has litigated in the area of consumer protection focusing on Lemon Law, Consumer Fraud and Breach of Warranty cases. During this time, Mr. Amar arbitrated over fifteen cases through Maricopa County Court Mandated Arbitration, prevailing in twelve, and was lead counsel in five jury trials, prevailing in four. Further, Mr. Amar authored successful responses to dispositive motions in federal district courts on behalf of consumers leading to published opinions in Pizel v. Monaco, 374 F.Supp.2d 653 (N.D.Ind. 2005); Kemper v. Coachman Recreational Vehicle Co., LLC, 408 F.Supp.2d 604 (N.D.Ill. 2006); Long v. Monaco Coach Corporation, Slip Copy, 2006 WL 2564040 (E.D.Tenn. 2006); and, Miley v. Fleetwood Enterprises Inc., 381 F.Supp.2d 839, (S.D.Ind. 2005).
Luis F. Ramirez
Luis F. Ramirez is a Managing Partner of Pryor, Ramirez & Amar. Mr. Ramirez graduated Magna Cum Laude from the Arizona State University College of Law. Mr. Ramirez also holds a Master's Degree from Arizona State University in Spanish Literature and a Bachelor's degree in Spanish from Rutgers University.
Mr. Ramirez started his legal career in 2003 representing companies in employment and commercial disputes, as well as providing legal advice and training to employers concerning employment matters. In the course of these duties, Mr. Ramirez has continued to expand on his excellent legal writing, communication, and analytical skills. Presently, Mr. Ramirez uses those same skills to protect and enforce the rights of consumers and to continue to provide services in employment matters.
Martin C. Fontes (California- Of Counsel)
Mr. Fontes was born and raised in Nogales, Arizona, and earned his Bachelor of Business Adminstration from the University of San Diego in 1997.
Mr. Fontes graduated from the Arizona State College of Law in May of 2004 and was admitted to the California Bar that year. During law school Mr. Fontes clerked for the Law Office of Gabriel Valdez Jr. Mr. Fontes also clerked for the Honorable James A. Soto at the Santa Cruz County Superior Court of Arizona.
Mr. Fontes has represented hundreds of California clients in administrative procedings, claims, and other types of services; including immigation, naturalization, and citicenship matters. Mr. Fontes fluently speaks Spanish, which allows for direct communication with our Spanish-speaking clients.
Joseph Cicala (New Jersey- Of Counsel)
Joseph Cicala has been an attorney in the State and Federal Courts of the State of New Jersey since 1995. In May of 2007, after many years of practicing law in West New York (Hudson County), New Jersey, he formed his own law practice in Nutley (Essex County), New Jersey. Joseph takes great pride in representing his clients across a diverse practice area, from the courtroom to the real estate closing table.
Among his accolades, Joseph was named a member of the Hudson County Matrimonial Early Settlement Panel Program in 2002, and continues as a panelist in that program today. In 2006, Joseph was appointed to the District VI Ethics Committee, on which he will continue to serve through 2010. Most recently, Joseph was named both Commissioner and Presiding Commissioner on various condemnation matters throughout Essex County
Carlos Hernandez Jr. (Texas- Of Counsel)
Carlos E. Hernandez, Jr., earned his law degree in 1993 from South Texas College of Law after receiving a Bachelor of Science in political science at Texas A&M University. After working in employment law with several other Texas firms, he opened his own practice in 2001.
Born in San Antonio, Mr. Hernandez is deeply rooted within his native state. He is involved in a number of professional organizations including the National Employment Law Association, the Texas Employment Lawyers Association, the Cameron County and Hidalgo County Bar Associations, the State Bar of Texas, the Brownsville Chamber of Commerce, the Cameron County Young Lawyers Association, the Hidalgo County Young Lawyers Association, and the Texas A&M University Association of Former Students.
He is frequently asked to speak by the State Bar of Texas and Lorman Education Services.
Ian Pryor (In Memoriam)
Ian Pryor was a Managing Partner and co-founder of Pryor, Ramirez & Amar, LLC. Mr. Pryor had excellent academic credentials having graduated Cum Laude with honors from the University of Arizona (where he majored with two degrees in Management Information Systems and Operations Management) and the Arizona State University College of Law. Mr. Pryor was admitted to the Ninth Circuit Court of Appeals, the Supreme Court of Arizona, the District of Arizona, the Northern District of Indiana, and the Eastern District of Wisconsin.
Starting in October of 2003, Mr. Pryor litigated in the area of consumer protection focusing on Lemon Law, Consumer Fraud and Breach of Warranty cases. During this time, Mr. Pryor was responsible for a wide array of management and litigation tasks involving every aspect of consumer protection cases. Mr. Pryor arbitrated and prevailed in a number of arbitrations and assisted in trial preparations for various cases. Further, Mr. Pryor authored successful briefs in several courts throughout the nation including but not limited to Miley v. Fleetwood Enterprises Inc., 381 F.Supp.2d 839, (S.D.Ind. 2005); Muller v. Winnebago, 318 F. Supp. 2d 844 (D. Ariz. 2004); Haugland v. Winnebago, 327 F. Supp. 2d 1092 (D. Ariz. 2004); Parrot v. DaimlerChrysler, 210 Ariz. 143, 108 P.3d 922, 929 (App. 2005); Bray v. Monaco, 371 F.Supp.2d 1135 (D. Ariz. 2005); De Shazer v. National Holdings RV, 391 F.Supp.2d 791 (D. Ariz. 2005); and Pizel v. Monaco, 364 F.Supp.2d 790 (N.D.Ind. 2005). Mr. Pryor also worked on various briefs before the Arizona Court of Appeals and the Arizona Supreme Court.
Mr. Pryor assisted various clients referred by the Volunteer Lawyer Program through the Maricopa County Bar Association by providing services to consumers pro bono where those consumers would not otherwise be able to obtain counsel.