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False Advertising

Consumer Protection Attorney Fighting Against False Advertising

False advertising is a type of deceptive business practice whereby a company selling a product or service does not provide potential buyers with a “complete picture” of that product and/or service. This includes making outright false statements, as well as misleading consumers and leaving out certain key details. Such consumer fraud can be incredibly harmful to consumers and may result in many individuals losing their hard earned money.The good news is that there are a number of legal tools available for people who have been subjected to false advertising. Federal and state laws give consumers the right to seek compensation for any financial injuries suffered as a result of false advertising and to ensure that shady businesses are held responsible for their deceptive practices. That said, it is important to have an experienced consumer protection attorney in your corner.

Any consumer protection attorney at Glancy Prongay & Murray has the experience needed to represent clients in false advertising claims and other types of cases involving deceptive business practices. Our firm has a strong track record of success for the people who we represent.  

Our lawyers have dedicated their careers to helping people who have been harmed by consumer fraud get the full compensation available under the law. This includes handling class actions, which are an alternative to individual lawsuits in which a number of people harmed by the same scam can join together to pursue their legal rights.

Common False Advertising Scams

False advertising, like other types of fraud, comes in many shapes and sizes. At Glancy Prongay & Murray, we represent people harmed by a variety of misrepresentations, including:

  • False statements: Whether it is about the health benefits of certain services or the specific contents of various products, false statements are designed to lure consumers in with information that is not accurate.
  • Misleading labels: Food and other labels that don’t tell the whole story limit the information that consumers have at their disposal when they make purchasing decisions.
  • Bait-and-switch scams: These schemes are intended to bring consumers in with the lure of low prices. Fraudsters then claim that the product or deal is no longer available, trying to “switch” consumers over to a more expensive option.
  • Confusing advertisements: Ads that disguise the product, seller or manufacturer are a common deceptive business practice.
  • Undisclosed costs: Hidden fees, from bank financing costs that go unmentioned to monthly subscription debits buried in bills, are meant to sneak up on consumers without them noticing.

Anyone who has been victimized by these or other scams is well advised to seek the advice and counsel of an experienced consumer protection attorney.

Laws Banning False Advertising

False advertising is prohibited under a number of federal and state laws.

That includes the Federal Trade Commission Act, which requires “truth in advertising.” The Act empowers the Federal Trade Commission to investigate claims of false advertising and prosecute scammers. The FTC can seek court rulings to block false advertisements and can go after advertisers for money penalties.

There are also a number of federal laws that restrict advertising when it comes to specific types of products or services. Food, Drug, and Cosmetic Act, for example, requires the sellers of pharmaceutical and nutritional products to provide certain information about the contents of the products and possible side effects of taking them. The law is enforced by the Food and Drug Administration.

Individual state laws can be a valuable tool for people who want to take false advertisers to court directly.

California’s Consumers Legal Remedies Act is among the strongest of those laws. It bans a wide range of deceptive business practices, including false advertising. It forces companies that violate the law to pick up the tab for any legal fees that people incur enforcing their rights. Courts can order false advertisers to pay money damages for any harm caused to consumers, take down the advertisement, publish notices correcting the false or misleading information and order them to refrain from future false advertisements.

A Consumer Protection Attorney Can Manage a Class Actions for False Advertising

Class actions are an effective option for people who have been harmed by false advertising and do not want to go it alone. They allow a number of people to sue false advertisers collectively, in a single lawsuit.

The primary benefit of a class action is that it allows class members to bring claims that would otherwise be too small for a lawyer to take on. Class actions also allow members to leverage their claims. The larger the class, the bigger the total claim, and the more likely those suing for false advertising are to get the attention of the company being sued.

At Glancy & Prongay, our consumer protection attorneys have had significant success pursuing consumer class actions in false advertising and related cases. We take the majority of our class action cases on a contingency fee basis. That means we only get paid if we win the case, either at trial or through a negotiated settlement. This helps alleviate the financial burden for clients considering legal action for fraud.

Speak With a Consumer Protection Attorney Today

If you or a loved one has been targeted by false advertising, you have the right to seek compensation from those responsible. A seasoned consumer protection attorney can help you understand your rights and options, guide you through the legal process, and help you build the strongest possible case.

A knowledgeable consumer protection attorney can help people fight back against false advertising and other deceptive business practices. We are proud to stand by the people that we represent and dedicated to working aggressively to get them the full compensation available under the law.

We are pleased to offer a number of financing arrangements, including contingency agreements. Call us at (310) 201-9150 or contact us online to speak with a consumer protection attorney today.

Similarly, if you have been harmed by a deceptive trade practice, a Glancy Prongay & Murray consumer lawyer will apply the firm’s decades of experience litigating these types of claims across the United States in the prosecution of your case.  For example in Kelly v. Phiten USA, Inc., Case No. 11-67 (S.D. Iowa) Glancy Prongay & Murray obtained a $3,200,000 cash settlement for class members who were deceived by the deceptive claims of defendant’s bracelets and necklaces that were advertised as having specific health benefits.

Court Recognition

“And without question, the Court is of the opinion that the value of benefit that’s been conferred to the class is extremely sizable and that this Court is certainly aware that the skill and efficiency of plaintiff’s counsel is what attributed to this settlement, and they are learned securities counsel. The Court is mindful of that, and as a result they were able to sort of weed their way through the complex issues in this case, and also to bring this about — bring about a settlement rather in short order as these matters go. So the Court certainly attributes that to counsel’s skill and efficiency, as well as the ability to work with the adversaries in this matter.”

–Hon. Susan D. Wigention, U.S. District Judge, District of New Jersey

“Class Counsel has conducted the litigation and achieved the Settlement in good faith and with skill, perseverance and diligent advocacy”

— Hon. Donovan W. Frank, U.S. District Judge, District of Minnesota

“The court finds that the Settlement Fund… created by Class Counsel is an exceptional result… The settlement is significantly above the average securities class action settlement when measured as a percentage of losses recovered… The court finds that Class Counsel, particularly Co-Lead Counsel, exerted tremendous effort on behalf of the class in the prosecution of this action… The Court finds that Class Counsel skillfully prosecuted this action, particularly given that this case was unusually complex relative to most securities fraud class actions. ”

–Hon. Dickran M. Tevrizian (Ret.), U.S. District Court Judge, Central District of California

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