Connecticut Consumer Protection Litigation

Consumer Protection Litigation in Connecticut

Companies often engage in deceptive marketing, false advertising, or unfair trade practices, or violate state-specific statutes mandating certain policies and procedures. Such practices drive revenue while inducing consumers to unfairly rely on the company’s misrepresentation. Examples include mislabeling a product, making false claims about a product’s health benefits, or improperly applying loan payments. Many consumers face frustration, financial loss, or even personal injury because of these deceptive trade practices. Moore Kuehn understands how distressing it can be to experience the conduct of unscrupulous business practices and has lawyers committed to remedying these wrongdoings.

Why Choose Our Firm?

• When we represent you in consumer protection litigation, you can expect to always have direct access to your attorney.
• We are a client-oriented firm and will always make your needs our top priority.
• We handle our cases on a contingency fee basis, which means you pay us no fees unless we win compensation for you.

What Is Consumer Protection Litigation?

When companies violate laws and regulations and consumers suffer as a result, it is critical that those companies are held accountable for their actions. Consumer protection litigation is a legal means to do just that. Injured consumers may be entitled to file a lawsuit to recover damages and penalize the responsible party.

Connecticut Unfair Trade Practices Act

As reported by the Department of Consumer Protection, the Connecticut Unfair Trade Practices Act (CUTPA) prohibits unfair and deceptive acts and practice and unfair competition in trade and commerce. This state law allows any person who suffers an ascertainable loss of money or real or personal property as a result of acts or practices prohibited by CUTPA to bring a lawsuit to recover actual damages. A person may seek injunctive relief as well as actual damages for violations of this law. In this context, “person” is defined as a natural person, corporation, limited liability company, trust, partnership, incorporated or unincorporated association, or any other legal entity.

Types of Consumer Protection Litigation

Our experienced consumer protection litigators champion the interests of consumers under state and federal consumer protection laws. These cases are often brought as class actions, although individual actions may be appropriate in some circumstances. Consumer protection litigation may involve:

• Unfair debt collection practices: Consumer rights laws, including the federal Fair Debt Collection Practices Act (FDCPA), prohibit debt collectors from contacting a debtor at his or her place of business, calling early in the morning or late at night, or speaking to friends and family of the debtor.
• Predatory lending: This practice forms the basis for many consumer protection lawsuits. Predatory lending covers a broad range of conduct, including Hiding fees and penalties in the fine print of a document; charging exorbitant interest rates on loans or credit cards; and applying loan payments first to the low-interest portion of the balance. Consumers are protected from predatory lending by federal legislation, including the Truth in Lending Act (TLA) and the Home Ownership and Equity Protection Act (HOEPA).
• Consumer rights: False and misleading advertising is a common consumer rights violation. For example, using “bait and switch” advertising tactics, a vendor may advertise a particular item at a reduced price to draw customers, who find when they arrive that the sale price is no longer available, and they must pay a higher price or leave empty-handed. Defective products, warranty misrepresentation, forced arbitration clauses, and identity theft issues frequently addressed in consumer protection litigation.
• Telemarketing fraud: The Federal Trade Commission has been tasked with enforcing federal laws concerning unfair or deceptive practices in the consumer economy. For example, the FTC created the National Do Not Call Registry to bar organizations that operate for profit from making unsolicited calls to home telephone numbers.

Contact Moore Kuehn for Help

Consumers are protected under state and federal laws from unscrupulous actions on the part of businesses. If you believe your consumer rights have been violated, contact Moore Kuehn today. We can tell you if you have a valid claim and advise you of your legal options.