Category Archives: Consumer Law
Overcharging & Deceptive Consumer Practices In Ohio
A concerning consumer protection issue recently emerged involving a number of major retail stores, including the dollar stores and Walmart, severely overcharging customers here in Ohio. Specifically, customers found double digit errors that ranged from almost 17 to more than 88 percent price markups (where the state department of agriculture only permits stores to… Read More »
Ohio Consumer Fraud Victims Sue Solar Panel Company
A massive consumer protection issue has sprung up around the country, including here in Columbus, Ohio, concerning families investing funds in solar panels, only to find that the panels do not work, and the company who sold them – described as having a “far reaching presence in the state of Ohio” – has filed… Read More »
Motions To Dismiss In Consumer Law Cases
As attorneys who work in consumer protection, we frequently receive questions about the Do Not Call Registry and protections provided to consumers under the Telephone Consumer Protection Act. A recent case decided in the United States District Court Southern District of Ohio Eastern Division, Ansley v. Quantum 3 Media, LLC, highlights one consumer’s lawsuit… Read More »
Google Location-Tracking Practices & Consumer Law Violations
In November, 40 states (including Ohio) reached an almost $400 million settlement with Google concerning its tracking practices associated with the Google Account settings, in what is now the largest multi state consumer protection and privacy settlement in U.S. history. In their investigations, the states found that Google had been misleading consumers about the… Read More »
Cryptocurrency Fraud Emerges As Top Consumer Law Issue
According to a government report released by the US Consumer Financial Protection Bureau in November, fraud and transaction issues connected to cryptocurrencies and other digital assets have now become the most notorious consumer law issue. Essentially, a number of bad actors are using crypto assets to perpetuate fraud on the public due to the… Read More »
Supplement Claims That Violate Consumer Protection Laws
A major consumer protection issue that has emerged since the onset of COVID in 2020 involves supplement products that claim to help cure, treat, prevent, and/or mitigate the illness. According to the FTC, these claims violate both the FTC Act and the COVID-19 Consumer Protection Act, opening a number of companies that sell the… Read More »
Fall Brings Unwarranted Depositor & Overdraft Fees
There are two especially egregious consumer protection issues that the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau has recently turned its attention to due to the number of consumers negatively affected by them: 1) Overdraft fees charged to consumers even though they have enough funds in their account to cover a withdrawal or check and 2) Indiscriminately… Read More »
What Is A “Bait and Switch” Contract?
As attorneys who work in contract disputes and consumer protection, we frequently speak with clients about a phenomenon known as “bait and switch,” whereby a seller will create a disingenuous offer in order to ‘lure’ in a buyer, only to turn around and make a major ‘switch’ in that contract; whether that involves charging… Read More »
Consumer Protection Laws Not Only Protect Individuals, But Also Businesses
While it is true that a number of consumer laws have historically been applied to individuals and households, according to recent reports, this is changing: A growing number of those behind these laws, including the courts, are increasingly defining “consumer” to also include small- and medium-sized businesses when it comes to prohibitions on deceptive… Read More »
Consumer Protections Against Unfair, Deceptive Practices By Suppliers In Ohio
When construction companies and other businesses accept payment but fail to finish the job, as well as engage in other deceptive, unfair practices, they can be sued under a number of Ohio consumer protection laws, including the Ohio Consumer Sales Practices Act, as well as several others, which we describe below. Ohio Consumer Sales… Read More »