Category Archives: Deceptive Unfair Trade Practices
Deceptive And Unfair Trade Practices In Florida: Misleading Sales Pitches
The Florida Deceptive and Unfair Trade Practices Act (FDUTPA) is a state law designed to protect consumers and businesses from improper conduct. There are a number of different practices that are considered “deceptive” and/or “unfair” under the law. A misleading sales pitch could constitute an FDUTPA violation. In this blog post, our Miami deceptive… Read More »
What Evidence Can You Use To Prove An FDUTPA Violation?
The Florida Deceptive and Unfair Trade Practices Act (FDUTPA) is a state law modeled after the federal Federal Trade Commission Act (FTC Act) that protects consumers and businesses against unjust commercial practices. The statute contains a private right of action—meaning you can hold a defendant liable for damages caused by an FDUTPA violation. Here,… Read More »
Florida Attorney General Files FDUTPA Lawsuit Against Owner Of Olympus Pools
According to a report from WFLA News Channel 8, Florida Attorney General Ashley Moody is taking legal action against Olympus Pools, Inc. and the company’s owner James I. Staten, Jr. for alleged violations of the state’s Deceptive and Unfair Trade Practices Act (FDUTPA). Here, our West Palm Beach deceptive & unfair trade practices attorneys… Read More »
FDUTPA Lawsuit Against Toyota Camry Continues To Move Forward
According to a report from CarComplaints.com, a Florida judge has allowed an FDUTPA lawsuit against Japanese-based vehicle manufacturer Toyota to move forward. A group of consumers allege that Toyota violated Florida’s Deceptive and Unfair Trade Practices Act (FDUTPA) by selling Camrys with defective HVAC systems. Here, our West Palm Beach deceptive & unfair trade… Read More »
FDUTPA Claims: What Is A “Private Right of Action?”
In Florida, businesses and other commercial organizations have a legal responsibility to treat consumers in a fair and good faith manner. If they fail to do so, they could be held liable for consumer damages under the state’s Deceptive and Unfair Trade Practices Act (FDUTPA). Notably, the FDUTPA contains a “private right of action”—meaning… Read More »
FDUTPA Watch: Florida Court Allows Competitor To Recover For Lost Profits In Deceptive And Unfair Practices Claims
A recent ruling in a key FDUTPA case in South Florida has expanded this ability of corporate competitor plaintiffs to recover financial compensation for their damages. In the case of Tymar Distribution LLC v. Mitchell Group USA, LLC the court determined that corporate-competitor plaintiffs have the right to seek compensation for “lost profits” under… Read More »
Consumer Injury Is An Essential Requirement Of An FDUTPA Claim
The Florida Deceptive and Unfair Trade Practices Act (FDUTPA) bars businesses from commercial practices that are unfair, deceptive, unconscionable, or otherwise against public policy. Most FDUTPA claims are filed by consumers—either an individual consumer or as part of a class action. That being said, non-consumers can file an FDUTPA claim. To bring a successful… Read More »
National Advertising Division Recommends That Cookware Company Changes Its “Never Sticks” Advertising
According to a report from PR Newswire, the National Advertising Division (NAD) of the Better Business Bureau (BBB) has completed its official inquiry into the home appliance company ‘SharkNinja’ and its ‘NeverStick’ cookware line. The NAD has determined that the brand name is permissible, but it recommends that SharkNinja change its branding. In this… Read More »
How Are Damages Measured In An FDUTPA Claim?
The Florida Deceptive and Unfair Trade Practices Act (FDUTPA) is a state statute that is sometimes referred to as “Florida little-FTC Act.” The law allows businesses and consumers to hold bad acting companies legally liable for damages caused by a deceptive, unfair, misleading, or otherwise unjust commercial practice. The FDUTPA allows plaintiffs to recover… Read More »
Florida Appeals Court: Car Dealership “Waived” Right To Compel Arbitration In FDUTPA Case
On August 18th, 2021, the Fourth District Court of Appeal for the State of Florida ruled that an auto dealership waived its right to compel arbitration in a Florida Deceptive and Unfair Trade Practices Act (FDUTPA) claim. In the case of Marino Performance Inc. v Jose Carlos Zuniga and Juan C. Zuniga Jr., the… Read More »
Federal Court In Florida Denies Class Certification In FDUTPA Ticket Refund Case
Under the Florida Deceptive and Unfair Trade Practices Act (FDUTPA), consumers and businesses have the ability to hold defendants liable for damages caused by unjust commercial practices. Many FDUTPA claims are class action lawsuits—where the plaintiffs assert that a business or organization caused damage to many parties due to their deceptive or otherwise unfair… Read More »
Three Tips For Protecting Your Business From Class Action FDUTPA Claims
The Florida Deceptive and Unfair Trade Practices Act (FDUTPA) is a statute that protects consumers (and businesses) against commercial practices deemed to be deceptive, unfair, abusive, or unconscionable. In many cases, FDUTPA claims are class action lawsuits. A company found liable in a class action FDUTPA could face a significant financial burden. Here, our… Read More »
Florida Governor Signs New Restrictions On Telemarketing Calls
Telemarketing calls are a nuisance for many consumers and businesses in Florida and throughout the United States. According to data cited by the Federal Trade Commission (FTC), Americans receive an estimated 180 million unsolicited phone calls from telemarketing each day. On June 29th, 2021, Florida Governor Ron Desantis signed SB 1120 into law—a bill… Read More »
Consumers File Class Action FDUTPA Against Toyota
According to a report from Law 360, a group of consumers has filed a class action lawsuit under the Florida Deceptive and Unfair Trade Practices Act (FDUTPA) against Toyota. According to the allegations raised in the complaint, Toyota and several Florida-based auto dealerships knowingly marketed and sold vehicles with defective HVAC systems. In this… Read More »
Are Punitive Damages Allowed Under The FDUTPA?
The Florida Deceptive and Unfair Trade Practices Act (FDUTPA) is a Florida statute that protects people and businesses against unjust commercial practices. If your rights are violated under the law, you can file a claim for financial compensation. You may be wondering: Can you recover punitive damages under the FDUTPA? The short is ‘no’—but,… Read More »
FDUTPA And False Advertising Claims
The Florida Deceptive and Unfair Trade Practices Act (FDUTPA) is a state law designed to protect consumers and businesses against misleading and unjust commercial practices. As the statute reads, business practices are unlawful if they are deemed “unfair methods of competition, unconscionable acts or practices, and unfair or deceptive acts or practices.” One of… Read More »
The Three Things You Need To Prove To Bring A Successful FDUTPA Claim
The Florida Deceptive and Unfair Trade Practices Act (FDUTPA) is a state law designed to protect consumers and businesses against unfair commercial practices. If you or your company sustained losses due to illegitimate commercial practices, you may be entitled to financial compensation. This raises an important question: what do you need to show to… Read More »
Florida’s Deceptive And Unfair Trade Practices Act (FDUTPA): Bait And Switch Schemes
Passed into law in the 1970s, the Florida Deceptive and Unfair Trade Practices Act (FDUTPA) is our state’s counterpart to the Federal Trade Commission Act (FTC Act). The FDUTPA is an effective tool for consumers and businesses that have suffered losses due to deceptive and otherwise unfair commercial practices. In applying the state law,… Read More »
What Is The Florida Motor Vehicle Repair Act?
The Florida Deceptive and Unfair Trade Practices Act (FDUTPA) provides the most comprehensive protection against business and consumer fraud—but it is certainly not the only consumer protection law. The Florida Motor Vehicle Repair Act is a specialized state statute that helps to ensure that consumers are treated fairly by mechanics and automotive service companies…. Read More »
Class Action FDUTPA Lawsuit Filed Against Costco—Florida Man Argues Battery Advertisement Was Deceptive
According to a report from Law360, the retail giant Costco is facing a lawsuit under the Florida Deceptive and Unfair Trade Practices Act (FDUTPA). A Florida man alleges that Costco’s guarantee of a “free” battery replacement under warranty for the Interstate automobile batteries it sells improperly misleads consumers. In this blog post, our West… Read More »
