Anyone who purchases a product or service is potentially at risk for fraud, and even the most financially savvy customer can unknowingly fall victim to it. It can crop up in a number of ways, from overpaying for contracting services or purchasing a car that turns out to be defective, to a company that does not protect consumers’ identities, allowing them to fall victim to a data breach. Facing the pressures of a competitive marketplace, some companies take deceptive actions in order to give them a financial edge while disadvantaging countless customers.

Common types of consumer fraud

  • Automobile fraud
  • Data breaches
  • False and misleading advertising or bait and switch tactics
  • Insurance fraud
  • Interpreting a contract or agreement in a way that unfairly disadvantages the consumer
  • Overcharging or improper charges for goods and services
  • Selling defective products

In 2018 alone, the Federal Trade Commission received more than one 1.4 million fraud-related complaints with losses totaling more than $1 billion.

Consumer Fraud Class Action Lawsuits

Federal and state laws offer consumer fraud protection by regulating the advertising, marketing and sale of consumer products and services. In addition, there are federal agencies that work to prevent and address consumer fraud, including the Federal Trade Commission, the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission and the Consumer Financial Protection Agency.

These agencies, however, do not help individual consumers pursue recovery for damage due to fraud. If you are a victim of consumer fraud and are considering pursuing litigation, our attorneys can help as you seek justice.

Contact a Consumer Fraud Attorney

Our attorneys regularly review reports of potential consumer fraud claims that involve improper practices or defective, unsafe products. To learn more about consumer fraud litigation or discuss your legal rights, contact consumer fraud attorneys Jodi Westbrook Flowers or Mathew Jaskinski by email or call 1.800.768.4026.

Our Approach to Consumer Fraud Litigation

Motley Rice believes that class action lawsuits are an important tool for both the individual and the marketplace. For many consumers, filing an independent lawsuit may be impractical or costly. A class action lawsuit positions a group of similarly harmed consumers to pursue recovery for their damages.

Our consumer fraud team seeks damages for consumers with both small and large losses, and we strive to make a significant impact that will also discourage future businesses from attempting to undertake the same illicit practices.

Our Experience in Consumer Fraud Protection

Our attorneys have litigated diverse and complex consumer fraud matters against industries and companies that prey on unwary customers, including cases against:

  • Automobile manufacturers and dealers
  • Banks
  • Brokers
  • Credit reporting agencies
  • Financial consultants
  • Insurance companies
  • Mortgage lenders
  • Title insurers

We have also worked with numerous state attorneys general who have retained our attorneys to represent their states in a range of legal matters, including consumer rights and consumer protection.

Data Breach Lawsuits

In recent years, Motley Rice attorneys have filed litigation involving multiple cybersecurity breaches that left millions of victims susceptible to identity theft, including the massive Equifax data breach that affected 143 million Americans in 2017, as well as representing Marriott and Starwood hotel guests affected by a series of data breaches over the course of several years that potentially exposed passport information and other personal data for up to 500 million customers. Attorney Jodi Westbrook Flowers serves as co-liaison counsel of the 21st Century Oncology data breach Plaintiffs’ Steering Committee overseeing litigation filed for patients who allege their medical records were exposed by the company due to a lack of security.

Jodi also leads a team of Motley Rice attorneys in an investigation into claims that Facebook potentially violated privacy laws by allowing third parties to harvest private information from millions of the network’s users.  If you have been affected by one of these data breaches, you may have a consumer fraud or economic loss claim. For more information, contact Jodi Westbrook Flowers by phone at 1-800-7688-4026, or by email.

Emissions Fraud Litigation

Motley Rice represented dozens of owners and lessees affected by the Volkswagen “Clean Diesel” scandal, in addition to firm co-founder Joe Rice’s role as one of the lead negotiators of a $15 billion class action settlement for impacted 2.0-liter vehicles, the largest auto-related consumer class action settlement in U.S. history, as well as the multi-billion settlement for 3.0-liter vehicles.  Learn more.

The firm’s attorneys also represents owners and lessees in similar litigation alleging defeat software was used to bypass federal emissions standards in certain Fiat Chrysler Automobiles vehicles from model years 2014 to 2016. Joe Rice served as a member of the Plaintiffs’ Steering Committee and played a leading role in negotiating a settlement valued at more than $300 million. Learn more.

Fraudulent Health Insurance Costs

Motley Rice attorneys are engaged in litigation and investigations into Cigna Health & Life Insurance Co, and other health insurance providers accused of fraudulently inflating copayments, coinsurance, deductibles and other costs for home-patient services and products. Learn more.

Motley Rice LLC, a South Carolina Limited Liability Company, is engaged in the New Jersey practice of law through Motley Rice New Jersey LLC. Esther Berezofsky attorney responsible for New Jersey practice.