False advertising is one of the many deceptive business practices that consumer victims use class action lawsuits for in order to recover for the harm that they suffered. False advertising occurs when a company makes a false or misleading claim about one of its products, and unwitting consumers make a purchase based on that false or misleading statement made by the company. The harm that is suffered by the victim consumer can be an economic harm, and although the cost to purchase the item may have been small, thousands of consumers may have been duped by the company’s deceptive business practice of false advertising. So what was a relatively small loss for one consumer could add up to millions in the aggregate.
False advertising is when a company bends the rules regarding advertising past their limits. The claims made by retailers and sellers are meant to entice consumers into making a purchase. But the claims can be dishonest, misleading, or deceptive, and any consumer who makes a purchase on the basis of false advertising is taken advantage of by the seller or retailer company. Consumer protection laws exist specifically to protect consumers from being manipulated by big businesses with deceptive techniques, such as false advertising.
There are a number of class actions going on right now concerning false advertisement claims. Some examples include:
- Claims that certain foods or products are “all natural” when they in fact contain synthetic ingredients.
- Claims that a product predominantly is made from one ingredient, when it is in fact a lesser ingredient in the product.
- Claims that a product is “Made in the USA” when in fact parts of the product are manufactured overseas, or claims that a product is made in a specific location when in fact it is made somewhere else.
- Labelling a product as made “100%” from a certain ingredient, when it in fact is not.
- Claims that certain products are genetically modified organism (GMO) free, when in fact some ingredients are not GMO free.
- Labeling a product as gluten free when it is not a gluten free product.
- Claims that the price of an item is reduced or on sale when the posted retail price has been artificially inflated, or calling a price “discounted” as compared to the “valued at” price, which is arbitrarily set at some value to make the discount look better than it truly is.
- Claims that a product has proven health benefits, when it has none.
False advertising is a deceptive business practice that takes advantage of innocent consumers. Because the monetary harm caused to an individual by false advertising can be relatively small, businesses think that they can get away with these acts. Class actions are a way to unify a group of plaintiffs who have each been harmed for a small amount. By banding together, the plaintiffs can get a recovery using a litigation vehicle that is cost effective.
Contact A New York Consumer Class Action Lawyer
If you are concerned that you have been the victim of a false advertising claim, a class action might be the best recourse for obtaining compensation. Please contact a class action lawyer at the Bromberg Law Office, P.C. today to schedule an appointment.