Under state and federal law, companies that intentionally mislead or defrauded consumers about the character of their business or services may be subject to fines and penalties. Additionally, they may be liable for any harm suffered by their consumers. At The Law Office of J. Edgar Halstead, III, PLLC, the firm works alongside its clients to bring suit against companies who are engaging in unfair and deceptive trade practices.
At The Law Offices of J. Edgar Halstead, III, PLLC, the firm represents clients who have been the victims of:
- False Advertising
- Failure to disclose loan conditions
- Libel or slander of another companies products or services
- Refusal to honor sales warranty
- Misrepresentations
- Taking advantage of the elderly
- Interference with another’s contracts
- Overcharging of customers
- Monopolies
- Fraud
Build a Strong Case
Many companies will try to avoid these types of suits by destroying evidence and denying allegations. As a result, it is imperative that you try to save any correspondence, contracts, phone messages, receipts, or other documents that may pertain to your case.
Keeping a list of the people that you talked with or met with will also be important to your claim. You should keep track of which sales people, customer services representatives, supervisors, and managers you spoke with and how long each conversation lasted. The more information and records you are able to maintain, the easier it will be to contradict the arguments of the opposing side and to establish credibility.
North Carolina Law
According to North Carolina statute, every restraint of trade or commerce is considered illegal and a criminal felony. However, the real protection provided by the statute is that it allows for civil remedies. In order to successfully win a civil claim, an individual must show that:
- There was an unfair practice
- This practice was in commerce or affected commerce
- And that this unfair practice caused an actual injury to the party making the claim.
Unfortunately, an unfair or deceptive trade practice can be very difficult to define. Courts have held that the practices must be judged by the specific circumstances of the case. In making this determination, courts will look at whether the practice can be considered immoral, offensive, unethical, or potentially unfair to consumers.
Contact The Law Offices of J. Edgar Halstead, III, PLLC
Whether you have been deceived or treated unfairly by a lender, retailer, creditor, or insurance company, The Law Offices of J. Edgar Halstead, III, PLLC can help you seek the outcome you deserve. An accused business will hire legal counsel and will deny all allegations. At The Law Offices of J. Edgar Halstead, III, PLLC, the firm is prepared to aggressively defend your claim and prove your allegation of unfair and deceptive practices. If you have suffered a financial injury from a deceptive or fraudulent business, contact The Law Offices of J. Edgar Halstead, III, PLLC today.