Consumer Protection

There are federal and state laws that protect your consumer rights.

Understand Your Consumer Rights

Unfair or deceptive commercial practices are all too common. Call it predatory debt, bait-and-switch, equity skimming, loan splitting, or just plain fraud, these schemes are often difficult to spot, remarkably innovative, and can have lasting consequences. Even Washington’s State Supreme Court acknowledged that,

“[T]here is no limit to human inventiveness in this field.” Panag v. Farmers Inc. Co. of Washington, 166 Wn.2d 27, 48, 204 P.3d 885, 895 (2009).

Central to my practice is representing people harmed by commercial deception in litigation against companies that lack the necessary regard for the law to avoid public harm. These companies target personal assets and prey on the vulnerable, disadvantaged, and discriminated against, to profit while consumers lose wealth and health.

I have fought, won, and settled cases against companies in banking, transportation, and insurance. There are laws that protect your consumer rights.

Learn More About My Experience

Some Specific Tips & Info

Preserve potential evidence

Do not delete or destroy any documents related to your issue
Gather documents and material that support your position. Expenses incurred ascertaining whether you have a case under Washington’s Consumer Protection Act are recoverable.
If false advertising is at issue, have copies of the advertising handy.
Consider writing memories down like timelines, verbal instructions, directions, or agreements, etc.
Identify the damages, i.e. additional expenses, diminished value, any harm, caused by the unfair or deceptive commercial conduct.
If debt is involved, obtain and keep copies of your credit report if relevant.
Copies of all documents must be legible, make sure your documents are clear and readable.

Pay attention to time

The deadline to file a lawsuit depends on the nature of your consumer case. For example, Washington’s Consumer Protection Act may give you four years, but some provisions of the U.S. Truth In Lending Act may give you only a year.
Be alert to deadlines. Missing a deadline to file a claim, a lawsuit, or to appeal an adverse decision, may result in losing the right to do some or all those things.

Disarming Legal Complexity

Case Experience

Successfully settled or won cases involving:

Residential Mortgage Foreclosure
Loan Acceleration
Washington Consumer Protection Act
Truth in Lending (from high-end mortgages to open-ended credit cards.)
Housing Discrimination
Credit Discrimination
Predatory Lending and Credit
Real Estate
Loan and Real Estate Brokers
Auto dealers
Contract Breach
Fraud

Representing clients before:

Washington State Superior Court
Washington State Appellate Court
US 9th Circuit Court of Appeals
Washington Department of Labor and Industries
Board of Industrial Insurance Appeals.
Formal mediation conferences
Judicial settlement conferences

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