Consumer Lawyer  & Consumer Fraud

NEW JERSEY CONSUMER FRAUD ACT

The New Jersey Consumer Fraud Act is one of the strongest consumer statutes in the United States.  It provides a right of action (lawsuit) for consumers who have sustained an ascertainable loss.  There were a host of administrative regulations pertaining to the sale of automobiles, the repair of homes and the sale of new and used cars.  If a consumer is successful in litigating a claim under the New Jersey Consumer Fraud Act, the court is required to triple the amount of any ascertainable loss sustained by the plaintiff.  The New Jersey Consumer Fraud Act also provides for the mandatory payment of attorney’s fees upon the successful completion of litigation. 

NEW JERSEY CONSUMER FRAUD ACT AND INJUNCTIVE RELIEF

The New Jersey Consumer Fraud Act requires that a consumer or litigant who sustained an ascertainable loss obtain a recovery under the New Jersey Consumer Fraud Act.  This award would then be tripled and attorney’s fees would be added by the court upon application.  The New Jersey Consumer Fraud Act also provides for the availability of injunctive relief.  As an example, if a consumer were alleging that a certain pricing method or a standard course of conduct with regard to an automobile dealership is ongoing, the court could potentially enter an order prohibiting the dealership from acting in this manner.  However, there is a requirement that the plaintiff be a successful litigant under the New Jersey Consumer Fraud Act.  This is a very powerful remedy available to consumers. 

There is no requirement that there be an ascertainable loss when the attorney general institutes suit against a particular dealership or business.  The attorney general’s office has significantly more power under the New Jersey Consumer Fraud Act.