Federal and state governments have enacted laws, known as "consumer protection" laws, "consumer fraud" acts, or "unfair trade practices" acts that provide consumers with protection from unfair or deceptive acts as well as misleading, improper or illegal advertising, marketing, and pricing practices. When these consumer protection laws are violated they frequently affect a large class of consumers.

In the consumer protection area, MURRAY FRANK LLP as lead counsel has represented consumers in class actions involving, inter alia, wrongful billing practices and poor service by wireless communications providers; home equity lines of credit that were unfairly and wrongly reduced or cancelled by the lending bank; wrongful billing practices by credit card companies, banks and retailers; product mislabeling; brokerage fees imposed with no or insufficient notice; Medicaid overcharges; and faulty automobile seat heaters.

Among its cases of note, MURRAY FRANK LLP recovered benefits worth $40 million in Naevus Int'l v. AT&T Corp., a consumer class action brought in New York State Supreme Court on behalf of consumers who subscribed to AT&T's Digital One Rate wireless service. The firm also settled a class action with Volkswagen of America, forcing a recall of all 2003 and 2004 Volkswagen Jettas for faulty automobile seat heaters.

In Sclafani v. Barilla America, Inc., a consumer class action brought in New York State Supreme Court on behalf of consumers who purchased Barilla brand pasta, MURRAY FRANK LLP successfully argued that Barilla's packaging misled consumers into believing the company's pasta was made in Italy, obtaining a reversal of a trial court dismissal.

Similarly, in Lomenzo v. Bertolli USA Inc., a consumer class action brought in New York State Supreme Court on behalf of consumers who purchased Bertolli brand olive oil, MURRAY FRANK LLP successfully argued that Bertolli's labeling misled consumers into believing the company's olive oil was Italian.

MURRAY FRANK LLP is currently counsel in lawsuits against LG Electronics USA, Inc., and Whirlpool, alleging that these companies' front-loading washing machines contain serious design defects causing accumulation of mold and mildew in the washing machines, production of foul and noxious odors and consequently damaging clothes washed in the machines.

MURRAY FRANK LLP has been appointed interim co-lead counsel in a consolidated class action against JP Morgan Chase, on behalf of borrowers whose home equity lines of credit (HELOC) with Chase Bank was reduced or cancelled supposedly because of falling home values or Chase Bank's lower appraised value.

We invite you to contact us to discuss any problems you might be experiencing with items recently purchased that appear to be defective, or which do not appear to be fit for the ordinary purposes for which they have been purchased.

Recent Decisions

Whirlpool: The Court in In re Whirlpool Corp. Front-Loading Washer Products Liability Litigation, Case No. 08-WP-65000 (N.D. Ohio) recently certified a class of Ohio purchasers of Whirlpool's high-end washing machines. That decision can be found by clicking here.

JP Morgan Chase HELOC Cases: The JP Morgan HELOC cases were recently transferred to the Northern District of Illinois federal court. MURRAY FRANK LLP has been appointed interim co-lead counsel in these HELOC cases. That decision can be found by clicking here.