Tag Archives: consumer protection

Searching for Resolution

Just Google it

Google may list an additional antitrust lawsuit to its resume of accomplishments, as three states and the District of Columbia have filed claims, alleging that the technology company deceived users into believing that they could disable location tracking functions. Despite viewing the message that “You can turn off Location History at any time. With Location History off, the places you go are no longer stored,” Google users were apparently tricked into revealing more of their data. From 2014 to 2019, Google used the collected data for advertising purposes and profited from the deception. Continue reading →

Music Festers File Lawsuit

Not all fun

Three festival-goers claim that $5 million is the reasonable amount necessary to compensate for conditions that have been described as uncomfortable and dangerous. Those who have attended an outdoor music festival and camped on the premises for more than one night may attest to the lack of cleanliness and luxury. Some of the typical festival proclivities may include long lines at the portable toilet station, limited access to running water or showers, tight camping quarters, and insurmountable levels of excitement and fun. The lawsuit in question, however, notes a discrepancy between how the festival was promoted to potential consumers and what was actually delivered. Continue reading →

In the Market to Settle

Risky business

As customers peruse the endless gift options available on Amazon for the upcoming Holiday season, they may come across items that should not be purchased by the average shopper. For example, industrial-grade pesticides have remained the topic of a dispute with Amazon and the Attorney General’s Office in Washington State. According to a lawsuit filed in 2018, Amazon granted thousands of transactions of agricultural and industrial-use pesticides to customers, without presenting a clear representation that the pesticides should not be used for average home garden use. In fact, these higher-grade pesticides differed considerably from widely available products that might be found at Home Depot or Lowe’s. Continue reading →

Lawsuit May Keep on Trucking

Engine defects

According to a recent judicial decision, a class action lawsuit against General Motors may continue in court. Various customers allege that their 2011 Chevy Silverado pickup trucks consume excessive oil, which contributes to subsequent mechanical or electrical issues. Despite a motion filed on behalf of the automotive company, a judge did not agree with GM’s argument that the customer engine complaints were rejected under a manufacturing defect warranty. Rather than admitting that customers were experiencing complications from a defect or faulty component, the company attributed the issues to the 5.3L Vortec V8 engine’s design. Continue reading →

1-Star Service Causes Lawsuit

Defamatory feedback

A Vancouver, Washington couple is the subject of a recent lawsuit involving a perceived defamatory Google review. Autumn Knepper and Adam Marsh enlisted the services of a company that had planned to fix a leak in their roof. When they were not provided information that was relevant to the services they were to receive, Knepper and Marsh exercised the opportunity to post a negative, 1-star Google review and warn other potential customers about the quality of service and communication they received. The owner of the company did not take the feedback as constructive, and instead, demanded the review be taken down. When the couple refused, the owner filed a lawsuit. Continue reading →