Consumer Protection

Our attorneys have extensive experience representing consumers' interests in a wide variety of disputes. Almost every situation where goods or services are sold to the public is covered by the Massachusetts Consumer Protection law, (Chapter 93A). This statute provides remedies for unfair or deceptive business practices, by anyone conducting business in the Commonwealth of Massachusetts.

Classic examples of matters that fall under Chapter 93A are: certain debt collection practices, un-workmanlike construction of additions or improvements to homes, fraud, breach of warranty, harassment of a consumer by a business, the dealership sale of cars, certain landlord-tenant actions, and sales of goods or services of any kind.

Multiple (double or treble) damages may be available if the plaintiff can prove the business-defendant willfully and knowingly violated Chapter 93A. A consumer can also collect reasonable attorney's fees and costs incurred in the lawsuit under certain circumstances.

If you have been subjected to unfair treatment arising from the purchase of goods or services, we are equipped to protect your rights.

Consumer Protection (Chapter 93A)

When a business employs unfair or deceptive trade practices, it can take advantage of, and violate, the rights of other businesses and customers. You may be able to file a claim against a business if you believe they have engaged in unfair and deceptive trade practices.

Unfair and deceptive trade practice claims can be very difficult to resolve. Because there are so many different forms of unfair and deceptive trade practices, each claim is handled and decided individually. Generally, there are three factors that must be proven in order to recover compensation:

• The alleged violation must have occurred in the conduct of trade or commerce;
• the practices were unfair or deceptive; and
• actual injury or damages were suffered by the victim.

Each unfair and deceptive trade practice claim is different. For the most part, if an act is oppressive, immoral, unscrupulous, injurious, or unethical to customers, it is considered to be an unfair or deceptive trade practice.

The Law Office of William M. Yates is committed to providing the highest quality legal representation of plaintiffs and defendants in business litigation matters. We take great pride in the fact that we strive to treat all of our clients with courtesy and respect. We understand that even the most modest cases are still the most important legal matters that our clients may ever be involved in.