Ripped Off
In Missouri, consumers have a great tool to help them get restitution
when a purchase goes wrong, but there aren't many attorneys in the
state who know how to use this tool. We're referring to the Missouri
Merchandising Practices Act, and it's the statutory chapter Laura Clubb was in
charge of enforcing during her years as Chief Counsel of the Consumer
Protection Division.
The MMPA gives consumers the right to file a
lawsuit against a person or company that uses unfair or deceptive
practices in the sale or advertisement of merchandise or services. For
example, if a consumer paid a house painter $500 to paint his garage
and the painter took the money and didn't paint the garage, the
consumer could sue the house painter under the MMPA to recover the
$500. Now you may be thinking that the consumer in this scenario could
just file an action for breach of contract, and that's true. But under
the MMPA, the court can award attorneys fees to the prevailing consumer
and assess punitive damages against the wrongdoer. These remedies
aren't always available in a breach of contract lawsuit, and that's why
it's so important to have an attorney who knows how to use the MMPA.
The
point is that if you have a situation where you think you've been
ripped off, you're not without recourse. Call The Clubb Law Firm at (573) 651-1900 and
talk with us about your problem or email us. If we can find a way to help you get your money back or a replacement product or restitution, we'll do it.
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