How Massachusetts General Law 93A Affects Online Businesses
Monday, November 30th, 2009Massachusetts General Law 93A, entitled Regulation of Business Practices for Consumer Protection, is aimed at those consumers who would otherwise be the case, protecting their legal rights are not aware of. Massachusetts General Law 93A. As it was originally designed, has complained 93A is not a private right, an issue which was quickly addressed by the legislature, and now both consumers and businesses can comply with 93A as a basis for asserting their rights through private law. Unlike some other states thatMassachusetts Consumer Protection Act provides an explicit, rather than an implied, legal, business, they have been sued feel the victim of a deceptive or unfair act. Often it is simply a consumer protection issue with standard businesses, such as on-site: bait and switch advertising, lack of defects, price fixing was silence, defective warranty and had un-expected return / refund policy. It is much more difficult to determine when a claim of consumeris based on Mass General Law 93A if the company is only involved in electronic commerce, and especially if the economy is within the state.
When evaluating a potential consumer protection claim, it is necessary to remember that the necessary elements are different for a company and a consumer. A consumer must follow certain procedural and substantive requirements of section 9 of the Act says. Among other elements, section 9, requires a 30 daysDemand letter, one of the shows that they, in fact, a consumer engaged in unfair or deceptive practices "and evidence of the damage.
Companies, especially the online companies vary greatly in their required elements. § 11 of the requirements for a company lays claim 93A and requires you to show a company:
That they have a "business" – [in the exercise of a trade or commerce] are involved;
That the defendants in an "unfair method of competition" or the defendant's actionswere "unfair" or "misleading";
That these actions occurred primarily and substantially in Massachusetts (the burden on the defendant) to rebut this presumption as a defense and
That these measures resulted in a loss to the plaintiff company of money or property, real or personal, for money damages, or issue date
That these measures "may have the effect of causing such loss of money or property."
Massachusetts General Law 93A
Due to the openness of theIs the Internet and the anonymity involved, it can be extremely difficult to prove that a particular method was either to be unfair or misleading. More difficult, especially in the context of an online business to prove is that a certain action means that has damage or loss. As online transactions vary in height and as the market continues to grow, it is extremely difficult to demonstrate actual loss, or even potential for the loss. Since each element must be presentbefore the filing of a claim, the prudent advocate the circumstances of the case research before launching a 93A claim. Without the proper pleading elements who reject most of the judges with the case at the first opportunity.
In addition, online companies are introducing unique jurisdictional issues that may confuse the use of 93A for consumer protection purposes. So that even the hope of the application 93A an online business, the "unfair or deceptive act" must be primarilyor essentially occurred within the Commonwealth of Massachusetts. If neither the deceptive / unfair trade, nor the damage done in MA, a consumer claim is excluded on the basis of 93A, even if the victim is a Massachusetts resident or business. In recent Massachusetts Superior Court in Fillmore v. Leasecomm Corp., the court a consumer protection action brought by a Massachusetts company against a California company reported taken, because the allegedly fraudulent saleTactics and the unfair contracts were executed, all in California. Fillmore v. Leasecomm Corp., 18 Mass. L. RPTR. 560, 2004 WL 3091642 (Mass. Super. Ct. 15 November 2004). In Fillmore, the applicant's pleadings "center of gravity test" used for legal purposes, and the claim was rejected. In deciding whether a claim is consumer protection in Massachusetts file, looking for the best in the first act, the harm and the case law. MoreMassachusetts, which has occurred in the jurisdiction, the more likely the claim will be allowed to continue. However, find, Massachusetts courts, in favor of companies, Massachusetts, where all elements are met, including those within the jurisdiction. If a contract has been carried out in Massachusetts, and the damage took place in Massachusetts, then the responsibility is fulfilled element and the court will find for the plaintiff, as has the Massachusetts Appeals Court in Auto Shine Car WashSys. v. Nice 'n Clean Car Wash, Inc. in the car-service, the parties met frequently in Massachusetts, and are misrepresentations in Massachusetts. The court ruled in favor of the plaintiff for double damages, because it is a willful violation of Mass. Gen. Laws ch. 93A 58 Mass. App. Ct. 685 (Mass. Appeals Ct. 2003).
Filing of a consumer claim is a much higher level of evidence and court requirementsif your customer is a business. Beware of possible consequences and a waste of time, you can use when filing a claim, without any element satisfied. Simply because Massachusetts provides explicitly supports the company file for claims, do not mean deer, that the judges be willing to even the smallest variation in the pleading requirements will be overlooked.