{"id":372161,"date":"2016-03-31T21:34:44","date_gmt":"2016-04-01T02:34:44","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/content.findlaw-admin.com\/ability-law\/state\/consumer-laws\/details-on-state-deceptive-trade-practices.html"},"modified":"2016-06-20T19:51:16","modified_gmt":"2016-06-21T00:51:16","slug":"details-on-state-deceptive-trade-practices","status":"publish","type":"page","link":"https:\/\/www.findlaw.com\/state\/consumer-laws\/details-on-state-deceptive-trade-practices.html","title":{"rendered":"Details on State Deceptive Trade Practices"},"content":{"rendered":"\n
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Details on State Deceptive Trade Practices<\/h1>\n
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Created by FindLaw’s team<\/a> of legal writers and editors<\/i><\/p>\n\n | Last updated\n

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The last updated date refers to the last time this article was reviewed by FindLaw or one of our contributing authors<\/a>. We make every effort to keep our articles updated. For information regarding a specific legal issue affecting you, please contact an attorney in your area<\/a>.<\/em><\/p>\n\n <\/div>\n <\/details>\n<\/section>\n

What Makes a Trade Practice Deceptive?<\/h2>\n

Manufacturers and retailers put enormous effort into marketing and advertising, often making grandiose claims about their product or service. But as long as these claims aren’t overtly deceptive (or flat-out false) they’re typically legal. A deceptive trade practice<\/i> is activity by an individual or business that is meant to mislead or lure the public into purchasing a product or service. False advertising and odometer tampering<\/a> are two of the most blatant examples of commercial fraud.<\/p>\n

See FindLaw’s Consumer Transactions<\/a> and Auto Dealer Fraud<\/a> sections for related articles and resources, including ‘Free’ Trials and the Fine Print<\/a> .<\/p>\n

State Deceptive Trade Practice Laws: Overview<\/h2>\n

Virtually every state has a law prohibiting various deceptive trade practices. Typically, the state attorney general has the authority to take action against alleged offenders. Some states also allow private and class action suits to be filed by aggrieved parties. Ohio law, for instance, enforces a $25,000 civil penalty and injunctions (if necessary) for violations. Ohio residents who have been harmed by a deceptive trade practice may sue for three times the amount of actual damages or $1,500 (whichever is greater), plus court costs and attorney fees. Arkansas law, meanwhile, does not permit private legal action.<\/p>\n

Because a deceptive trade practice may affect individuals or businesses from more than one state, several states have adopted the Uniform Deceptive Trade Practices Act (UDTPA). The model legislation does not add or detract from the law of any one state. Rather, it is intended to enable class action lawsuits and other remedies for those "likely to be damaged" by a deceptive trade practice. For example, a car dealer advertising used cars with low mileage is discovered to have been tampering with the cars’ odometers. If this advertisement was broadcast on local television, then everyone in the viewing area is "likely to be damaged" by the fraudulent claim.<\/p>\n

Deceptive Trade Practices: Examples<\/h2>\n

State laws define certain acts as deceptive trade practices. Most states have very similar lists of offenses, but typically vary in how they are handled. Trade practices commonly defined as "deceptive" include (but are not limited to):<\/p>\n