When marketing crosses the line from persuasive to deceptive, California gives consumers — and counsel — meaningful tools to respond. Cornerstone represents individuals and groups in actions arising from false claims, deceptive omissions, and unfair business practices.
Scope of Practice
Our work in this area covers the full arc of false-advertising and deceptive-trade matters: pre-suit demand letters, individual claims, and group representation where a pattern of deception affects a defined consumer population.
Governing Statutes
- California Business & Professions Code §17200 — UCL (Unfair Competition Law). Reaches “unlawful, unfair, or fraudulent” business acts.
- California Business & Professions Code §17500 — FAL (False Advertising Law). Prohibits false or misleading statements made to induce sale of goods or services.
- California Civil Code §1750 — CLRA (Consumers Legal Remedies Act). Lists unfair or deceptive acts in transactions for consumer goods or services and authorizes restitution, injunctive relief, and damages.
Common Patterns
The fact patterns vary, but several recur frequently:
- Source, sponsorship, or endorsement misrepresented
- Used or reconditioned goods sold as new
- Quantity, quality, or geographic-origin claims that are not substantiated
- “Bait and switch” pricing — advertised goods unavailable as represented
- Material omissions in disclosure of fees, conditions, or risks
- Odometer or mileage misrepresentation in used-vehicle sales
Remedies Available
Statutory remedies include restitution, disgorgement of ill-gotten gains, injunctive relief halting the deceptive practice, and attorney’s fees in qualifying cases. The CLRA also provides for actual damages and, where appropriate, statutory penalties.
Documenting a deceptive practice
Preserve advertisements, receipts, packaging, screenshots, and dated correspondence. The strength of any consumer-protection action turns on the evidentiary record — the more contemporaneous documentation, the better.
How We Engage
Initial consultations are complimentary. If we accept your matter, the principal attorney runs the file through resolution.
