Consumer Protection

Despite growing public awareness on consumer protection issues by various watchdog groups, the consumer at large continues to be disadvantaged in the marketplace.  Two areas in particular appear to be moving targets and may continue to grow in causing mass frustration to countless individuals:  Consumable goods, and data privacy.

Turn in any direction and you will find all sorts of people are concerned with what they put into their bodies. Some would go far as to say that we have an “organic” obsession with raw foods and supplements. However, both raw and organic products carry with them real dangers to our health.

As an everyday consumer, you have rights and options when it comes to resolving disputes with businesses and merchants in the marketplace. One of the most common ways to resolve these disputes is through consumer arbitration. But what exactly is does that mean? And how can you ensure that your rights are protected and that you come out on top? In this article, we will delve into the process of consumer arbitration and provide insights into choosing the right lawyer, understanding governing laws and regulations, navigating major provider services, identifying potential pitfalls, and developing winning strategies. We will also discuss the role of the FAA and Supreme Court Rulings in shaping consumer arbitration processes. Read on to learn more about how to become stronger consumer advocates and how you can protect them through effective advocacy strategies.

How do You Choose a Consumer Arbitration Lawyer?

Choosing a lawyer for your specific consumer arbitration issue should include: (i) their focus practice of law, (ii) legal background, and (iii) approach to consumer advocacy. Specific consumer laws require multidisciplinary approaches and unique strategies. Also, evaluate their overall communication style, availability, and success rate in resolving disputes.

From dietary supplements to organic foods, the marketplace is at war. Countless individuals turn over items at grocery stores to read ingredients labels and scan long lists alongside them for buzzwords that we have been trained to be weary of based on our individual needs.
What is less known to the average consumer is that the very products we put into our mouths can harm us in irreversible ways—most shockingly relating to dietary supplements.

Dietary Supplements and Harmful Chemicals

Our firm’s clients are often speechless when they come to learn that their vitamins, performance enhancers, minerals, and health supplements carry some dangerous substances within them.
Most notably, at the time of this article’s publication, over 1,300 dietary supplements in the past 30 years have been flagged for carrying dangerous chemicals like lead, cadmium, mercury, arsenic, chromium, and even anabolic steroids.  What is more disturbing is that these are only the products that have been tested in open scrutiny for California’s Proposition 65 warning requirements.  Leaving the average consumer to wonder what other supplements are being purchased daily that have hovered under the radar?

Given the nature of “public” offenses, one wouldn’t think there is such a thing as criminal record privacy.
With almost daily reports of data breaches occurring at the national and international level, the general public has now become more alarmed that their very own personal information finds its way into the hands of those who want to take advantage of the everyday consumer.

Privacy, therefore, has taken on a new idea for many.
One category of particular note is the unwarranted dissemination of past criminal records.

Among the most embarrassing aspects of one’s life, the moment they became a member of the criminal justice system may rank at the top of the list.

With over 1 in 3 Americans who have some kind of “ criminal record” event related to their personal history, obtaining a new job, renting a new home, or entering the online dating marketplace can bring back past arrests or criminal charges that should have remained private.