Close Menu

Call us for a free case
evaluation 626-844-7102

How Do You Prove Unfair Competition in California?

cytonn-photography-GJao3ZTX9gU-unsplash (2)

Most states have enacted unfair competition and/or deceptive trade practices statutes. California’s unfair competition law (UCL) dates back to 1872 and has since been updated and broadened. Today, the UCL prohibits a business from engaging in unfair, unlawful, or fraudulent business practices. The UCL also bans misleading, false, or deceptive advertising. Finally, the UCL bans violations of the Business and Professions Code. Victims under the UCL can be either consumers or businesses.

Unfair Competition Examples – Consumer

Some common examples of unfair competition under the California statutes include the following:

  • A company’s advertising entices a customer to enter a store because of a cheaply priced item but when the customer attempts to buy that product, the store employees attempt to convince the customer to buy a different and higher priced product. This is called bait and switch.
  • A product is purported to have been endorsed by someone who never endorsed that product. This is called a fake endorsement.
  • Claims are made that a product can do something that it cannot do. This is an example of exaggerated performance.
  • A salesperson fails to explain that a certain cordless drill, for example, only runs for a half hour before needing a battery charge. This is called withholding important product information.

Unfair Competition Examples – Business-to-Business

Some common examples of unfair business-to-business competition under the California statutes include the following:

  • A supplier calls another supplier and the parties agree to raise prices so that customers would have to pay more no matter whom they purchased from. This is called price fixing.
  • A large hamburger restaurant chain opens an outlet next to an independent operator and undercuts the smaller operation’s prices even though the larger operation loses money on every sale. This is called selling below cost.
  • A lender charges usurious interest rates for a business loan. This is called predatory lending.

Plaintiff’s Requirements

Any “person” can sue under the UCL. California courts have interpreted the term “person” to include private individuals, the government, or other business entities. Plaintiffs must prove “standing” by proving that they lost property or money and/or had suffered an injury due to a prohibited business practice.

In California, unfair competition lawsuits must be filed within four years of the occurrence of the unfair event. The term “unfair” is very broad and therefore courts feel free to decide what is actually unfair. If a consumer feels that a business has committed an unfair act but the act is a common business practice in a certain industry, a court may decide that the common practice is indeed not unfair.

Seek Qualified Legal Help

California’s unfair competition statutes can seem complicated, and certain words and phrases contained in the statutes are open to court interpretation. Certainly, those who feel that they have been injured by an unfair business practice should consult a qualified California attorney familiar with California’s UCL. Contact The Law Offices of Andrew Ritholz at 626-844-7102 to set up an evaluation of your case or send a quick online inquiry. 

 

Facebook Twitter LinkedIn

© 2018 - 2024 Law Offices of Andrew Ritholz. All rights reserved.