Some companies try to obtain a competitive advantage or increase their profits by misrepresenting the price or quality of their products and services, by burying crucial terms or fees in the fine print, or by otherwise hiding the truth from consumers. When this happens, a consumer’s only recourse may be through the courts. Because the damages suffered by any individual may be small, the only way to obtain justice for injured consumers is by joining their claims together through a class action.
Schroeter Goldmark & Bender has the experience, resources, and passion to take on complex and challenging class action consumer protection cases. We have experience in determining which contract provisions will be enforced by the courts and the tenacity to fight those unfair provisions that deny effective relief to consumers.
Our consumer protection expertise spans the following areas:
- Junk fees;
- Mortgage fees;
- Debt collection and the Fair Debit Collection Protection Act;
- Medical and hospital billing; and
- Insurance bad faith.
Be aware that while the Washington Consumer Protection Act has a four-year statute of limitations for bringing any claims in court, many federal laws give consumers as little as a year to bring a claim.
Results
- Over $2.2 million in class action settlements with the City of Seattle and Washington State Patrol for owners of vehicles that were unlawfully impounded for Driving While License Suspended violations.
- Almost $2 million in settlements for mortgage borrowers who were charged various “junk” fees by their lenders and escrow companies.
- $1 million settlement for Washington consumers who were signed up for AOL service without their knowledge.
- Class action settlement on behalf of Bank of America account holders charged fees for using unbranded ATMs owned by the bank, requiring substantial reimbursement of fees and revised disclosures and practices by the bank.
- Class action settlement with Regence Blue Shield requiring reimbursement of expenses incurred by members as a result of termination of provider contracts with several surgical provider groups.
- Nationwide class action settlement under the Washington Consumer Protection Act for deceptive marketing practices by a mail-order film developer.
(*Prior results do not guarantee a similar outcome.)
Let us help.
There is no charge for us to review your potential claim. If we take the case, we do so on a contingency basis and we advance all the costs of the litigation. Class action plaintiffs are not responsible for fees or costs, and we only recover our fees and costs if we are successful in obtaining relief for the class through judgment or settlement. Contact us for a free, confidential case review at (800) 809-2234 or (206) 622-8000.
