ARE BUSINESSES ABLE TO FILE CONSUMER FRAUD LAWSUITS?
In many but not all situations, businesses are entitled to bring claims pursuant to the Consumer Fraud Act. For, unlawful practices can victimize businesses as surely as they can the individual consumer. Nothing in the Consumer Fraud Acts language specifically prevents businesses from bringing Consumer Fraud Act claims. The Consumer Fraud Act defines the term merchandise as any of the following: 1. Objects; 2. Wares; 3. Goods; 4. Commodities; 5. Services; 6. Anything offered, directly or indirectly to the public for sale; 7. Information services. Further, the Consumer Fraud Act defines the term Person to include a partnership, corporation, company, trust, business entity or association. Moreover, under the Consumer Fraud Act, a private claimant is defined as any person suffering any ascertainable loss of moneys or property as a result of any practice declared unlawful under the Consumer Fraud Act. Moreover, businesses frequently act as consumers. Additionally, it is not unusual for bus
