Using Consumer Protection Laws To Pursue Illegal Real Estate Scams

On his Indiana Consumer Lawyer Blog, attorney Robert Duff comments on the real estate scams currently being investigated by the Indiana Attorney General's office and points out that Indiana consumers have a way to pursue compensation for unlawful business practices by licensed real estate appraisers and real estate agents through legal actions under the Indiana Deceptive Consumer Sales Act. He notes that actions under this statute must be brought within two years, and points out that one notable advantage of bringing legal action under this statute is that it provides for the payment of the consumers' attorney fees by the losing defendant.

This advantage, typical of state and Federal consumer protection laws throughout the U.S., is meant to encourage enforcement of these laws by individual consumers through their own private lawsuits, encourage attorneys to take on consumer protection cases on behalf of aggrieved consumers, and to make the culpable business engaging in the illegal conduct foot the consumer's legal bill.

For more, see Indiana Real Estate Appraisers and Agents Apparently Need More Oversight.
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