This is 2 credit course.

Consumer protection laws attempt to protect consumers by prohibiting business practices that are unfair or deceive consumers. This course provides an overview of numerous consumer protection laws and addresses the harms caused to consumers and the economy by unscrupulous businesses.

The course involves review and discussion of federal and state statutes such as the Truth-in-Lending Act, the Fair Debt Collection Practices Act, the Consumer Protection Act, Consumer Warranty Law and the Fair Credit Reporting Act. The course also addresses common law claims such as usury and fraud.

Using a mixture of statutes, case law, real life case examples, and actual litigation files, the course will address common consumer problems including automobile sales, financing and repossession; real estate and foreclosure fraud; subprime lending; student loans; credit card debt and collection; and identity theft. Practical issues such as the enforcement of consumer protection laws, mandatory arbitration, federal preemption of state consumer protection laws, attorneys’ fees, and measuring damages, will be discussed.