Consumer Fraud Act of 1981

Summary

Consumer Fraud Act of 1981 - Defines "unfair consumer practice" to include: (1) offering or advertising goods or services for sale to a consumer and not selling them as so offered; or (2) making false or misleading statements with respect to goods or services which are offered for sale to a consumer. Permits a consumer to void any contract or agreement in commerce which provides for the purchase of goods or services and results from a transaction involving an unfair consumer practice. Makes any person who induces a consumer into such contracts or agreements liable to such consumer for treble damages and legal costs. Authorizes State attorneys general to bring civil actions in Federal or State courts, as parens patriae for consumer residents, to secure treble damages and legal costs for unfair consumer practices, with monetary relief to be distributed among consumers or deposited with the State. Authorizes the U.S. Attorney General or any State attorney general to bring an action to enjoin an unfair consumer practice. Amends the Federal criminal code to establish penalties for whoever uses an instrumentality of commerce to willfully or negligently engage in an unfair consumer practice.

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Timeline

1. 19 March 1981

   Introduced

   Referred to House Committee on Energy and Commerce.

   Source: IntroReferral

2. 19 March 1981

   Introduced

   Introduced in House

   Source: IntroReferral

3. 19 March 1981

   Introduced

   Introduced in House

   Source: IntroReferral

4. 23 March 1981

   Referred

   Referred to Subcommittee on Telecommunications,Consumer Protection and Finance.

   Source: Committee

5. 24 March 1981

   Referred

   Referred to Subcommittee on Monopolies and Commercial Law.

   Source: Committee

Votes

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Versions

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Documents

1 official file

• Introduced in House

  summary · EN · 19 March 1981

  Open at official source

Sponsors

• Rep. Gilman, Benjamin A. [R-NY-20] · R · Sponsor
• Rep. Mitchell, Parren J. [D-MD-7] · D · Sponsor
• Rep. Clay, William (Bill) [D-MO-1] · D · Sponsor
• Rep. Stokes, Louis [D-OH-11] · D · Sponsor
• Rep. Edgar, Robert W. [D-PA-7] · D · Sponsor
• Rep. Neal, Stephen L. [D-NC-5] · D · Sponsor
• Rep. Foglietta, Thomas M. [D-PA-1] · D · Sponsor
• · hsju00 · Standing
• · hsif00 · Standing

Related records

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