When a company lies to consumers in Las Vegas, it may result in damages for those who make the purchases, and the effects can be disastrous for other businesses, too. There are federal laws defining the parameters of this behavior, and Nevada state law also provides details about what constitutes deceptive trade practices.
One of the key words when it comes to deceptive trade practices is “knowingly.” A company that makes a mistake rather than an intentionally false statement or misrepresentation may not be liable, depending on the context of the situation and other factors. For example, a person cannot claim that a product is original when he or she knows it has been altered. If a product has water damage, that has to be disclosed, too.
Advertising is another arena where an unethical business person may get into trouble. Presenting a product in one way without the intention of selling it as stated is an example. Another is to claim that a product is for sale without disclosing any limitations of quantity, but then purposefully fail to provide enough to meet public demand. It is also illegal to refuse to show the product that was in the advertisement, or to show a defective product, instead.
The Office of the Nevada Attorney General notes that the Bureau of Consumer Protection is responsible for enforcing these statutes. However, some industries are regulated by other laws. The definitions of deceptive trade practices do not apply to issues that arise with bank cards, debt collection or timeshares, and there are government agencies specifically designated to deal with the violations of those industry-specific statutes.
