Consumer Protection Lawyer

Consumer protection law exists for one fundamental purpose: to hold corporations accountable when they put profits ahead of the people they serve. When companies deceive their customers, sell dangerous products, exploit personal data, or use predatory financial practices, the harm is real — and Brett Schreiber is a California consumer protection attorney who fights to make it right.

Recognized by the Lawdragon 500 as one of America's leading plaintiff consumer lawyers — a distinction he has earned in both 2025 and 2026 — Brett brings the same relentless advocacy to consumer protection cases that he brings to every fight. As an Officer of the Board of Directors of Consumer Attorneys of California (CAOC), he is also actively engaged in shaping the laws and policies that protect consumers at the state and national level.

If you believe a company has harmed you through deceptive, fraudulent, or negligent conduct, contact Brett's office today for a free, confidential case evaluation.

What Is Consumer Protection Law?

Consumer protection law is a body of federal and California state statutes designed to protect individuals from unethical, deceptive, and harmful business practices. It covers an enormous range of corporate misconduct — from false advertising and defective products to predatory lending, data privacy violations, insurance fraud, and the emerging area of AI-driven discrimination in insurance claims and tenant screening.

California is home to some of the strongest consumer protection laws in the nation. In many cases, California statutes provide broader protections and greater remedies than federal law — giving consumers in this state powerful legal tools that consumers elsewhere may lack.

Areas of Consumer Protection Brett Schreiber Handles

Defective Products and Product Liability

Manufacturers, distributors, suppliers, and retailers are legally responsible for injuries and damages caused by defective products. Brett has built a national reputation in product liability litigation — including the landmark Benavides v. Tesla case, in which a Miami jury awarded $243 million after finding that Tesla's design and marketing of its Autopilot system created a dangerous false sense of safety. His case results also include a seven-figure confidential settlement against Polaris for a defective RZR vehicle rollover causing permanent hand injuries.

Common product liability claims include:

• Design defects — a product that is inherently unsafe as designed
• Manufacturing defects — a product that deviated from its intended design during production
• Failure to warn — inadequate safety instructions or warnings about known risks
• Breach of warranty — express or implied warranties not honored

False Advertising and Deceptive Business Practices

California's Unfair Competition Law and the federal Lanham Act both prohibit commercial advertising that misrepresents the nature, characteristics, or qualities of a product or service. Violations frequently give rise to class action lawsuits on behalf of all consumers affected by the deception. Common false advertising practices include:

• Advertising products manufactured abroad as "Made in the USA"
• Making unsubstantiated performance claims
• Labeling products as "natural" or "organic" when they contain artificial ingredients
• Marketing counterfeit products as authentic
• Bait-and-switch advertising — promoting a lower price or better offer than actually available
• Unsubstantiated comparative claims against competitors

Consumer Financial Fraud and Predatory Lending

Financial fraud takes many forms — and companies that exploit consumers financially through hidden fees, deceptive loan terms, predatory interest rates, or discriminatory lending practices can be held accountable under both federal and California law. Brett handles consumer financial fraud cases involving:

• Predatory lending and high-cost credit products
• Mortgage fraud and abusive loan servicing
• Discriminatory student loan servicing
• Abusive debt collection practices
• Predatory solar panel financing
• Loans targeting military service members
• Credit repair service fraud
• Bank overdraft fee abuse and undisclosed charges

Data Privacy Breaches

When companies fail to adequately protect their customers' personal and financial data, the consequences for affected consumers can be severe — including identity theft, fraudulent accounts, damaged credit, and significant financial loss. Companies that are careless with consumer data can be held liable for those harms.

If you receive notice that your data may have been compromised, take these steps immediately: contact your bank and all three credit bureaus, review your credit reports and bank accounts for unauthorized activity, and file a police report. Then contact Brett's office — a consumer protection attorney can help you understand your rights and whether you have a claim.

Some of the largest data breach settlements in history — including Equifax's $650 million settlement in 2019 and Facebook's $5 billion FTC penalty — demonstrate the scale of corporate accountability that consumer protection law can achieve.

AI-Driven Insurance Claim Denials and Tenant Discrimination

The use of artificial intelligence in insurance claims processing and tenant screening has created a new frontier of consumer protection violations — and California is leading the legal response.

California's Physicians Make Decisions Act, signed into law in September 2024, prohibits insurers from relying solely on AI to deny, delay, or alter health care services that physicians deem medically necessary. If your insurance claim was denied or delayed using automated tools without proper medical review, you may have a viable consumer protection claim.

In May 2024, the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development also issued guidance confirming that AI-driven tenant screening tools must comply with the Fair Housing Act — prohibiting screening criteria that discriminate against protected classes including race, color, religion, sex, national origin, familial status, or disability.

Nursing Home Abuse and Elder Financial Fraud

Financial elder abuse is among the most widespread and underreported forms of consumer fraud in America — costing seniors an estimated $28 billion every year. Long-term care facilities that deliberately understaff to maximize profits, or that allow staff to exploit residents financially, can face serious civil liability. If you believe an elderly family member has been victimized by financial abuse, identity theft, or institutional neglect at a care facility, Brett's office can help evaluate your options.

What Compensation Can You Recover in a Consumer Protection Case?

Depending on the statute violated and the nature of the harm, consumer protection plaintiffs may be entitled to:

• Actual damages — Compensation for financial losses, physical harm, and other documented injuries caused by the violation
• Statutory damages — Fixed amounts prescribed by law per violation, which can add up quickly in cases involving widespread misconduct
• Punitive damages — Available in cases involving egregious, malicious, or reckless corporate misconduct
• Injunctive relief — Court orders requiring the company to stop the unlawful practice
• Attorney fees — Many consumer protection statutes allow prevailing plaintiffs to recover their legal fees from the defendant

Frequently Asked Questions: Consumer Protection

What is consumer protection law?

Consumer protection law is a body of federal and state statutes protecting individuals from unethical and deceptive business practices — including false advertising, defective products, predatory lending, data breaches, insurance fraud, and AI-driven discrimination. California has some of the strongest consumer protection laws in the country.

What are the main federal consumer protection laws?

Key federal statutes include the TCPA, FCRA, Truth in Lending Act, Magnuson-Moss Warranty Act, and the FTC Act's broad prohibition on unfair or deceptive practices. California adds the Unfair Competition Law, Consumer Financial Protection Law, and the 2024 Physicians Make Decisions Act — often providing broader protections than federal law.

Can I sue a company for false advertising in California?

Yes. California's Unfair Competition Law and the federal Lanham Act both prohibit false and misleading advertising. Violations often result in class action lawsuits where affected consumers can recover damages and force the company to correct its conduct.

Can insurance companies use AI to deny my claim?

Not in California — not anymore. The Physicians Make Decisions Act, signed in September 2024, prohibits insurers from relying solely on AI to deny, delay, or alter health care services that physicians deem medically necessary. If your claim was denied using automated tools without proper medical review, you may have a consumer protection claim.

What should I do if my personal data was breached?

Immediately contact your bank and all three credit bureaus, review your accounts for unauthorized activity, and file a police report. Then contact a consumer protection attorney — companies that fail to protect consumer data can be held liable for the resulting financial and personal harm.

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