Evan Granowitz: A look at California's Unfair Competition Law

Attorneys, like Evan Granowitz of Wolf Group L.A., understand the effects of unfair competition practices to the wronged parties.

This blog touches on the state of California’s Unfair Competition Law.

Evan Granowitz. Image credit: Insurancethoughtleadership.com

Unfair competition is defined in Section 17200 as encompassing any of the
following types of business “wrongs:”

1. An unlawful business act or practice
2. An unfair business act or practice
3. A fraudulent business act or practice
4. Unfair, deceptive, untrue, or misleading advertising
5. Any act prohibited by Sections 17500-17577.5

Each of these five "wrongs" holds a disjunctive nature; that is, each one works independently from each other. A practice may be prohibited as “unfair” or fraudulent even if not “unlawful” and vice versa.

Evan Granowitz. Image credit: Justice.en.wikipedia.org

Evan Granowitz has been included in Super Lawyers’ Rising Stars list of California’s best up and coming lawyers for three consecutive years.

Who may file for an unfair competition lawsuit

Section 17200 has broad provisions while Section 17204 renders to sue private parties and public prosecutors including the Attorney General, district attorneys, and city attorneys. Therefore, the statute gives power to both government enforcement actions and private party suits. Also, Section 17204 lets both private parties and public prosecutors file their lawsuits as representative actions. Thus, an action may be taken in behalf of both the person named in the complaint and the general public.

Evan Granowitz. Image credit: Justice.miller-mccune.com

Information about Evan Granowitz, his accomplishments, and his specializations can be read at Wolf Group, L.A.’s official website.