It appears consumer fraud legislation may finally be adopted at the statehouse. The Iowa Attorney General’s office has pressed for the measure for nearly a decade. The bill would make it easier for Iowans to sue if they’re victims of home improvement scams, bad car deals or predatory home loans. The Attorney General’s Director of Consumer Protection, Bill Brauch, says every other state allows this kind of lawsuit. "I think it will be the most important consumer protection bill that the members of this legislature will ever vote on…ever have or ever will," Brauch said.
Business and industry groups have long opposed giving private consumers the right to sue for fraud – saying it will subject companies to frivolous lawsuits. But, a lobbyist for the business community says an amendment that limits lawsuits to companies that "knowingly engage in fraud" has made the bill more palatable. Brauch made his comments Monday on the Iowa Public Radio program The Exchange.