Earlier this year, the New Jersey Supreme Court held in Pace v. Hamilton Cove that class action waivers in consumer contracts that do not contain an arbitration clause (i.e., a stand-alone class action waiver) are not per se contrary to public policy. While cautioning that such waivers may be unenforceable if found to be unconscionable or otherwise violative of state law, the court upheld the waiver in this case because the plaintiffs clearly and unambiguously waived their right to maintain a class action and the parties’ lease contract was not unconscionable as a matter of law.… Continue Reading

On March 7, New Jersey Attorney General Gurbir S. Grewal and the Division of Consumer Affairs announced the filing of a lawsuit against two “Buy Here-Pay Here” auto dealerships and their owner for allegedly unconscionable and deceptive lending practices.

The complaint alleges that defendants sold high-mileage, used autos at grossly inflated prices with excessive down payments; financed the sales through in-house loans with high interest rates and “draconian” terms that created a high risk of default; and then repossessed and resold the vehicles over and over again to different consumers in a practice they refer to as “churning.”… Continue Reading