Ohio Paper Newspaper Sued Over Spam Phone Calls

Spam Phone Calls Result in Lawsuit for Plain Dealer

Ohio’s largest newspaper, the Plain Dealer, and a marketing partner have been sued in a putative class action lawsuit in Missouri federal court accusing the companies of violating the Telephone Consumer Protection Act (TCPA) by pestering potential subscribers with auto-dialed telemarketing calls without their consent. The complaint alleges that telemarketing firm The Pisa Group has made thousands of unsolicited auto-dialed cell phone calls to promote subscription offers for the Plain Dealer newspaper.

The TCPA prohibits companies from making auto-dialed calls to consumers’ cell phones unless the consumers have given consent to receive the telemarketing calls. TCPA violations can carry statutory damages of $500 for each negligent violation and $1,500 fo reach knowing violation. Here, the plaintiff alleges that neither Pisa Group nor the Plain Dealer ever obtained the required consent from consumers to make the auto-dialed telemarketing calls.

The complaint alleges that the marketing and newspaper companies violated consumers’ privacy and statutory rights by making unauthorized telemarketing calls. The plaintiff in the lawsuit alleges that he asked The Pisa Group to stop calling him, but that he continued to receive the telemarketing calls even after making this request.

Have You Received a Spam Call?

If you have received annoying telemarketing calls, contact a spam call attorney at Dimond Kaplan & Rothstein, P.A. for a free consultation about your rights.