Los Angeles Times
A California consumer advocacy group has sued two junk-fax companies and several of their clients who advertised through the service.
The Santa Monica-based Foundation for Taxpayer and Consumer Rights filed lawsuits in Los Angeles Superior Court against FAXertise of West Lake Village and Communications 2000 Inc. of Torrance, alleging that their transmission of unsolicited faxes violated federal law. The organization also named several of the company’s clients, including Rosti Tuscan Kitchen, Akvar Cuisine of India, John Cassese The Dance Doctor and Schatzi On Main, a well-known Santa Monica restaurant founded by Arnold Schwarzenegger and Maria Shriver.
Under a state law, some unsolicited faxes are allowed, providing there is a phone number that recipients can call to halt the transmissions. But David Holtzman, an attorney at the foundation, believes that law is trumped by the federal prohibition against unsolicited fax advertising.
“Corporations are taking liberties with the small things, like people’s fax paper and ink, time and energy,” said David Holtzman, an attorney with the foundation. “If we don’t put up a barrier, the intrusions will grow, and every electronic avenue to our home, work and lives will be exploited by corporations.”
FAXertise and Communications 2000 were not available for comment.
