Dynamic Accident Lawyers: Publix Super Markets Hit With Robocall Class Action Lawsuit

Publix Super Markets Inc. is facing a $5 million class action lawsuit over allegations that the company violated the Telephone Consumer Protection Act (TCPA) by placing numerous unwanted cell phone calls informing customers they had a prescription ready for pick-up.

Lead plaintiff Eric Snover of Florida claims he never used a Publix pharmacy nor did he give consent to Publix to call his cell phone number. Within nine months, Snover allegedly received 13 robocalls from Publix that all came from an automatic telephone dialing system using a prerecorded voice.

The TCPA class action lawsuit states that the prerecorded messages did not allow customers the opportunity of opting-out of receiving the robocalls. Snover says he called Publix directly three times to request that the pharmacy phone calls stop and each time Publix ignored his requests and continued placing the robocalls.

According to the TCPA class action lawsuit, about 80 percent of Publix’s 1,100 supermarkets have an in-store pharmacy which makes it a principal part of its business. Snover claims that the robocalls were made in an effort to “garner market share in the pharmacy services industry.”

However, the Publix lawsuit states that instead of obtaining written express consent for the prescription service-related calls Publix “queried its database of cellphone numbers for consumers who may have previously filled prescriptions at its pharmacies and used an autodialer to call them.”

If approved, Snover seeks to represent U.S. Class Members who received a non-emergency phone call to their cell phones from Publix Super Market regarding a pharmacy service between October 2011 and the present day.

The Publix class action lawsuit is requesting the proposed class receive $500 for each negligently placed call or $1,500 for each call placed in knowing violation of the TCPA.

Telephone Consumer Protection Act Explained

The TCPA was enacted in 1991 as a way to protect customers from telemarketers who place unsolicited phone calls with consent. By 2013, the TCPA was revised to include a definition of “express consent” to mean a signed written agreement between the business and customer with the exception of calls from debt collection agencies.

While robocalls that deliver a prerecorded message are considered a violation of the TCPA, other violations include:

Unsolicited cell phone calls
Calls to homes before 8 a.m. or after 9 p.m. local time
Failing to identify the person or entity on whose behalf the call is being made
Using an automatic dialing system to place phone calls
Calls to homes before 8 a.m. or after 9 p.m. local time
Unsolicited text messages
Calls to consumers who specifically ask the company not to call them
Unsolicited advertising faxes
Failing to identify the person or entity on whose behalf the call is being made
Calling consumers placed on the National Do Not Call Registry

TCPA Lawsuits

Customers of all ages are often times victims of TCPA violations without realizing that there are laws that will protect them.

Hundreds of TCPA lawsuits have been filed throughout the U.S. as more individuals understand their rights and choose to hold companies accountable for TCPA violations.

Due to the large volume of calls that go out all at once, companies who are found liable of TCPA violations are often required to pay millions of dollars to plaintiffs. If you received an unwanted cell phone call, text spam, robocall or any call that used an automatic telephone dialing system, contact a TCPA lawyer to find out if you have legal claim.

The TCPA Class Action Lawsuit is Snover v. Publix Super Markets Inc., Case No. 8:15-cv-02434, in the U.S. District Court for the Middle District of Florida.

Join a Free TCPA Class Action Lawsuit Investigation

If you were contacted on your cell phone by a company via an unsolicited text message (text spam) or prerecorded voice message (robocall), you may be eligible for compensation under the Telephone Consumer Protection Act.

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