Consumer Protection Law - Movie Review Example

Consumer Protection Law In any business, the business owners usually have access to more information about a given product compared to the consumer. Sometimes, these companies try to hide or falsify information concerning the given product while selling to the customer which in the end turns out badly. The government usually regulates trade by putting in place the consumer protection law to protect consumers from deceptive or unfair practices. Since business owners are usually well prepared in terms of defending themselves in such matters, consumers hence need to be protected by law so as not to be exploited. Businesses have an obligation to provide truthful information regarding their products when selling to consumers, so as in the event of a problem, need to have a better ground to defend themselves (El-Dean 33). In accordance to the movie, Class Action, Jedediah (Gene Hackman) a brilliant San Francisco lawyer goes to court against her daughter Maggie (Mary Elizabeth Mastrantonio), also a San Francisco lawyer. In this film, the Jedediah is the plaintiff while Maggie is the defendant. Jedediah in the film is depicted as a man who got badly burned from an automobile accident and hence sues the manufacturer of the defective automobile. Maggie on the other hand represents the automobile company in the case against the automobile company. In the movie, Jedediah is depicted as a principle person when it came to defending consumers in relation to consumer protection laws. The station wagon automobile company in the movie is regarded as negligent in protecting the consumer by selling cars that got violent explosions when involved in accidents. Jedediah being a victim tries to sue the company for the damages it had caused him (Mckiernan 1). In any business, consumers do have a bond with the brand they buy. In the movie, Classic action, the automobile manufacturers are regarded as an old manufacturing firm which is supposed to be more cautious when it comes to customer relationship (Mckiernan 1). By producing station wagons that combust explosively in the event of an accident, really was not a good idea since they would have damaged their reputation. Take for instance people who buy Toyota since they believe they are good and flashy. Business owners on the other hand have to maintain a good customer relationship in order to continue sales of their products. Cutting off the relationship between the consumer and the product usually leads to fewer sales. According the case in 2010 where Toyota recalled its cars for repair of their braking system after receiving complaints from consumers of their products (Shlutz 1). Toyota being a known name in the automobile industry by recalling the Prius generation of the hybrid cars seemed to be a move in maintaining consumer relationship for their brand. After receiving numerous complaints concerning the car’s braking system, the automobile firm moved swiftly to recall the hybrids for repair, free of charge (Shlutz 1). On accusation from the United States that some of its hybrid cars that had the break system issue had caused a number of accidents, the automobile company feared to get numerous courts summons in relation to consumer protection laws. The automobile company realized it was a wise move to recall the cars than to wait for cases to accumulate and get sued for billions of its money. It also did the recalling in order protecting its image it had established for years with its consumers. This story goes in line with the automobile case in the Classic action movie where the automobile company was ethically responsible for its faults (McKiernan 1). Automobile companies usually take a time to have reputable names and respect in the market. An excellent example is Toyota (Shlutz 1). Most people usually buy Toyota brands since they are cheap and at the same time flashy. In order for any company to maintain its sale amidst competition from other companies, they try coming up with brands that suit consumer needs. Consumer needs are sometimes things that bring emotional attachment. A company is always obliged by the government to practice safely and not to hurt the consumer in any way. According to the movie, Classic Action, Jedediah was trying to sue the mother company of his car that got him involved in an accident. In the same way, Toyota by recalling the hybrid cars in 2010 was a means of avoiding law suits against them. In accordance to article 2A of the consumer protection law of Egypt, states that the rights of safety and healthy of consumer when using a product is expected. All businesses hence need to standardize their products according to this law before dispatching to be sold in the general market. In the movie, Classic action, the automobile company did not follow this regulation by bringing to the market saloon cars that were hazardous to the general population. Accordance to article 2 F of the same law, a person got right take legal actions when consumer rights have been violated. In the movie, Jedediah followed this part of the law by undertaking legal actions against the automobile company that made him have burns. In accordance to Article 2G of the same consumer law, a person got right for compensation of damages sustained whilst using a given product or service. Jedediah sued the company since he owned a station wagon, a product of that automobile company (El-Dean 34). Accordance to article 3 of the Egyptian consumer protection law, a business is expected to recall its products when it is faulty in the market and compensate the owners. In relation to the movie, the automobile company did not that though they knew their cars were defective. Jedediah being a lawyer knew this part of the law and wanted to sue them in order to get compensated for the damages the car had made. The automobile company had also an obligation to have informed the consumers of the dangers of using their products before selling them( El-Dean 34). When a company gets sued for hurting the consumer with some of their products, they need to get a lawyer to defend them in court. In accordance to the movie, Classic action, the station wagon automobile company on getting sued by Jedediah, employs Maggie, Jedediah’s daughter as their cooperate lawyer. Cooperate lawyer are lawyers who represent companies on legal matters. In the movie, the lawyer Maggie got a poor relationship with her father, Jedediah. This bad relationship had resulted from her discovering that her father was cheating on her mother. Determined to outwit his father, Maggie took to the defense to ensure her father never got a penny from that given company (El-Dean 35). Ethical theories depict the ideas which guiding principles may base. Ethical theories usually attempt to be systematic and coherent. In the movie, Classic Action, Jedediah is depicted as a leftist lawyer who believes he helps people avoid being misused by the rich. In the movie, Jedediah is depicted as a person who follows this principle even at the expense of making profits as a lawyer. In accordance to the film, Jedediah is seen to obey the ethical theory of Deontology. This ethical theory is what comprises vital aspects of our lives and it is governed by unbreakable moral rules. Deontologists believe that such moral rules may not be broken. People who hold such moral values believe that the reasons for their action are for the betterment of others despite some bad situations (Russ 66). In the movie, Classic Action, Jedediah believed that he represented the meek in society by fighting for their rights. Jedediah, after getting involved in an accident, followed his principles and filed a case against the rich automobile company that produced station wagons. His complaint was that the vehicles had dangerous propensity to explode when involved in accidents. Jedediah, after getting burnt in a car accident, sued the mother company and wanted compensation for the damages caused. In the movie, we see the ethical theory Utilitarianism being touched too. Jedediah believed that he worked for the good of those oppressed by rich people (Russ 34). On the other hand, by the automobile firm choosing Maggie to represent them against her father was somehow unethical practice. Knowing very well that Maggie hated her father for cheating on her mother, Maggie was determined to win the case for the automobile company. The automobile company here tried to use the father-daughter relationship to win their case. Jedediah, who believed solely in fighting for the rights of the poor, is faced with another challenge in the court room, her daughter. Such a case had much ethical issues being flatted (Russ 56). In conclusion, the movie, Classic Action is a movie that is supposed to teach people the practicability of business law. A lot of things concerning consumer protection law, criminal responsibility, and ethical theories are leant from the movie. In summary, for any business to prosper, it needs to have a good customer relationship and try to maintain their products as blemish as possible (El-Dean 67). Companies, which have faults in their products, should also come clean and take responsibility in case of problems. In addition, ethics play a key role in any legal matter too. Overall, consumer protection laws are vital in protecting consumers from unscrupulous business people (Russ 78). Works Cited El-Dean, Bahaa Ali. Privatisation and the creation of a market-based legal system: the case of Egypt. New York: BRILL, 2007. Print McKiernan, Jason. "Class Action." 1 2 2005. Film Critic. 1 12 2011 . Shafer-Landau, Russ. Ethical theory: an anthology. New York : Wiley-Blackwell, 2007. Print. Shlutz, Eric. "Q&A: Toyota recalls ." 18 2 2010. BBC. 1 12 2011 q. Read More