Opinion ID: 1173036
Heading Depth: 1
Heading Rank: 3

Heading: consumer protection law

Text: [2] Petitioner asserts that the bank's actions violated the Consumer Protection Act, RCW 19.86.020. We do not agree. In order for a private individual to bring an action under the Consumer Protection Act, the conduct complained of must (1) be unfair or deceptive; (2) be within the sphere of trade or commerce; and (3) impact the public interest. Anhold v. Daniels, 94 Wn.2d 40, 614 P.2d 184 (1980). One prerequisite in finding an impact on public interest is a determination that this defendant had induced this plaintiff to act or to refrain from acting. Anhold, at 46. The plaintiff here is the ward. The bank's actions consisted of allowing the guardian to deposit the insurance check into his personal accounts. While this action was wrong, it neither induced the ward to act nor to refrain from acting. On this particular fact presentation, we are not prepared at this time to embrace the provisions of the Consumer Protection Act.