What is the burden of proof for proving deceptive or unfair practices?

In Arizona, consumer fraud law works to protect citizens from deceptive or unfair practices. When proving deceptive or unfair practices, the burden of proof is on the consumer to demonstrate the deceptive or unfair act. The consumer must provide evidence that the accused party was aware of the deception or unfairness, then prove that these actions caused harm or financial loss. The Arizona Consumer Fraud Act sets specific standards of proof for consumer fraud claims. For example, the court must look at the circumstances surrounding the deceptive or unfair act to determine if the accused party had a duty to act in the consumer’s best interest. If this is established, then the consumer must further prove that the accused party failed to fulfill that duty. The consumer must also demonstrate that they reasonably relied upon the deceptive or unfair action of the accused party, and that harm or financial loss ensued. Reasonable reliance involves proving that the consumer had no reason to suspect the deceptive or unfair act and acted upon it as they would in any other situation. Ultimately, the burden of proof is on the consumer to prove all of these elements beyond a reasonable doubt, which means that the consumer’s evidence has to be strong and persuasive enough to make the accused party’s deceptive or unfair act clear to the court.

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