What is the Texas DTPA and its primary purpose?

The Texas Deceptive Trade Practices Act (DTPA) is primarily designed to protect consumers from false, misleading, or deceptive business practices. It provides a legal framework that allows consumers to seek remedies against businesses that engage in unfair or deceptive conduct in the course of trade or commerce. The DTPA empowers the consumers by giving them the right to sue for actual damages, potentially recover exemplary damages, and obtain attorney fees, thereby promoting fair business practices and holding businesses accountable for their actions.

The focus of the DTPA is not on corporate mergers, tax regulations, or criminal fraud prevention, but rather on ensuring that consumers are treated fairly and not misled by deceptive practices in marketing or sales. This statute represents an essential component of consumer protection law in Texas.