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# Watchdog group urges people to sue fax advertisers
- URL: https://www.smdp.com/watchdog-group-urges-people-to-sue-fax-advertisers/
- Published: 2002-03-02T16:00:00.000Z
- Updated: 2026-10-23T00:05:02.000Z
- Author: Carolyn Sackariason
- Tags: local, Ocean Park, #archive-import

*Federal law says you can sue over faxed advertisements*

A local consumer watchdog group is advocating that anyone who receives a faxed advertisement should take the self promoting business to small claims court.

Arguing that the practice violates federal law, people can win up to $1,500 for receiving an advertisement via fax, said Pam Pressley, an attorney for the Foundation for Taxpayer and Consumer Rights, located on Ocean Park Boulevard in Santa Monica.

“The idea here is that people can take this to small claims and win,” she said.

> “The idea here is that people can take this to small claims and win.” — — PAM PRESSLEY Foundation for Taxpayer and Consumer Rights attorney

The foundation claims that federal law gives people who receive junk faxes the right to sue for at least $500 per fax.

The foundation recently sued and settled with four local businesses who contracted with a fax advertising agency which sent out thousands of ads to Santa Monica fax machines. None of the business owners knew the practice is illegal. Peter Pollard, who owns the agency, FAXertise, contends that the state’s business code allows it.

In many cases, federal law supersedes state law. Pressley said the likelihood of a small claims judge ruling on the side of the federal law is very good.

The foundation’s Web site, consumerwatchdog.org, takes consumers step by step through the process of collecting money from businesses who faxed the ads.

According to the foundation, a person can sue for up to four years from the date he or she receives the “junk fax.” The site suggests that on the back of each fax, a person should write or stamp the date of when it was received and then initial it.

In order to use the federal law, you must learn the name and address of the fax advertiser. Some faxes only give a phone number. One way to identify the business behind the fax is to call the number and inquire about what the business does, what its address is and who owns it.

Some businesses will pay the person to avoid a lawsuit. If you write a letter telling a business it violated the law and asking for up to $1,500, you may receive a settlement.

If not, the next step is to take your case to small claims court, which handles cases up to $5,000\. Santa Monica’s small claims court is located in the courthouse on Main Street, next to City Hall. There are several phone advisors that help take people through the process. No person can bring more than two claims for more than $2,500 in one year.

“Small claims court cases can have an impact,” the foundation’s site says. “Think about what will happen if a lot of individual consumers win in small claims court and tell their friends. The effect of all the small claims could be huge.” Andrew H. Fixmer/ Daily Press To access the scene of the explosion, California Highway Patrol had to close the southbound lanes of the Pacific Coast Highway Friday. The road was closed from Pacific Palisades to the Santa Monica Freeway.

![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/55/9f/559f9abc-8372-4a2e-8c2d-27386da4e363/content/images/2026/10/030202-02_01.jpg)

To access the scene of the explosion, California Highway Patrol had to close the southbound lanes of the Pacific Coast Highway Friday. (Photo: “Small claims court cases can have an impact,” the foundation’s site says. “Think about what will happen if a lot of ind)

*Originally published in the Santa Monica Daily Press print edition on March 2, 2002.* [Read the original PDF.](https://s3.us-east-1.amazonaws.com/smdp%5Fbackissues/030202.pdf?ref=smdp.com)