Yahoo! Hit with Text Spam Class Action Lawsuit

Yahoo! Hit with Text Spam Class Action Lawsuit

By Jessica Tyner

Does the name Rafael David Sherman sound familiar to you? If so, it might be because he was behind the formation of a class action lawsuit against Kaiser after getting automated telephone messages when he had already opted out of services. Sherman is a California resident with no legal background, but he does understand how the Telephone Consumer Protection Act (TCPA) works, and he’s putting a stop to spam calls and texts wherever he can. His most recent TCPA class action lawsuit is against Yahoo!.

Sherman says in a new class action lawsuit that he received a text from Yahoo! on the morning of January 7, 2013. It said, “A Yahoo! user has sent you a message. Reply to that SMS to respond. Reply INFO to this SMS for help.” He received another text a few minutes later that simply said, “hey get online I have to talk to you.” He’d never received a text from Yahoo! before and had never signed up for any services.

Details of the Yahoo! Text Spam Lawsuit

Many people have Yahoo! accounts, and in fact it’s required if you want to take advantage of Flickr for photo sharing. If Sherman’s latest lawsuit picks up steam, he’ll be suing for statutory damages, negligent and willful violations. The fee for unsolicited texts is $1,500 per incident. This text spam lawsuit is especially important because of the defendant, Yahoo! — one of the largest companies in the US. However, other big names have also been targets of TCPA lawsuits such as Steve Madden and Papa Johns.

Lucky Jeans agreed to a $10 million class action settlement to settle TCPA charges while Sallie Mae dished up $24 million. Jiffy Lube paid our $47 million — those $1,500 per violation fees can certainly add up. Since Sherman “only” received two texts, some say he’s not in it for the money. However, he does know when a company is violating the law and he doesn’t put up with it. If he received texts from Yahoo!, he’s certain other people received similar messages.

The Rules of the TCPA

You need to express your desire to receive messages from a company in order for them to text or call you. Otherwise, they cannot use an automated system to get in touch with you. TCPA rules have to change as technology changes. Whether it’s a sales pitch or debt collection, there are rules established by the TCPA that all companies must follow. If you’ve received an unwanted text or phone call, you may be a victim.

Joining a TCPA class action lawsuit can help you get fast and fair compensation. “Teaching companies a lesson” can help prevent future spam attempts. Unwanted calls and texts are annoying and may cost people money if they don’t have unlimited minutes.

Do You Have a TCPA Story?

Do you think you’re a victim of a TCPA violation? If so, you might have a TCPA legal claim. Get the help you need to move forward today.

Visit the Text Message Spam, Cell Phone Call TCPA Class Action Lawsuit Settlement Investigation for more information. After submitting your story, an attorney will be in touch if you qualify for a free TCPA claim review.

Updated July 15th, 2013

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