BEGIN:VCALENDAR
VERSION:2.0
PRODID:icalendar-ruby
CALSCALE:GREGORIAN
X-WR-CALNAME:Settlement with Indianapolis home builder protects Hoosiers’
  rights to freely share customer reviews 
X-WR-TIMEZONE:Indiana (East)
BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTAMP:20260614T095927Z
UID:tag:localist.com\,2008:EventInstance_48798861794863
DTSTART;VALUE=DATE:20250206
DESCRIPTION:Settlement with Indianapolis home builder protects Hoosiers’ 
 rights to freely share customer reviews\n\nAttorney General Todd Rokita ha
 s obtained a settlement with an Indianapolis home builder resolving allega
 tions that the company illegally included a gag clause in contracts that i
 mposed $2\,000 fines on homebuyers who made statements portraying the comp
 any “in a bad light.” \n\nAs part of the settlement\, Davis Homes has 
 agreed not to interfere with customers’ liberty to speak freely about th
 eir experiences. The company denies the allegation that it violated the Co
 nsumer Review Fairness Act and admits to no other wrongdoing.  \n\n“Unde
 r the law\, Hoosiers have the right to share their opinions about products
  and services\,” Attorney General Rokita said. “With this action\, we 
 are protecting that right.”  \n\nThe Consumer Review Fairness Act of 201
 6 makes it illegal for companies to include in form contracts a provision 
 that restricts a consumer’s ability to communicate reviews or assessment
 s of a seller’s goods\, services\, or conduct. The Act also outlaws impo
 sing a penalty or fee on any consumer who does make a review or assessment
  of a seller. \n\nBefore obtaining the settlement\, Attorney General Rokit
 a’s team also alleged that Davis Homes violated the Indiana Deceptive Co
 nsumer Sales Act with its contract language. \n\nThe Assurance of Voluntar
 y Compliance requires the home builder to immediately end the use of the o
 ffending clause in its consumer contracts and to not attempt to enforce th
 e clause on anyone who has already signed a contract with the builder. The
  home builder is also required to notify consumers who recently signed a c
 ontract with the builder that the clause is null and void. \n\nAny Indiana
  consumers who signed a contract that contains a similar clause restrictin
 g or penalizing their ability to give honest reviews of a business can fil
 e a complaint with the Consumer Protection Division of the Indiana Attorne
 y General’s Office at IndianaConsumer.com or by calling 1-800-382-5516. 
 \n\nThe Assurance of Voluntary Compliance is attached. \n\nA headshot of A
 ttorney General Rokita is available for download.  \n\n### \n \n\nAssuranc
 e of Voluntary CompliancePetition to Approve AVC
LOCATION:
SUMMARY:Settlement with Indianapolis home builder protects Hoosiers’ righ
 ts to freely share customer reviews 
URL;VALUE=URI:https://events.in.gov/event/settlement-with-indianapolis-home
 -builder-protects-hoosiers-rights-to-freely-share-customer-reviews
CATEGORIES:Press Releases
END:VEVENT
END:VCALENDAR