Price Gouging Hotline activated to protect hurricane victims

By Trent Cotney, Adams and Reese.

As Florida continues to clean up and starts to rebuild after the devastation of Hurricane Helene, it now faces the even bigger threat of Hurricane Milton.

It is important to know that Attorney General Ashley Moody has activated Florida’s Price Gouging Hotline. She did so on September 23 after Governor DeSantis declared a state of emergency for Hurricane Helene and in preparation for the storm’s arrival. Since then, the Governor has declared a state of emergency for Hurricane Milton which includes additional counties.

What this means for contractors

Across the state, contractors will be in high demand to help families and businesses recover from Helene’s destruction. It is critical that construction professionals refrain from drastically raising their prices during this time. Florida’s price gouging laws pertain to items and services related to recovering from this storm within the designated counties. It may be tempting to take advantage of customers’ desperation, but it is illegal to do so.

Violators of the price gouging laws can face civil penalties of $1,000 per violation. These can total as much as $25,000 if multiple violations are committed in a 24-hour time frame.

What this means for consumers

In addition to construction-related materials and services, the state price gouging laws ban excessive price increases for necessary commodities, such as water, gasoline, food, and lodging.

Those who experience or suspect price gouging are urged to report it to the Florida Attorney General’s Office by calling 1(866) 9NO-SCAM or visiting MyFloridaLegal.com.

Attorney General Moody’s office has also produced this resource, Scams at a Glance: Price Gouging, which is available in English and Spanish.

Final thoughts

During the aftermath of a storm, emotions run high, and people can become desperate. Homeowners and business owners are worried about their families and livelihoods, and they may be willing to pay exorbitant fees. However, this is not the time to overlook ethics.

If you are a contractor, you may be overwhelmed by requests for help. This is an opportunity for you to rise to the occasion, help Floridians recover, and offer fair prices to those who need your expertise.

The information contained in this article is for general educational information only. This information does not constitute legal advice, is not intended to constitute legal advice, nor should it be relied upon as legal advice for your specific factual pattern or situation.

Trent Cotney is a partner and Construction Practice Group Leader at the law firm of Adams and Reese LLP and NRCA General Counsel. You can reach him at 866.303.5868 or trent.cotney@arlaw.com.