Yelp Class Action: Did You Receive Unwanted Telemarketing Calls?

Case Overview: A class action lawsuit has been filed against Yelp, alleging the company made unsolicited telemarketing calls to individuals on the National Do Not Call Registry.

Consumers Affected: Individuals who received unsolicited telemarketing calls from Yelp.

Court: U.S. District Court for the Middle District of Pennsylvania

Ratings and reviews website Yelp violates the National Do Not Call Registry by making telemarketing calls to people who have added their numbers to the registry, a new class action lawsuit alleges. 

Plaintiff Leon Weingrad filed the class action complaint against Yelp Inc. on Aug. 7 in a Pennsylvania federal court, alleging violations of the Telephone Consumer Protection Act (TCPA).

He says the company made unsolicited telemarketing calls to his residential phone number, which was listed on the National Do Not Call Registry. 

The lawsuit, filed in federal court, alleges that Yelp made at least eight nonconsensual marketing calls to Weingrad’s phone between July 23 and Aug. 2, 2024, despite his number being registered to block such calls.

Yelp Accused Of Violating National Do Not Call Registry

The TCPA, enacted in 1991, was designed to protect consumers from unwanted and intrusive telemarketing calls, the lawsuit states. 

The law created the National Do Not Call Registry, giving individuals the option to opt out of receiving phone solicitations. 

Violations of the law, including telemarketing calls to registered numbers, provide grounds for consumers to file private lawsuits and seek damages.

Plaintiff Claims Unwanted Calls Caused Harassment And Invasion Of Privacy

Weingrad claims that he never provided consent for Yelp to contact him and had no prior business relationship with the company. 

According to the complaint, the calls were unwanted and intrusive. 

"Plaintiff’s privacy has been violated," the lawsuit states, alleging that the calls occupied Weingrad's phone line, disrupted his daily life, and caused annoyance and harassment. 

He says the calls stopped him from receiving legitimate communications from friends and family, and resulted in lost phone storage space and bandwidth. 

Class Action Seeks Damages For TCPA Violations

In the Yelp unwanted telemarketing calls class action lawsuit, Weingrad is looking to represent anyone who was contacted by Yelp after registering their numbers on the Do Not Call Registry. He says the class could be made up of thousands of people.

He is seeking certification of the class action, damages, fees, costs and a jury trial. 

TCPA class action lawsuits can result in large settlements. Earlier this year, Assurance IQ, an online health insurance marketplace that connects consumers with quotes from multiple insurance providers, agreed to a settlement of $21.875 million to resolve a class action lawsuit alleging violations of the TCPA.

Case Details

• Lawsuit: Weingrad v. Yelp Inc.
• Case Number: 1:24-cv-01330-CCC
• Court: U.S. District Court for the Middle District of Pennsylvania

Plaintiffs' Attorneys

• Andrew Roman Perrong (Perrong Law LLC)
• Anthony Paronich (Paronich Law P.C.)

Have you received unsolicited telemarketing calls from Yelp or other companies despite being on the Do Not Call Registry? Share your experience in the comments below.