Shopping at the Mall Credit: mojo_cp/Adobe Stock

The New Jersey Supreme Court has granted certification to SPARC Group, the owner of such brands as Aeropostale, Brooks Brothers, Eddie Bauer and Forever 21, after the Appellate Division sided with plaintiff consumers in their claim over false advertising of clothing prices.

In February, the Appellate Division held that a trial judge erred in dismissing of a claim of false advertising of clothing prices over the age-old retail industry trick of marking up prices before offering items "on sale." While the appeals court found that the trial judge thoroughly addressed all the statutory and common-law counts, it disagreed with the determination that the plaintiffs failed to alleged an ascertainable loss.