Melissa Totaro

At the law firm of Houston & Totaro we represent consumers across the state of New Jersey in cases involving consumer fraud, unconscionable conduct and illegal practices by car dealers, banks, mortgage servicers, landlords, credit reporting agencies and other types of businesses. We use a combination of e-mail communications, telephone conferences and Zoom to accommodate clients from all counties and appear in courts throughout the state of New Jersey, state and federal. We take the vast majority of our cases on a contingency basis to enable consumers to pursue meritorious claims even when legal representation would otherwise be out of their reach.

• Contingent Fees

New Jersey

Since 1993

Partner

Houston & Totaro, Attorneys-at-Law

1999 - Current

Staff Attorney - Consumer Law Unit

Passaic County Legal Aid Society

1994 - 1998

Judicial Law Clerk

Superior Court of New Jersey

1993 - 1994

Rutgers School of Law-Newark

J.D. (1993) | Law

1989 - 1993

Honors: Degree awarded with Honors. Elected to the Order of the Coif. Awarded one of four West Publishing Co. Scholarship Awards given to four graduates who distinguished themselves in an area of scholarly achievement.

Rutgers University - Newark

B.A. (1988) | English

1984 - 1988

Honors: Awarded degree with High Honors

National Association of Consumer Advocates

Member

2002 - Current

New Jersey State Bar  # 019461993

Member

1993 - Current

Q. Dealership holding car registration due to disputed fees in NJ.

April 14, 2025

A: If you have attempted to work this out with the dealer and have come to suspect that the dealer is holding your plates and registration as a means to extract fees it is not entitled to, you should provide copies of all of your paperwork to a New Jersey attorney who practices Consumer Law. If the dealer is engaging in that type of conduct it would be a violation of the New Jersey Consumer Fraud Act which provides various forms of relief, including monetary damages, injunctive relief and attorneys' fees, to a consumer who brings a successful claim under the Act. For that reason if there is a strong case Consumer Law attorneys can often offer representation to consumers at no cost to them. ... Read More

Q. Listed price of a car is is lower than on a contract.

January 9, 2025

A: Assuming the facts stated in your question can be proven the dealer violated New Jersey regulations and Consumer Fraud Act by, among other things, refusing to honor the advertised price. A consumer who suffers a monetary loss as a result of a business violating the Act can sue the business for triple damages, plus attorneys fees. Because of this fee shifting element of the Act consumer law attorneys will often represent consumers on a contingency basis. You should contact a consumer law attorney and arrange to provide a copy of the advertisement and all documents you have related to the transaction.

Q. I want out of my solar contract and a refund.

February 2, 2024

A: Based on the facts as you recount them you could have a viable cause of action under the New Jersey Consumer Fraud Act, which prohibits merchants from engaging in certain unfair conduct, including false promise, misrepresentation and otherwise deceptive tactics. The Consumer Fraud Act provides for triple the monetary loss of a consumer who prevails in an action against a merchant, as well as payment of your attorneys' fees by the defendant. You should contact a lawyer who practices in the area of consumer law and be prepared to provide the documentation that you refer to in your question.