united-states international consumer-protection laws-of-war lemon-law
Can Bob, as a non-resident for the purposes of U.S. law, relay information of his consumer experiences to his embassy or consulate of a sending State?
<p>Say, Bob, purchases a consumer product in the State of California where he is a resident for the purposes of California law although not a resident of the U.S., a State for the purposes of the 1961 and ‘63 Conventions (on Diplomatic and Consular Relations respectively).</p>
<p>The sale turns out to be the result of formal policy-driven consumer fraud of such scale upon which Bob shall prevail on causes of action against the manufacturer, distributor, and/or seller under Business &amp; Professions Code § 17200 $ 17500. The anticompetitive effect of the practices are of such magnitude that it substantially direly affect businesses of sending State operating in California and the U.S.. The unlawful practices harm the sending State.</p>
<ol>
<li>a. For the purposes of receiving legal aid or legal representation as an indigent or destitute consumer/buyer of the consumer goods to bring, is Bob entitled to seek the assistance of the consulates or embassies of the State of his nationality or nationalities that is or are a party to the above Conventions and are a “State” and “sending State” in the U.S. for the purposes of the above Conventions to bring any actions against the manufacturer, distributor and/or seller in a California/U.S. court?</li>
</ol>
<p>.1. b. If (1.a.) yes, may he also receive such legal aid or legal representations?</p>
<ol start="2">
<li><p>Does it make a difference if the scope of the law suit is sufficiently broad that it may doom the future of the manufacturer for systemic fraudulent practices etc.?</p>
</li>
<li><p>May it be deemed by any means espionage if Bob never was in the
employ or a contractor of the manufacturer, distributor or seller
nor did he obtained any information by any means illegal, but as a
result of his capacity as a consumer, buyer and/or party to the
sales contract?</p>
</li>
</ol>

<h2>No</h2>
<p>Consular assistance is far more limited than you think it is. For example, for <a href="/questions/tagged/australia" class="post-tag" title="show questions tagged &#39;australia&#39;" rel="tag">australia</a>, among the things the <a href="https://www.smartraveller.gov.au/consular-services/consular-services-charter" rel="nofollow noreferrer">consulate</a> <strong>can’t</strong> help you with is:</p>
<blockquote>
<ul>
<li>intervene in another country’s court proceedings or legal matters including employment disputes, commercial disputes, criminal cases, and family law matters or child custody disputes</li>
</ul>
</blockquote>

<p>In case of fraud, the matter may also be a crime. In that case: Not only does the '63 Convention provide that the sending State's national <em>may</em> be represented generally in matters when they are detained, arrested etc., but, for example, under Community law, if Bob is a citizen of the EU (<a href="https://eur-lex.europa.eu/legal-content/EN/TXT/?uri=CELEX:32015L0637" rel="nofollow noreferrer">per paragraph (1) of COUNCIL DIRECTIVE (EU) 2015/637; &quot;Citizenship of the Union is the fundamental status of nationals of the Member States.&quot;</a>), per <a href="https://eur-lex.europa.eu/legal-content/EN/TXT/?uri=CELEX:12016E023" rel="nofollow noreferrer">TFEU Article 23</a>, and <a href="https://eur-lex.europa.eu/legal-content/EN/TXT/?uri=CELEX:12016P046" rel="nofollow noreferrer">FREU Article 46</a> and thereunder the <a href="https://ec.europa.eu/info/policies/justice-and-fundamental-rights/eu-citizenship/consular-protection_en" rel="nofollow noreferrer">provisions of the European Commission</a>, the citizen may receive consular assistance if &quot;being a victim of crime&quot;.</p>
<p>Now, it would be a question of which Member State has precedent where they actually provided legal assistance or representation to their national in any receiving State of their diplomatic missions or consular posts, <em>and</em> if EU citizen Bob has any reason to seek the diplomatic or consular assistance of another Member State's consular post or diplomatic mission.</p>
