Consumer Protection

  • April 03, 2025

    Justices' Ruling Empowers FDA To Rein In Vapes, Experts Say

    A unanimous U.S. Supreme Court decision affirming federal regulators' authority to deny marketing applications for flavored vapes was noted as a victory for federal agency autonomy, but vaping industry interests said it could remove a crucial harm reduction tool.

  • April 03, 2025

    Critics Fail To Pinpoint Verizon, Frontier Deal Harm, FCC Told

    A telecommunications network industry group is telling the Federal Communications Commission that Verizon's $20 billion acquisition of Frontier Communications could present an opportunity to address broader industry issues if the commission takes certain steps to require internet protocol interconnection and end access charges for certain elements of traditional telephone infrastructure.

  • April 03, 2025

    Cloud Provider Deleted Backup Data During Hack, Suit Says

    Cloud computing company Wasabi Technologies failed to protect a robotics firm's data during a 2023 ransomware attack and instead permanently deleted a backup based on instructions from one of the perpetrators, according to a complaint filed in Massachusetts state court.

  • April 03, 2025

    Wash. AG Pushes RealPage Conspiracy Claims In New Suit

    The Washington State Attorney General's Office launched a new lawsuit in state court on Thursday accusing RealPage of conspiring with landlords to jack up rent prices, after withdrawing from a similar federal case last month to pursue claims that could result in more restitution for Evergreen State renters.

  • April 03, 2025

    Google, Apple Staff Must Testify In Meta Antitrust Case

    A D.C. federal judge said current and former employees of Google, Apple, TikTok, X Corp., Snap and other tech companies must testify at the Federal Trade Commission's upcoming antitrust trial against Meta Platforms Inc.

  • April 03, 2025

    $10M Heritage Pharma Price-Fixing Deal Gets Final OK

    A Connecticut federal judge granted final approval to a $10 million deal between Heritage Pharmaceuticals Inc., its parent company Emcure Pharmaceuticals Ltd. and Emcure's founder Satish Mehta to resolve claims from a coalition of states accusing them of conspiring with other companies to inflate generic drug prices.

  • April 03, 2025

    Tribes Seek Priority Window For Upcoming Spectrum Auction

    Native American tribes pressed the Federal Communications Commission to let them apply during a priority window for an upcoming auction of commercial spectrum, as the FCC has done previously to boost tribal connectivity.

  • April 03, 2025

    Baltimore Sues 'Exploitative' Online Sports Betting Giants

    The city of Baltimore, in what appears to be a groundbreaking action for a municipality, on Thursday became the latest entity to sue sportsbooks DraftKings and FanDuel for alleged deceptive practices to entice potential bettors.

  • April 03, 2025

    Nationals Nearing Settlement Over Alleged Ticket Sale Bias

    The Washington Nationals are approaching a settlement with two men who filed a proposed class action accusing the organization of being biased against older fans following an offer of discounted tickets to millennials.

  • April 03, 2025

    SEC's Gemini Crypto Trading Suit Paused For More Deal Talks

    A New York federal judge paused the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission's unregistered securities trading claims against cryptocurrency exchange Gemini Trust Co. after the agency and the company informed the court they were approaching a resolution, which would be the second deal reached in the case.

  • April 03, 2025

    'No Serious Question' Federal Firings Broke Law, Justices Told

    Federal employee unions and advocacy groups urged the U.S. Supreme Court on Thursday to reject the Trump administration's bid to pause a California court order reinstating tens of thousands of probationary workers fired from six agencies, arguing the government can't escape self-inflicted harms brought on by its allegedly unlawful actions.

  • April 03, 2025

    Carnegie Mellon Student Sues Over August 2023 Data Hack

    A Carnegie Mellon University student launched a proposed class action in Pennsylvania federal court on Thursday alleging that despite charging students a $470 technology fee presumably meant for maintaining network data security, the school negligently failed to stop an August 2023 hacking event that compromised students' personally identifiable information.

  • April 03, 2025

    SunSetter To Pay $9M Over Defective Awning Covers

    A Massachusetts awning manufacturer will pay $9.25 million and implement a new compliance program to settle civil claims that it failed to report defective awning covers to the Consumer Product Safety Commission, allegedly leading to multiple injuries and at least one death.

  • April 03, 2025

    Trump FCC Nominee Set For Senate Hearing Next Week

    The Senate Commerce Committee will hold an April 9 confirmation hearing on Olivia Trusty, the White House nominee for a third Republican seat on the Federal Communications Commission.

  • April 02, 2025

    RealPage Sues Berkeley Over Rent Pricing Software Ban

    RealPage on Wednesday asked a California federal judge to block Berkeley, California's impending ordinance prohibiting the use of software to set rent prices, claiming the ban is unconstitutional and based on the "groundless" claim that the algorithmic real estate pricing company's software has contributed to rising rent.

  • April 02, 2025

    5th Circ. Presses Jackson, Miss., About Lead Levels In Water

    A Fifth Circuit panel pressed the city of Jackson, Mississippi, about its allegedly slipshod handling of lead contamination in city drinking water during oral arguments Wednesday, with one judge saying city officials seemingly "very artfully avoided" questions about poisoned drinking water to skirt culpability.

  • April 02, 2025

    Justices' Ghost Gun Decision Worrisome Win For Gun Control

    The U.S. Supreme Court's recent decision upholding a Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives rule restricting so-called ghost gun kits is a clear-cut win for gun control proponents, but experts said it also signals a problematic shift to a supervisory role for the courts.

  • April 02, 2025

    DC Circ. To Hear Trump Admin's Bid To Stay CFPB Injunction

    A D.C. Circuit panel said Wednesday that it will hold a hearing next week on whether to stay a federal judge's order barring the Trump administration from shutting down the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau, taking up what has also become a jurisdictional dispute.

  • April 02, 2025

    Fla. Panel Finds Rehab Center Owed Duty To Released Patient

    A Florida state appellate court on Wednesday ruled that a Miami substance abuse treatment facility owed a duty of care to an involuntarily committed patient who was discharged for rule violations and later died of an overdose, finding the manner in which he was released went against regulations.

  • April 02, 2025

    Eligo Seeks Exit From Ohio Customer's Electricity Rates Suit

    Private electricity provider Eligo Energy LLC has urged an Ohio federal judge to throw out a proposed class action alleging the company's variable rates are the result of "unbridled price gouging," saying the customer behind the suit saved money most months.

  • April 02, 2025

    Bigelow VP Didn't Want Name In Emails About 'USA' Label

    A former R.C. Bigelow vice president testified Wednesday in a trial over the labeling of its products as "manufactured in the USA," agreeing that he once told a Bigelow executive he wished his name wasn't connected to the label, which a California federal judge has found to be false.

  • April 02, 2025

    Ill. Parade Shooting Survivors Can Sue Smith & Wesson

    Smith & Wesson and gun retailers can't escape a lawsuit brought by families of victims of a mass shooting that killed seven people during a 2022 July Fourth parade in Highland Park, an Illinois state judge has ruled, largely denying their requests to apply immunity found in federal law that would have shielded them from civil liability.

  • April 02, 2025

    Serial Acquisitions Are Still On The FTC's Radar

    The previous administration's focus on private equity firms making serial acquisitions in the same industry may continue under the Federal Trade Commission's new leadership, an agency official said Wednesday.

  • April 02, 2025

    Sprouts Hid Unsafe Heavy Metal In Sunflower Butter, Suit Says

    Sprouts Farmers Market misleads customers into thinking its sunflower butter spreads sold under Sprouts' own brand is made with high-quality protein and safe to consume, despite containing dangerous levels of cadmium, which poses serious health risks, according to a proposed class action filed Wednesday in California federal court. 

  • April 02, 2025

    Boeing CEO Tells Senate Panel Safety Overhaul Progressing

    Boeing's CEO told a Senate panel Wednesday that the company remains focused on overhauling its corporate culture and plugging safety gaps on production lines, as the plane-maker continues to stabilize its business after being rocked by two 737 Max 8 crashes and a door-plug blowout.

Expert Analysis

  • Opinion

    Weight Drug Suits Highlight Need For Legal Work On Safety

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    The rapid ascent of glucagon-like peptide-1 receptor agonists like Ozempic has revolutionized diabetes management and weight loss — but legal wrangling over issues including off-label prescriptions, side effects and compounded versions underscores lawyers' roles in protecting patient safety, says attorney Gregg Goldfarb.

  • What Travis Hill's Vision For FDIC Could Portend For Banks

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    If selected to lead the Federal Deposit Insurance Corp. in a permanent capacity, acting Chairman Travis Hill is likely to prioritize removing barriers to innovation and institution-level growth, emphasizing the idea that eliminating rules, relaxing standards and reducing scrutiny will reinvigorate the industry, say attorneys at Mitchell Sandler.

  • Will Independent Federal Agencies Remain Independent?

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    For 90 years, members of multimember independent federal agencies have relied on the U.S. Supreme Court's 1935 ruling in Humphrey's Executor v. U.S. establishing the security of their positions — but as the Trump administration attempts to overturn this understanding, it is unclear how the high court will respond, says Harvey Reiter at Stinson.

  • 5 Major Crypto Developments From The Trump Admin So Far

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    The early weeks of the Trump administration have set the stage for a significant transformation in U.S. digital asset policy by prioritizing regulatory clarity, innovation and a shift away from enforcement-heavy tactics, but many of these changes will require congressional support and progress may be gradual, say attorneys at Ropes & Gray.

  • Compliance Pointers For DOJ's Sweeping Data Security Rule

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    A new Justice Department rule broadly restricts many common data transactions with the goal of preventing access by countries of concern, and with an effective date of April 8, U.S. companies must quickly assess practices related to employee, customer and vendor data, says Sam Castic at Hintze Law.

  • Class Actions At The Circuit Courts: February Lessons

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    In this month's review of class action appeals, Mitchell Engel at Shook Hardy discusses five federal appellate court class certification decisions and identifies practice tips from cases involving breach of life insurance contracts, constitutional violations of inmates and more.

  • What To Expect From The New FCC Chair

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    As a vocal critic of the Federal Communications Commission's recent priorities, newly appointed chair Brendan Carr has described a vision for the agency that would bring significant changes to telecommunication regulation and Telephone Consumer Protection Act enforcement in the U.S., say attorneys at BCLP.

  • Comparing 2 Pending Bills To Regulate Stablecoins

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    Alexandra Steinberg Barrage at Troutman analyzes the key similarities and differences between two payment stablecoin proposals currently pending in Congress — the STABLE and GENIUS acts — as both chambers are forming a working group to deliver a clear regulatory framework for digital assets and bipartisan agreement appears within reach.

  • Citibank Wire Transfer Ruling Creates New Liability For Banks

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    A New York federal court's recent decision in New York v. Citibank, affirming the Electronic Fund Transfer Act's consumer protections cover wire transfers allegedly initiated by scammers who infiltrated Citibank customers' online accounts, creates new liability for sending financial institutions and upends decades-old regulatory guidance, say attorneys at Stinson.

  • 4 Do's And Don'ts For Trial Lawyers Using Generative AI

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    Trial attorneys who use artificial intelligence tools should review a few key reminders, from the likelihood that prompts are discoverable to the rapid evolution of court rules, to safeguard against embarrassing missteps, says Nate Sabri at Perkins Coie.

  • Series

    Competitive Weightlifting Makes Me A Better Lawyer

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    The parallels between the core principles required for competitive weightlifting and practicing law have helped me to excel in both endeavors, with each holding important lessons about discipline, dedication, drive and failure, says Damien Bielli at VF Law.

  • 11th Circ. TCPA Ruling Signals Erosion Of Judicial Deference

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    The U.S. Court of Appeals for the Eleventh Circuit recently came to the rescue of the lead generation industry, striking down new regulations that were set to go into effect on Jan. 27, a decision consistent with federal courts' recent willingness to review administrative decisions, say attorneys at Troutman.

  • How Southern Calif. Fires Can Affect National, Local Pricing

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    The fire-related California state of emergency declared last month in Los Angeles and Ventura counties triggered laws around price-gouging and pricing restrictions that affect not just individuals and businesses in the state, but also nationwide, meaning sellers should be mindful of how price changes are discussed and rolled out, say attorneys at Proskauer.

  • Inside The Uncertainty Surrounding CFPB's Overdraft Rule

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    The Consumer Financial Protection Bureau's overhaul of overdraft fee regulation hangs in limbo as the industry watches to see whether new leadership will repeal the rule, allow it to stay in place, or wait for congressional action or the courts to drive its demise, say attorneys at Alston & Bird.

  • How Private Securities Suits Complement SEC Enforcement

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    U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission enforcement is vital to the healthy functioning of markets, but government enforcement alone is not enough to ensure meaningful monetary recoveries for investor losses due to securities law violations, say attorneys at Bernstein Litowitz.

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