Consumer Protection

  • September 26, 2024

    Arthur J. Gallagher To Pay $21M To End Data Breach Suits

    Insurance broker Arthur J. Gallagher & Co. has agreed to pay $21 million to resolve several lawsuits consolidated in Illinois alleging that it failed to protect more than 3 million customers from a data breach that compromised their personally identifiable information, with an Illinois federal judge giving her initial blessing to the deal Thursday.

  • September 26, 2024

    4th Circ. Hints Rocket Mortgage Class Cert. On Shaky Ground

    The Fourth Circuit on Thursday seemed skeptical that all potential class members who accused Rocket Mortgage of inflating their home values could prove they were injured under the U.S. Supreme Court's heightened pleading standard in TransUnion, putting the lower court's certification order on rocky footing.

  • September 26, 2024

    Apple Protests Atty Fee Bid In $35M Deal With Scam Victims

    Apple Inc. urged a California federal court to limit the fee awarded to plaintiffs' attorneys from a $35 million settlement over allegations it did not stop scammers from tricking victims into using iTunes gift cards for payments, saying the 33% fee sought is too high for the "fair but unexceptional recovery."

  • September 26, 2024

    Atty Sheehan Owes $144K Fees For 'Frivolous' Big Lots Suit

    Prolific New York-based consumer advocate attorney Spencer Sheehan of Sheehan & Associates PC must cover the approximately $144,000 tab for attorney fees incurred amid the "frivolous" coffee labeling suit he brought against national retailer Big Lots Inc., a Florida federal judge has ordered.

  • September 26, 2024

    Robinhood Arbitration Pact Not Obvious To Users, Judge Says

    Robinhood Financial LLC cannot show that a user who claims the platform failed to notify him of important developments regarding his investments was made aware of an arbitration clause buried in the company's user agreement, a Massachusetts state court judge said.

  • September 25, 2024

    In-House Counsel To Play Central Role At AI Cos., VCs Say

    Venture capital firms expect in-house counsel at artificial intelligence companies to play a bigger role in their businesses due to regulatory uncertainties around AI, while a professor who helped pioneer the technology warned that transparency of commercial AI businesses should be "top of mind," attorneys heard at the seventh annual Berkeley Law AI Institute Wednesday.

  • September 25, 2024

    DoorDash, Uber Eats, Grubhub Win NYC Diner Data Law Row

    A New York federal judge on Tuesday granted DoorDash Inc. and other food delivery app companies a win in their lawsuit challenging a New York City law requiring delivery services to provide restaurants with certain customer info, ruling that the law is unconstitutional.

  • September 25, 2024

    8th Circ. Told Student Debt Relief Should Remain Blocked

    Seven Republican-led states are asking the Eighth Circuit to finalize its court order blocking the Biden administration from implementing its second attempt at student loan forgiveness, accusing the White House of "hiding the ball" on the true cost of the plan.

  • September 25, 2024

    Developer's NorCal Spree Ends With Fraud Claims In Ch. 11

    Northern California real estate company LeFever Mattson stockpiled more than $400 million in real estate, including several local landmarks in a small town north of San Francisco. The firm now seeks bankruptcy protection amid claims following an alleged scheme by one executive to pocket millions by selling bunk equity stakes to investors.

  • September 25, 2024

    Google 'Less Expensive' Than Ad Tech Rivals, Economist Says

    A Yale economist told a Virginia federal judge Wednesday that the Justice Department's estimates of how much Google allegedly bilked website publishers using its online advertising placement technology don't add up.

  • September 25, 2024

    Wash. Judge Says Co., Firm Seem To Share Sanctions Blame

    A Washington appeals court judge said Wednesday that a climbing equipment manufacturer and its former trial counsel, Sinars Slowikowski Tomaska LLC, appear to share blame for discovery violations in a product liability lawsuit and that a trial court appeared to have the authority to issue sanctions.

  • September 25, 2024

    8th Circ. Probes Lawmakers' Intent In FCC Anti-Redlining Rule

    Eighth Circuit judges on Wednesday dissected exactly how far Congress wanted the Federal Communications Commission to go when carrying out a tightly drafted provision to prevent digital discrimination in the thousand-page infrastructure law three years ago.

  • September 25, 2024

    Kraken Seeks Quick Appeal Of Dismissal Denial In SEC Suit

    Cryptocurrency exchange Kraken requested an immediate appeal of an order that declined to dismiss the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission's registration claims, asking that the Ninth Circuit weigh in on whether an alleged investment contract can violate securities laws if it doesn't represent any pact between issuers and buyers.

  • September 25, 2024

    CFPB Gets Partial Win Over Debt Collector's Property Transfer

    The Consumer Financial Protection Bureau and New York's attorney general secured a partial win in its suit over the head of a debt collection company's allegedly fraudulent transfer of a million-dollar property to his family members, with a New York federal judge ruling that they are only entitled to the daughter's share of the property's escrow proceeds.

  • September 25, 2024

    Target Can't Escape Claims Over Deceptive 'Clean' Label

    A California federal judge on Wednesday said that Target Corp. still has to face class claims that its Target Clean range of beauty products actually contain chemicals that harm humans and the environment, saying the allegations are a bit "unique" and are not typical product liability claims.

  • September 25, 2024

    Baltimore Bridge Wreck: 6 Months Later, Claims Mount

    A court deadline to challenge liability limits over Baltimore's Francis Scott Key Bridge collapse shows an intense legal battle brewing as the U.S. government, Maryland and private plaintiffs sharpen their claims for damages against the owner and manager of the cargo ship that slammed into the bridge six months ago.

  • September 25, 2024

    NY Judge Pauses Abortion 'Reversal' Case As AG Files Appeal

    A New York federal judge has ruled that two more anti-abortion pregnancy centers are free to promote abortion pill "reversal" while a legal clash continues over whether the First Amendment protects their right to market the treatment, which is doubted by major medical groups.

  • September 25, 2024

    FTC Targets 'Robot Lawyer,' Others In AI Enforcement Sweep

    The Federal Trade Commission on Wednesday revealed a flurry of recent enforcement actions aimed at cracking down on the use of artificial intelligence to "supercharge" harmful and deceptive business practices, including a case targeting "lofty" claims made about a service that promised to provide "the world's first robot lawyer."

  • September 25, 2024

    City's Public Crash Reports Defy Privacy Law, NC Judge Says

    The city of Charlotte violated federal privacy law by making car accident reports public such that law firms could use the disclosed data for marketing purposes, a North Carolina federal judge said in granting summary judgment and certification to a class of drivers.

  • September 25, 2024

    3rd Circ. Preserves Monsanto's Win In Cancer Warning Suit

    The Third Circuit refused to reconsider its ruling that federal law preempts a more stringent Pennsylvania statute that mandates cancer warnings on chemicals, preserving Monsanto's win against a man who alleged the company's Roundup herbicide caused his illness.

  • September 25, 2024

    Terrorism Victims Sue For Share Of $4.3B Binance Plea

    The U.S. government must put the $4.3 billion it obtained in its money laundering and sanctions violations case against Binance toward a federal fund for victims of state-sponsored terrorism, a new lawsuit in D.C. federal court alleges.

  • September 25, 2024

    FCC Will Tackle Accessibility For Hearing Impaired Next Month

    The Federal Communications Commission has not put much on its plate for October, revealing Wednesday that it had a light agenda planned for the agency's upcoming monthly meeting with only three items.

  • September 25, 2024

    Meta Wants 'License' To Cover Up Past Events, Justices Told

    Meta Platforms Inc. shareholders say the U.S. Supreme Court should not be swayed by the social media company's attempt to shake off a proposed class action tied to the Cambridge Analytica data scandal, warning a high court ruling in favor of Facebook's parent company could give publicly traded companies "license to intentionally mislead investors."

  • September 25, 2024

    Wyden Pitches New Bill To Regulate Intoxicating Hemp

    U.S. Senator Ron Wyden, D-Ore., introduced a new bill on Wednesday to more tightly regulate products with hemp-derived cannabinoids, with an emphasis on age gating, manufacturing standards and labeling requirements.

  • September 25, 2024

    Court Defers Ruling On Challenge To Arkansas Hemp Law

    An Arkansas federal judge has deferred a final ruling on a challenge to a state law banning hemp-derived intoxicating products while a pending appeal plays out in the Eighth Circuit.

Expert Analysis

  • Opinion

    Law Firm Reactions To Campus Protests May Chill DEI Efforts

    Author Photo

    Law firm decisions to rescind or withhold job offers based on candidates' pro-Palestine activism could negatively affect diversity, equity and inclusion efforts in the legal profession, compounding existing hiring and retention challenges, say Noor Shater at Penn Carey Law School, and Peter Farah and Jalal Shehadeh at the Palestinian American Bar Association.

  • How To Avoid Liability When Using Cookie Consent Managers

    Author Photo

    As companies attempt to comply with consumer protection laws by implementing cookie consent managers on their websites, they must be wary of separate legal risks that can stem from implementing or using these tools incorrectly, says Ian Cohen at LOKKER.

  • 6 Tips For Trying Cases Away From Home

    Excerpt from Practical Guidance
    Author Photo

    A truly national litigation practice, by definition, often requires trying cases in jurisdictions across the country, which presents unique challenges that require methodical preparation and coordination both within the trial team and externally, say Edward Bennett and Suzanne Salgado at Williams & Connolly.

  • Taking Stock Of FCC's New Spectrum Rule For Drones

    Author Photo

    While an order recently adopted by the Federal Communications Commission is intended to provide drones with rapid access to a limited amount of spectrum in the 5030-5091 megahertz band, the commission envisions an incremental approach to full usage that will play out over the course of the coming months and years, say attorneys at Wiley.

  • 3 Coverage Tips As 2nd Circ. 'Swipes Left' On Tinder Claim

    Author Photo

    The Second Circuit's recent opinion in Match Group v. Beazley Underwriting, overturning Tinder's victory on its insurer's motion to dismiss a coverage action, reinforces three best practices policyholders purchasing claims-made coverage should adhere to in order to avoid late-notice defenses, say Lynda Bennett and Alexander Corson at Lowenstein Sandler.

  • Proposed Legislation May Crack Down On Online Drug Ads

    Author Photo

    A bill recently proposed in Congress could serve as a sea change in how the U.S. Food and Drug Administration regulates drug-related speech, with significant trickle-down effects on various corners of not only the drug industry but also on consumers and providers themselves, say Dominick DiSabatino and Arushi Pandya at Sheppard Mullin.

  • How Loper Bright Is Affecting Pending FCC Litigation

    Author Photo

    Pending challenges against Federal Communications Commission orders at the Sixth and Eleventh Circuits following the U.S. Supreme Court's decision in Loper Bright highlight that counsel must be familiar with the statutes, regulations and precedent relevant to the FCC to best navigate the rapidly changing compliance landscape, say attorneys at Davis Wright.

  • A Blueprint For Structuring An Effective Plaintiff Case Story

    Author Photo

    The number and size of nuclear verdicts continue to rise, in part because plaintiffs attorneys have become more adept at crafting compelling trial stories — and an analysis of these success stories reveals a 10-part framework for structuring an effective case narrative, says Jonathan Ross at Decision Analysis.

  • Series

    Round-Canopy Parachuting Makes Me A Better Lawyer

    Author Photo

    Similar to the practice of law, jumping from an in-flight airplane with nothing but training and a few yards of parachute silk is a demanding and stressful endeavor, and the experience has bolstered my legal practice by enhancing my focus, teamwork skills and sense of perspective, says Thomas Salerno at Stinson.

  • Dealmaker Lessons From CFIUS' New Enforcement Webpage

    Author Photo

    The Committee on Foreign Investment in the United States’ recently launched webpage, which details the actions — and inactions — that led to enforcement activity, provides important insights for dealmakers about filing requirements, mitigation commitments and the cost of noncompliance, say attorneys at Dechert.

  • What's In Colorado's 1st-Of-Its-Kind Neural Privacy Law

    Author Photo

    Colorado recently became the first U.S. state to directly regulate neurotechnology with new legislation amending the Colorado Privacy Act to specifically protect biological and neural data, offering an example of how lawmakers can tackle the perceived regulation gaps in this area, say attorneys at Goodwin.

  • What To Expect From Calif. Bill Regulating PE In Healthcare

    Author Photo

    A California bill currently awaiting Gov. Gavin Newsom's approval, intended to increase oversight over private equity and hedge fund investments in healthcare, is emblematic of recent increased scrutiny of investments in the space, and may affect transactions and operations in California in a number of ways, say attorneys at Ropes & Gray.

  • Why Now Is The Time For Law Firms To Hire Lateral Partners

    Author Photo

    Partner and associate mobility data from the second quarter of this year suggest that there's never been a better time in recent years for law firms to hire lateral candidates, particularly experienced partners — though this necessitates an understanding of potential red flags, say Julie Henson and Greg Hamman at Decipher Investigative Intelligence.

  • Considering Possible PR Risks Of Certain Legal Tactics

    Author Photo

    Disney and American Airlines recently abandoned certain litigation tactics in two lawsuits after fierce public backlash, illustrating why corporate counsel should consider the reputational implications of any legal strategy and partner with their communications teams to preempt public relations concerns, says Chris Gidez at G7 Reputation Advisory.

  • What To Know About Insurance Coverage For Antitrust Risks

    Author Photo

    With all the regulatory activity surrounding antitrust and unfair competition claims, as highlighted by last month's D.C. federal court decision that Google is a monopolist, businesses must not only ensure compliance, but also understand their potential insurance coverage when such claims arise, says Micah Skidmore at Haynes Boone.

Want to publish in Law360?


Submit an idea

Have a news tip?


Contact us here
Hello! I'm Law360's automated support bot.

How can I help you today?

For example, you can type:
  • I forgot my password
  • I took a free trial but didn't get a verification email
  • How do I sign up for a newsletter?
Ask a question!