Consumer Protection

  • July 09, 2024

    Cannabis Co. Stiiizy Should Face Delta-8 Suit, Court Told

    A California purveyor of delta-8-infused vapes shouldn't be allowed to escape consumer claims that its products contain levels of THC above the legal limits, the plaintiffs behind a proposed class action have argued, saying the company has attempted to do too much business in Illinois to evade personal jurisdiction.

  • July 09, 2024

    Feds Say Pa. Headstone Seller Scammed Bereaved Of $1.5M

    An Upper Merion, Pennsylvania, man already awaiting trial in state court now faces federal wire fraud charges after prosecutors said his family business selling headstones took in more than $1.5 million in up-front payments for grave markers that were never delivered to customers in Pennsylvania and New Jersey.

  • July 09, 2024

    Bigelow's 'Manufactured In USA' Label Not Judge's Cup Of Tea

    A California federal judge held Monday that Bigelow's labels on tea products stating "Manufactured in the USA" are literally false, handing a partial victory to a certified class of tea buyers, leaving only the issues of damages and Bigelow's state of mind when making the statement to a jury. 

  • July 09, 2024

    1st Circ. Revives Debt Harass Claims Against National Grid

    The First Circuit on Tuesday revived a proposed class action against National Grid USA Service Company Inc. and two debt collection firms whose multiple calls per day to a Massachusetts customer in 2017 and 2018 allegedly violated the state's consumer protection law.

  • July 09, 2024

    Fintech Firm Ingo Sued For Data Breach Disclosure Lag

    Fintech deposit underwriter Ingo Money Inc. faces a proposed class action alleging it waited seven months to notify consumers that it had been successfully targeted by hackers, during which time a "gold mine" of personal information was purportedly in the hands of unauthorized parties.

  • July 09, 2024

    3 States Ask High Court To Freeze Biden's Debt Relief Plan

    Three state attorneys general applied to the U.S. Supreme Court seeking to vacate the stay of a nationwide injunction in an effort to pause implementation of a $475 billion student loan debt forgiveness program, saying they are likely to succeed in their attempts to have the program invalidated by the high court.

  • July 09, 2024

    Boeing, DOJ Say 737 Max Families Can't Rush Monitor Pick

    Boeing has told a Texas federal judge that 737 Max crash victims' families cannot rush the appointment of an independent monitor to oversee the company's safety and compliance efforts, saying its new tentative plea agreement with the U.S. Department of Justice adequately addresses the monitorship issue.

  • July 09, 2024

    Fifth Third Fined $20M Over Fake Accounts, Auto Loan Issues

    Fifth Third Bank will pay a total of $20 million to resolve claims from the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau that bank employees opened accounts for customers without authorization, and forced vehicle insurance onto borrowers who already had coverage.

  • July 09, 2024

    FTC Says Drug Middlemen Inflate Costs, Squeeze Pharmacies

    The Federal Trade Commission said Tuesday that its study of pharmacy benefit managers has shown that six large companies now control 95% of all prescriptions filled in the U.S., allowing them to profit at the expense of patients and independent pharmacies.

  • July 09, 2024

    NYC Defends Policy Of Shuttering Unlicensed Pot Stores

    New York City defended its policy of padlocking stores selling marijuana without a license, saying the stores represent a threat to public health, and it urged a federal judge in Manhattan to reject an injunction sought by more than two dozen targeted retailers.

  • July 09, 2024

    North Carolina PFAS Plaintiffs Want Cost Study To Stay Public

    A class of North Carolina residents who allege Chemours Co. and DuPont discharged wastewater containing so-called forever chemicals into the Cape Fear River is urging a federal judge not to strike and seal their expert's damages report, saying it contains no confidential information that needs to be protected.

  • July 09, 2024

    Baby Bottle Makers Sued Over Claims Products Are 'BPA Free'

    Philips North America and baby product maker Mayborn USA sell baby bottles that contain "considerable amounts of harmful microplastics" despite being advertised as free of the potentially harmful plastic chemical BPA, according to a pair of suits filed in Massachusetts and Connecticut federal courts.

  • July 09, 2024

    Chicken Buyers' Cost-Saving Deal With Producers Approved

    An Illinois federal judge granted final approval Tuesday to settlements direct chicken buyers struck with producers that beat their price-fixing claims at summary judgment or trial, saving them about $1 million in costs they could have otherwise owed the companies.

  • July 09, 2024

    Gov't Missed Merck Vax Potency Problem, 3rd Circ. Told

    Two whistleblowers claiming that Merck & Co. had exaggerated the potency of its mumps vaccine told a Third Circuit panel Tuesday that the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention's continued purchasing of the vaccine was not proof that the agency knew but didn't care about the alleged deception.

  • July 09, 2024

    House Dems Seek Info From DOI Over Alleged Shale Cartel

    House Democrats sitting on the House Natural Resources Committee penned a letter Tuesday seeking information from the U.S. Department of the Interior concerning eight oil companies accused of colluding with the Organization of Petroleum Exporting Companies to artificially inflate gas prices.

  • July 09, 2024

    Veriwave Telco Faces FCC Action Over 'Tax Relief' Robocalls

    The Federal Communications Commission is moving to block robocalls about purported "tax relief" programs from a Delaware-based telecommunications company, announcing in an order Monday that Veriwave Telco had another 14 days to demonstrate compliance with the agency's rules or risk having downstream providers cut its traffic.

  • July 09, 2024

    Maryland, SC Tell 4th Circ. PFAS Suits Belong In State Courts

    Federal district courts properly determined that lawsuits Maryland and South Carolina filed against 3M over alleged contamination stemming from the manufacture, use and disposal of a wide range of consumer products containing so-called forever chemicals can proceed within their respective state courts, the two states told the Fourth Circuit.

  • July 09, 2024

    Estate Atty Settles Claims She Stole From Incarcerated Man

    A previously incarcerated man has dismissed malpractice claims he filed in Michigan federal court against an attorney, alleging she skimmed money he received from his mother's estate. 

  • July 08, 2024

    Shopify Privacy Ruling Threatens AGs' Work, 9th Circ. Told

    Attorneys general from 30 states and the District of Columbia, along with a trio of California city attorneys, are calling on the Ninth Circuit to revive a proposed class action accusing payment processing company Shopify of collecting shoppers' sensitive information without permission, arguing that the dispute threatens to deprive them of their ability to enforce their states' consumer protection laws. 

  • July 08, 2024

    Holland & Hart Dodges Deposition Order In Discovery Spat

    A Washington federal judge said from the bench Monday that she would not order the deposition of High 5 Games LLC's defense team for alleged discovery misconduct in a class action accusing the company of targeting gambling addicts, ruling the depositions were not crucial to make a case for sanctions.

  • July 08, 2024

    CFPB Backs Bank In Ill. Customer's 'Schumer Box' Suit

    The Consumer Financial Protection Bureau has thrown its support behind an Illinois bank in litigation over allegedly lacking repayment disclosures in its customer credit statements, saying the regulation at issue does not apply to the plaintiff's form of credit.

  • July 08, 2024

    What's In Boeing's Tentative 737 Max Plea Deal With DOJ

    Boeing's willingness to plead guilty to conspiring to defraud U.S. regulators over the 737 Max 8's development is a rare mea culpa from an embattled American aerospace titan eager to rebuild public trust after six years of overlapping government investigations, production pauses and mounting litigation.

  • July 08, 2024

    Albertsons Looks To Toss 'Naturally Flavored' Cereal Bar Suit

    Grocery store chain Albertsons on Monday urged a California federal judge to throw out a proposed class action alleging that it falsely labels its Signature Select cereal bars as "naturally flavored" despite their containing artificial malic acid, saying the packaging, which doesn't claim the bars are free from artificial ingredients, wouldn't mislead reasonable consumers.

  • July 08, 2024

    Orgs Worry FCC Could Overreach On Network Security

    The Federal Communications Commission should rein in its plans to impose new security rules regarding the crucial routing technology used by the internet, lest it prompt other countries to devise their own and start a domino effect, two internet security advocates have told the agency.

  • July 08, 2024

    Wall Street Watchdog Backs SEC In Texas Crypto Market Suit

    Wall Street watchdog Better Markets Inc. threw its support behind the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission on Monday as the agency seeks to thwart an attempt by crypto industry groups to strike down a new rule that expands the definition of "dealers" under securities law.

Expert Analysis

  • What Companies Should Consider Amid Multistate AG Actions

    Author Photo

    The rise of multistate attorney general actions is characterized by increased collaboration and heightened scrutiny across various industries — including Big Tech and gaming — and though coalitions present challenges for targeted companies, they also offer opportunities for streamlined resolutions and coordinated public relations efforts, say attorneys at Cozen O'Connor.

  • Series

    Glassblowing Makes Me A Better Lawyer

    Author Photo

    I never expected that glassblowing would strongly influence my work as an attorney, but it has taught me the importance of building a solid foundation for your work, learning from others and committing to a lifetime of practice, says Margaret House at Kalijarvi Chuzi.

  • 3 Surprising Deposition Dangers Attorneys Must Heed

    Author Photo

    Attorneys often do not think of discovery as a particularly risky phase of litigation, but counsel must closely heed some surprisingly strict and frequently overlooked requirements before, during and after depositions that can lead to draconian consequences, says Nate Sabri at Perkins Coie.

  • Careful Data Governance Is A Must Amid Enforcement Focus

    Author Photo

    Federal and state regulators' heightened focus on privacy enforcement, including the Federal Trade Commission's recent guidance on consumer protection in the car industry, highlight the importance of proactive risk management, compliance and data governance, say Jason Priebe and Danny Riley at Seyfarth.

  • 5 Critical Factors Driving Settlement Values In Cyber Litigation

    Author Photo

    Recent ransomware incidents and their legal repercussions offer five valuable insights into the determinants of settlement values in cyberattack-related litigation, and understanding these trends and their implications can better prepare organizations for the potential legal fallout from future breaches, says Peter Kamminga at JAMS.

  • Opinion

    Paid Noncompetes Offer A Better Solution Than FTC's Ban

    Author Photo

    A better alternative to the Federal Trade Commission's recent and widely contested noncompete ban would be a nationwide bright-line rule requiring employers to pay employees during the noncompete period, says Steven Kayman at Rottenberg Lipman.

  • How Associates Can Build A Professional Image

    Author Photo

    As hybrid work arrangements become the norm in the legal industry, early-career attorneys must be proactive in building and maintaining a professional presence in both physical and digital settings, ensuring that their image aligns with their long-term career goals, say Lana Manganiello at Equinox Strategy Partners and Estelle Winsett at Estelle Winsett Professional Image Consulting.

  • Firms Must Rethink How They Train New Lawyers In AI Age

    Author Photo

    As law firms begin to use generative artificial intelligence to complete lower-level legal tasks, they’ll need to consider new ways to train summer associates and early-career attorneys, keeping in mind the five stages of skill acquisition, says Liisa Thomas at Sheppard Mullin.

  • High Court's BofA Ruling Leaves State Preemption Questions

    Author Photo

    A recent U.S. Supreme Court decision in Cantero v. Bank of America sheds light on whether certain state banking regulations apply to federally chartered banks, but a circuit split could still force the Supreme Court to take a more direct position, says Brett Garver at Moritt Hock.

  • Cyber Takeaways For Cos. From Verizon Data Breach Report

    Author Photo

    Camilo Artiga-Purcell at Kiteworks analyzes the key findings of the 2024 Verizon Data Breach Investigations Report from a legal perspective, examining the implications for organizations' cybersecurity strategies and compliance efforts.

  • Think Like A Lawyer: Always Be Closing

    Author Photo

    When a lawyer presents their case with the right propulsive structure throughout trial, there is little need for further argument after the close of evidence — and in fact, rehashing it all may test jurors’ patience — so attorneys should consider other strategies for closing arguments, says Luke Andrews at Poole Huffman.

  • Lessons From Epic's Dutch Fine For Unfair Marketing To Kids

    Author Photo

    Dutch regulators' imposition of a €1.1 million fine on Epic Games for unfair commercial practices targeting children marks a significant moment in the ongoing scrutiny of digital market practices, and follows an increased focus on children's online safety in the U.S. and European Union, say attorneys at Crowell & Moring.

  • Opinion

    California Has A Duty To Curtail Frivolous CIPA Suits

    Author Photo

    As plaintiffs increasingly file class actions against companies for their use of website tracking cookies and pixels, the Legislature should consider four options to amend the California Invasion of Privacy Act and restore the balance between consumer privacy and business operational interests, say Steven Stransky and Jennifer Adler at Thompson Hine and Glenn Lammi at the Washington Legal Foundation.

  • Risks And Promises Of AI In The Financial Services Industry

    Author Photo

    Generative artificial intelligence has immense potential to revolutionize the financial services industry, but firms considering its use should first prepare to show their customers and the increasingly divided international regulatory community that they can manage the risks inherent to the new technology, say attorneys at Gibson Dunn.

  • Series

    Playing Chess Makes Me A Better Lawyer

    Author Photo

    There are many ways that chess skills translate directly into lawyer skills, but for me, the bigger career lessons go beyond the direct parallels — playing chess has shown me the value of seeing gradual improvement in and focusing deep concentration on a nonwork endeavor, says attorney Steven Fink.

Want to publish in Law360?


Submit an idea

Have a news tip?


Contact us here
Can't find the article you're looking for? Click here to search the Consumer Protection archive.
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!