Consumer Protection

  • April 25, 2025

    Manufactured Home Finance Biz Faces New 'Risky Loan' Suit

    After the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau walked away from a similar case earlier this year, a proposed class action in Tennessee federal court accuses a Berkshire Hathaway-owned company of signing up customers for loans they couldn't afford for manufactured homes typically built and sold by an affiliate.

  • April 25, 2025

    Atkins Vows SEC Will Pursue 'Common-Sense' Crypto Policy

    The U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission's new Chair Paul Atkins told crypto industry experts on Friday that the SEC will work to establish a "fit-for-purpose" framework for digital assets, while industry participants urged a principles-based approach to cover its rapid innovation.

  • April 25, 2025

    2nd Circ. Rejects Tesla Buyer's Deceptive-Ad Case

    The Second Circuit on Friday rejected an appeal from a Tesla buyer who claimed he was misled about his car's self-driving capabilities, ruling that he'd waited too long to bring the proposed class action.

  • April 25, 2025

    Mass. Data Broker Accused Of Flouting Colo. Privacy Law

    A Massachusetts data broker is violating a Colorado law barring the inclusion of personal cellphone numbers in online directories without permission, a proposed class action alleges.

  • April 24, 2025

    Circuit-By-Circuit Guide As Justices Confront Class Cert. Split

    The U.S. Supreme Court is set for climactic arguments over class certification standards that have cleaved circuits from coast to coast for much of the past two decades, teeing up a make-or-break ruling for many class actions and a transformative event for legal practice in the swelling litigation realm.

  • April 24, 2025

    Rising Gold Prices Should Nix $3M SEC Deal, Ex-Exec Says

    A former executive of a company that solicited investments in gold and silver coins has pushed back on the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission's efforts to collect on a $3 million settlement he struck with the agency, telling a federal judge the deal should be vacated because prices for precious metals have recently "skyrocketed."

  • April 24, 2025

    House Panel 'Committed' To Passing Privacy Law, Staffer Says

    A House Energy and Commerce Committee staff member had a message Thursday for those wondering if Congress would finally overcome the hurdles that have long stymied efforts to enact a federal comprehensive consumer data privacy law: "This time is different."

  • April 24, 2025

    Trump Pardons Politician Convicted Of Statue Funding Fraud

    President Donald Trump has issued a "full and unconditional pardon" to a former Las Vegas city council member and ex-state assemblyperson who was convicted of stealing $70,000 in funds she said would be used to honor two police officers killed on duty, according to a filing Thursday in Nevada federal court.

  • April 24, 2025

    State Privacy Enforcers Push For Stronger Corporate Dialogue

    Regulators responsible for data privacy enforcement in California, Colorado and Oregon are calling on companies to be more responsive and open to investigative inquiries, saying this approach could help achieve better outcomes as these offices move to bring on additional technology experts and fortify collaboration with each other. 

  • April 24, 2025

    Google Case Judge Weighs Rivals' Data Needs Against Privacy

    The D.C. federal judge weighing whether to break off the Chrome browser and force Google to share data with search engine rivals zeroed in Thursday on the balancing act between propping up other competitors and protecting the search data the Justice Department says they need to compete effectively.

  • April 24, 2025

    Long Island Man Gets 18 Years For Father-Son Crypto Scam

    A Long Island man convicted of cheating investors out of millions of dollars by falsely promising to serve as a broker for crypto sales while pocketing the funds was sentenced to 18 years in prison on Thursday.

  • April 24, 2025

    Trump's Regulatory Thaw On Crypto Reaches Federal Reserve

    The Federal Reserve on Thursday scrapped guidance that had instructed banks to consult with it before taking up cryptocurrencies, marking the latest step in a broader push to ease regulatory friction for digital assets under President Donald Trump's administration.

  • April 24, 2025

    Funds Manager Raided Coffers Before Ouster, Court Told

    A Texas appeals court on Thursday questioned whether multiple commercial real estate funds had taken a vote before ousting a former manager accused of helping himself to company accounts, asking during oral arguments if the funds had followed correct procedures.

  • April 24, 2025

    Ill. Judge Won't Reduce Claims In Defective Smoker Suit

    Grill manufacturer Char-Broil LLC can't escape claims it sold an electric smoker that shocked its users and didn't work correctly even after a recall, a Chicago federal judge ruled on Thursday, rejecting arguments that the buyers' fight is actually with the Consumer Product Safety Commission.

  • April 24, 2025

    Biz Court Questions What Ties TikTok To NC In Addiction Case

    A North Carolina business judge grappled Thursday with the limits of personal jurisdiction in the internet age in the state's case alleging TikTok addicts young users, questioning whether a digital app is different from a physical good regarding where a lawsuit can be filed.

  • April 24, 2025

    Automaker Group Sues Wash. Over New Biz Licensing Regs

    An auto industry trade group is urging a federal judge in Washington state to strike down recent changes to state business licensing regulations, saying the amendments put manufacturers at risk of penalties for following longstanding federal law on vehicle windshield labels.

  • April 24, 2025

    FDIC's Hill Faces Dems' Questions Over DOGE Access, Job Cuts

    U.S. Sen. Elizabeth Warren and other Democrats called Thursday for the Federal Deposit Insurance Corp. to provide details about the presence of Elon Musk's Department of Government Efficiency at the agency, citing concerns the regulator could be weakened as it looks to reduce its headcount by roughly 1,250 staffers.

  • April 24, 2025

    Bankers Push FCC For Caller ID To Combat Fraud

    The American Bankers Association has urged the Federal Communications Commission to move forward on a plan to reduce bank-impersonating phone calls by ensuring certain voice service providers implement a new caller identification authentication process within two years.

  • April 24, 2025

    10th Circ. Says City's COVID-19 Town Hall Calls Weren't Illegal

    Albuquerque didn't break federal robocall laws when it sent residents automated calls to inform them that it would be hosting virtual public meetings during the early years of the coronavirus pandemic, the Tenth Circuit has ruled.

  • April 24, 2025

    Nevada Asks Court To Toss Kalshi Sports Contract Suit

    Gaming authorities in Nevada have urged a federal judge to dismiss a lawsuit brought against them by online trading platform KalshiEx LLC, telling the court that a state agency's efforts to stop the company from offering betting on sports and elections is on solid legal footing.

  • April 24, 2025

    Fallout From Ex-Football Coach's Alleged Hacking Spreads

    Three more universities were hit with lawsuits this week by students who say they were targets of a former University of Michigan and Baltimore Ravens coach accused of hacking accounts to steal intimate photos, as the number of suits stemming from the scandal continues to grow.

  • April 24, 2025

    Apple, Google, Roblox Duck Game Addiction Suit, For Now

    An Illinois federal judge Wednesday dismissed Apple, Google and Roblox from a parent's proposed class action accusing multiple video game developers and platforms of peddling their addictive wares to children, saying the allegations lack specificity, but left open the possibility of amending the complaint.

  • April 24, 2025

    $1M Settlement In Ga. PFAS Litigation Gets Judge's Final OK

    A Georgia federal judge gave a final sign-off Wednesday to a $1 million settlement that will see a chemical company provide temporary drinking water resources to a northwest Georgia town to end the company's involvement in a suit over the alleged release of forever chemicals into local waterways.

  • April 24, 2025

    9th Circ. Backs Oppenheimer Bid To Avoid FINRA Arbitration

    The Ninth Circuit unanimously affirmed Thursday a lower court's ruling blocking two Washington state couples' bid to arbitrate claims against Oppenheimer & Co. Inc. before the Financial Industry Regulatory Authority, saying the couples weren't customers of the financial services company despite getting caught up in a former Oppenheimer employee's Ponzi scheme.

  • April 24, 2025

    DOT Carves Out Autonomous Vehicle Exemptions

    The U.S. Department of Transportation on Thursday updated its policy for developing autonomous vehicles, pledging to ease regulatory hurdles for domestically produced vehicles in order to accelerate U.S. competitiveness in the self-driving car space.

Expert Analysis

  • 2 Recent Federal Decisions Affecting State CIPA Cases

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    Two recent cases may help stem the tide of the ever-increasing number of California Invasion of Privacy Act complaints filed in federal court, but won't prevent plaintiffs from filing in state courts, so companies need to shift their focus from Article III standing to statutory standing, says Matthew Pearson at Womble Bond.

  • Opinion

    Airlines Should Follow Treaty On Prompt Crash Payouts

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    In the wake of the recent crash of a Delta Air Lines flight during landing in Toronto, it is vital for air carriers and their insurers to understand how the Montreal Convention's process for immediate passenger compensation can avoid years of costly litigation and reputational damage for companies, says Robert Alpert at International Crisis Response.

  • McKernan-Led CFPB May Lead To Decentralized Enforcement

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    Though Jonathan McKernan’s confirmation as director would likely mean a less active Consumer Financial Protection Bureau, the decreased federal oversight could lead to more state-led investigations, multistate regulatory actions and private lawsuits under consumer protection laws, says Jonathan Pompan at Venable.

  • Series

    Adapting To Private Practice: From Fed. Prosecutor To BigLaw

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    Making the jump from government to private practice is no small feat, but, based on my experience transitioning to a business-driven environment after 15 years as an assistant U.S. attorney, it can be incredibly rewarding and help you become a more versatile lawyer, says Michael Beckwith at Dickinson Wright.

  • Opinion

    SEC Shouldn't Complicate Broker-Dealers' AML Compliance

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    Recent U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission anti-money laundering enforcement actions show that regulators should not second-guess broker-dealers' reasonable judgment, or stretch the law or their jurisdiction to regulate through enforcement, lest they expect broker-dealers to vigorously defend their AML programs, say attorneys at WilmerHale.

  • Rebuttal

    6 Reasons Why Arbitration Offers Equitable Resolutions

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    Contrary to a recent Law360 guest article, arbitration provides numerous benefits to employees, consumers and businesses alike, ensuring fair and efficient dispute resolution without the excessive fees, costs and delays associated with traditional litigation, say attorneys at Proskauer.

  • Executive Orders Paving Way For New Era Of Crypto Banking

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    Recent executive orders have already significantly affected the day-to-day operations of financial institutions that have an interest in engaging with digital assets, and creating informed strategies now can support institutions as the crypto gates continue to open to the banking industry, say attorneys at Spencer Fane.

  • How Calif. Algorithmic Pricing Bills Could Affect Consumers

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    California's legislative efforts to regulate algorithmic pricing may address antitrust and fairness concerns, but could stop retailers from providing consumer discounts, says Alyssa Sones at Sheppard Mullin.

  • Explaining CFPB's Legal Duties Under The Dodd-Frank Act

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    While only Congress can actually eradicate the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau, the Trump administration has sought to significantly alter the agency's operations, so it's an apt time to review the minimum baseline of activities that Congress requires of the CFPB in Title X of the Dodd-Frank Act, say attorneys at Bradley Arant.

  • State Securities Enforcers May Fill A Federal Enforcement Gap

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    The U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission appears poised to take a lighter touch under the new administration, but state enforcement efforts are likely to continue unabated, and potentially even increase, particularly with regard to digital assets and ESG disclosures, say attorneys at Ropes & Gray.

  • Firms Still Have Lateral Market Advantage, But Risks Persist

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    Partner and associate mobility data from the fourth quarter of 2024 shows that we’re in a new, stable era of lateral hiring where firms have the edge, but leaders should proceed cautiously, looking beyond expected revenue and compensation analyses for potential risks, say Julie Henson and Greg Hamman at Decipher Investigative Intelligence.

  • Recent Cases Highlight Latest AI-Related Civil Litigation Risks

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    Ongoing lawsuits in federal district courts reveal potential risks that companies using artificial intelligence may face from civil litigants, including health insurance coverage cases involving contractual and equitable claims, and myriad cases concerning securities disclosure claims, say attorneys at Katten.

  • What Rodney Hood's OCC Stint Could Mean For Banking

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    Acting Comptroller of the Currency Rodney Hood's time at the helm of the OCC, while temporary, is likely to feature clarity for financial institutions navigating regulations, the development of fintech innovation, and clearer expectations for counsel advising on related matters, say attorneys at Vedder Price.

  • Opinion

    We Must Allow Judges To Use Their Independent Judgment

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    As two recent cases show, the ability of judges to access their independent judgment crucially enables courts to exercise the discretion needed to reach the right outcome based on the unique facts within the law, says John Siffert at Lankler Siffert & Wohl.

  • 4 Actions For Cos. As SEC Rebrands Cyber Enforcement Units

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    As the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission signals its changing enforcement priorities by retooling a Biden-era crypto-asset and cybersecurity enforcement unit into a task force against artificial-intelligence-powered hacks and online investing fraud, financial institutions and technology companies should adapt by considering four key points, say attorneys at Troutman.

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