Consumer Protection

  • June 05, 2025

    FTC Chair Calls On Congress To 'Reform' Kids' Privacy Model

    The longstanding framework for protecting children from online privacy harms is no longer working as Congress intended, the head of the Federal Trade Commission said Wednesday, in urging federal lawmakers to take steps to empower both the agency and parents to more effectively tackle these growing risks. 

  • June 05, 2025

    'Sparse' OPM Record On Mass Firings Backs Win, Unions Say

    A "sparse and self-serving" record provided by the U.S. Office of Personnel Management still shows the agency unlawfully directed federal agencies to fire probationary employees en masse, so a California federal court can reach a final decision now and "unwind" those terminations, a coalition including unions and advocacy groups said Thursday.

  • June 05, 2025

    Calif. Adviser, CEO To Pay $21M To End SEC Theft Claims

    A California investment adviser and its CEO have agreed to pay over $21 million to end U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission claims they misappropriated over $15.3 million from a cannabis industry client — including $4.6 million used to buy a home — and overstated its assets under management in regulatory filings.

  • June 05, 2025

    Jeep Maker FCA Can't Send Battery Defect Suit To Arbitration

    A Michigan federal judge on Thursday refused to throw out or send to arbitration a proposed class action accusing automaker FCA US LLC of knowingly selling certain electric vehicles with defective batteries, ruling the Stellantis unit hasn't shown that drivers had sufficient notice of arbitration provisions.

  • June 05, 2025

    Infant Cushion Maker Urges DC Circ. To Vacate CPSC Rule

    A company that manufactures infant support cushions has told the D.C. Circuit that the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission overstepped its authority by issuing a rule regulating the products as "durable" and thus skirting congressional limits on its ability to issue mandatory product safety standards.

  • June 05, 2025

    DC Circ. Won't Make FCC Reconsider LTD Broadband Funds

    The D.C. Circuit isn't going to touch a Federal Communications Commission decision denying LTD Broadband LLC $1.3 billion in rural network deployment funds after the company failed to convince the agency that it could connect the half-million locations that came with the money.

  • June 05, 2025

    Crypto.com Says Nevada Can't Sue Over Sports Contracts

    The derivatives platform owned by Crypto.com on Thursday urged a Nevada federal judge to block the state's gaming regulators from taking action over its sports event contracts, arguing the federal court has already granted similar relief to trading platform Kalshi.

  • June 05, 2025

    Music Lyrics Co. Slams $1B Antitrust Suit Over Warner Deal

    Music data company Musixmatch urged a California federal judge to end rival LyricFind Inc.'s $1 billion suit alleging it has a monopoly in the market for providing lyrics to streamers like Spotify after inking an exclusive deal with Warner Music to distribute its titles, arguing Warner is legally allowed to solely license its intellectual property to Musixmatch.

  • June 05, 2025

    Grindr Sued Over Teen's Death, Alleged Negligence In Fla.

    The family of a 16-year-old girl who was allegedly killed and later dismembered by a couple she met through the Grindr dating app has sued the company in Florida federal court, alleging there were no age verification safeguards that prevented the teen from being targeted by sexual predators.

  • June 05, 2025

    SEC Panel Backs Rules Curbing Advisers' Arbitration Power

    An investor-focused committee recommended Thursday that the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission enact rules governing mandatory arbitration clauses between registered investment advisers and their clients, concerned that such clauses can harm investors.

  • June 05, 2025

    Multifamily REIT Hit With Housing Voucher Bias Suit

    A civil rights nonprofit has accused multifamily real estate investment trust AvalonBay Communities Inc. of discriminating against tenants who use housing vouchers by falsely advertising the bedrooms in one of its District of Columbia properties.

  • June 05, 2025

    Citi Let Hackers Bleed Med School Of Over $800K, Suit Says

    University of Medicine and Health Sciences has sued Citibank in New York federal court, accusing it of letting hackers drain its bank account even after staff repeatedly warned they had been locked out and feared a cyberattack.

  • June 05, 2025

    Ga. Real Estate Firm Hit With Suit Over Data Breach

    Real estate firm Landmark Properties Inc. has been hit with a proposed class action over a May 2025 data breach that allegedly exposed the personal information of residents and employees.

  • June 05, 2025

    DOJ Says Cross-Border Monopoly Member Deserves 11 Years

    The U.S. Department of Justice is seeking 11 years in prison and a $2 million fine for a man who pled guilty to charges tied to the running of a cross-border used-car transport business, which prosecutors say used violence to keep competition at bay.

  • June 05, 2025

    Top Groups Lobbying The FCC

    The Federal Communications Commission heard from advocates more than 100 times in May on issues such as making room for 5G's use of the airwaves, licensing tribal spectrum, broadband mapping, the 12.7 gigahertz band, FCC satellite rules and more.

  • June 05, 2025

    Juul Beats Distributor's E-Cig Price Discrimination Suit

    An Illinois federal judge Wednesday permanently dismissed a price discrimination suit against Juul Labs, finding that a gas station distributor alleging it was given worse terms than a rival on e-cigarette products torpedoed its own case when it removed details of the alleged market from its latest complaint.

  • June 05, 2025

    Orgs. Clash At DC Circ. Over FCC's Spectrum Revamp

    Public safety groups are clashing at the D.C. Circuit over whether the Federal Communications Commission overstepped its authority when it expanded spectrum rights in the 4.9 gigahertz band, a segment of airwaves long relied on by emergency responders.

  • June 05, 2025

    Spice Co. Hid Lead Levels In Products, Suit Claims

    Florida-based Badia Spices sold ground ginger and cinnamon with elevated levels of lead, according to a New York federal lawsuit that leans on laboratory testing conducted by state food safety regulators.

  • June 05, 2025

    NC Pathology Practice Faces Class Claims Over Data Breach

    A North Carolina pathology practice got hit with a proposed class action over a January data breach that allegedly exposed the personal information of 235,000 people to the cybercriminals who exploited what the complaint said were the practice's lacking security measures.

  • June 05, 2025

    DOJ Wants Fix-It-1st Mergers, Not 'Fix-It-2nd'

    The U.S. Department of Justice Antitrust Division's top merger official walked a fine line Wednesday between avoiding "a lingering regulatory review tax" on benign transactions and over-confident prognostications that markets will "self-correct" without intervention, and between encouraging companies to address concerns upfront and "shadow" settlements with the government.

  • June 05, 2025

    Former NFL Great Says Travelers Won't Cover Water Claim

    Former New England Patriots linebacker Andre Tippett and his wife are suing a Travelers subsidiary over its denial of coverage for nearly $400,000 worth of water damage to their Massachusetts home, according to a complaint filed on Thursday in state court.

  • June 05, 2025

    DOJ Says NCAA Eligibility Rule May Benefit Student-Athletes

    The U.S. Department of Justice is weighing in on the NCAA's eligibility rule, saying it is not asserting a position but asking the court to take a measured approach when considering the preliminary injunction request of a University of Tennessee basketball player.

  • June 05, 2025

    How Trump's Pardons Could Sway Prosecutorial Discretion

    As President Donald Trump dismantles a growing list of white collar criminal cases with a flurry of clemency grants early in his second term, erasing years of investigative and prosecutorial work with a stroke of his black Sharpie, experts worry his actions will have a chilling effect on prosecutorial decision-making.

  • June 05, 2025

    Connecticut Lawmakers OK Bill Targeting Illicit THC

    Legislators in Connecticut have approved a bill cracking down on illicit marijuana and hemp product sales outside the state's regulated marketplace.

  • June 05, 2025

    High Court Drops Class Cert. Clarification Bid

    The U.S. Supreme Court declined Thursday to weigh in on whether federal courts can certify classes that include uninjured members, holding it improperly agreed to hear a disability discrimination case against diagnostics company Labcorp that raised the important question.

Expert Analysis

  • 5 Major Crypto Developments From The Trump Admin So Far

    Author Photo

    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

    Author Photo

    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

    Author Photo

    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

    Author Photo

    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

    Author Photo

    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

    Author Photo

    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

    Author Photo

    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

    Author Photo

    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

    Author Photo

    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

    Author Photo

    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

    Author Photo

    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

    Author Photo

    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.

  • The Case For Compliance During The Trump Administration

    Author Photo

    Given the Trump administration’s shifting white collar enforcement priorities, C-suite executives may have the natural instinct to pare back compliance initiatives, but there are several good reasons for companies to at least stay the course on their compliance programs, if not enhance them, say attorneys at Riley Safer.

  • Opinion

    Despite Noble Intentions, Va. Usury Bill Is Bad For Consumers

    Author Photo

    A Virginia bill purportedly aimed at eradicating predatory online bank lending actually does nothing to achieve that goal, and instead would limit credit opportunities for state residents, says Catherine Brennan at Hudson Cook.

  • Opinion

    Undoing An American Ideal Of Fairness

    Author Photo

    President Donald Trump’s orders attacking birthright citizenship, civil rights education, and diversity, equity and inclusion programs threaten hard-won constitutional civil rights protections and decades of efforts to undo bias in the law — undermining what Chief Justice Earl Warren called "our American ideal of fairness," says Reuben Guttman at Guttman Buschner.

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.