Subscription plans that automatically renew at the end of a term are becoming more popular with companies. They’re also getting more attention from regulators and class action attorneys. As we’ve discussed before, some states regulate how these plans can be structured, and there have been both lawsuits and regulatory investigations targeting companies that have
Sixth Circuit Holds That Stored-Number Systems Meet the TCPA’s Definition of an Autodialer, Deepening Circuit Split to be Addressed by the Supreme Court Next Term
It has been more than two years since the D.C. Circuit found the Federal Communications Commission’s (the “FCC”) discussion of predictive dialers and other equipment alleged to be an automatic telephone dialing system (“ATDS,” or “autodialer”) to “offer no meaningful guidance” on the question. In the absence of an FCC ruling on the remand, multiple
Ghirardelli Defeats White Baking Chips False Advertising Claims Premised On Faulty Survey Evidence
Last month, a California court, for a second time, dismissed a class action complaint asserting that Ghirardelli’s advertising for its “Classic White” “Premium Baking Chips” created the false impression that the product contained real chocolate—this time with prejudice. Plaintiffs in Cheslow v. Ghirardelli Chocolate Co., Case No. 19-cv-07467-PJH, alleged that they purchased Ghirardelli’s product
“Prime Pork” Grading Claims Dismissed by Federal Judge In Florida
A federal judge in Florida recently dismissed a false advertising case against Tyson Fresh Meats and The Fresh Market challenging the use of the word “prime” to describe Tyson’s “Chairman’s Reserve Prime Pork.” Specifically, the plaintiffs alleged that the defendants “misrepresented that the USDA had graded their product as prime,” but notably did not allege
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Selling Online: How to Avoid Flattening the Curve of an Uptick in Website Traffic
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COVID-19 has increased the already dizzying amount of online sales, making the applicable marketing requirements increasingly important. These rules affect not just how companies advertise and promote products and services online, but also how they
Tea Drinkers Bag Bigelow Tea for “Made in USA” Claims
On July 13, consumers filed a class action complaint in California federal court against Bigelow Tea, alleging the company falsely and deceptively represented that its tea products were made in the United States. Plaintiffs claim that the tea manufacturer advertised that its tea products were “Manufactured in the USA 100% American Family Owned” and “America’s
CCPA Litigation Round-Up: Q2 2020
January 1, 2020 was the effective date for the California Consumer Privacy Act (CCPA). As we reported and summarized in our Q1 2020 CCPA Litigation Round-Up, private litigants wasted no time in filing consumer-related causes of action under the new law.
Here, we provide an update on material developments in that first wave of claims and report on additional private lawsuits commenced in the first half of the year. We have further categorized the recently-filed cases based on those stemming from a data breach versus not. In the latter category, the cases are further split based on the underlying alleged violations – last quarter, non-breach based claims related to the disclosures and opt-out mechanisms required by the CCPA as well as the scope of “personal information” covered by the CCPA.
1. Update on Cases Reported in Q1 2020
Supreme Court Upholds Constitutionality of the TCPA
On July 6, 2020, in a 7-2 decision, the Supreme Court upheld the constitutionality of the TCPA, but severed as unconstitutional the government debt exception. William P. Barr et al. v. American Association of Political Consultants et al., Case No. 19-631 (2020). Our preview of the Supreme Court’s consideration of the Barr case can
Big Little Material Omissions: Reese Witherspoon and Draper James Subject of Class Action Lawsuit
In April, Draper James – the clothing line of Hollywood star Reese Witherspoon – conducted a promotion for teachers, but ran into some communication issues along the way and is now the subject of a class action lawsuit. In an Instagram post, the brand thanked teachers for their work during the COVID-19 pandemic, and
Anheuser-Busch Wins Big Battle in Corn Syrup Wars
During last year’s Super Bowl, Anheuser-Busch ran a commercial in which a large barrel of corn syrup is delivered to the Bud Light castle. Because Bud Light doesn’t use corn syrup, the Bud Light King and a rag-tag group of knights attempt to deliver the barrel to the Miller Light castle, where it’s declined (because