Category Archives: Consumer Protection

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FTC Examining How Consumer Protection and Privacy May Be Affecting Innovation and Competition; Seeking Input and Will Hold Policy Hearings to Address

By John E. Villafranco, Alysa Zeltzer Hutnik and Donnelly L. McDowell on Posted in Consumer Protection, Federal Trade Commission
The FTC announced yesterday that it will accept comments and hold a series of public hearings on consumer protection, privacy, and competition policy and enforcement.  The hearings will take place during fall and winter of this year and will evaluate whether recent changes in the economy, technology, or international landscape require adjustments to how the … Continue Reading

Worlds Collide: FTC Answers CPSC’s Request for Written Comments on IoT and Product Hazards

By Christie Grymes Thompson on Posted in Consumer Product Safety, Consumer Protection, Federal Trade Commission, Internet of Things
If you follow our blog, you know that we often write about issues involving the FTC and the CPSC, but we usually do not write about both in the same post. Now those worlds have collided. The staff of the FTC’s Bureau of Consumer Protection (“BCP”), a prominent voice in the Internet of Things dialogue, … Continue Reading

SADDLE UP AMERICA: California Aims to Pass its Own GDPR Law

By Crystal N. Skelton, Dana B. Rosenfeld and Alysa Zeltzer Hutnik on Posted in Consumer Protection, Enforcement, European Union, GDPR, Legislative Developments, Privacy and Information Security, State Attorneys General
Just when you think you’ve tackled the Wild, Wild West of GDPR and privacy compliance, California decides to mix it all up again. This November 6th, California voters will decide on the California Consumer Privacy Act (“Act”), a statewide ballot proposition intended to give California consumers more “rights” with respect to personal information (“PII”) collected … Continue Reading

Andrew Smith Named Director of FTC’s Bureau of Consumer Protection

By Kelley Drye on Posted in Consumer Protection, Federal Trade Commission
Andrew Smith was recently named Director of the FTC’s Bureau of Consumer Protection. With a strong background in financial matters, businesses can expect Smith to focus on issues affecting consumer financial services. Smith is not a stranger to federal positions. Although most recently a Partner in the Regulatory and Public Policy Group at Covington & … Continue Reading

Senate Confirms Full Slate of New FTC Commissioners

By Kelley Drye on Posted in Consumer Protection, Federal Trade Commission, Legislative Developments
The Senate yesterday confirmed all five nominees to the Federal Trade Commission by voice vote, which means the five-person body will soon be restored to full capacity after over a year with only two Commissioners.  Current Chair Ohlhausen released a statement congratulating incoming Chair Joseph Simons and soon-to-be new Commissioners Noah Phillips, Becca Slaughter, Rohit … Continue Reading

FTC Files Complaint Against Lending Club for Allegedly Deceptive and Unfair Online Loan Practices

By Donnelly L. McDowell on Posted in Consumer Protection, Enforcement, Federal Trade Commission
The FTC today filed a complaint against Lending Club alleging that it deceived consumers by advertising loans with “no hidden fees” and subsequently concealing substantial loan origination fees.  The complaint points to consumer complaints and internal compliance documents as evidence that Lending Club knew that consumers were being misled and continued to misrepresent the loans … Continue Reading

New Article on Whether A Single FTC Commissioner Constitute A Quorum

By Kelley Drye on Posted in Consumer Protection, Federal & State Regulatory, Federal Trade Commission, Intellectual Property, Privacy and Information Security
FTC Commissioner Terrell McSweeny is scheduled to resign effective April 28 and may leave with acting Chairman Maureen Ohlhausen as the sole commissioner. Law360  published an article by partner John Villafranco and professor Stephen Calkins that discusses whether the FTC can take formal action by a 1-0 vote and when does a commission cease being a commission? To read … Continue Reading

CPSC Votes to Sue Britax Over B.O.B. Strollers

By Katie Townley and Christie Grymes Thompson on Posted in Consumer Product Safety, Consumer Protection, Enforcement
Last Friday, the CPSC voted to sue Britax Child Safety, Inc. to force the company to recall various models of single and double B.O.B. jogging strollers. The one-count administrative complaint alleges that the strollers present a substantial product hazard under Section 15(a)(2) of the Consumer Product Safety Act because they contain a product defect that … Continue Reading

Michaels Stores Inc. Agrees to Pay $1.5 Million CPSC Civil Penalty

By Christie Grymes Thompson on Posted in Consumer Product Safety, Consumer Protection, Fashion and Retail
Last week, the Department of Justice (“DOJ”) announced that Michaels Stores Inc. has agreed to pay $1.5 million in civil penalties to settle allegations that Michaels failed to file a timely report about a safety hazard associated with a large glass vase that Michaels sold. In 2015, DOJ filed a complaint on behalf of the … Continue Reading

2017 Recap

By Kelley Drye on Posted in ADA, Advertising, Advertising Litigation, Class Actions, Consumer Product Safety, Consumer Protection, Federal Trade Commission, Kelley Drye, NAD, Native Advertising, Privacy and Information Security, Promotions, Regulatory Developments, Social Media, State Attorneys General
Most Popular Ad Law Access Posts of 2017 As reported in our Ad Law News and Views newsletter, Kelley Drye’s Advertising Law practice posted 106 updates on consumer protection trends, issues, and developments to this blog in 2017. Here are some of the most popular: New Lawsuit Highlights Risks of Using User-Generated Content FTC Announces $1.3 … Continue Reading

House Antitrust Subcommittee Explores the Role of Antitrust Law in Net Neutrality

By John J. Heitmann and Dana B. Rosenfeld on Posted in Antitrust, Consumer Protection, Federal Trade Commission, Privacy and Information Security
On November 1, 2017 the House Antitrust Law Subcommittee held a hearing to discuss the role of federal agencies in preserving an open Internet. The core question discussed at the hearing was whether current antitrust law is sufficient to ensure net neutrality absent FCC rules. The panelists—including FTC Acting Chairman Maureen Ohlhausen and Commissioner Terrell … Continue Reading

NJ Supreme Court Disapproves Class Certification In Landmark TCCWNA Case

By Jeffrey S. Jacobson on Posted in Consumer Protection, TCCWNA
Today, the New Jersey Supreme Court drove a stake into the many class actions alleging claims under New Jersey’s Truth-in-Consumer Contract, Warranty and Notice Act (“TCCWNA”).  That law provides for $100 in damages whenever an “aggrieved consumer” demonstrates that a contract or other document contains provisions that violate any “clearly established legal right.”  The Supreme … Continue Reading

Government-Mandated Health Warnings in Sweetened Beverage Advertising Found Likely to Chill Protected Free Speech

By Sharon Kim Schiavetti and William C. MacLeod on Posted in Advertising, Consumer Protection
On September 20, the Ninth Circuit blocked the City and County of San Francisco from implementing an ordinance that would have required health warnings on advertisements for beverages that contain one or more added sweeteners and more than 24 calories per 12 fluid ounces of beverage. The Ninth Circuit’s panel opinion, in reversing a district … Continue Reading

Read This Before Scanning A Driver’s License In New Jersey

By Jeffrey S. Jacobson and Alysa Zeltzer Hutnik on Posted in Consumer Protection, Legislative Developments, Privacy and Information Security
On October 1, 2017, a new law will take effect in New Jersey, the Personal Information and Privacy Protection Act (“PIPPA”), which will severely restrict retailers’ ability to “scan” any customer’s “identification card”–a term defined to mean “a driver’s license,” “probationary license,” “non-driver photo identification card,” or any similar card “issued…for purposes of identification.” Merely … Continue Reading

CPSC Requests Feedback to Reduce Compliance Burdens

By Christie Grymes Thompson on Posted in Consumer Product Safety, Consumer Protection
Have ideas to lighten the load for complying with consumer product safety regulations? The Consumer Product Safety Commission (“CPSC” or “Commission”) wants to hear about them.  The Commission has asked for comments and suggestions for ways it could potentially reduce burdens and costs of its existing rules, regulations or practices without harming consumers. CPSC requests … Continue Reading

Keeping Up with the Consumer Product Safety Commission: Update on Recent CPSC Developments – 3/29/2017

By Kelley Drye on Posted in Advertising, Advertising and Privacy Law Summit, Advertising Litigation, Consumer Product Safety, Consumer Protection, Kelley Drye, Regulatory Developments
Register Now for Keeping Up with the Consumer Product Safety Commission: Update on Recent CPSC Developments, the latest in our 2017 Advertising and Privacy Law Webinar Series With the complexity of today’s product safety regulatory environment and the civil penalty amounts for failure to report safety hazards, it is more important than ever for manufacturers and retailers to … Continue Reading

More Regulators Focus on Price Comparisons

By Gonzalo E. Mon on Posted in Consumer Protection, Fashion and Retail, State Attorneys General
Yesterday, the Virginia Attorney General announced that it reached a settlement with Hobby Lobby over the retailer’s price comparisons. According to the press release, Hobby Lobby advertised discounts compared to “other sellers,” but failed to disclose the basis of comparison, thus making it difficult for consumers to determine whether they were getting a good deal. … Continue Reading

Don’t Like Negative Reviews? Read This Before You Delete Them

By Alysa Zeltzer Hutnik on Posted in Consumer Protection, Federal Trade Commission, Legislative Developments, Reviews
Late last year, the Consumer Fairness Review Act became law, placing new restrictions on what companies can include in form contracts that impede consumers’ ability to communicate honest reviews of products, services, and companies in any forum. Quietly last month, the Federal Trade Commission released non-binding business guidance on how organizations can comply with the … Continue Reading

Ad Law News and Views Newsletter

By Kelley Drye on Posted in Advertising, Antitrust, Class Actions, Consumer Protection, Dietary Supplements, Enforcement, Fashion and Retail, Federal Communications Commission, Federal Trade Commission, Food and Drug, Kelley Drye, Legislative Developments, NAD, Privacy and Information Security, Regulatory Developments, Social Media, State Attorneys General
Did you know Kelley Drye’s Advertising Law practice produces a newsletter, Ad Law News and Views, every two weeks to help you stay current on ad law and privacy matters? Click here to access our Publication Sign Up and select Advertising and Marketing to subscribe. Find contents from the latest issue below: Click here to view with … Continue Reading

Smart TV Manufacturer “Smarting” after $2.2 Million Privacy Enforcement

By Dana B. Rosenfeld and Alysa Zeltzer Hutnik on Posted in Consumer Protection, Enforcement, Federal Trade Commission, Privacy and Information Security
This week, the FTC announced a settlement with VIZIO, Inc., one of the world’s largest manufacturers of “smart” TVs.  The settlement, also with the Office of the New Jersey Attorney General, arises from claims by regulators that VIZIO installed software that collected viewing data for 11 million consumer TVs without consent.  The $2.2 million settlement … Continue Reading

FTC Announces Changes at the Helm of the Bureau of Consumer Protection; Thomas Pahl to Take Over as Acting Bureau Director Following Jessica Rich’s Departure

By John E. Villafranco, William C. MacLeod, Christie Grymes Thompson, Dana B. Rosenfeld and Donnelly L. McDowell on Posted in Consumer Protection, Federal Trade Commission
Acting Chairman of the Federal Trade Commission Maureen Ohlhausen announced today that Thomas Pahl – a current partner at Arnall Golden Gregory with significant experience at both the FTC and the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau – will take over as Acting Director on February 17.  Jessica Rich will depart as Director of the Bureau of … Continue Reading

New FTC Acting Chair Maureen Ohlhausen Offers Insight into Consumer Protection Priorities

By Spencer Elg, Christie Grymes Thompson, William C. MacLeod, Donnelly L. McDowell and Dana B. Rosenfeld on Posted in Antitrust, Consumer Protection, Enforcement, Federal Trade Commission, Privacy and Information Security
Just over one week after being named acting chair of the Federal Trade Commission (FTC), Maureen Ohlhausen delivered the keynote address at the American Bar Association’s biennial Consumer Protection Conference in Atlanta on February 2. During her remarks, acting chair Ohlhausen offered insight into consumer protection priorities during her tenure as acting chair. First, acting … Continue Reading

FTC Announces Settlement with Uber over Allegedly Deceptive Earnings Claims; Commissioner Ohlhausen Dissents

By John E. Villafranco, Kristi Wolff and Donnelly L. McDowell on Posted in Consumer Protection, Federal Trade Commission
In its latest action involving allegedly deceptive earnings claims, the FTC announced yesterday that Uber had agreed to settle charges that it misled potential drivers with inflated earnings claims.  The complaint also alleges that Uber misrepresented benefits of its Vehicle Solutions Program, which connects potential drivers with auto companies to buy or lease a vehicle … Continue Reading

Announcing the Advertising and Privacy Law Webinar Series

By Kelley Drye on Posted in Advertising, Advertising and Privacy Law Summit, Advertising Litigation, Agreements, Antitrust, Class Actions, Consumer Financial Protection, Consumer Product Safety, Consumer Protection, Enforcement, Fashion and Retail, Federal & State Regulatory, Federal Communications Commission, Federal Trade Commission, Food and Drug, Internet of Things, Legislative Developments, Marketing & Media Transactions, Mobile Marketing, NAD, Native Advertising, Privacy and Information Security, Real Time Marketing, Regulatory Developments, Social Media, State Attorneys General
Please join Kelley Drye in 2017 for the Advertising and Privacy Law Webinar Series. Like our annual in-person event, this series will provide engaging speakers with extensive experience and knowledge in the fields of advertising, privacy, and consumer protection. These webinars will give key updates and provide practical tips to address issues faced by counsel. … Continue Reading
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