Consumer Protection

  • September 29, 2026

    Agency Says Indicted Ex-Boss Can't Use Home For Bond

    The former executive director of two Connecticut housing authorities cannot use his home to secure a $500,000 bond in his federal wire fraud case, the Groton Housing Authority and related entities told the state court judge overseeing a civil case arising from his alleged theft.

  • September 29, 2026

    FCC Can Step Into Idaho Pole Dispute With Utility, ISP Says

    An internet service provider insisted the Federal Communications Commission has jurisdiction in its fight with a utility over pole upgrades for broadband gear in Idaho, saying state regulators lacked authority over the issue when the dispute first occurred.

  • September 29, 2026

    Feds Seek To Throw Out States' Challenge To DEI Contract EO

    The Trump administration told a Maryland federal court that it should toss a lawsuit from states challenging its implementation of an executive order targeting diversity, equity and inclusion practices in the government contracting space, arguing the order falls within well-settled law.

  • September 29, 2026

    Lululemon Says Shoppers Can't Claim Its Tariff Refunds

    A proposed class action brought by Lululemon shoppers seeking refunds for higher prices paid due to unlawful tariffs should be rejected because the retailer hasn't yet recovered all its paid duties, the company told a Washington federal judge.

  • September 29, 2026

    Md. Judge Tosses Vivid Seats 'Drip Pricing' Suit

    A Maryland federal judge has tossed a proposed class action brought by a customer accusing Vivid Seats of "drip pricing" — in which the total cost is revealed only at the end of the buying process — saying that even if added fees included at checkout made the total price more expensive than what was originally displayed, the ticket was still purchased.

  • September 29, 2026

    EU Prosecutors Arrest 7 In Alleged €300M Phone Scam

    Seven people have been arrested as part of an investigation into a network accused of tricking consumers into buying over a million used mobile phones sold as new to pocket €300 million ($340 million), including €30 million in stolen value-added tax, EU prosecutors said Tuesday.

  • September 29, 2026

    Chinese, Indian Electrodes Dumped, Commerce Finds

    Imports of electrodes used for smelting from India and China are facing possible antidumping duties, the U.S. Department of Commerce said Tuesday, finding they are being sold in the U.S. at less than fair value.

  • September 28, 2026

    Grok-Maker Can't Get Deepfake Suit Paused Or Transferred

    Elon Musk's artificial intelligence company must continue battling a proposed class action brought by women suing over Grok-generated deepfakes of them in sexual situations, a California federal judge ruled Monday, declining to pause or transfer the suit to Texas.

  • September 28, 2026

    Home Depot, Keurig Spam Suits Paused For 9th Circ. Ruling

    Proposed class actions over allegedly misleading spam emails from Home Depot and Bed Bath & Beyond are on hold until the Ninth Circuit decides a related appeal involving Aeropostale's operators, a Washington federal judge said last week, as another Seattle federal judge returned similar suits against Macy's and Audible to state court.

  • September 28, 2026

    ChatGPT Users' Antitrust Suit Against Microsoft Gets Trimmed

    Microsoft isn't going to be able to force into arbitration claims that it undermined OpenAI by forcing the artificial intelligence giant into using only its cloud computing, but it did convince the California federal judge overseeing the case to toss the proposed class's federal antitrust claim.

  • September 28, 2026

    Calif. Governor Vetoes Broad Ban On Sensitive Data Sales

    California's governor has refused to sign off on legislation that would have made the state the latest to restrict the sale and sharing of consumers' geolocation, biometric and other sensitive information, saying the proposed "categorical ban" on these online data practices was "a step too far."

  • September 28, 2026

    6th Circ. Narrows Scope Of Injunction On Ohio Hemp Law

    Ohio officials can enforce much of a state law that reclassified hemp products as marijuana, the Sixth Circuit has ruled, only prohibiting state officials from enforcing on certain companies the parts that put geographical limitations on where cannabis products can be sourced.

  • September 28, 2026

    CFPB Rips Bid To Ax $43M Debt-Relief Win As 'Frivolous'

    The Consumer Financial Protection Bureau has urged the Seventh Circuit to uphold a more than $43 million enforcement judgment against the former operator of a defunct debt relief provider, defending the agency's lower-court win in a case that has stretched across three presidential terms.

  • September 28, 2026

    FCC Seeks FirstNet Band Manager After Court Challenges End

    With a court challenge out of the way, the Federal Communications Commission took strides Monday toward choosing a band manager to coordinate use of the 4.9 gigahertz spectrum band by the First Responder Network Authority.

  • September 28, 2026

    Newsom Signs Calif. Pesticide PFAS Tracking Bill Into Law

    California Gov. Gavin Newsom signed into law new regulations requiring state officials to track and publicly disclose when pesticides that are used on state produce contain "forever chemicals."

  • September 28, 2026

    Paramount, States Urge Court To Approve Merger Deal

    State enforcers and Paramount Skydance responded Monday to several questions raised by a lawmaker over a settlement ending the states' challenge of Paramount's deal for Warner Bros. Discovery Inc., telling a California federal court there's no need for a full-blown review.

  • September 28, 2026

    Jet Broker Accused Of Stealing $815K Through Ponzi Scheme

    A Florida couple has told a Colorado federal court a private jet charter company kept over $800,000 of the couple's money in "what amounted to a Ponzi scheme" after the company abruptly ceased operations and refused to provide refunds, leaving an estimated $150 million in customer funds in flux.

  • September 28, 2026

    Don't Overstep On Submarine Cable License Regs, FCC Told

    The Federal Communications Commission should shy away from implementing regulations for submarine cable landing licenses that would apply a uniform standard to all cable systems regardless of risk, says one of the country's biggest telecom trade groups.

  • September 28, 2026

    FCC Needs More Time To Weigh Verizon Copper Retirement

    The Federal Communications Commission says it needs more time to think about Verizon's request for the agency's permission to end copper line telephone service in certain parts of nine different states.

  • September 28, 2026

    Administration Says It Has Committed $289M In CDFI Funds

    An attorney for the Trump administration told a D.C. federal judge that nearly $300 million appropriated for community development financial institutions had been fully obligated, countering a lawsuit from an advocacy group seeking a court order requiring that the money go out.

  • September 28, 2026

    Fla. AG Seeks To Put Guardrails On OpenAI's Models

    Florida's attorney general on Monday asked a court to block OpenAI and its CEO Sam Altman from developing artificial intelligence models without third-party guardrails and from offering ChatGPT to minors, in a suit accusing the AI company of spurring young people to commit crimes and acts of violence.

  • September 28, 2026

    Policyholders Say RICO Plot 'Pillaged' Insurer's Assets

    A private equity firm and a financial services business have been hit with civil racketeering claims by the holders of a combined $5 million in PHL Variable Insurance Co. policies, but whose benefits were capped at just $300,000 during a Connecticut state-managed rehabilitation effort.

  • September 28, 2026

    Atlanta Consulting Firm Sued Over May Data Breach

    Aprio Advisory Group LLC was hit with a proposed class action in Georgia federal court by a former employee who said its lax data security measures led to a data breach in May that exposed the personal information of hundreds, if not thousands, of people.

  • September 28, 2026

    Badia Shakes Lead Claims For Cinnamon But Not For Ginger

    A New York federal judge on Monday partially dismissed a suit alleging Badia Spices Inc. sold products contaminated with lead, finding the plaintiff has standing to pursue claims over ground ginger but not for ground cinnamon.

  • September 28, 2026

    Wellness Biz Sued Over 'Immunity,' 'Doctor Crafted' Claims

    A proposed class says Vive Organic Inc. deceptively labeled its wellness shots as "immunity boosting" and "doctor crafted" despite lacking evidence of clinical or medical trials showing that they can protect against infection or illness.

Expert Analysis

  • High Court Rulings Could Alter Agency Strategy For Cos.

    Author Photo

    The U.S. Supreme Court's recent decisions in Trump v. Slaughter and Trump v. Cook mark major turning points in the law of independent agencies and in how regulated companies should think about federal enforcement, rulemaking and agency-facing strategy, say attorneys at Holtzman Vogel.

  • Preparing For Next Congress With Eye On Investigation Risk

    Author Photo

    Rod Rosenstein, Brian Whisler and Bruce Linskens at Baker McKenzie offer advice for organizations seeking to build a proactive response plan to potential congressional oversight as the election looms.

  • The Debanking Minefield: Navigating Fair Access In 2026

    Author Photo

    Federal regulators' recent elimination of reputational risk from bank supervision, alongside a growing patchwork of state fair access laws, is reshaping how banks make account and service decisions and ushering in a new compliance era requiring individualized, objective and risk-based access determinations, say attorneys at Spencer Fane.

  • Carbon Health Settlement Highlights Why Evidence Is Key

    Author Photo

    The California Attorney General's Office's first-of-its-kind settlement with Carbon Health, imposing penalties for alleged corporate practice of medicine violations, shows that friendly professional corporation challenges usually hinge not on the parties' management services agreement, but on whether the operational record matches it, says Ben Dubin at VC Expert Services.

  • AI-Fueled Pro Se Suits Pose Rising Risk For Lenders

    Author Photo

    Harris v. Pinnacle Bank, a recently decided Mississippi federal court case, illustrates how pro se borrowers are using artificial intelligence to file more sophisticated documents that can complicate and prolong loan enforcement proceedings, making early procedural challenges and tighter litigation strategies increasingly important for lenders, says Joseph Briggett at Baker Donelson.

  • Series

    Being A Magician Makes Me A Better Lawyer

    Author Photo

    The skills I've developed as a lifelong magician have translated directly into tangible benefits in the courtroom because performing magic and trying cases both live at the intersection of psychology, storytelling, timing and disciplined rehearsal, says Mark Dombroff at Fox Rothschild.

  • Illinois Audit Law Will Make AI Clauses Actually Enforceable

    Author Photo

    A law recently enacted in Illinois creates a first-in-the-nation requirement for artificial intelligence developers to undergo annual audits, providing objective standards that can be incorporated into private contracts and addressing the problem of defining responsible AI use, says William Tanenbaum at Moses & Singer.

  • Reel Justice: 'Obsession' And The Importance Of Precision

    Author Photo

    In “Obsession,” the main character’s failure to define the limits of his wish results in an unexpectedly horrifying outcome, highlighting for attorneys why careful word choice is essential not only in briefs, but also in charging decisions, statutory interpretation and all stages of criminal litigation, says Veronica Finkelstein at Widener-Delaware Law.

  • How State, Local Rules Are Expanding Debt Collection Reach

    Author Photo

    Consumer protection rules recently enacted by several states signal that the rules of debt collection are being rewritten at a pace that should command the attention of every creditor, servicer, debt buyer, collection agency and collection law firm operating across state lines, says Weldianne Scales at Reed Smith.

  • Future Of Fed Independence Shaky After Justices' Ruling

    Author Photo

    The U.S. Supreme Court's recent ruling in Trump v. Cook preserved the Federal Reserve's formal independence but could invite the president to remove board members with just modest protections, leaving the central bank's autonomy uncertain and potentially setting up fresh clashes over other agencies, says Steven Schwinn at the University of Chicago.

  • Series

    Mich. Banking Brief: All The Notable Legal Updates In Q2

    Author Photo

    The second quarter brought several notable financial services law developments to Michigan, including a U.S. Supreme Court ruling on state tax foreclosures, progress on a money transmission modernization bill package, and continued legislative momentum on cryptocurrency and mortgage lending, say attorneys at Dykema.

  • Justices' Ruling Alters Playing Field For State Subpoena Suits

    Author Photo

    The U.S. Supreme Court’s decision in First Choice Women’s Resource Centers v. Davenport will spark more federal court challenges to state subpoenas, but procedural defenses will block some merits decisions, so plaintiffs must carefully time and manage parallel federal and state proceedings, say attorneys at Troutman.

  • AI Governance Tips For Avoiding Securities Suits

    Author Photo

    A recent securities class action in California federal court against lending platform Upstart highlights how statements about artificial intelligence are increasingly being scrutinized not only by regulators, but also by shareholders, meaning companies should ensure oversight frameworks keep pace with the technology, say attorneys at Akerman.

  • How Cos. Can Prep For Ultra-Processed Food Legal Risks

    Author Photo

    A wave of litigation and government scrutiny directed against ultra-processed foods is now gaining momentum, following patterns seen previously in other industries — and food companies that recognize those patterns early will be better positioned to manage the increasing risks, say attorneys at Arnold & Porter.

  • Series

    Bass Fishing Makes Me A Better Lawyer

    Author Photo

    Landing a trophy striped bass and closing a big deal both require cultivating the patience to finesse — not force — your way to desired outcomes, changing course when your old approach isn’t working and learning from the ones that got away, says Jon Ruiss at Alston & Bird.

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.