Oregon recently joined a growing list of U.S. states enacting comprehensive consumer data privacy laws, following the legislative stride of California, Colorado, Connecticut, Indiana, Iowa, Montana, Tennessee, Texas, Utah, and Virginia. The new legislation, known as the Oregon Consumer Privacy Act, will come into effect on July 1, 2024. The law outlines new strictures around…
In a significant milestone for workers globally, newly enacted Earned Wage Access (EWA) laws reflect a positive shift in worker compensation dynamics. The challenge of meeting financial obligations punctually is a widespread concern, a trend substantiated by recent research. According to the research, approximately six in ten Americans live paycheck to paycheck. This financial precariousness…
In a recent announcement made on August 1, the Federal Communications Commission’s (FCC) Enforcement Bureau informed a gateway intermediate provider and originator about alleged illegal transmission and origination of robocalls. If actions are not taken to rectify this situation, the FCC may grant downstream service providers the legal authority to permanently block its traffic, resulting…
In a move aimed at promoting fairness in the housing market, the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) announced a partnership with the National Association of Real Estate Brokers (NAREB) on August 2. This cooperative venture seeks to tackle appraisal bias and discrimination that have been identified as prevailing issues within the housing…
On July 26, the Senate Banking Committee led by Senator Raphael Warnock (D-GA), chairman of the committee, conducted a hearing concerning “fees and tactics impacting Americans’ wallets” with a focus on financial services and the role of the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau (CFPB) in tackling harmful fees. An alarming finding is that a third of…
On July 31, the U.S. District Court for the Southern District of Texas granted, in part, and denied, in part, a preliminary injunction against the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau (CFPB). This injunction had been filed by a bank and two trade associations. Their purpose was to prevent the CFPB from enforcing its new final rule,…
On August 2, the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau (CFPB) filed a complaint in the U.S. District Court for the Northern District of Georgia against a prominent auto-loan servicer. The CFPB alleges a series of illegal practices perpetrated against individuals with auto loans by the servicer. The lawsuit cites a blatant violation of the Consumer Financial…
Recent rulings have underscored the significance of meticulous record-keeping in companies when dealing with possible Telephone Consumer Protection Act (TCPA) violations. The examples highlight the potential of the established business relationship (EBR) exemption to avert class certification, this exemption may hinge on the defendant company’s record-keeping systems and policies. One must comprehend the intricacies of…
In a significant development, a judge has dismissed the second bankruptcy case filed by Johnson & Johnson over its talcum baby powder liabilities. Despite expressing some reservations, U.S. Bankruptcy Judge Michael Kaplan in Trenton, New Jersey, ruled in favor of cancer victims who argued that the new bankruptcy case was devoid of goodwill. Johnson &…
In what is emerging as another chapter in the consumer-food industry’s reality versus expectation saga, popular fast-food chain Taco Bell faces legal heat over allegations that its Mexican Pizza and Crunchwraps are not visually akin to their advertising photos, according to a recently filed lawsuit. As per the filed complaint, the claimants argue that Taco…
The Federal Trade Commission (FTC) has recently initiated an investigation into OpenAI. This development isn’t trivial, since it can be considered the most robust action taken against OpenAI since the unveiling of its Artificial Intelligence (AI) chatbot, ChatGPT, in November 2022. The regulatory scrutiny by the FTC intends to evaluate possible unfair or deceptive privacy…
A consortium of trade groups has recently reached out to the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau (CFPB), urging them to extend the relief granted by a Texas federal district court’s stay of compliance dates for the CFPB’s final small business lending rules (the Rule). This push is to include all entities that the Rule would cover,…
On August 3, 2023, Unum Group – a Fortune 500 insurance company – became yet another target of cyber criminals as it revealed a data breach on its subsidiary- Starmount Life Insurance Company, Inc. The company posted a notice of data breach on its website, alerting users about unauthorized access to its MOVEit server. According…
The Federal Communications Commission (FCC) recently took a significant step in its ongoing efforts to enforce proper consumer data security in the telecommunications industry. The agency announced a proposed fine of $20 million targeting two affiliated mobile carrier companies for their alleged violations of FCC rules. The FCC says the companies in question failed to…
On July 31, 2023, in a noteworthy development in the banking sector and financial institutions, the United States Securities and Exchange Commission (“SEC”) circulated an alert detailing deficiencies in broker-dealers’ (“BD”) implementation of their Anti-Money Laundering (“AML”) and Countering Financing of Terrorism (“CFT”) controls. The directives were brought to light by the Department of Examinations….
The California Privacy Protection Agency’s (CPPA) Enforcement Division has taken up the mantle of scrutinizing data privacy practices by connected vehicle manufacturers and accompanying technologies. The CPPA, a body established by the 2018 California Privacy Rights Act, is chiefly engrossed in crafting regulations. This latest probe, however, signals the expanding scope of their remit. (Robinson+Cole…
The California Attorney General’s office recently embarked on an initiative to scrutinize employer non-compliance with the California Consumer Privacy Act/California Privacy Rights Act (collectively known as the CCPA). Robinson+Cole Data Privacy + Security Insider provides an insightful look into this developing story. The CCPA, enacted in 2018, has since been a major regulatory focus for…
The Federal Trade Commission (FTC) is delving deeper into the issue of greenwashing – a trend that has seen an influx with the rise in consumer awareness about climate change and the implications of the goods and services they purchase. There is a growing market for products flaunting their environmental, social, and governance (ESG) consciousness….
In a concerted effort to tackle the rampant issue of unwanted and illegal phone calls and text messages, the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) and the Federal Trade Commission (FTC) are joining forces in a cooperative endeavor boldy named “Operation Stop Scam Calls”. This report from JD Supra details the multi-jurisdictional approach the two commissions plan…
In a recent court ruling by the US District Court for the Southern District of Texas, partial relief was granted to the Texas Bankers Association, Rio Bank, and the American Bankers Association (ABA) from compliance with the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau’s Final Rule. More known as the “Small Business Lending Rule Under the Equal Credit…
In response to the ever-changing cyber threat landscape, the Biden Administration has recently initiated a new cybersecurity labeling program, the U.S. Cyber Trust Mark program. Announced with the purpose of improving transparency as well as protection against cyber threats, this initiative focuses on the escalating Internet of Things (IoT) device space. In her report on…
The Federal Trade Commission (FTC) has recently finalized updates to its Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising (Guides). The revisions come as part of the FTC’s ongoing effort to provide accurate and clear direction on how truth-in-advertising standards, under the Federal Trade Commission Act, apply to endorsement and review-related issues. This…
A consumer class action suit was filed against Prime Hydration LLC, a sports drinks company founded by YouTube celebrities Logan Paul and OIajide William Olatunji, also known as KSI. This lawsuit was first surfaced by Law.com Radar. The complaint was brought to U.S. District Court for the Northern District of California on August 2 by…
In an important recent development in the legal landscape of consumer debt cases, an FCRA (Fair Credit Reporting Act) and FDCPA (Fair Debt Collection Practices Act) putative class action lawsuit, the U.S. District Court for the Southern District of Alabama granted summary judgment in favor of a defendant third-party debt collector. This case revolved around…
The issue of counterfeit goods is typically associated with high-end luxury fashion labels like Prada, Louis Vuitton, Gucci, Hermes, and the like. Public perception often holds that these counterfeit products are peddled in shady alleyways or on suspicious websites, easy to spot and avoid for the discerning consumer. However, as a recent analysis by Rivkin…