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Chris represents clients in regulatory, civil, and criminal investigations and litigation. In his practice, Chris regularly employs his prior regulatory experience to benefit clients who are interacting with and being investigated by state attorneys general.

Last week, the Washington State Attorney General filed a lawsuit against Convergent Outsourcing, Inc. for sending 75,000 “Settlement Offer” letters to Washington consumers without disclosing that the underlying debt was beyond the statute of limitations. While yet another example of Washington Attorney General Bob Ferguson’s active enforcement of the state’s debt collection laws, the Attorney

June 9th at 2:00 pm ET

State Attorneys General have become more active in their efforts to protect consumers as it relates to banks and payment processors, especially when you take into consideration COVID-19. In this webinar we will discuss some key concerns of State Attorneys General, expectations, and their relationship to federal consumer

*Current as of April 8. This update accounts for guidance from 17 additional states and the District of Columbia.

As states shut down normal operations in response to the novel coronavirus (COVID-19), governors and state attorneys general across the country have offered guidance to local governments about how to balance state laws that emphasize

The North Carolina Insurance Commissioner recently published a Frequently Asked Questions document clarifying its order, amended order, and bulletin issued over the past week, which require debt collection agencies to give North Carolina consumers the option of deferring debt payments for a period of 30 days from the due date of payment.

While

Recognizing the impact of the coronavirus (“COVID-19”) health crisis, the North America Collection Agency Regulatory Association (“NACARA”) recently released a message offering information and guidance to consumers, financial institutions, including debt buyers and collection agencies, and fellow regulators.

Consumers and Commercial Debtors

Noting that many consumers and commercial debtors may face difficulties in repaying accounts

Last Friday, the North Carolina Department of Insurance issued an order and bulletin enacting emergency provisions that require debt collectors – including debt buyers – to provide North Carolinians with the option of deferring payments that are due during North Carolina’s major disaster proclamation. The Department provided an amended order on Monday, March 30.

Today, Massachusetts Attorney General Maura Healey issued a sweeping emergency regulation instituting a prohibition on debt collectors making outbound debt collection calls or pursuing other debt collection practices as a result of the coronavirus (“COVID-19”) health crisis. These rules take effect on March 28, and end when either of the following occurs: (1) 30 days

As states shut down normal operations in response to the novel coronavirus (“COVID-19”), governors and state attorneys general across the country have offered guidance to local governments about how to balance state laws emphasizing open meetings, while these same officials are taking action to halt public gatherings. To date, 24 states have weighed in

Today, a bipartisan group of 33 state attorneys general, led by Pennsylvania Attorney General Josh Shapiro, sent a letter urging online marketplaces to more rigorously monitor price gouging practices by online sellers using their services, insisting that these companies “have an ethical obligation and duty to help [their] fellow citizens in this time of need.”

The United States District Court for the District of Utah recently ruled that a debt buyer, First Financial Investment Fund V, LLC, must register as a collection office and post a bond with the Utah Division of Corporations and Commercial Code pursuant to Section 12-1-1 of the Utah Collection Agency Act.

First Financial, as a