While the world eagerly awaits the D.C. Circuit’s forthcoming ruling on the proper interpretation of the Telephone Consumer Protection Act (TCPA), a recent federal court ruling imposing tens of millions of dollars of liability is a reminder of the risks associated with outbound calling activities and of the stakes at play in the ACA International
Supreme Court Wavers During Oral Arguments in FDCPA Case That May Upend Entire Industry
On April 18, the United States Supreme Court heard long-awaited oral arguments in a case that addresses the fundamental issue of the definition of a “debt collector” under the Fair Debt Collection Practices Act. The Supreme Court’s decision will resolve an existing Circuit split on whether an entity that purchases defaulted debts and then attempts
High Call Volume Not Necessarily a Violation of FDCPA or Rosenthal Act
In Hinderstein v. Advanced Call Ctr. Techs., No. 15-100017 (C.D. Cal. Feb. 27, 2017), a case alleging violation of the federal Fair Debt Collection Practices Act and California’s Rosenthal Fair Debt Collection Practices Act before the United States District Court for the Central District of California, the Court found that a relatively high call
Join Us for the ACI Consumer Finance Class Actions & Litigation Conference in Miami
We are pleased to announce that Troutman Sanders partners John Lynch and Chad Fuller will be featured moderators and speakers, respectively, at the American Conference Institute’s 27th National Conference on Consumer Finance Class Actions and Litigation on January 24, 2017 at the W Miami Hotel.
John will moderate the second portion of the panel
Blue Shield and SQM Defeat TCPA Putative Class Action Following Spokeo
U.S. District Judge Cathy A. Bencivengo recently dismissed a plaintiff’s TCPA putative class claim due to lack of standing required under Article III. In Anton Ewing v. SQM US, Inc. et al., No. 3:16-cv-1609-CAB-JLB (S.D. Cal., Sept. 29, 2016), the plaintiff alleged that he received a single survey call made by SQM on Blue
FCC Sets Tight Boundaries for TCPA Government-Backed Loan Exception
As we previously reported, section 301(b) of the Bipartisan Budget Act of 2015 permits an exception to the Telephone Consumer Protection Act of 1991 for calls and text messages “made solely to collect a debt owed to or guaranteed by the United States.” Although the TCPA generally prohibits calls and text messages using automatic
FTC Consent Order With Two Ohio Auto Dealers Resolves Misleading Advertising Claims
On July 14, the Federal Trade Commission announced that it had entered into a final consent order with Ohio auto dealers Progressive Chevrolet Company and Progressive Motors Inc. (collectively, the “Progressive Dealers”), which the FTC had “charged with deceiving consumers by using advertising that touted low monthly car lease payments and down payments but failed
CFPB Monthly Report Highlights Complaints About Various Consumer Loans
On June 28, the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau released its Monthly Complaint Report, which aims to provide “a high-level snapshot of trends in consumer complaints” concerning products such as auto loans, installment loans, and title loans. The CFPB claims that since it began collecting such complaints in July 2011, it has handled a total
Sirius XM Settles TCPA Class Action for $35 Million
In one of the largest settlements in history under the Telephone Consumer Protection Act (“TCPA”), Sirius XM Radio Inc. agreed to pay $35 million to resolve putative class actions filed throughout the country alleging that it had used an automatic telephone dialing system to engage in telemarketing to trial users of its satellite radio service
A Serious Circuit Split On Class Ascertainability
Law360, New York (June 30, 2016, 4:42 PM ET) —
The Eighth Circuit’s recent ruling in Sandusky Wellness Center LLC v. Medtox Scientific Inc. on ascertainability deepened a circuit split on one of the most important and challenging class certification issues. Until theU.S. Supreme Court resolves the split, the legal standard for ascertainability