The Federal Trade Commission’s recent settlement with online consumer lender Avant, LLC provides a reminder to fintech companies of the importance of ensuring regulatory compliance, while delivering innovative solutions to the financial services industry. On April 15, Avant agreed to settle a lawsuit by the FTC accusing the e-lender of “engag[ing] in a pattern of
Keaton Stoneking
Eighth Circuit Vacates District Court’s Approval of Class Settlement in FCRA Case
The Eighth Circuit recently provided a reminder that district courts must ensure Article III standing, including case and controversy requirements, exists throughout a case and not just when the complaint is filed. In Schumacher v. SC Data Ctr., Inc., No. 17-3112, 2019 U.S. App. LEXIS 505 (8th Cir. Jan. 8, 2019), the three…
Court Rules Predictive Dialer Lacking Ability to Generate Numbers Randomly or Sequentially is Not an ATDS
In Thompson-Harbach v. USAA Fed. Sav. Bank, No. 15-cv-2098-CJW-KEM, 2019 U.S. Dist. LEXIS 3687 (N.D. Iowa Jan. 9, 2019), the Northern District of Iowa provided a deep dive into recent Telephone Consumer Protection Act case law and a retrospective look into Federal Communications Commission TCPA pronouncements. After its informative analysis, the Court held that…
Shutdown’s Messy Impact On Consumer Protection Activities
The federal government shutdown continues and, in the wake of the President Donald Trump’s Oval Office address in support of the border wall, it appears that it could continue for some time. Press reports say approximately 800,000 federal workers are furloughed or working without pay. Consumer-facing companies are asking: What is the impact of the…
SCOTUS to Resolve Three-Way Circuit Split Regarding False Claims Act’s Statute of Limitations
The Supreme Court granted certiorari in Cochise Consultancy, Inc. v. United States, ex rel. Hunt to resolve a three-way circuit split over the applicable statute of limitations when the government declines to intervene in a False Claims Act case.
The FCA was enacted in response to widespread fraud related to the sale of wartime necessities…
Change is Coming! (to the Federal Rules of Civil Procedure)
Effective December 1, important changes are coming to the Federal Rules of Civil Procedure, including:
- Eliminating the certificate of service for ECF-filed materials;
- Mandating electronic service and filing, including of complaints, for persons represented by counsel;
- Establishing a national signature standard for electronic filing systems; and
- Updating the class action rule, with a focus on
…
FCRA’s Permissible Purpose is Broad Enough to Overcome Attempted Restrictions by Consumer
Citing Seventh Circuit precedent, the Eastern District of Wisconsin recently held the broad scope of the Fair Credit Reporting Act’s permissible purpose includes use that disregards an attempted restriction requested by the consumer.
In Long v. Bergstrom Victory Lane, Inc., No. 18-cv-688, 2018 WL 4829192 (E.D. Wis. Oct. 4, 2018), consumer Emily Long alleged…