On June 5, 2017, an Illinois federal judge awarded $280 million to the federal government and the states of California, Illinois, North Carolina, and Ohio against Dish Network LLC over violations of numerous federal and state do-not-call laws. The district court’s $280 million penalty constitutes the largest ever for violations of telemarketing laws. In addition,
As CFPB Faces Uncertainty, State Regulators Fill Gap
Many predicted that newly-elected President Donald Trump would remove Richard Cordray, Director of the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau, upon taking office. Cordray remains the head of the CFPB, but uncertainty still looms at the agency. President Trump has characterized the Dodd-Frank Wall Street Reform and Consumer Protection Act, the legislation which created the CFPB, as
NY AG Announces Settlement with Health App Developers Over Marketing and Privacy Practices
On March 23, New York Attorney General Eric Schneiderman announced settlements with three health-related applications sold in Apple’s App Store and Google’s Play Store. The settlements arose from allegations of misleading claims and irresponsible privacy practices. Under the terms of the settlements, the developers agreed to provide additional information about how the apps
Consumer Protection Remains Stated Focus of Washington AG
A recent interview given to the Washington State Tri-City Herald highlights the increased focus of the Washington Attorney General’s office on consumer protection issues.
In the interview, Attorney General Bob Ferguson explained that his focus is to recover money for consumers who have been harmed. He told the paper that since he has
Memorandum of Understanding Signals Continued US-Canada Cooperation
The Federal Trade Commission has signed a memorandum of understanding (“MOU”) with the Royal Canadian Mounted Police (“RCMP”) to strengthen cooperation regarding cross-border fraud matters. Acting FTC Chairman Maureen K. Ohlhausen signed the MOU on behalf of the United States, and Commissioner Bob Paulson signed on behalf of the RCMP and Canada.
The MOU concerns
Maryland AG Announces Settlement with Debt Collection Firms
On March 16, the Consumer Protection Division of the Maryland Attorney General’s Office announced a settlement with five California law firms and Mandip Purewal , the owner of the firms. The Attorney General alleged that the firms illegally collected advance fees from consumers, ostensibly to settle the consumers’ debts. In actuality, the
Virginia AG Reaches Settlement with Two Pawnbrokers Over Illegal Interest
On March 10, Virginia Attorney General Mark Herring announced settlements with two Fredericksburg, Virginia pawnbrokers – Pawnking, LLC and All Star Pawn & Gold, LLC – over allegations the companies charged consumers illegal interest and fees in violation of Virginia’s pawnbroker statutes and the Virginia Consumer Protection Act. As part of the settlement, Pawnking and
Virginia AG and CFPB Settle with Virginia Pawnbroker
In early February, Virginia Attorney General Mark Herring and the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau announced that the agencies had reached a settlement with Woodbridge Coins and Jewelry Exchange, Inc. d/b/a Woodbridge Gold & Pawn (“Woodbridge Pawn”) to provide $56,763.60 in refunds to approximately 1,000 consumers. The CFPB and the AG’s Office alleged that the business
Virginia AG Reaches Settlement Agreement with CashCall
On January 31, Virginia Attorney General Mark Herring announced a settlement with CashCall, Inc. over allegations that the company illegally deceived borrowers and collected interest in excess of legal rates.
According to the press release, the A.G.’s Office alleged that CashCall violated Virginia’s usury, lending, and licensure laws by entering into an arrangement in
Supreme Court Focuses on Intersection of FDCPA and Bankruptcy Code
On January 17, 2017, the United States Supreme Court heard oral argument in the case of Midland Funding, LLC v. Johnson, an appeal from the Eleventh Circuit bringing to a head two issues that had been boiling for several years: (i) whether the filing of an accurate proof of claim for an unextinguished time-barred