With both houses of the Illinois General Assembly overriding the veto of Governor Bruce Rauner, the Illinois Student Loan Servicing Rights Act will become law. Surpassing the three-fifths supermajorities needed for an override, the Senate voted by a margin of 37-19 and the House of Representatives by 98-16. The Act takes effect on December 31,
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Tax Preparation Firm Settles FTC Claims Flowing from Data Breach
On November 8, the Federal Trade Commission announced that it had approved a final order settling claims arising out of a data breach at Georgia-based tax preparation firm TaxSlayer, LLC.
In late 2015, hackers hit TaxSlayer with a “list validation” or “credential stuffing” attack. With that type of attack, hackers attempt to use login credentials…
District Court Relies on Spokeo to Dismiss FACTA Suit
On November 6, a judge in the Southern District of New York dismissed a proposed class action alleging that Wolfgang’s Steakhouse impermissibly printed payment card expiration dates on customers’ receipts, relying on the U.S. Supreme Court’s decision in Spokeo to find that customers were not actually harmed by any information revealed.
Relying on the Second…
CA Federal Court Denies TransUnion’s Post-Trial Motions in $60M Ramirez Case
On November 6, in Sergio L. Ramirez v. TransUnion LLC, Magistrate Judge Jacqueline Corley of the United States District Court for the Northern District of California denied TransUnion’s post-trial motion for judgment as a matter of law, for a new trial, and to reduce the $60 million verdict previously entered by the jury. Ramirez…
Arizona Governor Signs Executive Order Banning the Box
On November 6, Arizona governor Doug Ducey signed an executive order making Arizona the most recent state to adopt a “ban the box” law. The state joins Pima County and Tucson – Arizona localities that have already joined the “ban the box” movement.
Under the new policy, state agencies will delay questions related to an…
Cordray Discusses CFPB’s Priorities During November Consumer Advisory Board Meeting
On November 2, Consumer Financial Protection Bureau Director Richard Cordray delivered remarks during the Consumer Advisory Board meeting in Tampa. Cordray’s public pronouncements reflect and foreshadow the CFPB’s regulatory priorities, and his recent comments indicate the CFPB’s focus on reverse mortgages, consumers with limited English proficiency, and short-term loans.
Cordray mentioned the CFPB’s recently-released report…
Another Big-Dollar TCPA Settlement as Payment Processor Agrees to $9M Deal
A Texas-based payment processor agreed on November 1 to pay $9 million to settle a putative class action brought under the Telephone Consumer Protection Act in the United States District Court for the Northern District of California. According to the plaintiffs, Pivotal Payments, Inc. failed to ensure that a third party it hired to make…
Illinois Federal Court Denies Certification of Junk Fax TCPA Class Action
The November 3 decision in Alpha Tech Pet, Inc. v. Lagasse, LLC, et al. highlights that one of the key individualized issues present in many TCPA class actions – whether consumers provided their consent to be called, texted, or, as in this case, sent faxes – can defeat class claims.
In its complaint, Alpha…
Current Balance Decision Creates Uncertainty in Eastern District of New York
On October 31, the United States District Court in the Eastern District of New York held that a debt collector violated the Fair Debt Collection Practices Act by failing to disclose whether interest and fees may accrue on an account. Specifically, the Court denied a debt collector’s summary judgment motion, stating that a collection letter…
CFPB Issues Interim Final Rule Amending Time Requirement for Servicers to Send Subsequent Early Intervention Notices
On October 4, the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau issued an interim final rule which will amend a portion of the 2016 Mortgage Servicing Final Rule for Regulation X of the Real Estate Settlement Procedures Act. Specifically, the interim rule will amend the amount of time mortgage servicers have under amended § 1024.39(d)(3)(iii) to “provide modified…