On January 7, online retailer Zappos.com Inc. reached a long-awaited settlement with nine states over a 2012 data breach that compromised personal and financial information of nearly 24 million of the company’s customers. Pennsylvania Attorney General Kathleen Kane said in a published statement that a hacker was able to access sensitive data pertaining to millions
Ninth Circuit Clarifies “Personal Stake” Necessary for Putative Class Representatives on Appeal
On December 31, the United States Court of Appeals for the Ninth Circuit, in dismissing a class action appeal as moot, ruled that the putative class representative had not retained a personal stake in the class certification motion after voluntarily settling his individual claims.
In Campion v. Old Republic Protection Company, Inc., the plaintiff
Discount Membership Program Settles Claims by Vermont AG
Vermont Attorney General William Sorrell has announced that he has settled claims against Stonebridge Benefit Services, Inc., a company that markets discount membership programs, and J.C. Penney Company, Inc., from which Stonebridge obtained consumer credit card information.
Texas-based Stonebridge sells membership programs that provide discounts for various goods and services. Customers’ credit cards are subject
Two States Ask Supreme Court to Overturn Colorado’s Marijuana Laws
Oklahoma and Nebraska filed a joint lawsuit asking the U.S. Supreme Court to find Colorado’s recreational marijuana laws unconstitutional. The two states claim that Amendment 64 “directly conflicts with federal law and undermines express federal priorities in the arena of drug control and enforcement.”
Colorado’s Amendment 64, which was passed as ballot initiative on November
Colorado’s Attorney General is Busy Making Things “Rocky” for Certain Foreclosure Law Firms
As part of a recent investigation and clean-up of that state’s foreclosure industry, Colorado’s Attorney General John Suthers has filed two more lawsuits against in-state foreclosure law firms, alleging fraud and violations of state consumer protection laws. These lawsuits close out a busy 2014, in which other similar civil lawsuits were filed by Colorado’s AG,
Troutman Partner to Co-Chair ACI Cyber Security & Data Privacy Conference
On January 15-16, 2015, the American Conference Institute (ACI) will host the 15th installment of the acclaimed Global Legal & Compliance Forum on Cyber Security & Data Privacy and Protection at the Washington Plaza Hotel in Washington, D.C. This is a premier event for privacy officers, in-house counsel, senior executives, and outside attorneys specializing
CFPB Issues Warning to Consumers and Springs Into Action Against Student Debt Relief Scams
On December 11, the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau issued an advisory warning to consumers about student loan debt relief companies. While the CFPB warns all student borrowers, in distress or otherwise, to steer clear of companies with aggressive marketing tactics that make promises that they can save student borrowers thousands of dollars on student loan
West Virginia Attorney General Files Suit Over Alleged Deceptive Credit Card Practices
On December 4, 2014, West Virginia Attorney General Patrick Morrisey filed suit in Ohio County Circuit Court against a local businessman and his Wheeling, West Virginia businesses, alleging that they violated the Consumer Credit and Protection Act, the Safe Mortgage Licensure Act; and the Mortgage Lender, Broker and Servicer Act. A copy of the complaint
Massachusetts Enters Consent Judgment with Hospital Over Data Breach
Massachusetts Attorney General Martha Coakley recently entered into a Consent Judgment with Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center, Inc., related to a data breach that affected nearly 4,000 patients and employees.
“The healthcare industry’s increased reliance on technology makes it more important than ever that providers ensure patients’ personal information and protected health information is secure,”
Texas AG Resolves Enforcement Action Against Company Charging Monthly Fees for “Free” Credit Scores
On the heels of a $22 million settlement in an enforcement action brought by the Federal Trade Commission, Texas Attorney General Greg Abbott recently announced his office’s resolution of an enforcement action against the same group of Dallas-based technology firms that falsely claimed to offer individuals “free” credit scores. The firms named as defendants were: