On January 13, 2015, the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau (CFPB) released a report on consumers’ mortgage shopping experiences. The CFPB found that almost half of consumers who take out a mortgage fail to shop prior to application and that consumers seriously consider only a single lender or mortgage broker before choosing where to apply. The
Colorado Attorney General’s Office Continues to Focus on In-State Consumer Protection
The Colorado Attorney General’s Office, in a recent press release, warned its in-state consumers of a “debt-collection” scam whereby imposters pose as law enforcement officials or government agencies. This warning was triggered by a sharp increase in the number of reports to the AG’s Office of threatening telephone calls and emails as part of
NY AG Proposes Strengthened Data Breach Law
On January 15, 2015, New York Attorney General Eric Schneiderman announced that he would be proposing legislation to overhaul New York’s data security law and require new and unprecedented safeguards for personal data of consumers. While the proposal has yet to be released, the Attorney General’s press release indicates that the proposal will include a
Oregon AG Calls for Stricter Data Breach Laws
On December 10, Oregon Attorney General Ellen Rosenblum proposed more rigorous requirements for companies to disclose data breaches that expose consumers’ personal information. Testifying before the Oregon joint Senate and House Judiciary Committee, Rosenblum called on the Oregon legislature to update the state’s data breach law and to extend data breach enforcement and notification to
Zappos Reaches Data Breach Settlement with Nine States
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