California Attorney General Kamala Harris released a report on October 28 on the growing threat of data breaches on California residents. According to the report, data breaches in California jumped 28 percent last year, from 131 reported incidents in 2012 to 167 in 2013. The breaches affected 18.5 million Californians by putting their personal information
Minnesota AG Files Suit Against Texas Credit Card Firm
On October 15, Minnesota’s attorney general sued a Texas credit card processor, accusing the Apex Merchant Group (“Apex”) of using bait and switch tactics to rip off small businesses. Apex allegedly promised small businesses it could save them money on credit card processing services, then hit them with higher undisclosed fees.
According to Minnesota Attorney
Supreme Court Agrees to Hear Challenge to Disparate Impact
On October 2, the Supreme Court granted cert in a new Fair Housing Act disparate impact case, Texas Department of Housing and Community Affairs v. The Inclusive Communities Project, Inc., No. 13-1371. The case takes aim at the viability of a concept at the heart of recent regulatory efforts in the auto finance space
Federal Judge Freezes Law Firm Assets in Multi-State Mortgage Rescue Scam Case
On September 24, U.S. District Judge James S. Moody, Jr., of the U.S. District Court for the Middle District of Florida, issued a preliminary injunction against several law firms accused by the attorneys general of Connecticut and Florida of charging illegal upfront fees to distressed homeowners in a mortgage rescue scam.
Judge Moody agreed that
Trade Association Responds to Louisiana Attorney General’s Lawsuit Aimed at Limiting Use of Recycled Parts in Auto Repairs
The Automotive Recyclers Association (ARA) sent a letter to Louisiana Attorney General James D. “Buddy” Caldwell this past week to dispute statements made by the Attorney General about a recent lawsuit filed against State Farm Insurance, which called into question State Farm’s practice of encouraging repair shops to use recycled parts when repairing damaged vehicles.
Ninth Circuit Rejects Federal Jurisdiction in Credit Card Fee Suit
On August 1, the United States Court of Appeals for the Ninth Circuit issued an opinion rejecting federal jurisdiction under the Class Action Fairness Act (CAFA) and the National Banking Act for a lawsuit filed by the Attorney General of Hawaii on behalf of state residents (sometimes called a parens patriae suit) against financial companies
National Association of Attorneys General (NAAG) Hosts Fall Consumer Protection Seminar
On Monday, October 20, 2014, Rhode Island Attorney General and NAAG Consumer Protection Committee Chair Peter Kilmartin and North Dakota Attorney General and NAAG Consumer Protection Committee Vice Chair Wayne Stenehjem extend a public invitation to attend the 2014 Fall Consumer Protection Seminar in Providence, Rhode Island. Several members of our Troutman Sanders’ State Attorneys
Connecticut Attorney General Discusses His Leadership Role in Privacy Policy
The International Association of Privacy Professionals recently conducted an interview with Connecticut Attorney General George Jepsen. General Jespen has been considered a leader among the State Attorneys General in the area of privacy, and Connecticut is considered one of the most active states in privacy policy and legal enforcement actions related to privacy issues. In
State Attorneys General File Lawsuits against 5-Hour ENERGY® for Deceptive Marketing
State Attorneys General from Washington, Oregon and Vermont filed suit against Living Essentials, the manufacturer of the popular energy supplement, 5-Hour ENERGY®, for allegedly deceptive marketing. The lawsuits seek injunctive relief as well as civil penalties and restitution to consumers. In a statement late last week, Oregon Attorney General Ellen Rosenblum said, “[p]lainly and simply,
2014 ABA Annual Meeting – Showcase CLE Presentations
ABA State Attorneys General and Department of Justice Issues Committee – 2014 ABA Annual Meeting – Showcase CLE Presentations
On August 7-9, 2014, in Boston, MA, the American Bar Association is hosting their Annual Meeting. Two Troutman Sanders partners, William H. Hurd and Ashley L. Taylor, Jr., will be participating on high profile CLE panel