While the federal government’s campaign against hidden “junk” fees intensifies, state attorneys general (AGs) have long been contesting concealed costs as unfair or deceptive — especially in the absence of sufficient...more
12/29/2023
/ Consumer Financial Products ,
Convenience Fees ,
False Advertising ,
Financial Regulatory Reform ,
Financial Services Industry ,
Goods or Services ,
Misleading Impressions ,
Processing Fees ,
Proposed Legislation ,
Regulatory Agenda ,
State Attorneys General ,
Unfair or Deceptive Trade Practices
On November 28, Massachusetts Attorney General (AG) Campbell reached an $8.75 million settlement with Rent-A-Center (RAC), the nation’s largest rent-to-own company specializing in consumer goods leases. The settlement aimed...more
On the heels of its recent lawsuit filed against MC Solar, Florida Attorney General (AG) Ashley Moody filed two additional lawsuits against Vision Solar and SetUp My Solar for allegedly deceiving Floridians in violation of...more
12/14/2023
/ Antitrust Provisions ,
Clean Energy ,
Enforcement Actions ,
Enforcement Guidance ,
Florida ,
Green Infrastructure ,
Installation Services ,
Regulatory Oversight ,
Renewable Energy ,
Solar Energy ,
Solar Farm ,
Solar Panels ,
State Attorneys General ,
Unfair or Deceptive Trade Practices
Rhode Island Attorney General (AG) Peter F. Neronha and his office filed a motion on November 30, to amend and supplement their complaint against Smart Green Solar, LLC (Smart Green) and its CEO, Jasjit Gotra, for allegedly...more
On November 20, Delaware Attorney General (AG) Kathy Jennings, along with the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau (CFPB) and 11 other states, announced a settlement in excess of $30 million with Prehired LLC and affiliated...more
11/30/2023
/ Chapter 11 ,
Consumer Bankruptcy ,
Consumer Financial Products ,
Consumer Financial Protection Act (CFPA) ,
Consumer Financial Protection Bureau (CFPB) ,
Debt Collection ,
Delaware ,
FDCPA ,
Financial Services Industry ,
Income Share Agreements ,
Regulation Z ,
Regulatory Oversight ,
Settlement ,
State Attorneys General ,
Statutory Violations ,
Stipulated Judgment ,
Student Loans ,
Truth in Lending Act (TILA) ,
Unfair or Deceptive Trade Practices
Last week, Michigan Attorney General (AG) Dana Nessel formally launched an investigation under the Michigan Consumer Protection Act (MCPA) into the marketing and business practices of a group of interconnected pest control...more
11/15/2023
/ Consumer Protection Act ,
Deceptive Intent ,
Enforcement Actions ,
Investigations ,
Marketing ,
Pest Infestation ,
Regulatory Oversight ,
Regulatory Violations ,
Scams ,
State Attorneys General ,
Unfair or Deceptive Trade Practices ,
Warranties
On October 17, following Washington Attorney General (AG) Bob Ferguson’s unsuccessful consumer protection action against thrift store chain, Savers Value Village Inc. (Savers), the Washington Superior Court of King County...more
On October 5, Arkansas Attorney General (AG) Tim Griffin issued an enforcement advisory to Arkansas solar installation companies. The letter outlines solar installation companies’ legal obligations under the Arkansas...more
10/16/2023
/ Antitrust Provisions ,
Clean Energy ,
Enforcement Guidance ,
Green Infrastructure ,
Installation Services ,
Regulatory Oversight ,
Renewable Energy ,
Solar Energy ,
Solar Farm ,
Solar Panels ,
State Attorneys General ,
Unfair or Deceptive Trade Practices
Four state attorneys general (state AGs) — Colorado, Oregon, Pennsylvania, and Texas — have announced resolutions with Choice Hotels International, Inc. (Choice Hotels), a prominent hotel conglomerate known for operating...more
10/2/2023
/ Disclosure Requirements ,
Enforcement Actions ,
Hidden Fees ,
Hospitality Industry ,
Hotels ,
Online Platforms ,
Resorts & Restaurants ,
Settlement ,
State Attorneys General ,
Travelers ,
Unfair or Deceptive Trade Practices
A bipartisan coalition of 23 state attorney generals led by Virginia AG Jason Miyares recently went up in arms about a products liability ruling they believe will threaten state consumer protection laws. On May 30, the...more
6/16/2023
/ Life Sciences ,
Merck ,
Pharmaceutical Industry ,
Preemption ,
Prescription Drugs ,
Product Defects ,
Regulatory Agenda ,
Regulatory Oversight ,
State Attorneys General ,
State Sovereignty ,
Unfair or Deceptive Trade Practices
On May 10, SoLo Funds, Inc. (Solo), one of the largest community lending platforms in the United States, entered into a settlement with the District of Columbia attorney general (OAG). The settlement resolves claims that the...more
6/5/2023
/ Attorney General ,
Consumer Financial Products ,
Consumer Protection Act ,
Enforcement Actions ,
Financial Services Industry ,
Lenders ,
Loans ,
Online Marketplace Lending ,
Regulatory Oversight ,
Unfair or Deceptive Trade Practices ,
Usury
Pennsylvania AG Michelle Henry announced a settlement with New York-based Fluent LLC and its subsidiaries over allegations that they engaged in deceptive and misleading business practices by placing millions of unwanted...more
Indiana Attorney General Todd Rokita and the Indiana Department of Financial Institutions announced a settlement in excess of $250,000 with Integrity Acceptance Corp., affiliated companies, and their owners to resolve...more
The American Veterinary Medical Association estimates that over 65% of US households own a pet. Puppies are a particularly popular choice. But sometimes, after a puppy comes home to its new family, it might appear lethargic...more
On January 24, Attorney General Ken Paxton announced an investigation of California-based title security company Home Title Lock for potential violations of the Texas Deceptive Trade Practices Act. In its civil investigative...more
On January 17, after an extensive investigation by the Consumer Protection Section of the Colorado Department of Law, Colorado Attorney General Phil Weiser announced that medical billing company Flatirons agreed to refund...more
Just before the new year, Maryland Attorney General Brian Frosh announced a $250,000 settlement with Caliber Homes, Inc. to resolve allegations that Caliber attempted to mislead approximately 220,000 consumers into thinking...more
On January 13, a coalition of 39 state attorneys general — led by AGs from Pennsylvania, Washington, Illinois, Massachusetts, and California — reached a settlement with student loan servicer Navient over allegedly unfair,...more
Rhode Island has faced years of scrutiny over its consumer protection laws — or rather lack thereof — prohibiting unfair and deceptive acts and practices (UDAP). Over a dozen years ago, the National Consumer Law Center called...more