Federal Agency and Other Consumer Protection News: May 2023

Consumer Financial Protection Bureau The Consumer Financial Protection Bureau (CFPB) ordered OneMain Financial, an installment lender, to pay $20 million in restitution and penalties for allegedly refusing to refund interest charges to 25,000 customers who cancelled their purchases within an advertised “full refund period.” OneMain also allegedly deceived borrowers about needing to purchase add-on products…

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May Consumer Protection Chief of the Month

I was excited to join the Arizona Attorney General’s office, starting in February 2023 as the new Consumer Protection and Advocacy Section Chief Counsel in the new administration of Attorney General Kris Mayes. With prior experience in the AG’s Consumer Protection Section, it has been exciting to rejoin the mission of protecting the people of…

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Supreme Court Report: Volume 30, Issue 12

Volume 30, Issue 12 This Report summarizes opinions issued on May 25 and June 1, 2023 (Part I); and cases granted review on June 5, 2023 (Part II). Part I: Opinions Sackett v. Environmental Protection Agency, 21-454. By a 5-4 vote, the Court held that the Clean Water Act (CWA) covers wetlands only when they…

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Ethics For Charities Regulators

DESCRIPTION This webinar will address specific ethical issues that arise in the course of charities regulation and enforcement work. Topics include: Rules of conduct regarding: Treatment of corporate materials and confidential information from whistleblowers. Interaction with witnesses and subjects of investigations. Contact with unrepresented persons and employees of a represented entity. Conflicts of interest of…

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Supreme Court Report: Volume 30, Issue 11

Volume 30, Issue 11 This Report summarizes opinions issued on May 18, 2023 (Part I); and cases granted review on May 15, 2023 (Part II).   Part I: Opinions Twitter, Inc. v. Taamneh, 21-1496. The Court unanimously held that Facebook, Twitter, and Google are not liable under 18 U.S.C. §2333(d)(2) to victims of an ISIS…

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Rosenblum v. Living Essentials: A Victory for Oregon Consumers

On May 5, 2023, the Oregon Supreme Court issued a significant opinion affirming the Attorney General’s authority under Oregon’s Unlawful Trade Practices Act (UTPA) to take enforcement action against false and misleading marketing. State ex rel. Rosenblum v. Living Essentials, LLC, 371 Or. 23 (2023). The case is a long-running action against Living Essentials, makers…

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Supreme Court Report: Volume 30, Issue 10

Volume 30, Issue 10 This Report summarizes opinions issued on May 11, 2023 (Part I). The Supreme Court Report is published biweekly during the U.S. Supreme Court Term by the NAAG Center for Supreme Court Advocacy. Part I: Opinions National Pork Producers Council v. Ross, 21-468. The Court affirmed a Ninth Circuit ruling that challengers to…

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Federal Agency and Other Consumer Protection News: April 2023

Consumer Financial Protection Bureau The Consumer Financial Protection Bureau (CFPB) took action against the former executive officer of Integrity Advance, a short-term, online lender, James Carnes, and his wife Melissa, for allegedly hiding money through a series of fraudulent transfers in order to avoid paying more than $40 million in restitution and penalties for illegal…

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Attorney General Consumer Protection News: April 2023

Multistate Actions California Attorney General Rob Bonta led a multistate coalition of attorneys general demanding a recall of the theft-prone Hyundai and Kia automobiles. In the letter to National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHSTA), the 18 states urged NHTSA to take immediate action by instituting a recall of the allegedly unsafe Hyundai and Kia vehicles, whose easily-bypassed…

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Supreme Court Report: Volume 30, Issue 9

Volume 30, Issue 9 This Report summarizes cases granted review on April 24 and May 1, 2023 (Part I). The Supreme Court Report is published biweekly during the U.S. Supreme Court Term by the NAAG Center for Supreme Court Advocacy. Part I: CASES GRANTED REVIEW Loper Bright Enterprises v. Raimondo, 22-451. The Court limited the grant…

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