Worldwide: Consumer Protection

Washington Attorney General Nick Brown secured a settlement with Lexyl Technologies and Bookonline.com over allegations that the companies deceived consumers by automatically adding unnecessary "refund protection" fees to hotel bookings through pre-checked boxes. The companies will pay over $750,000 in consumer restitution and $300,000 to the AG, and must now require affirmative opt-in for such fees.

Washington Attorney General Nick Brown secured a settlement with Lexyl Technologies and Bookonline.com over allegations that the companies deceptively added unnecessary "refund protection" fees to hotel bookings through pre-checked boxes. The settlement requires over $750,000 in consumer restitution and mandates that future fees require affirmative consumer opt-in rather than automatic enrollment.

The Federal Trade Commission has taken decisive action against companies making unsubstantiated health claims and cryptocurrency platforms that misled consumers about fund safety. Recent enforcement actions include settlements with supplement marketers falsely advertising height growth products and cryptocurrency executives who prevented users from accessing their deposits before bankruptcy.

Removal decisions sit at the intersection of legal strategy, claim handling, and early case assessment. In Enbridge Energy, LP v. Nessel, the Supreme Court gave defense teams a straightforward reminder: the 30-day deadline for removing a civil action to federal court under 28 U.S.C. § 1446(b)(1) is mandatory and cannot be equitably tolled.

On July 13, in a precedential opinion, the United States Court of Appeals for the Second Circuit weighed in on the ongoing debate over how closely a district court may or should scrutinize a qualified expert’s opinions under Federal Rule of Evidence 702, as amended in 2023, and Daubert v. Merrell Dow Pharmaceuticals, Inc., 509 U.S. 579 (1993).

The U.S. Department of Justice and Consumer Product Safety Commission have filed their first imminent hazard lawsuit in nearly four decades, targeting manufacturers of Lakkzoom immersion water heaters that allegedly catch fire within minutes when used improperly. This aggressive enforcement action signals a renewed willingness to pursue mandatory recalls through federal court, even as questions swirl about the future structure of the CPSC under the Trump administration. The case raises critical questions ab

Washington Attorney General Nick Brown secured a settlement with Lexyl Technologies and Bookonline.com over allegations that the companies deceptively added unnecessary "refund protection" fees to hotel bookings through pre-checked boxes. The settlement requires over $750,000 in consumer restitution and mandates that future fees require affirmative consumer opt-in rather than automatic enrollment.

Retail sales rose 2.2% in Q2 versus Q1, while inflation increased 1.5%, suggesting that higher prices may have contributed to growth more than stronger demand. Personal sports, leisure, and e-commerce sales accelerated in June ahead of the FIFA World Cup.

Russell Vought is expected to remain at the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau as a senior adviser after his term as Acting Director ends on August 1, providing continuity until Brian Johnson is confirmed by the Senate. The arrangement comes during a consequential transition period as the Bureau grapples with pending litigation over proposed staff reductions, organizational restructuring, and regulatory reconsiderations from the previous administration.

A newly launched academic institute aims to reshape consumer financial services regulation through a policy framework emphasizing consumer choice, market competition, and innovation. Professors Todd Zywicki and Tom Miller discuss their Institute for Consumer Financial Choice, its research priorities spanning military lending to cryptocurrency, and strategies for influencing legislation and regulatory policy.

Parliament is in its summer recess, and so is the Financial Services and Markets Bill. When the summer is over, the Bill will start its Report stage in the House of Lords.

Governor Mikie Sherrill has nominated Christopher L. Peterson, a nationally recognized consumer protection scholar and former CFPB senior official, to lead New Jersey's Division of Consumer Affairs. The appointment signals continued robust enforcement of consumer protection laws in one of the nation's most active state agencies. Peterson's extensive background in consumer financial services law and his role in shaping federal consumer protection policy position him as a significant figure in state-level enf