United States: Consumer Protection

The Federal Trade Commission is exploring whether to revise its Trade Regulation Rule on Impersonation of Government and Businesses to address how online platforms' ad-optimization practices may be enabling impersonation scams. Through an Advance Notice of Proposed Rulemaking, the FTC seeks public comment on potential new obligations for social media, search engines, and digital marketplace platforms to prevent fraudulent ads from reaching consumers.

The Federal Trade Commission is exploring whether to revise its Trade Regulation Rule on Impersonation of Government and Businesses to address how online platforms' ad-optimization practices may be enabling impersonation scams. Through an Advance Notice of Proposed Rulemaking, the FTC seeks public input on potential new obligations for social media, search engines, and digital marketplace platforms to prevent fraudulent ads from reaching consumers.

On September 17, the FTC announced a proposed settlement requiring a fuel card provider and its chief executive officer to pay $100 million to resolve an administrative action...

The Federal Trade Commission is exploring whether to revise its Trade Regulation Rule on Impersonation of Government and Businesses to address how online platforms' ad-optimization practices may be enabling impersonation scams. Through an Advance Notice of Proposed Rulemaking, the FTC seeks public comment on potential new obligations for social media, search engines, and digital marketplace platforms to prevent fraudulent ads from reaching consumers.

The Federal Trade Commission is exploring whether to revise its Trade Regulation Rule on Impersonation of Government and Businesses to address how online platforms' ad-optimization practices may be enabling impersonation scams. Through an Advance Notice of Proposed Rulemaking, the FTC seeks public input on potential new obligations for social media, search engines, and digital marketplace platforms to prevent fraudulent ads from reaching consumers.

The FTC and Washington state secured a record $225 million settlement from Amway and affiliated groups over allegations they misled recruits about earnings potential while pressuring them to buy products with little retail opportunity. The complaint reveals that over three-quarters of U.S. product volume was sold to IBOs themselves rather than retail customers, with fabricated sales reporting masking the recruitment-driven model. The settlement's injunctive provisions establish new standards for earnings cl

A federal judge has issued a critical Initial Management Order in the Cartiva Synthetic Cartilage Implant multidistrict litigation, establishing the legal framework for thousands of consolidated claims. The Order appoints leadership teams and sets near-term deadlines as patients who experienced complications from the allegedly defective hydrogel device seek justice through the court system.

A federal court in Ohio has ruled that an occupational disease exclusion in a commercial general liability policy bars coverage for PFAS-related personal injury claims brought by firefighters against a manufacturer of firefighting equipment. This landmark decision could significantly impact how insurers respond to PFAS product liability claims and may extend beyond occupational disease exclusions to other policy provisions using similarly broad language.

Alcohol beverage companies face a complex regulatory environment as states enact new legislation, federal agencies propose changes to ingredient and formulation requirements, and hemp-derived THC products generate ongoing legal scrutiny. Recent developments include FDA proposals affecting GRAS notifications and color additives, state-level actions on distribution and sales restrictions, and evolving trademark disputes that may impact product development and compliance strategies.

On September 3, a national mortgage trade association filed a lawsuit in the U.S. District Court for the District of New Jersey challenging the state’s disparate impact rules under the New Jersey Law Against Discrimination. The complaint alleges that the rules violate the Equal Protection Clause if the Fourteenth Amendment and are preempted by the Fair Housing Act (FHA) and the Equal Credit Opportunity Act (ECOA).

On August 31, the Massachusetts AG filed a filed a proposed consent judgment in Suffolk County Superior Court to resolve allegations that a debt buyer, affiliated entities, and their operator violated the Massachusetts Consumer Protection Act through unfair and deceptive debt collection practices.

Colorado Attorney General Philip Weiser has filed a lawsuit against EarnIn, challenging whether its direct-to-consumer earned wage access product constitutes a high-cost loan subject to state lending laws. The case examines EarnIn's Cash Out product, which advanced approximately $300 million to Colorado consumers between January 2023 and July 2025, and questions whether the company's tips and expedited-transfer fees should be classified as interest charges.