Worldwide: Class Actions

Following the Supreme Court's invalidation of IEEPA tariffs in Learning Resources, Inc. v. Trump, over 100 consumer class actions have been filed nationwide against businesses accused of passing tariff costs to consumers while retaining government refunds. This article examines the litigation landscape, analyzes the principal legal theories being asserted by plaintiffs, and outlines the substantial threshold, procedural, and substantive defenses available to companies facing these claims.

California businesses facing a wave of class action threats under the state's Invasion of Privacy Act may soon find relief as lawmakers advance a revised bill aimed at curbing aggressive demand letters. With over half a billion dollars already extracted through settlements, the legislative push to eliminate private enforcement of the pen register provision has gained momentum in committee, though significant work remains before the summer recess deadline.

A federal court dismissed securities fraud claims against a gene editing company and its officers, finding that while some statements about preclinical study results were actionable, plaintiffs failed to demonstrate the defendants knowingly misled investors about their AATD therapy program. The decision hinged on insufficient evidence connecting executive knowledge to alleged study failures and the court's determination that stock decline reflected disclosed development risks rather than fraud revelation.