Consumer Protection Law and Regulations

Licensed customs brokers face two critical deadlines in 2027, not just one. While the triennial status report is due in February, the continuing education requirements must be completed by January 31st.

State athlete-agent laws create a complex regulatory patchwork across the United States, with variations in registration requirements, disclosure obligations, and enforcement mechanisms that significantly impact agents, agencies, schools, and student-athletes in the NIL era. Understanding how the Uniform Athlete Agents Act, Revised Uniform Athlete Agents Act, and state-specific statutes interact is essential for compliance as regulatory scrutiny intensifies.

A federal court has allowed a putative antitrust class action to proceed against 32 private colleges and universities, finding that plaintiffs plausibly alleged a horizontal agreement among schools not to compete for prospective students admitted through Early Decision. The ruling highlights a new trend of using antitrust laws to target higher education practices that have not historically been considered commercial conduct, raising questions about the legality of coordinated admissions and financial aid po

A new study examines whether investors view class action waivers in consumer financial services contracts as economically valuable by analyzing stock market reactions to changes in arbitration enforceability. Using financial-market data from the CFPB's 2017 arbitration rule debate and subsequent Congressional repeal, the research provides an empirical perspective on a question that has long been debated in courtrooms and academic journals. The findings suggest that investors treated the enforceability of cl

Massachusetts Attorney General Andrea Joy Campbell secured a consent judgment permanently barring three Avon-based debt collection companies and their owner from operating in the Commonwealth, providing over $52 million in debt relief to approximately 6,000 consumers. The settlement resolves allegations of unfair and deceptive practices including seizing exempt vehicles, misrepresenting creditor identities, and collecting time-barred debts...

Minnesota's Attorney General reached a settlement with an online lender over allegations that the company charged interest rates approaching 700% to state consumers, substantially exceeding permitted rates under Minnesota law. The lender, wholly owned by a federally recognized Native American tribe, had disputed that Minnesota law applied to its lending activities, claiming tribal ownership exempted it from state consumer-lending laws.

The Federal Trade Commission has secured a settlement with an auto dealership group over allegations of deceptive pricing practices, including advertising vehicles thousands of dollars below actual purchase prices and using misleading prize promotions. The proposed order would require prominent disclosure of total vehicle prices and prohibit misrepresentations concerning pricing, financing, and promotional incentives.

When does a disclosure on the back of a package save a misleading claim on the front? A federal court's ruling in a class action against Barilla over its "Italy's #1 Brand of Pasta" slogan clarifies when disclosures on other panels can resolve ambiguous claims versus when front-panel statements are unambiguously deceptive.

This comprehensive newsletter covers recent consumer protection enforcement actions by the FTC, CFPB, and state Attorneys General, alongside NAD advertising challenge decisions and regulatory developments. The update examines settlements involving deceptive business practices, data breaches, and unlawful operations, while highlighting new guidance on price transparency and impersonation rules that will shape compliance strategies across industries.

Minnesota's Attorney General reached a settlement with an online lender over allegations that the company charged interest rates approaching 700% to state consumers, substantially exceeding permitted rates under Minnesota law. The lender, wholly owned by a federally recognized Native American tribe, had disputed that Minnesota law applied to its lending activities, claiming tribal ownership exempted it from state consumer-lending laws.

Washington, D.C. has enacted comprehensive legislation that fundamentally changes how medical debt is handled, prohibiting healthcare providers and debt collectors from reporting medical debt to credit reporting agencies while imposing strict limitations on collection practices. The law establishes significant protections including wage garnishment restrictions, interest rate caps, and mandatory financial assistance screening, though it faces concerns about potential impacts on the healthcare system's susta

The Federal Trade Commission announced a $12 million settlement with payment processor Humboldt Merchant Services over allegations of facilitating merchant fraud through unauthorized billing scams, while simultaneously rescinding its 2021 policy statement on health app breaches. The settlement imposes permanent restrictions on processing payments for high-risk merchant categories and prohibits credit card laundering activities.