Author Archives: Allison Zieve

FDA warns Whole Foods of “serious violations” of food safety regulations

CNBC reports: Whole Foods was slapped with a warning letter from the Food and Drug Administration earlier this month after the FDA found "serious violations" of federal regulations during an inspection of the company's food preparation facility in Massachusetts. FDA inspectors reportedly found various food products, including mushroom quesadillas, chives, beets and couscous that were […]

DC Circuit upholds FCC’s net neutrality rule

The U.S. Court of Appeals for the D.C. Circuit just released an opinion rejecting a challenge to the Federal Communications Commission’s 2015 decision to impose network neutrality rules, which seek to prevent internet service providers from blocking or favoring websites. In short, the background of the case is this: The Commission … promulgated the order […]

FTC settles with telemarketer that falsely claimed sales help disabled persons

The Federal Trade Commission has settled with defendants American Handicapped Inc., American Handicapped and Disadvantaged Workers Inc., and their owner charges that the defendants tricked consumers into buying household products on the false pretext that the proceeds would go to help disabled people. According to the FTC’s complaint, the defendants’ telemarketers cold-called consumers to sell […]

States consider regulating online commercial lenders

Bloomberg reports: Online financing platforms aimed at small businesses are drawing new scrutiny from states concerned the largely unregulated industry could cause a new predatory lending crisis. California is soliciting data from the largest lenders as state officials eye a non-bank lending statute as a possible enforcement and regulatory tool. Illinois is considering legislation that […]

Accreditor of for-profit colleges allegedly overlooked schools’ deception

The Washington Post reports: Federal education officials are deciding whether to shut down the nation’s biggest accreditor of for-profit colleges over allegations that it overlooked deception by some of its schools. The Accrediting Council for Independent Colleges and Schools is meant to be a watchdog for hundreds of for-profit schools, wielding the stamp of approval […]

Department of Education proposes rule addressng forced arbitration in higher eduation

The rule is a big step forward but has some significant flaws. Here is Public Citizen's press release: An effort calling on the U.S. Department of Education to halt federal funding for predatory schools that deny students’ access to the courts reached a milestone today, as the department released a proposed rule designed to protect […]

Recent DOJ Consumer Protection Branch announcements

Below are recent announcements from the Department of Justice about the work of its Consumer Protection Branch, including work related to mass-marketing fraud schemes, adulterated food, and odometer fraud. Justice Department and Dutch Authorities Announce Simultaneous Enforcement Actions Against International Mass-Mailing Fraud Schemes Targeting the Elderly (June 2, 2016) District Court Enters Permanent Injunction Against […]