From today's FTC press release: The Federal Trade Commission told a U.S. Senate subcommittee that it continues to crack down on unlawful debt collection practices through an active program of vigorous law enforcement, education and public outreach, and research and policy initiatives. Testifying on behalf of the FTC before the Senate Committee on Banking, Housing, […]
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As explained in this article by Roni Rabin and Reed Abelson, New York [s]tate insurance regulators say they have approved rates for 2014 that are at least 50 percent lower on average than those currently available in New York. Beginning in October, individuals in New York City who now pay $1,000 a month or more […]
A nice overwiew by Danielle Douglas. Among other things, the article makes the point that, with the the CFPB's basic authority to act unquestionably in place, the agency can operate from a position of strength, both in taking unaliteral action and in negotiations with regulated parties. Of course, individual actions and regs will be subject […]
The Consumer Financial Protection Bureau has published five sample "action letters" that consumers may want to use to reply to debt collectors. The agency says that these letters can "help consumers get valuable information about claims being made against them or protect themselves from inappropriate or unwanted collection activities." 1 – There's the "more information" […]
It's actually happened. Via Bloomberg: The U.S. Senate advanced Richard Cordray's nomination to lead the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau under a compromise announced by Majority Leader Harry Reid, who said officials were working on final details. U.S. Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid, a Democrat from Nevada, said he thinks "everyone will be happy" with the […]
Senators have apparently reached a deal to allow a vote — today — on the nomination of Richard Cordray to had the CFPB. Majority Leader Harry Reid had threatened to change Senate rules to end filibusters on executive branch nominees if Republican Senators did not allow votes on Cordray and other executive branch nominees. Under […]
Check out this Fresh Air interview with NYT Supreme Court correspondent Adam Liptak. Starting at 14:40, it gives more air time and more detail about economic justice issues and corporate power than most coverage of the Court. Liptak mentions Italian Colors by name, explains why class actions are important, and describes contracts of adhesion. As […]
We've covered pay-for-delay patent settlements extensively (go here, here, here, and here) and reported on the Supreme Court's June 17, 2013 decision in FTC v. Actavis. In a pay-for-delay settlement, a brand-name drug company pays a generic company that has challenged the brand-name company's patent to stay out of the market. Some early antitrust challenges to […]
History shows that public education and other efforts to combat entrenched but potentially deadly behavior harmful to health — such as tobacco use — must be sustained, well-funded, and flexible. Efforts to deal with childhood obesity begun in just the past decade may be beginning to pay dividends, as explained in this article by Lydia […]