FTC continues moves against deep-rooted robocall system

In its battle to rein the coordinated system facilitating illegal robocalls, the Federal Trade Commission announced a proposed order against a lead generator, which the agency charged with deceptively collecting consumers’ information and then selling their data to telemarketers…leading to harassing calls. The announced proposed order would ban California-based Response Tree LLC and its president […]

NY’s Governor, AG Support NY’s UDAAP Statute Expansion

The bill would add unfairness and abusiveness to the NY UDAAP statute, increase statutory damages to $1,000, and allow businesses to recover under the statute, among other things. This follows NY’s blocking credit bureaus from reporting medical debt. More here.

Are tips payments for services? Second Circuit says yes

A group of consumers brought a class action against the New York Black Car Operators’ Injury Compensation Fund–a statutorily created fund that provides workers’ compensation benefits to New York’s black car drivers. The consumers argued that the fund had unlawfully collected a surcharge on noncash tips they paid to drivers (generally, through the Uber App), […]

FTC Brings False Advertising Suit Against For-Profit Grand Canyon University

Last week, the FTC’s Bureau of Consumer Protection filed a lawsuit against Grand Canyon University,  one of the nation’s largest for-profit universities, alleging it deceived prospective doctoral students about the cost and course requirements of its doctoral programs and about being a nonprofit, while also engaging in deceptive and abusive telemarketing practices. The FTC’s press […]

Public Citizen mourns the passing of Dr. Sidney Wolfe

Dr. Sidney Wolfe, the founder of Public Citizen’s Health Research Group and a unique figure in advancing public health, died yesterday. Since founding the Health Research Group in 1971 as part of Ralph Nader’s new nonprofit Public Citizen, Sid applied research-based advocacy to get dangerous drugs and devices off the market, win new protections for […]

Baltimore Sun Guest Essay: You’re giving away your rights in those online contracts you don’t read

Here, with Myriam Gilles of Cardozo, Prentiss Cox of Minnesota, and David Vladeck of Georgetown. Excerpt: Perhaps the most consequential documents ever produced in this country are the Constitution and the Declaration of Independence. The Constitution identifies our most important rights, while the Declaration explains why the deprivation of those rights justified the fight for independence. […]

NY Times article about how cars track consumers

  The article, by Kashmir Hill, is headlined Your Car Is Tracking You. Abusive Partners May Be, Too. Excerpt: Modern cars have been called “smartphones with wheels” because they are internet-connected and have myriad methods of data collection, from cameras and seat weight sensors to records of how hard you brake and corner. Most drivers don’t realize […]

Dismissal of Roblox Minor Refund Class Action Affirmed

In an unpublished decision, the Ninth Circuit last week affirmed the district court’s dismissal of a class action against Roblox, a video game platform, based on allegations that Roblox unlawfully denies minors refunds for their purchases of Robux, a virtual currency that users buy to obtain new characters, weapons, and other in-game benefits. The court […]

Mark Budnitz’s brief essay on problems in modern consumer payments

Here, in the Los Angeles Lawyer (you might have to scroll to page 28). Among the topics discussed are FedNow and cryptocurrencey. Excerpt: Ominously, the introduction of consumer-facing chat-bots and other artificial intelligence devices has provided fraudsters with new and improved tools for deceiving consumers. At the same time, consumer transactions now routinely involve “click […]