The Role of the Attorney General in the Opioid Crisis
The attorney general holds a unique position in state government. As the chief legal officer of the state, commonwealth, or territory, the attorney general is the legal advisor to and legal representative of state government branches and agencies, as well as the principal legal representative of the public interest for all the state’s citizens. Each…
Attorney General Consumer Protection News: May 2023
Multistate Actions Led by Arizona Attorney General Kris Mayes, Indiana Attorney General Todd Rokita, North Carolina Attorney General Josh Stein, and Ohio Attorney General Dave Yost, a bipartisan coalition of 49 attorneys general filed a multistate enforcement action against Avid Telecom, a Voice over Internet Protocol (VoIP) service provider. The lawsuit alleges that Avid Telecom and its…
Federal Agency and Other Consumer Protection News: May 2023
Consumer Financial Protection Bureau The Consumer Financial Protection Bureau (CFPB) ordered OneMain Financial, an installment lender, to pay $20 million in restitution and penalties for allegedly refusing to refund interest charges to 25,000 customers who cancelled their purchases within an advertised “full refund period.” OneMain also allegedly deceived borrowers about needing to purchase add-on products…
May Consumer Protection Chief of the Month
I was excited to join the Arizona Attorney General’s office, starting in February 2023 as the new Consumer Protection and Advocacy Section Chief Counsel in the new administration of Attorney General Kris Mayes. With prior experience in the AG’s Consumer Protection Section, it has been exciting to rejoin the mission of protecting the people of…
Rosenblum v. Living Essentials: A Victory for Oregon Consumers
On May 5, 2023, the Oregon Supreme Court issued a significant opinion affirming the Attorney General’s authority under Oregon’s Unlawful Trade Practices Act (UTPA) to take enforcement action against false and misleading marketing. State ex rel. Rosenblum v. Living Essentials, LLC, 371 Or. 23 (2023). The case is a long-running action against Living Essentials, makers…
Federal Agency and Other Consumer Protection News: April 2023
Consumer Financial Protection Bureau The Consumer Financial Protection Bureau (CFPB) took action against the former executive officer of Integrity Advance, a short-term, online lender, James Carnes, and his wife Melissa, for allegedly hiding money through a series of fraudulent transfers in order to avoid paying more than $40 million in restitution and penalties for illegal…
Attorney General Consumer Protection News: April 2023
Multistate Actions California Attorney General Rob Bonta led a multistate coalition of attorneys general demanding a recall of the theft-prone Hyundai and Kia automobiles. In the letter to National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHSTA), the 18 states urged NHTSA to take immediate action by instituting a recall of the allegedly unsafe Hyundai and Kia vehicles, whose easily-bypassed…
Federal Agency and Other Consumer Protection News: March 2023
Consumer Financial Protection Bureau The Consumer Financial Protection Bureau (CFPB) took action against Portfolio Recovery Associates, one of the nation’s largest debt collectors, for violating a 2015 CFPB order and engaging in other violations of law. The CFPB filed a proposed order that would require Portfolio Recovery Associates to pay more than $12 million to…
Attorney General Consumer Protection News: March 2023
Multistate Actions This month was kicked off by National Consumer Protection Week (NCPW), which occurred March 5-11, 2023. NCPW is a week when government agencies, consumer protection groups, and other organizations work together to share information about consumer rights and help people learn to spot, report, and avoid scams. For more information regarding this year’s…
Federal Agency and Other Consumer Protection News: February 2023
Consumer Financial Protection Bureau The Consumer Financial Protection Bureau proposed a rule to curb excessive credit card late fees. The Bureau alleges that major credit card issuers continue to use late fees that are protected by an expansive immunity provision. Based on the CFPB’s estimates, the proposal could reduce late fees by as much as…
