Attorney General Consumer Protection News: April 2021
Multistate Actions Led by Illinois Attorney General Kwame Raoul, North Carolina Attorney General Josh Stein, and Tennessee Attorney General Herbert H. Slatery III, a bipartisan coalition of 45 attorneys general called on Twitter, eBay, and Shopify and online mobile market place OfferUp to act immediately to prevent people from selling fraudulent CDC vaccination cards on…
Consumer Chief of the Month: Laura E. McFarlane, Assistant Attorney General, Deputy Director, Public Protection Unit, Wisconsin Department of Justice
I am honored to be featured as the NAGTRI Center for Consumer Protection’s Chief of the Month. I was born and raised in Madison, Wisconsin. While I realize now how lucky I was to be raised here, at the time I graduated from high school, I was very much ready to leave Wisconsin. After graduating…
Restitution: The Superior Remedy
In most consumer fraud cases, restitution is the optimal remedy, serving the two-fold purposes of restoring consumers and deterring businesses from engaging in unlawful acts and practices. State attorneys general may sometimes settle matters without obtaining restitution for a variety of reasons, some of which are addressed below. However, prioritizing restitution begets important recoveries for…
2021 NAAG Consumer Protection Spring Virtual Conference
NAAG’s Consumer Protection Spring Conference will be held virtually on May 11-13, 2021. The agenda aims to address pressing and relevant issues specific to your role in consumer protection. On Tues., May 11, the private, nonprofit, and government sectors are invited to attend the public portion of the conference. The sessions on Wed., May 12 and Thurs.,…
The 2020 Supreme Court Term in Review
Tuesday, April 27 at 2:00 p.m. – 3:30 p.m. ET United States Supreme Court decisions directly affect attorney general offices’ ability to enforce state laws and defend government officials’ conduct. In this program, NAAG’s Center for Supreme Court Advocacy will host two of the nation’s leading U.S. Supreme Court practitioners to discuss the Supreme Court’s current…
Federal Consumer Protection News and Other Items of Interest: March 2021
Consumer Financial Protection Bureau The Consumer Financial Protection Bureau (CFPB or Bureau) sued payment processor BrightSpeed Solutions Inc. and its former CEO Kevin Howard for supporting Internet-based tech-support scams. The CFPB alleges the defendants knowingly processed more than $71 million in payments for clients who tricked consumers, often older Americans, into purchasing expensive and unnecessary…
Consumer Chief of the Month: Phil Carlson, Assistant Attorney General, Nebraska Attorney General’s Office
I want to begin this month’s “Chief of the Month” section by saying that I take great joy in my family and to thank them publicly for their willingness to tag along with me in this crazy journey I’m going to tell you about. My wife, Jean, is a stay-at-home mom who wrangles me, our…
The Impact of Recent Tax Law Changes on Consumer Protection Settlements
On January 14, 2021, the IRS promulgated final regulations in connection with the tax laws and reporting requirements found in 26 U.S. Code § 162(f) and 26 U.S. Code § 6050X which impact consumer protection settlements and state attorney general offices. These final regulations, found at 26 C.F.R. § 1.162-21 and 26 C.F.R. § 1.6050X-1,…
Attorney General Consumer Protection News: March 2021
Multistate Actions Led by California Department of Justice and the Washington Attorney General Bob Ferguson, 48 attorneys general announced a $186 million multistate settlement with surgical mesh manufacturer Boston Scientific Corporation to resolve deceptive marketing allegations. A bipartisan group of 24 attorneys general expressed disappointment in the Purdue Pharma restructuring plan submitted in bankruptcy court. …
NAGTRI National Core Leadership Competencies for First-line and Mid-line Managers Training
This training is hosted by the NAGTRI Center for Leadership Development. May 19-20, 2021 at 1:00 p.m. – 5:30 p.m. ET each day This course establishes the leadership development groundwork for new to mid-level managers, including attorneys, investigators, and administrative personnel. Drawing upon case studies, colleague experiences, short lectures, group discussions, and self-assessments, the program applies…
