Consumer Law

How Trump’s victory and GOP Senate control could shape the law

Judge Merrick Garland's Supreme Court hopes have been dashed as a result of the election returns.

Nov 9, 2016 8:40 AM CST

Judge blocks federal rule that would ban arbitration in nursing home disputes

The implementation of a new rule prohibiting federal funds for nursing homes that enter binding arbitration agreements with residents has been blocked by a U.S. district court judge, who found that the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) did not have authority to enact the mandate without statutory authority.…

Nov 7, 2016 4:20 PM CST

Lead litigation beyond Flint

The water crisis in Flint is unique in many respects, but the city isn’t alone in facing allegations regarding lead in the water supply.

Nov 1, 2016 4:25 AM CDT

SCOTUS will decide whether Miami can sue banks under the Fair Housing Act

The mortgage-lending practices of the nation’s largest banks and their effects on inner-city neighborhoods will be the backdrop in a U.S. Supreme Court case to be argued today.

Nov 1, 2016 2:40 AM CDT

Federal judge chastises FTC for threatening to ‘pick up its marbles’ and play in other venues

A federal judge in Philadelphia is criticizing the Federal Trade Commission for threatening “to pick up its marbles and play in venues more to its liking.” U.S. District Judge Paul Diamond scolded the FTC in its case contending drug makers had entered into agreements to delay producing two generic drugs,…

Oct 24, 2016 3:50 PM CDT

Suit claims lawyers used ‘stooge defendants’ to get courts to order scrubbing of bad online reviews

A federal lawsuit filed on behalf of pissedconsumer.com claims two California lawyers filed lawsuits that used “stooge defendants” to pose as authors of bad reviews to obtain court orders removing the pages from search engine results. The Oct. 21 complaint (PDF) filed in federal court in Northern California claims the…

Oct 24, 2016 10:52 AM CDT

Court orders bar skin-care marketers from misleading customers about ‘risk-free trials’

The Federal Trade Commission has obtained court orders or default orders against 29 companies and individuals accused of selling skin-care products through misleading “risk-free trials.” The defendants sold Auravie, Dellure, LéOR Skincare, and Miracle Face Kit skincare products, report ABC News and an FTC press release. The companies advertised “risk-free…

Oct 20, 2016 4:31 PM CDT

Consumer Financial Protection Bureau has unconstitutional structure, DC Circuit rules

A federal appeals court has ruled that the "unchecked power" given to the director of the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau is unconstitutional.

Oct 11, 2016 10:41 AM CDT

Suit claims Naked Juice isn’t as healthy as its label implies

PepsiCo names its Naked Juice products after ingredients thought to be highly nutritious, though the beverages actually contain cheaper and less nutritious ingredients like apple juice, according to a lawsuit filed last week. The Center for Science in the Public Interest filed the lawsuit on behalf of consumers who say…

Oct 11, 2016 7:00 AM CDT

Federal judge questions how redacted document got unredacted; CourtListener says there is no mystery

A federal judge in Washington, D.C., has asked lawyers to investigate and report back to him on how a redacted detail in a lawsuit was published on CourtListener.com. U.S. District Judge Randolph Moss ordered the probe after the website published a court order in a suit against the Consumer Financial…

Oct 7, 2016 8:00 AM CDT

Judge orders race car driver and companies to pay record $1.3B restitution in payday-lending scheme

A federal judge in Nevada has ordered race car driver Scott Tucker and several of his lending companies to pay $1.3 billion restitution in a deceptive payday-lending scheme. The award is the largest litigated judgment ever obtained by the Federal Trade Commission, according to an FTC press release. The $1.3…

Oct 4, 2016 10:26 AM CDT

Yelp’s star-review system doesn’t amount to content development, 9th Circuit says

A Washington locksmith, who allegedly tried to get around the Communications Decency Act in his lawsuit against Yelp by arguing that the site manipulates information and uses it as its own content in advertising, lost his federal appeal Monday. Sharing and spreading user-generated star reviews with search engines does not…

Sep 13, 2016 2:15 PM CDT

Facing a bias suit and criticism, Airbnb takes steps to curb discrimination by its hosts

Airbnb is trying to reduce bias by its hosts after a lawsuit and a study alleged that blacks who try to rent through the website are experiencing discrimination. In a report released on Thursday, Airbnb says it will ask its hosts beginning on Nov. 1 to pledge not to discriminate,…

Sep 9, 2016 10:50 AM CDT

Wells Fargo to pay $185M fine for opening bank accounts for customers without their knowledge

Wells Fargo was fined $185 million on Thursday for opening bank accounts and applying for credit cards on behalf of customers who were unaware they were being signed up. The penalty includes a $100 million fine imposed by the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau, which is the largest penalty ever imposed…

Sep 8, 2016 3:03 PM CDT

Does Airbnb have a legal responsibility to end bias by its hosts?

How can Airbnb voluntarily act to end discrimination? Ask civil rights warrior Kristen Clarke about her New York Times op-ed at our 10 Questions Live Google Hangout at 2 p.m. ET today. Click here to register.

Aug 25, 2016 7:00 AM CDT