The 11th Circuit Court of Appeals has struck down the FCC rule that would have prohibited telemarketing or advertising robocalls to consumers unless they consent to calls from only one entity at a time, and that they consent only to calls whose subject matter is associated with the interaction that prompted the consent.… Continue Reading
Daniel JT McKenna
State authorities stepping up consumer protection efforts
In the wake of recent federal directives diminishing the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau (CFPB), state authorities are increasingly stepping in to uphold consumer protections. Michigan Attorney General Dana Nessel has been at the forefront of this movement, emphasizing the CFPB’s significant contributions and reaffirming her office’s commitment to safeguarding Michigan residents.… Continue Reading
FCC sets April 11 as effective date for new robocall rules
The FCC set April 11, 2025 as the effective date for new rules designed to make it easier for consumers to revoke consent for calls and texts subject to the Telephone Consumer Protection Act and requiring callers honor these requests in a timely manner.
The new rules, adopted in February, require that callers honor do-not-call and consent revocation requests within a reasonable time, not to exceed 10 business days from receipt.… Continue Reading
Supreme Court accepts case seeking to determine whether district courts must accept FCC’s interpretation of TCPA
The U.S. Supreme Court has agreed to consider a case that could clarify whether the Hobbs Act, which limits judicial review of FCC final orders to appeals courts, means that district courts must accept the FCC’s interpretation of the Telephone Consumer Protection Act (TCPA).
The case, McLaughlin Chiropractic Associates Inc. v.… Continue Reading
CFPB wins default judgment in auto dealership complaint, but federal judge rejects bureau assessment of damages
A federal District Judge for the Northern District of Georgia, Victoria Marie Calvert, awarded a default judgment to the CFPB against USASF, a car loan servicer of loans originated by U.S. Auto Sales Inc., a buy-here, pay-here dealership. The claim was based on alleged violations of myriad consumer protection rules.
However, Judge Calvert did not accept the estimates of damages the alleged violations caused, saying they were flawed because a CFPB data scientist used figures suggested by bureau attorneys. … Continue Reading
Federal Judge Sanctions Pittsburgh Law Firm for Writing ‘Imaginary’ Letters on Behalf of Clients in Debt Disputes
A Pennsylvania federal judge has imposed sanctions and lambasted a law firm and its attorneys for having employees write falsified letters on behalf of clients involved in debt collection disputes.
Attorneys Travis Andrew Gordon, and Joshua P. Ward, and their firm, J.P. Ward & Associates, LLC, filed two suits suit on behalf of clients disputing debts.… Continue Reading
Appeals Court Says Terms and Conditions Contained in Unsigned Auto Rental ‘Terms and Conditions’ are Part of the Consumer Contract
Unsigned Terms and Conditions found in a preprinted car rental jacket are part of the contract between the parties under Florida, Arizona and Colorado law because they were properly incorporated by reference into the signed rental receipt, the 11th Circuit Court of Appeals ruled Thursday.
The case, Calderone v. Sixt Rent a Car, stems from allegations that Sixt did not follow the Terms and Conditions in its rental jacket when charging renters for auto repairs. … Continue Reading
Witnesses Call on Congress to Establish Regulatory Office in Wake of Loper
Congress must adjust to the demise of the Chevron Deference doctrine by drastically improving its regulatory expertise, witnesses told a House Committee on July 23.
“Congress must reclaim its lawmaking and rule-writing authority from the executive branch by marshaling appropriate resources and full-time personnel to perform regulatory oversight, including cost-benefit analysis and disclosures often neglected by the executive branch, sometimes in violation of law,” Clyde Wayne Crews Jr.,… Continue Reading
FCC issues final rule on revocation of consent for robocalls and robotexts
The Federal Communications Commission (FCC) has issued a final rule amending its regulations implementing the Telephone Consumer Protection Act (TCPA) to add new provisions addressing how consumers may revoke consent to receive autodialed or prerecorded voice calls or texts and the obligations of callers and texters to honor revocation of consent requests.… Continue Reading
New FCC rule on TCPA consent for advertising and telemarketing calls and texts will significantly impact callers who obtain consent from lead generators
Yesterday, by a vote of 4-1, the Federal Communication Commission (FCC) adopted a new rule amending its regulations implementing the Telephone Consumer Protection Act (TCPA) to close what it refers to as the “lead generator loophole.” The new rule represents a major change for the online lead generation industry, including comparison shopping websites, by requiring lead generators to obtain consumer consent to receive robocalls and robotexts from one seller at a time, rather than having a single consent apply to multiple sellers at once. … Continue Reading