CCPA enforcement trends–what we are seeing

Jeff Margulies (US)*Katie Fragoso (US)By Jeff Margulies (US) and *Katie Fragoso (US) on Posted in Consumer class actions

Despite limitations on private rights of action within the California Consumer Privacy Act, many were concerned that the plaintiffs’ bar would find creative ways to skirt CCPA’s boundaries. Four months into CCPA enforcement, those concerns have been borne out. We are seeing three worrisome enforcement trends:

  • Expanding the CCPA’s private right of action;
  • Cloaking a CCPA claim as a California Unfair Competition law violation; and
  • Retroactive application of the CCPA to conduct pre-dating January 1, 2020.

Check out our detailed analysis here.… Continue Reading

Court tosses consumer class action based on alleged Prop 65 violation

Jeff Margulies (US)By Jeff Margulies (US) on Posted in California Proposition 65, Consumer class actions

As a California appellate court once stated, and many businesses find out to their dismay, Proposition 65’s enforcement procedures make “the instigation of Proposition 65 litigation easy—and almost absurdly easy at the pleading stage and pretrial stages.” Consumer Defense Group v. Rental Housing Industry Members, 137 Cal. App. 4th 1185, 1215 (2006). A recent ruling from a federal court has found that despite Prop 65’s low bar, plaintiffs in a consumer class action lawsuit cannot bootstrap an alleged Proposition 65 violation into the basis for California consumer protection claims, at least not without first complying with Prop 65’s pre-suit … Continue Reading

While more states issue reopening plans, other states extend closure

Will Troutman (US)Jeff Margulies (US)Eva Yang (US)By Will Troutman (US), Jeff Margulies (US) and Eva Yang (US) on Posted in Coronavirus

In a sign of the dramatically uncertain nature of next steps, more states have issued orders to partially reopen their economies, while others have extended closure orders that were set to expire at the end of the month.

Reopening

Alaska, Colorado, Georgia, Minnesota, Mississippi, Montana, Oklahoma, South Carolina, Tennessee, and Vermont all have taken the first step towards a gradual reopening. While some of these states have loosened restrictions more aggressively than others, some common themes emerge. Businesses that do reopen must try to maintain social distancing, operate at reduced capacity, and take measures to ensure the safety of their … Continue Reading

Plans for reopening begin at state, federal level

Jeff Margulies (US)Will Troutman (US)*Katie Fragoso (US)By Jeff Margulies (US), Will Troutman (US) and *Katie Fragoso (US) on Posted in Coronavirus, General

State coalitions forming

In an effort to plan for reopening their economies, several states have announced regional collaboration efforts. This includes New York and six other Northeastern states, and California, Oregon, and Washington in the west. Earlier this week, California Governor Gavin Newsom outlined a framework to reopen the western economies, predicated on six key indicators: … Continue Reading

Los Angeles orders workers and customers to wear face coverings

Will Troutman (US)Jeff Margulies (US)*Katie Fragoso (US)By Will Troutman (US), Jeff Margulies (US) and *Katie Fragoso (US) on Posted in Coronavirus, General

We are continuing to track state and local restrictions, updated daily, here.

In a sign of things that may be coming nationally, Los Angeles Mayor Eric Garcetti has issued an “emergency order” requiring employees of “Essential Businesses” to wear face coverings. The order also requires customers visiting such businesses to wear face coverings, at the risk of not being served if they fail to comply.  Businesses are expressly permitted to refuse entry to any customer not wearing a face covering.… Continue Reading

State “stay at home” orders now in 30 states

Will Troutman (US)Jeff Margulies (US)By Will Troutman (US) and Jeff Margulies (US) on Posted in Coronavirus, General

What seemed like a novel and crazy idea a little over a week ago has now become the majority approach to “flattening the curve” in the United States. And those states that have not yet adopted “stay at home” or “shelter in place” orders generally have comparable restrictions at the county, city, or municipal levels.

Check out our updated state and local tracker here.… Continue Reading

Mitigating advertising risks during the COVID-19 crisis

Lauren Shoor (US)By Lauren Shoor (US) on Posted in General

During this time of crisis, pharmaceutical and consumer product companies along with retailers are doing their best to provide the public with products to prevent and treat COVID-19. At the same time, the FTC and FDA have announced that they will be particularly vigilant in policing unscrupulous or overzealous marketers making unsubstantiated, misleading, or false health claims about their products.

In order to mitigate litigation and regulatory risk, companies manufacturing or selling healthcare products should exercise special care in scrutinizing promotional claims that may state or imply that the products prevent or treat COVID-19, influenza, or other diseases.  Specifically, advertising … Continue Reading

Federal and state authorities warn against price gouging

Will Troutman (US)By Will Troutman (US) on Posted in Coronavirus, General

In the wake of the coronavirus, some sellers of essential goods and services have tried to greatly increase the cost of their products to take advantage of increased demand. But sellers beware: Public officials all over the country have expressed a willingness to prosecute price gougers and companies that may facilitate sales of goods with inflated prices.

Check out our detailed analysis of federal and state responses to price gouging.… Continue Reading

Coronavirus business restrictions update and links to orders

Will Troutman (US)Jeff Margulies (US)By Will Troutman (US) and Jeff Margulies (US) on Posted in Coronavirus, General

For those of you have been following our running list of state and local business restrictions here on the blog, we are happy to report that we have been upgraded to a dedicated website. And with our upgrade comes an added feature–links to the state and local orders we are discussing. Please continue to follow us there (we will also keep updating the blog, but it is not nearly as fancy).

… Continue Reading

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