FTC Approves Final Order Settling Charges that General Electric’s Acquisition of Avio Aviation’s Business Would be Anticompetitive in Market for Airbus’s A320neo Aircraft Engines

Following a public comment period, the Federal Trade Commission has approved a final order settling charges that General Electric Company’s acquisition of the aviation business of Italy’s Avio S.p.A would be anticompetitive. The FTC’s complaint alleges that GE’s acquisition of Avio would substantially lessen competition, giving GE the ability and incentive to disrupt the design and […]

FTC Returns Additional $950,000 to Consumer Victims in DVD Vending Scam

The Federal Trade Commission is mailing 426 refund checks totaling more than $950,000 to consumers who were victimized by a scam that promoted video rental machines as a business opportunity. This mailing, combined with checks previously mailed by the FTC, will increase the total funds returned to consumers by the FTC in this matter to nearly […]

FTC Files Complaint Against LabMD for Failing to Protect Consumers’ Privacy

The Federal Trade Commission filed a complaint against medical testing laboratory LabMD, Inc. alleging that the company failed to reasonably protect the security of consumers’ personal data, including medical information.  The complaint alleges that in two separate incidents, LabMD collectively exposed the personal information of approximately 10,000 consumers. The complaint alleges that LabMD billing information […]

FTC Signs Memorandum of Understanding with Nigerian Consumer Protection and Criminal Enforcement Authorities

The Federal Trade Commission signed a memorandum of understanding (MOU) with two Nigerian agenciestoday to increase cooperation and communication in their joint efforts to stamp out cross-border fraud.  Nigeria’s Ambassador to the United States, Ambassador Adebowale Adefuye, provided opening remarks for the MOU signing ceremony. The MOU was signed by FTC Chairwoman Edith Ramirez; Director […]

Hospital Authority and Phoebe Putney Health System Settle FTC Charges That Acquisition of Palmyra Park Hospital Violated U.S. Antitrust Laws

The Hospital Authority of Albany-Dougherty County andPhoebe Putney Health System, Inc. have agreed to settle Federal Trade Commission charges that the acquisition ofPalmyra Park Hospital harmed hospital competition in six Georgia counties.  The proposed consent includes provisions to aid competition in these local health care markets, but due to the unique circumstances of the Certificate […]

Precious Metal Marketers Agree to Settle FTC Charges

Telemarketers behind an allegedly fraudulent investment scheme used to con nearly $5 million from elderly consumers have been banned from selling precious metals under a settlement with the Federal Trade Commission. The settlement resolves FTC charges against Sterling Precious Metals LLC, Matthew Meyer and Francis Ryan Zofay for promising consumers they could profit by investing in […]

Jesta Digital Settles FTC Complaint it Crammed Charges on Consumers’ Mobile Bills Through ‘Scareware’ and Misuse of Novel Billing Method

Global mobile marketer Jesta Digital, LLC, will provide refunds to a large number of consumers and pay an additional $1.2 million to the Federal Trade Commission as part of a settlement with the FTC, which alleged that Jesta crammed unwanted charges onto consumers’ cell phone bills. According to the Commission’s complaint, Jesta – which also does business […]

FTC Submits Proposed Amicus Brief Concerning “No-Authorized-Generic” Commitments in Drug Companies’ Patent Settlements

The Federal Trade Commission has asked the U.S. District Court for the District of New Jersey to accept an amicus brief that addresses the application of the U.S. Supreme Court’s recent ruling in FTC v. Actavis to a patent settlement containing a “no-authorized-generic” commitment. The FTC submitted the brief in the case of In re Effexor XR […]

Certegy Check Services to Pay $3.5 Million for Alleged Violations of the Fair Credit Reporting Act and Furnisher Rule

Certegy Check Services, Inc., one of the nation’s largest check authorization service companies, has agreed to pay $3.5 million to settle Federal Trade Commission charges that it violated the Fair Credit Reporting Act (FCRA).   Certegy, based in St. Petersburg, Fla., is a consumer reporting agency (CRA) that compiles consumers’ personal information and uses it […]

FTC Seeks Public Comment on AssertID, Inc., Proposal for Parental Verification Method Under COPPA Rule

The Federal Trade Commission is seeking public comment on a proposed verifiable parental consent method that AssertID, Inc., has submitted for Commission approval under the agency’s Children’s Online Privacy Protection Rule. Under the rule, online sites and services directed at children must obtain permission from a child’s parents before collecting personal information from that child. […]