Retail fuel station and convenience store operator Alimentation Couche-Tard Inc. has agreed to divest up to 71 retail fuel stations with convenience stores to Empire Petroleum Partners in order to settle Federal Trade Commission charges that ACT’s proposed $4.4 billion acquisition of competitor CST Brands, Inc. would violate federal antitrust law. The divestiture order requires […]
Monthly Archives: June 2017
FTC Wraps up Major Phone Cramming Case as Remaining Defendants Settle Charges
The remaining defendants behind a massive landline cramming operation agreed to settle Federal Trade Commission charges that they placed more than $70 million in unauthorized charges on consumers’ phone bills. The settlements with defendants Steven Sann, Terry Lane, and the corporate defendants who operated the scheme, resolve the remaining charges the FTC brought against American […]
FTC Charges Debt Collection Scheme Took Consumers’ Money for Phantom Debts They Did Not Owe
The Federal Trade Commission has charged a North Carolina debt collection operation and its owner with taking money from consumers for fake debts they did not owe. The action is part of the FTC’s crackdown on “phantom” debt collection. According to the FTC, Anthony Swatsworth, ACDI Group LLC, and Solutions to Portfolios LLC (ACDI) bought […]
FTC Returns Money to Victims of Timeshare Resale Scam
The Federal Trade Commission is mailing 338 checks totaling more than $319,000 to people who lost money to Information Management Forum Inc., which also did business as Vacation Property Marketing, and its owner, Edward Lee Windsor. The defendants lured consumers into paying “registration fees” for their services by making unsolicited telemarketing calls to timeshare owners […]
FTC Announces Regulatory Reform Measures Ranging from TVs and Textiles to Energy Labels and Email
As part of Federal Trade Commission Acting Chairman Maureen K. Ohlhausen’s regulatory reform initiative, the FTC is taking steps to ensure that its rules and guides keep pace with technological advances in the marketplace while continuing the agency’s mission to protect consumers and promote competition without unduly burdening legitimate business. “Regulations can be important tools […]
FTC and State Attorney General Challenge Physician Group Acquisition in North Dakota
The Federal Trade Commission has authorized a federal court action to block Sanford Health’s proposed acquisition of Mid Dakota Clinic, alleging that the deal would violate antitrust law by significantly reducing competition for adult primary care physician services, pediatric services, obstetrics and gynecology services, and general surgery physician services in the greater Bismarck and Mandan […]
Federal Trade Commission Closes Investigation of Texas Medical Board After Texas Passes Law Expanding Telemedicine and Telehealth Services
The Federal Trade Commission has closed its investigation of whether the Texas Medical Board violated federal antitrust law by adopting rules restricting the practice of telemedicine and telehealth in Texas. The Commission voted to close the investigation after Texas enacted a law that overrides the board’s restrictive rules. In a statement explaining its reasoning, the […]
FTC Announces First Economic Liberty Public Roundtable
The Federal Trade Commission announced today that its Economic Liberty Task Force will host a roundtable in Washington, DC on July 27, 2017 to highlight approaches that make it easier for workers in state-licensed occupations to offer their services across state lines or move between states. Most occupational licenses are not portable, meaning that workers […]
FTC Offers Comment on Process Aimed at Improving Security of Internet of Things Devices
The Federal Trade Commission has submitted public comments to a working group convened by the U.S. Commerce Department’s National Telecommunications and Information Administration (NTIA) that is developing guidance about ways for Internet of Things (IoT) device manufacturers to better inform consumers about security updates related to the devices. The FTC comments pertain to draft guidance […]
FTC Announces Agenda for Military Consumer Financial Workshop: Protecting Those Who Protect Our Nation
The Federal Trade Commission has announced the agenda and speakers confirmed to date for its upcoming workshop in San Antonio, Texas on July 19, 2017, a forum on financial issues and scams that can affect military consumers, including active duty servicemembers in all branches and veterans. The 2017 Military Consumer Financial Workshop: Protecting Those Who […]