The question of who qualifies as a “consumer” under the Video Privacy Protection Act (VPPA) is no longer academic. In late March and early April 2025, two federal appellate courts issued starkly conflicting rulings in Gardner...more
4/11/2025
/ Appeals ,
Class Action ,
Consumer Privacy Rights ,
Disclosure Requirements ,
Personal Data ,
Personal Information ,
Privacy Laws ,
Split of Authority ,
Statutory Interpretation ,
Targeted Digital Advertising ,
Video Recordings ,
VPPA ,
Websites
A recent Ninth Circuit decision, Chabolla v. ClassPass, Inc., underscores critical considerations for retailers with online Terms of Service / Use agreements, particularly regarding arbitration provisions and related consumer...more
3/12/2025
/ Arbitration ,
Arbitration Agreements ,
Auto-Renewal ,
Class Action ,
Clickwrap Agreements ,
Consumer Contracts ,
Consumer Privacy Rights ,
Contract Terms ,
Data Privacy ,
Internet Retailers ,
Online Contracts ,
Retailers ,
Subscription Services ,
Terms of Service ,
Unfair Competition
In a notable development for corporate defendants grappling with consumer privacy litigation, the Southern District of New York has recently issued a decision in Lee v. Springer Nature America, Inc., embracing a broadened...more
3/10/2025
/ Class Action ,
Consent ,
Consumer Privacy Rights ,
Data Collection ,
Data Privacy ,
Disclosure Requirements ,
Facebook ,
Personal Information ,
Personally Identifiable Information ,
Privacy Laws ,
Publishers ,
Social Networks ,
Third-Party Risk ,
Third-Party Service Provider ,
VPPA
In the long-awaited newest chapter of case law discussing the validity and enforceability of arbitration clauses and class action waivers, the Ninth Circuit on October 28, 2024, dealt a setback, though not a fatal blow, to...more
11/15/2024
/ Anticompetitive Behavior ,
Appellate Courts ,
Arbitration ,
Arbitration Agreements ,
Class Action ,
Class Action Arbitration Waivers ,
Contract Terms ,
Delegation Clauses ,
Event Tickets ,
Federal Arbitration Act ,
Mass Tort Litigation ,
Preemption ,
Putative Class Actions ,
Terms of Use ,
Unconscionable Contracts
In the rapidly evolving digital world, plaintiffs’ attorneys have found renewed interest in pursuing class action claims under the California Invasion of Privacy Act (CIPA) and similar laws, arguing that third-party companies...more
In the realm of TCPA class actions, the Central District of California’s decision in Wiley v. Am. Fin. Network, Inc. serves as a noteworthy (and positive) development. And it offers a blueprint for corporate defendants...more
8/1/2023
/ Auto-Dialed Calls ,
Burden of Proof ,
Class Action ,
Class Certification ,
Class Representatives ,
Consent ,
Defense Strategies ,
Do Not Call List ,
Putative Class Actions ,
TCPA ,
Telemarketing
In the intricate and often convoluted realm of TCPA litigation, the Ninth Circuit’s recent decision in Hall v. Smosh Dot Com, Inc. stands as a beacon, illuminating the complexities of Article III standing and the implications...more
In the ever-evolving landscape of TCPA litigation, the recent case of Hooper v. Jerry Insurance Agency, LLC, No. 22-cv-04232, 2023 U.S. Dist. LEXIS 105247 (N.D. Cal. June 1, 2023) provides a noteworthy exploration of contract...more
7/18/2023
/ Arbitration ,
Class Action ,
Consent ,
Contract Formation ,
Contract Terms ,
Enforceability ,
Hyperlink ,
Motion to Compel ,
TCPA ,
Terms of Use ,
Websites
The District of Massachusetts’s recent decision in Fairfield v. DCD Auto. Holdings, Inc., No. 22-cv-11977, 2023 U.S. Dist. LEXIS 109463 (D. Mass. June 26, 2023) serves as a key reminder for businesses not only to have...more
7/13/2023
/ Affiliates ,
American Arbitration Association ,
Arbitration ,
Arbitrators ,
Class Action ,
Class Representatives ,
Consumer Contracts ,
Contract Terms ,
Delegation Clauses ,
Mandatory Arbitration Clauses ,
Non-Signatories ,
Putative Class Actions ,
TCPA ,
Text Messages
Little details matter, particularly in TCPA class actions. The court’s decision in Perrong v. Victory Phones LLC, No. 20-5317, 2021 U.S. Dist. LEXIS 26159 (E.D. Pa. Feb. 11, 2021) is a good reminder not to simply gloss over...more
Ringless Voicemail (“RVM”) technology provides companies the ability to reach a massive amount of people with low cost by avoiding typical telephony charges. RVM works by sending a voicemail message via server-to-server...more
2/25/2021
/ Auto-Dialed Calls ,
Cell Phones ,
Class Action ,
Corporate Counsel ,
Corporate Fines ,
Do Not Call List ,
FCC ,
Marketing ,
Prior Express Consent ,
Robocalling ,
TCPA ,
Voicemail
Text messages are becoming an ever-increasing way for companies to communicate with their customers. However, if text message campaigns are not crafted properly, companies can run afoul of the Telephone Consumer Protection...more
Text messages are becoming an ever-increasing way for companies to communicate with their customers. However, if text message campaigns are not crafted properly, companies can run afoul of the Telephone Consumer Protection...more
Since the enactment of the Telephone Consumer Protection Act (“TCPA”), the FCC has long held that persons who knowingly and voluntarily release their telephone numbers have provided prior express consent to be called. But...more
The potential payday of a TCPA class action is huge. Sometimes, it makes otherwise good attorneys convince themselves of really bad ideas when chasing those dollar signs. Derrick v. Kroger Co., No. 3:19-cv-00106, 2019 U.S....more
In Bridgeview Health Care Center, Ltd. v. Jerry Clark d/b/a Affordable Digital Housing, No. 14-3728 (7th Cir. March 21, 2016), the Seventh Circuit issued a multilayered decision regarding the use of subclasses under Fed. R....more
On October 23, 2015, Facebook won dismissal of a potential $15 billion class action which accused the company of secretly tracking the Internet activity of its users after they log off. In re Facebook Internet Tracking...more
On August 12, 2015, the Fifth Circuit held that a plaintiff’s rejection of an offer of judgment does not moot the plaintiff’s claim, even if the offer provides complete relief to the plaintiff. Hooks v. Landmark Indus.,...more
In Ewing Indus. Corp. v. Bob Wines Nursery, No. 14-13842, 2015 U.S. App. LEXIS 13484 (11th Cir. Aug. 3, 2015), the Eleventh Circuit Court of Appeals held that the pendency of a prior purported class action does not toll the...more
The Telephone Consumer Protection Act, 47 U.S.C. § 227 (“TCPA”), prohibits initiating a telephone call using a prerecorded voice to wireless or residential telephone numbers unless the called party consents to receiving the...more
Investors sued HCA Holdings, Inc., alleging that HCA’s registration statement and prospectus contained misrepresentations when HCA made its initial public offering in 2011. The district court certified a class of investors,...more
On March 25, 2014, Brian Jackson received a text message on his cellular phone, allegedly making an offer for cruise ticks on behalf of Caribbean Cruise Line (“CCL”). Jackson filed suit against AdSource Marketing Ltd....more
The Telephone Consumer Protection Act, 47 U.S.C. § 227 (“TCPA”), prohibits the transmission of “an unsolicited fax advertisement.” Rosen Family Chiropractic (“Rosen”) filed suit against Chi-Town Pizza on Div. St. (“Chi-Town...more
In Glauser v. GroupMe, Inc., the Northern District California granted summary judgment in favor of GroupMe, Inc. (“GroupMe”) in a putative class action alleging that GroupMe sent text messages via an automatic telephone...more
Detroit-area nurses filed an antitrust suit against Detroit Medical Center (“DMC”), alleging that “softened competition” resulted from DMC sharing compensation information with other hospitals. The plaintiffs also alleged a...more