Since July 2022, the New Jersey Division of Consumer Affairs (NJDCA) secured six settlements — totaling over $260,000 — with six different New Jersey car dealerships for allegedly violating consumer protection laws by:

• Not listing vehicles’ prior accidents, damage, and repairs;

• Not honoring a used car’s advertised price;

• Charging excessive vehicle preparation fees not itemized or properly disclosed to the consumer;

• Not providing written warranties;

• Not disclosing a vehicle’s full sale price; and

• Engaging in deceptive advertising.

Under the settlements, the dealerships agreed to pay civil monetary penalties, fees, and costs; cease all unfair or deceptive acts or practices; comply with all applicable state and federal laws; and resolve all consumer complaints. “Consumers have enough to worry about in this challenging car market, and illegal practices by car dealerships should not be one of them,” said New Jersey Attorney General Matthew Platkin. “These settlements should put dealers on notice that we will not stop protecting New Jerseyans and are always working to ensure a transparent auto market.”

Why This Matters

With the current shortage of new and used cars, these settlements will help protect consumers against fraud, deceptive advertising, misrepresentations, and legal and regulatory violations, while also thwarting post-pandemic exploitations. It further highlights that state AGs remain focused on combating predatory sales tactics.

Troutman Pepper State Attorneys General Team

	Ashley Taylor – Co-leader and Firm Vice Chair Ashley is a partner in the firm’s Regulatory Investigations, Strategy + Enforcement (RISE) Practice Group and co-leader of the State Attorneys General practice. He focuses primarily on federal and state government regulatory and enforcement matters involving state attorneys general, the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau (CFPB), and the Federal Trade Commission (FTC). Drawing upon his experience as a deputy attorney general, Ashley has developed an extensive consumer practice with regard to the consumer financial services industry.
	Clay Friedman – Co-leader Clay is a partner in the firm’s Regulatory Investigations, Strategy + Enforcement (RISE) Practice Group and co-leader of the State Attorneys General practice. Informed by nearly a decade in a state attorneys general office, and more than 25 years in private practice, Clay spends much of his time representing clients in singular or multistate regulatory actions. Clay has repeatedly led teams before all 50 state attorneys general and also handles matters with the Federal Trade Commission, the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau, and other local, state and federal agencies.
	Stephen Piepgrass Stephen represents clients interacting with, and being investigated by, state attorneys general and other enforcement bodies, including the CFPB and FTC, as well as clients involved with litigation, particularly in heavily regulated industries.
	Michael Yaghi Michael handles high-profile state attorneys general, FTC, and CFPB investigations by advising clients through these complex government inquiries. He assists clients through the entire life cycle of investigations, from regulatory enforcement through formal litigation.
	Ketan Bhirud As a former government official at the state and federal level, Ketan leverages extensive experience in the public and private sectors to skillfully represent client interests.
	Avi Schick A former deputy attorney general of New York, Avi applies his experience in bet-the-company matters, representing clients in criminal and civil investigations and enforcement actions before state and federal regulators, prosecutors and enforcement agencies.
	Chris Carlson Chris represents clients in regulatory, civil and criminal investigations and litigation. In his practice, Chris regularly employs his prior regulatory experience to benefit clients who are interacting with and being investigated by state attorneys general.
	Natalia Jacobo Natalia is an associate in the firm’s business litigation practice. She recently received her J.D from the University of California, Davis School of Law.
	Namrata Kang Namrata is an associate in the firm’s Regulatory Investigations, Strategy + Enforcement (RISE) Practice Group, based in the Washington, D.C. office. Her work includes advising clients in regulatory investigations and compliance matters, in addition to representing clients in civil litigation matters.
	Whitney Shepard Whitney is an attorney in the firm’s Regulatory Investigations, Strategy + Enforcement (RISE) Practice Group. She represents clients facing state and federal regulatory investigations and enforcement actions, as well as related civil litigation.
	Stephanie Kozol Stephanie is Troutman Pepper’s senior government relations manager in the state attorneys general department.