West Virginia Attorney General (AG) Patrick Morrisey announced a total $17 million settlement agreement with pharmaceutical companies, Pfizer and Ranbaxy after more than a decade of litigation regarding the companies’ alleged “pay-for-delay” antitrust violations related to the cholesterol drug, Lipitor.
Troutman Pepper Locke State Attorneys General Team
Missouri AG Announces New Rule for Big Tech
Missouri’s attorney general (AG) announced on X.com (formerly Twitter) that he is “issuing a rule requiring Big Tech to guarantee algorithmic choice for social media users.” [X.com post (January 17, 2025, roughly 3:35 p.m. EST)] He intends to use his authority “under consumer protection law,” known as the Missouri Merchandising Practices Act in that state…
New Jersey AG Platkin Announces New Guidance on AI Use
On January 9, New Jersey Attorney General (AG) Matthew J. Platkin and the Division on Civil Rights (DCR) launched a new Civil Rights and Technology Initiative aimed at addressing the potential for discrimination and bias associated with artificial intelligence (AI) and other decision-making technologies. The announcement is one of many recent examples of AG’s leading the development of AI regulation. The New Jersey initiative is informed by recommendations from Governor Phil Murphy’s Artificial Intelligence Task Force, which emphasized the need for public education on bias and discrimination related to AI deployment.
U.S. Supreme Court Declines to Overturn New York’s Affordable Broadband Act
The U.S. Supreme Court closed out 2024 by confirming states’ authority to regulate internet service providers. On December 16, 2024, the Court denied certiorari in New York State Telecommunications Association, Inc., et al. v. Attorney General Letitia James, Case No. 21-1975, allowing New York’s Affordable Broadband Act (ABA) to stand.
Oregon Issues AI Guidance for Businesses
As one of her last acts in office, on December 24, 2024, Oregon Attorney General (AG) Ellen Rosenblum issued guidance for businesses deploying artificial intelligence (AI) technologies. The guidance highlights the risks associated with the commercial use of AI, and underscores that, despite the absence of a specific AI law in Oregon, a company’s use of AI must still comply with existing laws.
New Year, New Liability for Private Equity
Newly Signed Massachusetts Law Ramps up Regulation and AG Liability for Private Equity Investments in Health Care
Troutman Pepper Locke Officially Launches
Law Firm Grows to More Than 1,600 Attorneys Across 33 Offices, Enhancing Capabilities and Expanding Reach for Clients
FTC and Illinois AG Settle Matter Against Grubhub for $140M
On December 17, 2024, the Federal Trade Commission (FTC) and Illinois Attorney General (AG) Kwame Raoul settled their lawsuit against Grubhub for $140 million (Grubhub will only have to pay $25 million, with the balance suspended due to Grubhub’s inability to pay).
Leadership Changes at NAAG
The National Association of Attorneys General (NAAG) recently held its annual Capital Forum in Washington, D.C., where noteworthy leadership changes were announced. This year’s forum marked the transition of leadership within the organization, reflecting its ongoing commitment to addressing important issues through bipartisan collaboration.
Eighteen State AGs and DeFi Education Fund Sue SEC for Approach to Digital Asset Regulation
On November 14, a coalition of 18 states, led by Utah Attorney General (AG) Sean Reyes, the outgoing chairman of the Republican AGs Association, filed a lawsuit against the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) and its chair, Gary Gensler. DeFi Education Fund, a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization, also joined the states in this legal action. The lawsuit, filed in the U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of Kentucky, challenges the SEC’s regulatory approach toward digital assets, asserting that the agency has overstepped its authority and infringed upon state sovereignty.