On September 9, 2025, the Court of Appeal of the State of California upheld California Attorney General (AG) Rob Bonta’s trial-court victory against a business and its owner for violations of California’s unfair competition law (UCL) based on allegations of the illegal sale of credit insurance, which largely targeted the business’s Latino immigrant customer base.

In this crossover episode of The Consumer Finance Podcast and Regulatory Oversight, Chris Willis is joined by Joseph DeFazio, Bill Foley, and Michael Yaghi to discuss the implications of New York’s FAIR Act, a significant amendment to the state’s UDAAP statute. The FAIR Act aims to broaden consumer protection by lowering the threshold for legal action against unfair and abusive business practices. With expanded enforcement powers for the state, this legislation could dramatically increase litigation risks for financial services companies operating in New York if the governor signs the bill. Tune in to understand how this legislative shift might affect the industry and what steps businesses can take to prepare.

Register Here

Wednesday, October 29 | 1:00 – 3:10 p.m. ET

Mike Yaghi and Lane Page, members of Troutman Pepper Locke’s State Attorneys General practice, along with Stefanie Jackman and Caleb Rosenberg from the Consumer Financial Services practice, will participate in an upcoming CLE webinar with myLawCLE. They will analyze the evolving roles and enforcement priorities of federal and state regulatory agencies, focusing on their impact on consumer financial services.

Introduction

The United States is navigating a new era of regulatory oversight and the balance of power between federal and state regulators following the 2024 election cycle. As federal agencies retreat from and/or realign their regulatory enforcement priorities, state attorneys general (AGs) are increasingly taking the lead in policing companies — especially those that are consumer-facing — bridging perceived gaps left by shifting federal priorities, and in some cases, emboldened to expand regulatory enforcement into relatively new arenas.

On June 25, the California Department of Financial Protection and Innovation (DFPI) entered a consent order with Coinme, Inc., a cryptocurrency “ATM” operator, for noncompliance with the California’s Consumer Financial Protection Law (CCFPL) and Digital Financial Assets Law (DFAL). The consent order marks a significant milestone in California’s regulatory efforts because it represents the conclusion of the agency’s first enforcement action under the DFAL.

New York City Comptroller Brad Lander released a report titled “Standing Up for New York Consumers – How New York State and New York City can Strengthen Consumer Financial Protection in the Trump Era,” which called for the strengthening of local consumer financial protections in response to the Trump administration’s recent actions to reduce the regulatory footprint of the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau (CFPB or Bureau).

New York Attorney General (AG) Letitia James’ office has reached a cumulative total of $3.2 million in settlements with eight Nissan dealerships that the office accuses of overcharging New Yorkers for purchasing leased vehicles at the conclusion of their lease term.

On March 7, Arizona Attorney General (AG) Kristin Mayes filed a novel lawsuit alleging consumer fraud and racketeering against numerous entities, individuals, and even law firms and title companies involved in the residential real estate market. The lawsuit is now pending in Maricopa County. The lawsuit offers a warning to entities, individuals, title companies, and even attorneys and law firms involved in the residential real estate industry.