Chris Carlson, Blake Christopher, and Kyara Rivera Rivera of Troutman Pepper Locke discuss a recent trend of State AGs publicizing when they initiate an investigation and the considerations for companies on the receiving end.
Catherine Hanaway Appointed as Missouri AG
On Tuesday, Governor Mike Kehoe announced that Catherine Lucille Hanaway will become attorney general (AG) of Missouri on September 8. Her appointment follows the resignation of Andrew Bailey, who is stepping down to assume a federal role as co-deputy director of the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI).
Arizona AG and BBB Launch Educational Campaign on Modern Consumer Scams
On June 18, Arizona Attorney General (AG) Kris Mayes, in partnership with the Better Business Bureau (BBB), announced a new consumer educational campaign aimed at teaching Arizona residents how to avoid falling victim to a variety of scams. The education campaign targets consumers lacking awareness of such scams, especially senior citizens. The series of video public service announcements (PSAs) aims to enable Arizona consumers to spot and avoid scams on their own. According to the FBI Internet Crime Complaint Center, Arizona residents lost approximately $392 million due to consumer fraud in 2024. The AG’s office received almost 22,000 consumer complaints, answered more than 28,000 phone calls, and reviewed more than 23,000 emails from consumers regarding potential fraud during this time.
Understanding the Impact of HCA Healthcare’s Settlement
What Happened
HCA Healthcare Inc., a major U.S. hospital operator with more than 180 hospitals across 20 states, announced a $3.5 million settlement to address allegations of state consumer protection and labor law violations brought by the attorneys general (AG) of California, Colorado, and Nevada. The allegations centered on HCA’s enforcement of training repayment agreements (TRAs) with new nurses.
Understanding BBB Ratings: Strategic Approaches to Consumer Complaints
In this episode of Regulatory Oversight, Stephen Piepgrass, Michael Yaghi, and Dan Waltz conclude their two-part series on the Better Business Bureau (BBB). The group discusses strategies for managing and improving BBB ratings for businesses, while examining how consumer complaints impact potential regulatory actions. They emphasize the importance of addressing these consumer complaints promptly, highlighting the need for effective training and streamlining complaint handling processes within companies to prevent issues from being overlooked.
Colorado AG Sues PetSmart Over TRAP Contracts
Colorado Attorney General (AG) Phil Weiser has sued PetSmart LLC, alleging that its use of Training Repayment Agreement Provisions (TRAPs) violates state consumer protection and labor laws. The lawsuit reflects a broader effort by Weiser and other state AGs to combat purportedly exploitive employment agreements.
New Jersey’s Data Deletion Law: Implications for Resold or Re-leased Vehicles
On July 28, the New Jersey Division of Consumer Affairs issued a reminder to more than 3,000 auto dealerships regarding their obligations under the New Jersey data deletion law, N.J.S.A. § 56:12-18.1. This law, enacted and effective in January 2024, requires dealerships to offer data deletion services for consumer information stored in vehicles accepted for resale or lease. Dealerships are now on notice of their compliance obligations under the law.
Bipartisan State AGs Urge Congress to Grant Access to Federally Regulated Banking and Financial Services to State-Regulated Cannabis Businesses
In July 2025, a bipartisan coalition of 32 state and territorial attorneys general (AG) sent a letter to congressional leaders urging the passage of the Secure and Fair Enforcement Regulation (SAFER) Banking Act. Their letter emphasizes that the legislation — a long-stalled federal reform — would provide legal clarity and a safe harbor for banks and financial institutions to serve state-licensed cannabis businesses. Such clarity, they argue, is urgently needed to address public safety risks and to improve the states’ ability to regulate and tax the booming cannabis industry.
State Attorneys General Step Up Enforcement With Regulatory Shift of Trump Administration
Ashley Taylor, Clayton Friedman, Michael Yaghi, Natalia Jacobo, and Jay Myers of Troutman Pepper Locke LLP discuss stepped up enforcement efforts among state attorneys general in the face of the Trump administration’s broad deregulatory agenda and as federal agencies appear to shift litigation priorities.
Read the full article at Reuters and Westlaw Today.
Streaming Under Scrutiny: Roku’s Response to Michigan AG’s Allegations of COPPA and Other Privacy Law Violations
On April 29, Michigan Attorney General (AG) Dana Nessel filed a lawsuit against Roku, Inc. (Roku), the smart TV and device provider and streaming service, alleging Roku violated the Children’s Online Privacy Protection Act (COPPA), federal and state privacy laws, the Michigan Consumer Protection Act, and other laws by collecting children’s personal data and selling it without proper parental consent. The lawsuit sought damages and equitable relief on behalf of Michigan consumers who subscribed to Roku’s streaming service. More information regarding this lawsuit can be found here.