Google’s YouTube will pay $170 million to settle claims it violated child privacy laws
September 4, 2019, CNBC
YouTube will pay $170 million to settle allegations by the Federal Trade Commission and the New York attorney general that it earned millions by illegally collecting personal information from children without their parents’ consent. The settlement was passed in a 3-2 vote by the commissioners along party lines. The two Democrats voted against it, saying it did not go far enough to punish YouTube.
Olathe School District will sue e-cigarette maker Juul
September 27, 2019, KMBC
The Olathe Public School District has taken action to sue e-cigarette maker JUUL, claiming the vaping epidemic and JUUL Labs has created a threat to students’ health. The school board authorized school attorneys to sue JUUL. The district says the lawsuit will not require the school district to allocate money to pay for the litigation. A law firm will underwrite the litigation costs and 1/3 of any award would go to the firm.
Boeing revamps safety oversight after review of 737 Max crashes
September 25, 2019, Seattle Times
Boeing aims to sharpen its focus on safety after the 737 Max’s grounding ends, forming a new oversight panel and recommending changes to the planemaker’s structure and design practices after two crashes that killed 346 people. The board’s new Aerospace Safety Committee will supervise the development and manufacturing of Boeing aircraft, the company said, led by Retired Admiral Edmund Giambastiani, a former vice chairman of the U.S. Joint Chiefs of Staff.
Mattel says its new line of gender neutral dolls is “free of labels”
September 25, 2019, CBS-Moneywatch
Mattel may be best known for Barbie — a doll that epitomizes femininity for many people — but now it’s rolling out a new line of gender-neutral dolls. The $30 toys are aimed at children who “don’t want their toys dictated by gender norms,” the company said.
SF to allow 10,000 e-scooters citywide, raising fears of ‘scooter-geddon part two’
September 25, 2019, San Francisco Examiner
Four e-scooter companies just won a coveted permit to rent electric kick scooters in San Francisco. Jump, Lime, Scoot and Spin will all become a permanent presence on The City’s streets. And those e-scooter companies will be able to run in more neighborhoods than they were previously allowed to, spreading to San Francisco’s West Side.
States’ Survey: PFAS consumer product regulations
September 24, 2019, JD Supra
Manufacturers, distributors, and retailers of consumer products across a broad spectrum of industries are being impacted by regulations regarding the presence of per- and polyfluorinated chemicals (“PFAS”) in their products. This area of law is rapidly developing as states create new laws, and the penalties for non-compliance can be significant. Here is an overview of enacted and proposed state laws and regulations.
Massachusetts senator votes to ban certain toxic flame retardants
September 25, 2019, Arlington, MA Wicked Local
Sen. Cindy Friedman, D-Arlington, joined her colleagues in voting to ban certain toxic chemical flame retardants from children’s products, including toys and nap mats, as well as in upholstered furniture, window dressings, carpeting, and bedding made or sold in the state. The bill, S.2338, would establish an initial list of eleven chemical flame retardants that would be banned.
FTC on influencers and consumer reviews from the NAD conference
September 27, 2019, JD Supra
Mamie Kresses, a senior attorney in the Bureau of Consumer Protection, Advertising Practices division at the Federal Trade Commission (FTC), offered her views on influencers and consumer reviews, two topics “near and dear to our hearts.” Here are some key takeaways on the FTC’s approach to the topics.
US Fireworks industry expresses disappointment in CPSC “failure to improve consumer safety”
September 24, 2019, PRNewswire
“The American Fireworks Standards Laboratory (AFSL) and the American Pyrotechnics Association (APA), together representing more than 95 percent of the American fireworks industry join to express disappointment in today’s 3-1 vote by the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC) in failing to update its mandatory consumer fireworks safety standards to enhance the safety of American families.”
Charges for VW executives mark latest bad day for German carmaker
September 25, 2019, The Irish Times
Volkswagen was supposed to turn the corner this year from the shadow of a costly diesel emissions scandal, with a new emphasis on electric vehicles, a new logo and a new commitment to ethical behaviour. But German prosecutors charged the carmaker’s two highest-ranking executives with stock market manipulation for failing to inform shareholders of an investigation in the US that led to its conviction for emissions cheating.
FTC identifies concerns over plaintiff’s lawyer’s advertisements concerning risks associated with pharmaceutical drugs
September 26, 2019, The National Law Review
On September 24, 2019, the FTC announced that it had sent letters to seven legal practitioners and lead generators that expressed concerns that some television advertisements that solicit clients for personal injury lawsuits against pharmaceutical companies may be deceptive or unfair under the FTC Act. The FTC did not identify who received the letters or which specific ads might be at issue.
