Last year was another remarkable year for the retail industry. We continue to partner with our retail clients through these extraordinary times, striving to provide top-notch, innovative legal solutions and insight. Published yesterday, our 2022 Retail Industry Year in Review provides a comprehensive overview of recent developments, issues, and trends impacting retailers, as well as a look ahead at what to expect in 2023.
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Whole Foods Settles BIPA Voiceprint Class Action
On January 3, 2023, an Illinois state court entered a preliminary approval order for a settlement of nearly $300,000 in a class action lawsuit against Whole Foods for claims that the company violated the Illinois Biometric Information Privacy Act.
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Absorbing and Reacting to the SEC’s New Clawback Rules
The Securities and Exchange Commission (the “SEC”) on October 26, 2022, adopted new executive compensation “clawback” rules, thus fulfilling its 2010 mandate under the Dodd-Frank Wall Street Reform and Consumer Protection Act (“Dodd-Frank”). The purpose of this alert is to briefly summarize the rules and some related considerations and highlight next steps that issuers should be considering as they plan to comply with the new rules.
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NYDFS Fines EyeMed $4.5 Million for Cybersecurity Violations
On October 18, 2022, the New York State Department of Financial Services announced that EyeMed Vision Care LLC agreed to a $4.5 million settlement for violations of the Cybersecurity Regulation that contributed to the exposure of hundreds of thousands of consumers’ health data in connection with a cybersecurity event in 2020.
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FTC Complaints and Class Actions Send Warning to Consumer Product Manufacturers and Retailers: Double-Check Your Product Warranties
In the past year, the FTC has promoted consumers’ so-called “right to repair.” In particular, the FTC has focused on the “Anti-Tying Rule” of the Magnuson-Moss Warranty Act (the “MMWA”), which limits manufacturers’ ability to steer consumers to manufacturer-affiliated repair shops. Plaintiffs’ firms have taken notice, filing a spate of class actions based on purported violations of the Anti-Tying Rule. These same firms have also filed a spate of consumer class actions against retailers alleging violations of the MMWA’s “Pre-Sale Availability Rule.” Manufacturers and retailers should confirm they are complying with the MMWA and state law.
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FTC Extends Public Comment Period on Advertising to Kids in Digital Media
On August 23, 2022, the Federal Trade Commission announced it is seeking additional public comment on “how children are affected by digital advertising and marketing messages that may blur the line between ads and entertainment” in conjunction with its “Protecting Kids from Stealth Advertising in Digital Media” event on October 19, 2022. The event will
First CCPA Enforcement Action Settlement Announced by California AG
On August 24, 2022, California Attorney General Rob Bonta announced the Office of the Attorney General’s (“OAG’s”) first settlement of a California Consumer Privacy Act (“CCPA”) enforcement action, against Sephora, Inc.
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SEC Issues SAB 121 Providing Accounting Guidance for Companies that Safeguard Digital Assets
On March 31, 2022, the staff of the Division of Corporation Finance and the Office of the Chief Accountant of the SEC issued Staff Accounting Bulletin (SAB) No. 121 (SAB 121), which “adds interpretive guidance for entities to consider when they have obligations to safeguard crypto-assets held for their platform users.” SAB 121 highlights the enhanced technological, legal and regulatory risks associated with safeguarding digital assets, as compared with more traditional asset classes.
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The SEC Proposes a Mandatory Climate Disclosure Regime for Public Companies
Last week, the Securities and Exchange Commission revealed its much-anticipated proposal to require that public companies disclose climate-related information. The proposed rule is significant because, for the first time, the SEC would mandate that companies (including foreign companies) publicly traded in the US disclose climate-related risk and greenhouse gas emissions information beyond the information currently required by existing SEC rules applicable to registration statements and annual reports.
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Fitness App Agrees to Pay $56 Million to Settle Class Action Alleging Dark Pattern Practices
On February 14, 2022, Noom Inc., a popular weight loss and fitness app, agreed to pay $56 million, and provide an additional $6 million in subscription credits to settle a putative class action in New York federal court. The class is seeking conditional certification and has urged the court to preliminarily approve the settlement.
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