Torsten M. Kracht

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“Buy now, pay later” companies have exploded in popularity over the past year, largely through integration into retailers’ online checkout platforms. Often presented during checkout next to traditional payment methods like credit and debit cards, BNPL companies invite consumers to make purchases over a few payments with zero interest. There are, however, fees for missed payments, late payments, or payments rejected for insufficient funds. Moreover, BNPL offerings may occupy a gray zone apart from typical credit transactions or loans which could exempt them from all sorts of laws and regulations.
Continue Reading Challenges for “Buy Now, Pay Later” Industry May Affect Retailers

According to U.S. Census Bureau estimates, retail sales plummeted 16.4% in April 2020. As state and local governments across the country begin to lift or ease Stay at Home Orders and business closures, retailers reopening their doors are grappling with how to protect their employees’ health and reassure customers that it is safe to shop.
Continue Reading Cash or Credit? State and City Bans on Cashless Retailers Are on the Rise

For the past few years, retailers have been confronted with a tidal wave of litigation alleging that their websites are inaccessible in violation of the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA). Indeed, in 2018 alone, one analysis determined that there were at least 2,258 web accessibility cases filed in federal court, a 177 percent increase from the previous year. Of these cases, a total of 1,564—over 69 percent—were filed in New York federal courts by just a handful of lawyers, including Jeffrey Gottlieb, Bradley Marks, C.K. Lee, Joseph Mizrahi, Jonathan Shalom and Doug Lipsky, with a surge following two unsuccessful motions to dismiss in cases involving Five Guys and Blick Art.
Continue Reading The Next Wave of Accessibility Litigation in the Retail Industry: Braille Gift Cards

Benchmarking studies performed by outside consultants are an increasingly common way for retailers to gain insight into how their contracts stack up against others in the industry. Hiring a consultant to review your vendor contracts for benchmarking purposes could, however, expose you to risks. Before you undertake an engagement that requires sharing any information with a third party, you should understand and manage the potential risk.
Continue Reading Sharing Business Contracts with a Benchmarking Consultant? You Might Be Breaching Vendor Agreements

On April 18, 2017, the state of Washington passed House Bill 1493, which sets forth requirements for businesses who collect and use biometric identifiers for commercial purposes. Under HB 1493, a biometric identifier includes a fingerprint, voiceprint, retina, iris or other unique biological patterns or characteristic used to identify a specific individual.
Continue Reading Washington State Passes New Legislation on Collection and Use of Biometric Identifiers