Four California courts of appeal have already pushed back on Limón. Askins is the next step — and the first case to challenge Limón on federal law grounds, on the very same statute. We'll keep fighting until the courthouse doors are open to all. #OpenDoorProject
That's not how our dual court system was designed to work. The Founders explicitly kept state courts open to all claims — including federal ones — precisely so that people always had somewhere to turn.
That ruling relies on a 2022 decision — Limón v. Circle K — that broke from 150 years of CA legal tradition by importing strict federal standing requirements into state court. The consequence? Large corporations could freely violate federal law, as long as they avoid causing obvious financial harm.
Here's what's at stake: Mr. Askins' employer violated the federal Fair Credit Reporting Act — failing to provide required disclosures before running a background check. No one disputes that. But a California court threw out his case, ruling he lacked a sufficient "injury" because he got the job.
Keeping California's Courthouse Doors Open
The Center, representing ten organizations serving low-income consumers, workers, tenants, and the elderly, has filed a brief in Askins v. CRST, fighting to ensure that California state courts remain accessible. Read more here: bit.ly/Askins
Highlights from last week's Consumer Law Conference
Berkeley Law in the @newyorker.com: Article on C.F.P.B. recalls a @ucbconsumerlaw.bsky.social event "full of aspiring lawyers lured by free burritos" where Senior Fellows @srf1802.bsky.social & @saalevine.bsky.social discussed the "spectre of freewheeling fintech." www.newyorker.com/magazine/202...
Today we filed a comment on behalf of 15 national groups and law student organizations urging the FTC to require disclosure whenever a business uses personalized algorithmic pricing.
Pricing transparency isn't a partisan issue. It's a consumer protection issue.
Data collected about YOU determines what YOU pay — for groceries, transportation, housing & more. Corporate profits go up. Your wallet suffers.
Federal guardrails would require disclosure when these pricing models are used. This isn't about stopping innovation. It's about transparency.
Are you paying more than your neighbor for the same product?
Corporations are using AI & data harvesting to charge different customers different prices — and most people have no idea it's happening. It's called personalized algorithmic pricing. Read our full comment:
rebrand.ly/FTCAIcomment
Center Policy Director Shelmun Dashan - in her individual capacity and as Director of the Economic Justice Policy Advocates Conference (EJPAC) - testified persuasively against the bill.
Consumer Protection Win in Oregon! Oregon consumer advocates defeated an industry bill, HB 4141, that aimed to gut Oregon's strong consumer protections against predatory debt settlement products. Read testimony here: rebrand.ly/ORHB4141 #ConsumerProtection
The Center filed an amicus brief for NTEU vs Vought, a case challenging efforts by Acting Director Vought and the Trump Administration to shutter the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau. Read brief here: bit.ly/46DoEys
The CFPB was created after predatory lending wiped out $11 TRILLION in household wealth.
Now the Trump Administration is trying to shut it down—letting banks off the hook while consumers lose protections. Read amicus brief by advocates to the full D.C. Circuit pushing back:
bit.ly/46DoEys
Big win for consumers in California.
Courts just ruled that breaking the law is enough to sue — even without proving damages.
That keeps courthouse doors open and stops corporations from dodging accountability. A major step forward for economic justice. bit.ly/4rwh0Ot
Big step from the FTC 👏
Reopening the #ClickToCancel rule + launching action on rental junk fees = real relief for consumers tired of hidden fees and subscription traps. We continue to work on behalf of organizations urging the #FTC & #CFPB to #ProtectConsumers: bit.ly/4k86vyg
@nteu335.bsky.social
Win for #Consumers & #FederalWorkers. A court ordered CFPB Dir Vought to keep the CFPB funded & he complied. Last year, the Center, @tzedekdc.bsky.social, and @borrowerjustice.bsky.social filed amicus briefs on behalf of 40+ orgs warning that dismantling the agency is unlawful and unconstitutional.
As Senior Fellow at the Center, Sam’s contributions included articles and op-eds, speeches, and testimony to Congress and state legislatures -- always on behalf of improving the lives of everyday consumers. consumerlaw.berkeley.edu/projects-and...
We’re celebrating Sam Levine’s appointment to lead @hellodcwp.bsky.social Dept. of Consumer & Worker Protection! As Senior Fellow, Sam battled junk fees & predatory traps and pushed for economic justice for families. NYC just got a powerhouse consumer champion.
Air Travelers Beware! @saalevine urges DOT to withdraw proposed rule that would add hurdles to policing unfair/deceptive practices—including hidden fees, refund abuses, & surveillance pricing. Comment supported by Julian Sanghvi & David S. Nahmias. bit.ly/DOT753
Check out @srf1802.bsky.social's guest essay in the @nytopinion.nytimes.com about protecting working people and their families from economic abuse: t.co/O7rfi7TUu3
Former general counsel of the CFPB, Seth Frotman (@srf1802.bsky.social), examines how federal government lawyers can help ensure that laws are faithfully administered to address contemporary challenges. Read MLR Online's latest publication here: michiganlawreview.org/the-federal-...
Giving Trump unbridled power to fire economic regulators puts everyday Americans at risk. The FTC exists to serve the public—not corporate profit, but a ruling in Trump’s favor will turn it into a weapon against political opponents. More: bit.ly/3Xyo9Ri
#SCOTUS #ConsumerProtection
From frequent flyer miles to coffee apps — and even the McDonald’s Monopoly contest — the paper exposes how loyalty programs harvest data, exploit consumer behavior, and even use surveillance pricing to drive spending.
Listen to the authors here: www.organizedmoney.fm/p/the-dark-s...
Last week, Center Senior Fellow @saalevine.bsky.social and Stephanie Nguyen, Senior Fellow at the Vanderbilt Policy Accelerator, joined the Organized Money Podcast to discuss their new paper, The Loyalty Trap: How Loyalty Programs Hook Us with Deals, Hack Our Brains, and Hike Our Prices.
Kudos to GW Law students Nam Lam, Maya Clark, Ben Neyer & Carly Choppin, who co-authored the CLASS Network testimony—with support from Adam Teitelbaum, former Director of Consumer Protection at the D.C. AG’s Office.
#LawStudents
Nahmias Director CLASS Network and the Center’s Legal Director urged the Council to protect vulnerable groups—like renters & students—and expand safeguards against fraudulent charities:
“The Council understands the seriousness of the moment we’re in.”
#CLASSNetwork #GWLaw
