Penalty Amount
$19,200,000
Ford Motor Company agreed to a $19.2 million multistate settlement for falsely advertising the fuel economy of 2013–2014 C-Max hybrids and the payload capacity of 2011–2014 Super Duty pickup trucks. The settlement requires Ford to cease deceptive advertising practices and pay penalties to participating states.
Ford must pay $19.2 million in settlement funds and is enjoined from making false or misleading advertising claims about vehicle fuel economy and payload capacity.
In-house legal teams should review customer sales contracts, dealer agreements, and marketing/licensing agreements for clauses related to product specifications, advertising representations, and compliance with consumer protection laws. Specifically, examine representations and warranties regarding fuel economy and payload capacity, advertising and marketing compliance provisions, indemnification for false claims, and restitution mechanisms. Changes may include revising product specifications to align with advertised claims, implementing pre-approval processes for marketing materials, adding explicit accuracy guarantees, incorporating penalties for misrepresentations, and ensuring alignment with multistate settlement requirements, including potential corrective advertising obligations.
Entity
Ford Motor Company
Also known as: Ford
Industry
Automotive$376K
The California Privacy Protection Agency (CalPrivacy) settled with Ford Motor Company requiring the company to pay a $375,703 fine and change its practices. Ford violated the CCPA by requiring consumers to complete an email verification step before they could opt-out of the sale and sharing of their personal information collected through digital properties and connected vehicle services. In addition to the fine, Ford must provide easy methods to submit opt-out requests with minimal steps, audit its tracking technologies, and ensure compliance with opt-out preference signals including Global Privacy Control.
$376K
The California Privacy Protection Agency settled with Ford Motor Company for $375,703 after finding that Ford violated the CCPA by requiring email verification for opt-out requests, creating unnecessary friction. Ford must implement easier opt-out methods, conduct a website audit, and comply with global privacy controls.
Connecticut Attorney General William Tong joined a coalition of states and local governments in filing suit against NHTSA over its rule weakening fuel economy standards for new passenger cars and light trucks. The lawsuit alleges the rule violates the agency’s statutory mandate and the Administrative Procedure Act; no penalty or final remedy is reported.
Connecticut Attorney General William Tong joined a multistate coalition suing the EPA over its repeal of greenhouse gas pollution limits for power plants and separately filed a notice of intent to sue over regulation of existing gas plants. The coalition asks the court to overturn the repeal and restore the protections; the release reports no monetary penalty or final order.
$400.0M
Connecticut Attorney General William Tong announced a $400 million settlement with Sandoz Inc. and Fougera Pharmaceuticals Inc. resolving allegations that the generic drug manufacturers conspired to inflate prices, limit competition, and restrain trade. The settlement includes consumer restitution and injunctive reforms; court approval was being sought.
Connecticut Attorney General William Tong joined a coalition of 21 attorneys general in submitting a comment letter opposing a DHS rule that allows certain affirmative asylum applications to be referred to removal proceedings without an asylum officer interview. The coalition argues the rule violates federal law and harms asylum seekers, including unaccompanied children; this was a policy opposition letter, not a privacy enforcement action.