Penalty Amount
$40,000
Connecticut Attorney General William Tong announced settlements with four hearing aid companies for marketing their products as 'FDA-approved' when no such approval exists. The companies will collectively pay $40,000 and cease such marketing practices. The investigation underscores that over-the-counter hearing aids are not FDA-approved and consumers should be wary of such claims.
The companies must stop marketing their hearing aids as FDA-approved and pay monetary penalties totaling $40,000 to the state of Connecticut.
In-house legal teams should review vendor, customer, and marketing agreements for clauses addressing product representations, regulatory compliance, and advertising accuracy. Specifically, examine any warranties or statements regarding FDA approval or registration, marketing materials clauses, and compliance with consumer protection laws. Updates may be needed to remove 'FDA-approved' language, add clear disclaimers about regulatory status (e.g., 'FDA-registered but not approved'), and include covenants prohibiting false or misleading claims about government endorsement or product approvals.
Entity
Lively Hearing Corporation, Widex USA, Inc., Hark Wellness, Inc., Wonder Ear, Inc.
Also known as: Lively Hearing, Widex USA, Hark Wellness, Wonder Ear
Industry
HealthcareConnecticut 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
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Connecticut and Massachusetts co-led a coalition protest urging FERC to reject the proposed NextEra Energy-Dominion Energy merger. The coalition argued that the merger could increase market power and threaten energy affordability, reliability, and competition; the release does not report a final enforcement decision or penalty.
Connecticut officials warned residents about potential home improvement scams before an approaching nor’easter, including unlicensed contractors, high-pressure sales tactics, and demands for full payment upfront. The release provides consumer guidance on checking contractors and contract requirements; it does not announce an enforcement action or penalty against a named entity.