Judge Halts FTC Investigation into Controversial Liberal Media Oversight Group

A federal judge in Washington, D.C., has halted an investigation by the Federal Trade Commission into a liberal media watchdog organization. This ruling raises questions about the balance between government oversight and First Amendment protections in a politically charged atmosphere. The watchdog group, which focuses on media accountability, faced scrutiny under an FTC probe that aimed to assess its financial dealings and transparency. The organization argued that the investigation infringed upon its rights, asserting that since its inception, it has operated within legal bounds and has been committed to promoting media fairness. U.S. District Judge … Read more

FTC Takes Action: Lawsuit Filed to Block Edwards Lifesciences’ $945M Acquisition of JenaValve Over Antitrust Concerns

Washington, D.C. — The Federal Trade Commission is taking legal action against Edwards Lifesciences over its plans to acquire JenaValve, raising concerns about potential antitrust violations in the medical device industry. The FTC argues that this acquisition could stifle competition in the market for transcatheter aortic valve replacement devices designed for treating aortic regurgitation. In July 2024, Edwards Lifesciences announced intentions to purchase JenaValve and JC Medical, two notable developers in the transcatheter aortic valve replacement sector. Edwards completed the acquisition of JC Medical in August, paying approximately $320 million, and the FTC warns that … Read more

Walmart to Pay $10 Million to Settle FTC Lawsuit Over Fraudulent Money Transfer Claims

CHICAGO — Walmart has agreed to a $10 million settlement to resolve a civil lawsuit filed by the U.S. Federal Trade Commission, which alleges that the retailer failed to take necessary actions against fraudsters exploiting its money transfer services. The lawsuit claims that this negligence allowed criminals to defraud consumers of hundreds of millions of dollars. The settlement was submitted in federal court in Chicago and is pending approval by U.S. District Judge Manish Shah. As part of the agreement, Walmart committed to enhancing its protocols around money transfers, specifically pledging to not process transfers … Read more

U.S. Court Advances FTC Lawsuit Against Kochava Over Sensitive Geolocation Data Sales

BOISE, Idaho – A federal judge recently ruled against Kochava Inc., a digital marketing data brokerage, allowing a lawsuit filed by the Federal Trade Commission (FTC) to proceed. The FTC has accused Idaho-based Kochava of selling mobile device geolocation data that allegedly could be used to track individuals to sensitive locations without their consent. The decision came down from U.S. District Judge B. Lynn Winmill of the District of Idaho on February 3, 2025. In his ruling, Judge Winmill found sufficient grounds to explore if Kochava’s transactions potentially breached privacy expectations, siding with the FTC’s … Read more