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Morrison Foerster’s Class Dismissed blog provides insights and reports on the latest news, developments, and trends that affect consumer-facing companies. Subscribe to receive the latest updates by attorneys from our nationally recognized Consumer Class Action and Product Liability practices.
- “The rise of powerful AI will be either the best or the worst thing ever to happen to humanity. We do not know which.” –Stephen Hawking Artificial Intelligence (AI) and autonomous technology will shape the future, affect how people live and do business, and... ›
CPSC Issues Final Rule Expanding Phthalate Ban
By: Erin M. Bosman and Julie Y. Park
Nearly ten years after the first three phthalates were banned from children’s toys by Congress, the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC) issued a final rule on October 27 prohibiting five more. The rule bans the manufacture for sale, offer for sale, distribution in commerce,... ›Ninth Circuit Finds Lower Court Erred in Flushing “Flushable” Wipes False Advertising Claims
On October 20, 2017, a unanimous Ninth Circuit panel in Davidson v. Kimberly-Clark Corp. , 873 F.3d 1103 (9th Cir. 2017), resolved a circuit-wide split on injunctive standing requirements in the misbranding context. The panel addressed whether a plaintiff allegedly deceived by false advertising... ›Expiring Soon: Temporary BPA Warning Regs Under Prop. 65
With the holidays and end of the year quickly approaching, here is what food and beverage manufacturers and sellers need to know before the temporary Proposition 65 safe harbor warning for Bisphenol A (BPA) exposures expires on December 30, 2017. Read our Law360 article.... ›Full Disclosure: New Labeling for Cleaning Products
By: William F. Tarantino
On October 15, 2017, California Governor Jerry Brown signed into law Senate Bill 258, known as the Cleaning Product Right to Know Act of 2017. The Act requires manufacturers of most cleaning products sold in California to disclose detailed information regarding their chemical content... ›Understanding FDA Guidance On Connected Medical Devices
By: Erin M. Bosman, Julie Y. Park and Brittany Scheinok
In the coming years, we expect to see an explosion in the number of interoperable medical devices. These are connected medical devices that have the ability to connect to different technologies and devices, even from other manufacturers. The U.S. Food and Drug Administration also... ›Fortune Favors the Quick (to Report): Judge Slaps Spectrum Brands with $1.9 Million Penalty in DOJ/CPSC Tag-Team Enforcement Action
By: Erin M. Bosman and Julie Y. Park
A federal district court in Wisconsin recently hit Spectrum Brands Inc. (Spectrum) with civil penalties of $1.9 million for violations of the Consumer Products Safety Act (CPSA). [1] The court’s 23-page opinion is a strong reminder of how devastating the impact can be for... ›Consumer Product Update – California’s Green Chemistry Initiative Looks for New Products to Regulate
Nail polish, household cleaners, carpets, upholstery, lead acid batteries and other products may be targeted for regulation under California’s Safer Consumer Products Program. The Program, also known as the California Green Chemistry Initiative, is an innovative regulatory scheme to evaluate and seek safer substitutes... ›- - CPSC
Buerkle Poised to Take Her Seat
By: Erin M. Bosman and Julie Y. Park
On October 4, the U.S. Senate Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation approved Ann Marie Buerkle’s (R-NY) nomination to the position of Chair of the Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC) after a two-day hearing. Acting Chairman Buerkle’s nomination to another seven-year term as a... › Air Supremacy: Court Finds that Federal Aviation Regulations Preempt City Drone Regulation
On September 21, 2017, the District of Massachusetts ruled that Federal Aviation Regulations (FARs) preempt many of the restrictions that the City of Newton, Massachusetts, imposed on drones within its airspace. Although the decision is not binding on other jurisdictions, the ruling is a... ›