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FTC and Texas AG File Suit Against IFC Credit
In yet another round of lawsuits stemming from the NorVergence telecommunications fraud, the Federal Trade Commission and the Attorney General of Texas filed simultaneous complaints in the U.S. District Court for the Northern District of Illinois and Harris County, TX, against Illinois-based commercial finance company IFC Credit for violating federal law by helping to finance the scheme and continuing to seek payment from defrauded NorVergence customers.
According to the FTC's complaint filed June 6, IFC Credit Corporation purchased NorVergence rental agreements valued at $21 million, with individual contracts ranging from $4439 to $160,672. The complaint alleges that despite making payments, no customers received telecommunications services from NorVergence for more than a short period of time, and many consumers received none. It further alleges that IFC continued to finance the fraudulent scheme by accepting new rental contracts, despite NorVergence's failure to provide the promised services and the resulting high rate of default among IFC customers. In addition, long after NorVergence entered bankruptcy in 2004, IFC continued to tell consumers they were obligated under the rental agreements because the payments are for the device, not for services.
New York's Latest Cybersecurity Commitment
On Aug. 9, 2023, Gov. Kathy Hochul introduced New York's inaugural comprehensive cybersecurity strategy. In sum, the plan aims to update government networks, bolster county-level digital defenses, and regulate critical infrastructure.
The DOJ's Corporate Enforcement Policy: One Year Later
The DOJ's Criminal Division issued three declinations since the issuance of the revised CEP a year ago. Review of these cases gives insight into DOJ's implementation of the new policy in practice.
How AI Has Affected PR
When we consider how the use of AI affects legal PR and communications, we have to look at it as an industrywide global phenomenon. A recent online conference provided an overview of the latest AI trends in public relations, and specifically, the impact of AI on communications. Here are some of the key points and takeaways from several of the speakers, who provided current best practices, tips, concerns and case studies.
Use of Deferred Prosecution Agreements In White Collar Investigations
This article discusses the practical and policy reasons for the use of DPAs and NPAs in white-collar criminal investigations, and considers the NDAA's new reporting provision and its relationship with other efforts to enhance transparency in DOJ decision-making.