Message from the Chairs

Welcome back from what we hope has been an enjoyable summer. We want to update you on our ambitious new plans for the Consumer & Personal Rights Litigation Committee. We hope to make the Committee an important resource on enforcement and litigation developments of interest to lawyers litigating on behalf of and/or counseling companies and individuals with respect to consumer rights in commercial relationships. Our mission is to become a primary information resource and forum for discussion on developments relating to sales practices, product suitability, marketing and advertising as well as privacy and information security. While these issues have been most pronounced in the financial services sector with respect to lending and investment product offerings, similar issues have surfaced in telecommunications and computer sales, and virtually all other market sectors. In addition, privacy and information security continue to be a top priority and present significant challenges for many business sectors.

Recent key developments that the Committee will cover on its revamped website and newsletters and through programming at Section of Litigation and Committee meetings and webcasts include class action developments related to The Class Action Fairness Act and recent judicial decisions on class settlement parameters, class certification and class discovery issues; and recent consumer protection and information security enforcement orders by the Federal Trade Commission, State Attorney Generals and other federal and state agencies.

Please join us as active participants in our efforts to grow and better serve Committee membership.

Andrew L. Sandler
Scott Nelson
Co-Chairs, Consumer & Personal Rights Litigation Committee