A Minnesota jury found home seller Chadwick Banken liable for violating the Minnesota Human Rights Act by targeting Muslim homebuyers in a deceptive contract for deed scheme. The scheme involved inflated prices, large down payments, and balloon payments designed to cause defaults, allowing Banken to keep payments and resell properties. Remedies including restitution will be determined at a later hearing.
The jury found Banken liable; the court will determine remedies, including restitution to victims, at a future hearing.
In-house legal teams should review real estate purchase agreements, especially contracts for deed, for terms that could be deemed predatory or discriminatory. Key clauses to examine include balloon payment provisions, default and forfeiture terms, down payment requirements, and any marketing or targeting based on religion. Vendor agreements with real estate agents or brokers should include anti-discrimination and fair lending compliance obligations. Customer-facing contracts should ensure clear disclosure of all terms and avoid hidden fees or unfair cancellation policies.
Entity
Chadwick Banken
Industry
Real Estate"Chadwick Banken"
"Minnesota Human Rights Act"
"Consumer Financial Protection Act"
"Prevention of Consumer Fraud Act"
"Uniform Deceptive Trade Practices Act"
"targeting Muslim homebuyers in his deceptive and unlawful contract for deed scheme"
This press release is about a court temporarily blocking the merger of Warner Bros. Discovery and Paramount Skydance Corporation based on antitrust concerns under the Clayton Act. It is not a privacy-related enforcement action. The Minnesota Attorney General joined a multistate coalition to challenge the merger, and the court granted a temporary restraining order.
$29.6M
Minnesota Attorney General Keith Ellison joined a 48-state coalition in a $29.6 million settlement with generic-drug manufacturer Glenmark to resolve allegations of a widespread conspiracy to artificially inflate and manipulate prices, reduce competition, and restrain trade for numerous generic prescription drugs. The settlement requires Glenmark to cooperate in ongoing multistate lawsuits and implement internal reforms to ensure compliance with antitrust laws.
The Minnesota Attorney General filed a lawsuit against Maduro Distributors, Inc. (doing business as Loon) for illegally manufacturing, distributing, and selling flavored vapes that appeal to minors, using flavors like 'Cotton Candy' and 'Blue Razz Slushy' and kid-friendly characters. The lawsuit also alleges Loon deceptively marketed its products as accepted for FDA approval when they were not. The state seeks a permanent injunction, civil penalties up to $25,000 per violation, restitution, and attorney fees.
$18.0M
A coalition of 42 state attorneys general reached a settlement with the bankruptcy trustee for 23andMe over a 2023 data breach that compromised the genetic data of 6.9 million customers. The settlement provides $18 million from bankruptcy funds, with Minnesota receiving $514,871, and imposes data security requirements on the successor entity, 23andMe Research Institute.
Attorney General Ellison and 48 other attorneys general called on the FCC to strengthen rules to cut off scammers' access to legitimate telephone numbers. The coalition is responding to the FCC's proposed rules to combat illegal robocalls and texts, which cost Americans nearly $2 billion last year.
Minnesota Attorney General Keith Ellison joined a coalition of 12 state attorneys general in filing a lawsuit challenging Paramount's $110 billion acquisition of Warner Bros. Discovery. The lawsuit alleges that the merger violates Section 7 of the Clayton Act by substantially lessening competition in theatrical film distribution and basic cable television channel licensing, threatening higher prices and reduced innovation for consumers.