Penalty Amount
$149,673,750
Consumers Affected
211,000
Environmental and consumer protection enforcement action where Mercedes-Benz USA agreed to a nearly $150 million settlement for installing emissions defeat devices in diesel vehicles and misleading consumers about their environmental compliance. The settlement includes significant consumer relief and practice reforms.
Mercedes-Benz USA must pay $120 million to the states, with $29,673,750 suspended pending consumer relief. They must provide extended warranties and $2,000 payments to affected consumers, install emission modifications, and refrain from deceptive marketing.
In-house legal teams should review all vehicle sales contracts, lease agreements, and dealer distribution agreements for clauses related to emissions compliance warranties, marketing representations regarding environmental performance, and disclosures about vehicle software or modifications. Specific clauses to scrutinize include those guaranteeing compliance with emissions standards, restrictions on defeat devices, recall procedures, and remedies for misrepresentation. Given the settlement's focus on undisclosed defeat devices and misleading 'environmentally-friendly' claims, contracts may need amendments to explicitly warrant against such devices, require pre-approval of environmental marketing claims, and incorporate enhanced disclosure obligations for any emissions-related software. Additionally, agreements should address coordination for consumer relief programs, such as the $2,000 per vehicle restitution and extended warranties mandated by the settlement.
Entity
Mercedes-Benz USA
Also known as: Mercedes-Benz
Industry
Automotive"Mercedes-Benz USA"
"$149,673,750 settlement"
"violating state laws prohibiting unfair or deceptive trade practices"
"vehicles equipped with illegal and undisclosed emissions defeat devices"
Oregon Attorney General Dan Rayfield secured a temporary restraining order blocking Paramount Skydance Corporation's proposed $110 billion acquisition of Warner Bros. Discovery. The lawsuit, joined by 11 other state attorneys general, alleges the merger would harm Oregonians through higher prices, lower content quality, and reduced competition in film and television distribution.
$29.6M
Oregon Attorney General Dan Rayfield and a bipartisan coalition of states reached a $29.6 million settlement with Glenmark, a generic drug manufacturer accused of conspiring with other pharmaceutical companies to inflate prices and limit competition for numerous generic prescription drugs. The settlement requires Glenmark to cooperate in ongoing multistate litigations and implement internal reforms to ensure fair competition and antitrust compliance.
Oregon Attorney General Rayfield and a coalition of 11 other attorneys general filed a motion for a temporary restraining order and preliminary injunction to block the $110 billion acquisition of Warner Bros. Discovery, Inc. by Paramount Skydance Corporation. The lawsuit alleges the merger violates Section 7 of the Clayton Act by substantially lessening competition in theatrical film distribution and basic cable television licensing, which would lead to higher prices and reduced content quality for consumers.
$18.0M
A coalition of 42 state attorneys general settled bankruptcy claims against 23andMe following a 2023 data breach that compromised genetic data of 6.9 million customers. The settlement includes $150 million in allowed claims, with $18 million paid from bankruptcy funds, and requires enhanced data security measures for the successor entity, 23andMe Research Institute.
Oregon Attorney General Dan Rayfield and a coalition of 12 state attorneys general filed a lawsuit challenging the $110 billion acquisition of Warner Bros. Discovery by Paramount Skydance Corporation. The lawsuit alleges the merger violates Section 7 of the Clayton Act by substantially lessening competition in theatrical film distribution and basic cable television licensing, which could lead to higher prices and reduced choice for consumers.
The provided press release is a media release from the Oregon Department of Justice announcing a multistate press conference of attorneys general from Oregon, California, Washington, Nevada, and New York advocating for increased state resources to address antitrust enforcement gaps following reduced federal oversight. No privacy-related enforcement actions, violations, penalties, or remedies are described in the document.