Every year the FTC brings hundreds of cases against individuals and companies for violating consumer protection and competition laws that the agency enforces. These cases can involve fraud, scams, identity theft, false advertising, privacy violations, anti-competitive behavior and more. The Legal Library has detailed information about cases we have brought in federal court or through our internal administrative process, called an adjudicative proceeding.
Illumina Inc./Pacific Biosciences of California, Inc., In the Matter of
The Federal Trade Commission authorized an action to block Illumina Inc.’s proposed $1.2 billion acquisition of Pacific Biosciences of California, alleging in an administrative complaint that Illumina is seeking to unlawfully maintain its monopoly in the U.S. market for next-generation DNA sequencing systems by extinguishing PacBio as a nascent competitive threat. The Commission vote to issue the administrative complaint and to authorize staff to seek a temporary restraining order and preliminary injunction was 5-0. On Jan. 2, 2020, the parties abandoned the transaction.
Lambert, Daniel
Post Holdings, Inc.; In the Matter of
The Federal Trade Commission authorized an action to block Post Holdings, Inc.’s proposed acquisition of the private label ready-to-eat ("RTE") cereal business of TreeHouse Foods, Inc. In an administrative complaint issued on December 19, 2019, the Commission alleges that the proposed acquisition would harm retailers and end consumers by eliminating head-to-head competition between the Respondents in the United States market for private label RTE cereal. The Commission vote to issue the administrative complaint and to authorize staff to seek a temporary restraining order and preliminary injunction was 5-0. The administrative trial is scheduled to begin on May 27, 2020. The parties announced they had abandoned the transaction on Jan. 13, 2020.
LotaData, Inc., In the Matter of
LotaData settled Federal Trade Commission allegations that the company falsely claimed certification under the EU-U.S. Privacy Shield framework.
DCR Workforce, Inc., In the Matter of
DCR Workforce, Inc. reached a settlement with the FTC over allegations that the company made false or misleading representations about its participation in the EU-U.S. Privacy Shield framework.
EmpiriStat, In the Matter of
EmpiriStat settled Federal Trade Commission allegations that the company falsely claimed certification under the EU-U.S. Privacy Shield framework.
Trueface.ai, In the Matter of
Trueface.ai settled Federal Trade Commission allegations that the company falsely claimed certification under the EU-U.S. Privacy Shield framework.
Thru, Inc., In the Matter of
Thru, Inc. reached a settlement with the FTC over allegations that the company made false and misleading representations about its participation in the EU-U.S. and Swiss-U.S. Privacy Shield frameworks.
Statement of Commissioner Rohit Chopra Regarding the Request for Comment on Vertical Merger Guidelines
Concurring Statement of Commissioner Christine S. Wilson Concerning the Publication of FTC-DOJ Draft Vertical Merger Guidelines for Public Comment
Statement of Rebecca Kelly Slaughter on the FTC-DOJ Draft Vertical Merger Guidelines
Evonik Industries AG, et al.
The Federal Trade Commission authorized an action to block Evonik Industries AG’s proposed $625 million acquisition of PeroxyChem Holding Company, alleging the merger of the chemical companies would substantially reduce competition in the Pacific Northwest and the Southern and Central United States for the production and sale of hydrogen peroxide, a commodity chemical used for oxidation, disinfection, and bleaching.
Mortgage Solutions FCS, Inc.
Mortgage Solutions FCS, doing business as Mount Diablo Lending, and Ramon Walker agreed to pay $120,000 to settle Federal Trade Commission allegations that it violated the Fair Credit Reporting Act and other laws by revealing personal information about consumers in response to negative reviews posted on the review website Yelp.
Medable, Inc., In the Matter of
Medable settled Federal Trade Commission allegations that it falsely claimed participation in the EU-U.S. Privacy Shield framework, which enables companies to transfer consumer data legally from European Union countries to the United States.
Doskocil Manufacturing Company, Inc., d/b/a Petmate (Arm & Hammer-branded cat litter pans)
InfoTrax Systems, L.C.
InfoTrax, L.C. settled Federal Trade Commission allegations that the company failed to put in place reasonable security safeguards, allowing a hacker to access the personal information of more than a million consumers.