Category: Federal Trade Commission
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FTC Considers Holding Paid Web Bloggers Liable for False Brand Claims
The Federal Trade Commission (FTC) has apparently proposed amending its advertising guidelines to hold companies and paid word-of-mouth marketers, including bloggers and those on social networking sites, liable for making false statements to promote products. According to an FTC spokesperson, the proposal would bring the commission up to speed with evolving marketing practices. “The commission…
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Public Citizen Legal Team Veteran to Head FTC Bureau of Consumer Protection
Federal Trade Commission (FTC) Chair Jon Leibowitz has reportedly named David Vladeck as director of the commission’s Bureau of Consumer Protection. Vladeck, who leaves the Georgetown University Law Center faculty, is apparently a 30-year veteran of the Public Citizen Litigation Group and, as such, is expected to pursue a consumer-protection agenda. Representatives of other public…
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Jenna Greene, “Whole Foods’ Mixed Bag,” Legal Times, March 30, 2009
This article comprehensively summarizes the events and proceedings that led Whole Foods Market, Inc. to agree in March 2009 to settle Federal Trade Commission (FTC) charges that its merger with Wild Oats Markets, Inc. violated antitrust laws. According to freelance journalist Jenna Greene, the two-year fight ultimately cost Whole Foods $28 million and resulted in…
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Whole Foods Loses Bid to Stop FTC Antitrust Trial
The D.C. Circuit Court of Appeals has reportedly denied a Whole Foods Market, Inc. petition that sought to stop the Federal Trade Commission’s (FTC) antitrust proceedings against the company’s merger with Wild Oats Markets, Inc. The FTC’s administrative trial is scheduled to begin April 6, 2009, and Whole Foods contends that the commission has pre-judged the…
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Whole Foods Takes Due Process Claims Against FTC to Appeals Court
Whole Foods Market, Inc. has reportedly withdrawn from U.S. district court its due process challenge to the Federal Trade Commission’s (FTC) antitrust proceedings against the company’s merger with Wild Oats Markets, Inc. The case was then refiled before the D.C. Circuit Court of Appeals. According to a Whole Foods executive, “Whole Foods Market is interested…
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FTC Asks Court to Order Whole Foods to Rename Former Wild Oats Stores
The Federal Trade Commission (FTC), continuing to challenge the merger of Whole Foods Market, Inc. with Wild Oats Markets, Inc, has reportedly indicated in court filings that it will seek a court order requiring Whole Foods to rename the Wild Oats stores that were changed into Whole Foods stores and rebrand them as Wild Oats.…
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Plaintiffs Voluntarily Dismiss Whole Foods from Organic Milk Lawsuit
Plaintiffs in multidistrict litigation against Aurora Dairy Corp. over claims that its “organic” milk products do not meet federal certification requirements have reportedly filed an unopposed notice of voluntary dismissal requesting that the court dismiss Whole Foods Market Group, Inc. from the case without prejudice. In re: Aurora Dairy Corp. Organic Milk Mktg. & Sales Practices…
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Appeals Court Refuses to Reconsider Whole Foods Decision
According to a press report, the D.C. Circuit Court of Appeals has refused the request of Whole Foods Market, Inc. that the court reconsider, en banc, a July 2008 decision by a three-judge appellate court panel reviving the Federal Trade Commission’s antitrust challenge to the company’s merger with Wild Oats Markets, Inc. More information about…