D.C. attorney general backs legislation to better protect consumers

WASHINGTON (Legal Newsline) — District of Columbia Attorney General Karl A. Racine has submitted legislation to the Council of the District of Columbia to better protect D.C. consumers from fraud and other abuses.

The legislation would update the Consumer Protection Procedures Act (CPPA), the district's general consumer protection law, Racine said March 15. The original law was introduced to protect consumers from fraud and other abuses by businesses, and the new legislation aims to make updates to the law to reflect best practices from other states’ consumer protection laws.

“Since we launched our Office of Consumer Protection more than a year ago, its attorneys and staff have identified several ways to refine the district’s law to ensure that we are better able to protect consumers,” Racine said in a prepared statement. “We particularly want to do more to educate and safeguard vulnerable residents like seniors, immigrant communities and lower-income residents. I look forward to working with the council as they consider this legislation.”

Racine’s proposal includes an update banning “unfair business practices” under the CPPA, imposing penalties that are all in line with other states for violating consumer protection laws, making it easier to enforce settlements and allowing D.C. courts to consider Federal Trade Commission decisions in their deliberations.