Settlement

New Jersey Joins Multi-State $39.1 Million Settlement with Apotex

New Jersey Joins Multi-State $39.1 Million Settlement with Apotex

**TRENTON, NJ** – New Jersey is part of a coalition of 50 states and territories seeking preliminary approval for a $39.1 million settlement with Apotex. The settlement addresses allegations of conspiracy to inflate prices and restrict competition for generic drugs.

Attorney General Matthew J. Platkin, along with a multistate coalition, initially announced the settlement with Apotex last fall, alongside a similar $10 million agreement with Heritage Pharmaceuticals. After securing necessary signatures, the coalition filed a motion for the settlement’s preliminary approval in the U.S. District Court for the District of Connecticut in Hartford.

Consumers who purchased certain generic prescription drugs from May 2009 to December 2019 may be eligible for compensation. To check eligibility, they can call a toll-free number, send an email, or visit the provided website.

Both Apotex and Heritage have agreed to cooperate with ongoing multistate litigation involving 30 corporate defendants and 25 individual executives. The companies will implement internal reforms to ensure compliance with antitrust laws, contributing to the resolution of past infractions and prevention of future misconduct.

Attorney General Announces Settlement with Gun Retailer Following Sales Investigation

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Attorney General Announces Settlement with Gun Retailer Following Unlawful Sales

**TRENTON, NJ** – Attorney General Matthew J. Platkin announced that Point Blank Guns and Ammo LLC has reached a court-ordered settlement following a civil lawsuit. The lawsuit was a result of the store selling gun-related products to undercover investigators without verifying if the buyers could legally possess a firearm. This settlement is in accordance with the legislative requirements from July 2022 as per N.J.S.A. 2C:58-35.

The complaint, filed in November last year by Attorney General Platkin and the Statewide Affirmative Firearms Enforcement Office (SAFE), detailed two instances involving Point Blank. In March, the store sold a handgun ammunition magazine, and two months later, a 1,000-round case of .223 caliber ammunition, both to first-time buyers without demanding identification or permits.

Attorney General Platkin emphasized the importance of adhering to these laws to prevent unlawful practices that could lead to mass shootings. SAFE Director Ravi Ramanathan highlighted the need for gun stores to confirm that buyers can lawfully possess firearms. Both recognize that Point Blank has agreed to amend its practices.

As part of the consent order, Point Blank has agreed to implement procedures ensuring compliance with

State Securities Regulators Reach Settlement with Vanguard

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State Securities Regulators Reach Settlement with Vanguard

**TRENTON, NJ** – The Office of the Attorney General, Division of Consumer Affairs, and Bureau of Securities have announced that New Jersey is part of a $106 million settlement with Vanguard Marketing Corporation and The Vanguard Group, Inc. This settlement involves Vanguard’s failure to supervise registered persons and disclose tax consequences after changes in investment minimums for target date retirement funds.

The settlement follows a three-year investigation by a multistate task force under the North American Securities Administrators Association (NASAA), co-led by New Jersey, Connecticut, and New York. The investigation ran parallel to a similar inquiry by the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC).

Vanguard initially offered Institutional and Investor Target Retirement Funds with differing investment minimums. In December 2020, the minimum for Institutional TRFs dropped from $100 million to $5 million, leading many investors to redeem Investor TRF shares for Institutional TRF shares. This shift triggered capital gains taxes for hundreds of thousands of investors in the Investor TRFs, which Vanguard did not disclose.

The SEC will use its Fair Fund program to compensate the affected investors. Vanguard Group, Inc., the parent company of VMC, has not admitted or denied any

Pennsylvania Attorney General Announces Settlement with Inspire Clean Energy for Dirty Tricks

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Pennsylvania Attorney General Announces Settlement with Inspire Clean Energy

**HARRISBURG, PA** – Attorney General Michelle Henry has confirmed a settlement with Inspire Clean Energy. The California-based company will provide $150,000 in restitution as part of a $250,000 agreement for allegedly misleading consumers into service agreements.

The Office of Attorney General’s investigation suggests Inspire representatives misled consumers by suggesting they were participating in surveys or mailing lists, enrolling them in energy services instead. Some consumers encountered increased energy costs after being promised savings.

Under the settlement, Inspire is required to ensure clear disclosures during customer interactions and obtain explicit consent before enrolling customers in their services. Attorney General Henry emphasized the importance of protecting Pennsylvanians from deceptive practices involving essential services.

The investigation revealed instances where Inspire representatives falsely claimed affiliations with the government or other utility companies. The settlement requires additional measures for compliance and oversight of Inspire representatives.

Settlement Reached with Dick’s Sporting Goods on Ammunition Sales Violations

Settlement Reached with Dick’s Sporting Goods on Ammunition Sales Violations

**TRENTON, NJ** – Attorney General Matthew J. Platkin and the Division of Consumer Affairs announced a settlement with Dick’s Sporting Goods, Inc. The settlement resolves allegations that the retailer violated New Jersey’s consumer protection laws by selling and shipping large capacity ammunition magazines (LCMs) into the state through its former subsidiary, Field and Stream.

New Jersey law prohibits the possession of LCMs, defined as firearm magazines holding more than 10 rounds of ammunition. LCMs can enable a shooter to fire many bullets quickly, which increases the risk of multiple injuries and fatalities in violent incidents. The frequent use of LCMs has been documented in mass shootings due to their potential for serious harm.

Under the terms of the settlement, Dick’s Sporting Goods has agreed to pay $46,000 in civil penalties and attorneys’ fees. The company has also committed to halting the sale and shipment of firearms, ammunition, and related products, including LCMs. Furthermore, if the chain resumes online sales of LCMs, it will not direct advertisements to New Jersey consumers and will not ship to any address in the state.

The investigation was conducted by the Office