Troutman Pepper State Attorneys General Monitor – January 20, 2023

Contacts:
Ashley L. Taylor, Jr.
Clay Friedman
Stephen Piepgrass
Avi Schick
Michael Yaghi
Ketan Bhirud
Chris Carlson
Carson Cox
Natalia Jacobo
Namrata Kang
Susan Nikdel
Whitney Shephard
Trey Smith
Daniel Waltz
Stephanie Kozol, Senior Government Relations Manager – State Attorneys General

State attorneys general increasingly impact businesses in all industries. Our nationally recognized state AG team has been trusted by clients for 20 years to navigate their most-complicated state AG investigations and enforcement actions.

State Attorneys General Monitor analyzes regulatory actions by state AGs and other state administrative agencies throughout the nation. Contributors to this newsletter and related blog include attorneys experienced in regulatory enforcement, litigation, and compliance.

Contact our State AG Team at StateAG@troutman.com.

Troutman Pepper State Attorneys General Practice Co-Lead Ashley Taylor Named Vice Chair for the Firm

Ashley L. Taylor, Jr., co-leader of Troutman Pepper’s nationally ranked State Attorneys General practice, has been named vice chair of Troutman Pepper, effective January 1, 2023. He brings decades of legal industry experience to this leadership role, and will continue his full-time legal practice, handling some of the largest, and often unprecedented, regulatory and enforcement matters throughout the country.

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AG Updates

New AG on the Block: Pennsylvania Acting AG Michelle Henry

By Troutman Pepper State Attorneys General Team

On January 17, Pennsylvania Acting Attorney General Michelle Henry (R) succeeded AG Josh Shapiro who became the state’s 48th governor. Since 2017, Acting AG Henry served as former AG Shapiro’s first deputy — the first woman in that position — overseeing all legal, criminal, and civil matters in the AG’s office. Governor Shapiro now plans to nominate her as his “permanent” replacement to the Republican-controlled state Senate, so she can serve the remaining two years of his term as a full-fledged AG.

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North Carolina AG Josh Stein Announces Bid for Governor

By Troutman Pepper State Attorneys General Team

On January 18, North Carolina Attorney General Josh Stein (D) announced his bid for governor in a three-minute video to replace term-limited Democrat Roy Cooper. Since his announcement comes nearly two years (657 days) before the 2024 election, AG Stein likely hopes his early launch will dissuade other Democratic primary challengers. More than 150 elected officials in North Carolina, including 64 members of the state House and Senate, 16 mayors, and 28 district attorneys and sheriffs, endorsed AG Stein’s announcement. AG Stein garnered national attention by leading lawsuits against opioid manufacturers and by initiating efforts to end robocalls and robotexts.

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Missouri AG Sues Solar Company for Missouri Consumer Protection Violations

By Ryan Strasser, Ketan Bhirud, and Carson Cox

Before being elected to the U.S. Senate, now former Missouri Attorney General Eric Schmitt filed a lawsuit against Power Home Solar LLC — a North Carolina entity now doing business as Pink Energy — alleging that the solar company misrepresented the effectiveness and safety of its energy-generating systems for residential homes in violation of the Missouri Merchandising Practices Act. The lawsuit seeks injunctive relief and restitution in addition to civil penalties to remedy the alleged violations of Missouri consumers’ rights.

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Virginia AG Promotes “Positive” 2023 Legislative Agenda

By Troutman Pepper State Attorneys General Team

On January 10, Virginia Attorney General Jason Miyares detailed his 2023 General Assembly session priorities, supporting law enforcement, victim prioritization, and community safety. AG Miyares plans to accomplish his goals — “to crack down on organized retail crime, punish drug dealers peddling lethal fentanyl, support members of the Jewish Community, and protect Virginia consumers from policies designed for Californians” — through bipartisan collaboration with the General Assembly.

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Medical Billing Company Refunds Coloradans After Sending Deceptive Letters

By Troutman Pepper State Attorneys General Team

On January 17, after an extensive investigation by the Consumer Protection Section of the Colorado Department of Law, Colorado Attorney General Phil Weiser announced that medical billing company Flatirons agreed to refund payments by Coloradans for allegedly deceptive billing notices, totaling $12,933.89. Flatirons creates and processes claims for insurance reimbursement, coverage appeals/denials, monetary payments owed by patients, while also serving as a billing point of contact with insurers and patients.

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