Attorney General Brian L. Schwalb today introduced the Consumer Health Information Privacy Protection Act of 2024 (“CHIPPA”), legislation to protect District consumers’ personal health data by requiring certain entities that fall outside of the federal Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act of 1996 (“HIPAA”)—such as tech companies that have developed fitness apps or patient support groups—to adhere to strengthened privacy provisions regarding the collection, sharing, use, or sale of consumer health data.

District of Columbia Attorney General Brian L. Schwalb and Illinois Attorney General Kwame Raoul led a coalition of 22 state attorneys general in support of a Federal Trade Commission (FTC) order that bars Intuit, the maker of TurboTax, from deceptively advertising “free” tax preparation software when its services were not actually free for most consumers.

Today, Attorney General Brian L. Schwalb and 42 other state attorneys general reached a $700 million nationwide settlement with Johnson & Johnson to resolve allegations of deceptive marketing practices for baby powder and body powder products containing talc.

As the District’s independent, elected Attorney General, there is no higher priority for me and those of us at OAG than public safety. Too many people, across all 8 Wards, don’t feel safe right now in our city.

Attorney General Brian L. Schwalb today announced a $10.25 million 50-jurisdiction settlement with the nation’s largest wireless carriers, AT&T Mobility, LLC (AT&T), Cellco Partnership (doing business as Verizon Wireless), Cricket Wireless, LLC (Cricket), T-Mobile USA, Inc. (T-Mobile), and TracFone Wireless, Inc. (TracFone). This settlement resolves an investigation by the state attorneys general into wireless carriers’ deceptive advertising practices, including misleading marketing of “unlimited data” and “free” devices and misrepresentations about fees and contracts.

Statement of Brian L. Schwalb Attorney General for the District of Columbia
 

Attorney General Brian L. Schwalb today released a 2023 Impact Report detailing how over the past year, The Office of the Attorney General has delivered for District residents, securing $610 million in total savings and benefits – over four times its annual budget.

Yesterday, I testified in front of the DC Council’s Judiciary and Public Safety Committee for the Office of Attorney General’s annual performance oversight hearing. Oversight hearings are an important part of serving as an elected official, and this hearing was a chance to talk with the Council and DC residents about our work delivering for Washingtonians and making the District a safer, healthier, and more equitable place for all who live and work here.

Attorney General Brian L. Schwalb today announced the successful resolution of a lawsuit against Earl Francisco Lopez and several teacher recruitment companies he operated—including Bilingual Teacher Exchange (BTE)—for preying upon dozens of foreign exchange program teachers by lying about his affiliation with the US State Department. The Office of the Attorney General (OAG) sued Lopez, alleging that he falsely claimed to be an official visa sponsor with the power to get teachers fired and deported, charged improperly high fees, and failed to provide promised services.

Happy 2024! It’s hard to believe that January is already drawing to a close. Here at the Office of the Attorney General (OAG), we hit the ground running, kicking off the year with a new public safety grant program and a series of successful wage theft and consumer protection cases that put hundreds of thousands of dollars back into the pockets of District residents. As always, I continued this month spending time at community events and forums throughout the city, hearing directly from District residents. Thank you for making your voices heard – your concerns and ideas for the District directly inform our work here at OAG.