Attorney General William Tong led a coalition of 42 states and territories to urge the FDA to preserve state consumer protection authorities for over-the-counter hearing aids, concerned that the proposed rule could preempt state laws and lack adequate age verification and labeling requirements.
In-house legal teams should review vendor and customer agreements with hearing aid manufacturers, distributors, and retailers. Focus on clauses addressing compliance with consumer protection laws, warranties, returns, advertising restrictions, and professional licensing requirements. Ensure agreements do not contain broad preemption language that could waive state law applicability due to the FDA's proposed rule. May need to add provisions explicitly preserving state consumer protections or clarifying that federal OTC hearing aid regulations do not override state-specific requirements for warranties, returns, advertising, or age verification.
Entity
U.S. Food and Drug Administration
Also known as: FDA
Industry
HealthcareOfficial Press Release
https://portal.ct.gov/ag/press-releases/2022-press-releases/ag-tong-urges-fda-to-preserve-state-regulation-of-otc-hearing-aids
naag final letter hearing aids.pdf?rev=840185f7b5844725b260e
https://portal.ct.gov/-/media/ag/press_releases/2021/naag---final-letter-hearing-aids.pdf?rev=840185f7b5844725b260ea312ebc9cc2&hash=F1945E937484FCD025B2F7EF50CC56CF
Connecticut Attorney General Enforcement Page
https://portal.ct.gov/AG/Privacy/Privacy-Resources
$625K
Connecticut reached a $625,000 settlement with Frontier Communications Parent Inc. over an April 2024 breach in which compromised employee and vendor credentials were used to access internal systems and exfiltrate unencrypted personal information of 58,841 Connecticut residents. The settlement requires Frontier to strengthen its security program, implement specific safeguards and training, and obtain an independent third-party assessment.
$2.6M
Connecticut and New York found that Boston Children’s Health Physicians and its security vendor, XTIUM, failed to use reasonable safeguards, resulting in hackers accessing sensitive personal, medical, and employee information. The companies agreed to pay penalties totaling $2.64 million and implement enhanced cybersecurity measures.
Connecticut joined a coalition of state attorneys general filing a notice in Character Technologies, Inc.’s bankruptcy proceedings, raising concerns about the company’s safety and privacy practices and the sensitive information it holds. The states seek protections for children and consumers if the company’s business or assets are sold or transferred; the filing does not impose a fine or other remedy.
Attorney General William Tong and Consumer Counsel Claire Coleman petitioned PURA to review how Connecticut public utilities use artificial intelligence, citing potential data privacy and cybersecurity risks, algorithmic errors, and misleading outputs. The petition asks PURA to examine utility AI systems, safeguards, vendors, and data security practices; it does not report a finding of violation or an imposed penalty.
$2.0M
Connecticut Attorney General William Tong announced a settlement with RZ Smoke, Inc. over allegations that it distributed and sold high-potency cannabis products without a state license. The stipulated judgment is $2 million, with $375,000 payable to the State and $1.6 million suspended to ensure compliance; the company is barred from specified cannabis activities in Connecticut unless licensed.
$13.7M
Connecticut joined a coalition of states and the federal government in settling allegations that Takeda paid healthcare providers speaker honoraria and provided meals to induce prescriptions of Trintellix, leading to allegedly false claims to government healthcare programs. Takeda agreed to pay $13,670,921 plus accrued interest, with portions allocated to federal and state programs.