On Thursday, April 22, the Supreme Court released a unanimous decision holding that the Federal Trade Commission’s authority under Section 13(b) of the FTC Act does not grant the agency the right to seek equitable monetary relief such as disgorgement or restitution. The opinion, authored by Justice Breyer, held that the section only permits prospective injunctive relief. The import of this decision is that the FTC, in order to obtain monetary relief for unfair and deceptive trade practices, must first utilize its administrative procedures and can no longer seek such relief directly through a lawsuit in the federal courts.
Continue Reading Supreme Court Holds that FTC Cannot Obtain Disgorgement or Restitution Remedies under FTC Act Section 13(b)