If you bought Skechers-brand shoes thinking they might improve your health and appearance, you may be eligible for a refund, Tennessee Attorney General Bob Cooper and Tennessee Commerce and Insurance's (TDCI) Consumer Affairs Director Gary Cordell announced today. Consumers should go to www.ftc.gov/skechers for refund information.

Following an investigation led by the Federal Trade Commission, the Tennessee and Ohio Attorneys General Offices led a multistate investigation consisting of 42 other states, and the District of Columbia. The FTC agreement and multistate agreement total $45 million. The agreements resolve alleged deceptive advertising complaints against Skechers USA, Inc., one of the largest shoe manufacturers in the country. Under the settlements, up to $40 million is being allocated for consumer refund money to be paid back to consumers who purchased Shape-Ups, Tone-Ups, and the Skechers Resistance Runners – the largest such pool in history for an advertising substantiation case. As part of the settlements, Skechers will pay an additional $5 million to the states...read the Skechers release.

Tennessee, along with 44 other states and the District of Columbia, has joined a $100 million multistate agreement with Abbott Laboratories over allegations of illegal off-label marketing of its Depakote drug, Attorney General Bob Cooper along with Commerce and Insurance's (TDCI) Consumer Affairs Director Gary Cordell, announced today.

The agreement marks the largest consumer protection-based pharmaceutical agreement ever reached. Tennessee will receive $1.95 million and the Illinois-based Abbott will be restricted from marketing the drug for off-label uses not approved by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration...read the Abbott Laboratories release.

NASCAR Driver Kasey Kahne is helping the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA), the Ad Council and State Attorneys General by reminding young drivers of the dangers of texting and driving, Attorney General Bob Cooper announced today.

Sixty percent of young adult drivers (16-24) said they have texted while driving, according to a national survey released by the Ad Council although such risky behavior has been against the law in Tennessee and many other states for more than a year. For this reason, Attorney General Cooper and other state attorneys general along with NHTSA and the Ad Council today revealed new public service advertisements (PSAs) featuring NASCAR driver Kasey Kahne. The new PSAs are being unveiled today to coincide with the first nationwide Stop the Texts Day, and the start of National Youth Traffic Safety Month...read the Stop the Texts release.

Tennessee Attorney General Bob Cooper and 15 state attorneys general today filed suit against three of the nation's largest book publishers and Apple Inc., alleging they colluded to fix the sales prices of electronic books (e-books). The suit was filed today in U.S. District Court in Austin, Texas. It cites the defendants for violating the States' antitrust laws and the federal Sherman Antitrust Act.

"The ultimate result with price-fixing is that consumers pay more than they would have in a free marketplace," Attorney General Cooper said." Our joint lawsuit alleges three of the nation's largest publishing companies worked together to gain control of retail prices, allowing publishers to raise the price of e-books."...read the E-Books release.

A group alleged to have collected thousands of dollars from consumers in and outside Tennessee through deceptive telemarketing practices has been temporarily ordered to stop its alleged deceptive business practices by federal court order. The Court in Greeneville granted the Attorney General's request on behalf of Tennessee Department of Commerce and Insurance (TDCI) Consumer Affairs Division of Consumer Affairs Director Gary Cordell to place the defendants under a temporary restraining order (TRO) and place all assets under State receivership. After considering the State's evidence presented during a Feb. 23 preliminary injunction hearing, the Court has extended the TRO until further notice...read the Mountain Area Communications release.

Tennessee will participate in the $25 billion agreement with the nation's five largest mortgage servicers, according to Attorney General Bob Cooper. The agreement arises from an investigation into unacceptable nationwide mortgage servicing and foreclosure practices. The servicers participating in this agreement, which was announced today, are Bank of America, J.P. Morgan Chase, Citi, GMAC/Ally Financial, and Wells Fargo.

Once approved by the court, the agreement will provide an estimated $146 million in relief to Tennessee homeowners and addresses future mortgage loan servicing practices...read the mortgage release or the release in Spanish.

Consumers who have filed complaints against a Nashville man, suspended for practicing law without a license, may be eligible for restitution, Tennessee Attorney General Bob Cooper and Gary Cordell, director of the Division of Consumer Affairs announced today.

Michael H. Sneed of Nashville, who has been found liable for the unauthorized practice of law and violations of the Tennessee Consumer Protection Act, has been ordered by the Davidson County Circuit Court to pay $18,372 to eligible consumers who used his services. The Tennessee Supreme Court ordered Sneed suspended from the practice of law on Feb. 24, 2009 for 18 months. He was later found to have continued representing multiple consumers acting as an attorney during his suspension...read the Michael Sneed release.