On July 8th, the Department of Justice’s Antitrust Division announced a new whistleblower reward program, in partnership with the Office of the Inspector General of the United States Postal Service (USPS OIG) and the United States Postal Service (USPS).

The Whistleblower Rewards Program offers a monetary incentive to whistleblowers who voluntarily provide information through the program to the Antitrust Division of the Department of Justice, with awards of up to 30% of the ultimate recovery when the recovery includes a criminal fine that exceeds $1 million.

The study “Wage Theft in the Fast Food Industry: Minimum Wage Violations in Los Angeles”, was released by the Workplace Justice Lab in February 2025. Using data from the Current Population Survey (CPS) managed by the National Bureau of Economic Research, the authors Daniel Galvin and Jake Barnes noted workers in the Los Angeles metropolitan area studies are facing significant increases in labor violations that alternative or comparable industries.

The authors estimated that wage theft is resulting in the loss of up to 16% of wages, an average of $3,500 per employee.

Schneider Wallace Cottrell Kim LLP is pleased to announce that the firm’s name is changing to Schneider Wallace Cottrell Kim LLP, in recognition of partner Jason H. Kim and his exceptional leadership in the firm’s Business Litigation and Competition practice group. The firm’s website will remain www.schneiderwallace.com.

Jason H. Kim is a nationally respected litigator whose work spans antitrust, consumer protection, civil rights, ERISA, and complex business litigation. Mr. Kim has led high-profile cases across the country, including antitrust actions on behalf of health insurers and governmental entities, landmark consumer class actions, and significant civil rights and ERISA matters. An attorney of more than twenty years and a graduate of both Harvard College and Harvard Law School, he has played a critical role in shaping the firm’s growth and enhancing its national reputation through his results-oriented advocacy.

California’s revamped Automatic Renewal Law (often called “CARL”, CA Business & Profession Code section 17600) takes effect July 1, 2025, bringing large changes to consumer protections for subscriptions, trials, and recurring payments.

CARL is California’s consumer law regulating automatic renewals and continuous service agreements, now expanded to include free trials that roll into paid subscriptions.