Oregon Cracks Down on Scams and Predatory Practices With Powerful New Justice Section
Oregon Attorney General Rayfield indicated yesterday that the Oregon Department of Justice (ODOJ) has doubled down on protecting Oregonians against scams and predatory practices through a restructuring process that includes the launch of a new Economic Justice Section.
Oregon Department Of Justice Introduces Economic Justice Section For Consumer Complaints
ODOJ’s major restructuring doubles the state’s capacity to protect Oregonians, introducing a new section that will include a Working Families Unit with several additional attorneys.
These attorneys will be able to take on more cases and help more families than ever before. The agency’s antitrust, false claims, privacy, and consumer protection teams will now fall under one umbrella,
AG Rayfield said, “Every day, people in Oregon face scams, shady car sales, predatory practices, and unfairness in the workplace. Today, we’re right-sizing this part of our agency to protect hardworking families, consumers, and seniors.”
With the weakening of the federal Consumer Financial Protection Bureau (CFPB) and Federal Trade Commission (FTC), the restructuring reflects Oregon DOJ’s commitment to stepping in where federal enforcement has been rolled back, focusing resources on the issues that matter most to Oregonians.
The new section is designed as a stronger, more coordinated force for accountability and comes at no cost to taxpayers – the section is self-funded through its casework. It includes a new Working Families Unit, with several new attorneys joining in October to build the unit from the ground up.
Graham Trainor, president of the Oregon AFL-CIO, believes that the new Working Families Unit will give workers a real ally inside the DOJ. He said, “In this moment of federal rollbacks, we need strong state action to hold bad employers accountable and protect the rights, safety, and dignity of working people.”
AG Rayfield confirmed that their focus is at home, making sure people can trust that someone has their back when they’re up against big players.