The Law Office of J.R. Howell

03/20/2025

After a face-to-face meeting between Donald Trump and the chairman of Paul, Weiss, the two sides have reached an agreement. In exchange for Trump withdrawing an executive order targeting the firm, Paul Weiss has pledged $40 million toward various causes and committed to representing clients regardless of political affiliation.

This resolution underscores the challenges to the rule of law faced by prominent law firms in the USA—a dynamic we’re also seeing in the ongoing dispute with Perkins Coie, where questions of coercion and institutional independence are front and center. As firms navigate these high-stakes conflicts, issues about business independence, basic freedom, and the rule of law are under greater scrutiny than ever.



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Paul, Weiss — one of three law firms targeted by President Trump as part of his retribution campaign — said it resolved the conflict by agreeing to a range of commitments.

03/20/2025

The EU is taking bold action to rein in Big Tech monopolies, enforcing antitrust regulations that could reshape digital markets and foster real competition. This move creates opportunities for startups and smaller innovators (Little Tech) to thrive—something the U.S. must take seriously. If we want a truly competitive and open tech economy, we need stronger enforcement mechanisms to ensure fair market access. The question is: Will the U.S. step up, or continue to let monopolistic practices dominate our digital landscape?

03/19/2025

One year ago, final approval went into effect on my $2.5 million nationwide class action settlement with Peloton—a case that reinforced the importance of corporate accountability and transparency. This lawsuit wasn’t just about recovering losses; it was about ensuring that big businesses operate by the same rules as everyone else.

Class actions remain one of the most powerful tools to level the playing field between big business and their competition. A year later, this case stands as a reminder that companies must uphold their promises, and when they don’t, the legal system provides a path to justice.

Proud to have led this litigation and to continue fighting for fairness in the marketplace.

03/19/2025

Amazon is quietly removing a key privacy safeguard, meaning Echo devices will soon send all voice recordings to its cloud by default--for use by its AI. The use of voice recordings by AI and any re-purposing of those voice recordings, is beyond the frontier of federal regulation. As a privacy lawyer, I see this as yet another step toward unchecked corporate surveillance. Stay informed, stay vigilant.

Amazon is sending emails to let customers know that local requests will be turned off.

03/18/2025

As a California class action lawyer, I’m alarmed by the FTC’s removal of critical AI and privacy guidance, but it underscores California’s pivotal role in stepping up to safeguard consumer privacy rights through robust state-level protections in the absence of federal oversight.

Business-guidance content published during the Biden administration has been removed from the Federal Trade Commission website.

03/18/2025

This year marks the 10-year anniversary of a significant legal victory—a $17.5+ million judgment my office won related to a ponzi scheme that defrauded investors across the country. Winning this judgment wasn’t just about the numbers; it was about standing up for fairness in the financial system and protecting investors from deceit.

Cases like these remind us why relentless advocacy matters. Fighting corporate fraud requires skill, persistence, and an unwavering commitment to justice. I’m proud of the work my firm has done and the impact we continue to make in holding bad actors accountable.

Here’s to the victories behind us and the battles ahead. Justice never stops.

03/16/2025

The Law Office of J.R. Howell filed on October 28, 2024, a sweeping data privacy class action against Lendistry, seeking damages for violations of the California Invasion of Privacy Act (C**A), the California Constitution's Privacy Clause, the California Comprehensive Computer Data Access and Fraud Act, among others.

A complaint brought by accounting firm Onisko & Scholz challenges data sharing activities common to data aggregators, banks and fintechs.