Senate advances measure to restore private enforcement under Colorado Consumer Protection Act; amendment narrows initial scope to groups most targeted by fraud

The Senate moved forward on a bill to expand private enforcement under the Colorado Consumer Protection Act by removing the court-created requirement that plaintiffs prove a “significant public impact” before bringing an action. Sponsor Senator Rachel Weisman and co-prime Senator Gonzales said the change restores consumers’ ability to vindicate harms in court when they have been the target of deceptive or fraudulent business practices.

Following extensive floor debate about breadth and possible unintended consequences, senators adopted a narrowing amendment (L6) that limits the restored private remedy to groups the sponsors and staff identified as disproportionately targeted by fraud: senior citizens (age 60+), currently serving…