Federal Appeals Court Probes FTC Over Monetary Relief Authority

The Federal Trade Commission faced questions from a federal appeals panel weighing whether to reverse a lower court ruling against two businessmen the agency accused of engaging in deceptive practices.

Defendants Burton Katz and Brent Levison are contesting a 2023 district court order imposing monetary relief for civil contempt as well as a permanent injunction. The FTC claims the two men were involved in running websites that falsely offered consumers government services in exchange for money or sensitive personal information.

The lower court order confirmed the defendants were liable for $19.6 million in civil contempt sanctions. They were also held ...