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After leading the New Jersey Division of Consumer Affairs on an interim basis for more than two years, Cari Fais is now officially director.

Unanimously confirmed by the state Senate Oct. 28, Fais becomes the first Latina to oversee the state’s consumer protection agency. She was initially nominated for the post by Gov. Phil Murphy back in April 2022, according to the New Jersey Attorney General’s Office.

Fais replaced Paul Rodríguez, who held the position for three years before joining President Joe Biden’s administration as a deputy general counsel to the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services. 

As head of the DCA, Fais leads a civil law enforcement and regulatory agency of more than 500 employees focused on protecting the safety and well-being of New Jerseyans. The Division includes the Office of Consumer Protection, Bureau of Securities, Charities Section, Office of Weights and Measures and Legalized Games of Chance Section.

It also has 51 professional and occupational boards that oversee over 750,000 licensed professionals and a regulated business section that looks after 60,000 registered businesses.

Highlights, so far

During Fais’ tenure as acting director, the AG’s office noted numerous consumer protection actions the division took on, including:

• Proposing new rules aimed at promoting greater transparency in prescription drug pricing, including how and why prices are increased.
• Suing social media giants TikTok and Meta for allegedly designing manipulative and harmful platforms meant to cause excessive, compulsive and habitual use among their young users as well as deceptively marketing those platforms as safe for children.
• Securing a $27.3 million settlement with Yellowstone Capital LLC and associated companies to resolve allegations that the companies cheated financially strapped small businesses and their owners out of millions of dollars by luring them into predatory lending arrangements disguised as cash advances.
• Intervening to halt numerous entities from offering and selling unregistered securities in New Jersey, including those tied to cryptocurrencies and non-fungible tokens.
• Acting to revoke, suspend or otherwise restrict the practicing privileges of physicians and other medical professionals who commit sexual abuse and misconduct in office settings or who indiscriminately prescribe opioid medications that can lead to addiction or overdose deaths.
• Targeting enforcement actions in industries that generate a high number of consumer complaints, including home improvement contractors, auto sales and public movers. 
• Proposing new rules aimed at eliminating biases that negatively impact the quality of care delivered by health care providers to women of color during pregnancy, labor, delivery, postpartum and neonatal periods.

A ‘valued partner’

In a statement, Attorney General Matthew Platkin praised Fais as a “valued partner in carrying out the important work being done by the Department of Law and Public Safety.”

He went on to say, “Under her leadership, the Division continues to serve as a national model in consumer protection by robustly enforcing the laws and standards set for businesses and professionals in New Jersey. I look forward to her continued collaboration and support in keeping New Jersey safe for all who live, work or visit our state.”

Murphy commented, “Since her nomination, Cari Fais has demonstrated strong leadership skills and an unwavering commitment to consumer protection in New Jersey. Under her direction, the Division has been instrumental in advancing my Administration’s mission of promoting a stronger and fairer New Jersey for all.”

After congratulating Fais, the Democratic governor commended the state Senate “for recognizing her capabilities by confirming her nomination.”

Following her confirmation, Fais thanked Murphy and legislators for their support.

“I also thank the dedicated Division employees working with me each day to carry out the Division’s consumer protection mission,” said Fais, whose background includes serving as a prosecutor with the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the District of New Jersey. “As Director, I will proudly continue to lead them in serving all those who live or do business in New Jersey.”

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