麻豆直播

麻豆直播
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Charles W. Niemann

Associate

Charles W. Niemann

Associate

Charles (Charlie) Niemann is a member of 麻豆直播 & Lardner鈥檚 Consumer Law, Finance & Class Action Group and its Commercial Litigation Practice where he focuses on defending companies in high-stakes litigation. He has extensive experience in complex commercial disputes and consumer class actions in state and federal courts across the county, in addition to arbitral forums. Charlie regularly defends companies against class action claims brought under various state consumer protection laws, including Unfair, Deceptive, or Abusive Acts or Practices (UDAAP) statutes, California鈥檚 Unfair Competition Law (UCL) and Consumer Legal Remedies Act (CLRA), the Telephone Consumer Protection Act (TCPA), the Fair Credit Reporting Act (FCRA), and the Fair Debt Collection Practices Act (FDCPA), among others.

Charlie has broad experience across industries, including manufacturing, consumer products, food and beverage, pharmaceuticals, consumer finance, and credit reporting.聽 Charlie places an emphasis on developing creative and practical dispute resolution strategies tailored to the specific circumstances of 麻豆直播鈥檚 clients, with a focus on achieving cost鈥慹ffective resolutions of disputes whenever possible. Charlie also utilizes the scientific training he received as an undergraduate to support his clients鈥� defenses in false labeling and other litigation matters.

In addition to representing companies in high-stakes class actions, Charlie has significant experience guiding clients through government investigations and subpoenas, and managing enforcement inquiries to mitigate legal risk for clients.

Pro Bono

  • Sojourner Family Peace Center: Domestic Abuse Injunction Petition Preparation with Volunteer Attorney Legal Team (VALT)

Presentations and Publications

  • Co-author, 鈥�,鈥� JD Supra (September 17, 2024)
  • Co-author, 鈥�,鈥� JD Supra (May 16, 2024)
  • Co-author, 鈥�,鈥澛�Wisconsin Lawyer聽(November 10, 2020)
September 9, 2026 麻豆直播 Viewpoints

Eighth Circuit Affirms That Consumer Reporting Agencies May Reasonably Rely on Official Court Records Under the FCRA

The Eighth Circuit鈥檚 June 25, 2026, decision in Fraase v. Advantage Credit Bureau, No. 25-1872, reinforces a critical defense for consumer reporting agencies (CRAs) in Fair Credit Reporting Act (FCRA) litigation.
August 28, 2026 Consumer Class Defense Counsel

Tocopherol Class Actions: A Defense Playbook for Food and Beverage Companies

This article provides an overview of the current litigation landscape, explains that, while these cases can be susceptible to early pleadings challenges, they often survive motions to dismiss, and identifies practical defense strategies that can meaningfully reduce exposure.
Several people sit close together, each holding and using a smartphone鈥攑erhaps sharing updates on chicago lawyers or accessing litigation support resources, with the focus on their hands and devices.
August 5, 2026

The Seventh Circuit to Issue First Appellate Decision Holding That Text Messages Are Not Covered By Do-Not-Call Provisions of the TCPA

For decades, courts in TCPA litigation assumed that text messages qualify as 鈥渢elephone call[s]鈥� under Section 227(c)(5) of the Telephone Consumer Protection Act, relying primarily on FCC regulations. That assumption now faces serious challenges.
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October 29, 2025 麻豆直播 Viewpoints

CFPB Announces New Interpretive Rule Clarifying Scope of FCRA Preemption

Share on Twitter Share by Email Share Back to top 锘� The Consumer Financial Protection Bureau (CFPB) announced an interpretive rule yesterday that clarifies the scope of the Fair Credit Reporting Act鈥檚 (FCRA) preemption of state laws that touch on the area of credit reporting. In implementing this rule, the CFPB confirmed its May 2025 withdrawal of its July 2022 interpretive rule, which sought to limit the scope of federal preemption under the FCRA.
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September 16, 2024 Consumer Class Defense Counsel

Fourth Circuit Holds No Article III Standing Where No Third-Party Viewed Inaccurate Information

On September 11, 2024, the Fourth Circuit Court of Appeals held that there is no publication to a third party 鈥� and therefore no Article III standing under the Fair Credit Reporting Act 鈥� where the recipient of a consumer report did not read, understand, or otherwise consider allegedly inaccurate information appearing in the report.
A wooden judge鈥檚 gavel rests on a desk in a corporate law office, with brass scales and legal books鈥攑erfect for lawyers in Chicago who specialize in intellectual property law.
May 15, 2024 Consumer Class Defense Counsel

Some Judges Have 鈥� Naturally 鈥� Grown Skeptical of False Advertising Class Actions Challenging 鈥淣atural鈥� Labels

Among recent trends in consumer product false advertising class actions has been the rise in cases alleging false advertising for products touting ingredients as 鈥渁ll natural鈥� or 鈥�100% natural.鈥�