UNITED STATES DISTRICT COURT

FOR THE DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA

UNITED STATES OF AMERICA,

Plaintiff,

v. Case No. 22-cv-964 (JDB)

KOHL’S INC. F/K/A KOHL’S DEPARTMENT 

STORES, INC.,

 Defendant.

ORDER

It is hereby ORDERED that the attached stipulation is APPROVED and the stipulated 

Order is ADOPTED.

SO ORDERED.

 /s/ 

 JOHN D. BATES 

 United States District Judge

Dated: May 04, 2022

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UNITED STATES DISTRICT COURT 

FOR THE DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA 

UNITED STATES OF AMERICA, 

 Plaintiff, 

v. 

KOHL’S INC. F/K/A KOHL’S DEPARTMENT 

STORES, INC., 

 Defendant. 

Case No. __1:22-cv-00964__________ 

STIPULATED ORDER AND 

JUDGMENT FOR CIVIL 

PENALTIES, PERMANENT 

INJUNCTION, AND OTHER RELIEF 

Plaintiff, the United States of America, acting upon notification and authorization to the 

Attorney General by the Federal Trade Commission (“Commission” or “FTC”), filed its 

Complaint for Civil Penalties, Permanent Injunction and Other Relief (“Complaint”), pursuant to 

Sections 5(m)(1)(B), 13(b), and 16(a)(1) of the Federal Trade Commission Act (“FTC Act”), 15 

U.S.C. §§ 45(m)(1)(B), 53(b), and 56(a)(1), and pursuant to the Textile Fiber Products 

Identification Act (“Textile Act”), 15 U.S.C. § 70 et seq., and the Rules and Regulations 

thereunder (“Textile Rules”), 16 C.F.R. Part 303. Defendant has waived service of the summons 

and the Complaint. Plaintiff and Defendant stipulate to the entry of this Stipulated Order and 

Judgment for Civil Penalties, Permanent Injunction and Other Relief (“Order”) to resolve all 

matters in dispute in this action between them. 

THEREFORE, IT IS ORDERED as follows:

FINDINGS

1. This Court has jurisdiction over this matter.

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2. The Complaint charges that, in marketing and selling rayon textile products as “bamboo,” 

Defendant participated in deceptive acts or practices in violation of Section 5 of the FTC 

Act, 15 U.S.C. § 45; engaged in such acts or practices with actual notice that the 

Commission had previously determined them to be unfair or deceptive, 15 U.S.C. 

§ 45(m)(1)(B); and engaged in mislabeling or deceptive advertising of textile products in 

violation of the Textile Act, 15 U.S.C. § 70 et seq., and the Textile Rules, 16 C.F.R. 

Part 303. 

3. The Commission sent Defendant a letter dated January 27, 2010, informing Defendant that 

certain acts or practices in connection with the advertising of textile fiber products may 

violate the Textile Act and the Textile Rules and are unfair or deceptive under Section 

5(a)(1) of the FTC Act, 15 U.S.C. § 45(a)(1). 

4. Defendant neither admits nor denies any of the allegations in the Complaint, except as 

specifically stated in this Order. Only for purposes of this action, Defendant admits the 

facts necessary to establish jurisdiction. 

5. Defendant waives any claim that it may have under the Equal Access to Justice Act, 28 

U.S.C. § 2412, concerning the prosecution of this action through the date of this Order, 

and agrees to bear its own costs and attorney fees. 

6. Defendant and Plaintiff waive all rights to appeal or otherwise challenge or contest the 

validity of this Order. 

DEFINITIONS

For the purpose of this Order, the following definitions apply: 

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A. “Covered Product” means any or all of the following products sold by Defendant, unless 

Defendant does not have an ownership interest in such product and prior to the point of 

purchase, clearly and conspicuously informs consumers that there is a third-party seller for 

that product: (1) any article of wearing apparel, costume or accessory, drapery, floor 

covering, furnishing, bedding, or other textile good of a type customarily used in a 

household, regardless of where used, that is made, in whole or in part, of yarn or fabric 

comprised, in whole or in part, of any Manufactured Fiber, as that term is defined herein; 

or (2) any fiber, yarn, or fabric comprised, in whole or in part, of a Manufactured Fiber, as 

that term is defined herein, whether in the finished or unfinished state, used or intended for 

use in any such textile good. 

B. “Defendant” means Kohl’s Inc. f/k/a Kohl’s Department Stores, Inc. and its successors 

and assigns. 

C. “Fiber Trademark” means a word or words used to identify a particular fiber sold by a 

person and to distinguish it from fibers of the same generic class sold by others, as defined 

in 16 C.F.R. § 303.1(r). 

D. “FTC” or “Commission” means the Federal Trade Commission. 

E. “Generic Name of Any Manufactured Fiber” means any name for a textile fiber 

established and defined by the Commission pursuant to Section 70e(c) of the Textile Act, 

as set forth in 16 C.F.R. § 303.7. 

F. “Manufactured Fiber” means any fiber derived by a process of manufacture from any 

substance which, at any point in the manufacturing process, is not a fiber, as defined in 15 

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U.S.C. § 70(d). 

G. “Required Information” means such information as is required to be disclosed on labels 

or invoices and in advertising under the Textile Act, 15 U.S.C. § 70 et seq., and under the 

Textile Rules, 16 C.F.R. Part 303, as defined in 16 C.F.R. § 303.1(e). 

ORDER

I. PROHIBITION AGAINST DECEPTIVE CLAIMS, INCLUDING FALSE AND/OR 

UNSUBSTANTIATED CLAIMS 

IT IS THEREFORE ORDERED that Defendant, Defendant’s officers, agents, employees, 

and attorneys, and all other persons in active concert or participation with any of them, who 

receive actual notice of this Order, whether acting directly or indirectly, in connection with the 

manufacturing, labeling, advertising, promotion, offering for sale, sale, or distribution of any 

Covered Product are permanently restrained and enjoined from making any representation, 

expressly or by implication, that such product: 

A. is made of bamboo or bamboo fiber, including, but not limited to, through the use of a 

Fiber Trademark or other descriptive term or name for a product or product line; or 

B. if made of bamboo or bamboo fiber: 

1. is produced free of harmful chemicals, using non-toxic materials, or in a way 

that is non-polluting or safe for humans or the environment; or 

2. has any other environmental benefit or attribute, in whole or in part, because it 

is derived from bamboo; 

unless the representation is non-misleading, and, at the time such representation is made, 

Defendant possesses and relies upon competent and reliable scientific evidence that is sufficient 

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in quality and quantity based on standards generally accepted in the relevant scientific fields, 

when considered in light of the entire body of relevant and reliable scientific evidence, to 

substantiate that the representation is true. For purposes of this Provision, “competent and 

reliable scientific evidence” means tests, analyses, research, or studies that: (1) have been 

conducted and evaluated in an objective manner by qualified persons and (2) are generally 

accepted in the profession to yield accurate and reliable results. 

II. PROHIBITION AGAINST VIOLATING THE TEXTILE ACT AND TEXTILE 

RULES 

IT IS FURTHER ORDERED that Defendant, Defendant’s officers, agents, employees, 

and attorneys, and all other persons in active concert or participation with any of them, who 

receive actual notice of this Order, whether acting directly or indirectly, in connection with the 

manufacturing, labeling, advertising, promotion, offering for sale, sale, or distribution of any 

Covered Product, are permanently restrained and enjoined from: 

A. Selling, offering for sale, or advertising in commerce any Covered Product that is 

falsely or deceptively stamped, tagged, labeled, invoiced, advertised, or otherwise 

identified as to the name or amount of constituent fibers contained therein as set forth 

in 15 U.S.C. §§ 70a, 70b. 

B. Failing to use the recognized Generic Name of Any Manufactured Fiber in the 

Required Information in any labels, invoices, or advertising of any Covered Product as 

set forth in 16 C.F.R. §§ 303.6, 303.7. 

C. Failing to include all Required Information on labels for any Covered Product as set 

forth in 15 U.S.C. § 70b(b), 16 C.F.R. §§ 303.16, including identifying: 

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1. The generic names and percentages by weight of the constituent fibers present 

in the Covered Product, in amounts of 5 percent or more and in the order of 

predominance, as set forth in 16 C.F.R. § 303.16(a)(1); 

2. The name, or registered identification number issued by the Commission, of 

the manufacturer or of one or more persons marketing or handling the Covered 

Product, as set forth in 16 C.F.R. § 303.16(a)(2); and 

3. The name of the country where such Covered Product was processed or 

manufactured, as set forth in 16 C.F.R. §§ 303.16(a)(3), 303.33. 

D. Failing to ensure that any Fiber Trademark or generic name used on the label of, or in 

any advertising for, any Covered Product, as set forth in 16 C.F.R. §§ 303.17(d), 

303.41(d): 

1. Is not false, deceptive, or misleading as to fiber content; and 

2. Does not indicate, directly or indirectly, that the Covered Product is composed 

wholly or in part of a particular fiber, when such is not the case. 

E. Failing to ensure that any non-Required Information or representation used on the 

label of, or in the advertising for, any Covered Product, as set forth in 16 C.F.R. §§ 

303.16(c), 303.42(b): 

1. Does not interfere with, minimize, detract from, or conflict with Required 

Information; 

2. Does not include any names, terms, or representations prohibited by the Textile 

Act or Textile Rules; and 

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3. Is not false, deceptive, or misleading. 

F. Where a Covered Product is advertised in such manner as to require disclosure of the 

information required by the Textile Act and Textile Rules, failing to include all parts 

of the Required Information in immediate conjunction with each other in legible and 

conspicuous type or lettering of equal size and prominence, as set forth in 16 C.F.R. 

§ 303.42(a). 

G. Where a Fiber Trademark is used in advertising a Covered Product, failing, as set forth 

in 16 C.F.R. § 303.41: 

1. To include the generic name of the fiber contained in such Covered Product in 

immediate proximity to and in conjunction with such Fiber Trademark in 

legible and conspicuous type or lettering of equal size and prominence; and 

2. To include a full disclosure of the fiber content information required by the 

Textile Act and Textile Rules in at least one instance in any such 

advertisement. 

H. Failing to ensure that any words, coined words, symbols, or depictions used in the 

labeling or advertising of a Covered Product which: 

1. Constitute or imply the name or designation of a fiber; or 

2. Are phonetically similar to the name or designation of a fiber; or 

3. Are only a slight variation of spelling from the name or designation of a fiber, 

are not used in such a manner as to represent or imply that such fiber is present in the 

Covered Product, unless such fiber is actually present in that product, as set forth in 16 

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C.F.R. § 303.18. 

I. Failing to maintain for at least three (3) years, required records for any Covered 

Products manufactured by Defendant, including records showing the fiber content, as 

set forth in 15 U.S.C. § 70d(a); 16 C.F.R. § 303.39. 

Provided, further, that nothing in this Order shall prohibit Defendant from complying 

with the Textile Act or Textile Rules by establishing that it received and maintained in good faith 

a guaranty, which complies fully with Section 70h of the Textile Act, 15 U.S.C. § 70h, and with 

Sections 303.36-303.38 of the Textile Rules, 16 C.F.R. §§ 303.36-303.38, that such Covered 

Product is not misbranded or falsely invoiced. A guaranty shall not be received or maintained in 

good faith after Defendant knows or should have known that products covered by the guaranty are 

or likely may be mislabeled or deceptively advertised, including after being notified by the 

Commission that such products are or likely may be mislabeled or deceptively advertised. 

Provided further, that if it is not legally possible to obtain a guaranty at the time 

Defendant takes an ownership interest in a Covered Product, and: (1) Defendant does not 

embellish or misrepresent claims provided by the manufacturer about a Covered Product; and 

(2) the Covered Product is not sold by Defendant as a private label product, then Defendant shall 

only be liable for a violation of this Section if it knew or should have known that the marketing or 

sale of the Covered Product would violate this Section. 

Provided further, that in the event the Textile Act or Textile Rules are amended or 

modified, nothing in this Section shall impose upon Defendant obligations that go beyond what is 

required under the amended or modified version of the Textile Act or Textile Rules. 

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III. MONETARY JUDGMENT FOR CIVIL PENALTY

IT IS FURTHER ORDERED that: 

A. Judgment in the amount of Two Million Five Hundred Thousand Dollars ($2,500,000) 

is entered in favor of Plaintiff against Defendant, as a civil penalty. 

B. Defendant is ordered to pay to Plaintiff, by making payment to the Treasurer of the 

United States, Two Million Five Hundred Thousand Dollars ($2,500,000). Such 

payment must be made within 7 days of entry of this Order by electronic fund transfer 

in accordance with instructions previously provided by a representative of Plaintiff. 

C. Defendant relinquishes dominion and all legal and equitable right, title, and interest in 

all assets transferred pursuant to this Order and may not seek the return of any assets. 

D. The facts alleged in the Complaint will be taken as true, without further proof, in any 

subsequent civil litigation by or on behalf of the Commission, including in a 

proceeding to enforce its rights to any payment or monetary judgment pursuant to this 

Order. 

E. Defendant acknowledges that its Taxpayer Identification Number (Employer 

Identification Number), which Defendant must submit to the Commission and 

Plaintiff, may be used for collecting and reporting on any delinquent amount arising 

out of this Order, in accordance with 31 U.S.C. § 7701. 

IV. ORDER ACKNOWLEDGMENTS 

IT IS FURTHER ORDERED that Defendant obtain acknowledgments of receipt of this 

Order: 

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A. Defendant, within 7 days of entry of this Order, must submit to the Commission an 

acknowledgment of receipt of this Order sworn under penalty of perjury. 

B. For 5 years after entry of this Order, Defendant must deliver a copy of this Order to: 

(1) all principals, officers, directors, and LLC managers and members; (2) all 

employees, agents, and representatives having managerial responsibilities for conduct 

related to the subject matter of the Order; and (3) any business entity resulting from 

any change in structure as set forth in the Section titled Compliance Reporting. 

Delivery must occur within 7 days of entry of this Order for current personnel. For 

all others, delivery must occur before they assume their responsibilities. 

C. From each individual or entity to which Defendant delivered a copy of this Order, 

Defendant must obtain, within 30 days, a signed and dated acknowledgment of receipt 

of this Order. 

V. COMPLIANCE REPORTING 

IT IS FURTHER ORDERED that Defendant make timely submissions to the 

Commission: 

A. One year after entry of this Order, Defendant must submit a compliance report, sworn 

under penalty of perjury, that must: (1) identify the primary physical, postal, and 

email address and telephone number, as designated points of contact, which 

representatives of the Commission and Plaintiff may use to communicate with 

Defendant; (2) identify all of Defendant’s businesses by all of their names, telephone 

numbers, and physical, postal, email, and Internet addresses; (3) describe the activities 

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of each business, including the goods and services offered, and the means of 

advertising, marketing, and sales; (4) describe in detail whether and how Defendant is 

in compliance with each Section of this Order; and (5) provide a copy of each Order 

Acknowledgment obtained pursuant to this Order, unless previously submitted to the 

Commission. 

B. For 10 years after entry of this Order, Defendant must submit a compliance 

notice, sworn under penalty of perjury, within 14 days of any change in the 

following: (1) any designated point of contact; or (2) the structure of Defendant or any 

entity that Defendant has any ownership interest in or controls directly or indirectly 

that may affect compliance obligations arising under this Order, including: creation, 

merger, sale, or dissolution of the entity or any subsidiary, parent, or affiliate that 

engages in any acts or practices subject to this Order. 

C. Defendant must submit to the Commission notice of the filing of any bankruptcy 

petition, insolvency proceeding, or similar proceeding by or against Defendant within 

14 days of its filing. 

D. Any submission to the Commission required by this Order to be sworn under penalty 

of perjury must be true and accurate and comply with 28 U.S.C. § 1746, such as by 

concluding: “I declare under penalty of perjury under the laws of the United States of 

America that the foregoing is true and correct. Executed on: _____” and supplying 

the date, signatory’s full name, title (if applicable), and signature. 

E. Unless otherwise directed by a Commission representative in writing, all submissions 

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to the Commission pursuant to this Order must be emailed to DEbrief@ftc.gov or sent 

by overnight courier (not the U.S. Postal Service) to: Associate Director for 

Enforcement, Bureau of Consumer Protection, Federal Trade Commission, 600 

Pennsylvania Avenue NW, Washington, DC 20580. The subject line must begin: 

United States v. Kohl’s Inc., “bamboo.” 

VI. RECORDKEEPING 

IT IS FURTHER ORDERED that Defendant, in connection with the marketing and/or sale 

of Covered Products, must create certain records for 10 years after entry of the Order, and retain 

each such record for 5 years. Specifically, Defendant must create and retain the following 

records: 

A. accounting records showing the revenues from all goods or services sold; 

B. personnel records showing, for each person employed by Defendant as a manager 

having responsibilities for Defendant’s marketing or sale of Covered Products in any 

category that Defendant uses to organize its business (e.g., apparel, home, baby, etc.), 

that person’s: name; addresses; telephone numbers; job title or position; dates of 

service; and (if applicable) the reason for termination; 

C. all records necessary to demonstrate full compliance with each provision of this Order, 

including all submissions to the Commission; and 

D. a representative sample of advertisements or other marketing materials. 

VII. COMPLIANCE MONITORING 

IT IS FURTHER ORDERED that, for the purpose of monitoring Defendant’s compliance 

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with this Order and any failure to transfer any assets as required by this Order: 

A. Within 14 days of receipt of a written request from a representative of the Commission 

or Plaintiff, Defendant must: submit additional compliance reports or other requested 

information, which must be sworn under penalty of perjury; appear for depositions; 

and produce documents for inspection and copying. The Commission and Plaintiff 

are also authorized to obtain discovery, without further leave of court, using any of the 

procedures prescribed by Federal Rules of Civil Procedure 29, 30 (including 

telephonic depositions), 31, 33, 34, 36, 45, and 69, provided that Defendant, after 

attempting to resolve a dispute without court action and for good cause shown, may 

file a motion with this Court seeking an order for one or more of the protections set 

forth in Rule 26(c). 

B. For matters concerning this Order, the Commission and Plaintiff are authorized to 

communicate directly with Defendant. Defendant must permit representatives of the 

Commission and Plaintiff to interview any employee or other person affiliated with 

Defendant who has agreed to such an interview. The person interviewed may have 

counsel present. 

C. The Commission and Plaintiff may use all other lawful means, including posing, 

through its representatives, as consumers, suppliers, or other individuals or entities, to 

Defendant or any individual or entity affiliated with Defendant, without the necessity 

of identification or prior notice. Nothing in this Order limits the Commission’s lawful 

use of compulsory process, pursuant to Sections 9 and 20 of the FTC Act, 15 U.S.C. 

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§§ 49, 57b-1.

VIII. RETENTION OF JURISDICTION 

IT IS FURTHER ORDERED that this Court retains jurisdiction of this matter for purposes 

of construction, modification, and enforcement of this Order. 

SO ORDERED this day of , 2022. 

_______________________________ 

UNITED STATES DISTRICT JUDGE 

 

fourth May

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SO STIPULATED AND AGREED: 

FOR PLAINTIFF 

THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA:

BRIAN M. BOYNTON 

Principal Deputy Assistant Attorney General 

Civil Division 

ARUN G. RAO 

Deputy Assistant Attorney General 

GUSTAV W. EYLER (D.C. Bar No. 997162) 

Director 

Consumer Protection Branch 

LISA K. HSIAO (D.C. Bar No. 444890) 

Assistant Director 

By: /s/ Rachael L. Doud 

Rachael L. Doud 

Trial Attorney 

Consumer Protection Branch 

U.S. Department of Justice 

450 5th Street NW, Suite 6400 South 

Washington, DC 20530 

(202) 451-7468 

rachael.doud@usdoj.gov 

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FEDERAL TRADE COMMISSION

/s/ Miriam R. Lederer 

MIRIAM R. LEDERER 

DC Bar No. 983730 

Attorney 

Federal Trade Commission 

Division of Enforcement 

600 Pennsylvania Avenue, NW 

Maildrop CC-9528 

Washington, DC 20580 

 

202-326-2975, mlederer@ftc.gov 

202-326-3197 (fax) 

 

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FOR DEFENDANT:

_____________________________________ Date: 1/24/22 

CHRISTIE GRYMES THOMPSON

Kelley Drye & Warren LLP

3050 K Street NW

Washington DC, 20007 

CGThompson@kelleydrye.com

(202) 342-8633

DONNELLY MCDOWELL

Kelley Drye & Warren LLP

3050 K Street NW 

Washington DC, 20007 

DMcDowell@kelleydrye.com

(202) 342-8645

LAURA RIPOSO VANDRUFF

Kelley Drye & Warren LLP

3050 K Street NW 

Washington DC, 20007 

LVanDruff@kelleydrye.com

(202) 342-8435

DEFENDANT: Kohl’s Inc.

______________________________________ Date: __________

Doug Howe, Chief Merchandising Officer, Kohl’s, Inc. 

	

		
	





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