Raleigh -- August 23, 2026: North Carolina Attorney General Jeff Jackson’s office has advanced a series of legal actions, multistate coalitions, and regulatory challenges focused on corporate accountability and consumer protection.
From challenging utility rate increases to taking major tech corporations to court, the North Carolina Department of Justice addressed several high-impact issues:
Taking Meta to Trial Over Youth Mental Health: Jackson and a bipartisan coalition of 28 state attorneys general began opening arguments in a landmark federal lawsuit against Meta. As detailed in the NCDOJ Meta Trial Release, the suit alleges that the tech giant intentionally engineered Instagram and Facebook with addictive features while downplaying the psychological impacts on minors.
Opposing Duke Energy Rate Hikes: Jackson formally declined to sign off on a proposed settlement in the Duke Energy Progress rate case that would raise residential electric bills by approximately 6.8% over two years across Eastern North Carolina and the Asheville area. In the NCDOJ Duke Energy Statement, Jackson argued that the increase unfairly burdens households and advocated for separate rate structures for large industrial users and data centers.
$400 Million Settlement with Sandoz Over Price-Fixing: Leading a coalition of 43 state attorneys general, Jackson announced a $400 Million Sandoz Settlement in Principle resolving allegations that the generic drug manufacturer conspired with competitors to artificially inflate prices on essential prescription medications.
Distributing Nearly 3 Million Eggs to Food Banks: Following an antitrust settlement with national egg producers over market benchmark manipulation, Jackson joined food bank directors in Raleigh to receive an initial delivery of nearly 3 million eggs, as outlined in the NCDOJ Food Bank Egg Delivery Release. The distribution is being coordinated across the state through Feeding the Carolinas.
Google Play Store Antitrust Restitution: Eligible North Carolina consumers began receiving direct restitution payouts stemming from a $700 million multistate antitrust settlement addressing anticompetitive app store fees and distribution barriers, noted in the NCDOJ News Releases Archive.
Defending First Responder Drone Access: Jackson led a 10-state coalition urging the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) to ensure first responders and law enforcement maintain emergency flight exemptions under proposed federal drone no-fly zone rules.
Upholding Key Criminal Appeals: The NCDOJ appellate team defended 25 trial court convictions before state appellate courts, including first-degree murder rulings and a Western North Carolina case involving DSS impropriety in Cherokee County.
For ongoing coverage of statewide legal news and local stories across Western North Carolina, visit wnctimes.