United States Supreme Court Cases & Opinions

U.S. Supreme Court

FTC v. National Casualty Co., 357 U.S. 560 (1958)

Federal Trade Commission v. National Casualty Co.

No. 435

Argued April 9-10, 1958

Decided June 30,1958*

357 U.S. 560

Syllabus

The Federal Trade Commission ordered respondent insurance companies to cease and desist from certain advertising practices found by the Commission to be false, misleading and deceptive, in violation of § 5 of the Federal Trade Commission Act. The orders purported to apply in States having laws forbidding such practices as well as in States not having such laws. The companies' advertising material was prepared by them and shipped in bulk to local agents who distributed it locally. Only an insubstantial amount went directly from the companies to the public, and there was no use of radio, television, or other means of mass communication by the companies. The Courts of Appeals set aside the Commission's orders on the ground that, under the McCarran-Ferguson Act, the Commission had no jurisdiction to make such orders effective in States having laws forbidding such practices.

Held: the judgments are affirmed. Pp. 357 U. S. 561-565.

243 F.2d 719, 245 F.2d 883, affirmed.

Page 357 U. S. 561