Brenda asked: > Kakki, do you (or does anyone else - Sharon?) know what distinguishes a case > instigated by DOJ compared to one initiated by the FTC? Is a matter of criminality vs > compliance?
As a simplistic explanation, I think the FTC is often the first line of defense for investigation and prosecution of alleged noncompliance. They try to resolve the more "run of the mill" issues through litigation, injunctions, etc. The DOJ takes on the more severe cases and/or ones that cannot be resolved or handled (for various reasons) at the FTC level. The FTC, for example, might initally pursue a case where the law applicable to a particular issue is not yet clear or established and hash it out from there. The DOJ concentrates more on, or would become involved in the serious, big-scale cases, such as those massive criminal conspiracy, fraud, RICO, etc. Kakki
