Like many Americans, Senators Charles Grassley (Iowa) and Sherrod Brown (Ohio) think federal investigators have given banks a mere slap on the wrists for their part in the economic collapse and other misdeeds. So in a letter to U.S. Attorney General Eric Holder, the pair wonder if banks are being viewed by the DOJ as “too big to jail.” [More]
Senators Call Out Attorney General For Treating Banks Like They Are “Too Big To Jail”
By January 29, 2013
Interview: Frontline’s Martin Smith Talks About The DOJ’s Failure To Prosecute Wall Street
By January 29, 2013
Last week, PBS’ Frontline dedicated an entire hour to the Justice Dept.’s failure to prosecute a single high-ranking bank executive involved in the financial crisis of 2008. Consumerist recently got the chance to discuss the topic with the show’s producer/writer Martin Smith. [More]
Dr. Pepper Snapple Group Sued Over Mott’s For Tots Immunity Claims
By January 28, 2013
A recently filed lawsuit alleges that the labels Mott’s for Tots Immune Support Fruit Punch are making claims it shouldn’t — namely that the beverage will help support one’s immune system. [More]
CBS Also Refuses To Let CNET Review TV-Streaming Service Aereo
By January 25, 2013
Hot on the heels of inadvertently giving Dish’s ad-skipping Hopper DVR a publicity boost by refusing to let the editors of CNET give an award to the device, the executives at CNET’s parent company CBS apparently want everyone to hear about live-TV streaming service Aereo. [More]
Report: Asst. Atty. General Who Shied Away From Wall Street Prosecutions To Step Down
By January 23, 2013
Less than 24 hours after his appearance on PBS’ Frontline, where he struggled to explain why his office had brought not one single indictment against a high-level Wall Street executive related to the 2008 financial crisis, Assistant Attorney General Lanny Breuer has reportedly decided to step down. [More]
‘Nuclear Holocaust’ & ‘Sh!tBag’ Among Clever Names Morgan Stanley Bankers Gave To Toxic Mortgage-Backed Security
By January 23, 2013
Federal prosecutor Lanny Breuer insists he has yet to find enough evidence to bring an indictment against a single Wall Street executive over the 2008 mortgage meltdown, yet lawyers in private lawsuits against the banks continue to turn up some gems — like this one from the Morgan Stanley e-mail vault. [More]
10 Highlights From Frontline Report On Why No Wall Street Execs Are In Jail Over Mortgage Mess
By January 23, 2013
Last night, PBS’ Frontline looked at a question many Americans have asked — Why have no top Wall Street executives been prosecuted for their part in the 2008 financial crisis? — and took it right to man at the Justice Dept. who isn’t bringing those charges. [More]
Can You Get Away With Complaining About Your Job Online? Maybe, Says NLRB
By January 22, 2013
Any number of people have gone online to vent their exhaustion after a particularly tough day at work. But where do you draw the line between innocuous, “What a day!” posts and statements that could actually get you fired from your job? And what about valid gripes with working conditions? [More]
Woman Sues TSA, FBI, Frontier Airlines After Being Detained & Strip-Searched
By January 22, 2013
Back on Sept. 11, 2011, the tenth anniversary of the 9/11 terrorist attacks, an Ohio woman was one of three people detained by authorities at Detroit Metro Airport, where she claims she was strip-searched and held without cause for four hours. [More]
Minnesota AG Says Debt Collectors Need To Provide Better Evidence When Suing Consumers
By January 14, 2013
Tired of seeing debt buyers and debt collectors winning court cases with little evidence to back their claims, Minnesota Attorney General Lori Swanson has asked state lawmakers to craft a bill mandating a higher standard of proof from these businesses. [More]
AIG Decides Not To Sue The Taxpayers That Bailed It Out
By January 9, 2013
Earlier today, the board of onetime Worst Company in America winner AIG met to discuss whether or not to pile on to a $25 billion lawsuit filed by its former CEO against the same federal government that spent $182 billion to bail the company out in 2008. Under pressure from the public and legislators, the company decided against it. [More]
Lawmakers To AIG: Don’t Even Think About Joining $25 Billion Lawsuit Against Govt.
By January 9, 2013
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While we all ponder what to eat for lunch today, the board of bailed-out insurance biggie AIG are meeting today to discuss whether or not to take part in a $25 billion lawsuit filed by its former CEO against the federal government. [More]
Fresh Off Paying Back Bailout Money, AIG Thinks About Suing U.S. Government
By January 8, 2013
At the same time as AIG thanks America, quite literally, in new ads boasting about the company’s repayment of its $182 billion bailout by the taxpayers, its board is reportedly getting ready to decide whether or not to jump on a $25 billion lawsuit filed by AIG’s former CEO against the U.S. government. [More]
Bank Of America To Pay $11.6 Billion In Latest Countrywide Settlement
By January 7, 2013
Like someone who thought they were buying a nice little fixer-upper at a bargain only to find that every ounce of the property is covered in lead paint and asbestos, Bank of America’s 2008 purchase of Countrywide Financial continues to eat away at the company’s coffers. [More]
You Have Until April 1 To Claim Refund On These Misleading Dietary Supplements & Cold Remedies
By January 7, 2013
It’s been more than two years since the government settled with Iovate, the makers of dietary supplements Accelis, nanoSLIM cold/allergy treatments Cold MD, Germ MD, or Allergy MD, over allegations that these products didn’t provide the benefits they promised. Now it’s time for affected consumers to get their refunds. [More]
Transocean Pleads Guilty, Agrees To Pay $1.4 Billion To Settle Charges Related To Gulf Oil Spill
By January 3, 2013
Transocean, the offshore drilling company that operated, on BP’s behalf, the ill-fated Deepwater Horizon rig whose collapse resulted in multiple deaths and untold amounts of oil being released into the Gulf of Mexico, has agreed to plead guilty to violating the Clean Water Act and to pay a total of $1.4 billion in civil and criminal fines and penalties. [More]
Maker Of ‘Nap Nanny’ Fights Recall Of Product Linked To Death Of Five Infants
By January 3, 2013
We’ve been following the saga of the Nap Nanny baby recliner since it was first recalled back in 2010 following the death of one child. Then in early December, the government filed suit against the company after learning of several additional fatalities. Now, the company is fighting back. [More]
Patent Trolls Demanding $1,000/Employee From Businesses That Dare To Use A Scanner
By January 3, 2013
Sick of going up against huge companies that have teams of experienced lawyers at their disposal, patent trolls are apparently turning to smaller companies and demanding bizarre royalty payments simply for using basic office technology on which the trolls claim they have the patent. [More]
