Consumerist
Hypocrites
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Hypocrites
Wedding Registry
Target confiscated Nick's coupon for 10% off items left on his wedding registry after randomly deciding that the coupon was too generous.
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This Target Coupon Is Made Of Lies
Target confiscated Nick's coupon for 10% off items left on his wedding registry after randomly deciding that the coupon was too generous.
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A lawyer in Florida has launched a business where he'll send a complaint letter on your behalf for a flat $50 fee. He even sends prospective customers to our website to educate themselves on "fighting back." Florida only. [Equal-Footing]
cease and desist
Monster Cable Threatens The Wrong Small Cable Manufacturer
Not long ago Monster Cable sent a cease and desist letter to Blue Jeans Cable alleging that the small cable manufacturer was infringing on several of their patents. What they probably didn't expect was that Kurt Denke, the president of Blue Jeans, "spent nineteen years in litigation practice, with a focus upon federal litigation involving large damages and complex issues," after graduating from the University of Pennsylvania Law School in 1985. More »
settlements
Judge Wants To Know Why 31 Law Firms Are Seeking A Cut Of The "Credit Card Hidden Transaction Fee" Settlement
Last year's class-action settlement against Mastercard, Visa, and several banks over the fees they charged customers who traveled abroad came up to about $336 million, and of that, 31 law firms are claiming a total of about $86 million for fees. The federal judge responsible for determining how much they get paid wants to know why. More »
How hiring a consumer lawyer is different from hiring a regular lawyer, and potentially much less costly. [Caveat Emptor]
law
Exxon May Have Its Punitive Damages For Valdez Spill Cut In Half By Supreme Court
The Supreme Court is currently considering whether to halve the punitive damages levied against Exxon for its massive 1989 oil spill from the Exxon Valdez tanker, from the current $2.5 billion to something more like $1 billion. Exxon claims the higher number amounts to excessive punishment. According to the New York Times, the decision may come down to a tie with four justices on either side; Justice Alito is not participating because he owns Exxon Mobile stock. The Exxon Valdez disaster "caused a 3,000-square-mile oil slick and still affects Alaska's fisheries after nearly 19 years." More »
thieves
Posh London retailer All Saints Apparel plagiarized a shirt design from the gaming site 4 color rebellion. The site originally unveiled the 'You Complete Me' tetris-heart figure for Valentine's Day in 2006. Designer Mitch was surprised to find that All Saints had plastered the exact same design on a shirt selling for £40—that's like, $90! Mitch asked All Saints for an explanation, which was enough to prompt a decent resolution.
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All Saints Apparel Plagiarizes Shirt Design From Gaming Site 4 Color Rebellion
Posh London retailer All Saints Apparel plagiarized a shirt design from the gaming site 4 color rebellion. The site originally unveiled the 'You Complete Me' tetris-heart figure for Valentine's Day in 2006. Designer Mitch was surprised to find that All Saints had plastered the exact same design on a shirt selling for £40—that's like, $90! Mitch asked All Saints for an explanation, which was enough to prompt a decent resolution.
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whoops porn
Walmart: Santa Brings A MP3 Player Full Of Porn To A 10-Year-Old Girl
Daryl Hill of Cookeville, TN purchased an MP3 player from Walmart for his 10-year-old daughter. He handed the player over to his daughter thinking it was new, when in fact the previous owner had filled the player with pornography. More »
identity theft
TJX Proposes One-Day Sale As Part Of Class Action Settlement
When TJX revealed earlier this year that they'd failed to keep safe over 45 million customer credit card accounts, they were hit with both consumer and bank class action lawsuits. Now they've submitted a proposed settlement for the consumer class action suit that includes a strange, somewhat insulting offer: a "one-day sale" for victims of the theft. Attorneys general from eight states have filed an objection against the proposal, citing that even if it's a well-intentioned goodwill gesture, it doesn't belong as part of any official, legal settlement, which should be designed to benefit the victims rather than the retailer. More »
home
Arbitration Clause Destroys American Dream
Five years ago, Jordan Fogal's dream house was turned a living hell after her builders ripped her off with shoddy construction and then hid behind the arbitration clause in the contract. Now she's become a crusader against mandatory binding arbitration.
If arbitration is so wonderful, why is it mandatory? Are we citizens or subjects?More »
Are you sure your new home is protected? Are you sure your family, will not join the growing ranks of the homeless? Are you sure you understand arbitration and tort reform? Are you sure that the American Arbitration Association, hasn't stealthily already entered every phase of your life? Do you think you still have the right to a trial by a jury? Do you still think you can sue anyone who wrongs you? Do you still think frivolous lawsuits are those that happen to other people? Do you tire hearing any more about big business flagrantly squashing your rights? Do your eyes glaze over and your mind shut down when you hear all these things? Are you bored by this rhetoric? Is it all just to complicated for you to understand? I understand.
wildfires
CA Attorneys Offering Free Legal Help To Wildfire Victims
California attorneys are banding together to provide pro-bono legal aid for victims of the the state's wildfires. Contact info here. American Association for Justice, Consumer Attorneys Of California, Consumer Attorneys of San Diego, Consumer Attorneys Association of Los Angeles, and United Policyholders are all helping out, as well as some individual attorneys. Filing insurance claims can sometimes require the assistance of a lawyer to make sure you're getting the full policy amount.
Southern California Fire Legal Help [Consumer Attorneys Of California] (Thanks to Eric!)
(Photo: CNN)
confessions
Arbitration Firms Are Godless Bloodsuckers
In 2006, Richard Neely, a retired chief justice of the West Virginia Supreme Court, penned an article for The West Virginia Lawyer entitled, "Arbitration and the Godless Bloodsuckers." The National Arbitration Forum asked him to be an arbitrator one time and Neely described his experience:
"[T]he bank asks for substantial costs related to the arbitration itself, and those costs are significantly higher than court filing fees. . . . In one case that I handled, the fees alone amounted to $450. Furthermore, the arbitration company sends the arbitrator a judgment form already filled out so that all the arbitrator need do is check the appropriate box... In my case I did not award the bank the litigation-related fees. . . . I never got another case!"
Full article inside...
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subprime meltdown
Facing Foreclosure? Take A Deep Breath And Don't Panic
The ongoing subprime meltdown will claim its next victims in October, when adjustable rate mortgages worth over $50 billion reset, but homeowners facing foreclosure can keep a roof over their head by following a few common-sense tips. Above all, don't panic, and don't ignore the problem - instead, try the following: More »
resistance is futile
MBNA Refuses To Appear For Binding Arbitration, May Still Prevail
Elizabeth Warren, the doyenne of consumer debt, received a frank email from a lawyer that shows the anti-consumer bias of binding arbitration. The lawyer was attempting to arbitrate a dispute with MBNA, a difficult task complicated by the bank's refusal to participate. More »
splitsville
Don't Let Divorce Affect Your Credit Score
Divorce can break your heart, and ruin your credit. Before parting ways, divorcing couples must untangle any assets acquired during the marriage. Ask The Advisor put together a useful guide for any couple unwilling to wait until death to do them part: More »
the great wall
The Chinese Poison Train Is Impervious To Lawsuits
Don't try to sue the Chinese Poison Train. It won't work. American victims of tainted Chinese products have found it nearly impossible to litigate against companies based in China. There are roadblocks at every step in the process: Americans can only sue Chinese companies that do business in the U.S.; phantom companies that exist only on paper refuse to hand over key documents; and, even if a consumer can win a default judgment, no treaty compels China to respect rulings from U.S. courts. From the Washington Post: More »
class actions
