Consumerist
Life Insurance
Posts Tagged “
Supreme Court
”
Life Insurance
utilities
Energy Companies Win Permission To Steal $3 Billion From Customers
Westerners are stuck paying $3 billion to energy companies that colluded to gang-rape the free market. California, Washington, and Nevada were planning to return the money to customers, but the Supreme Court recently ruled that the industry manipulated the market, fair and square. More »
The Supreme Court rejected T-Mobile's appeal in 3 cases yesterday, which means an earlier federal ruling that says states "can refuse to enforce arbitration clauses if they include bans on class actions" will stand. Now T-Mobile has to go back to state courts to deal with the class action lawsuits against it. [Associated Press]
A 9-page look at how big business has been scoring big wins in the Supreme Court over the past 30 years [NYT].
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 »
arbitration
Supreme Court Sends "Judge Alex" Back To Arbitration
TV's "Judge Alex" is probably less a fan of arbitration that you'd think, according to CNN. He's been handed a Supreme Court decision that forces him back into the waiting arms of the American Arbitration Association.The 8-1 decision came in a lawsuit by Alex E. Ferrer, a former Florida Circuit Court judge who decides minor civil disputes as a form of TV entertainment.More »
news from the swamp
Supreme Court Allows Manufacturers To Dictate Minimum Prices, Screws Consumers
The Supreme Court ruled today in Leegin v. PSKS that manufacturers can collude with retailers to set the minimum prices of products, arguing that such a decision was good for competition. Succumbing to the court's recent bender of conservatism is a 96 year-old precedent from Dr. Miles v Park that held minimum price accords as intrinsically - or in legalese, "per se" - illegal. Writing for the majority, swing-Justice Anthony Kennedy showed kiddies the dangers of taking crazy pills: More »
patents
Supreme Court To Decide Whether Facts Can Be Patented
As follow-up to our recent post on the patenting of scientific facts and products of nature, here's a decent article on the issues at stake in the B Vitamin Case currently being argued by the Supreme Court. More »
cell phones
