You know those kooks who go around not paying their taxes and saying there’s no law to make them? Well, one of them just won.
Government Policy
Gwen Stefani Sues Forever 21 For Trademark Infringement
By 7.18.07
Gwen Stefani doesn’t like it when Forever 21 does knock-offs of her designer clothes, according to MSNBC. Gwen’s reps claim that Forever 21 is “marketing, promoting, and selling products featuring a design ‘virtually indistinguishable’ from Harajuku’s signature heart/box logo”
Anonymous Businessman Settles Elderly Couple's Tax Nightmare
By 7.18.07
Remember the Atwoods? They were facing the possibility of losing their home after it was sold to pay $1.63 in property tax.
Sample Letter For Disputing A Debt Collection Notice
July 18, 2007
If you’ve received a notice from a debt collector, but have reason to believe you don’t actually owe that debt (or owe a lot less than they say you owe), federal law gives you a brief opportunity to force the collector to demonstrate that you do indeed owe this debt, and to stop trying to collect on it until they have verified you are the one responsible, and that the money is still owed. [More]
Blue Hippo Takes Your Payments, Doesn't Send Your Merchandise
By 7.18.07
Blue Hippo is one of those “no credit check” computer-buying companies. The basic idea is that you start making payments to Blue Hippo in order to “establish your credit history,” then, after 9 weeks, they send you a computer. You continue to make payments on the computer for a year, after which it is yours.
Manufacturer Claims eBaying Its Car Parts Violates "Intellectual Property Rights"
By 7.18.07
Manufacturers are getting eBay auctions canceled for selling their products “too cheaply,” reports the Consumer Law & Policy blog…
By 7.18.07
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Off-road Motorcycle Brake Master Cylinders (failure), Vance Kitira Cinnamon Spice Candles (fire), “Soldier Bear” Toy Sets (lead), Meyer Cooking Torches (fire) Ol’ Man Treestands (fall), Payless Children’s Clog Shoes (choking), Sportsman’s Warehouse Flashlights (fire), Genuine Innovations Combination Tire Inflators and Hand Pumps (injury), Florida Wal-Mart Children’s Earrings (lead). [CPSC.gov]
TSA: Where Do All The Little Scissors And Knives Go?
By 7.18.07
Last year, according to Transportation Security Administration figures, airport agents collected 12,295 “clubs, bats and bludgeons”; 1.6 million “knives and blades”; and 74,665 other objects classified as “deadly/dangerous.”
What's A Greater Threat To Airline Security?
By 7.17.07
Gawker Media polls require Javascript; if you’re viewing this in an RSS reader, click through to view in your Javascript-enabled web browser.
Mood In Airport Security Line Found Tense
By 7.17.07
The Today Show’s report on TSA procedures is mainly a bunch of crap everyone knows already, but we decided to edit together all the passenger interviews from the story to give a little dose of the current passenger mood regarding security lines. Takeaway: they hate them and would like to be able to bring on baby formula to feed their children.
Judge Awards $68,685.23 in Attorneys Fees Against RIAA
By 7.17.07
In the case of Capitol v. Foster, the judge has awarded $68,685.23 in attorneys fees to the defendant, Debbie Foster. According to Recording Industry vs The People, this is the first time attorneys fees have been awarded to an RIAA defendant.
How Can I Get Maytag To Listen To Me?
By 7.17.07
I never thought i’d be writing in to you, but here goes (this starts out like the letter i wrote to Penthouse…).
Woman Sues Spirit Airlines In Small Claims Court And Wins
By 7.17.07
Jane Waun sued Spirit Airlines in the small claims division of 54B District Court in East Lansing, Mich., as a last resort this spring after trying unsuccessfully to resolve her beef with the airline directly.
Getting Off Mailing Lists Is Fun
By 7.16.07
We sat down to try to get our name off six mailing lists today. It’s really annoying to have all this crap clutter our mailbox. When we get it, we literally walk from the mailbox to the recycling bin. Dump. Nice marketing, guys.
Bausch & Lomb Plant Clears Inspection
By 7.16.07
A Bausch & Lomb plant in South Carolina has cleared inspection after failing last year in an investigation following an outbreak of a rare and dangerous eye infection caused by its MoistureLoc contact solution.
Consumer Sues Choicepoint For Saying She Was In An Accident She Wasn't In
By 7.16.07
Angie Duckworth is suing Choicepoint and State Farm for $75,000+ for reporting her as being in an accident she wasn’t in, and messing up her credit report.
Choking Concerns Prompt Gerber To Recall Organic Rice And Oatmeal Cereals
By 7.15.07
475,000 affected 8 ounce cereal boxes were sold nationwide. Any organic rice with UPC codes 15000 and 12504, or organic oatmeal with the UPC codes 15000 and 12502 are part of the recall; the UPC codes are on the bottom right side of the boxes. Customers can return the cereals and receive a refund by calling Gerber at (800) 443-7237 or (231) 928-3000.
Back-To-School State Sales Tax Holidays
By 7.15.07
Just in time for back to school, Raising4Boys has posted a list of which states have state sales tax holidays. He lists when they occur, what goods are applicable, and if there’ s a maximum dollar amount. We’ve always found that state-sales-tax-free white glue is better for peeling off your hands…
