While most consumers’ image of Costco involves people stocking up on cases of ketchup, toilet paper, and bottled water, the warehouse retailer does sell some high-end jewelry and accessories. But the folks at Tiffany & Company claim the “Tiffany” rings that were being sold at Costco were anything but. [More]
lawsuits
MacMillan Agrees To Refund $20 Million Over E-Book Price-Fixing Claims
By 2.11.13
And another one bites the dust. After refusing to join in an earlier settlement with three other publishers accused of colluding with Apple to fix prices on e-books, the folks at publishing biggie MacMillan have decided to settle with the U.S. Dept. of Justice for $20 million. [More]
How A Homeowners Association Went Bankrupt Because Of One Obama Yard Sign
By 2.11.13
Back in 2008, a couple in Olde Fairhaven, Virginia put up a sign in their lawn showing their support for a presidential candidate. This simple action led to a feud that has raged for years and cost the neighborhood homeowners association hundreds of thousands of dollars. Now the HOA is broke, and the central “town square” that turns a clump of townhouses into something resembling a community is up for sale. [More]
Oregon Man Claims IRS Agent Pressured Him Into Sex Or Face Tax Penalty
By 2.8.13
In a lawsuit filed against the federal government and an agent for the Internal Revenue Service, an Oregon man claims the agent used threats and harassment to pressure him into having sex against his will. [More]
Investors Accuse Bank Of America Of Continuing Countrywide’s Bad Practices
By 2.4.13
Most of the $40 billion Bank of America has set aside to pay out over the mortgage meltdown can be blamed on malfeasance at Countrywide Financial. But some investors say that BofA’s hands are not totally clean in this mess — and that the bank has gotten off too easy thus far. [More]
Woman Sues California Pizza Kitchen For $5 Million, Shocked That Frozen Pizzas Could Be Unhealthy
By 1.31.13
Sure, you could assume that because it’s illegal for restaurants in your state to use trans fats in the foods they serve, a frozen meal branded with the name of a restaurant chain wouldn’t have trans fats in it. You would be wrong, but you’re certainly free to make that assumption. That’s what a California woman who bought some California Pizza Kitchen frozen pizzas thought, though. Now she’s suing Nestle, the company that makes CPK frozen meals, for $5 million in a class action suit, intending to save us all from the hidden poisons that are actually disclosed on the back of the box. [More]
Senators Call Out Attorney General For Treating Banks Like They Are “Too Big To Jail”
By 1.29.13
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]
Interview: Frontline’s Martin Smith Talks About The DOJ’s Failure To Prosecute Wall Street
By 1.29.13
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 1.28.13
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 1.25.13
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 1.23.13
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 1.23.13
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 1.23.13
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 1.22.13
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 1.22.13
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 1.14.13
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 1.9.13
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 1.9.13
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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]
