Consumer Law

Baseball Fan Sues, Says Call of Nature Trumped ‘God Bless America’

A baseball fan who says he was ejected from a New York Yankees game after answering the call of nature rather than staying in his seat for the singing of “God Bless America” has sued over the alleged violation of his First Amendment rights. Bradford Campeau-Laurion contends that he was…

Apr 15, 2009 7:13 PM CDT

AG to Sue NY Law Firm, Charges Process Co. Over Alleged ‘Sewer Service’

The New York attorney general says he will sue a Long Island law firm and has already sued a major process-serving company in the state, contending that they were involved in multiple cases of “sewer service” in which parties to litigation were never properly served with court filings. Additionally, Attorney…

Apr 14, 2009 5:32 PM CDT

Bad Economy Spurs One Practice Area: Consumer Debt Collection Suits

Most litigation over illegal bill collection tactics might cost result in perhaps $1,000 in damages for an individual plaintiff. But a few suits with particularly egregious facts can bring in a lot more. And statutory attorney fees provided for the prevailing party can make such cases worthwhile for a plaintiff…

Apr 13, 2009 5:27 PM CDT

Fed’l Jury Convicts 2 Ex-Lawyers in $95M Fen-Phen Litigation Settlement Scam

It took two trials, but federal prosecutors have now won a criminal conviction in a case against two disbarred Kentucky lawyers accused of scamming almost $95 million from clients in massive diet drug litigation. William Gallion and Shirley Cunningham were found guilty today by a federal jury in Kentucky in…

Apr 3, 2009 6:51 PM CDT

Consumer Group Sues Over Fla. Bar’s Client Testimonial Ban

A consumer group has sued the Florida Bar on behalf of an attorney who was told client testimonials on a third-party website violated the state’s lawyer advertising rules. The prohibition, which Boca Raton attorney Joel Rothman unsuccessfully appealed to the Florida Bar Board of Governors, prevents him from participating in…

Apr 2, 2009 7:35 PM CDT

N.Y. Art Dealer Accused of $88M Fraud

A former New York art dealer is now included among an elite group of alleged white-collar master manipulators recently accused of defrauding others of monster sums. Lawrence Salander was arrested today pursuant to a 100-count state-court indictment that charges him with stealing $88 million from investors, artists and collectors (including…

Mar 26, 2009 10:56 PM CDT

Meet the Disabler: Device Replaces Bill Collectors, Maybe Even Some Attorneys

It doesn’t break kneecaps. But a bill-collection device employed by a growing number of used-car dealers could point the way to the future for companies interested in collecting past-due debt without the expense and delay of litigation. Known as the disabler, the remote-control device is implanted under a car’s dashboard…

Mar 25, 2009 11:42 PM CDT

Web-Savvy iPod Repairman Allegedly Outwitted Apple, Netted 9,000 Shuffles

A Michigan man who allegedly understood more about Apple’s computerized repair system than the technology giant itself has been criminally charged for allegedly making off with 9,000 iPod Shuffle music players. Nicholas Woodhams, 23, is facing federal fraud and money-laundering charges after allegedly tricking Apple into sending more than 9,000…

Mar 19, 2009 9:59 PM CDT

Red-Light Cameras Could Soon Catch Insurance Scofflaws, Too

It wouldn’t be difficult for government officials to tweak red-light camera operations so that they also check violators’ license plates against automobile insurance records, says an official of a company seeking to sell an insurance-check service to the City of Chicago. And, eager to increase revenue in tough times, officials…

Mar 17, 2009 12:01 AM CDT

5th Circuit Strikes Attorney Fee Award in Katrina Bad-Faith Case

An award of punitive damages and attorney fees in a bad-faith case against an insurance company has been overturned by the New Orleans-based 5th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals. State Farm Fire and Casualty Co. was mistaken when it denied coverage for wind-based damage from Hurricane Katrina, wrongly attributing the…

Mar 13, 2009 12:18 AM CDT

Consumers Won More than Half of Arbitrations Studied

Arbitration of consumer disputes is not the business friendly forum that some critics charge, according to the results of a new study by Northwestern law school. The study of 301 cases handled by the American Arbitration Association found that consumers won some relief in 53 percent of the cases they…

Mar 12, 2009 6:09 PM CDT

Whole Foods Settles Antitrust Case, Agrees to Sell 32 Wild Oats Stores

The Federal Trade Commission’s longtime effort to unravel the purchase of Wild Oats by Whole Foods has ended in a settlement. Whole Foods has agreed to sell 32 of 74 Wild Oats groceries, restoring competition in 17 geographic areas, reports The BLT: The Blog of Legal Times. Several of the…

Mar 6, 2009 4:28 PM CST

Will Ex-Judge Press On With $54M Pants Suit Case? Supreme Court Is Last Resort

After losing Monday a request for an en banc rehearing before the entire Washington, D.C., District Court of Appeals, Roy Pearson Jr.’s infamous $54 million “pants suit” claim may be running out of steam. His only hope, at this point, is that the U.S. Supreme Court will grant certiorari, should…

Mar 4, 2009 10:23 PM CST

Debt Collectors Find the Dead Can Be More Lucrative Than the Living

Often, the living have no obligation to pay the debts of dead relatives. But a growing legion of sympathetic debt collectors is seeking to persuade them to do so. With the help of today’s database technology, it’s relatively easy to determine when an estate is opened in any of the…

Mar 4, 2009 4:29 AM CST

State Prosecutors Give Bad Check Cases to Private Collectors, Share Money

Those who have written a bad check tend to pay up when they get a letter from a state prosecutor’s office. However, in some states, such letters are actually being sent by private collection agencies, reports CNN. Such outsourcing is controversial, because collection can take place without the government ever…

Mar 2, 2009 9:25 PM CST