Category Archives: Uncategorized

Department of Education issues new rules to help students seek relief from loans where school engaged in fraud

The Department of Education today issued new rules to help students get their federal loans erased in cases involving fraud and misconduct by their schools. The rules were prompted in part the closing of Corinthian Colleges amid allegations of fraud. As the New York Times explains, the new rules will clarify that students are eligible […]

Check out this investigative report on FDA’s adverse-event reporting system for medical devices

The Minneapolis Star Tribune has published this investigative report on the FDA's adverse-event reporting system for medical devices. The Star Tribune used the Freedom of Information Act to get information from the FDA about patient injuries associated with medical devices. By law, this information should have been public in the first place. The report is quite […]

Shopping and (the lack of) privacy

Read Kaveh Waddell's article entitled Incessant Consumer Surveillance Is Leaking Into Physical Stores. Here's an excerpt: You just wanted to shop for a birthday gift in peace—instead, you got ads that follow you around the internet, and coupons in your email that remember exactly which products you clicked on. So you shut down your computer, stick your […]

CFPB issues monthly report on consumner complaints

The Consumer Financial Protection Bureau has released its monthly complaint snapshot, this one highlighting consumer complaints about prepaid products. The report shows that consumers continue to experience issues trying to manage their accounts and access funds. The report also highlights trends seen in complaints coming from North Carolina. Regarding prepaid cards, common complaints included unauthorized […]

“Despite warnings, extremely dangerous air bags not repaired”

The Washington Post reports today: Owners of more than 300,000 Hondas have yet to get their air bags repaired, despite warnings from the automaker and regulators that the inflators have an extremely high chance of rupturing and causing injury or even death. Last week authorities said one of those air bags, equipped with an inflator […]

CFPB report on market developments with potential for consumer-friendly innovation

The Consumer Financial Protection Bureau yesterday released a report highlighting various market developments that have the potential to produce benefits for consumers. These developments are emerging from FinTech startups and traditional financial institutions, and include new products, services, and trends. The report also provides an overview of Project Catalyst’s work to promote consumer-friendly innovation and […]

How should the law treat the gig economy?

To quote law prof Orly Lobel, "gig workers" are "people who provide contracted, freelance work on a short-term basis via digital platform technologies." Uber drivers are well-known examples. Lobel goes on: "Gig workers are drivers, delivery-people, personal assistants, handymen, cleaners, cooks, dog-sitters, and babysitters, but increasingly are also more specialized professionals, including nurses, doctors, teachers, […]