Law professor Edward McCaffery has written Taxing Wealth Seriously, which argues that U.S. wealth inequality can be and should be reduced via tax policy. Here's the abstract: The social and political problems of wealth inequality in America are severe and getting worse. A surprise is that the U.S. tax system, as is, is a significant cause […]
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A new study led by researchers at UC Berkeley and Clinica de Salud del Valle de Salinas demonstrates how even a short break from certain kinds of makeup, shampoos and lotions can lead to a significant drop in levels of hormone-disrupting chemicals in the body. Analysis of urine samples before and after a three-day trial in […]
The downturn in the legal market brought a raft of suits against law schools by former students asserting that the schools took the students' money (or caused the the students to run up educational debts) while exaggerating their graduates' job prospects. Most of these suits were thrown out on pre-trial motions. But one trial — […]
Earlier this week, in a decision that is likely to be influential to the federal court in California now considering whether Apple can be compelled to help the FBI break into the San Bernardino shooter's iPhone, U.S. Magistrate Judge James Orenstein rejected the government's request for a similar order in an unrelated New York case. […]
USA Today reports: Facebook has changed the way people do a lot of things online. For example, you probably notice yourself reflexively clicking 'like' on anything your friends post on Facebook, even if it's just to acknowledge you saw it. Scammers are taking advantage of that reflex for a dangerous scam called "like-farming." What is […]
The Consumer Financial Protection Bureau took action this week against online payment platform Dwolla for deceiving consumers about its data security practices and the safety of its online payment system. The CFPB ordered Dwolla to pay a $100,000 penalty and fix its security practices. Details are in the CFPB's press release.
Justice Scalia's death has made it likely that some cases accepted for review by the Supreme Court will result in a tie vote. For instance, some observers think that Spokeo Inc. v. Robins, an important consumer-protection case currently before the Court, might split 4 to 4. So, you may be interested in a new article by law prof Justin […]
This article by Amanda Bronstad discusses the Supreme Court's recent denial of review of a class-action decision from the Seventh Circuit concerning whether Rule 23 contains a heightened "ascertainability" requirement. Bronstad's article asks whether the Court's refusal to hear the case is related to Justice Scalia's absence. For one perspective on (and a description of) "ascertainability," go here.
According to this article by Zach Carter, "Democratic National Committee Chair Rep. Debbie Wasserman Schultz (D-Fla.) … is co-sponsoring a new bill that would gut the [Consumer Financial Protection Bureaus's] forthcoming payday loan regulations. She's also attempting to gin up Democratic support for the legislation on Capitol Hill[.]" Here's an excerpt: The misleadingly titled Consumer Protection and Choice […]