Category Archives: Uncategorized

Ralph Nader opens American Museum of Tort Law

A timely counterweight to the troubling political movement to roll back regulations that protect public safety, the American Museum of Tort Law opened in Winsted, Connecticut this past weekend. As the NYT describes, The museum aims to describe the evolution of the law regarding negligence and liability, and it features some of the most groundbreaking […]

EU ruling could have major implications for technology and privacy

The BBC reported Wednesday that "An opinion issued by the European Court of Justice says that current data-sharing rules between the 28-nation bloc and the US are 'invalid.' The decision could affect other tech firms' abilities to send Europeans' information to US data centres." Although the ruling is not final, the BBC explains that the ruling […]

CFPB and DOJ announce $27m discriminatory lending settlement against Hudson City Savings Bank

From a CFPB press release today: Today, the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau (CFPB) and the Department of Justice (DOJ) announced a joint action against Hudson City Savings Bank for discriminatory redlining practices that denied residents in majority-Black-and-Hispanic neighborhoods fair access to mortgage loans. The complaint filed by the CFPB and DOJ alleges that Hudson City […]

CFPB report spotlights mortgage complaints

The Consumer Financial Protection Board on Tuesday released its latest monthly consumer complaints snapshot, which highlights mortgage complaints. According to the report, consumers continue to face problems with mortgage servicing, particularly during certain circumstances, such as when they apply for a loan modification to avoid foreclosure. The CFPB report finds the consumers continue to experience […]

“Volkswagen Test Rigging Follows a Long Auto Industry Pattern”

A discouraging article from the New York Times: Long before Volkswagen admitted to cheating on emissions tests for millions of cars worldwide, the automobile industry, Volkswagen included, had a well-known record of sidestepping regulation and even duping regulators. For decades, car companies found ways to rig mileage and emissions testing data. In Europe, some automakers […]

“Safety Suffers as Stock Options Propel Executive Pay Packages”

The New York Times reports on a study that found a correlation between generous company stock options for executives and the incidence of serious product recalls of the companies products. The study, “Throwing Caution to the Wind: The Effect of C.E.O. Stock Option Pay on the Incidence of Product Safety Problems,” concluded that “C.E.O. option […]

EPA: Volkswagen blowing smoke about clean diesel cars

The Post reports: In ads, Volkswagen touted its popular Jetta and Beetle diesels as paragons of clean-fuel technology: Buyers were promised a car that was “clean, fuel efficient, and powerful,” according to one 2013 testimonial. In reality, the claims were based in part on a clever ruse, U.S. officials alleged on Friday. For at least […]

Who Gets To Benefit From Bankruptcy Protection?

by guest blogger Rachel Clattenburg of Public Citizen Litigation Group Last week, NPR’s Morning Edition described Chapter 11 bankruptcy as one of our economy's “secret weapons.” The story focused on an appliance business in Charlotte, N.C., which was saved after filing for Chapter 11 bankruptcy. The story credits Chapter 11—the Chapter generally used by businesses […]