As this article by David Nather puts it: "The evidence is piling up now: Obamacare really does seem to be helping the uninsured." For instance, read this study (9.5 million fewer adults lacking health insurance after first ACA open enrollment period); this study (8 million more insured, with number of uninsured dropping in all states including non-Medicaid […]
On Wednesday, we told you that federal district judge Anita Brody in Philadelphia has preliminarily approved a class-action settlement in a case brought by former NFL football players against the NFL. The suit claims that the NFL is responsible for their serious concussion-related injuries. Some former players have already told the court that they don't […]
From the CFPB's news release: Today [July 10], the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau (CFPB) took enforcement action against ACE Cash Express, one of the largest payday lenders in the United States, for pushing payday borrowers into a cycle of debt. The CFPB found that ACE used illegal debt collection tactics – including harassment and false […]
From the FTC’s press release: Amazon.com, Inc. has billed parents and other account holders for millions of dollars in unauthorized in-app charges incurred by children, according to a Federal Trade Commission complaint filed today [July 10] in federal court. The FTC’s lawsuit seeks a court order requiring refunds to consumers for the unauthorized charges and […]
Elizabeth De Armond of Chicago-Kent has written Preventing Preemption: Finding Space for States to Regulate Consumers’ Credit Reports. Here is the abstract: The Great Recession awoke state legislators to the power of individuals’ credit reports to hinder economic opportunities. Many legislators would like to assuage the effects of bad historical events on the futures of […]
…is the choice being put to residents of Finleyville, PA (in the southwestern part of the state) by the natural gas company EQT. The question is also the headline of the Slate story on the proposal. $50,000 sounds like a big payoff. But as an insurance policy for the company, it may be a good […]
On this blog, we talk sometimes about whether disclosure to consumers as opposed to outright prohibtions or restrictions on business conduct (or doing nothing at all) is the appropriate way, under the circumstances, to protect consumers in the marketplace. In any case, and particularly when disclosure or nothing at all is the choice, consumer protection […]
by Brian Wolfman Federal district judge Anita Brody in Philadelphia has preliminarily approved a class-action settlement in a case brought by former NFL football players against the NFL. The players claim that the NFL is responsible for their serious concussion-related injuries (and concussion-related injuries that they will suffer in the future). Judge Brody's 21-page preliminary […]
In United States v. Windsor, 133 S. Ct. 2675 (2013), the Supreme Court held section 3 of the Defense of Marriage Act unconstitutional as a violation of equal protection and due process principles. Section 3 said that for the purpose of interpreting federal law, "marriage" must be construed as the legal union of one man […]
Herman Schwartz has written How Consumers are Getting Screwed by Court-Enforced Arbitration in The Nation. (Hat tip to Paul Bland)