Topics: Consumer Law - 169 results

JPMorgan Chase Bank will pay $100 million to settle claims that it jacked up interest rates on loan balances that were transferred to consumers’ credit cards after it promised them a fixed rate, according to documents just filed in a California federal court First came the bait: for an up-front fee, consumers could transfer the balance from your home equity loan, car loan or other credit card balance to their JPMorgan Chase credit card, and get a low fixed rate …

Consumer advocates in Pennsylvania won a hard-fought delay on Wednesday against a pending bill in the legislature that would once again permit payday lenders to charge predatory rates and victimize the state’s poor and downtrodden residents. Bill would raise allowable interest rates to 369 percent Loan companies falsely claim the bill is a “consumer protection law” Predatory lending banned in 17 states and on military bases   Army of Lobbyists A bill that passed the Pennsylvania state house earlier this …

Craig Grigonis, a third generation insulation installer in Michigan, watched his father die in 1987 of mesothelioma, a deadly form of cancer with one known cause: exposure to asbestos. Before he died, his father James, who worked with insulation made of asbestos, sued the company that made the toxic substance and recovered some of his medical bills. But thanks to a brand new law in Michigan pushed by the corporate-backed American Legislative Exchange Council (ALEC), workers like Craig Grigonis are …

Farmers, seed distributors and food justice organizations filed an appeal after their lawsuit against agricultural giant Monsanto was dismissed. More than 80 plaintiffs, including the Organic Seed Growers and Trade Association, say Monsanto’s domination over genetically-modified organisms (GMO) threatens the world’s food supply. Because food companies aren’t required to label GMOs, you won’t know if the food you buy in a grocery store is genetically modified, or whether there are health consequences to eating it. Further, the wind can blow …

Every year, thousands of Americans are sickened or killed by bad prescription drugs, but a battle is brewing in several states that could take away the ability of consumers to sue drug makers based on model bills by the controversial organization American Legislative Exchange Council (ALEC.) In the case of some popular drugs like Vioxx or Phen-Fen, tens of thousands of consumers have sued en masse for bad side effects or risks that drug makers failed to warn about. Another …