Possible Federal Rules changes could be green light for privilege abuse in discovery By Ellen Noble, Staff Attorney Corporations are once again trying to dismantle longstanding Federal Rules of Civil Procedure designed to ensure that the civil justice system is fair and transparent—that it uncovers the truth and holds bad actors accountable. This time, Rule…
Chairman Sherrod Brown Committee on Banking, Housing, and Urban Affairs 503 Hart Senate Office Building Washington, DC 20510 Ranking Member Patrick Toomey Committee on Banking, Housing, and Urban Affairs 455 Dirksen Senate Office Building Washington, DC 20510 July 29, 2021 Re: Support for Veterans and Consumers Fair Credit Act Dear Chairman Brown and Ranking Member…
Republicans on the Senate Banking Committee are trying to derail President Biden’s nomination of Rohit Chopra to lead the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau (CFPB), one of the most important – and, until four years ago, one of the most effective – federal agencies in Washington. The full Senate is expected to vote on the nomination…
By Leah M. Nicholls, Senior Attorney In 2006, Congress passed the Military Lending Act (MLA) with bipartisan support. The MLA addressed what military leadership saw as a substantial problem: the targeting of members of the military and their families by predatory lenders charging exorbitant interest rates and fees, rates of 400 percent or more. Getting…
By Leslie Brueckner, Senior Attorney Throughout its nearly 40-year history, Public Justice has specialized in taking on corporate behemoths on behalf of consumers, workers, and others who are determined to fight back against dangerous products, dangerous workplaces and dangerous attempts to block the courthouse doors. Late last week, we scored a major victory against one…
By Christine Hines National Association of Consumer Advocates Paul Bland Public Justice Executive Director Fee-shifting provisions in statutes serve to make so many legal actions on behalf of wronged consumers possible, but a serious issue with America’s tax laws is critically undermining them. A critical feature of many state and federal consumer protection laws, fee…
Today, Public Justice joined three dozen groups and individuals in warning against a U.S. Supreme Court ruling in Arkansas Teacher Retirement System v. Goldman Sachs Group Inc. that would roll back investor rights and unleash corporate misconduct. Oral argument in the case is scheduled for Monday, March 29. Below is the joint statement: It has…
View PDF March 10, 2021 The Honorable Patty Murray Chair, Committee on Health, Education, Labor & Pensions United States Senate Washington, D.C. 20510 The Honorable Richard Burr Ranking Member, Committee on Health, Education, Labor & Pensions United States Senate Washington, D.C. 20510 Re: Nomination of Julie Su as Deputy Secretary of the U.S. Department of Labor…
By Karla Gilbride Cartwright-Baron Senior Attorney What Leo Tolstoy said in Anna Karenina about unhappy families could also be said about consumer transactions or employment relationships that turn sour: each one “is unhappy in its own way.” For some types of disputes, a worker or consumer may want a public reckoning in court; in other situations, a…