Public Justice

January 7, 2019 In Blog Class Action Preservation, Consumers' Rights

Home Depot Asks Supreme Court to Rewrite the Law of Jurisdiction to Get a Perceived Advantage

This case began when George Jackson, a North Carolina resident, was approached outside of his local Home Depot and told that tap water in his neighborhood had tested unsafe and that he might want to get his water tested, too.

December 19, 2018 In Blog Food Project

Court Rejects States’ Argument, Allows Federal Constitutional Challenge to N.C. ‘Anti-Sunshine’ Law To Proceed

The United States District Court for the Middle District of North Carolina has rejected the state’s motion to dismiss a federal constitutional challenge to North Carolina’s anti-sunshine law, concluding that plaintiffs have successfully pled the statute violates the First Amendment and the Equal Protection Clause….

December 18, 2018 In Blog Consumers' Rights, The Environment, Workers' Rights

UPDATED: Using Bankruptcy to Eliminate Tort Liability for Future Asbestos Claims? That Would Be Unconstitutional

Resolving asbestos liability can be challenging. The time between exposure to asbestos and the onset of the most deadly asbestos-related disease, mesothelioma, can be decades, and there’s no way for someone who was exposed to know whether they will fall ill in the future. And there are plenty of folks—many of whom were exposed indirectly, through asbestos on a family member’s clothing, for example—who may not even know that they were exposed in the first place. As such, it’s impossible for anyone—including companies responsible for asbestos exposure—to know who will fall ill and be entitled to compensation in the future.

December 3, 2018 In Blog

Remembering Public Justice Past President Dean Robb

Public Justice Past President Dean Robb passed away on Sunday, December 2nd. Robb served as President of the Public Justice Foundation (then Trial Lawyers for Public Justice) from 1982-1983.

November 30, 2018 In Blog Forced Arbitration

Celebrity Attorney Faces Fight Over Arbitration Clause in Retainer

By all accounts, Hollywood attorney Shawn Holley’s star has been on the rise. Holley, who first made a name for herself as a member of O.J. Simpson’s defense team, has increasingly been the go-to lawyer for celebrity bad boys (and girls). Her client roster includes Lindsay Lohan, Kim Kardashian, Justin Bieber, Kanye West and Paris Hilton. But like other Hollywood insiders – including Harvey Weinstein, Charlie Sheen and others – Holley also appears to be a huge fan of forced arbitration, using this favorite tactic of powerful people to force less powerful people (in her case, her own clients) out of court and into often-secret hearings where bad behavior often gets veiled in secrecy and hidden away from public view.

November 24, 2018 In Updates Consumers' Rights

Full Senate to Vote on CFPB Director Nominee This Week

Kraninger remains wildly unqualified; Public Justice urges Senators oppose her nomination Kathy Kraninger’s nomination to be permanent director of the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau is due for a vote next week, and Public Justice remains firmly opposed. Kraninger is not only unqualified for the job,…

October 16, 2018 In Blog

Missouri Supreme Court Unanimously Refuses to Rewrite Arbitration Clause Selecting Corrupt Arbitrator

Image via Taber Andrew Bain on Flickr By Paul Bland Executive Director A predatory lender wanted courts to re-write an arbitration clause that named a corrupt arbitration company, so that the lender could still force consumer cases out of court. The Missouri Supreme Court unanimously…

September 26, 2018 In Blog The Environment, Workers' Rights

Justice for Workers at Hanford

The settlement in this case shows the power of workers banding together and the effectiveness and importance of partnerships between unions, advocates and tenacious public servants like Washington’s Attorney General.

September 19, 2018 In Blog Consumers' Rights, Forced Arbitration

Appeals Court Rejects Container Store’s Hide-the-Contract Tricks

Blind shoppers, like their sighted counterparts, deserve contract terms they can read and that are more than mere illusions.

September 6, 2018 In Updates

Making an Impact. Creating Change. Our 2017 Annual Report

Whether we’re bringing cutting-edge lawsuits in the courts, or mobilizing communities to support or oppose issues, nominees or legislation, Public Justice’s work has never been more necessary than it is now. We hope the voices and the stories included in this report will make you proud of what we’ve accomplished together and inspired to continue our fight for justice for all.