Monthly Archives: July 2012

The End of Penn State

We Are…

Without question, the Jerry Sandusky child abuse case has completely turned Penn State University on its head. With the recent discovery that head football coach Joe Paterno had tried to sweep the entire molestation issue under the rug, the prestigious and now-infamous institution is now dealing with a deluge of lawsuits that will plague them for years to come. From the courtroom to the football field, and all the places between, early estimations show that the settlements could reach the $100 million mark as more victims come forward. Continue reading →

Women Seeking Relief from Menopause Get Breast Cancer

Cool down

Hot flashes, night sweats, abnormal periods, and breast cancer: everything a woman can look forward to during menopause. That is, if the woman was prescribed Prempro, a drug designed to relieve menopause symptoms. Ten thousand women have sued Pfizer for overemphasizing the benefits of Prempro and failing to advise customers of the risks. Pfizer has already settled with 6,000 women for $896 million since 2006 and has put aside $330 million for the remaining 4,000 women who have filed suit.

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Illinois Law Firm Agrees to Reimburse Scammed Customers

Debt

Legal Helpers Debt Resolution, an Illinois company claiming to lower its customers’ debt interest rates, agreed to reimburse customers who paid for the company’s services in advance and yet did not receive any debt consolidation. The company will have to pay a reported $2.1 million in a settlement with the state. By law, debt consolidation companies are not allowed to charge an up-front fee. Instead, a firm can only make money once they’ve actually reduced a customer’s interest rate or otherwise negotiated a reduced debt load. Usually, this means making a contract for a certain percentage of whatever the deduction turns out to be. This a necessary protection, as otherwise consumers can be duped into paying for a service that provides no actual benefit. Only truly determined scum would then be able to take advantage of struggling families. So how did Legal Helpers Debt Resolution get around this?

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Natalee Holloway’s Mother Seeks Revenge Against Tabloids

Tabloid showdown

It’s puzzling how ragmags can hide behind the First Amendment and get away with publishing outlandish headlines and blatant hurtful lies. Take a trip down the checkout aisle and you’ll see some outrageous headlines. You have “John Travolta’s Cross Dressing Scandal”, next to that, the gut-wrenching “Brad & Angelina Twins Health Shocker: Tragic Down Syndrome”, and right before you can whip out your wallet, you are overcome with disgust when you still see headlines regarding the disappearance of Natalee Holloway. You might ask yourself, “how can these magazines publish such lies, and seven years going, no less? Isn’t this libel? And what about that poor girl’s still-living mother?” Well, after nearly a decade of enduring near-daily assaults on the memory of her daughter, Beth Holloway is ready to fight back against tabloids.

Look but don’t touch

Have you ever been to a zoo? There are tons of exotic animals like those you’d find on safari all walking about, living their lives, almost oblivious to the fact that they’re being watched. You might also notice signs like “Keep Out” or “Do Not Touch The Glass”, which are most likely for your own safety. Well, Google recently decided to overlook these warnings and delve a little deeper into Safari itself — that is, Apple’s internet browser. A purported breach of privacy settings has resulted in a settlement that will cost Google somewhere around $22.5 million.

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