Author Archives: Kati Latina

Medical Access Denied

For those with health insurance, the final three months of the annual calendar year may ignite a sense of urgency to schedule appointments and utilize benefits, such as a free eye exam or 100% coverage after a deductible is paid. In the case of two now-deceased elderly insurance holders, however, conflict may arise if owed benefits are not honored. According to a recent lawsuit filed against UnitedHealth, elderly patients were not provided the care afforded under their Medicare Advantage Plans. An artificial intelligence (AI) algorithm is the alleged reason for the denial.

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As Plane as Day

The holiday season typically welcomes the tradition of visiting with family and friends, which often requires travel by car, train, bus, or airplane. The latter option yields particularly high volumes of passengers around Thanksgiving, Christmas, and New Year’s. Although airlines appear to execute efficient effort to avoid delays and accommodate customers, one airline has developed a reputation for a reason some may not expect. Two lawsuits entered against American Airlines involve the treatment of underaged children. While one was settled, the other was recently filed.

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Serving Up Surcharges

At a restaurant in Georgia, tolerance for children is not part of the menu. The parents of even well-behaved children may be forced to pay an undefined surcharge, categorized as a fee “for adults unable to parent.” This business practice has raised questions about how far restaurants or other service-driven businesses may go to tack on outrageous or unjustified costs, and whether this policy violates the rights of consumers. Some view this policy as subjective and a way to trick patrons into paying for more than what they ordered.

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An Effort to “Like”

For years, social media has been scrutinized and criticized as one of the driving forces behind youth bullying, self-esteem issues, and poor mental health. Now, a federal lawsuit and subsequent state lawsuits have targeted Meta, the corporate owner of Facebook and Instagram, for employing dangerous tactics and features for drawing teenagers and children into its social media apps. The lawsuits suggest that the specific methods of encouraging continued use have contributed to a deterioration of mental health in its users.

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Ironclad Lawsuit?

A private label for Dick’s Sporting Goods is wrapped up in a legal dispute with a company that specializes in sports apparel, team uniforms, and jerseys. Launched within the past decade, Wooter advertises a unique infinity symbol that appears to resemble two semi-open links in a chain. About a year following Wooter’s development, the brand Calia was introduced with Carrie Underwood as the face of the women’s activewear line. Although Underwood left the brand two years ago, Calia continues to drive impressive sales for Dick’s Sporting Goods.

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