All Topics

• Should Arizona Ban Drivers from Using Cellphones?

  Staff Writer | March 22, 2007 11:13 PM | 0 CommentsPhoenix, AZ

  According to an article in today's Arizona Daily Star a citizens group wants to place on the next election ballot an initiative to outlaw cellphone use while driving in order to lower risks of automobile accidents: An initiative drive launched Wednesday would make it illegal for drivers to talk on their phones unless they are using a hand-free headset. Violators would be subject to a $100 fine;...

• State Farm Insurance CEO Pay Rises Eighty-Two Percent

  Staff Writer | March 20, 2007 10:00 AM | 2 CommentsPhoenix, AZ

  Congratulations to State Farm Insurance Company! Its profits rose almost sixty-four percent (64%) to $5.32 billion dollars last year from $3.24 billion dollars in 2005. In my opinion, during this time, I do not think that State Farm acted like very much of a good neighbor to victims of Hurricane Katrina or to other policy-holders who timely paid premiums thinking they would be protected in...

• Protecting Access to Public Records

  Staff Writer | March 18, 2007 1:14 PM | 0 CommentsPhoenix, AZ

  An opinion article in today's edition of the Arizona Republic caught my attention when it discussed access to public records. Various public records maintained by local, state and federal governments can affect corporate and individual acountability for the safety of products and services offered to consumers. Our local, state and national governments collect lots of information about many...

• Copy Machines May Contain Identity Theft Risks

  Staff Writer | March 15, 2007 3:28 PM | 0 CommentsPhoenix, AZ

  If you thought that we have been exposed to way too many risks of identity theft, think again. According to the Associated Press, simply using older model photocopiers may present risks of identity theft: That's because most digital copiers manufactured in the past five years have disk drives - the same kind of data-storage mechanism found in computers - to reproduce documents. As a result,...

• Subprime Lending Woes and Mortgage Fraud

  Staff Writer | March 14, 2007 12:58 AM | 0 CommentsPhoenix, AZ

  Today, the stock market dropped considerably over continuing concerns about the stability of the so-called sub-prime mortgage lending market. Discussing consumer sub-prime mortgage market woes, the Associated Press described recent lender problems as follows:Investors, bracing for a wilting economy, fled the already deflated subprime mortgage sector on more news that lenders New Century...

• Mortgage Fraud Problems in Valley Lead to Indictments

  Staff Writer | March 09, 2007 8:53 PM | 0 CommentsPhoenix, AZ

  Today, the Arizona Republic reported on a series of indictments alleging real estate fraud against five people who work in the real estate industry. These criminal charges may signal some fallout from the once high-flying real estate boom experienced in Arizona these past few years. The Arizona Republic recently reported on several fraudulent schemes which have been used to inflate real estate...

• America On-Line Version of Tort Reform Incomplete and Inaccurate

  Staff Writer | March 06, 2007 7:04 AM | 2 CommentsPhoenix, AZ

  Today I discovered an interesting and entertaining page on the America On Line web site. Discussing so-called frivolous lawsuits, America On-Line lists as news several lawsuits without real attribution or legitimate discussion about corporate accountability for wrongdoing. Setting aside the issue of whether these lawsuits are in fact real or a political effort to encourage tort reform...

• Public Records Containing Social Security Numbers Readily Available in Arizona

  Staff Writer | March 01, 2007 9:48 AM | 2 CommentsPhoenix, AZ

  Yesterday News Channel Five reported that some county records containing social security numbers and other confidential information are readily available for inspection by anybody with internet access which unfortunately presents criminals with an invitation to commit identity theft. How would you feel if your social security number has been published on the internet because it has been...

• TJX Company Data Breach Leading to New Legislation

  Staff Writer | February 25, 2007 6:33 PM | 0 CommentsPhoenix, AZ

  The fallout from the data breach involving confidential data stolen from the TJX Companies continues. In Massachusetts, legislation has recently been introduced to shift the cost of a data breach onto retailers who do not follow security standards designed to prevent identity theft. Banks and credit cards currently protect consumers against fraudulent credit card use. However, according to...

• United States Supreme Court Strikes Down Punitive Damage Award Against Phillip Morris

  Staff Writer | February 21, 2007 6:46 AM | 0 CommentsPhoenix, AZ

  Yesterday, the United States Supreme Court dealt a blow to consumers and businesses who present punitive damage claims to deter future harmful conduct. In a sharply divided opinion, the Supreme Court held that a Plaintiff cannot seek punitive damages to punish a corporation by suggesting actions against non-parties to a lawsuit should play a role in the size of the punitive damage award. A...