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• 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...

• 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...

• Cellphone Use and Driving

  Staff Writer | February 16, 2007 10:01 PM | 0 CommentsPhoenix, AZ

  An article in today's Arizona Republic described the dangers of distractions and driving. According to the Republic, distracted drivers heighten risks of auto accidents: Driver distractions, ranging from cellphones to eating behind the wheel, are blamed for as many as half the 139,000 collisions that occurred in Arizona during 2005, killing more than 1,100 people and injuring 70,000 others,...

• The TJX Companies' Data Breach Fallout Continues

  Staff Writer | February 13, 2007 7:07 PM | 0 CommentsPhoenix, AZ

  At least two class action lawsuits have been filed and one attorney general investigation has begun so far as a result of a data breach at TJX Companies. Customers who shopped at TJMaxx, Marshalls and other company stores throughout the United States, Canada and Puerto Rico sometime in 2003 and 2006 may have had their personal private account data exposed to computer thieves. According to the...

• Civil Justice Remedies for Crime Victims

  Staff Writer | February 11, 2007 6:02 PM | 0 CommentsPhoenix, AZ

  We have heard plenty of stories about crime in Arizona. Unfortunately and sadly, crime occurs everyday on our streets, in our offices and in our homes. If you have victimized by criminal conduct, what happens next? Who will provide support and explain what you can expect from our criminal justice system? What resources are available? What remedies are available in the criminal and civil...

• Arizona Still Ranks Highest for Identity Theft Victims

  Staff Writer | February 06, 2007 11:49 PM | 0 CommentsPhoenix, AZ

  According to an article in the publication Newszapp.com, Arizona still ranks highest in the nation for victims of identity theft per 100,000 people. According to the article,In the Federal Trade Commission's annual report released Jan. 25 detailing identity theft in 2005, Arizona had the most victims per 100,000 than any other state with 9,320 cases. Mesa ranked No. 3 in the top 5 cities for...

• City of Chicago Elections Board Target of Lawsuit Over Public Release of Voter Social Security Numbers

  Staff Writer | January 29, 2007 9:24 PM | 0 CommentsPhoenix, AZ

  Looks like we have another example of data protection gone amiss. The City of Chicago Elections Board faces charges that it disclosed social security numbers and other confidential information belonging to over 1.3 million voters in late 2003 and 2004 when it distributed CD-ROM disks containing this confidential data to alderman and other members of local wards. In Chicago, election candidates...