Miscellaneous

• Has Your Health Insurance Company Treated You Fairly?

  Staff Writer | May 07, 2007 5:00 PM | 2 CommentsPhoenix, AZ

  Today in the Los Angeles Times, I read about the health insurance company Blue Shield of California which has been sued by a policyholder alleging bad faith for refusing to pay medical bills totalling $450,000 arising out of a serious car accident. According the the article, the insureds applied for health insurance, paid premiums and received an individual policy through Blue Shield of...

• 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...

• 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...

• Even More Details Emerging about TJMaxx and Marshalls Data Breach

  Staff Writer | January 21, 2007 8:24 AM | 2 CommentsPhoenix, AZ

  Even more details are beginning to emerge about the theft of data on computer systems belonging to TJX Companies, the parent company of TJMaxx and Marshalls stores. Unfortunately it appears that thieves are actually using information they stole from the TJX Company computers. The on-line publication Computerworld described the data security breach as follows:The scope of the security breach...

• Taser International to Introduce Consumer Stun Gun

  Staff Writer | January 06, 2007 9:28 AM | 2 CommentsPhoenix, AZ

  I just read today in the Arizona Republic that Scottsdale based Taser International plans on introducing a new consumer stun gun at the Consumer Electronics Show in Las Vegas next week. With its perfect record thus far on product liability litigation lawsuits against it relating to its law enforcement stun gun product, I am not surprised to see this company branching out into the consumer...

• Starbucks Employees Possible Identity Theft Victims

  Staff Writer | November 05, 2006 10:52 AM | 2 CommentsPhoenix, AZ

  Just this past week, Starbucks lost track of four laptop computers containing sensitive information including social security numbers, addresses and names of over 60,000 company employees. Looks like this company may know how to serve up some Java but needs some lessons on how to protect sensitive employee information. These employees may become the next victims of identity theft as a result...

• TV News Helicopter Collision Kills All 4 On Board

  Jenny Albano | July 30, 2007 7:48 AM | 1 CommentPhoenix, AZ

  On July 28, two TV news helicopters crashed into each other while trying to follow a police chase in Phoenix, Arizona. The helicopters collided over Steele Indian School Park around 12:40 P.M. and crashed into the lawn in front of a boarded-up church. The choppers were engulfed in flames and all four people in the two helicopters died.Killed on board the KTVK chopper were pilot Scott Bowerbank...

• Automobile Theft Can Lead to Identity Theft

  Staff Writer | July 22, 2007 8:00 AM | 1 CommentPhoenix, AZ

  Arizona leads the nation in reported cases of identity theft. According to the Arizona Republic, metropolitan Phoenix also ranks fourth in the nation in reported cases of automobile theft as well. Considering these statistics together raises some concerns for drivers in Phoenix who leave various personal documents inside their cars. The Republic cautions that based on identity and auto theft...

• Michael Moore's Movie "Sicko" and Its Portrayal of US Healthcare

  Staff Writer | July 04, 2007 9:00 AM | 1 CommentPhoenix, AZ

  Michael Moore released a new movie about the system of healthcare in the United States. In the movie, he portrays our healthcare system as one in crisis. Do you believe our healthcare system in this country provides the best quality of care to patients at a reasonable cost? Have you seen the movie Sicko? Do you think the movie accurately portrays problems with our healthcare system in...