Category: Consumer Law

Wow, the Internet Celebrities have posted over 30 “comedy” videos on Youtube. Each video sends a message about the predatory lending crisis in this country. Entertaining yet very hard hitting. Check out the video below (beware of some well-placed four-letter words). The Internets Celebrities Dallas Penn and Rafi Kam go in for an investigative report on Check-Cashing. Themes explored include usury, economic instability, commercial banks and their profit line, and the cycle of poverty. Oh yeah, it’s a comedy. The video is shot on location in Bushwick and Carroll Gardens in Brooklyn, New York. Also stars special guest Internets Celebrity Ben Popken… Read More

I received this letter today and wanted to forewarn others to beware when they bring their car in for service under “warranty.” Whether you’re bringing your BMW, Hyundai, Chevy or Bentley in for warranty service, know your rights. I, for one, was outraged by this story. Dear Mr. Steiger: Today I brought my 2007 BMW 650i into Pacific BMW Service for a check engine light. The car only has 7,000 miles. Not only is it under warranty, but BMW offers a free complete maintenance plan. The check engine light, once illuminated cannot be turned off by the customer, necessitating a… Read More

Thanks to Bob Kraft’s Blog for bringing to light the facts regarding the reality behind the Texas “tort reform” legislation of 2003. In essence, the “tort reform” is nothing more than the insurance companies’ ability to lobby to put a cap on pain and suffering while increasing their profits. They have essentially stripped victims of medical malpractice from the ability to access the courts. Watch Fox 4 “Investigation-Tort Reform Questions” here. Read the Fox 4 “Investigation: Tort Reform Benefits Questioned” here. The rationale behind the legislation was that doctors were leaving in droves due to high medical malpractice insurance premiums and the threat of… Read More

Well folks, here’s the low down on the new California cell phone laws that go into effect on July 1, 2008 taken directly from the DMV Website. Whatever you do, do NOT drive while holding your cell phone – you need to be using hands free technology. And please, please don’t text while driving. Watch the DMV Video by Clicking Here Update: 2009 Law Bans Text Messaging while Driving – See Video Two new laws dealing with the use of wireless telephones while driving go into effect July 1, 2008. Below is a list of Frequently Asked Questions concerning these new laws. Q: When do the… Read More

It’s no secret that gas prices are climbing up, up and away! So I’ve done a little research and have found some links and a video with gas saving tips — the most common sense tip, of course, is slow down! Yahoo! published a report from Kiplinger which lists 5 gas saving tips: Find the Lowest Gas Prices by searching GasBuddy.com or GasPriceWatch.com by zip code or city and state to get the lowest prices in your area. Target the Best Time of Day to Buy Gas: The best time of day to fill up your tank is before dawn or late at night, when the sun… Read More

Yahoo! News published a fascinating article by Nick Carey entitled “Troubled Homeowners Fall Prey to ‘Rescue’ Scams.” Among the byproducts of the U.S. housing crisis is a surge in scams that cheat people out of their money, their homes, or both, under the guise of offering to rescue them from foreclosure. “There is a lot of money to be made if you are good at committing fraud,” said Debra Zimmerman, an attorney at Los Angeles-based Bet Tzedek Legal Services, which provides free legal assistance to stricken home owners. “Foreclosure rescue scams are big business right now.” Groups like Zimmerman’s say that… Read More

I read a fascinating story in the Torts Law Blog wherein Wal-Mart, based on their own training videos, knew or should have known of the potential danger of explosion in a particular gas can sold by them. Ultimately, that gas can exploded when a 12 year old boy “poured gasoline from the container onto a pile of wet wood he had been trying to light, and the can exploded.” From my perspective as a personal injury attorney who has handled many cases where injuries occur as a result of a faulty product (see, for example, The Case of the Exploding Wine Bottle), it… Read More

DETROIT (Reuters) April 10, 2008 – Toyota Motor Corp and General Motors Corp are recalling more than 662,000 vehicles sold in the United States due to defects in power windows, the two companies said on Wednesday. Toyota will recall 539,500 Corolla and Matrix vehicles for the 2003 and 2004 model years, it said in a statement. GM said it would recall 122,598 Pontiac Vibe hatchbacks, which share the same platform with Toyota’s Matrix and are built by GM in a joint venture with the Japanese automaker. On vehicles equipped with power windows, the driver and front passenger glass bolts may… Read More

How has the Subprime Crisis affected you?  Foreclosure? Victim of Real Estate Fraud? Skyrocketing mortgage payments? Negative credit rating? Victim of Predatory Lending? Misled by lenders? Call or e-mail me to learn about your legal rights. Maybe all is not yet lost… Lowell Steiger, Attorney at Law lowell@steigerlaw.com As we learn more and more about predatory lending and the subprime mortgage crisis, I think it is imperative that you read the following article written by the Mortgage Bankers Association (MBA). Understanding and Reporting Suspected Predatory Lending and Fraud MBA and its members actively fight against predatory lending. Lending practices that strip equity away from homeowners or… Read More

The SpeedTrap Exchange is a site where visitors can post what they believe are speedtraps. The National Motorists Association cannot attest to the validity of these listings. They are individual postings from private individuals who believe a speed trap is in effect in these locations. This site is chock full of valuable information and links including Speedtrap Listings, Speed Limits: Fact & Fiction and How to Fight a Speeding Ticket. The best way to avoid a speed trap? Don’t Speed!!!