Supreme Court

Feb 27, 2013 09:59 AM

SCOTUS to Decide if Corporations Can Grant Themselves Complete Immunity from Federal Laws

 Corporations want a get-out-of-jail-free card for cheating small businesses and individuals

Washington, DC—The U.S. Supreme Court will hear oral arguments today in a case that could provide corporations with unfettered power to evade federal laws by keeping small businesses and individuals out of the courts and forced into a rigged arbitration process. In the case, American Express Co. v. Italian Colors Restaurant, SCOTUS will decide if corporations can force arbitration on small businesses and individuals, even when it can be shown that the cost of forced arbitration would make justice unattainable.

Nov 05, 2012 04:38 PM

SCOTUS Hears Important Consumer Case Today

The U.S. Supreme Court heard oral arguments today in Comcast v. Behrend, which alleged a classic example of a corporation monopolizing a market and overcharging its customers.

Oct 25, 2012 03:41 PM

Linda Lipsen to Speak at Documentary Premiere

AAJ CEO Linda Lipsen will be featured on a panel Monday night as part of the Alliance for Justice’s DC premiere of Unequal Justice: The Relentless Rise of the 1% Court. Unequal Justice is a twenty minute documentary looking at the recent string of pro-corporate decisions by the U.S. Supreme Court.

See below for a preview of the film.

Oct 11, 2012 12:12 PM

St Jude's Failure to Act Leaves Patients At Risk for Years

Evidence is mounting showing manufacturers of St. Jude Riata leads knew their device was unsafe, but failed to inform patients of the faulty device for years.  Unfortunately, this news is not surprising in a post-Riegel environment.
 
Sep 18, 2012 01:09 PM

Fine-Print Can Limit Your Rights After Harm or Injury

The Washington Post had a column today from Keiser Health News warning consumers against signing away their rights due to clauses found in the fine-print of nursing home contracts.

Aug 24, 2012 10:42 AM

Third Circuit Deals Blow to Consumers Forced into Arbitration

The Third Circuit issued an opinion in Homa v. American Express this week that wiped out consumers’ hope for meaningful access to justice when faced with a forced arbitration clause.  The court found that when a forced arbitration clause with a class action ban is included in the fine print of a contract, individual arbitration is the consumer’s only remedy – even if a consumer can prove that the cost of arbitration is so high that it is not a viable option.

Jul 11, 2012 11:36 AM

Why Replacing the ACA with Med-Mal is an Unconstitutional Assault on Patients’ Rights

Before the ink was even dry on the Supreme Court ruling in the Affordable Care Act (ACA) case, numerous Members of Congress argued repeatedly and publicly to repeal and replace the ACA with a federal medical malpractice proposal that relies on the Commerce Clause for constitutional authority. This legislation would decimate the legal rights of patients injured by negligence, nursing home abuse, or defective drugs and devices and eliminate any incentive improve patient safety.

Jun 28, 2012 02:04 PM

BREAKING NEWS: AAJ Response to SCOTUS decision on the Affordable Care Act

 Washington, DC—The following is a statement from the American Association for Justice (AAJ) President Gary M. Paul in response to the U.S. Supreme Court’s decision on the constitutionality of the Affordable Care Act:

“Today’s Supreme Court ruling is a step forward not only in the fight to expand access to healthcare, but also in the fight to protect patients’ access to justice.

Jun 25, 2012 01:33 PM

AAJ: Protect Consumers From Secretive Forced Arbitration

AAJ filed two sets of comments on a forthcoming study encouraging the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau (CFPB) to fully examine the devastating impact forced arbitration has on the rights of American consumers.

AAJ President Gary M. Paul stated in the comments:

“Corporations’ broad utilization of pre-dispute mandatory arbitration clauses greatly reduces the ability of consumers to enforce their rights and in effect nullifies the protections incorporated in land mark consumer protection laws.”

Jun 22, 2012 01:11 PM

Bill introduced to restore workers' rights limited by Wal-Mart v. Dukes

Senator Al Franken has introduced a bill, the Equal Employment Opportunity Restoration Act of 2012 (S. 3317), to restore employees’ rights to bring lass-action lawsuits, which were severely limited by a U.S. Supreme court case, Wal-Mart Stores v. Dukes, last June.