News today that West Coast Bank reached an agreement with the FDIC relating to its “courtesy coverage” overdraft protection. According to Brent Hunsberger’s report in The Oregonian, the issue was ineffective opt outs. But there is a bigger problem with Oregon banks ordering transactions in a way that triggers… Continue Reading →
Oregon readers know about our gasoline rules. In Oregon, there is no self-service. So when you pull up to the pump and ask the attendant to gas it up, you commit to the purchase the minute the gas starts flowing into your tank. ARCO does not take credit cards. Consumers… Continue Reading →
I had the pleasure of watching my dear friend and colleague Maureen Leonard argue Paul v. Providence in the Oregon Supreme Court today. She did a fabulous job of articulating our position, both in her briefing and at oral argument. The Oregon Supreme Court was not at full strength. Continue Reading →
For those tracking this case, two updates worth noting. 1. As noted recently, Western Culinary/LCB Portland and Career Education Corp filed a motion to compel arbitration and to dismiss this case. More info on that motion here. The hearing date on the motion has been changed to October 7,… Continue Reading →
Late yesterday, Career Education Corp and Western Culinary Institute/Le Cordon Bleu Portland filed a motion to compel arbitration in our consumer fraud class action. More on the case here. Short version is that three years after we filed the case, after the trial court certified a class action, after… Continue Reading →
This seven year old consumer class action case is coming into its final stages. The time to file claims ended. Next Monday, July 11, the money for fees and charitable contributions gets paid. A month later, August 11, 2011, consumers who made claims should begin to see credits on their… Continue Reading →
HBO premiers Hot Coffee, The Movie tonight. The documentary is Oregon attorney Susan Saladoff’s labor of love. Susan put aside her law practice to will this film into being. She is a force of nature. Susan makes no bones about her point of view. Like me, she is… Continue Reading →
On Monday, May 2, 2011, Multnomah County Circuit Court Judge Henry Kantor granted final approval to the class settlement entered between Comcast and Oregon consumers billed cable TV late fees. Under the terms of the settlement, Comcast pays $16 per late fee to claiming class members, up… Continue Reading →
Via Twitter, the law blog world and a few local lists, I’ve spent the better part of a week thinking about lawyer advertising. First thing: I am biased. I believe that the law is a profession. As such, our clients come first, the justice system next, and we come third. Continue Reading →
Here is the link to a recent NPR story regarding culinary schools and the disconnect between culinary careers and the costs of culinary school. Interesting quote from the of Career Education Corp. executive Kirk Bachmann about the calculations of placement rates. He notes that CEC schools do not include… Continue Reading →