by Tracy Weber and Charles Ornstein ProPublica, Jan. 19, 2011, 2:53 p.m. UC Denver (wools/Flickr) The University of Colorado Denver and its affiliated teaching hospitals have launched an overhaul of conflict of interest policies after…
Have you ever visited a facility where seniors gather for a meal and observed the little cases many people carry with rainbow assortments of pills inside? I have, and I have even noticed at times…
The day after the tragic shooting in Tucson, Arizona, I was shocked when I heard the reactions from many politicians and the media. Almost all were blaming each other, taking responsibility and motivation off of…
by Marian Wang ProPublica, Jan. 13, 2011, 3:14 p.m. Photo by Andrew Magill [1] We’ve reported extensively on the ties between pharmaceutical companies and the physicians they fund to speak, consult and do research [2]….
A Massachusetts man was charged with manslaughter in Connecticut last week, in what is being referred to as the assisted suicide, or mercy killing, of his Alzheimer’s afflicted father. Remarkably, the commentary sections of the…
The Better Business Bureau really knows how to lose credibility. For two years the Connecticut BBB chapter had given Aiello Plumbing of Windsor Locks, Ct., an A rating despite numerous complaints to the BBB as…
WHO AM I? DEAR DOCTOR KATHLEEN, No matter how many people tell me that I am smart and lovable and kind, I feel stupid and unlikable and undeserving of happiness. WHY? Please explain…
One should not jump to conclusions on why a newspaper decides to publish or not publish a particular story. However, some of you might find it interesting that after all that happened with Aiello Plumbing…
One of the largest and most expensive plumbing and cooling companies in Connecticut has agreed to pay $35,000 in fines to avoid legal action following consumer complaints. Over the past 10 years 47 consumers had…
DEAR DOCTOR KATHLEEN, My wife of 14 years just announced that she wants a divorce! I am so shocked! She told me calmly, as if she was asking me to go to the store, instead…
Another reason why our health insurance goes up by double digits every year: Doctors performing unproven surgeries that could hurt patients more than help. Bloomberg News tells the story of truck driver Mikel Hehn, who…
DEAR DOCTOR KATHLEEN: I want to make 2011 better than 2010. Every January, I make resolutions, but by December, nothing has changed. What can I do to differently this year? STUCK YEAR AFTER YEAR DEAR…
If Connecticut Attorney General Richard Blumenthal’s investigation into the controversial Better Business Bureau’s grading system is an indication as to how effectively his office probes critical consumer issues, the next Attorney General will have to…
In one of the more bizarre foreclosure cases, Bank of America is threatening to throw a West Hartford family out of their home even though they couple never missed a mortgage payment.
The largest bank in the United States earlier this month notified Shock Baitch and his wife Lisa Freedman that foreclosure action will start today – Christmas eve – unless the couple agrees to put their home up for a forced sale.
Why?
Because another unit of Bank of America erroneously reported to credit agencies that the family was seeking a loan modification, ruining their credit rating and as the result putting their mortgage into default.
All this is happening even though the bank – after admitting it erred and sent a letter of apology in September – handed this case to a special unit at Bank of America that is charged with dealing with severe customer issues. It promised in writing to notify the credit reporting agencies that the couple were not deadbeats, but were good credit risks “I have never seen a case like this,” said Manchester attorney Wendell Davis, whose office handles many foreclosures.
Toyota Motor Corp. agreed to pay record fines totaling $32.425 million for failing to notify safety regulators of potential safety defects, the U.S. Department of Transportation said. The department, according to the LA Times, accused…
DEAR DOCTOR KATHLEEN, My family has so much, and yet it’s Christmastime, the season of giving. I want to give my children presents from Santa (they are 5 and 6 and still believe!), but I…
Attorney General Richard Blumenthal today announced that DIRECTV will provide restitution to consumers for numerous alleged violations of consumer protection laws, including deceptive advertising, contracts, pricing and promotional offers, as well as failure to clearly…
Hartford Ct. Superior Court Judge Marshall K. Berger, Jr. has approved a settlement between Best Buy and Conn Attorney General Richard Blumenthal that requires the Minnesota based company to immediately pay Conn $399,000 and provide…
by Sasha Chavkin ProPublica A house under foreclosure that is now bank-owned in the Spring Valley area of Las Vegas on Oct. 15, 2010. (Mark Ralston/AFP/Getty Images) Many foreclosures have been thrown into question [1]…
Within hours that a Hartford Superior Court trial was to start, Best Buy and Connecticut Attorney General Richard Blumenthal have agreed to settle out of court. The settlement must still be approved by Superior Court…