| CONSUMER
FRAUD & CLASS ACTIONS
A class
action is a legal procedure used to efficiently handle a
lawsuit in which a large number of people have been
injured by a common act or set of actions. Class actions
are often used to seek monetary damages and injunctive
relief resulting from violations of the anti-trust laws
(such as price-fixing conspiracies and monopolization
cases); securities law violations (such as fraudulent
financial statements and market manipulation); consumer
law violations (such as violations of the federal
Truth-in-Lending Act, claims under the Magnuson-Moss
Warranty Acts, and violations of the Telephone Consumer
Protection Act); consumer fraud (such as hidden,
unlawful or excessive charges on credit cards, utility
or telephone bills); insurance disputes (such as
wrongful denial of life, health or disability insurance
benefits); civil rights violations; employee benefits
disputes; and environmental, toxic and other mass torts
(like toxic chemical exposure and spills and defective
products, drugs and medical devices).
Frequently,
damages suffered by individual class members are
relatively small; only by combining claims is it
feasible for class members to seek recovery in court.
The attorneys representing lead plaintiffs in effect
serve as "private attorneys' general,"
assisting in the enforcement of federal and state laws
by representing large groups of victims.
Our
attorneys have experience handling class action and
large, multi-plaintiff cases involving violations
of federal consumer protection laws, insurance and
contract matters, and investor fraud. If you (or your
business) believe that you have been injured or wronged
by the conduct, negligence or fraud of a corporation,
lender, employer, lender or creditor, insurance company
or manufacturer, you may have a potential cause of
action.
For
information about the firm's current class action case
again Fulton-Dekalb Hospital Authority d/b/a Grady
Memorial Hospital and Grady Health System, please click
here.
PREDATORY
LENDING
During
the past 10-15 years, predatory lending has become one
of the most pervasive and costly forms of consumer
abuse. Examples of predatory or abusive lending tactics
include: excessive, unlawful or hidden charges and fees;
illegal interest rates; low installment payments coupled
with a large balloon payment; prepayment penalties that
lock borrowers into high-cost loans; forced-insurance;
loans that exceed the borrower's ability to pay;
excessive loan-to-value ratios for secured loans; and
service loans (e.g., home improvement loans) where the
borrower does not receive equivalent value for the debt
incurred. Predatory lending practices are present across
the entire lending industry, most frequently arising in
first and second mortgages, home improvement loans,
automobile and mobile homes sales, rent-to-own
transactions, and payday, tax refund anticipation, and
auto title pawn loans. Typical victims include seniors
and the elderly, low-income earners, military personnel,
the under-educated, and those in extreme financial
distress.
Our
firm is currently reviewing and accepting cases
involving various types of predatory lending matters. If
you recently refinanced your home, financed a vehicle
purchase, took a short-term loan, borrowed against a
future paycheck or tax refund, were charged excessive
fees and interest, or otherwise feel you have been taken
advantage of in connection with a loan, you may have a
potential legal claim.
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