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You may think that you are alone in your legal struggle, but the truth is that people just like you find themselves in similar situations each day. In these news article summaries, read about others who are fighting for justice and what is rightfully theirs -- whether it involves consumer class action lawsuits, traffic accident injuries, personal injury cases, child injury lawsuits, or wrongful foreclosure lawsuits.

News Category: All CategoriesWrongful Bank ForeclosureConsumer Class Action LawsuitsCar & Truck AccidentsPersonal Injury

Wrongful Bank Foreclosure

• Obama Proposes Plan to Prevent Foreclosures
  Mar 10, 2010

  March 10, 2010 - Boston, Mass. - Some politicians are hoping to reduce the growing number of Americans who are being displaced from their homes after succumbing to bank foreclosure. In particular, the hope is to cause a fundamental change in the way lending institutions and banks treat homeowners who are facing a risk of foreclosure.
  
  DailyFinance reports President Obama has proposed a plan to ensure that lenders give every willing homeowner a chance to keep their property. Obama wants to ensure that each homeowner struggling to make their mortgage payments can enroll in the Home Affordable Modification Plan, or HAMP, before foreclosure measures are put into action.
  
  This would prevent banks from foreclosing on a home without making an obvious effort to contact the homeowner several times. It would also be required for banks to attempt to talk to borrowers about HAMP at least 4 times via phone and at least 2 times through certified mail.
  
  The intent is that homeowners deserve to know about the possibility of trial loan modifications, which allow a borrower to get their payment temporarily lowered. Typically, as long as the homeowner pays on-time for 3 months, they may get to stay at the lower payment, allowing them to save their home.
  
  Some banks have been known to withhold this opportunity from homeowners who have otherwise followed protocol. If Obama's plan becomes reality, the hope is that lenders will not be allowed to pull the rug out from under homeowners who are making a concerted effort to avoid foreclosure.
  
  The Massachusetts wrongful bank foreclosure attorneys at Phillips & Garcia will fight for your rights in your bank foreclosure class action case. We are committed to protecting your best interests and helping you collect the damages you need and deserve to move on with your life. Contact Phillips & Garcia today to schedule your FREE legal consultation - (877) 892-5620. 

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• Two Lawsuits Filed Against Deceitful Mortgage Lenders
  Mar 10, 2010

  March 10, 2010 - Boston, Mass. - Two lawsuits dealing with wrongful bank foreclosure by Wells Fargo and Bank of America in Massachusetts illustrate the widespread problem of unfair foreclosures in the state.
  
  The Charlotte Observer reports that several families that used these banks for trial modifications in an attempt to save their homes were met with resistance and unjust treatment by their lenders.
  
  Because the trial modifications were working to prevent foreclosure for the affected families, they ultimately sought permanent modifications to their loans. Despite the fact that they filled out all the required paperwork and made their payments on time for at least 3 months, the banks have not yet granted the permanent changes to these loans.
  
  This 3-month-trial-period is granted by the Home Affordable Modification Plan (HAMP), but some banks and lenders have been misleading homeowners about this aspect of the process. In these cases, the lender may never make the changes permanent, or will even foreclose on families who have made the lower payments on-time for 3 months.
  
  These cases illustrate that while some homeowners are doing everything they can to save their homes, there are banks that never intend to make their loan changes permanent. This leaves homeowners paying the mortgage on a home that they will not be able to keep, after all.
  
  The Massachusetts wrongful bank foreclosure attorneys at Phillips & Garcia will fight for your rights in your bank foreclosure class action case. We are committed to protecting your best interests and helping you collect the damages you need and deserve to move on with your life. Contact Phillips & Garcia today to schedule your FREE legal consultation - (877) 892-5620.

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• 2010 Likely to Be Up and Down For Bank Foreclosures in Massachusetts
  Mar 09, 2010

  March 9, 2010 - Washington, D.C. - Despite the nationwide onslaught of wrongful foreclosures that devastate and displace families, Massachusetts is expected to experience a brief decline in the number of foreclosures this spring.
  
  Huliq reports that in March, Massachusetts will likely see fewer home foreclosures than in recent months, even as most other states notice an increase. This may be because some lenders are working with homeowners via the Home Affordable Modification Program (HAMP).
  
  Homeowners in Massachusetts are not out of the woods yet, as the number of deeds recently increased and unemployment continues to be high. Ideally, the banks and lending agencies will fulfill their promise to work with struggling homeowners to save their properties. If this doesn't happen, it's likely the number of foreclosures could again begin to rise.
  
  Despite the positive outlook, it is too late for many homeowners who have unexpectedly lost their homes after lenders were not willing to work with them. In January, the HAMP reports say that out of 21,435 mortgages, just 2,788 have been modified by lenders, illustrating the continuing uphill battle that homeowners and tenants face when confronting the potential for a bank foreclosure in Massachusetts.
  
  The Massachusetts class action attorneys at Phillips & Garcia will fight for your rights in your bank foreclosure case. We are committed to protecting your best interests and helping you collect the damages you need and deserve to move on with your life. Contact Phillips & Garcia today to schedule your FREE legal consultation - (877) 892-5620.
  
  

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Consumer Class Action Lawsuits

• Toyota Didn’t Properly Investigate Death Involving Acceleration Issue
  Mar 03, 2010

  March 3, 2010 - Boston, Mass. - Family members of Juanita Grossman, an elderly woman who died after slamming her 2003 Toyota Camry into a wall in a fatal 2004 crash, have expressed frustration that the car manufacturer failed to properly investigate the unintended acceleration issue at the time of the crash.
  
  The Camry unintended acceleration issue is at the center of the current Toyota recall drama that is playing out around the world. The manufacturer has recalled millions of vehicles, impacting the safety and peace of mind of millions of consumers.
  
  According to Safety Research & Strategies, Inc. rescue crews responding to the 2004 crash noted that Juanita Grossman's feet were firmly planted on the brake pedal even after the car accident. This could be taken to mean that Juanita Grossman tried to stop the car, but to no avail.
  
  A Toyota official was called to the scene of the fatal accident to analyze the evidence. Witnesses say that he performed a visual inspection, but failed to conduct a more technological test. He claimed that the gas pedal was bent, though family members and other witnesses said that it was not.
  
  This response shows a failure early on by Toyota to accept responsibility for the acceleration issue that is now considered to be widespread. Additionally, the speed of the crash was never investigated, no witnesses were sought, and there was no further mention of the fact that rescue crews had found Grossman's feet on the brakes. Such mistakes were repeated in later cases involving Toyota Camrys.
  
  If you have been involved in a car accident involving a recalled Toyota, you may have grounds for a class action lawsuit. The Massachusetts class action attorneys at Phillips & Garcia will fight for your rights in your class action case. We are committed to protecting your best interests and helping you collect the damages you need and deserve to move on with your life. If you have been injured in a Massachusetts accident, contact Phillips & Garcia today to schedule your FREE legal consultation - (877) 892-5620.
  

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• Medford Man Sues Toyota After Wife Dies in Single-Car Accident
  Mar 02, 2010

  March 1, 2010 - Medford, Mass. - A man from Medford, Mass. has filed a lawsuit against Toyota Motor Sales USA., Inc. in connection with a fatal accident involving a recalled Toyota.
  
  According to The Boston Globe, Gerald Murphy, 49, was driving his 2010 Toyota Camry on October 18, 2009 when he experienced an unintended acceleration issue, similar to those experienced by other Toyota drivers.
  
  Gerald Murphy was driving home on Interstate 93, about to exit the freeway, when his car suddenly accelerated despite his pressure on the brake.
  
  The car slammed into a guardrail on the right side of the highway, and then veered across 4 lanes before hitting a cement median barrier. Murphy's wife, Marianne Murphy, 47, suffered fatal injuries in the crash, while Gerald Murphy suffered serious injuries. It was reported that neither victim was wearing a seatbelt at the time of the single-car accident.
  
  A teen in the car sustained minor injuries, while Murphy's adult daughter did not suffer injuries. Both victims were wearing seatbelts in the back seat of the car.
  
  Sources allege that Toyota will likely not take responsibility for the accident, since the company has not done so with other similar accidents related to recalled Toyotas. The Murphy family is seeking $20 million and a jury trial.
  
  If you have been injured in an accident involving a Toyota vehicle, you may be eligible to file a Massachusetts class action lawsuit. The Massachusetts class action attorneys at Phillips & Garcia will fight for your rights in your consumer protection case. We are committed to protecting your best interests and helping you collect the damages you need and deserve to move on with your life. If you have been injured in a Massachusetts accident, contact Phillips & Garcia today to schedule your FREE legal consultation - (877) 892-5620.
  
  

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• Credit Card Companies Can Still Profit Off Of Unsuspecting Consumers
  Feb 26, 2010

  February 25, 2010 - Washington - The recently enacted Credit Card Act of 2009 does offer a new level of protection for consumers, but that doesn't mean you can relax and trust that they will now watch out for your interests.
  
  Some of the new rules will not prevent credit card companies from generating plenty of profit off of unsuspecting consumers, meaning the public needs to stay vigilant about the dangers of predatory lending practices.
  
  According to ABC News, any methods these companies have not yet enacted could easily be pursued down the line. Some of the actions that ABC hypothesized the credit card companies may do include:
   

  • Creating new fees and keeping many of the old ones in place
  • Unexpectedly raising your minimum payments
  • Closing your account for several reasons
  • Increasing your interest rate on new purchases, as long as they provide 45 days notice

  
  Credit card companies are for-profit corporations, not non-profit entities, which means they will constantly be considering more ways to improve their bottom lines. While the Act limits some problems experienced by many cardholders, consumers will likely experience a host of new issues as credit card companies do what they can to recapture lost revenue.
  
  It's been reported that many cardholders have already suddenly had their account closed, interest rates increased, and reward programs eliminated or reduced. Be on the lookout for such actions by your card company in the coming months and know that you have rights as a consumer.
  
  The Massachusetts class action attorneys at Phillips & Garcia will fight for your consumer rights in your credit card company class action case. We are committed to protecting your best interests and helping you collect the damages you need and deserve to move on with your life. If you have been injured in a Massachusetts accident, contact Phillips & Garcia today to schedule your FREE legal consultation - (877) 892-5620.
  
  

   

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• New Credit Card Regulations Take Effect Today
  Feb 22, 2010

  February 22, 2010 - Washington - If you have a credit card, or are carrying a balance on 1 or more cards, you may be impacted by the new credit card law that goes into effect today and impacts how consumers are treated by lending institutions.  
  
  According to Reuters, the changes are intended to protect consumers from credit card companies that institute predatory lending practices. Unfortunately, credit card companies are always looking out for their bottom dollar and they are expected to come up with methods to make as much money as they did before the new regulations, thereby hurting consumers in new ways.  
  
  Some of the following are changes you might notice as result of the credit card laws: 

  • Companies may resort to adding annual fees to make up for their newfound inability to charge other types of fees
  • Many consumers younger than age 21 will find it nearly impossible to get a new credit card, unless their parents agree to co-sign
  • Late fees, while now more difficult to rack up, will likely increase dramatically

  
  Some of the new rules sound beneficial, such as credit card companies now being required to offer consumers the right to pay at the last minute so you can avoid late fees. But credit card companies are out to make money and they will simply change tactics.
  
  Keep a close eye on your credit card's disclosure statements, fee amounts, and interest rates. If you believe that your credit card company is violating your consumer rights and you suspect that other consumers have been similarly wronged, you may be entitled to file a credit card class action lawsuit.
  
  The Massachusetts class action attorneys at Phillips & Garcia will fight for your rights in your credit card class action case. We are committed to protecting your best interests and helping you collect the damages you need and deserve to move on with your life. If you have been ripped-off or taken advantage of by a credit card company, contact Phillips & Garcia today to schedule your FREE legal consultation - (877) 892-5620.
  
  

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• An Overview of the New Credit Card Regulations
  Feb 22, 2010

  February 22, 2010 - Washington - You can expect numerous changes to your credit card agreement starting today, as new legislation governing credit card rules take effect.
  
  Many of the rules are designed to protect consumers. However, there are still some advantages gained by credit card companies as a result of the new act.
  
  According to StopBuyingCrap.com, some fees have been removed, or at least will become much less likely, thanks to the new credit card act. For example, you now have the option to avoid over-the-limit fees, as you have to specify whether you want transactions to be accepted even when you do not have the funds available.
  
  Late charges should be less frequent as well, since you will now have until 5 p.m. on your bill's due date to pay on-time, and creditors will be required to send the bill a full 3 weeks before it is due. The flip side of this is that many credit card companies have increased their late fees since presumably fewer consumers will be late on paying their bills.
  
  While the new credit card rules have consumers' best interests at heart, it is likely that many creditors will find a way around them. Additionally, some of the new rules, which meant to protect consumers, could be a nuisance.
  
  For example, consumers younger than 21 years will have more difficultly getting their first credit card unless their parents cosign, or they can prove that they have steady income. While this theoretically prevents young adults from being taken advantage of, it could also prohibit these consumers from gaining a credit history.
  
  As the new credit card rules take effect, be sure to take note of any fee increases or stricter rules on your existing cards. If you believe that your credit card company is violating your consumer rights and you suspect that other consumers are in a similar boat, you may be entitled to file a credit card class action lawsuit.
  
  The Massachusetts class action attorneys at Phillips & Garcia will fight for your rights in your credit card class action case. We are committed to protecting your best interests and helping you collect the damages you need and deserve to move on with your life. If you have been ripped-off or taken advantage of by a credit card company, contact Phillips & Garcia today to schedule your FREE legal consultation - (877) 892-5620.
  
  

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• Massachusetts Gets 1st Toyota-Related Class Action Lawsuit
  Feb 19, 2010

  February 19, 2010 - Boston - The recent Toyota recall issues are far from over, as illustrated by Massachusetts' 1^st class action lawsuit against Toyota.
  
  According to The Boston Herald, the lead plaintiff in the case, Darshak Shah, 27, of Lowell, crashed his 2010 Toyota Corolla just weeks after purchasing the car. The crash occurred when Shah collided with another vehicle after unsuccessfully pushing the brakes on his out-of-control Corolla.
  
  Shah is just one of the millions of American consumers affected by the extensive Toyota recall, which includes an ever-growing list of vehicles. Owners of the Toyotas are likely to suffer a decline in resale value and also experience a loss of car usage or even suffer personal injuries or death as a result of the unintended acceleration issue.
  
  Apparently, Toyota's recent product recall has already produced a loss of resale value for most of the manufacturer's cars. Though this is the first related lawsuit filed in Massachusetts, plaintiffs in about 21 other states are preparing similar suits.
  
  Toyota has declined to comment on this class action lawsuit, even despite recent claims that the automaker knew about the unexpected acceleration issue for years.
  
  If you have been affected by the Toyota recall issue, you may be entitled to seek damages in a class action lawsuit. The Massachusetts class action attorneys at Phillips & Garcia will fight for your rights in your class action lawsuit. We are committed to protecting your best interests and helping you collect the damages you need and deserve to move on with your life. If you have been injured in a Massachusetts accident involving your recalled Toyota, contact Phillips & Garcia today to schedule your FREE legal consultation - (877) 892-5620. 
  
  

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• At Least 8 Deaths in 2003 and 2004 Attributed to Toyota Camry Issues
  Feb 18, 2010

  February 18, 2010 - Rehoboth - Despite current investigations into the massive Toyota recall, it has been noted that deaths that were caused by the manufacturer's defects were previously ignored by both Toyota and the National Highway Transportation Safety Administration (NHTSA).
  
  During a period of 6 months in 2003 and 2004, there were 8 deaths that were purportedly caused by a Toyota Camry acceleration issue.
  
  According to Safety Research & Strategies, Inc., NHTSA is now more intensely focused on the unexpected acceleration issue experienced by some Toyota owners. In fact, the agency recently reported that 34 deaths may have been caused by the problem.
  
  Sadly, this surge of interest in public safety on behalf of Toyota and NHTSA comes too late for the victims of crashes caused by unexpected acceleration. It would seem that Toyota did not take these tragedies seriously at the time, and  insisted that there was nothing wrong with the Camrys involved.
  
  Though the NHTSA should be applauded for taking a hard look at the most recent deaths and serious injuries that have been associated with the Toyota recall, it remains, too little, too late, for the families of the victims of the 2003 and 2004 Camry crashes.
  
  If you have experienced a car crash, personal injury or property damage that you believe was caused by your recalled Toyota vehicle, you may be eligible for damages in a personal injury lawsuit.
  
  The Massachusetts personal injury attorneys at Phillips & Garcia will fight for your rights in your personal injury case. We are committed to protecting your best interests and helping you collect the damages you need and deserve to move on with your life. If you have been injured in a Massachusetts accident, contact Phillips & Garcia today to schedule your FREE legal consultation - (877) 892-5620.
  
  

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