New York Paralegal Blog

WASHINGTON – As oil and gas companies make tens of billions in profits and the government scours the budget for savings, President Obama called on Congress to stop handing them $4 billion annually in taxpayer subsidies. America’s oil production last year reached its highest level since 2003, but we need to invest in the energy of the future, instead of subsidizing the energy of the past. Remarks of President Barack Obama Weekly Address Saturday, April 30, 2011 Washington, DC After the worst recession since the Great Depression, our economy is growing again, and we’ve gained almost 2 million private sector jobs over the last 13 months. But I also know that a lot of folks aren’t feeling as positive as some of those statistics might suggest. It’s still too hard to find a job. And even if you have a job, chances are you’re having a tougher time paying the rising costs of everything from groceries to gas. In some places, gas is now more than $4 a gallon, meaning that you could be pay...

NEW YORK – Attorney General Eric T. Schneiderman today announced a major settlement that will refund money to more than 5,000 New Yorkers across the state who were defrauded by a deceptive and harmful debt settlement company. Freedom Debt Relief, one of the country’s largest debt settlement companies, misled debt-saddled consumers about the amount of money they would save and the services it would provide, while reaping large profits in up-front fees. As part of the settlement, Freedom Debt Relief will pay $1.1 million to refund former customers, offer current customers hundreds of thousands of dollars in refunds if they withdraw from the program, and pay $100,000 in penalties to the state. The agreement is available here. The announcement comes as National Consumer Protection Week begins, and the Attorney General reminded New Yorkers that taking legal action against misconduct is just one way to attack fraud and abuse (see below for tips for consumer faced with significant credit ca...

Governor David A. Paterson today announced that $13.6 million was recovered from insurance companies between April 1 and June 30, 2009, for almost 3,000 consumers and health care providers who filed complaints with the New York State Insurance Department. This is up from $8.5 million recovered in the first quarter of 2009, for a total of $22 million for the first half of the year. “With so many affected by the economic downturn, we will continue to work to make sure New Yorkers get full value for their insurance dollars,” said Governor Paterson. “Insurance is a promise to protect us at our most vulnerable, and New Yorkers can rely on us to protect them if insurance companies do not keep their promises.” Acting Insurance Superintendent Kermitt J. Brooks said: “Governor Paterson’s commitment to consumers is one shared by the Insurance Department and we will continue to work to make sure they are treated fairly. If you have a problem with an insurance company, let us know. In these di...