Greenspan v. Third Federal Savings & Loan

Jul 23, 2009

OUTCOME: Trial court affirmed on appeal.

Goldberg v. Merrill Lynch Credit Corp.

N/A

OUTCOME: Pending on appeal in the Florida Supreme Court

In these two consolidated cases, the Goldbergs and Ms. Forman sued their mortgage lenders to collect a "document preparation fee" they had been charged, alleging the lenders had engaged in the unauthor ... ized practice of law when they charged for document preparation. The circuit court dismissed the cases, ruling that only the Florida Supreme Court has jurisdiction to determine what constitutes the unauthorized practice of law. On appeal, the Fourth District Court of Appeal ruled that people can sue to recover fees stemming from the unauthorized practice of law but only after the Florida Supreme Court has determined that certain conduct constitutes the unauthorized practice of law. This appeal followed.

Meadows v. Clearwater Bay Marketing, LLC d/b/a Sandpoint Capital

N/A

OUTCOME: Class action settlement with settlement fund

Mr. Meadows sued Clearwater Bay Marketing on behalf of himself and all other Indiana residents who had received payday loans that allegedly violated Indiana's payday lending laws by, among other things ... , charging an excessive finance charge and repeatedly renewing. Under the settlement agreement approved by the court, the defendant agreed to cancel all outstanding loans to Indiana customers and to make a payment into a settlement fund. The net settlement fund was distributed to class members based on their percentage of total overcharges and any remaining settlement funds will be distributed through cy pres.

Means v. River Valley Financial Bank, et al.

N/A

OUTCOME: Settlement/Pending

Ms. Means brought a class action lawsuit on behalf of everyone in Indiana who had prepaid for burial services and merchandise at the Grandview Memorial Gardens cemetery in Madison, Indiana. Ms. Means a ... lleged that the trust funds that were established to hold customers' prepayments had been improperly disbursed or mishandled to the point that they lacked adequate resources to provide the goods and services owed. Settlements with certain defendants provide for most class members to receive their burial goods provided by a former owner of the cemeteries and establish a fund to provide for burial services.

Holland v. Trinity Health Care Corp.

N/A

OUTCOME: Affirmed on appeal

Ms. Holland sued her hospital claiming that it breached its contract to provide her medical treatment at its "usual and customary rates" when it charged her a higher amount than the reduced rates it us ... ually and customarily accepts because most patients have insurance agreements that involve lower rates than the hospital charges its uninsured patients.