Author Archives: Jay Butchko
Greenwashing Consumer Claims
Consumer claims related to “greenwashing,” whereby companies are deceptive in their advertising and product labels, and who choose to bring a class action lawsuit challenging these practices. These consumer claims are related to advertising and marketing claims made about the environmental attributes of a product, collection of products, or service – in advertising, labeling,… Read More »
How Foreclosure Defense Lawyers Can Help You Save Your Home
Although every case is unique, foreclosure defense attorneys can play a critical role in helping homeowners fight the threat of losing their homes. While it is always critical to consult a foreclosure defense attorney as your first step, below, we discuss some of the common means by which these attorneys can help when it… Read More »
The Increasing Use of Artificial Intelligence & Consumer Protection Concerns
There have been growing concerns over violations of consumer protection laws when it comes to artificial intelligence (AI) systems, such as ChatGPT. AI is currently used in a variety of capacities that affect consumers, from helping to determine bank fees, to credit ratings, and more. It also affects housing, hiring, working conditions, and other… Read More »
Amazon Found Violating Young Consumer Rights
Many consumers likely do not realize that Amazon, as one of the world’s biggest retailers, collects information about consumers through the Alexa product, ranging from geolocation data, to voice recordings, and more. Thus, although the company advertises that its devices and services are “designed to protect your privacy,” in fact, the company has been… Read More »
Employee Handbooks & Remote Workers
One of the many services that we provide here at Kohl & Cook Law Firm LLC as General Counsel lawyers is to help craft employee handbooks, which are becoming more and more important as more and more workers are working remotely, due to our experience with the COVID pandemic. There is no question that… Read More »
Protecting Veteran Consumer Rights
Sadly, veterans in our country are the subject of consumer rights violations and fraud every year in part due to their potential eligibility to receive federal benefits related to their service. According to the Federal Trade Commission, this collective financial loss amounts to more than $265 million each year. Identity Theft One such scheme… Read More »
Condo & HOA Solar Consumer Rights In Ohio
Many Ohio homeowners who are a part of Homeowners Associations do not realize that there is a Ohio Condominium Act protecting their property rights. While the law has, at times, become outdated, new laws passed in Ohio regularly seek to update it, including laws which, for example, protect consumers’ rights to solar access on… Read More »
Home Improvement Projects, Contractors, & Consumer Rights
We’ve previously discussed the issue of contractors taking advantage of homeowners. Unfortunately, fraud and scam is on the rise when it comes to home improvement projects. Every year, there are thousands of consumer complaints here in Ohio; mostly related to a failure to complete contracted work and deposits, whereby contractors accept deposits and fail… Read More »
The Fair Debt Collection Practices Act (FDCPA) & Time-Barred Debt: Protecting Yourself
One of the most concerning consumer law issue out there today involves debt collectors threatening to sue and/or suing to collect time-barred debt, including mortgage debt, known as “zombie second mortgages,” whereby homeowners who were operating with the understanding that a mortgage debt was already satisfied via bankruptcy proceedings or otherwise, are contacted by… Read More »
New Options For Mortgage Loan Modifications: Are They Ideal For You?
Starting in May, homeowners interested in mortgage loan modifications have a new lifeline that prevents foreclosure: the 40-year mortgage modification, which allows borrowers to have the term of their mortgage extended to 40 years, where the previous limit for loan modifications was 30 years, thus reducing their monthly payments. It is expected to reduce… Read More »