Faces of Lawsuit Abuse has released some of the craziest lawsuits that actually took place in 2011.
You can check-out these ridiculous lawsuits at www.FacesofLawSuiteAbuse.org and take the 2011 Most Ridiculous Lawsuit Poll of which one you think the the is the craziest lawsuit of the year.
Here’s a small sampling of the types of lawsuits you’ll see:
It appears that the Internal Revenue Service may not be able to prevent identity theft, according to a Government Accountability Office Report taxpayer identity theft is escalating even though the IRS has taken steps to try to prevent it.
Apparently, the IRS has identified 248,357 instances of such theft in 2010, compared with 169,087 in 2009 and 51,702 in 2008.
There was no indication in the GAO report on how much money was stolen as a result of identity theft.
Identity theft occurs when a thief obtains a taxpayer’s name and Social Security number, then files a return
claiming a refund at the beginning of tax season before the real taxpayer files their return.
“Employment fraud, an identity thief uses a taxpayer’s name and SSN to obtain a job. When the thief’s employer reports income to IRS, the taxpayer appears to have unreported income on his or her return, leading to enforcement action.”
“IRS’s ability to address identity theft issues is constrained by (1) privacy laws that limit IRS’s ability to share identity theft information with other agencies; (2) the timing of fraud detection–more than a year may have passed since the original fraud occurred; (3) the resources necessary to pursue the large volume of potential criminal refund and employment fraud cases; and (4) the burden that stricter screening would likely cause taxpayers and employers since more legitimate returns would fail such screening.”
For the full report for the GAO visit: http://www.gao.gov/new.items/d11674t.pdf
Now it’s time to protect yourself by getting the experts on your side so you can fight back against one of the fastest growing crimes in North America with the Identity Theft ShieldSM offered by Pre-Paid Legal Services, Inc. It’s so affordable and easy to use our services are available to those in the U.S. and Canada. Please contact me if you have any questions.
As the Government continues to spend money the more money they will need.
This latest “global high wealth operating unit” is just the beginning don’t be fooled.
They want your money too!
“Through our new global high wealth operating unit we are taking a unified look at the entire web of business and economic entities controlled by high wealth individuals so we can better assess the risk such arrangements pose to tax compliance,” Shulman said at the National Press Club on Monday.
The IRS has also made an inexplicable decision to increase audits of small companies while easing up on larger firms.
Are you operating a small business?
According to the IRS – Individuals Audit rates increased in 2007, both for overall individual rates and for higher-income taxpayers.
Are you and individual?
Bottom line folks the Audit rate is going up … if you own a Small Business or make significant incomes over $100,000 annually you may be audited.
This is just one of the many reasons to have a Pre-Paid Legal membership. With the Prepaid Legal Membership it will help you defray the costs of an IRS audit and give you the legal support you need.
Up to 50 hours of lawyer time…
You have up to 50 hours of your Provider Lawyer’s time available at no additional cost when you or a covered family member receives written notice of an IRS audit or are requested to appear at IRS offices regarding your tax return. Your 50 hours are available as follows:
Up to one hour for consultation, advice, and assistance when you receive written notice from the IRS of audit or appearance.
If there is no settlement within 30 days, you have up to 2.5 hours for audit representation, negotiations, phone conversations, and settlement conferences prior to litigation.
If there is no settlement without litigation, up to 46.5 of the remaining hours are available for actual trial appearance if the IRS sues you, or you pay the disputed tax and sue the IRS.
Pre-Paid Legal can help… don’t wait for it to happen… be pro-active… learn more about what we have to offer.
Visit: www.lifeeventsins.com
Having your identity hacked for medical procedures could cost you your privacy and a pretty penny.
This is a great reason to try Identity Theft Shield. Think you’re not at risk?
It’s no secret … Identity Theft is a Major Problem and it affects more than just your credit. Watch the Fox News Video Below.
Get the Experts on your side – Identity Theft Shield!
By: Charles Bell
March 31, 2010
It appears that the Justice Department failed to treat identity theft as priority and one of the nation’s fastest growing crimes in America.
It’s no wonder why millions of American’s take identity theft so lightly. People get protected!
Protect you and your family. I personally believe that Pre-Paid Legal’s Identity Theft Shield
is the best Protection and Restoration product… but even if you don’t like our product
do something to protect yourself!
The Justice department failed to make a coordinated effort to fight identity theft and in fact reduced efforts as it’s priority faded.
In a report from Inspector General Glenn Fine, Identity theft affects an estimated 10 million Americans annually. Victims suffer financial losses and tremendous inconvenience in trying to repair damage to their names or credit histories. This is where our product is different from others on the market. Research Kroll and you’ll know you’re working with the best company for ID Theft Protection and RESTORATION.
The report comes on the heals of a sentencing in Boston of one of the world’s most notorious computer hackers, who got 20 years in prison for helping run a global ring that stole tens of millions of payment card numbers.
Albert Gonzalez, a 28-year-old college dropout from Miami, had pleaded guilty to helping lead a ring that stole more than 40 million payment card numbers by breaking into retailers, including TJX Cos Inc, BJ’s Wholesale Club Inc and Barnes & Noble. Do you shop? Are you protected? Your data is out there! Protect yourself!!!
According to the inspector general’s audit the Justice Department did not have internal strategies to fight identity theft and has not appointed anyone to to coordinate the efforts needed to fight ID Theft.
Overall the report stated that the department needs more leadership to fix it’s deficiencies on identity theft.
The same is true for you if you haven’t protected yourself and your family. Please don’t wait to become another statistic.
We are here to help!
Tax Filers Warned Of Identity Theft
KOAT Albuquerque
6 in identity theft,” said Rebecca Branch, with the New Mexico Attorney General’s Office. Branch said that is why people should be extra careful this year …
Click here for the complete article and video
18- to 24-year-olds most at risk for ID theft, survey finds
Washington Post
Similar identity-theft cases are rising sharply across the country, as young people — sometimes cavalier with their personal information — are hit the …
Health Insurance Identity Theft
Authorities say medical identity theft is becoming more sophisticated.
Think identity theft won’t happen to you?
Watch this report by ABC News and maybe you’ll change your mind.
Who’s going to help you? If you act now Kroll & Pre-Paid Legal’s Identity Theft Shield can help you.
You can take preventative steps to lower your risk of identity theft however, your information is already available. It’s not a matter of IF your identity might be stolen but when!
For Release: 03/09/2010
LifeLock Will Pay $12 Million to Settle Charges by the FTC and 35 States That Identity Theft Prevention and Data Security Claims Were False.
LifeLock, Inc. has agreed to pay $11 million to the Federal Trade Commission and $1 million to a group of 35 state attorneys general to settle charges that the company used false claims to promote its identity theft protection services, which it widely advertised by displaying the CEO’s Social Security number on the side of a truck.
In one of the largest FTC-state coordinated settlements on record, LifeLock and its principals will be barred from making deceptive claims and required to take more stringent measures to safeguard the personal information they collect from customers.
“While LifeLock promised consumers complete protection against all types of identity theft, in truth, the protection it actually provided left enough holes that you could drive a truck through it,” said FTC Chairman Jon Leibowitz.
“This agreement effectively prevents LifeLock from misrepresenting that its services offer absolute prevention against identity theft because there is unfortunately no foolproof way to avoid ID theft,” Illinois Attorney General Lisa Madigan said. “Consumers can take definitive steps to minimize the chances of having their personal information stolen, and this settlement will help them make more informed decisions about whether to enroll in ID theft protection services.”
Since 2006, LifeLock’s ads have claimed that it could prevent identity theft for consumers willing to sign up for its $10-a-month service.
According to the FTC’s complaint, LifeLock has claimed:
“By now you’ve heard about individuals whose identities have been stolen by identity thieves . . . LifeLock protects against this ever happening to you. Guaranteed.”
“Please know that we are the first company to prevent identity theft from occurring.”
“Do you ever worry about identity theft? If so, it’s time you got to know LifeLock. We work to stop identity theft before it happens.” The FTC’s complaint charged that the fraud alerts that LifeLock placed on customers’ credit files protected only against certain forms of identity theft and gave them no protection against the misuse of existing accounts, the most common type of identity theft. It also allegedly provided no protection against medical identity theft or employment identity theft, in which thieves use personal information to get medical care or apply for jobs. And even for types of identity theft for which fraud alerts are most effective, they do not provide absolute protection. They alert creditors opening new accounts to take reasonable measures to verify that the individual applying for credit actually is who he or she claims to be, but in some instances, identity thieves can thwart even reasonable precautions.
New account fraud, the type of identity theft for which fraud alerts are most effective, comprised only 17 percent of identity theft incidents, according to an FTC survey released in 2007.
The FTC’s complaint further alleged that LifeLock also claimed that it would prevent unauthorized changes to customers’ address information, that it constantly monitored activity on customer credit reports, and that it would ensure that a customer always would receive a telephone call from a potential creditor before a new account was opened. The FTC charged that those claims were false.
In addition to its deceptive identity theft protection claims, LifeLock allegedly made claims about its own data security that were not true. According to the FTC, LifeLock routinely collected sensitive information from its customers, including their social security numbers and credit card numbers. The company claimed:
“Only authorized employees of LifeLock will have access to the data that you provide to us, and that access is granted only on a ‘need to know’ basis.”
“All stored personal data is electronically encrypted.”
“LifeLock uses highly secure physical, electronic, and managerial procedures to safeguard the confidentiality and security of the data you provide to us.” The FTC charged that LifeLock’s data was not encrypted, and sensitive consumer information was not shared only on a “need to know” basis. In fact, the agency charged, the company’s data system was vulnerable and could have been exploited by those seeking access to customer information.
The FTC and state settlements with LifeLock bar deceptive claims, and prohibit the company from misrepresenting the “means, methods, procedures, effects, effectiveness, coverage, or scope of any identity theft protection service.” They also bar misrepresentations about the risk of identity theft, and the manner and extent to which LifeLock protects consumers’ personal information. In addition, the settlements require LifeLock to establish a comprehensive data security program and obtain biennial independent third-party assessments of that program for twenty years.
The Attorneys General of Alaska, Arizona, California, Delaware, Florida, Hawaii, Idaho, Illinois, Indiana, Iowa, Kentucky, Maine, Maryland, Massachusetts, Michigan, Missouri, Mississippi, Montana, Nebraska, Nevada, New Mexico, New York, North Carolina, North Dakota, Ohio, Oregon, Pennsylvania, South Carolina, South Dakota, Tennessee, Texas, Vermont, Virginia, Washington, and West Virginia participated in this settlement.
In addition to LifeLock, the FTC complaint named co-founders Richard Todd Davis and Robert J. Maynard, Jr., who will be barred from the same misrepresentations as LifeLock.
The Commission vote to authorize staff to file the complaint and the settlement with LifeLock and Richard Todd Davis was 4-0. The Commission vote to authorize staff to file the settlement with Robert J. Maynard, Jr. was 3-1, with Commissioner J. Thomas Rosch dissenting. The documents were filed in the U.S. District Court for the District of Arizona.
The FTC will use the $11 million it receives from the settlements to provide refunds to consumers. It will be sending letters to the current and former customers of LifeLock who may be eligible for refunds under the settlement, along with instructions for applying. Customers do not have to contact the FTC to be eligible for refunds. Up-to-date information about the redress program can be found at 202-326-3757 and at www.ftc.gov/lifelock.
NOTE: The Commission files a complaint when it has “reason to believe” that the law has been or is being violated, and it appears to the Commission that a proceeding is in the public interest. The complaint is not a finding or ruling that the defendant has actually violated the law. Stipulated judgements are for settlement purposes only and do not constitute an admission by the defendant of a law violation. Consent judgments have the force of law when signed by the judge.
In addition to announcing the LifeLock case, the FTC’s Northeast Regional Office sponsored an event to kick off National Consumer Protection week. The goal was to alert consumers to the top complaint categories in the Northeast Region and to arm consumers with the tools to recognize and protect themselves against all types of fraud. Also participating were the Better Business Bureau serving Metropolitan New York, the New York Attorney General’s Office, the New York City Department of Consumer Affairs, and AARP.
The Federal Trade Commission works for the consumer to prevent fraudulent, deceptive, and unfair business practices and to provide information to help spot, stop, and avoid them. To file a complaint in English or Spanish, click http://www.ftccomplaintassistant.gov or call 1-877-382-4357. The FTC enters Internet, telemarketing, identity theft, and other fraud-related complaints into Consumer Sentinel, a secure, online database available to more than 1,700 civil and criminal law enforcement agencies in the U.S. and abroad. For free information on a variety of consumer topics, click http://www.ftc.gov/bcp/consumer.shtm.
MEDIA CONTACT:
Claudia Bourne Farrell
Office of Public Affairs
202-326-2181
STAFF CONTACT:
Maneesha Mithal or David Lincicum
Bureau of Consumer Protection
202-326-2771 or 202-326 2773
(FTC File No. 072-3069)
(Lifelock)
For Immediate Release – Wednesday, March 3, 2010
Company Steve Williamson
Contact: (580) 436-1234
Pre-Paid Legal Announces Management Change
[caption id="" align="alignleft" width="172" caption="CEO Harland C Stonecipher"]
[/caption]
ADA, OK, March 3, 2010 – Pre-Paid Legal Services, Inc. (NYSE:PPD), announced today that effective April 2, 2010, its founder and current Chief Executive Officer, President and Chairman of the Board, Mr. Harland C. Stonecipher, 71, will relinquish the title and responsibilities of Chief Executive Officer and President. At the suggestion of Mr. Stonecipher, the Board of Directors unanimously approved that the title and responsibilities of Chief Executive Officer will be shared equally by two co-CEOs – Randy Harp, 54, Pre-Paid’s current Chief Operating Officer, and Mark Brown, 56, Pre-Paid’s current Chief Marketing Officer. The Board also named Mr. Harp as Pre-Paid’s President. Mr. Harp was named Chief Financial Officer in March 1990 and served in that capacity until May 2000 and has served as Chief Operating Officer since March 1996. Mr. Harp served on the Board of Directors from March 1990 until May 2004 when he resigned from the Board of Directors as part of a corporate governance initiative required by the rules of the NYSE to have independent, outside directors comprise the majority of the Board. Mr. Harp will continue to serve as Chief Operating Officer.
Mr. Brown was named Senior Vice President and Chief Marketing
Officer in October 2006. Prior to his appointment to the new position,
Mr. Brown was our National Sales Director for Group Marketing and Senior
Regional Vice President for most of the State of Texas and has been one of
our independent associates for 15 years. Prior to his association with us,
Mr. Brown owned his own printing business for 18 years.
“Both Mark and Randy are ready and have earned the opportunity to assume the
responsibilities as Pre-Paid’s co-CEOs,” stated Mr. Stonecipher. “Randy has been
with us for 20 years and knows every aspect of our business. Randy’s primary
focus will continue to be on operations and I am completely confident in his
ability to continue to develop and maintain the efficiencies and excellence of
our operational capabilities. We are equally blessed to have someone with Mark’s
significant sales and extensive experience lead our marketing efforts. Mark’s
involvement has been an integral part of our success since he joined us in 1995
with a focus on both individual and group business. We look to Mark to implement
marketing strategies throughout our entire sales organization and play a key
role in the continued development of our company.”
Mr. Stonecipher will continue as Chairman of the Board and will remain actively
involved with the Company, focused entirely on Pre-Paid’s sales force and other
strategic areas. Mr. Stonecipher and his wife Shirley will also be working
towards the establishment of a memorial cathedral for parents that have lost a
child. The Stoneciphers want to build a memorial place where parents can come
from anywhere to establish a memorial to the children they have lost that will
live on even after the parents are gone, assuring those parents that even when
they are gone, the memory of their child or children will live on. The
Stoneciphers lost their youngest son, Brent, his wife, Tina, and only
granddaughter, Nikki, in an airplane crash in Ada in July, 2005.
We believe our products are one of a kind, life events legal service plans. Our
plans provide for legal service benefits provided through a network of
independent law firms across the U.S. and Canada, and include unlimited attorney
consultation, will preparation, traffic violation defense, automobile-related
criminal charges defense, letter writing, document preparation and review and a
general trial defense benefit. We have an identity theft restoration product we
think is also one of a kind due to the combination of our identity theft
restoration partner and our provider law firms. More information about us and
our products can be found at our homepage at http://www.prepaidlegal.com.
Statements in this press release, other than purely historical information,
regarding our future plans and objectives and expected operating results,
dividends and share repurchases and statements of the assumptions underlying
such statements, constitute forward-looking statements within the meaning of
Section 21E of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934. The forward-looking
statements contained herein are based on certain assumptions that may not be
correct. They are subject to risks and uncertainties incident to our business
that could cause actual results to differ materially from those described in the
forward-looking statements. These risks and uncertainties are described in the
reports and statements filed by us with the Securities and Exchange Commission,
including (among others) those listed in our Form 10-K, Form 10-Q and Form 8-K,
and include the risks that our membership persistency or renewal rates may
decline, that we may not be able to continue to grow our memberships and
earnings, that we are dependent on the continued active participation of our
principal executive officer, that pending or future litigation may have a
material adverse effect on us if resolved unfavorably to us, that we may have
compromises of our information security, that consumer purchases of
discretionary items may be impacted by a downturn in the economy, that we could
be adversely affected by regulatory developments, that competition could
adversely affect us, that we are substantially dependent on our marketing force,
that our stock price may be affected by short sellers, that we have been unable
to increase our employee group membership sales, that our active premium in
force is not indicative of future revenue as a result of changes in active
memberships from cancellations and additional membership sales and that we have
repurchased more than half of our outstanding shares. Please refer to pages 16
through 19 of our 2009 Form 10-K for a more complete description of these risks.
We undertake no duty to update any of the forward-looking statements in this
release.
Read more: http://www.faqs.org/sec-filings/100303/PRE-PAID-LEGAL-SERVICES-INC_8-K/#ixzz0hdlJ1cP0
