The Georgia Supreme Court overturned a Georgia Court of Appeals decision prohibiting Jeff Bickerstaff Jr. from representing other consumers in a class action lawsuit against SunTrust Bank regarding excessive overdraft fees. The Supreme Court held that a...
More infoBeware the Fine Print
Over the past week, Jessica Silver-Greenberg and Michael Corkery of the New York Times published a three-part series entitled, Beware the Fine Print, on the effects of mandatory arbitration clauses on consumers. Each story illustrates the compelling case...
More infoGeorgia Watch releases 2014 Court Watch Report
ATLANTA, GA August 3, 2015 – Today, Georgia Watch released its seventh Court Watch Report, which analyzes decisions of the Supreme Court of Georgia and the Georgia Court of Appeals that have a significant impact on consumers. The topics covered in the 2014...
More infoCourt of Appeals’ decision threatens access to courts
Update on September 8, 2015: The Supreme Court of Georgia accepted certification in Bickerstaff v. SunTrust Bank. Georgia Watch and the National Consumer Law Center submitted a “friend-of-the-court” brief for consideration by the Supreme Court...
More infoDistrict Court Hears Debt Collector’s Motion to Dismiss in CFPB v Hanna
On Wednesday, June 3, 2015 oral arguments were heard on Defendants’ Motion to Dismiss in the case of Consumer Financial Protection Bureau (“CFPB”) v. Frederick J. Hanna & Associates, P.C. (“Defendants”) in the United States District Court for the...
More infoHow will the passage of HB 72 impact Georgia’s Seniors in the Financial Sector?
Elise Blasingame, Director of Community Education Senior citizens are increasingly becoming victims of financial fraud and abuse. Georgia Watch supports protecting seniors by making needed improvements to existing law, including allowing fraud cases to be...
More infoNEW VERSION OF “PATIENT COMPENSATION ACT” INTRODUCED
SB 86, introduced in the Senate on February 4, would significantly harm Georgia consumers by limiting access to the courts in cases of medical negligence. If enacted, the bill would virtually eliminate the right of a Georgia resident to bring a cause of...
More info“Business, consumer advocates push legislative issues”
By Walter C. Jones Morris News Service ATLANTA — Some of the issues legislators will consider this year with the broadest impact are those advocated by business organizations and consumer watchdogs. And contrary to what many people might think, the...
More infoGeorgia Watch issues review of 2013 Supreme Court decisions
June 12, 2014 – Georgia Watch today released its sixth Court Watch Report analyzing consumer-related decisions issued by the Supreme Court of Georgia. Court Watch is a program of Georgia Watch, a nonprofit, nonpartisan advocacy organization committed...
More infoCourt Watch Issues Review of 2011 Supreme Court Decisions
May 31, 2012 – Court Watch today released its fifth annual report analyzing consumer-related decisions issued by the Supreme Court of Georgia. Court Watch is a project of Georgia Watch, a nonprofit and nonpartisan group committed to strengthening the...
More infoGeorgia Watch Health Website Launched
February 15, 2011 As the official website of Georgia Watch’s Hospital Accountability Project, www.GaHAP.org provides a breadth of information about hospitals, pricing, coverage and low-cost options for care. Through an interactive map that allows consumers...
More infoBroad Coalition Pushes Lawmakers for Real Ethics Reform
January 20, 2011 Made up of a broad coalition of watchdog and educational groups, the Georgia Alliance for Ethics Reform is urging Georgia lawmakers to take further steps to strengthen the state’s ethics laws. The Alliance includes Georgia Watch, Common...
More info