Consumer News - 2004
Minnesota Charges Capital One Ads Are Misleading State charges Cap One falsely claims its "low," "fixed" interest rates will never increase.
Time Warner Cable Plans Cell Phone Service Cable giant wants to be first to offer Big Four -- local phone, cable, Internet and wireless.
Sleepy's Gets Wake-up Call From New Jersey Mattress retailer pays $750,000 to settle complaints.
R.J. Reynolds To Cut Ads Aimed at California Teens Cigarette maker will also pay $20 million.
Blood Testing Strips May Be Inaccurate Roche warns some products may be counterfeit.
Who's Watching the Food Safety Watchdogs? Consumer group starts food safety campaign.
Study Finds Convenience Drives Online Banking Consumers value convenience and time savings, researchers report.
Beware of Payday Loans Barrage of post-holiday ads aimed at cash-short consumers.
Illinois Charges Storm Chaser with Home Repair Fraud Company collected more than $225,000 for repairs that were never completed.
Christmas Nightmare For US Airways And Its Passengers Employees call in sick, leading to massive disruptions.
Feds Issue Caution On All COX-2 Drugs Food and Drug Administration signals heightened concern over Vioxx, Bextra, Celebrex.
After-Christmas Return Policies Get Stricter Some retailers getting touch on "serial returners," other tightening rules, shortening time allowed.
New Version Of Old Pyramid Scheme Elite Activity claims to be a "gifting" organization but is really just a pyramid scheme, prosecutors claim.
US Airways Gets Some Breathing Room Ailing carrier's passenger service agents approved pay cuts averaging 13 percent.
Florida, Tennessee Sue Friedman's Jewelers 19 states conducting investigations into alleged deceptive insurance sales.
Tis the Season to Avoid Identity Theft Holiday and post-season sale shoppers should be alert for identity theft and related rip-offs.
British Heart Patients Told to Stop Taking Cox-2 Drugs British health agency notes increased risk of heart attack and stroke in patients using Bextra, Celebrex and Vioxx.
Report: Importing Drugs Wouldn't Save Money Federal panel finds little economic benefit in reimporting drugs but many consumer groups disagree.
Mad Cow Measures Inadequate, Inspectors Charge Public Citizen calls on USDA to step up enforcement activity in meat packing plants.
Massachusetts Curbs Online Alcohol Sales State vows to shut down online alcohol sales to minors.
California Files Major Securities Fraud Lawsuit Against Edward Jones Documents detail how secret mutual fund payments conflicted with investors' interests.
Online Retail Up, Online Giving Down Humanitarian Web site traffic down compared to last year, while shopping surges.
Free Money? Don't Think So New York Consumer Protection Board finds government grant scams victimizing thousands.
Aleve Ingredient Seen as Health Risk Naproxen the latest to be linked to heart attacks and strokes.
Can Pfizer Prevent Celebrex Ban? Pfizer could find itself in straits as dire as those Merck now navigates.
Kia Spectra Flunks Frontal Crash Test Mazda 3 performs best while Saturn Ion, Hyundai Elantra, Suzuki Forenza are acceptable.
Ohio Parents Campaign for Safer School Tables Eight-ton table flipped over and killed their six-year-old son.
Gas Prices Continue To FallJust in time for holiday travel, gas prices hit slump.
Cleveland Adds Sustainability Manager City hopes to find new ways to save money and shrink its environmental footprint.
Spitzer: Drop That Gun New York charges toy distributors with selling toy guns that too closely resemble the real thing.
Texas Charges Friedman's Jewelry Chain Misled Consumers Company deceived customers about the level of "required" insurance coverage when applying for installment credit on purchases, state charges.
Court Halts Envelope-Stuffing Marketers Feds shred group of Florida defendants who promised earnings of $5,000 per week.
Pfizer Finds Health Risk With Celebrex Two long-term cancer trials call safety of Celebrex into question.
Salvation Army Receives Matching Pledge from Wal-Mart Wal-Mart's $1 Million grant helps make up for losses from Target's banishing the red kettles.
Kentucky Sues J.D. Byrider Attorney General charges local franchisee preys on low-income consumers and violates state and federal laws.
Analysis Shows Surge In Online Travel Nearly half of all Web surfers booked travel online in last year, study finds.
California Slays Energy Vampires New regulations limit how much electricity devices can draw when not in use.
Feds Prosecute Skin Patch Weight-Loss Promoters Transdermal patches targeted to Hispanic consumers do nothing to reduce weight, FTC charges.
Texas Freezes Assets of Online University Trinity Southern accused of running a sham online diploma mill.
Settlement Reached in NY Pay Phone Scam Seniors tricked into "investing" in pay phone leasing scam will get settlements of up to $20,000.
FCC Moves Ahead on Airborne Wireless Voice and Data Wireless Internet expected by 2006 but cell phones aloft may take longer.
FCC Phases Out Discounts for Local Phone Competitors Competitors can build their own networks or use other technology, commissions decides.
Patriots' Charlie Weis Files Malpractice Suit Stomach-stapling surgery nearly killed him, the once-portly Weis alleges.
Sprint and Nextel Make It Official Boards of both companies approve merger. New entity will be third largest wireless carrier.
Smuggled Cigarettes May Be Dangerous Brits warn that smuggled cigarettes contain high levels of cadmium, lead, arsenic and other harmful compounds.
Citigroup Next to Issue Amex Cards With CitiBank and MBNA on board, American Express suddenly reaches one-fourth the U.S. credit card market.
Verizon In Bid For Sprint? Pac-Man game heats up. As Sprint prepares to devour Nextel, a larger, hungrier player looms.
Blockbuster Eliminates Late Fees Instead, it will charge customers the purchase price of the movie, minus the rental fee.
Study: Iboprofen May Reduce Heart Risks But abruptly stopping the use of non-sterooidal anti-inflammatories increases the risk.
States Win Expansion of Vioxx Refund Program Attorneys general put arm on Merck to make it easier for consumers to get refunds for unused Vioxx.
Cell Phone Sales Calls Not a Threat (Yet) Despite an e-mail making the rounds of the Internet, telemarketing calls to wireless phones are illegal and no national directory of cell phone numbers yet exists.
Florida Pursues Anti-Trust Probe Of Gas Prices Amerada Hess target of attorney general's probe.
Holiday CHAOS Confronts US Air Flight attendants plan to stage mini-strikes with little or no warning.
Intelligence Reform Bill Has Benefit For Travelers Congress extends law requiring surviving airlines to honor tickets from bankrupt carriers.
DaimlerChrysler and GM Announce Hybrid Initiative Companies hope to produce hybrid architecture for use ini GM, Chrysler Group and Mercedes Car Group vehicles.
More Consumers Plan Holiday Travel Travel rebounds bigtime as consumers shake off post-9/11 jitters, survey finds.
Premier Travel Closes After Legal Battles Members who paid up to $6,000 to join left high and dry.
Continental To Begin Direct Flights To Africa Newark-Lagos, Nigeria service to begin next year.
DA Probes Watsonville Band Manager's Travel Agency, Global Exchange More than 200 consumer complaints on file, Montery County District Attorney charges.
Cross Country Bank Capitulates in West Virginia Standoff Agrees to injunction banning allegedly deceptive practices, pending trial in June 2005.
Court Rules Against General Steel In Consumer Fraud Case Colorado charged company deceived consumers nationwide in its sale of steel buildings.
FDA Strengthens Bextra Warnings Agency sees danger of life-threatening skin reactions and complications in patients undergoing coronary artery bypass graft surgery.
Honda Addresses CR-V Engine Fires Sends letter to owners urging them to check with their dealer to ensure first oil change is done properly.
Sprint, Nextel Merger May Be Next Companies won't confirm it but merger talks reportedly underway.
MBNA Switching Some Customers to Amex Cards It's the first big bank to affiliate with American Express following October action by the Supreme Court.
Folgers Hikes Coffee Prices A 14 percent increase is blamed on higher prices in the commodity markets.
Medicare Help Line Falls Short, GAO Finds Provided accurate answers only 61 percent of the time.
FDA Issues Warning About Canadian Drug Recall Carbolith used in treatment of manic-depressive disorder.
Nursing Home Agrees To Refunds for Residents Who Die Facility reneged on promise to refund unused portion of lease to families of the deceased.
Ohio Charges Online Car Parts Firm With Fraud Speedpeople takes the money but doesn't deliver the goods, state charges.
Couple Challenges Cuba Ban Michigan couple says freedom to travel is their "birthright."
Expedia Adds Consumer Review Features Travelers invited to review hotels, destinations.
Consumers Willing to Pay for Fuel Economy, Safety, Survey Finds Harris Interactive poll finds drivers yearning for improved technology in their next car.
NHTSA Issues New Head Restraint Rules New standard expected to reduce whiplash injuries by 17,000 annually.
Lap/Shoulder Belts Required in Rear Center Seats New NHTSA rule should make rear center seat the safest spot for children.
Missouri Jams Fax Blaster California company fined $67,000.
Iowa Gas Station Owner Caught In Shell Game Davenport station put regular in all three pumps.
Texas Ices Tax Freeze Scam Aimed At Seniors Promoters were selling free information about homestead exemption to seniors.
Suit Hits Sears Made In USA Claim Class action suit says Craftsman tool parts come from many nations.
Lenovo Buys IBM PC Business Looking for IBM? It's Been Moved.
Users Oppose Wireless 411, Study Finds Major wireless companies forging ahead with unpopular scheme to list customers.
Nextel Signs One-Millionth Boost Customer Push-to-talk phones target youth market.
PA Charges Online University with Fraud Pennsylvania investigators purchased an MBA for their cat from Trinity Southern University.
Independence Air Hits a Downdraft Plucky start-up can't get enough lift and faces bankruptcy in January if things don't level out.
Weak Dollar Makes Destination Choice Critical There are plenty of travel bargains ... but they're not in Europe.
Tenants Win Equity Properties Suit Florida judge rules Equity charged illegal penalties for tenants who terminated their leases early.
Northwest Airlines Drops Priceline.com Airlines, hotel chains trying to eliminate middlemen and sell directly to travelers.
Planning Ahead Can Make Holiday Travel Easier There are more hassles than ever, so it's more important than ever to be well-prepared.
Feds Adopt New Food Safety Rules Record-keeping regulations make it possible to trace source of food-borne illness.
GE Capital Settles NY NorVergence Claims Other leasing firms still trying to collect from victims of bankrupt telecom scheme.
Alyon Technologies Settles FTC Charges Company will drop its claim to $17 million in charges for adult videotext services.
AT&T Will Pay FCC $500,000 for Erroneous Billing Company concedes it billed wrongfully customers and non-customers a monthly recurring "base rate."
Swiss Company to Provide Refund to U.S. Consumers Dr. Clark Zentrum sold dietary supplements and supposed medical devices.
Home Depot, Lowe's Settle Credit Card Suit Retailers applied customer payments to interest-free items first, letting other purchasers rack up interest charges.
California Safeways Will Restrict Tobacco Sales to Minors Lawsuit settlement covers 538 Safeway, Vons, Pavilion, Pak 'n Save stores.
Legacy Airlines Abolish Rollover Credit Customers will have to pay a surcharge if their fare is reduced.
FDA Toughens Warnings For Two Antibiotics The FDA has announced important labeling changes regarding two forms of Bicillin, a penicillin derivative.
Cingular Will Deploy High-Speed Wireless Broadband Roll-out starting next year should spread to all major markets by 2006.
AARP Will Review Home Depot Items the giant retirees organization and the giant hardware store chain see seniors ripe for advice on grab bars, ramps, etc.
ESPN Suits Up for Cell Service Sports channel will offer cell phone service with easy access to sports scores.
Don't Wait to Book Holiday Travel Cheap seats are already gone on most major holiday routes.
$105 Million Verdict Against DaimlerChrysler in Minivan Baby Death Front seatback collapsed in rear-end accident, killing baby in middle seat.
Supreme Court Weakens Consumer Protection in Car Financing Court rules that $1,000 is the maximum allowable penalty for Truth in Lending Act violations by car dealers.
Wal-Mart Agrees To Tobacco Sales Reforms Safeguards designed to keep minors from purchasing cigarettes.
Feds Charge Canadian Pharmacy U.S. Attorney charges Canada Care illegally imported drugs into U.S.
British Lab Will Study Cell Phone Radiation Researchers will measure the effects of cell tower radiation on hypersensitive subjects and a control group.
Travel Industry Courting Four-Legged Tourists Airlines, hotels increasingly welcome small pets. Some even offer frequent-travel points.
Study: Simple Spray May Stop Deadly Diseases Saline solution can hamper spread of flu and other infectious diseases, study finds.
Feds Weigh In Against Thermalean Promoters FTC charges promoters of weight-loss nostrum and Lipodrene, a supposed erectile dysfunction remedy.
Lufthansa Upgrades First Class New amenities include a cigar lounge in Frankfurt.
Kentucky Nursing Home Worker Charged With Abuse Worker indicted for slapping patient.
Textbook Identity Theft Case Uncovered In Florida Scam artist allegedly stole more than $2.5 million using another's identity.
FDA Opens Baycol Probe Agency feeling the heat after Vioxx withdrawal.
Study: Nursing Home Residents Dying Of Hunger, Thirst Federal records indicate malnutrition and dehydration killed at least 13,890 nursing home residents between 1999 and 2002.
FDA Clears New MS Treatment Tysabri is given intravenously once a month in a physician's office.
Spitzer Issues Guidelines for Overweight Consumers New York Attorney General urges consumers to be aggressive in seeking insurance coverage for obesity treatments.
Missouri Sues Water "Purification" Company Hague Quality Water falsely promised its treatment system would improve health and save water, state charges.
Cross-Border Bank Card Scheme Shut Down 3R Bancorp telemarketers in Canada and India allegedly scammed Americans with phony credit card offers.
Travel Search Engines May Offer More Bargains They don't sell tickets directly but Mobissimo and other newcomers may be the route to cheap travel.
Arbitrator Declares Class-Action Ban Unfair Judicial Arbitration and Mediation Services (JAMS) said banning class actions is "an unfair restriction on the rights of the individual consumer."
USAir Gets Reprieve from GE Leasing bankrupt carrier will turn in 10 Airbus jets as part of restructuring deal.
Tourists Stranded When New Airline Flops A vacation on an island paradise ends but tourists can't leave because their airline is defunct.
Risk of Cell Phone Explosions Growing Counterfeit batteries and miniaturization increase risks to users, safety agency warns.
Feds Raid Ephedra Warehouse FDA charges VITERA-XT contains ephedra, makes unsubstantiated health claims and is an adulterated food.
Survey: Doctors See Politics in Drug Approval Process Despite suspected political influence, most doctors confident FDA-approved drugs are safe.
Travel Promoters Scammed Seniors, Illinois Charges Promoters took Midwest seniors for a ride, attorney general charges.
Survey Finds Customer Service Lacking Online customers generally more satisfied than those who shop in person.
Texas Charges Mortgage Company with Fraud City Mortgage told Latino homeowners it would reduce their mortgage payments.
Flying Shrimp Blamed for Diner's Death When the Benihana chef flipped a grilled shrimp at Jerry Colaitis, he never dreamed it would result in a $10 million wrongful death suit.
A Round Plate Deserves A Round Towel Chicago man patents round paper towels for use in microwave cooking.
Grocery Chain Overpriced Meat, Suit Charges Pacific Northwest included packaging in price of meat, class action charges.
New Orleans Grant Scheme Shuttered Husband-and-wife team scammed millions from gullible consumers, feds charge.
A Future Without Nursing Homes Baby boomers' last public act may be to replace nursing homes with small group-living arrangements, expert predicts.
Car Bargains Yet to Come New-car buyers can find big savings on "aging" 2004 models.
Massachusetts Sues NorVergence Bankrupt phone company allegedly bilked thousands of small businesses.
Studies Allege Bayer Was Too Slow Withdrawing Baycol Risk of harm was much higher than originally thought, researchers say.
Cashback Payday Loans Banned In New York Company charges excessive interest rates, state charges.
FTC Charges Scammers Victimizing Elderly Consumers Xtel Marketing, masquerades as Social Security or Medicare representatives to get seniors' bank account information.
Iowa Cracks Down on "Firefighter" Solicitations Fundraisers keep 76% of proceeds, state charges.
Cable TV Pricing Report Disputed FCC study finds unbundling services wouldn't save consumers money.
Sprint Named in Fat Fingers Suit Class action says Sprint deceived consumers by setting up numbers one digit off from its competitors.
Unum Provident Agrees to Review Denied Disability Claims Cost of New York settlement estimated at $100 million.
California Insurance Corruption Probe Advances Universal Life signs consent decree, agrees to cooperate with prosecutors.
FDA Vet Blows Whistle on "Broken" Agency Warns that, besides Vioxx, other popular drugs pose health dangers.
Dynacraft Fined $1.4 Million for Failing to Report Mountain Bike Hazard Despite knowing of accidents and injuries, firm delayed reporting problems, product safety commission charged.
Feds Toughen Warning for Depo-Provero Contraceptive drug may cause bone density loss in long-term use.
FTC Licks Envelope-Stuffing Pitchmen Illinois group will pay $420,000 in consumer redress.
USDA Investigating Possible Case of Mad Cow Disease Tests are so far inconclusive, feds insist.
Petco Settles Federal Charges Security flaws in Web site violated privacy promises Petco made to its customers and violated federal law.
Kmart Buys Sears Combined company hopes to compete more effectively against Wal-Mart, Home Depot.
PBHG Agrees to Refund $120 Million to Investors New York Attorney General Eliot Spitzer charged firm's founders illegally engaged in market "timing."
California Settles with Franklin Templeton Mutual funds did not disclose payments to brokers.
Free Credit Reports Coming Soon Western U.S. consumers will be first to get access to one free credit report per year.
Zurich American Insurance Executives Plead Guilty Two are expected to testify in New York probe of insurance industry corruption.
Florida Subpoenas Insurers The subpoenas seek documents and records that involve questionable fee arrangements and possible bid-rigging.
States Challenge Mall Gift Cards Massachusetts, Connecticut sue Simon Mall Group.
Feds Allege Debt Negotiation Service Is a Scam Better Budget Financial Services fails to help clients clear up bills; keeps their money instead.
Cross-Border Cops Nab Advance-Fee Scam Artists Prime One Benefits one of several alleged advance-fee scams caught in cross-border net.
FTC Charges Mortgage Companies Failed to Protect Customers' Personal Information Nationwide Mortgage, Sunbelt Lending named in complaint.
Illinois Embargoes Lead-Tainted "Mexico" Mars Candy Giant candymaker's products contain twice the allowable levels of lead.
Feds Strengthen Warnings on Abortion Drug RU-486 blamed in death of California woman prompts FDA action.
Devilish Viagra Ads Pulled FDA sharply criticizes "Wild Thing" commercials.
Low-Income Medicare Beneficiaries at Congress' Mercy Program that pays monthly premiums for disabled and low-income beneficiaries expires Nov. 20.
Saab, Volvo Sweep Head Restraint Tests Most models do poorly in Insurance Institute tests.
Check 21 Floats Banks' Boat Consumers protest faster check clearing, Congress' latest gift to the banking industry.
Telemarketers Upset by Postal Service Ads They're offended by Postal Service ads warning of telemarketing fraud.
Cross Country Bank Fined $450,000 Pennsylvania orders company to make restitution to consumers who paid exorbitant fees for credit cards.
NY Insurance Broker Charged With Fraud, Antitrust Violations Attorney General Spitzer charges ULR steered business to insurers in exchange for lucrative payoffs.
AOL Abandons Broadband Existing customers will revert to dial-up if they don't find another provider.
Gaining Weight With Age Increases Risks A slender teenager who puts on the pounds in adulthood may face higher risks, a study indicates.
Bextra Doubles Risk of Heart Attack and Stroke, Study Finds High-risk patients are "canaries in a cage," researcher warns.
Go Easy on the Vitamin E Johns Hopkins study finds higher death rate in heavy users of the popular anti-oxidant.
Florida Sues Consumer Grants USA Tricked consumers into paying hundreds of dollars for information about grants they did not receive, suit charges.
Credit Card Scam Sweeps New Hampshire Premium Savings Group offers card for $299 but does not deliver, attorney general warns.
Sharper Image Loses First Amendment Case Against Consumers Union Company had challenged negative review of Ionic Breeze air purifier.
GM Debuts Interest Lock-In Program Desperate to sell cars, GM offers low interest rates not only on vehicles sold today but on the next one a consumer buys.
Louisiana Charges Hospital with Fraud and Neglect Staff allegedly ignored some mentally ill patients, abused others, billed government for care not delivered.
Feds Target Bogus Weight Loss Claims FTC charges six firms with making unsubstianted claims.
Illinois Sues Diet Patch Promoters "Magic" weight loss claims are false, state charges.
CDC Allocates Remaining Flu Vaccine 10 million doses remain, will be targeted to children, the elderly and chronically ill.
Public Citizen Defends Home Siding Site Consumers built Web site to publicize their dispute with Spray On Siding.
Iowa Sues American Deputy Sheriffs Association Fund-raising practices are deceptive and very little money actually goes to law enforcement, suit charges.
Poll: Consumers Want Action on Health Care Costs Doctors put malpractice caps at top of list.
Tax Preparer Pocketed the Money, Illinois Charges Lawsuit charges Chicago firm diverted tax payments to its own use.
FCC Exempts VoIP From State Regulation Commission hopes to spur growth of Internet-based phone service.
Staples Offers Electronic Rebate Redemption New system is coordinated with stores' returns database.
Merck Faces Criminal Probe in Vioxx Case Pfizer may add "black box" warning to Bextra.
Fast White, Pounds Off Face Federal Charges Telemarketers promise free samples but consumers find charges on their account, FTC alleges.
Law Firm Fined for Debt Collection Practices The action is part of a Massachusetts crackdown on debt collectors.
H&R Block Charged in Enron Collapse Company allegedly sold millions of dollars worth of Enron Corporation bonds after Enron's finances, and its bond ratings, had begun to collapse.
Petition Calls for Tire Dating At least 27 deaths attributed to "aged" tires.
Consumer Interests Fared Poorly in Election Health care and financial services industries the big winners, analysis indicates.
Shill Bidding Exposed in E-Bay Auctions New York investigation finds accomplices bid up auction items, soaking buyers.
State Regulators Object to Medicare Hard Sell Feds using sales techniques that state insurance commissioners object to.
Arizona Bars California Alternative High School School claims to provide a high school diploma to participants in a 10-week program.
Fremont Investment Advisors Settles Market Timing Case Agrees to pay $4.1 million to settle probe by New York Attorney General Eliot Spitzer.
Florida Opens Insurance Probe Attorney General subpoenas 10 insurance brokers, 6 more likely to receive subpoenas this week.
FDA Vows Crackdown on Dietary Supplements Agency responds to criticism of government inaction.
Loyalty to Car Dealers Falls Off After Fourth Year J.D. Powers study finds non-luxury car buyers tend to drift away from dealers as warranties expire.
Spammer Faces Prison in Virginia Jury recommends nine years in first test of Virginia's tough anti-spam law.
Illinois Sues NorVergence Bankrupt company faces legal challenges from at least three states and the Federal Trade Commission.
FTC Charges NorVergence Company allegedly defrauded small businesses by claiming big savings on telephone and Internet service.
Celebrex Implicated in 14 Canadian Deaths Pfizer drug is a leading replacement for Vioxx, withdrawn because of health risks.
FDA Estimates Vioxx Caused 27,785 Deaths Estimate based on number of prescriptions filled before drug was withdrawn.
New Jersey Court Upholds Tightened Anesthesia Rules New rules apply stronger patient protections to surgical procedures performed in doctor's offices.
Consumer Group Wants Feds to Act on Low Carb Claims Agencies should aggressively go after misleading claims and mislabeling, National Consumer League argues.
Feds Sue Bogus Fuel Saver FTC charges FuelMAX and SuperFuelMAX do nothing to save gas.
Illinois Sues Senior Housing Developer Units are not accessible to individuals with mobility problems, lawsuit charges.
FCC Sets VoIP Ruling Commission will rule November 9 on whether VoIP is exempt from state and local regulation and tariffs.
Payment Processor to Pay $1.5 Million First American processed payments for fraudulent telemarketers, feds charged.
Pennsylvania Sues Living Trust Scheme Older Pennsylvanians deceived into buying Revocable Living Trusts, long term annuities or charitable gift annuities that were costly, not in their best interest or unnecessary, suit charges.
Missouri Sues Towing Operator for Charging Exorbitant Fees Attorney general received 88 complaints from St. Louis area consumers.
Actra-RX May Be Dangerous, FDA Warns Contains same active ingredient as Viagra.
Nextel Gets More Spectrum Space Resolves dispute with Verizon over "push to talk" slogan.
Government Grant Scam Steams On No end to sight to the "free money from the government" scam.
Texas Halts Contaminated Infant Formula Shipments To Mexico The formula, contaminated with dirt and flies, was approved only for use as animal feed.
Runaway Treadmills Manufacturer Fined Company failed to promptly notify feds of defect.
Merck Knew of Vioxx Dangers, Report ChargesWall Street Journal says internal documents show company knew of problems as early as 1997.
Report Warns of BB Gun Dangers Risk of serious injury to children much higher than parents realize, study finds.
FDA Allows Health Claim for Olive Oil Latest component of Mediterranean diet to get feds' blessing.
Consumers Not Secretive Enough, Study Finds Despite fears of identity theft, American consumers surrender too much personal information over the phone and Web.
Pharmacy Benefit Managers Scrutinized Do PBMs put profits before patient health and safety?
Houston Hospital Settles Malpractice Suit Patient, 23, died after being given drug against doctor's orders.
$17 Million Award in Athlete's Death Milwaukee high school athlete died failed to treat intestinal disorder.
Electronic Stability Control A Lifesaver, Study Finds Widespread use could save 7,000 lives per year, insurance study predicts.
Subaru Outback Tops Crash Tests, Rollover Ratings Ford Focus and Ranger bottom out.
Who Needs a Flu Shot? Despite the uproar, most folks will do just fine without a flu vaccination.
Meds-Stat Surrenders Vaccine to Florida Company also faces suits by feds, Texas and Kansas.
Texas Sues Credit Scheme Aimed at Latinos Supposed high-limit credit card is actually an advanced-fee card, state charges.
Work-At-Home Scheme Sued Illinois charges Hill Associates "jobs" don't exist.
GE: Malpractice Caps Don't Work GE makes admission in a filing for a 19% rate increase six months after Texas enacted caps on medical malpractice awards.
ATA Files for Bankruptcy First major low-cost carrier to seek bankruptcy protection, it sells some assets to AirTran.
Heartburn Drugs Increase Pneumonia Risk Reducing stomach acid may let harmful bacteria thrive, study finds.
Cingular-AT&T Wireless Merger Approved Cingular becomes nation's biggest carrier.
NetZero-Juno Parent Buys Classmates $100 million buys database of 38 million.
Airbag Fraud Endangers Motorists Accident repairs often include phony airbags.
Computer Users Unaware of Risks, Study Finds Although most users think they're safe, most have taken no precautions.
Gasoline, Flammable Clothing a Lethal Combination Outdoor fires often involved in children's burns, study finds.
Akimbo Launches Web Video-On-Demand New venture uses set-top box to link TV to Web-based video library.
Balance Bracelet Settles Lawsuits Company will pay $400,000 and agree to stop making unproven pain-relief claims.
DirecTV Abandons Satellite Internet Plans Will shift satellite capacity to HDTV projects.
Oregon Joins Insurance Probe State reacts to New York, California probes of kickbacks and payoffs in insurance industry.
Delta Flight Plan May Include Bankruptcy Nation's #3 carrier expected to file for bankruptcy this week.
Verizon Bets a Bundle on Fiber Nation's largest phone company will spend $2.8 billion to build fiber-to-home network.
Vioxx Pain Worsens Doctors, patients, drug companies, regulators look for solutions to COX-2 drug risks.
Body Solutions Founder Faces $155 Million Judgment Promoter falsified financial statements to hide assets from court.
Florida Sues 12 Leasing Companies In NorVergence Case Small businesses signed leases for thousands of dollars for phone service that never materialized.
Study Links Traffic to Heart Attacks German study finds that the longer one sits in traffic, the higher the risk.
California Joins Insurance Crackdown State proposes new measures to ensure brokers put client's interest first.
Wireless Spending Outpaces Landlines Young males most likely to rely solely on their cell phone.
Texas Sues Two Flu Vaccine Distributors Suit charges ASAP Meds and Dubin Medical charged "unconscionable" prices for flu vaccine.
Judge Allows Florida Case Against AT&T; to Proceed State is suing company for billing customers for services they neither ordered nor wanted.
$30 Million Damages in Slim Down Solution Case Court permanently bars promoters from making bogus weight-loss claims.
Samsung Settles NY Rebate Case Company agrees to pay wrongfully denied rebates to consumers nationwide.
FCC Chair Wants VoIP Free of State Control State regulation will doom new technology, Michael Powell argues.
Privacy Issues in Google Desktop? New search tool could expose users' private information if they use shared computers, observers fret.
Implantable Chip Raises Privacy Concerns Consumer groups question wisdom of implanting chips containing health and financial information in humans.
Enough Vaccine, Medicine, Thompson Says Additional vaccine coming in January and ample stores of antiviral medicine, according to HHS chief.
Congress Closes Car Donation Loophole New rules allow taxpayers to deduct actual proceeds rather than book value.
Escalade, Maxima Top Theft List Aalrms don't do much to stop thieves from taking the Escalade's wheels and the Maxima's headlights.
