Month: October 2016

When Securus decided not to warn lawyers that their phone calls could be recorded, it chose greed over justice, and now convictions are in jeopardy.

October 29, 2016

Attorneys representing former New England Patriot Aaron Hernandez’s murder appeal are concerned about revelations that his jailhouse phone calls were improperly monitored by an unknown person — calling the security breach possible grounds for filing a motion for a new trial. Source: Phonetap could mean new trial for Hernandez Securus told the Suffolk sheriff that “they … More When Securus decided not to warn lawyers that their phone calls could be recorded, it chose greed over justice, and now convictions are in jeopardy.

Artificial Intelligence can predict the outcome of trials

October 24, 2016

Software program can weigh up legal evidence and moral questions of right and wrong to predict the outcome of trials Source: Artificial intelligence ‘judge’ developed by UCL computer scientists Software that is able to weigh up legal evidence and moral questions of right and wrong has been devised by computer scientists at University College London, … More Artificial Intelligence can predict the outcome of trials

Prison Callers Oppose Motion To Dismiss Unlawful Recording Suit

October 24, 2016

Callers accusing prison telephone service provider Securus Technologies Inc. of recording privileged calls between inmates and their lawyers, against promises and legal obligations to not do so, asked a California federal court Monday to keep their proposed class action alive, saying they were harmed enough to sue. Source: Prison Callers Defend Atty Call Recording Suit … More Prison Callers Oppose Motion To Dismiss Unlawful Recording Suit

DeVry To Stop Making 90% Employment Claims

October 24, 2016

The for-profit university chain has agreed to stop claiming that 90 percent of its graduates seeking employment found jobs in their field within six months of graduation. It was not able to prove it. Source: DeVry University Agrees To Stop Ads Touting Grads’ Job Success Without Proof “Students deserve accurate information about where to invest … More DeVry To Stop Making 90% Employment Claims

One of UK’s first class action lawsuits filed against Mastercard

October 13, 2016

Source: Mastercard faces one of the UK’s first class action lawsuits Law firm Quinn Emanuel alleges that the fees were a significant cost for retailers. This cost was then passed on to consumers in the form of higher prices for goods and services. The lawsuit claims that UK consumers have lost as much as £19bn … More One of UK’s first class action lawsuits filed against Mastercard

Defrauded Corinthian Students Still Subject To Draconian Debt Collection Actions

October 12, 2016

Nearly 80,000 students of defunct for-profit giant Corinthian Colleges are facing some form of debt collection, even though the Department of Education unearthed enough evidence of fraud to forgive their student loans, says Sen. Elizabeth Warren. Source: Feds found widespread fraud at Corinthian Colleges. Why are students still paying the price? “It is unconscionable that … More Defrauded Corinthian Students Still Subject To Draconian Debt Collection Actions

The Cobalt Pipeline: Tracing the path from deadly hand-dug mines in Congo to consumers’ phones and laptops.

October 6, 2016

Workers, including children, labor in harsh and dangerous conditions to meet the world’s soaring demand for cobalt, a mineral essential to powering electric vehicles, laptops, and smartphones, according to an investigation by The Washington Post. Source: This is where your smartphone battery begins The world’s soaring demand for cobalt is at times met by workers, … More The Cobalt Pipeline: Tracing the path from deadly hand-dug mines in Congo to consumers’ phones and laptops.

Child Slavery:  Chocolate to avoid

October 3, 2016

If you don’t like chocolate, chances are you’re one of few. Americans eat nearly 18% of the world’s chocolate confectionery value — that’s around $18.27 billion worth! Whether we’re eating it in the form of cakes, candy bars, milkshakes, ice cream, fondue or small, individually wrapped pieces, chocolate is a common and often addicting treat … More Child Slavery:  Chocolate to avoid

Modern Slavery: The Western World Doesn’t Get It; Or Maybe We Just Don’t Care

October 1, 2016

Yes, it’s rife in the developing world, but the West is highly culpable Source: The Developed World Is Missing the Point About Slavery It is often forgotten that the Western world was the architect of our current form of global capitalism that demands more and more goods through a reliance on cheap labor, because it … More Modern Slavery: The Western World Doesn’t Get It; Or Maybe We Just Don’t Care