The Illinois Personal Injury Weblog of Schaeffer & Lamere P.C.

Happy "No Tobacco" Day!

Today is "World No Tobacco Day." It's a day with a website, which you'll find here. The first WNTD was held in 1988, and has continued each year since. According to the organizers, it's a chance to call attention to the "impact of tobacco use on public health."

Using AT&T to Call Collect: Don't Do It!

Ive heard reports that the rates from 1-800-Call-ATT -- a collect-calling service -- are 99 cents/minute, plus other extra charges. For a typical complaint, look here.

Telemarketer Pays for Violating No-Call List

From the St. Louis Post-Dispatch: "Telemarketer will pay $75,000 to settle suit."

As part of a consent agreement Friday before St. Louis Circuit Judge David L. Dowd, a telemarketer will pay $75,000 to the state for bothering and soliciting donations from Missourians who asked that they not be called.

Attorney General Jay Nixon successfully sued Xentel Inc., a company with offices in Fort Lauderdale, Fla., and Alberta in Canada. The firm used manipulative, high-pressure tactics in efforts to get contributions, Nixon said.

Summer Reading

In today's St. Louis Post-Dispatch, Cecil Johnson reviews Testosterone, Inc.:Tales of CEOs Done Wild, by Christopher M. Byron.

Welcome to the dark sides of Jack Welch, Albert "Chainsaw" Dunlap, Ron Perelman, Dennis Kozlowski and a supporting cast of Wall Street wheeler-dealers, sycophants, women scorned, trophy wives and gold-digging courtesans.

Christopher Byron, author of "Testosterone Inc.," also wrote "Martha Inc.," a best-selling page-turner that skewered Martha Stewart.

"Testosterone" is not a warts-and-all book. It is nearly all warts.

Missouri Attorney General Jay Nixon

The website maintained by the Missouri Attorney General contains a page titled "Protecting Missouri Consumers." The page describes what the Attorney General does to help consumers, and contains a link to a publication called the "Missouri Consumer Fraud Guide."

Watch Out for Scams Following Storms

From KETV news: "Watch Out For Home Repair Scams After Storms." Here are some tips for dealing with contractors--

Don't be pressured to sign a contract immediately. Take time to find out about the contractor's work or company.

Be cautious if a contractor says he has just finished work down the street and has enough leftover material to do the work on your home on the condition that the offer is only good for one day.

Out-of-state contractors are more difficult to contact if there is a problem, so be careful working with a contractor who does not have a local address.

Always get at least three quotes for the work to be done. The more prices you have to compare, the better able you are to make a fully informed decision.

Ask friends what contractors they have used for the same type of work and if they were satisfied with the results.

Make sure that the contractor is bonded, licensed and insured. Get proof in writing and then call the agencies to confirm.

Insist on a written contract. This should include description of the work to be performed, materials to be used, the date the work will begin and the approximate completion date. If the contractor is not willing to put everything in writing, go to someone who will. Remember; don't sign a contract that is not completely filled out.

Keep records of all contracts, correspondence and anything related to the work done.

Some Companies Try to Skirt Do-Not-Call Rules

From the St. Louis Post-Dispatch and the Associated Press: "Hanging Up on Do-Not-Call Violators."

[S]ome companies are trying to skirt the registry rules - which grew out of the Federal Trade Commission's review of the Telemarketing Sales Rule - by claiming that the rules don't apply to them. Certain groups are exempt: charities, survey companies, political groups, companies with whom individuals already have a business relationship, and companies that you have given written permission to call you. As a result, people like Heinemann are finding that some unwanted calls are still sneaking through.

New Front Opened on Tobacco Companies

From the Delaware News-Journal: "States target 'safer' tobacco products," by Vanessa O'Connell.

Some state authorities are opening a new front on the war against tobacco. Their target: the burgeoning market for so-called reduced-harm cigarettes and tobacco products.

Attorneys general in at least 10 states are investigating whether marketing claims for these products - which position themselves as safer or less addictive than traditional smokes - may be misleading or deceptive. Though the inquiries are still preliminary, the probes are raising questions about the new breed of potentially less-hazardous cigarettes just as more are about to hit the market.

Be an Informed Consumer

From the Examiner: "Attorney general cautions consumers," by James Dornbrook.

Being an informed consumer is the best way to not get ripped off by scam artists, Missouri Attorney General Jay Nixon told a group of citizens at a town hall meeting in Independence Thursday night.

Nixon visited Sycamore Hills Elementary School as the special guest of state Rep. Paul Levota, D-52nd District. Nixon said he filed nine lawsuits Thursday against home repair companies around the state that he believes are defrauding people out of thousands of dollars.

Alton Illinois Workers' Compensation Attorney

At Schaeffer & Lamere, P.C., we handle workers' compensation cases in both Missouri and Illinois. For more information about the types of cases we handle, see the website of Schaeffer & Lamere.