Roxanne DeMarco's blog

Greg Cole owns a house outside Atlanta valued at almost half a million dollars - but according to Greg, he cannot even sleep in it. He believes construction problems caused cracks, which led to leaks and mold. The mold became so bad he and his family had to move out after becoming sick from the mold.

When Greg went to seek justice he found another hidden danger – a forced arbitration clause buried in the fine print of his contract with his homebuilder. According to CBS of Atlanta, this meant that he could not take his case to court, but instead was forced to go before an arbitration panel that was handpicked by the homebuilder.

As CBS of Atlanta reported, all consumers are at risk because forced arbitration clauses, like the one that was used against Greg, grant corporations a license to steal and violate the law. See video here. 

Earlier this week, the Center for Public Integrity published an exposé detailing the deceptive research program Georgia-Pacific funded to avoid accountability for their asbestos-containing joint compound.

Last week, Jason Johns, executive director of the Wisconsin Asbestos Victims Network, wrote an op-ed in The Cap Times about how Senate Bill 13 will deny justice for people affected by asbestos in Wisconsin.

In a breakthrough win for Americans, the Hawaii Supreme Court sided with high school teacher Michael Siopes over health care conglomerate Kaiser Health.

In honor of Constitution Day, we are highlighting seven ways the 7th Amendment has made America safer.

For those of you without a pocket Constitution, the 7th Amendment is your right to a trial by jury.  It allows you to access the civil justice system and hold corporations accountable when they injure and kill innocent Americans, pollute our environment and endanger our children.  As we know all too well, if no one is accountable, no one is safe.

When you go to the hospital, they have your medical records - but does it work in reverse? Do you have your hospital’s safety records? Today’s front page article in USA Today highlights a very scary and real health crisis: 

Last week, a former construction supervisor was sentenced to six months in jail for not properly handling pipe coated with asbestos during a sewer and water system upgrade in Idaho.

In a small Indiana town, June 6th is known as “Wonder Woman Day” after Janelle Bedel, an asbestos-cancer fighter. Sadly, this wonder woman couldn’t win every fight- Wednesday her long battle with mesothelioma ended.

Recent news coverage surrounding sexual assaults in the military has exposed a shockingly widespread pattern of brutality against some of our service members. That sort of violence perpetuated against those who chose to dedicate their lives to protect our country is deplorable.  As is a military system that discourages victims from reporting the incidents in the first place, while failing to respond to those reports that are filed. Even worse, active duty military are actually barred from bringing discrimination or personal injury civil court claims after a sexual assault.

Forbes contributor John Wasik shares his opinion on how forced arbitration clauses systematically snub individual investors and small businesses:

“Main street won’t get a fair shake against Wall Street until little guys get their day in court.

But under current rules enforced by the industry’s self-regulator, at nearly every turn, they’re not even allowed to get into a courtroom, thanks to an agreement that limits them to binding arbitration that the industry controls.