Academic & Scholarly News

Why the World Hates Lawyers

12/09/14

Why does the world hate lawyers?  Because of stuff like this.  You can't make this up:  the on-line menu prices for a Chinese restaurant weren't up-to-date, and a customer was overcharged $4. I get being pissed about that.  But what would most people do?  Just lump it, stop patronizing the restaurant, ask the restaurant for a refund, or complain to the credit card issuer.

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Another Tribute to Jean Braucher: On the Lighter Side

12/03/14

Bob’s post made me cry. Jean was an incredible scholar and colleague. She also had a fun, light side that I will forever cherish, and that I share here. 

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Jean Braucher, In Memoriam

11/26/14

It is with great sadness that I pass along the news that Jean Braucher passed away yesterday. Jean was my co-author, my co-blogger, and my friend. This news came suddenly this morning for all but her closest family and friends who were aware of her illness. 

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Econometric Optimization of Fresh Start Policy

10/09/14

"What is the optimal consumer bankruptcy law?" Now that's an abstract first line that grabs my attention! I've thought about this question for most of my academic career, and I've struggled to find solid bases for an answer. Now, Indiana Univeristy economist Gray Gordon offers an intriguing if difficult to understand possibility.

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Whitford Symposium

10/05/14

Professor Bill Whitford of the University of Wisconsin will be an intellectual hero to many of the Credit Slips readers and contributors. Bill has done pathbreaking work in consumer bankruptcy law, consumer law, and corporate reorganizations.

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Feeling Vindicated

08/12/14

My Consumer Finance students used to think I was wasting their time by spending a whole class session on usury laws and taking them into the nitty-gritty of their application (or non-application). I think usury is important conceptually (but for the Marquette decision and its fallout, our regulation of consumer credit would likely be very different), has a lot of neat statutory reading twists and turns, and it actually can matter for non-bank lenders.  Among other things I cover is the NY state usury statute, including its criminal provisions.

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Publishing Opportunity with International Consumer law Journal

08/04/14

The National Law School of India University (NLSIU), Bangalore, sponsored by the Indian Ministry of Consumer Affairs Department, New Delhi. India, is involved in various research activities in the area of Consumer Protection. It publishes the International Journal on Consumer Law and Practices and seeks articles on the topic of consumer law, which might be of use to students, academicians, consumer lawyers, policy-makers, consumers themsleves, and non-governmental organizations worldwide.

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