housing - code enforcement - illegal search - civil rights

Ciarlone v. City of Reading - ED Pa - November 18, 2009

http://www.paed.uscourts.gov/documents/opinions/09d1382p.pdf

Apartment owner and several tenants brought sec. 1983 action against city, code enforcement officer, et al. for unlawful inspection of premises by forced actions -- including breaking into apartments with sledge hammer -- without any warrant or notice to owner or tenants.

Defendants' motion to dismiss was rejected by the court, which held that plaintiffs had pleaded sufficient facts concerning a) the constitutionality of the search, b) the city's failure educate and train code enforcement officers, c) due process claims. and d) first amendment retaliation (plaintiff owner had publicly and repeatedly spoken out against the city code enforcement department) to survive a 12(b)(6) motion to dismiss.

consumer - natl. banks - gift card - state UDAP claims - no pre-emption

Mwantembe, et al. v. TD Bank, et al. - ED PA - November 17, 2009

http://www.paed.uscourts.gov/documents/opinions/09d1375p.pdf

Plaintiff brought class action on behalf of Pennsylvania residents who held or hold gift cards sold by the defendants, assert causes of action under Pennsylvania law for violations of the Unfair Trade Practices and Consumer Protection Law (“UTPCPL”), 73 P.S. §§ 201-2(3), 201-2(4)(xxi), 201-3, breach of contract and third party beneficiary.

They allege that the defendants’ deducting undisclosed dormancy and other fees that diminish the value of the gift cards before their expiration is “deceptive, unlawful, and misleading,” and is calculatedto “trick, mislead, and significantly confuse consumers in Pennsylvania into not retaining or claiming the full value and buying power” of the cards.

The plaintiffs allege that the defendant banks marketed and sold the gift cards without adequately disclosing the cards’ material terms and conditions to purchasers and recipients. They also claim that prior to purchase, the defendants’ representatives never discussed or otherwise disclosed to purchasers the imposition of dormancy and replacement fees, or issue dates and expiration dates.

The question is whether state law imposing disclosure and marketing requirements for gift cards prevents or significantly interferes with the national banks’ activity or the federal regulator’s exercise of its powers.

Because enforcing state consumer protection laws regarding the disclosures does not conflict with federal law governing gift cards and will not unduly impair the defendants banks’ ability to engage in the business of selling gift cards, we hold that the plaintiffs’ state law claims are not preempted.