Indiana Law Firm Hofer Hagan LLP is beginning work on Pink Energy / PowerHome Solar cases

 We are in the early stage of working up a number of  Pink Energy solar panel installation cases.  The deeper I get into it, the more that I see that it is a major project involving a lot of challenges.  I can see why a lot of lawyers want nothing to do with these cases. The company that created the mess, Pink Energy, is bankrupt. The potential clients didn't pay a lot up front, probably don't have a lot of money to spend on a lawyer, but are on the hook for a big loan to a mean old finance company.  The actual subject matter of the contracts is very technical and complex. Just figuring out, explaining and proving the defects is challenging.  

What we have going for us that a lot of lawyers don't is experience in using the FTC Holder Rule against lenders in consumer cases.  Pursuing claims against these lenders could yield very good results and has the potential to protect the clients against having to pay for nonfunctional systems for years to come.  

By the way, here's a good story from CBS4 about the problems of Pink Energy customers in Indiana. 

https://cbs4indy.com/cbs4-investigates/dozens-of-customers-heated-after-installing-solar-panels/

Art Institute of Indianapolis and Elements Financial Federal Credit Union - Possibility of Private Student Loan Assistance

I was vaguely aware of the Art Institutes, that it was a big conglomerate of private for-profit colleges, that it shut down in 2018, and that there was a plan for forgiveness of certain federal student loans due to alleged fraud by the university.  Until recently though, I had never been contacted by one of the students.

That changed this week.  An issue came up regarding a private student loan through Elements Financial federal Credit Uunion for the Art Institute of Indianapolis.  

It appears that the Art Institute may have referred students to Elements Financial, if so, students may have an argument under the FTC Holder Rule that any claim they would have against Art Institute might be raised as a defense or partial defense against repayment to Elements Financial.  

This is a complex topic.  If you went to Art Institute of Indianapolis and were financed by Elements Financial or any other lender that was referred to you by the school, I am interested in talking to you, and we might have a shot at getting you some help.  Note that right now I am not dealing in cases involving FEDERAL student loans. 

If you went to any other Art Institute, or have issues regarding federal student loans, I urge you to contact an attorney in your area through the NACA consumer lawyer referral service at www.consumeradvocates.org/find-an-attorney.  

A general information article I found is linked below. I cannot vouch for the accuracy of the entire article, so get a second source before acting on anything contained in this link. 

https://studentloanbattle.com/art-institute-loan-forgiveness.html

HG Auto Sales, Shelby Street, Indianapolis - Odometer Fraud Allegations in the News

We put out an all points bulletin for information on HG Auto Sales in July. On November 5, 2015, Indianapolis television station WRTV-6 did an investigative report on HG Auto Sales reporting on allegations of HG Auto Sales selling vehicles with tampered odometers. Reportedly, a number of cars were hauled away, and as of today, only two vehicles are listed on HG Auto Sale's website.

Based on the number of vehicles that are alleged to be affected by this practice, it is reasonably foreseeable that anyone who chooses to sue HG Auto Sales may find that they don't have money to pay.  What recourse do the car buyers have? IF the dealer arranged for in assisted in obtaining the financing of your vehicle, any claims that you have against the dealer can be raised against the finance company.  This means that if you have a car that has had its odometer rolled back you may be able to claim an offset, and perhaps a refund from your lender.  In addition if the lender denies the applicability of the FTC Holder Rule you may have an additional action under the state deceptive consumer sales statute.  Please call us at 317-662-4529 if you have any questions.