(COLUMBUS, Ohio) — Despite the best of intentions, some New Year’s resolutions can lead to costly mistakes. Ohio Attorney General Richard Cordray today warned consumers to read the fine print before purchasing a gym membership for 2010 or buying weight loss products online.

“Many of us make New Year’s resolutions to get in shape, lose weight or just live a healthier lifestyle,” Cordray said. “Unfortunately, slick advertising can sometimes get the best of well-intentioned consumers, who end up buying products they don’t need and signing contracts they don’t understand.” 

(COLUMBUS, Ohio) — Ohio Attorney General Richard Cordray today joined 14 other state attorneys general to support elimination of incentives paid to loan officers and mortgage brokers that result in borrowers being placed in loans that are riskier and more expensive than they need to be.

“I strongly support changing the law to end predatory practices like these that fueled the foreclosure crisis and the collapse of the mortgage market,” Attorney General Cordray said. “Paying incentives to place customers in riskier loans is rewarding the behavior that is ruining so many communities. What’s even more tragic is that without this type of steering, some consumers may have been able to get more affordable loans and avoid foreclosure entirely.” 

(COLUMBUS, Ohio) — Ohio Attorney General Richard Cordray and health insurance company BlueCross BlueShield of Tennessee today warned consumers about a hard drive theft believed to have put the personal information of some BlueCross members at risk.  The affected individuals include more than 860 Ohioans. Cordray is advising those who are affected to closely monitor their credit reports and various financial accounts.

(MARIETTA, Ohio) — A 21-year-old Parkersburg, W. Va., man will spend 30 days in jail in connection with the theft of valuables from residents of a nursing facility in Marietta. Charles Edgell was working as a nursing assistant for the Arbors at Marietta when the thefts occurred. 

The thefts were first reported to Ohio Attorney General Richard Cordray’s Medicaid Fraud Control Unit on Jan. 30, 2009 by the administrator of the Arbors at Marietta. Investigators determined that Edgell had taken six pieces of jewelry from residents and traced the stolen property to a pawn shop in Parkersburg.

(COLUMBUS, Ohio) – Ohio Attorney General Richard Cordray filed a brief today asking the U.S. Supreme Court to review the adequacy of measures taken by the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers and the state of Illinois to stop the spread of Asian carp into the Great Lakes.

Cordray asked the court to reopen an earlier case examining the legality of several man-made canals and waterways connecting Lake Michigan with the Illinois and Mississippi Rivers. Those waterways, which were constructed by the state of Illinois, provide the Asian carp with an avenue into Lake Michigan and the other Great Lakes.

(COLUMBUS, Ohio) — The Federal Reserve Board has named Mark Wiseman of Ohio Attorney General Richard Cordray’s office as a member of its Consumer Advisory Council. Wiseman and nine other new appointees will each serve a three-year term.

“Mark Wiseman’s extensive experience with foreclosure prevention efforts and other consumer issues in Ohio will make him a valuable member of the Consumer Advisory Council,” said Cordray.

(COLUMBUS, Ohio) — Ohio Attorney General Richard Cordray announced today that the state of Ohio will file a brief in the U.S. Supreme Court seeking to stop the spread of Asian carp, which are considered a major threat to the Great Lakes fishing industry.

Specifically, the brief will ask to reopen a prior original action in the U.S. Supreme Court against the state of Illinois, the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers and the Metropolitan Water Reclamation District of Greater Chicago.