Defend Your Dollars

Norma P. Garcia is a Senior Attorney at the West Coast Office of Consumers Union, nonprofit publisher of Consumer Reports magazine. Since joining Consumers Union’s staff in 1992, Garcia has become a recognized national expert in mortgage lending, credit, finance and insurance regulatory law and policy. She has served as expert advisor and witness on technical matters for legislators and legislative staff and has negotiated and successfully lobbied for the passage of significant consumer protection legislation. She is the author of several publications on topics including the usage of credit scores in insurance, reverse mortgages and predatory mortgage lending. As co-counsel on the litigation team supporting Mark Savage, California Lawyer magazine’s 2007 Public Interest Lawyer of the Year, Ms. Garcia successfully defended landmark anti-discrimination insurance regulations which will save California consumers millions in automobile insurance premiums. Ms. Garcia was honored as a 2000 National Trial Lawyer of the Year Finalist by the Trial Lawyers for Public Justice for her contribution to the public interest while serving as co-counsel on the litigation team which successfully defended Consumers Union in a multi-million dollar SLAPP suit brought by Isuzu Motors Ltd.

Pamela Banks is a senior policy counsel who covers finance issues in Consumers Union’s Washington DC office. Pam works on issues such as federal oversight of financial services, bankruptcy, housing, and retirement. Pam has extensive experience in the legislative and administrative branches of government, as well as the private sector. She was counsel to the Senate Subcommittee on Antitrust, where she covered financial institutions, taxes and bankruptcy issues. She also worked several years as counsel at the U.S. Treasury Department and the Federal Home Loan Bank Board. Pam has a B.A. from the University of Michigan, a J.D. from Northwestern University and a M.P.A. from the University of Southern California.

Michelle Jun is a Staff Attorney for Financial Privacy Now. She came to Consumers Union in 2003, initially to work on nonprofit hospital and healthcare conversions. Michelle works on payments issues, and has also worked on identity theft and financial privacy issues. A transplant from Southern California, Michelle now resides in San Francisco.

Lauren came to CU as a staff attorney in May of 2005 to work on children's health insurance with the Healthy Kids, Healthy Schools Project. She spent three years working on issues ranging from childhood obesity and marketing to children to nonprofit health entity conversions and health marketplace reform. She is currently a member of the Financial Services Advocacy Team. Just prior to joining CU, Lauren attended law school during which she focused her efforts on consumer food issues and environmental policy. Before getting her legal education Lauren spent time working with a bay area organization that advocates for children's after-school and child-care programs. Lauren lives in San Francisco.

Tim Marvin is a Grassroots Organizer at the West Coast Office of Consumers Union. He splits his time as a member of the financial services and the food and product safety teams. Prior to joining Consumers Union, Tim worked with the New York Public Interest Research Group (NYPIRG) first in 2001 as a student activist and canvasser. After college he was hired as a campus organizer at SUNY Albany then Syracuse University/ SUNY College of Environmental Science and University. In 2005 he worked in the Manhattan office overseeing activities at seven NYPIRG chapters around the state. During the summers he directed three outreach offices and then became a Regional Outreach Supervisor for two summers. In addition, he worked with NYPIRG's legislative and issue staff on a variety of campaigns such as the Bigger Better Bottle Bill and Wind Power Education.

Suzanne Martindale is a Staff Attorney for Consumers Union. She is an attorney licensed to practice law in the State of California. Suzanne works out of the West Coast Office in San Francisco, CA and is part of the Financial Services Campaign Team, where she works primarily on “payments” – everything from prepaid cards and gift cards to bank accounts and mobile phone purchases. Much of her work in payments involves media advocacy and public education. She also works on debt collection and debt settlement legislation and policy.

Michael has been on the staff of CU since January 2000. He works out of CU's west coast office in San Francisco and is currently the Media Director for the Financial Privacy Now and Stop Hospital Infections campaigns. Prior to CU, Michael was the Communications Director for Greenbelt Alliance, a San Francisco Bay Area land conservation and urban planning nonprofit. Before moving to California, Michael was the Media Director for Trial Lawyers for Public Justice and Research Director for Public Citizen's Congress Watch, both in Washington, D.C. He has nearly 20 years of experience as a public interest advocate. For media contacts, Michael can be reached at 415.431.6747 x126.