The mechanics
of the fine print.
Five ongoing research threads on how consumer contracts fail — and how a well-instrumented scan catches what a human read misses.
The Escalator Problem
A comprehensive analysis of annual-escalator clauses in consumer contracts — where they appear (solar leases, rent-to-own agreements, timeshares), how they're disclosed (poorly), and what the mathematics look like over the contract term. Includes a formal model of the disclosure gap between the "monthly payment" advertised at signing and the total-cost-of-obligation over the full term.
Language-Mismatch Rescission
Under Cal. Civ. Code § 1632 and analogous statutes in five other states, contracts negotiated primarily in Spanish, Chinese, Tagalog, Vietnamese, or Korean must be provided in that language before signing. This paper documents the systemic failure of major solar, auto, and home-improvement providers to comply — and the resulting scale of potentially rescindable agreements in California alone.
The Arbitration Choke Point
A statistical analysis of consumer arbitration outcomes under the American Arbitration Association's Commercial Rules from 2020-2025. Findings: consumers file 0.9% of the arbitrations they are theoretically entitled to; of those filed, consumers prevail in 6.3% of cases where the merchant is a repeat player. Structural asymmetries — filing fees, arbitrator selection, class-action waivers — explain the disparity.
Non-Disclosure Cascades in Mortgage Refi
A close read of 400 mortgage refinance closings from 2022-2024 identified the specific fees that most reliably appear on the Closing Disclosure without appearing on the Loan Estimate (TRID violations). Includes an itemized taxonomy and a probability-of-appearance model that flags high-risk lenders before closing.
The Auto-Renewal Trap
The Restore Online Shoppers' Confidence Act (ROSCA) and analogous state statutes (CA SB 313, NY GBL 5-903) require clear disclosure and simple cancellation for auto-renewing subscriptions. This paper audits the top 200 subscription businesses by revenue and measures compliance across three metrics: disclosure clarity, cancellation friction, and refund policy. Findings will not surprise you.
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