| Volume 34 Number 1 |
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The People’s Lawyer’s Tip of the Day
Are you buying a used car? Before you do, visit the new government website to check its title. The online database currently has information on 2/3 of all used cars, and soon will be complete. Click here for more.
Toyota Recall
Do you own a 2006 - 2007 Toyota Yaris? A defect with the safety belt could cause a fire in an accident. The recall affects all 2006 and 2007 Yaris hatchbacks and sedans. For more information, call (800) 331-4331. Click here for more.
Cell Phone: Do Not Call List
Rumors have been circulating that America’s cell-phone numbers are about to be posted in a national 411 directory for use by telemarketers. This is not true. No such directory exists (yet). It is actually illegal for telemarketers to call your cell phone, and registering your cell phone number with the Do Not Call list likely won't do much to help you (at least for now). Click here for more.
Bailout Breakdown - How Much Would I Get?
CNN did some numbers crunching and came up with an astounding number - $9,718.49. This is the total amount of money each American taxpayer would receive if the bailout was distributed to the taxpayer, rather than the banks. Click here for more.
Short Sales - How To Get a Deal
A short sale is where a lender agrees to take less than the amount owed on a mortgage in order to cut losses. In the past few months, the instances of short sales increased. So, how can you profit? Here are some things you need to know in order to enter a short sale agreement, and come out ahead. Click here for more.
Your Money
How much life insurance do I need? Click here for more.
For the Lawyers
Class action ban in commercial arbitration clause unenforceable. The U.S. Court of Appeals for the Second Circuit stated, "We conclude that, on the record before us, the plaintiffs have adequately demonstrated that the class action waiver provision at issue should not be enforced because enforcement of the clause would effectively preclude any action seeking to vindicate the statutory rights asserted by the plaintiffs." The court held that “the class action waiver in the Card Acceptance Agreement cannot be enforced in this case because to do so would grant Amex de facto immunity from antitrust liability by removing the plaintiffs' only reasonably feasible means of recovery." Click here for more.