| Volume 34 Number 6 |
Subscribe to the Newsletter
Forward this news alert to your family and friends
Helpful Links
Texas Consumer Complaint Center
Credit Reports and Identity Theft
Your Guide to Small Claims Court
Contact Us
1-713-743-2168
The People’s Lawyer’s Tip of the Day
Voluntarily returning a car you can't pay for may not get you off the hook. In most cases, the car will be sold and you will owe the difference between your debt and what the car sells for. If you think the car is being accepted in exchange for release for your debt, get that agreement in writing. Click here for more.
Happy Valentines Day
Happy Valentines Day! Looking for a great deal for your special someone? The economy may be in serious trouble, but don't expect prices for Valentines Day chocolates to drop. The price of cocoa, the main ingredient in chocolate, increased 30 percent in 2008. Don't waste your time trying to find a "great deal" on chocolates; it's highly unlikely that you will find one. Click here for more.
Home Values Plunge
Home prices dropped a staggering 12.4% in 2008, the largest fall in 30 years. The median price for a U.S. home sold during the fourth quarter of 2008 fell to $180,100, down from $205,700 during the last quarter of 2007. Will home prices continue to fall? When is the best time to purchase? Click here for more.
New Lead Law Takes Effect
A new lead law is having a big impact on thrift stores. The law was developed to protect kids from toys and clothing that may contain too much lead. The stores do not have to test for lead for the next year. However, if someone gets sick, they're still on the hook for liability. As a result, thrift stores across the nation are removing clothes and toys from the shelves. Most stores are having trouble identifying contaminated products, so many are removing everything that has a remote possibility of being dangerous. How badly will this hurt the thrift business? Click here for more.
Countrywide to Pay $7.5 Million to Homeowners
Thousands of home loan consumer in Texas are now eligible to receive part of a large settlement against Countrywide Financial. If you lost your home to foreclosure, you may be eligible to receive a portion of the settlement. According to Texas Attorney General Greg Abbott, holders of sub-prime loans were not made aware of the serious risks involved. In addition to those consumers that faced foreclosure, over 30,000 other consumers may be able to restructure their home loans. Do you qualify? Click here for more.
Your Money
How much money can I save in my 401(k) plan? Click here for more.
For the Lawyers
Injured airline passenger's suit not preempted. The Ninth Circuit has held that the Federal Aviation Law does not preempt the personal injury claims brought by a passenger who fell from an airplane's stairs Click here for more.