| Volume 36 Number 6 |
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The People’s Lawyer’s Tip of the Day
As a general rule, a business is not liable for a slip and fall injury simply because it owns the property where the injury occurred. For the business to be responsible the injured person must show the business was "negligent" and that is why the injury happened. For example, if the business knew there was a slippery spot on the floor and did not take reasonable steps to clean it up, it would be liable to a customer who was injured as a result of its negligence. Click here for more.
April 15 - Federal Income Tax Guide
April 15 is two days away! That means that it's time to finish your taxes. If you need help, Consumer Reports has created an online tax guide with videos, tips, news on tax breaks, and where to get free tax help. If you need last minute help, try this link. Click here for more.
Tech Jobs Get Cut
In what was thought to be a recession proof industry, technology firms are feeling this recession as much as the rest of us. Technology spending is projected to drop by 1.6% this year. Likewise, after years of steady growth, tech jobs are projected to decline by 1.2% this year. However, not all technology positions will suffer. Those positions that are necessary for critical business operations, like "systems experts," are likely safe. Click here for more.
Banks Continue to Fail
The 2009 bank failure tally reached 23 on Friday. As banks continue to fail, most consumers are concerned about what will happen to their money if their bank fails. The FDIC will continue to fully insure individual accounts up to $250,000 through the end of 2009. Is your money safe? Click here for more.
Texas AG Probes Blue Cross Blue Shield
Texas Attorney General Greg Abbott resolved the state's probe into a Blue Cross Blue Shield of Texas' (BCBS) physician rating program that used cost-based indicators to rank doctors. The health insurance company agreed to refrain from using its Risk Adjusted Cost Index to rate doctors according to price and outcome. Additionally, the Attorney General resolved an investigation in to the handling of out-of-network claims. According to investigators, Blue Cross threatened to terminate physicians solely on the basis of referring their patients out of network. How will the Attorney General's investigation better your health care? Click here for more.
Your Money
Which is right for you - a new or used car? Click here for more.
For the Lawyers
Arbitration Clause Waiving Class Actions Deemed Unconscionable Under Oregon Law. The Ninth Circuit has held that an arbitration clause in a wireless card service agreement prohibiting class actions is substantively unconscionable and thus unenforceable under Oregon law when it acts to prohibit class members' recovery of what would, individually, be relatively small damage awards. Having concluded that the class action waiver was substantively unconscionable, the court next looked to sever it from the arbitration clause—but found that severability was impossible in keeping with T-Mobile's terms. Click here for more.