| Volume 41 Number 5 |
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The People’s Lawyer’s Tip of the Day
The Texas Deceptive Trade Practices Act protects you whenever someone misleads or deceives you. This is our consumer protection law, but beware it applies to all sellers, including you when you sell at a garage sale, through a classified ad, or on the web. Don't say anything misleading or deceptive about what you are selling. It could cost you a substantial amount in damages. Click here for more.
Beef Industry Gets a Closer Look
The beef industry is on the defensive and facing stricter scrutiny after a woman was paralyzed from eating ground beef. According to reports, a children's dance instructor was eating a family dinner that included ground beef. Later in the week she began to experience seizures and unbearable pain. She was placed in to a coma and sent to the Mayo Clinic for diagnostics. After months in a coma, doctors finally "cured" her disease, an advanced version of "E. Coli." The disease did significant damage to her body and doctors believe she will never walk again. The USDA has since inspected 224 meat plants only to discover that nearly a quarter of them had serious safety problems. Is your meat safe? Click here for more.
Fight Against Mandatory Arbitration
The American Association for Justice has been fighting to eliminate the unfair practice of forced arbitration agreements in consumer and employment contracts. According to their most recent update, "by a vote of 68-30, assuming the provision survives a conference committee, companies like Halliburton will no longer be able to get federal defense contracts if they deny employees their day in court when they are subjected to rape, sexual assault, or a hostile working environment." The American Association for Justice continues to fight against mandatory binding arbitration and for consumer rights. To read the recent press release, Click here for more.
Fact Check: Financial Service Commercials
Have you ever seen the E-Trade commercial with the two infants discussing financial brokerage? The clever commercial represents E-Trade as an inexpensive way to retool your investments through in-depth research and full-service banking. Consumer Reports put the company to test and compared it against rival companies. How did E-Trade match up against competitors? Which investment company is right for you? Click here for more.
Your Money
Are you remodeling? Estimate the number of tiles you will need to complete your project! Click here for more.
For the Lawyers
Homestead designation does not establish acquisition of interest for purposes of Bankruptcy Code exemptions The Ninth Circuit held that the perfection of a homestead exemption does not constitute acquisition of a property interest for purposes of Section 522(p)(1). Click here for more.