| Volume 45 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.
Toyota Recalls Hybrid Models
Toyota has extended their latest string of recalls to include hybrid models. Toyota has recalled 437,000 hybrid vehicles for a faulty braking systems on four models, including the Prius. In total, Toyota has recalled approximately 8.5 million vehicles to fix a variety of problems. Do you own a Toyota hybrid? Click here for more.
Tax Time Phishing
The National White Collar Crime Center is warning consumers to beware of scams during tax season. According to the Center, scam artists will send emails disguised as official IRS correspondence in order to steal your sensitive personal information. To read about this scam and how to report complaints, Click here for more.
Toyota's Next Problem
In addition to recalling millions of vehicles, Toyota must now prepare for litigation. There are currently 30 lawsuits in the U.S. for the gas pedal problem alone. Certainly, more lawsuits are on the way. Merely owning a recalled vehicle will likely not be enough to sustain a lawsuit. How do you know if you have a legitimate legal claim against Toyota? Can you sue for lost value? Click here for more.
FAQ: Creditors & Debt Collectors
Are you being harassed by a debt collector? What can a creditor take from you? What law applies? This People's Lawyer FAQ on credit and debt collection can answer your questions! Click here for more.
Your Money
How is your credit? Estimate your FICO score! Click here for more.
For the Lawyers
Student loan debt can be considered prior to discharge. A student loan lender contended that the issues presented in the complaint were not ripe for adjudication until, and unless, the debtor received a discharge order under § 1328. The Sixth Circuit held that ³the question of whether Cassim's student loan debt owed to Educational Credit is dischargeable was constitutionally ripe for review by the bankruptcy court despite the fact that Cassim had yet to receive a discharge under § 1328. Click here for more.