| Volume 48 Number 1 |
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The People’s Lawyer’s Tip of the Day
Buying a house through what is called a "contract for deed" does not offer you as much legal protection as when you use a more traditional mortgage. However, the law gives you the right to convert a contract for deed into a mortgage at any time by requesting the seller convey the property into your name and take back a mortgage. Click here for more.
Tax Breaks: Five Ways to Save
It is tax season! If you do your own taxes, pulling it all together can be difficult. Many consumers miss out of tax break opportunities, losing out on hundreds to thousands of dollars in the process. This year, home buyers, car buyers, students, workers, and energy savers should all be on the lookout for these five great tax breaks! Click here for more.
Health Care: How You'd Shop
With a rare maneuver called "reconciliation" on the table, health care reform may become a reality very soon. Under the current system, individuals and small businesses have limited resources to find and buy insurance. Under the proposed system, individuals and small businesses would shop in a heath care exchange with the ability to evaluate and compare different plans. How would you shop for health insurance if health care reform passes? Click here for more.
Lawmaker Accuses Toyota of Withholding Evidence
Last week, the Committee on Oversight and Government Reform held hearings on complaints of uncontrolled acceleration problems in Toyota vehicles. After hearing testimony from Toyota President Akio Toyoda and other executives, Congress is ratcheting up criticism. The committee subpoenaed documents related to Toyota safety and recall history, raising questions as to whether the automaker was aware of and hid safety defects in its vehicles. A key lawmaker insists Toyota intentionally withheld the documents. What was in the documents? Click here for more.
Your Money
Your next car, new or used: Which is right for you? Click here for more.
For the Lawyers
Non-party can compel arbitration in sex harassment case. The Second Circuit held that ESPN can require arbitration in a sexual harassment case, even though it wasn't a party to the plaintiff's employment agreement. The court stated, "It is undisputed that ESPN is not a signatory to the arbitration agreement. ESPN is also not mentioned, expressly or by implication, in either the arbitration agreement, or in any of the other documents relating to Ragone's initial employment that are contained in the record. Nevertheless, Ragone's complaint contains numerous allegations which support the district court's conclusion that her claims of unlawful harassment and retaliation against AVI and ESPN rely on the concerted actions of both defendants and are therefore substantially interdependent." Click here for more.