| Volume 51 Number 7 |
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The People’s Lawyer’s Tip of the Day
In Texas, there is no wage garnishment except for child support, student loans and certain taxes. A debt collector's threat to garnish your wages when he cannot do so, for example for a credit card debt, violates Texas and federal debt collection laws. Click here for more.
Landlord / Tenant Law
Do you have a dispute with your landlord? Do you need a formal, written lease when you rent? Can a landlord refuse to rent to you? Can a landlord lock you out of your apartment? What are your rights if you have not paid your rent? For answers to these questions and more, visit "The People's Lawyer" landlord / tenant law website. Click here for more.
Avoiding Traps in Dealer Financed Loans
Are you in the market for a car? Beware of predatory dealer practices! If you cannot avoid dealer financing, there are several steps you can take to protect your bottom-line. For example, dealerships often mark up the interest rate charged by the lender. To avoid the mark-up, you can check interest rates at Bankrate.com and use the information as leverage before committing to the loan. To read more about hidden traps in dealer financing and how to avoid them, Click here for more.
Federal Reserve Limits Credit Card Fees to $25
The Federal Reserve introduced new credit card rules on Tuesday that will limit most credit card penalties to $25. Furthermore, the Federal Reserve ordered a review of interest rate hikes imposed since the nationwide reduction on credit early last year. The new rules, which take effect August 22, were rolled out under the set of changes Congress passed last year. To read about the latest rules and the impact on consumer credit, Click here for more.
Your Money
What option is best for estate planning? Click here for more.
For the Lawyers
Supreme Court rules attorney’s fees award is subject to offset. An award of attorney fees under the Equal Access to Justice Act is payable to the prevailing party rather than to the prevailing party's attorney, and therefore is subject to an offset for a pre-existing debt. “We have long held that the term ‘prevailing party’ in fee statutes is a ‘term of art’ that refers to the prevailing litigant,” Thomas wrote. “This treatment reflects the fact that statutes that award attorney’s fees to a prevailing party are exceptions to the ‘American Rule’ that each litigant ‘bear [his] own attorney’s fees.’” Click here for more.