| Volume 51 Number 8 |
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The People’s Lawyer’s Tip of the Day
You can sue in Texas Small Claims Court for up to $10,000 and you do not need an attorney to assist you. Next time you have a dispute, consider the real people's court. Small Claims Court is quick, informal and easy to use. In many cases, once the other person knows you know your legal rights and will assert them, they quickly try to settle the dispute. Click here for more.
BP Agrees to $20 Billion Fund
According to President Obama, BP has agreed to a $20 billion, independently administered, compensation fund. BP will be required to pay all damage claims and liability will not be capped at $20 billion. Is the $20 billion commitment enough? Click here for more.
Tylenol & Benadryl Recall Continues
The makers of Tylenol and Benadryl have issued another recall, this time for Benadryl Allergy Ultratabs and Tylenol Rapid Release Gels. According to the recall, a chemical accidentally included in the the packaging resulted in instances of nausea, stomach pain, vomiting, and diarrhea. Click here for more.
AT&T Suspends iPhone 4 Pre-Orders
AT&T has suspended pre-orders for the new iPhone 4. Consumers were allowed to pre-order the phone on Tuesday, and consumer demand temporarily shut down the AT&T purchase system. In a statement, AT&T noted sales for the iPhone 4 were ten times higher than the 3GS in the first day of pre-order sales. As a result, AT&T will suspend orders for the iPhone 4 until the company fulfills orders already received. Click here for more.
Consumers Divide $123 Million Expedia Settlement
After a class action lawsuit against Expedia settled, consumers will split $123 million in cash and credits for future purchases. In the 2005 lawsuit, consumers claimed they were overcharged for taxes. According to the complaint, Expedia disguised the overages by combining "taxes" and "service fees" in to a single category. Are you entitled to part of this recent settlement? Click here for more.
Your Money
Are you considering a credit card balance transfer? If so, this calculator is for you! Click here for more.
For the Lawyers
Nontaxable costs may be awarded to prevailing party. The Ninth Circuit held that under the FRCA, a court may grant the prevailing plaintiff attorney’s fees as well as other nontaxable costs. The court noted that many courts have interpreted the phrase “reasonable attorney’s fees” to include certain litigation expenses. Click here for more.