| Volume 52 Number 3 |
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The People’s Lawyer’s Tip of the Day
Credit card bills are packed with new and hidden fees. Among one of the most common is the late fee. Don't rely on the Post Office. Pay online and be sure your bill is paid on time. Click here for more.
Class Actions Filed Against Apple & AT&T
Do you own an iPhone 4? If so, you may be having problems with reception. When Apple designed the latest model iPhone, it included an sleek antenna design that wrapped around the body of the phone. The new approach to hiding the antenna proved to be a mistake. When consumers use traditional methods to hold the phone, they can touch a small gap between the left and bottom segments of the phone with their palm and effectively bridge the two antennas. As a result, consumers have been complaining about poor reception and dropped calls. Apple's response was to "just avoid holding it that way." To force Apple to take corrective measures, multiple class actions have been filed against Apple for breach of warranty, deceptive trade practices, misrepresentation, and fraud by concealment. To read about the latest class action lawsuits, Click here for more.
Crackdown on Predatory Lending
If you're thinking about buying a home, it is about to get much more difficult to secure financing. Congress is set to vote on a new law that will require financial institutions to ensure that borrowers can afford to repay the mortgages before they are sold. Furthermore, financial institutions would be required to disclose the highest amounts a consumer would be required to pay under an adjustable rate mortgage ("ARM") and how payments vary as the interest rate changes. The ultimate goal of the law is to eliminate predatory lending, a practice implemented by banks to put consumers in mortgages they can't afford. If the law passes, it could be another 18 to 24 months before consumers fully realize the impact. What changes should you expect if the legislation becomes law? Click here for more.
Congress to Examine Airline Fees
Most airlines have started charging consumers for everything from bags to method of reservation. For consumers the practice can be very frustrating, but for airlines fees generate millions in revenue. On July 14, the House Aviation Subcommittee will hold a hearing on the issue of airline fees as a consumer annoyance. Although it is uncertain whether the hearing could lead to Congressional action, the U.S. Department of Transportation announced a set of proposed rules to strengthen passenger rights. To read about the Congressional hearings and the U.S. Department of Transportation proposed rules, Click here for more.
Your Money
Do you run a small business? Use this calculator to find your return on assets! Click here for more.
For the Lawyers
Damages reduced by medical provider discounts. The Minnesota Supreme Court held that a personal injury plaintiff's award for medical expenses should have been reduced by the insurance discounts negotiated by his medical care providers. Click here for more.