| Volume 60 Number 7 |
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The People’s Lawyer’s Tip of the Day
Next time you send a mass email, try the "BCC" line. By using the "BCC" line rather than the "TO" or "CC" line, you're protecting the recipients from future SPAM and other unwanted emails. Click here for more.
Oil Prices Fall As Japan Worsens
Oil prices took a turn downward on Tuesday following the devastating events in Japan. Japan is the third-largest oil importer in the world, leading investors to back off for fear of diminished demand. Oil prices dropped 2.7% in afternoon trading, dipping below $97 a barrel. Since gasoline is an oil-derived liquid mixture, prices at the pump will likely drop as well. Click here for more.
Leasers Beware: Rent to Increase
Is your lease coming up for renewal? You may want to re-sign quickly. The demand for rental housing has increased dramatically, leading market experts to predict double-digit (percentage) increases in rent across the country. Will your rent increase? Which cities will see the biggest increases? Click here for more.
The Debit Card Fee Battle
A $16 billion fight between banks and Washington is about to heat up. The battle is over debt card "interchange" fees, which currently average $0.44 per transaction. Credit card companies impose the fee on businesses to cover the cost of processing debit and credit card transactions. For small businesses, the fees can be devastating, making it very difficult to turn a profit. Banks are currently trying to sway minds in Washington, insisting the proposed $0.12 cap on "interchange" fees would make card transactions less convenient and more pricey for consumers. How will the cap help small businesses? Click here for more.
Your Money
Which is better: front or back load? Click here for more.
For the Lawyers
Phone bills debts subject to Texas four-year statute of limitations. The Fifth Circuit held that state law governs the collection of debts arising out of a phone bill. The parties disputed whether actions to collect debts based on mobile phone bills are governed by a two-year statute of limitations under the Federal Communication Act (FCA) or a four-year statute of limitations under Texas law. The court conclude that § 415(a) of the FCA does not apply to the plaintiffs' debts, because Congress has not made clear that it intended for § 415(a) to preempt state statutes of limitations with respect to actions to collect debts like those at issue. Click here for more.