| Volume 62 Number 11 |
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The People’s Lawyer’s Tip of the Day
Have you been unable to attend previous installments of the People's Law School? Take some time to catch up on what you missed. Not knowing your legal rights will cost you money. In this video, I cover the basics of consumer law. Click here for more.
Texas AG Sues Over Fake Antibiotic
Texas Attorney General Greg Abbott is suing companies from Texas and Georgia, accusing them of misleading Spanish speaker consumers by selling a dietary drug under a name similar to the Spanish brand name of an antibiotic. In addition to the similarity in name, the drug is also packaged in the same manner as amoxicillin. The Attorney General obtained a restraining order against Houston-based San Martin Distributing Inc. and Georgia-based Multimex Distributions Inc. that prohibits the companies from selling the supplement or claiming that it is the same or similar to amoxicillin. Click here for more.
Another Sony Database is Hacked
Sony networks have been hacked again. This time, cyber criminals were able to access Sony databases in Greece and Japan. Although the PSN network is back up and running, there have already been reports of new hacks into Sony's critical network. Although the hack isn't as bad this time, and affects the Sony music platform rather than PSN, enough information was taken from consumers that new phishing scams are likely inevitable. Should you be concerned? Click here for more.
New Fees: Jobless Get Prepaid Debit Cards
Are you out of work? If so, your unemployment benefits might get a little lighter every month. Why? Not because of particular government cutbacks, but because of debit card fees. In order to save the cost of check processing, many states are loading unemployment checks directly on to prepaid debit cards, often packed with junk fees that would normally be free for consumers with regular bank accounts. To take a look at state by state fees, Click here for more.
Your Money
Should you buy a tax-exempt or taxable bond? Click here for more.
For the Lawyers
Landlord’s agent is not debt collector under Fair debt Collection Practices Act. The Seventh Circuit held that an apartment manager is not liable under the FDCPA in connection with an attempted eviction. The court stated, “It follows that AMC ‘obtained’ an interest in Carter’s debt to Jackson Square Properties when AMC became Jackson Square’s agent— which occurred before Carter got behind in her rent (if, indeed, that ever occurred, a question that the state’s court of appeals did not reach). Section 1692a(6)(F)(iii) thus tells us that AMC is not a debt collector and does not owe Carter any duties under the FDCPA.” Click here for more.