| Volume 66 Number 1 |
Subscribe to the Newsletter
Forward this news alert to your family and friends
Helpful Links
Texas Consumer Complaint Center
Credit Reports and Identity Theft
Your Guide to Small Claims Court
Contact Us
1-713-743-2168
The People’s Lawyer’s Tip of the Day
Next time you send a mass email to friends, family, or colleagues, make sure you use the BCC line for the email addresses. Be courteous - help your friends avoid SPAM and unwanted mailing lists. Click here for more.
Hurricane Irene: Avoid Flood Damaged Cars
The impact of Hurricane Irene can be clearly seen along the east coast. Despite all the damage that can be seen with the naked eye, the damage that can't be easily seen may end up costing you the most. In the wake of Hurricane Irene, thousands of cars will hit the used-car market, leading to the possibility that dealers and individuals will selling flood damaged cars. Even if the Car Fax is clean, the vehicle may still be damaged. Before you buy a used car, always have it inspected by an independent technician and get representations in writing. Click here for more.
Netflix & Starz Engaged in Content Dispute
Your Netflix queue might be getting a lot smaller. Most of the top material from your "instant queue" comes from a company called Starz, which carries and distributes Sony and Disney content. The current deal between Netflix and Starz expires on February 28, 2012. Despite attempts to reach a new agreement, Starz walked out on negotiations leaving Netflix consumers worried about the implications. Although the parties can still reach a deal before the deadline, things aren't looking good. What will your Netflix streaming library look like if the parties fail to reach a deal? Click here for more.
Your Money
If your retirement on track? Try this AARP retirement calculator! Click here for more.
For the Lawyers
Car manufacturer liable for passenger’s death. The Fifth Circuit held that the manufacturer of a sports utility vehicle could be liable for the death of passenger who was ejected from her reclined seat in a rollover crash. The claim was based on a design defect in the front seat. The court noted, “To succeed on their design defect claim, the [plaintiffs] must have shown that a safer alternative – limiting the seat recline to a 45 degree angle – would have prevented or significantly reduced the risk of [their daughter’s] injuries. …” “The [plaintiffs’] expert … testified that seats reclined more than a 45 degree angle lead to a significantly increased risk of ejection. He further testified that ejection increases the risk of serious injury or death by six to thirteen times. The Texas statute only requires proof of a safer alternative design that ‘in reasonable probability’ would have reduced the claimant’s injuries, which [the expert’s] testimony adequately provided.” Click here for more.