| Volume 70 Number 7 |
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The People’s Lawyer’s Tip of the Day
What happens to your debts after a divorce? How long can you be sued for a student loan debt? Is it legal for a landlord to discriminate against convicted criminals? For the answer to these questions, Click here for more.
CFPB Director to Target Payday Loans
The new head of the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau is hitting the ground running. In his first hearing as head of the agency, Richard Cordray set his crosshairs on the payday loan industry. Seventeen states already have laws banning payday loans. In the states without such laws, lenders charge 400% or more for interest on payday loans. Consumer groups have long characterized the business practices in the payday loan industry as unfair, deceptive and abusive. What can the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau do to help? Click here for more.
Online Protests Stall SOPA
The Internet is an extremely powerful tool. While Congress was planning a hearing on the Stop Online Piracy Act and the Protect IP Act, Google, Wikipedia, Reddit, and other popular sites were planning a day of protest. It didn't take long for Washington leaders to take notice. With the popular websites "dark" for 24 hours, the public took notice and made their feelings known, with many taking complaints directly to their representatives. Now the legislation will be tabled until "there is wider agreement on a solution." Legislators were looking for a way to prevent the widespread distribution of copyrighted material over the Internet. According to critics, the legislation would effectively censor the Internet. How did it all go down? Click here for more.
Your Money
Should you save now or save later? Click here for more.
For the Lawyers
The TCPA claims may be brought in U.S. district court. The United States Supreme Court held that claims under the Telephone Consumer Protection Act arise under federal law, and may be brought in federal court. The Court dismissed the assertion that Congress vested exclusive adjudicatory authority over private TCPA actions in state court. Click here for more.