| Volume 71 Number 5 |
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The People’s Lawyer’s Tip of the Day
In today’s economy, more and more people are having trouble keeping up with their bills. This video provides help managing your finances, and explains how knowing the law gives you the flexibility you need to deal with creditors and debt collectors. Click here for more.
Theft at 30,000 Feet May Go Unpunished
Have you ever wondered what would happen if a theft occurred on an airplane? If you're flying over multiple states, which state could prosecute? The situation recently arose when one passenger stole $500 from another passenger while en route from Arizona to Florida. Although the alleged thief was arrested in Florida, it now appears she may get off scot-free for a lack of jurisdiction. Because the alleged theft occurred in air, the defendant's attorney argued that all of the acts relating to the charge occurred outside the state. If Florida can't prosecute the alleged thief, who can? Click here for more.
Mortgage Settlement Finally Reached
In a followup to a story from earlier this week, federal and state officials have announced a $25 billion mortgage relief settlement with five of the nation's largest banks. The deal was made possible after California and New York joined in the settlement after a long holdout. The deal has been long been criticized for not doing enough to help consumers already affected by the fraudulent activities (like robo-signing) that led to the lawsuit. Find out how the $25 billion deal breaks down. Click here for more.
Your Money
Taxable vs. tax-advantaged saving comparison. Click here for more.
For the Lawyers
Class improperly certified. The Ninth Circuit held that a nationwide class should not have been certified in a lawsuit alleging that Honda misrepresented the characteristics of a high-tech braking system. The courtconcluded that class certification was improper in this instance because the district court erroneously concluded that California law could be applied to the entire nationwide class. The court also found that class certification was inappropriate because it could not be presumed that all consumers who purchased or leased the Acura RL relied on the Honda advertisements at issue. Click here for more.