| Volume 73 Number 8 |
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The People’s Lawyer’s Tip of the Day
Don't let anyone steal your identity when they go "phishing". Phishing is when an identity thief sends you a fake notice that looks like it's from a bank, creditor, credit card company or PayPal, telling you there is a problem with your account and to reply. Never reply to any email asking for personal information. If you think it is a real request, call the creditor to confirm it. Click here for more.
Student Loan Forgiveness Act of 2012
Representative Hansen Clarke of Michigan thinks student loan borrowers are getting a raw deal. Why? Student loan debts are treated differently from every other type of debt. There's virtually no way out, even when bankruptcy can eliminate most other types of debts. As a result, Representative Hansen has sponsored H.R.4170 -
Student Loan Forgiveness Act of 2012 with a goal to "increase purchasing power, strengthen economic recovery, and restore fairness in financing higher education in the United States through student loan forgiveness, caps on interest rates on Federal student loans, and refinancing opportunities for private borrowers, and for other purposes." Representative Fox
isn't as forgiving. She worked her way through school and believes there is simply no excuse for large amounts of student loan debt. Regardless, the reality is that numerous Americans are being crushed under the weight of their educational debts. What can the Student Loan Forgiveness Act do to help? Click here for more.
Southwest & United Fight Over Houston
When Continental and United Airlines completed the merger to form the world's largest airline, United chose Chicago as company headquarters over Houston (Continental's former base of operations). When United went with Chicago, the company lost a lot of political capital and sway with the Houston airport authority. Now that Southwest Airlines is hoping to expand operations in Houston, United may be regretting that decision. Southwest Airlines wants to open its first international hub at Houston's Hobby Airport. United (Continental) has dominated international air traffic out of Houston for years and company officials aren't happy about the prospect of Southwest Airlines competing for international business. Southwest Airlines has already asked the airport authority for a $100 million upgrade to Hobby's facilities to accommodate international traffic. United is fighting the proposal, threatening to eliminate more Houston jobs if the proposal passes. Who will win the battle over Houston? Click here for more.
10 Questions to Ask in an Interview
"Do you have any questions?" If you've ever been to a job interview, you know that this is how many employers wrap things up. This is your opportunity to make an impression and stand out from the crowd. It is your chance to let an employer know that you're not only concerned about compensation, but you want to be a successful member of the company. To read ten important questions to ask in your next interview, Click here for more.
Your Money
What will it take to reach your investment goal? Click here for more.
For the Lawyers
Reverse mortgage payments are subject to garnishment. The New Jersey Appellate Division held that a judgment creditor could garnish a defendant's reverse-mortgage payments in order to satisfy a personal injury award. The court noted, “the mortgagee's obligation to make monthly payments to defendant, the judgment debtor, is properly construed to be a "debt" against which plaintiffs, the judgment creditors, may obtain an order directing execution and garnishment…” Click here for more.