| Volume 77 Number 7 |
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The People’s Lawyer’s Tip of the Day
Did you pay a company called TaxMasters to help you settle your problems with the IRS?
Unfortunately for you and thousands of others, TaxMasters, a company that was successfully sued by the Attorney General’s office for misleading and deceptive acts and practices, has filed a Chapter 7 bankruptcy. This means they are now out of business and the company’s assets will be liquidated. If money is available, creditors, including clients, will be paid or reimbursed some of what they are owed.
Over the next few weeks, all former TaxMasters clients should receive a letter from the Chapter 7 Trustee detailing all relevant information about the case and their rights. All former TaxMasters clients are urged to be on the lookout for the Trustee’s letter, and to read it carefully. TaxMasters clients must now work directly with the IRS or find someone else to assist them. To help former clients understand what is going on, what resources are available to assist them, and what steps to take next, the Center for Consumer Law at the University of Houston Law Center has set up a special “TaxMasters hotline.” Contact the Center by calling (877) 839-8422. Click here for more.
Judge Rejects Facebook Settlement
A few weeks ago, it seemed as though Facebook had secured a deal to settle allegations that it violated members' rights by using user likeness in "Sponsored Stories." Not so fast! On Friday, a US District Judge in California rejected the proposed settlement, citing multiple concerns and questioning why the agreement did not award any money to members. As part of the proposed settlement, Facebook agreed to pay $10 million in legal fees and $10 million to charity. Facebook maintains that the settlement proposal is "fair, reasonable, and adequate." Click here for more.
Cantaloupe Outbreak Hits 20 States
Officials in Kentucky and Indiana are investigating farms, distributors, and retailers after a Cantaloupe-linked salmonella outbreak has left two dead, thirty-one people hospitalized, and at least 141 others sick across twenty states. The CDC has warned consumers to avoid cantaloupes grown in Indiana. Cantaloupes usually have stickers indicating where they were grown. If there is no sticker present, consumer should inquire about the source before purchasing and eating the fruit. Click here for more.
Back to School: Protecting Your Child's Personal Information
It's "Back to School" season! Every year when you send your children back to school, you're likely required to fill out multiple forms, including registration, health, and emergency contact forms. Many of the forms ask for sensitive personal information that, if leaked, could be used to commit fraud in the child's name. To limit the risk associated with child identity theft, the Federal Trade Commission has released a guide to protecting your child’s personal information. Before you send your child back to school, be informed! Click here for more.
Your Money
Should you pay or charge monthly, quarterly or annually? Click here for more.
For the Lawyers
TILA plaintiffs do not need to plead ability to repay. The Tenth Circuit held that home borrowers were not required to plead that they had the ability to repay their loan in order to invoke their rescission rights under the federal Truth in Lending Act. Click here for more.