| Volume 77 Number 11 |
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The People’s Lawyer’s Tip of the Day
In Texas, you may marry at the age of 18, or 16 with parental consent. Click here for more.
New Fuel Rules Set to Double Economy
On Tuesday, new fuel economy rules were introduced that will likely have a dramatic impact on the automobile industry. According to the new rules, car makers will be required to almost double today's standard for fuel economy by 2024. When the standard takes effect, cars and light trucks will be expected to run at 54.5 miles per gallon. The new rules are expected to add thousands of dollars to the cost of new vehicles. Regulators, however, point out that drivers will be spending much less on gas. Will the greater fuel economy be worth the increase in cost? Click here for more.
New York AG After Energy Drink Industry
Energy drinks like 5-Hour Energy, Monster Beverage, and AMP Energy have drawn the attention of New York officials. Last month, New York Attorney General Eric T. Schneiderman sent subpoenas to the makers of many popular energy drinks to gather information on the companies’ marketing and advertising practices. According to those familiar with the investigation, the New York Attorney General is concerned with companies marketing their products as a safe way to increase energy and alertness, although the products could be harmful if consumed excessively. Should energy drinks be pulled from the market? Or, are New York officials simply overreacting? Click here for more.
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How much self-employment tax will you pay? Click here for more.
For the Lawyers
Collection letter did not violate fair debt Collection Practices Act. The Fifth Circuit held that a debt collection letter’s threat did not violate federal law by including language that purportedly contradicted and overshadowed statutorily required notices. “The supposed threat falls in the category of ‘letters [that] encourage debtors to pay their debts by informing them of the possible negative consequences of failing to pay,’ words that do not overshadow the required notice language. This is because ‘one way to encourage someone with a true dispute to come forward and resolve that dispute is to inform him of the possible negative consequences of his continued inaction.’…“The letter in this case essentially provided such warnings and nothing more. Thus, the notice language in [the defendant’s] letter is not overshadowed by the letter’s bad-credit warnings.” Click here for more.