| Volume 82 Number 8 |
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The People’s Lawyer’s Tip of the Day
The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration makes safety recall information on vehicles, tires, and child safety restraints available electronically. Sign up for an email that will provide all recalls issued by NHTSA in the last seven days! Click here for more.
HSBC Settlement & The War On Drugs
Last month, prosecutors for the federal government announced a $1.9 billion settlement with HSBC bank to resolve "charges that it gave terrorists and drug cartels access to the country’s financial system." HSBC officials avoided criminal indictment.
At least one commentator has taken issue with the settlement, noting that $1.9 billion represents approximately five weeks of income for the bank.
To read about the settlement,
Click here for more.
Delta Drastically Alters Rewards Program
Do you have a preferred airline? Many consumers will join rewards programs in order to take advantage of the perks associated with frequent business. For travelers, frequent flyer programs like United's MileagePlus, American Airlines' AAdvantage, and Delta's SkyMiles help foster loyalty by rewarding passengers based on the number of miles they travel.
This week, Delta announced a dramatic shift in the way it will run its loyalty program. Starting in 2014, Delta frequent flyers will have to meet a minimum spend threshold (in addition to miles) in order to quality for status. For example, in order to qualify for status at 25,000 miles, the passenger must spend $2,500. At first glance, that may not seem like a lot. However, that $2,500 won't include any taxes or fees. On one search, a round trip ticket from New York to London ran $826. After four trips, the passenger would have over 25,000 miles. The taxes and fees for that trip work out to $642. As a result, only $184 of each trip would count toward the $2,500 mark, leaving the frequent flyer well below the required dollar threshold even after completing over 25,000 miles.
Will other airlines copy Delta's new model for status?
Click here for more.
Get Cash For Unused Groupons
Do you have unused Groupons? If you aren't going to use them, you may be able to get some money back by selling them! Find out how!
Click here for more.
Your Money
Will refinancing help you with your mortgage? Click here for more.
For the Lawyers
Circuit court owes “no deference” to NLRB ruling on class arbitration. One year ago, the NLRB ruled in D.R. Horton, Inc. that it is a violation of federal labor law for employers to require their employees to sign arbitration agreements waiving class actions, and that any arbitration agreements waiving class arbitration would be void. This week, the Eighth Circuit became the first federal circuit court to refuse to enforce the NLRB’s ruling. Click here for more.