| Volume 83 Number 7 |
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The People’s Lawyer’s Tip of the Day
You can sue in Texas Small Claims Court for up to $10,000 and you do not need an attorney to assist you. Next time you get ripped-off, consider the real people's court. Small Claims Court is quick, informal and easy to use. In many case, once the other person knows you know your legal rights and will assert them, they quickly try to settle the dispute. Click here for more.
Republicans Promise Sequester to Happen
According to Republican Senator John Barrasso, the sequester is going to happen. As part of the fiscal-cliff deal at the beginning of the year, lawmakers agreed to postpone across-the-board spending cuts until March 1. The cuts, aimed at reducing the deficit by $1.2 trillion over the next decade, could cripple government operations. As part of the sequester, the defense budget will be cut by 13%. Millions of federal employees could face furloughs. In sum, the immediate impact could be devastating.
On Thursday, Democrats proposed a $110 billion plan to delay the cuts. Republican leaders stood in defiance against the plan, refusing to close tax loopholes for the wealthiest Americans.
Can congressional leaders reach a deal? What could the sequester mean for you?
Click here for more.
CFPB Solicits Student Input on Banks
The Consumer Financial Protection Bureau wants to hear from students. Although credit card companies are required to disclose agreements with schools, there is much less known about the relationship between schools and other financial products.
Were you required to put your student loan money on a debit card? Did you sign up for a checking account through your college? Were you charged a fee to use a card? Which cards and/or accounts did you choose? Why?
Tell the CFPB about your experience!
Click here for more.
Legal: Carnival Cruise Stranded at Sea
On Friday, passengers aboard the Carnival Cruise ship "Triumph" finally reached solid land after several days stranded at sea. After a fire broke out on board the massive ship, it lost power, badly crippling its functionality. Raw sewage filled the vessel, food ran scarce, and temperates soared. By all accounts, it was a miserable experience for the more than 3,000 vacationers on board.
What kind of hit will Carnival take after the consistent media coverage and certain litigation? What can the victims expect to recover?
Click here for more.
Your Money
Estimate your FICO score! Click here for more.
For the Lawyers
Home seller does not have to disclose property was scene of a grisly murder/suicide. A Pennsylvania appellate court held that neither the seller or the real estate agent had a duty to disclose psychological defects because they are not “material." Click here for more.