| Volume 83 Number 9 |
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The People’s Lawyer’s Tip of the Day
As a general rule an employer may not require an employee to take a lie detector test. The employee may be required to submit to a test, however, if the employer is investigating a theft and has a reasonable suspicion that the employee may have been involved.
For more general information about the law, visit my website. Click here for more.
Smoking, Health, and Health Care
Under the Affordable Care Act, health insurance companies can charge smokers 50% more than patients who don't smoke. Surprisingly, the law has made strange bedfellows of anti-cancer advocates and tobacco companies. For example, the American Cancer Association is concerned that the rule will make health insurance unaffordable for smokers. Cigarette manufactures say the law discriminates against smokers. Both tobacco companies and anti-cancer advocates intend to fight the law.
The government obviously wants to encourage people to quit smoking. Most smokers started smoking at a young age. By the time they become adults, many feel that quitting would be pointless. In their minds, the damage has already been done.
Not so fast!
According to a study out of the University of Toronto, people who quit smoking by 44 live nearly as long as those who never smoked.
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Sony Announces PlayStation 4
The next generation PlayStation is finally on the way. After the longest gap between new models in the history of the video game industry, the PS4 is on the way. Expected by the 2013 holiday season, the PS4 offers some minor upgrades over the PS3. Are the changes significant enough to generate renewed interest in video game consoles?
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Why the CFPB Still Has No Chief
Richard Cordray has been running the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau since January 2012. Back then, President Barack Obama issued a rare recess appointment to install Cordray as the agency's leader through 2013. Although unusual, the recess appointment was necessary to get the organization up and running.
Already, Senate republicans are making it known that they intend to oppose any potential candidate, regardless of party affiliation, for the next CFPB appointment. Democrats are upset at what they believe to be an attempt to muzzle the consumer watchdog agency and put the power back in the hands of big business.
Why is the CFPB still without bipartisan support?
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Your Money
Will you save by refinancing your mortgage? Click here for more.
For the Lawyers
School student must arbitrate tort claims. A California Court of Appeals held that a prep school student must arbitrate her personal injury claims against the school and one of its teachers. The plaintiff attended a private college preparatory school and withdrew after an incident with a teacher. After withdrawing from the school, the plaintiff sued the school for defamation, negligent infliction of emotional distress, and negligent hiring and supervision. She also sued the teacher for battery, defamation and negligent infliction of emotional distress. The court agreed that the plaintiff’s tort claims were subject to arbitration in accordance with the enrollment contract her parents signed. Click here for more.