| Volume 87 Number 8 |
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The People’s Lawyer’s Tip of the Day
If you're a senior citizen, you're a target for scammers. The latest is the “grandmother scam,” where the thief calls pretending to be a grandchild in trouble. If you get such a call, ask a question only your relative could answer, and then call back on the relative’s phone number.
My advice? Don’t ever give your credit card number or send money to a caller!
For more general information about the law, check out my website.
Click here for more.
A Look At NSA Surveillance Programs
The United States government is under attack from citizens upset over the revelations surrounding its surveillance techniques. Recently, whistleblower Edward Snowden released information detailing the government's collection of metadata (US citizens' phone and Internet records).
Do you still maintain your privacy?
Roger Pilon and Richard A. Epstein have defended the program, noting its strong legal footing.
On the other side of the debate,
Julian Sanchez rebuffed the Op-Ed piece-by-piece, lamenting the program's obstruction of personal privacy.
Of note, Sanchez points out that although the names are not linked to the numbers (unless a court grants a warrant), the government has other means to identify the name associated with the number. In many instances, a simple Google search will suffice.
So, although the information collected may not specifically identify a person, there are many other (easy) ways to to associate identity.
Which side of the debate do you fall on?
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Florida Makes Pot Paraphernalia Illegal
Over the weekend, Florida Governor Rick Scott signed into law a ban on certain types of pipes commonly used to smoke marijuana.
Starting July 1, anyone caught in possession of a pipe two times (even if never used), will be a third degree felon. In Florida, such a person loses the right to vote for life (although they can petition to restore those rights after seven years).
What should you know about the new Florida law?
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Pesticides Found in Celestial Seasonings Tea
According to a study conducted by Glaucus Research, Celestial Seasonings tea contained potentially dangerous levels of multiple pesticides. Ten out of eleven varieties contained excess pesticides, including the popular Sleepytime tea.
Celestial Seasonings responded: "We are confident that all Celestial Seasonings Teas deliver on the high quality, safety and taste that consumers have expected from the brand for over 40 years. Celestial Seasonings employs a rigorous testing protocol to ensure all products adhere to strict industry standards. Celestial follows regulations set by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) and Environmental Protection Agency (EPA)."
According to RankaBrand.org, Celestial Seasonings tea scores a D rating.
Which brand of tea can you trust?
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Your Money
Should you consolidate your debt into a new loan?
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For the Lawyers
Truth in Lending Act plaintiff does not have to sue to protect rescission right. The Third Circuit held that home borrowers were not required to formally file suit before the Truth in Lending Act’s three-year limitation period expired in order to preserve their right of rescission. Under TILA, consumers have an absolute right to rescind for three business days after closing on a home loan. The right to rescind is extended to three years if the lender fails to make requisite disclosures at the time the loan is made. Within three years of closing, the plaintiffs wrote a letter informing their lenders that they intended to rescind the loan based on their failure to receive the required TILA disclosures. When the lenders objected, the plaintiffs sued for rescission in federal court. The lenders argued that the plaintiffs had failed to preserve their rescission rights because their lawsuit was actually filed more than three years after closing. But the court concluded that the plaintiffs preserved their rescission rights when they sent the lenders the letter.
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