| Volume 94 Number 5 |
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The People’s Lawyer’s Tip of the Day
Buying a house through what is called a "contract for deed" does not offer you as much legal protection as when you use a more traditional mortgage. However, the law gives you the right to convert a contract for deed into a mortgage at any time by requesting the seller convey the property into your name and take back a mortgage.
For more general information about the law, check out my website.
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More to Know About Target Breach
Were you one of the 70 million consumers who received an email from Target last week?
Be careful!
Scammers were quick to identify a potential opportunity to seize on Target's failures. Almost immediately, crooks took to the Internet with nearly identical versions of the official Target email, but with the intention of stealing consumer information.
This is just the latest in a string of problems that started when hackers breached a Target database, exposing sensitive personal information for millions.
Never click on links in an email you don't absolutely trust. If you need to access a website, type the URL in yourself.
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Hospital Attire Tied to Germ Exposure
According to a recent study
of hospitals and staff published in the journal for Infection Control and Hospital Epidemiology, doctor and nurse attire may be the source of germs. The article reports that ties, lab coats, jewelry, and other clothing could carry infectious germs from patient to patient. In fact, a survey found that 70% of doctors never wash their ties.
The article offers a number of recommendations, including the usage of short sleeve shirts and the removal of jewelry from the hospital environment.
Just how bad is the problem? A separate study found that 30% of doctors ties are contaminated with staph.
Following the release of the article, will hospitals change attire policies?
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IRS Customer Service Difficulties
Do you have a question for the IRS? You may have some difficulty getting an answer. Last year, the IRS could only answer 61% of the calls it received. This year it could be even worse. With budget cuts reducing available resources, taxpayers will need to be patient when they're trying to reach the IRS.
Just ten years ago, the IRS answered 9 out of every 10 calls. This year, the response rate stands the drop below last year's already dismal numbers.
If you think you may have a question about your taxes, start early. As the April 14 deadline approaches, it'll only become more difficult to reach somebody who can answer your questions.
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Your Money
Should your next car be new or used? Compare the cost and find out what's right for you!
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For the Lawyers
Suit filed after statute of limitations has run violates FDCPA.
The Seventh Circuit held that a lawsuit filed after the limitations period violated the Fair Debt Collection Practices Act. The court also found the named plaintiff to be an adequate representative, despite allegations her claim was not typical and she would not have the incentive to represent all class members.
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