| Volume 104 Number 3 |
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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, check out my website.
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Falling Gas Prices Boost Economic Growth
In late June, the average price regular unleaded was $3.70 a gallon. Now, for the first time since 2010, the average price of a gallon of gas has fallen below $3 a gallon.
Small, temporary drops in gas prices doesn't usually translate to a dramatic increase in consumer spending. However, the recent drop in gas prices has happened so quickly that economists are anticipating a big jump in holiday sales and economic growth. In fact, average daily consumer purchases rose by $2 in October. Going forward, market analysts expect consumers to spend 2/3 of their gas savings resulting in a potential $40 billion uptick for the economy.
What will you do with the money you save at the pump?
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Amazon Offers Prime Benefits to Other Sites
If you subscribe to Amazon Prime, you may soon be able to enjoy Prime benefits on other websites. Under new agreements with online retailers, Prime members will be able to enjoy free two-day shipping when they purchase items on select websites.
Prime has been big business for Amazon. The company has found Prime members are far more likely to purchase an item once it's in their online shopping cart, and return for more frequently than non-members.
Consumers can enjoy Amazon Prime for $99 a year. However, there are ways to save or try the service for free. For example, students can get Amazon Prime for free for six months, then continue the membership at half the price.
Which retailers will offer free shipping to Amazon Prime members?
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Clearer Picture of Home Depot Hack
In addition to the 56 million credit and debit card numbers stolen in a recent Home Depot breach, the company now knows that 53 million email addresses were also obtained in the hack. As a result, consumers impacted by the breach should not only watch for potential credit theft, but also beware of phishing attempts.
Hackers gained access to consumer payment methods and emails by using stolen vendor credentials and a security flaw in the Windows operating system to install maleware on Home Depot systems. Hackers avoided detection by doing work after business hours.
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Your Money
What is your potential estate tax liability?
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For the Lawyers
Magnuson-Moss Warranty Act does not apply to a manufactured home.
The Sixth Circuit held that a manufactured home was not consumer product as defined by Magnuson-Moss. The court recognized that although a manufactured home might be a “consumer product,” the size, construction, and permanence of this home at issue illustrate that it is not a “consumer product.”
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