| Volume 108 Number 1 |
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The People’s Lawyer’s Tip of the Day
Before you sign a lease, read it and consider changes or additions. A lease is a binding contract and will determine your rights against the landlord. For example, if you might have to leave early because you lose your job, are transferred or get married, be sure to include a clause permitting you to terminate the lease. Without such a provision, you will not have the right to get out of the lease.
For more general information about the law, check out my website.
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Cut Your Verizon Bill By $10
Do you use Verizon Wireless for your cell phone service?
If so, you could be saving $10 or getting an extra gigabyte of data every month!
At the beginning of February, Verizon Wireless quietly allowed existing customers to save on their monthly bills or get more for their money. However, to take advantage of the program, existing customers must pick up the phone to call Verizon Wireless. According to a Verizon Wireless representative, "We won’t automatically migrate customers to promos because they may decide to do something different."
That is, instead of reducing customers' monthly bills, Verizon Wireless will require some action because some consumers will opt for more data.
Are you with Verizon Wireless? Start saving today!
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Hyundai Recalls 263,000 Elantras
Hyundai is recalling more than a quarter million vehicles across the United States and Canada because affected vehicles' power steering can stop working.
The Hyundai recalls includes 2008 to 2010 Elantra sedans and 2009 to 2010 Elantra Touring vehicles. According to the recall, the electronic power steering sensor may malfunction, leaving drivers to steer the vehicle manually.
Hyundai owners can have affected vehicles fixed for free.
Is your car included in the recall? Call Hyundai's customer service at 1-855-671-3059.
Click here for more.
Save on Taxes By Maximizing Deductions
Tax Day is only about a month and a half away. If you haven't submitted your taxes, it's about time to get started.
This year, make sure you take advantage of every possible deduction. Every year, taxpayers miss out on extra money by skipping out on deductions they don't know about or don't understand.
While you probably know you can deduct charitable contributions, did you know you can deduct airline baggage fees, or even costs associated with finding a new job (even when you already have one)?
If you plan to itemize deductions, double check to make sure you're getting everything you're entitled to.
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Your Money
Are you self employed? How much can you contribute to your retirement plan?
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For the Lawyers
Spouse is not necessarily bound by an arbitration agreement signed by her spouse.
After a defective electric golf cart allegedly caused a fire in the spouse’s home, she sued the seller of the cart. The seller moved to compel arbitration, based on a clause in the purchase agreement that only her husband executed. The seller first argued that she was equitably estopped from avoiding arbitration. The Fifth Circuit disagreed, because her claims were not based on the purchase agreement nor “intertwined” with the purchase agreement (she claimed negligence). The seller also argued that she was a third party beneficiary of the purchase agreement. The court found “the spousal relationship alone does not make [the spouse] a third party beneficiary to the contract.”
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