| Volume 115 Number 4 |
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The People’s Lawyer’s Tip of the Day
Considering a home remodeling project? Did you know that some contractors may be able to place a lien on your home if there is a dispute as to the payment or work? To avoid problems, do your homework and find a reputable contractor. This link has advice on how to pick the right contractor. Click here for more.
Dodge Recalls 1.35 Million Ram Trucks
Fiat Chrysler has announced the recall of 1.35 Million Dodge Ram Pickups manufactured between 2012 and 2014 for air bag problems and concerns about the steering system. Dodge is also recalling some Ram Quad Cab Pickups manufactured between 2014 and 2015 for side curtain airbag problems, and some Ram 2500 and 3500 Chassis Cabs manufactured between 2013 and 2014 for steering weld issues. Owners of Dodge pickups should contact their dealers to see if their truck is affected by the recalls. Click here for more.
Your Money
Planning on traveling over the holidays? If so, the best time to book might be right now. As Thanksgiving and other holidays approach rates and fares will be increasing. This link has tips on the best time to book holiday travel. Click here for more.
For the Lawyers
Contract attorneys hired by a law firm to review documents were not "practicing law" for purposes of Fair Labor Standards Act (“FLSA”). A contract attorney doing document review for Skadden, Arps brought a FLSA class claim against the firm and a legal staffing agency alleging that he and other similarly situated workers should have received overtime wages for time spent reviewing documents over forty hours a week. The district court sustained defense arguments that an FLSA exemption applied because the class was engaged in the “practice of law.” The Second Circuit rejected that reasoning, and remanded the matter, holding that North Carolina law requires that “at least a modicum of independent legal judgment" be used to qualify as the practice of law, something excluded by the plaintiff’s scope of work as alleged in the complaint. Lola v. Skadden, Arps, Slate, Meagher, & Flom LLP (2d Cir. 2015). Click here for more.