| Volume 116 Number 8 |
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The People’s Lawyer’s Tip of the Day
After a big storm or a natural disaster, lots of "guy with a pickup" contractors show up. Some are reliable, but others will just take your money and run. This link has good advice on how to avoid contractor scams. Click here for more.
Amazon Sues Fake Reviewers
Amazon has filed suit against over 1000 people it claims post and sell fake reviews on the Amazon website for money. One expert has estimated that 15-20 percent of the reviews on popular websites such as Amazon, Yelp, TripAdvisor, and the App store are fake. Click here for more.
Your Money
Some people can't wait to buy the latest phone as soon as it come out. That's fine if you can afford it, but because new phones come out so frequently now, the best bargains are to be had in the still very powerful older models. This article has tips on how to save money on your next phone purchase. Click here for more.
For the Lawyers
Employer's review of Federal Labor Standards Act (FLSA) requirements on "E-law" website supported finding of a "willful" violation for failing to pay employee overtime. A Dallas area plumbing company had a practice of not paying employees for time worked opening and shutting down the shop before and after taking customer calls. The employer attempted to argue that his error was not "willful" because he thought the policy was legal after looking at an "E-law" website. The 5th Circuit Court of Appeals held that the evidence that the employer did not consult the Department of Labor or an attorney evidenced a "reckless disregard" for whether or not the conduct was prohibited by statute, and was therefore a "willful" violation of the FLSA. Click here for more.