| Volume 121 Number 10 |
Subscribe to the Newsletter
Forward this news alert to your family and friends
Helpful Links
Texas Consumer Complaint Center
Credit Reports and Identity Theft
Your Guide to Small Claims Court
Contact Us
1-713-743-2168
The People’s Lawyer’s Tip of the Day
Every state is different, but in Texas, a landlord cannot lock you out of your apartment even if you don’t pay rent. The landlord may change the locks on the door but he must provide a key to allow you to come and go 24 hours a day. Click here for more.
What is the Oculus Rift?
The Oculus Rift is on the market starting today. Your child might have asked you to buy him/her one, but what is it? The Oculus Rift is a virtual reality headset that is developed to allow people to experience anything anywhere.
Click here for more.
Your Money
As you turn on the A.C. this spring, saving money on utilities might come to mind. If you're getting offers from companies to switch to a different local utility company, consider these questions first. Click here for more.
For the Lawyers
The Eighth Circuit held that spousal guarantors do not have standing to assert violations of the Equal Credit Opportunity Act ("ECOA"). Two members of PHC, LLC, a Missouri limited liability company, obtained loans from Community and executed personal guaranties in favor of Community to secure the loans. PHC failed to make payments due under the loan agreements, and Community demanded payment both from PHC and the wives of the two members as guarantors. The wives alleged that Community had required them to execute the guaranties securing PHC's loans solely because they are married to their respective husbands. They claimed that this requirement constituted discrimination against them on the basis of their marital status, in violation of the ECOA. The case went to the Supreme Court, and the Court affirmed the Eighth Circuit's decision in a 4-4 tie. The single sentence per curiam opinion of the Court rejects expansion of the definition of creditor to include guarantors. Hawkins v. Bank of Raymore Click here for more.