| Volume 128 Number 1 |
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The People’s Lawyer’s Tip of the Day
If you or someone you know is enrolling in college next year, be aware that the FAFSA form is already available. FAFSA is the form that college students fill out to apply for federal financial aid. For the first time, the FAFSA form was released on October 1st of this year, much earlier then previous years. Don't delay in filling out the form, as grants are given on a first come basis. Click here for more.
FDA Wants Consumer Input on Healthy Foods
Last week the Food and Drug Administration asked for consumer opinions on what foods should be labeled as "healthy." "Redefining 'healthy' is part of an overall plan to provide consumers with information and tools to enable them to easily and quickly make food choices consistent with public health recommendations and to encourage the development of healthier foods by the industry," the FDA stated. As the definition of "healthy" has changed, the FDA wants to know what the public believes it should mean. The FDA hopes to encourage food manufacturers to come up with better, healthier options. The change was partly the result of a dispute with the makers of Kind brand snacks. In 2015, the FDA warned Kind that it couldn't claim its fruit and nut bars were healthy because they contained too much saturated fat and there was no medical definition to back up the claim that its products were healthy. Click here for more.
Your Money
When it comes to buying a car, there are a few financing options you should consider before making that big purchase. First, review the federal and state laws that affect the vehicle financing and leasing process and your rights. These laws offer important information that can help you negotiate a better deal or better understand the process. Consider how much you can afford to finance. If you want to finance a vehicle, know that the total amount you will pay will depend on several factors, including the price for the vehicle, the Annual Percentage Rate, which may be negotiable, and the length of the financing contract. Visit the Federal Trade Commission's website for more information on financing plans. Click here for more.
For the Lawyers
Fair Debt Collection Practices Act venue provision does not apply to garnishment action. The Eleventh Circuit joined the First and Eighth Circuits and held that the FDCP's venue provision applies only to legal actions "against any consumer." In this case, the FDCPA’s venue provision does not apply to post-judgment garnishment proceedings under Georgia law where the process is fundamentally an action against the garnishee, not the consumer. Ray v. McCullough Payne & Haan, LLC (11th Cir. 2016). Click here for more.