| Volume 130 Number 5 |
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The People’s Lawyer’s Tip of the Day
If a deal on a brand name product seems too good to be true, it's probably a counterfeit. Buy from retailers you know and trust and go directly to their websites. Click here for more.
Macy's, JCPenney, Kohl's and Sears Sued for Fake Sales
The Los Angeles city attorney is suing Macy's, JCPenney, Kohl's, and Sears for claims that the major retailers deliberately inflated the original price on items to mislead customers into thinking they were getting a better deal. The lawsuit against Sears alleges the retailer advertised a front-load washer with a false original price of $1,179.99, but the retailer never offered the item for more than $999.99 online. "Customers have the right to be told the truth about the prices they're paying -- and to know if a bargain is really a bargain," said Mike Feuer, city attorney for Los Angeles, in a release. Click here for more.
Your Money
Are you expecting a holiday bonus this year? Consider saving it. According to a Bloomberg survey, 42% of companies plan to give out holiday bonuses to their employees. If this is true, a lot of people are getting a little extra before the end of the year. It's a no-brainer to put that money in savings. And if it isn't money that you're depending on, it should be relatively painless to save it for the future. Also, consider putting the money in an IRA to get an immediate tax break. Click here for more.
For the Lawyers
Last week a Chicago-based law firm filed a RICO lawsuit in an Illinois District Court against lawyers and firms who regularly represent objectors to class-action settlements. The Plaintiff law firm's suit invokes the Racketeer Influenced and Corrupt Organizations Act and seeks to recover fees the Defendants have taken over the years to drop their allegedly frivolous settlement objections to extort money that would otherwise go to deserving class members and their lawyers. The complaint also asks for an injunction that would bar the lawyers from filing future objections without a judge's consent. Click here for more.