| Volume 136 Number 7 |
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The People’s Lawyer’s Tip of the Day
FTC doesn’t need your bank account information. Some people have received an email that claims to be from Maureen Ohlhausen, the FTC’s Acting Chairman. But it’s not. The email asks you to give your bank account information – so, it says, you can get money from the government’s settlement with Western Union. The email is a scam to steal your financial information, Click here for more.
Scientists trash antibacterial products, saying they do more harm than good
If you're paying more for antimicrobial or antibacterial soaps than other products, more than 200 scientists and medical professionals say you're wasting your money, doing nothing for your health, and harming the environment. Last fall, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) determined that 19 different antimicrobial chemicals, including infamous triclosan and triclocarban, were not effective and should not be marketed for use in over-the-counter consumer wash products. Now, 200 scientists say the FDA’s decision does not go far enough to protect consumers and the environment. While there has been some reduction in the use of triclosan and triclocarban, soap brands are using different additives that may be as bad or even worse.
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Your Money
Big Oil wants to tax itself and give cash to Americans Major oil companies including ExxonMobil, BP, Royal Dutch Shell and Total backed a carbon tax proposal on Tuesday that has been gaining traction in Washington. Here's how the plan would work: Companies would be taxed on the carbon dioxide generated by mining, drilling and other activities conducted in the U.S. The fee would start around $40 per ton and go up from there. The tax proceeds would then be paid out to Americans -- regardless of income level -- in monthly installments through the Social Security Administration. The Climate Leadership Council said the carbon tax could generate an estimated $2,000 for a family of four in its first year. Click here for more.
For the Lawyers
A report from an auto dealership that does not include the results of an inspection for the condition of individual car components to a buyer is not a "completed inspection report" under California law. Plaintiff bought a car from CarMax and shortly after the car had several problems. California law prohibits a car dealer from selling a used vehicle as "certified" if the dealer fails to provide the buyer with a completed report indicating all the components inspected. Plaintiff contended that CarMax failed to provide a "completed inspection report" before selling him a "certified" vehicle. The 9th Circuit reversed the lower courts, because an inspection report cannot just simply state that parts were inspected without including the results. Gonzales v. CarMax (9th Cir. 2016). Click here for more.