| Volume 141 Number 67 |
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The People’s Lawyer’s Tip of the Day
Scams near you, by the numbers: The FTC has now made the Consumer Sentinel data, their annual data book, available to you every quarter. If you visit ftc.gov/data, you’ll find an interactive online tool that lets you find things like: Click here for more.
Marriott’s Starwood Hotels suffers massive data breach
Hackers broke into Marriott International's database, and the hotel chain says they may have gained access to 500 million customers' data. That would make it the largest data breach on record, surpassing the 2017 Equifax breach that exposed credit records of more than 145 million consumers. According to Marriott, the breach occurred at its Starwood Hotel brand. An investigation has revealed that unknown parties gained access to the database sometime in 2014, copying and encrypting information that had been stored there. Marriott said it was alerted to unauthorized activity and began an investigation in September.
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Your Money
A donor advised fund is a relatively simple, flexible and tax-efficient way to grow your investments and give to charity. Think of it as a dedicated account for your charitable giving. It allows you to contribute cash, securities or other assets to the fund and get an immediate tax deduction. You maintain control of your investments, which grow tax-free since they are charitable donations, and make grants to the IRS-qualified charity you choose. Click here for more.
For the Lawyers
Motion to compel arbitration reversed. The Fifth Circuit has overturned a ruling forcing a proposed class action against One Technologies LP into arbitration. The court found that the company's defense of the suit in court before compelling arbitration unfairly prejudiced the plaintiffs. Forby v. One Technologies LP et al, case number 17-10883, in the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Fifth Circuit. Click here for more.