| Volume 141 Number 86 |
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The People’s Lawyer’s Tip of the Day
Before you sign a lease, read it and consider changes or additions. A lease is a binding contract and will determine your rights against the landlord. For example, if you might have to leave early because you lose your job, are transferred or get married, be sure to include a clause permitting you to terminate the lease. Without such a provision, you will not have the right to get out of the lease. Click here for more.
Senate Rejects Two Separate Bills to End Shutdown
The Senate on Thursday rejected two separate bills that would have ended the longest government shutdown in history, ensuring that federal workers will miss a second paycheck on Friday. Senators voted down a bill backed by Democrats that would have opened the government through Feb. 8 and did not include $5.7 billion President Donald Trump has requested for a southern border wall. Both bills considered Thursday required 60 votes to overcome procedural hurdles for floor consideration. The Democratic-backed measure failed to meet the threshold, picking up 52 votes with 44 against. Six Republicans – including Sen. Mitt Romney of Utah and Sen. Lamar Alexander of Tennessee – joined their Democratic colleagues in favor of the bill. Four senators did not vote on it. The measure passed the Senate with ease in December but stalled after Trump indicated he would not sign it. Click here for more.
Your Money
As predicted, gasoline prices have begun to rise. However, they remain lower than they were a month ago and are considerably cheaper than a year ago. The AAA Fuel Gauge Survey shows the national average price of regular gasoline is $2.27 a gallon, up three cents from last Friday. That price is 29 cents less than at this time in 2018. The average price of premium gas is $2.85 a gallon, two cents higher than a week ago. The average price of diesel fuel is $2.92, the same as last week. Prices may continue climbing in the weeks ahead, but the rise may turn out to be slower than usual. Click here for more.
For the Lawyers
Third Circuit Compels Arbitration of an E-Signed Enrollment Agreement. The Third Circuit compelled arbitration of an agreement signed electronically by a student taking online courses. The court explained that the first step in deciding whether to compel arbitration is to ask whether the parties have a valid agreement to arbitrate. In this case, the issue was whether the student assented to the agreement. Assent, the court explained, turns on ordinary state-law contract principles. The court observed that Pennsylvania, which the parties agreed governed the contract, recognizes e-signatures as a valid means to register legal assent. Dicent v. Kaplan University (3rd Cir 2019) Click here for more.