| Volume 142 Number 28 |
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The People’s Lawyer’s Tip of the Day
It’s almost summer! Right now, you probably have beaches on the brain or you’re thinking about that long-planned trip abroad. Before you head out, take steps to help keep your dream vacation from becoming a nightmare: Click here for more.
FDA urging companies to switch to ‘Best If Used By’ food labels
As part of its effort to reduce food waste, the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) is encouraging companies to back an initiative to standardize the use of the term “best if used by” on food labels. The use of phrases such as “sell by,” “use before,” or “expires by” account for about 20 percent of food waste per household. Conversely, research has shown that using the term “best if used by” on shelf-stable, packaged foods conveys that the product in question doesn’t have to be tossed after the date if stored properly. The FDA’s push to move away from confusing terminology on food labels comes at a time when U.S. consumers are throwing out about a third of their food, or approximately 133 billion pounds each year. Click here for more.
Your Money
Loan choices are more limited when you have bad credit, but personal loans and other sources of financing are available. For anyone seeking a loan, it's important to understand its terms so you can choose the best option with the lowest overall cost. If you have bad credit, this is especially important because, for the most part, the lower your credit score, the more expensive the loan will be. Click here for more.
For the Lawyers
Supreme Court allows consumers to sue Apple for antitrust violations. The Supreme Court has allowed a major antitrust case to proceed against Apple for alleged monopolization of the iPhone app market. The Court split 5-4 over whether such claims were barred by the direct-purchaser rule established by the Court’s decision in Illinois Brick Co. v. Illinois, 431 U.S. 720 (1977). Justice Brett M. Kavanaugh, joined by the Court’s four more liberal justices, wrote for the majority, while Justice Neil M. Gorsuch, joined by the Court’s other conservative justices, dissented. The majority concluded that they were direct purchasers who could sue, stating: “It is undisputed that the iPhone owners bought the apps directly from Apple. Therefore, under Illinois Brick, the iPhone owners were direct purchasers who may sue Apple for alleged monopolization.” The majority deemed it dispositive that iPhone owners pay any overcharge on apps to Apple directly, with no intermediary. The Court dismissed Apple’s theory that Illinois Brick allows consumers to sue only the party that sets the retail price—in this case, the app developers—regardless of which party sells the product. Click here for more.