| Volume 142 Number 66 |
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The People’s Lawyer’s Tip of the Day
As you browse online, you probably see offers to try out cool products or services for free. This can be tempting and, many times, it’s okay to check them out. But some dishonest companies will bury the terms of their “free trial” offers in fine print or not disclose them at all. Their real goal is to rob you blind. Click here for more.
CDC warns consumers to stop using e-cigarettes following several deaths linked to product use
On the heels of three more deaths believed to be associated with electronic cigarettes, federal health officials have issued a warning urging consumers to avoid using the products while they conduct an investigation into the matter. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) said on Friday that over 450 users of these devices have now reported symptoms of severe pulmonary disease. The illnesses have been reported from 33 states. With the addition of the three recent deaths, the number of deaths potentially linked with vaping has now risen to five. Click here for more.
Your Money
For many families, the cost of day care and other child care services swallows up entire paychecks, blows up budgets and makes it difficult to save for other financial goals. These days, child care costs frequently outpace mortgage and food bills, according to a 2018 report from Child Care Aware of America. In fact, the cost of child care for two children exceeds mortgage costs in 35 states and the District of Columbia. In 28 states and the District of Columbia, center-based infant care is pricier than annual tuition at a public four-year college. Click here for more.
For the Lawyers
California Supreme Court invalidates an employment arbitration agreement. At issue was an agreement to arbitrate employment claims, including wage claims. Under the agreement, Kho had to arbitrate wage claims instead of having them decided in court or in an administrative “Berman hearing” conducted by the California Labor Commissioner. A Court of Appeal upheld the agreement, even though it was “disturbed” by how it was drafted and presented. But the California Supreme Court struck down the agreement, insisting that an agreement waiving a Berman hearing must be particularly fair, given the “full panoply” of benefits employees would enjoy in a Berman hearing. Look for the Supreme Court to get involved in this case. Click here for more.