| Volume 143 Number 74 |
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The People’s Lawyer’s Tip of the Day
Before applying for a job, apartment, or loan, try to fix inaccurate information about you that someone considering your application might see. Start by ordering your free credit reports at AnnualCreditReport.com and disputing any errors you find. Click here for more.
Average age of U.S. vehicles hits all-time high
How old is the car you drive? If you’re like most Americans, it’s probably close to 12 years old, according to new research from vehicle registration tracking firm IHS Markit. The study also revealed that 1 in every 4 vehicles are at least 16 years old. Both are new all-time highs.
Of the many auto-buying trends the coronavirus pandemic is shaking out, one is average vehicle age. As COVID-19 was forcing consumers to weigh out their cyclical goods expenditures, the prices of vehicles were going the other way, forcing consumers to look for longer-term financing or hold onto their cars and trucks longer. Click here for more.
Your Money
For many Americans who've lost work during the coronavirus pandemic, the $600 weekly unemployment insurance boost has been a lifeline. Tens of millions of Americans, perhaps more than 20 million, are tapping unemployment benefits, according to some estimates. And for many of them, that extra $600 makes a significant difference in the amount of money they receive each week. But that additional weekly income is set to expire July 31 unless Congress acts quickly. Without anything currently designated to replace that lost benefit, some Americans are wondering how to make rent, pay bills and buy groceries when it's gone. Click here for more.
For the Lawyers
Legal malpractice cannot simply be converted to a DTPA claim. The Dallas Court of Appeals reviewed a negligence claim against attorneys to determine if the attorneys also violated the DTPA. After finding sufficient evidence to support a negligence finding, the court concluded that the consumers attempt to reclassify the conduct as a DTPA violation failed. The court found that each of the alleged DTPA violations were simply a reclassification of the negligence allegations. “On this record, we conclude the Webbs' DTPA claims are barred by the anti-fracturing rule.” Webb v. Ellis, 2020 Tex. App. LEXIS 3527 (Tex. App.—Dallas 2020, no pet. h.) Click here for more.