| Volume 143 Number 96 |
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The People’s Lawyer’s Tip of the Day
Crooks use clever schemes to defraud millions of people every year. They often combine new technology with old tricks to get people to send money or give out personal information. Here are some practical tips to help you stay a step ahead. Click here for more.
Eighty-five percent of consumers are paying more for groceries during COVID-19 pandemic, survey finds
The COVID-19 pandemic has brought a massive number of changes to all of our lives, but one of the larger ones for consumers is the price hike on certain grocery staples.
Americans across the country have been shelling out more for products like meat, eggs, poultry, and everyday household goods. That trend began to accelerate in March, and there’s no sign that prices will fall to pre-pandemic levels anytime soon.
At a time when unemployment remains high and the economy isn’t growing, every extra penny adds up. To find the pain point of where consumers feel pinched, C+R Research surveyed 2,040 consumers and asked them how COVID-19 has affected their food budget, shopping habits, and the foods they eat. Click here for more.
Your Money
For millions of out-of-work Americans struggling to find job opportunities during the monthslong coronavirus pandemic, navigating unemployment is a long-term struggle. What can long-term unemployed Americans do to build a budget for ongoing joblessness? Here are the accounts you can tap, bills you can deprioritize and strategies you can use to survive long-term unemployment. Click here for more.
For the Lawyers
Claim arising from servicing of loan does not give rise to DTPA consumer status. The District Court for the Eastern District of Texas considered whether a plaintiff was a consumer when claims relate to the servicing of her loan. Performance of any services incidental to the loan transaction, such as acceleration, abandonment, and foreclosure, does not transform Plaintiff into a "consumer" under the DTPA. The court cited Sgroe v. Wells Fargo Bank, N.A., 941 F. Supp. 2d 731, 746 (E.D. Tex. 2013), wherein the court found the mortgagor was not a consumer because, "it is undisputed that [the plaintiff]'s claims arise out of a loan and do not involve the purchase or lease of either goods or services." The court concluded “Plaintiff here is similarly not a consumer under the DTPA. Pittman v. U.S.Bank NA, No. 4:19-CV-00397-RWS, 2020 U.S. Dist. LEXIS 175739 (E.D. Tex. 2020) Click here for more.