| Volume 4 Number 9 |
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The People’s Lawyer’s Tip of the Day
It is illegal in Texas to charge more to someone who pays with a credit card. It is legal, however, to give a discount for cash. This discount is for the savings to the merchant who does not have to pay the fee that the credit card company charges.
Too Poor to File Bankruptcy
Many consumers are now too poor to file bankruptcy. How did this come about? Wasn't the Bankruptcy Abuse Prevention and Consumer Protection Act of 2005 (the Act) signed into law by President George W. Bush supposed to help the consumer and prevent abuse? The law went into full effect on October 17, 2005, and immediately had a chilling effect on bankruptcy that has only recently begun to ease. Click here for more.
Palm Inc. Settles Class-Action Suit
Palm has agreed to settle a class-action suit which claimed a defect with the flip lid on Treo models 180, 270 and 300. According to court documents, the alleged defect pertains to "failure or other problems or defects, including cracking and breakage of the flip lid." Anyone owning one of these devices from January 1, 1998 through December 31, 2005 who also experienced these issues is covered by the suit. Click here for more.
Don't Tie College Savings to Potential Aid
All those who worry about how 529 plans will affect federal aid, rest easy -- at least for now. Thanks to the Deficit Reduction Act of 2005, a 529 plan -- whether it's prepaid or a savings plan -- is considered a parental asset in the determination of federal financial aid. That change became effective July 1. Click here for more.
Your Money
Calculate your earnings and more on your Certificate of Deposit. Click here for more.
For the Lawyers
Employee has no privacy right in at-work computer. The 9th Circuit has held that an employee has no expectation of privacy in his workplace computer where the employer has implemented a computer monitoring policy. Click here for more.