| Volume 15 Number 7 |
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Major Consumer Legislation Introduced: Senator Russ Feingold and Representative Hank Johnson have just introduced the Arbitration Fairness Act of 2007, comprehensive legislation to ban mandatory pre-dispute arbitration clauses in employment, consumer, franchise, and civil rights disputes. If enacted, this will be the most significant consumer law of the last three decades. The proposed law prohibits pre-dispute binding arbitration clauses and guarantees your right to sue and use our courts to resolve disputes. Let you senator and congressperson know you support this Bill and want your legal rights restored. A copy may be found at Click here for more.
The People’s Lawyer’s Tip of the Day
In Texas, your landlord cannot just throw you out, even if you don't pay rent. A landlord may change the locks on your door but must make a key available to you 24 hours a day. To evict you, he must go to court.
American Express Faces Class Action Lawsuit Over Travel Insurance
American Express Co will face a nationwide class action suit after the California First District Court of Appeal rejected its right to arbitration, according to law firm David Fried. The suit alleges American Express charged cardholders for travel insurance regardless of whether or not a trip was taken. Click here for more.
What Happens After a Car Insurance Claim
Have you ever been hesitant to tell your car insurer about minor damage to your car because you were afraid of skyrocketing rates? The Insurance Information Institute reports that the average expenditure for car insurance has steadily increased each year since 1999. If no other party is involved, you may be tempted to keep quiet about a minor claim. But why have insurance if you can't use it when you need it? Click here for more.
Insuring Trip May Not be necessary
Don't buy travel insurance, says Consumer Reports. Do buy travel insurance, say consumer advocates Clark Howard and Ed Perkins. Don't buy travel insurance, says the Consumer Federation of America. Do buy it, says your travel agent. In a database of news articles over the past year about travel insurance, many advised consumers to buy it, while many others said skip it. With such conflicting information, what's a consumer to do? Click here for more.
Before You Accept an Early Retirement Package
Cutting costs and downsizing is a way of life in the corporate world. One way a company might try to cut expenses is to offer older employees an early retirement package. While this package can be quite attractive, it may or may not be a good choice for you. Before accepting an early retirement package, look carefully at what is being offered. Also look carefully at you own financial situation. Click here for more.
Your Money
Should you borrow from your home equity? Click here for more.
For the Lawyers
The made-whole doctrine must yield to contractual subrogation. The Texas Supreme Court has held that because the made-whole doctrine must yield to Fortis Benefits' right to contractual subrogation under the plain terms of the insurance policy, Fortis can recover the $247,534.14 in benefits it paid to Vanessa Cantu from the $1.445 million settlement. Click here for more.