At a Glance

Seminar offered on affordable home buying

Macomb County residents are being offered a two-hour workshop designed to help them decide about becoming a homeowner. 

Participants will learn about renting vs. buying, budgeting, credit, affordable neighborhoods, loans and down payment requirements as well as special home buying assistance programs.

The two-hour FREE program will run from 10:00 a.m. to noon on Monday, December 13 at the VerKuilen Building, 21885 Dunham Road, Entrance E, in Clinton Township.

For more information or to register, please call 586.469.7614.
 

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Discrimination suit targets credit checks

MIAMI (AP) — A federal lawsuit contends that University of Miami credit history checks of job candidates discriminate unfairly against minorities.

The potential class-action lawsuit claims that use of credit histories in hiring decisions violates the Civil Rights Act.

The suit argues there is no link between credit histories and job performance or trustworthiness.

It also says minorities tend to have more credit issues than whites and others.

The lawsuit seeking unspecified damages was filed on behalf of Loudy Appollon, an African-American woman who didn’t get a job at Miami’s medical school because of her credit history. The suit seeks to represent all similar unsuccessful job applicants since June 24, 2009.

The university declined to comment.

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Company files suit over wraparound earmuffs

BALTIMORE (AP) — The Baltimore company famous for its ear warmers that wrap behind the head is accusing a well-known retailer of ripping off its signature product.
180s Inc. filed a lawsuit recently in U.S. District Court in Baltimore against New Hampshire-based Brookstone Inc.

The complaint says Brookstone’s “Luxe” earmuffs infringe upon three of its patents.

The attorney for 180s and Brookstone representatives did not respond to requests for comment Monday.

180s is known for filing lawsuits to protect the intellectual property behind its biggest seller. The company settled a similar suit against Gordini USA Inc. in June.

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High court to hear mayor-and-cop case

WILDWOOD, N.J. (AP) — The New Jersey Supreme Court is expected to consider whether someone can simultaneously serve as a police officer and mayor in the same municipality.

Wildwood Mayor Gary DeMarzo claims he should be allowed to do both as long as he’s on unpaid leave from the force, but an appeals court ruled otherwise, forcing him to choose between jobs.

DeMarzo was elected to the Wildwood city commission in May 2007 while he was still working as a police officer. He became mayor in 2009.

Former Wildwood Mayor Ernie Troiano Jr. and former Commissioner Bill Davenport challenged DeMarzo’s job status, claiming multiple conflicts of interest.

New Jersey law does not prohibit dual-office holding by an employee and commissioner in the same town, but no law expressly permits it.

Wildwood argued the two offices should be deemed incompatible.

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