Title: (MN) If I understand correctly, alimony ends when the person receiving it remarries. Exactly what qualifies?

Question:
I am paying a substantial amount of alimony to my ex-wife.

Practically speaking she is living with another man. Everyone knows it but on an official level she claims to live with her parents.

Meanwhile, her sister forwarded me a video of them two weeks ago. They went on vacation to an island where they were "married" by a local preacher of some sort (in the video). Her sister said they intentionally did not get a "legal" marriage or sign any documents because she does not want the alimony to end. So their marriage is purely religious.  They did say traditional marriage vows and all that but I don't know how much any of that matters, or if it's only the marriage license and documents.

Edit:  If it helps my case any they also had a reception back here in the US and declared themselves "married" to friends/family/Facebook etc.  I know if they do that long enough that it becomes a common law marriage but I don't know when that happens.

Is a "religious" marriage but not a legal one grounds to end alimony, or must it be a legal marriage in the US to do so?

I do understand that if I want to go forward I will need a lawyer again but since this could be a flat "no" answer I figure I won't waste my money. I lose enough of that as it is! :)

Answer:
 In a lot of jurisdictions, a legal marriage isn't required. Just cohabitation and proof that the new parties income is being used to support the former spouse. MN looks like it [had a bill pending](http://www.attorneyatlawmagazine.com/twin-cities/cohabitation-and-its-impact-on-spousal-maintenance/) this year to modify their spousal maintence laws to bring it more in line with that standard, but I'm not in a mood to Shepardize the bill and figure out if it's passed or has any controlling cases citing it yet.

In my mind, someone going that far with a paper marriage to just keep getting alimony is totally perverting the intent and meaning of the law, so I hope you are able to file for a modification.


Title: [ID] Girlfriend got arrested for DUI and trafficking (which was my fault)

Question:
Help me, I don't know what to do

my girlfriend just blew a .095 and was arrested... they searched the car and found a pound of pot I was storing in there.

I didnt think she'd take the car, she never does plus shes not allowed but apparently she went and got bombed at 3pm and drove drunk.

They are still holding her on both charges.

i've talked to two lawyers first wanted 10k retainer other wanted 7.5k. I can't afford that I don't know what to do.

Answer:
 She is likely to take the fall for the marijuana unless you admit in court that it's yours.

You can hire a lawyer or get her a public defender if she cannot afford one.


Title: Suppose a con man is taking a shaved Gibbon around the US & advertising it as an infant "humanze" (ape human hybrid) at carnivals and the like. Suppose a deranged creationist shoots this Gibbon, can he be charged with attempted murder since he believed he was killing a (mostly)human being?

Answer:
 Nope.  There's a concept called "legal impossibility" which is a defense to a criminal charge.  Factual impossibilities can still be charged as an attempt, but legal impossibility is where the thing you were trying to do wasn't actually the crime you're charged with, should you have succeeded.

In this case, murder requires a human victim.  You can't attempt a murder on non-human, even if you think it's a human.  If he had successfully shot the monkey, it wouldn't be murder, so you can't call it attempted murder when he failed.  It would be a bunch of other crimes, just not attempted murderAnswer #2: Not with attempted murder.  Generally someone can only be charged if they actually violate a law, not just because they meant to.  If I think I'm stealing property, but it turns out the property was actually abandoned, I can't be charged with theft.

Of course, there are plenty of other charges he would face.  Just not attempted murder.


Title: Greyhound bus lost my luggage last year no compensation provided

Question: August 2018 I rode with Greyhound busses and on the way to my destination. The driver removed my two pieces of luggage from beneath the bus while I was on board. This contained all my items ranging from clothes, my diploma, and sentimental things. I have called them nearly every week since this occurred ,and they always give me the run around. Previously they stated they found them and would ship them to my destination. Then they said I would need to fill out missing forms. They have now stated to obtain my items I must go to Richmond, VA. I have never been there and that was not my destination nor pick up on the trip. They are suppose to provide $250 compensation for each bag I have not received that either as an option. I am unable to get a copy of my diploma and would like the money or items back at this point. The entire situation feels hopeless at this point is there anything I could do or have I waited too long?

Answer: You aren’t alone. Greyhound has the worst customer service. They will never pay you no matter how many forms you fill out.  Small claims is probably your best bet. Do you still have documents from the trip?Answer #2: Small claims court is probably your best bet. Most are pretty user friendly, and the judges usually favor the local, little guy, especially if the judges are elected in your area, rather than appointed.  As for the statute of limitations, that depends on your state and what you choose to sue for.


Title: Should I snitch on a person who smokes weed, gets drunk on alcohol? She is getting way too addicted.

Question:
I am in Washington if this helps.

 I have a freind but she is autistic. She started smoking weed, alcohol and god knows what else. Her excuse is that "I can do whatever i want now that I'm 18"  she still lives with her parents and they are against drugs and alcohol. She always brags how weed won't hurt anyone. She always sends her friends videos of her getting wasted and high af. Should I report her to the police? She is autistic and doesn't know that what she is doing is wrong. It won't be long until she gets too violent to handle with her addictions. I'm worried for her.
Topic:
Drug Possession

Answer: Mind your business


Title: I heard about a gym coach entering the girl's dressing room (West Virginia)

Question:
Would it be illegal to email the school and say that if I heard about it happening again that I would call the cops?  I'm worried about committing accidental extortion.

Edit:  I heard about this from my daughter, who saw him enter while there were girls undressed about 3-4 times.
Topic:
Criminal Law

Answer: You call the police if you think that someone has committed a crime.  You don't tell people that you think they committed a crime and then warn them that you will call the police if you think that they did it again.


Title: Missouri. Collector didn't validate debt until nearly 6 mo. later after they closed their doors and reopened under a new name.

Question:
Hello! First of all, thank you for your time. I am in Missouri in the USA and was recommended here by PF.

I disputed a debt directly with a collector in February over the phone. I didn't hear from them again and the collection never showed up on my credit report. Yesterday, I received 2 pieces of mail from a "new" collector, but the letterhead says "Formerly \[previous business name\]" and included a validation of the debt. It is well after 30 days that I disputed, and now supposedly a 'different' company. The 'former' company never contacted me with validation.

Before I initiate contact with them again or set up any payment plan, I would like to know if I have a leg to stand on as far as the "30 days to validate" idea goes, or if the creditor can validate whenever they feel it.

Thank you for your help and time.

Answer: That's fine. There's no time limit; they can take 20 years to validate if they need to. The "30 days" refers to the fact that you only have 30 days from the first time they contact you to submit your validation request. If your requested is submitted more than 30 days from that date of first contact, they can still choose to honor your request, but their failure or refusal to do so isn't actionable.


Title: What's the easiest way to find someone's address?

Question:
We bought a house 4 years ago and now are planning to sell.  During the final stages of the sale, we received a certified letter that the property requires cleanup for hazardous materials (diesel fuel spill).  Previous owners disclosed the oil tank removal, but withheld the dirty soil report and that the house was on the Dept of Ecology clean up list.  We cannot sell until this is resolved and it's EXPENSIVE.  The previous owners are trying to conceal their information, but we do have their email addresses, employer info and cell numbers.  I am not looking to harass these individuals by going to their home.  We simply need their address to send legal documentation and to provide to the Dept of Ecology as they are the primary liable party.

EDIT:   Thanks to everyone who responded.  I was able to find the address using a couple of the provided links.  Thanks so much for the info!

Answer: You're probably going to need your own attorney here. If the old owners went to the trouble of hiding the soil report they aren't just going to roll over and pay it, and you can't sell the property until this is cleaned up. So *probably* you will have to pay it yourself and then go after them.Answer #2: Did an attorney do the closing? If so, have you contacted them to see if they'll contact the seller?


Title: Roommate just “assaulted me” do I have enough to call the police.

Question:
My co worker has been staying with us for a months. (Not in lease) After a few months he has been having many issues paying rent and threaten us (we didn’t have enough proof)  We tried to kick him out and he refused.  We called the cops, they told us he is a resident after 15 days and that I we couldn’t kick him out without and eviction.
Spoke to the justice of peace today. They told me that I need to put a 5 day eviction notice after he is late on any payments.

Tonight I told him that the rent is due on the 30th and everything i learned today on a notebook (we have the due date in texts since forever) he told told me to fuck off. As I’m walking to my room, his bike is in the middle of the hall. Not exaggerating or starting issue. The hallway is like 5 ft length maybe. I move it to the hallway and he tells me to not to touch his stuff and get in my face. I tell him that technically I’m his landlord (something I was learning about today with the justice of peace in my notebook) he grabs the notebook and my hand and pulls it to him then gets in my face and tells me that we’re gonna have a problem. I yank the notebook and hand out of his hands. He tells me he’s gonna put hands on me now that I assaulted him. He gets in super close and says he’s gonna beat me down. I call for my other roommate. He tells us to fuck off. I tell him to brush his teeth. He breathes in my face and goes to his room.
My other roommate didn’t hear the threat from the other room. I don’t have a recording. Can I still use this?

Answer: Contact law enforcement. Make a report. Contact a local domestic violence agency for help with a restraining order. Without a state it's hard to say more.Answer #2: Call the police.


Title: Neighbour has set up an 'illegal' dog hotel, what can be done?

Question:
Recently, a neighbour a few doors down from me has opened somewhat of an 'illegal' dog hotel, she has anywhere from 20-30 dogs on her property which bark day and night. We have rung the police on occasion of being kept up at night and they told us, that because it is not a legal business, and instead someone with many dogs, they cannot do much to keep them quiet.

I think this is BS, surely there is something that can be done in this situation, I mean surely it's not normal for someone to have so many dogs in a residential neighbourhood.

Topic:
Other Civil Matters

Answer:
 Which state? Which town

It's a council issue so they are your first port of call. Depending on the council they may be good or they may be shithouse. You may have to nag to get them to do anything - if you can get your neighbours to also call and complain this will help.

If the council is totally useless your next step is to go to the state ombudsman

You should also report them to the RSPCA and Department of Agriculture

Answer #2: All you can do is report to ASPCA if you believe there is abuse, they will come out & investigate. You definitely need the proper documentation to board dogs like that. If they have that & there are no issues like abuse, it's really just a noise complaint. Keep calling & see if others in the area are bothered by it if you really want to see anything done.

Edit: Just noticed post is in Australia, sorry. Not sure protocol there, I am in USA.


Title: My parked car was hit- now chasing after other driver's insurance company

Question:
Hello all,
This happened in Long Island NY.

My brand new parked car was hit by another vehicle which was next to me, while other driver was backing up. I called the cops and got a police report mainly because the driver initially tried to flee and was hostile. My engine was off and he didn't know at first that I was in the car. The damage to my vehicle was slight but it is still damage nonetheless. Police report indicates that other driver was negligent.

However now I am playing a game of cat and mouse with the other driver's insurance company (Geico). The rep from my company (Liberty Mutual) has tried chasing down the other company but they don't return phone calls. They have also stated that police reports 'can be biased' and because there was no damage to their client's vehicle, 'ours has no damage as well'. The 'supervisor' of this Geico agent redirects back to his own voicemail. My rep at this point has practically given up.

Lastly I have on video the other driver initially admitting fault, and then about 10 minutes of him trying to pick a fight with me before the cops showed up. I am not in it for the money- I am in it for the principle. Any advice is appreciated. Thank you very much for reading!

**EDIT: I very much appreciate everyone's input in this. I am a longtime resident of the US but this is my first legal scrape. It's confusing in some ways and I apologize in advance if I come across as being disoriented or unclear. I am unfamiliar with using the language in a formal manner. Thanks!**

Answer:
 Take Geico and the driver of the other car both to small claims court (it seems that the damage is minor). Also put in the police report (no matter what the incurance rep of Geico says the judge will look at this like a statement of thrut) in as evidence also state that you have an video in which the other party admitted guilt.
At that moment the case will be bumped up to Geico's legal department with this evidence I think they will settle or else you seem to have a slam dunk case in court.

BTW: IANAL


Title: Could I be involuntary committed?

Question:
So today I want to get some birth control (at an health dept type place) I am a few months post partum. After they gave me an social worker to talk to (I don't know why they do that, it just seems routine) and I have expressed that I was feeling depressed and suicidal idealizations. I said I had thought of an plan but I had no intentions to do anything. They recommended I see one of their therapists, and that therapist kept pushing for hospitalization. but then said it was an option.She also gave me more options which I took one that had nothing to do with getting locked up.

 I consented to therapist to call my regular therapist who then proceeded to call my mom(this is the second time she has called my mom for something I deem personal and my business. I am an legal adult and I want to handle these things on my own.) All I know is she mention something about hospitalization. I will not be going back to this one. I will be getting a new one asap. Can she have me committed? I plan on never seeing her again

location: Alabama

Answer: Talk with your doctor (any MD) about SSRI antidepressants.  They save lives.  Postpartum depression is a real and serious thing.


Title: In an episode of the Simpsons, Sideshow Bob plans a murder where 5 states meet and states that's un-prosecutable. Is it?

Question: He says that standing in one state, firing a gun in another, bullet traveling through another state, bullet hitting Bart in the fourth and him dying in the 5th state is okay since the parts individually are legal, but the sum total is murder. Assuming that hypothetically there is a place that this could happen, would it be unprosecutable?

Answer:
 No, not at all.

First, the idea that a group of independently legal pieces can't lead up to an illegal act is absurd.  Lots of crimes are composed of individually illegal pieces that add up to an illegal whole.

Second, it's not true that crimes crossing state lines are "unprosecutable".  There's a whole federal legal system that does just that.

Finally, it's also likely untrue that those individual pieces are unprosecutable.  Answer #2: Getting Drunk is legal, Driving a  car with a license is legal, getting drunk and then driving a car with a license is illegal. Answer #3: No. When murder crosses state lines the state prosecutors will ask the feds to take the case. There was an example a few years ago of a man from Wisconsin shooting some teens playing across the river in MichiganAnswer #4: Your question reminds me of this article, but I remember reading that they would figure this out if they ever had to.  One thing I love about the law is that they tend to honor the spirit of it.  It’s why sovereign citizens loopholes never work.  It’s why you can’t sell someone a candy bar for 200 bucks and give them free NFL tickets and claim you aren’t scalping.

https://www.vox.com/2014/5/22/5738756/you-can-kill-someone-in-a-section-of-yellowstone-and-get-away-scot


Title: Turning A Bathtub To A Vehicle

Question:
So here is the short version. I have a bathtub with wheels using a lawn mower engine. It can steer and has brakes. Where can i drive it legally? Im in Florida. I know it definitely is not street legal but what about sidewalks etc. Just looking for some general knowledge on homemade vehicles in FL.
Topic:
Traffic and Parking

Answer:
 Not a lawyer, or in Florida, but motorized vehicles are generally prohibited on sidewalks. You would be able to operate it legally on private property with permission of the owner.

Have you considered turning it into an amphibious vehicle and running it from Nanaimo to Vancouver? Yes, there is an annual bathtub race.Answer #2: With enough work (seatbelts, turn signals) you could quite possibly register it as a kit car and drive it on roads legally Answer #3: public roads, sidewalks, etc are all going to be a no-go.

consider an actual crash/fire suit, an improvised vehicle stands a high risk of spilling fuel on you if you crash or even hit a hard enough bumpAnswer #4: Here's a company that specializes in making offroad vehicles legal in Florida, they could probably help.

https://www.dirtlegal.com/blog/2017/10/2/how-to-make-your-side-by-side-utv-street-legal-in-florida


Title: Is getting a tattoo of who *can't* get any of my organs after I die legally enforceable?

Question:
Say I hate my neighbor Gary. He needs a kidney, but I *hate* Gary, and I hate Gary so much that should anything happen to me I don't want my kidney anywhere near him.

Now, the odds of Gary being the one to get my kidney after I die are slim, but if he's the only person for a hundred miles who needs a kidney and mine happens to be the only one available can I stipulate via a tattoo that bitch needs to get shlumped in the trash rather than Gary getting it?

Answer: Frank Gallagher, is that you?Answer #2: It would certainly give me a moment of wondering


Title: My car got hit by another car, she lied to her insurance and now she apparently isn't liable. (New York)

Question: [deleted]

Answer: That's not how it works. Just sue her then.


Title: California Took my ex for custody, she won't reply. Court date set, how do I prepare?

Question:
San Bernardino county:
I filed a week ago and have found someone willing to serve my ex.
**current order**
Since 2013 I have had an order that my 4 kids (17, 16, 14, 12) are with me every other weekend, opposite Thursday evening and every Wednesday evening. Also week off/week on during summer vacation and split holidays.

**requested changes**
Sole custody of 17 16 and 14. Primary of 12.

The last year my kids have had a difficult time with their mother. 16 saw a therapist and eventually went onto medication for depression/anxiety.  I firmly disagreed with this as she was always a normal teen with me, I didn't see the need. I came to find out that at her mother's she was a different girl. She would lock herself away, cry and have sever attacks. On 2 occasions the 17 and 16 stayed with me for a week to "calm". On one occasion 14 did the same.

In May 17 and 16 moved in with me. They said they couldn't take it any more. I have since come to find out that
1. Their mother would keep them home from school to babysit their half brother 3. Would leave 3 alone with the kids almost every day. Mom was cheating on their step dad openly and ignoring the kids to be with this guy.
2. Their mother was saying bad things about me when they were younger to convince them to not see me.
3. She was not giving them lunch or lunch money during school. They would often call me and my wife for money and food. I thought they were being picky, but once I found out I started bringing them food and money regularly on her time.

I gave the kids over a month to decide if they were to go back to their moms. In that time 17 and 16 have said they refuse.  14 has also moved in with me.

I urge the kids to spend time with their mother. I have told them over and over that if they choose to go back I will support them and I want them to do what is right. They have told me they do not want to live there every time.

I asked their mom to come to an agreement with me so I wouldn't have to take her to court, but she has refused to anything where she would not get $xxx or more. I offered her double what I calculated as guideline with 17 and 16 living with me, and she wanted more. Once 14 said he also wanted to live with me I told her I would not ask for child support from her, I just wanted my kids, she refused.
I filed for a court date and stated that since she has refused any agreement thus far, I do not want mediation. I want support to be calculated on guideline.

She is claiming that mediation is required.  Last time we had it she would either call that morning and say she couldn't make it, or show up and refuse any modification. She will do everything she can to stall and prolong a decision.
**Can she force mediation?**
If she gets a lawyer, and I dont, will I be in trouble?  All 3 kids who are old enough to decide have stated they want to live with me. Since she stopped replying to my texts I believe she has, or is getting a lawyer. I am paying full child support and have had almost sole custody of all 4 kids for over 2 months and cannot afford a lawyer.

**What can I show as cause to the judge for my case?** I have texts from her showing that she is not trying to agree, and is fully aware of the kids choice. I also have a conversation between her and 16 where mom claims that if kids don't move back she will be homeless, and says I am trying to take the kids (16 14 12) from her. She has not spoken about 17 since she moved in with me. 17 will be 18 in September, but is already enrolled for full time at college, so I plan to include her for custody and support.

The kids will all give statements, but I hate the thought of them having to tell a judge which parent they choose.
**Do I bring the kids to the court date?** how do I make sure I have proof of their decision and reasons for their change? Can they write or record a statement?  Can I have them go to a court councilor ahead of time to get a statement on record?

I feel stressed and worried that I don't have a lawer. My last custody battle my lawyer did very little, and I feel like my case is strong enough that I don't need one. I just need to know what it takes to be prepared to go in front of the judge. Last time I gave into her stalling and turning the kids against me and just agreed to end the fight, I have never been in front of a judge.
Topic:
Custody Divorce and Family

Answer:
 > I feel like my case is strong enough that I don't need one.

You are incorrect.  The chances of success without a lawyer are probably quite low.  Your kids will probably need to testify (certainly the older ones), and they need to prepare for that with someone experienced with examining witnesses.


Title: My parked car was wrecked in a high speed police chase this evening.

Question:
(California) Hey legal advice. I'm not sure if this is even the correct subreddit, but this evening my parked car was crashed into by a cop and the person they were chasing. I'm unsure if the driver had insurance because they haven't released details yet. If they don't, should I pursue the city PD's insurance? Should I be prepared for some legal engagement? With that being said my insurance will cover this. Should I be hesitant to file it through my own? Any and all information would be greatly appreciated!

Edit: The vehicle was stolen and the driver was shot and killed.

Answer:
 Do you not have insurance?Answer #2: Contact your insurance and explain to them what happened and let them take care of it for you. Answer #3: Your rates should not increase for a claim where you are not at fault. As my agent explained to me years ago, it only goes against your rate/record if your insurance has to pay someone else when you were at-fault.

You should file a claim immediately. The insurance company will look to recover what they paid you from either the police or more likely the person fleeing.

Ask your agent if this will affect your rates for the most authoritative answer.


Title: (TX) Car I parked on the street and was about to sell got rear ended. I took insurance off it that same day. Other driver may not have insurance.

Question:
A 2007 car I was about to sell to a guy on Craigslist got rear ended yesterday on my street. I took insurance off it that same day. The driver of the other vehicle was attempting to swerve to avoid hitting a dog, but ended up rear ending my vehicle, pushed it up the curb, and flipping their 2015 Jeep over. The driver (either relative or friend of the vehicle owner) had to be taken to the hospital. I received a police report and the officers suspect she may have been drunk.

&#x200B;

I filed a claim with the vehicle owner's insurance the next day and have been told by the agent that they are still checking the insurance policy. However, she suggested they may not have insurance coverage (agent wouldn't divulge more info on the lapse of coverage or when it ended).

&#x200B;

I'm not sure what to do next. I do have a prepaid legal service that I pay through work. Is that of any use?

&#x200B;

Answer:
 > I took insurance off it that same day.

You're not supposed to do that. But check to see if it extended to midnight.

> she suggested they may not have insurance coverage

If so, he's not supposed to do that.

> I'm not sure what to do next.

If there is no insurance involved, you would sue. What was the used value of the car? If it was totaled. Otherwise what will it cost to repair? That would determine where you would sue (small claims court or not). Hopefully he has assets or money to pay you.

> I do have a prepaid legal service that I pay through work. Is that of any use?

I don't know, ask them?

Sounds like a perfect storm of bad decisions, bad luck and bad timing. Hopefully things will work out in the end.Answer #2: It's probably illegal to park an uninsured car on the street. You might receive a citation for doing that. If you cancelled your insurance before you sold the car, you may not have any coverage for comprehensive claims. If the other driver was uninsured, you can sue her for the damage to your car. The likelihood that a drunk person who just totaled their car has any money to compensate you for your loss is low.


Title: Grandma has no family to take her in or help her, facing foreclosure and reposession

Question:
San Diego, CA, USA
Hi all. I have a 76 year old grandma who has been diagnosed with alzheimers. Shes semi lucid and remembers her childhood and her life from long ago but has very bad short term memory. She forgets bills, forgets she opens credit cards, and is just facing a buttload of debts and collectors and tons of problems. She lives with my younger sister who is just barely 21 and is not capable of taking care of her. I am in no place to do so either, San Diego is not an easy place to live with our low incomes. At this point i dont even know where to start, i cant live with her and take over her bills and its too much for my sister. Half of our family wont bother helping because of some drama, and theyre the only people who would have the capability to do anything for her. Ive helped to get her bills lowered and accessible online so that my sister could pay them easily on time. We've tried discussing the need for my grandma to be cared for with her, but as her memory is an issue she refuses to believe that she needs assistance, and doesnt remember her diagnosis. Its just a terrible situation that i dont even know what to do for either of them. From what ive been told my grandma is defaulting on almost all of her credit lines, theyre about to have their only car repossessed and my grandma seems to want to take a reverse mortgage on her home. The house is worth much less than the rest of their neighborhood due to its disrepair.

Answer: Try Adult Protective Services. Also the Alzheimer's Association has some good info.


Title: Child's mother blindsided me with a family court order... I want to be as peaceful as possible...

Question: [deleted]

Answer:
 Having a lawyer often maximizes the chances of the best possible outcome, simply because that's what they're trained to do.  With that said, the fact is that upwards of 70% of all family court cases proceed *pro se*, that means with one or both parties representing themselves without an attorney.

>I think she wants sole custody

Don't worry about that.  It's not going to happen.

>What are some things I need to prove in court to get joint custody?

You didn't include your state, so unfortunately nobody can point you to the statute which lists the factors a court considers when determining custody.  Essentially, you just need to show that joint custody and whatever visitation schedule you ask for is in the best interest of the child.

>What can I do from now until then to ensure the best chance of success?

Keep doing what you're doing.  Be a great dad.  Be cordial to her.  But start documenting everything in case you need it.
Answer #2: If you can afford a lawyer, you definitely should get one.

Your state matters.  Which is why the system asks for it.


Title: Landlord may be refusing to fix damaged sewer line due to tree roots [CA, USA]

Question:
Hey guys,
First time poster, long time lurker. This actually hasn't happened yet (the refusal) but in the case it does, I want to be as prepared as possible to talk to her and fight this.

I recently moved into this new house in Cupertino, CA for two months ago, and I live with 3 other people (3 of us are on the lease, the fourth person is a subleaser).

So it started a week and a half ago, we had a massive clog that backed up both toilets in our house (I came home to this -- I was away for 4 days visiting parents in Los Angeles). I called my landlord in a rush since our house was literally *unusable* at this point to bring a plumber.

The plumber came early the next day, and to our surprise she said the plumber found us at fault due to a massive toilet paper clog, in addition to a condom inside the drain. I documented that the pipe was also massively leaking, and a matching leak was found in our basement as well (both -- seem to have been resolved).

Fast forward a week and one more plumber visit, in which case this plumber -- who she hired -- was incompetent, who even told her point blank that our sewer line was fine (hint: it wasn't).

On Saturday I woke up and saw that our toilets were backed up again (overnight, no one had even used them), as well as both showers were filled with water (probably sewage water - ew).
I angrily texted and called her about the issue, demanding that she:
1) Not send back the same incompetent plumber
2) Get this issue resolved ASAP (it had been over a week of dealing with this)

So I find a local plumber and they tell me over the line it is most likely a problem with the sewer line, and that they can snake it + bring a camera to inspect the line. Great. This happens on Saturday. Now for the fun part of the story.

So the plumber comes, snakes out the drain, finds more toilet paper, and then goes a bit further and it turns out:
**The trees in our backyard have literally broken the cast iron sewer  line, so not only are roots coming in (and this was shown on camera) but also compacted dirt is in our line. The pipe was maybe at 1/2 capacity, which explained exactly why we were having toilet paper clogs.**

The fun part remains that the plumber thinks that the breakage actually is occurring on the street, not on the property, in the part of the sewer line lateral that may or may not be managed by the City of Cupertino.

So my landlord called the City to come out that day and take a look, and they told her the following:
**They only take maintenance of the street part of the property's sewer line if the homeowner installs a property sewer line cleanout for them to access it.**

That of course will be several thousand dollars, which makes my landlord understandably unhappy.

For the interim, we've been having to curtail our water usage, as well as throwing out used toilet paper and of course not putting any food particles in our sink (and possibly not using the washer and dishwasher).

So, r/legaladvice, I have the following questions:

1) What happens if our landlord refuses to install the sewer line cleanout? It seems right now we have to come every few days for a plumber to snake our drains for clogs due to this issue, and it's severely degrading our quality of life (especially mine -- since I'm dealing with all the issues).

2) Right now we're being forced to not flush toilet paper down the toilet, and it's quite possible we can't use the dishwasher or laundry machines either (the plumber *highly* recommended we don't). What happens if this lasts longer than a couple days?

Thanks!

**tl;dr: Went through a week of plumbing hell, found out we have a severely damaged sewer line (possibly the city's problem). City demands owners install a cleanout to fix the issue, we're caught in the middle - what can we (the renters) do?**

Answer:
 I would contact the California Department of Consumer Affairs, as the landlord needs to fix it ASAP.

[From Page 51](http://www.dca.ca.gov/publications/landlordbook/catenant.pdf):
"The tenant must give the landlord a reasonable period of time to make the needed repairs. What is a reasonable period of time? this depends on the defects and the types of repairs that are needed. The law usually considers 30 days to be reasonable, but a shorter period may be considered reasonable, depending on the circumstances. For example, if tree roots block the main sewer drain and none of the toilets or drains work, a reasonable period might be as little as one or two days."


Title: [Indiana] School isn't letting students use the restroom

Question: My school isn't allowing students to use the restroom during class. Currently, I'm sitting in English and I have completed the worksheet and read what parts of our book we were assigned to. I asked my teacher if I could use the restroom and she told me no, that teachers can no longer allow students to use the restroom during class. I have a full bladder and I can't wait half an hour to use the restroom. Is this legal?

Answer:
 Schools can exercise a lot of control over students while they are in school, but I bet a couple of kids pissing themselves in class will get them to change this policy. This may be your calling.Answer #2: I assume you've used the restroom by now, but in future, I think I would ask, if denied and in great need, apologize and tell your teacher you are going, and go.

Then if/when there are consequences, involve your parents.

This is not reasonable behavior for a school. As a parent, I would be all over the school administration if they were pulling this sort of shit.

No, I'm not a lawyer.


Title: Gym is closing, found out 16 days after I paid for year membership for myself and my family. [Lincoln NE]

Question:
We decided to join a gym and found one that came highly recommended.  The gym has 3 branches with one in our town.

We joined on a monthly basis to try it out and make sure we liked it, which we did.  They offer 25% off if you pay for a yearly membership, so we decided to do that.  When I went in to do that and sign the contract the owner himself was there and told me about several improvements they were planning to make in the coming years, obviously giving the impression the gym would be around for a while.  I signed and paid over $1,000.

There was a 2 week cancellation window within which I could get all my money back if I wasn't satisfied. Two days after that window ran out, the gym owner announced that they would be closing the branch and members were welcome to use their membership to work out at either of the other branches.

However, one branch is 90 minutes away and the other is over 2 hours away, so neither is a practical option.

I spoke with the manager and requested a refund, but he said he is not able to provide a refund for gym closure since the other two gyms remain open and will accept our membership.

The contract says that in the event that the gym is destroyed by fire, weather or acts of god, members can be refunded for the remaining portion of their membership fee. However, the gym is just closing, unrelated to any of the above.  Since the contract doesn't actually state what would happen if the gym just closed (and none of us thought to ask), I am not sure if we have a leg to stand on.

I was considering trying to do a credit card chargeback (since I paid via credit card) but I am a bit leery of that option and don't know if I have the grounds to do so?

Answer:
 >I was considering trying to do a credit card chargeback (since I paid via credit card) but I am a bit leery of that option and don't know if I have the grounds to do so?

There is generally no harm in disputing the charge with your credit card company, even if the outcome may be they reject your dispute.  I wouldn't make a practice of frivolous disputes, but this one seems righteous enough to have a chance.

I would also try escalating the complaint with the gym's corporate or main office.


Title: Found guns that were "stolen" from my parent. [WA]

Question:
Good afternoon.

I'll try to keep this short.

Back in 2012 my dad hired someone from a "half way house" like program. This woman was a felon.

Her housing arrangements fell through, and my dad offered her a place to stay. Nothing inappropriate. She was in my parents guest home.

My dad started having some medical issues around that time, and was prescribed medication.

At one point he was taken to the hospital, for his final week, and during that time the woman entered the main house, and stole a suit case full of goods, all captured on the security system in very high detail.

One of the things she stole was my dads bug out bag, which had 3 pistols, I'm not a gun person and am not sure what they were aside from one revolver and two semi automatic pistols, ammo for the guns, survival supplies, and about $50K in cash. (My dad did not trust the banks, and kept large amounts of cash all over his house, business, etc.) He did however keep a somewhat up to date ledger saying what was in each hiding spot.

The ledger, security footage, and footage of the woman selling a bunch of the survival supplies was enough to get her convicted of several crimes, and she is still in jail today, and I believe she won't be scheduled for release for at least another decade, or so.

She of course plead not guilty on most counts, however was convicted on most.

The issue is, one of the key parts of her trial was based on her taking, having, and not releasing the location of, the pistols. She says she did take the duffle, and some other stuff, but all that was in it was survival equipment, and the including knives, but no guns, and no cash. I did not attend the trials, and do not have exact details, but nobody believed her.

I now live in my parents house, as my dad passed when all this was starting, and my mom moved out of country.

I found a ledger from my dad that indicated he secured all fire arms, medications, and cash stores when the woman moved in. The ledger indiciates survival gear was still in the bug out bag, but the guns were moved from it, and other locations, in to safes that were distributed throughout the house and land.

I found the one that supposedly had the guns from the bug otu bags, serial numbers match, in a floor safe in the unfinished basement, hidden under dirt, and it had the 3 guns, the $50,000, and a few other items.

This woman was put away for a crime she did not do. She stole from us, but less than $1,000 in supplies, not fire arms and large sums of cash.

How do I make this right?

One other kink in the system, I am also a felon and am not allowed to have these 3 guns, which are still in the floor safe, or any of the other fire arms which I assume are accurately logged around the land.

Any advise would be greatly appreciated.

(Note: I did change a few details as I do not want my dads identity being found it. It was fairly low profile, and I want it to stay that way. Thank you for your understanding.)

Answer: Stop. Do not discuss online or with anyone else.  Go directly to a lawyer experienced in dealing with guns and felons.  Take lawyers advice.  Do not give the guns to anyone else.  These guns were already reported stolen.Answer #2: You need a lawyer, representing \*you\* in this mess. Don't talk to anybody else before you get a lawyer. Don't touch the guns, do not let anybody else touch the guns. Do not talk to her lawyer, do not talk to her, do not talk to family or friends until you talk to \*your\* lawyer.Answer #3: Go straight to a lawyer. This is above internet advice. You need a lawyer.Answer #4: This is beyond free crowdsourced advice. Hire a lawyer ASAP. It's possible you could be charged for simply having them in the house. Don't touch em and if you're on probation *do not* tell your PO until you hire a lawyer.Answer #5: The good news is that you have $50k to pay a lawyer...Answer #6: I just want to reinforce the sentiment here, its still before noon where you are.  Speak to a lawyer today if you can. Full stop.Answer #7: OP you need a criminal defense attorney who can utilize the proper channels to get this fixed. As it stands right now, you are technically in possession of three stole guns. Not every situation posted here on legal advice needs a lawyer to get resolved, but this situation most certainly will.


Title: [CA] Threatened multiple times by resident in our apartment complex

Question: [deleted]

Answer: You can call the police. It's why they're there.


Title: Thinking of taking on local PD and collection agency in lawsuit for lost wages and hardship.

Question:
So a few years back, I got a ticket for driving am uninsured project car to the gas station. The ticket went to collections and I faced losing my drivers license if I didn't pay the $1,800 fine. I contacted the collections agency and opted for the payment program with the stipulation that 1 missed payment would result in expulsion from the program and I would owe the remaining balance in one lump sum. So, being a driver for the company I work for, I had been making early payments and taking the situation very seriously. On my way to work one morning in June, I was pulled over by a police officer because of a burnt out tail light. He ran my drivers license and told me that my license had been suspended since March 15th (the date I enrolled in the collections payment program) and told me that he was seizing my license and had me call somebody to come and get my car because if he sees me drive it away, he would take me to jail and have my car towed. Later that day, I called the collection agency and asked why my license had been suspended if I had been making the payments on time.  The agent told me that I had to go to the local DMV and notify them of my enrollment in the payment program so they wouldn't suspend my drivers license. Nobody ever told me I needed to do that and they had been accepting my $250 payments anyway. Being a driver by trade, my hours at work have been cut to a third. Now the kicker is, my company runs monthly motor vehicle reports on all of their drivers and my record shows no suspensions. I even had my insurance agent run a motor vehicle report and his report didn't reflect any suspensions either. I'm barely scraping by financially now that my hours have been cut and I dont make enough money to pay the remaining $1400 to get my license back.  If my license was NOT suspended at the time the officer seized my license, can I pursue legal action for loss of wages and hardship? what can I do about the collection agency omitting information about additional steps I needed to take in order to remain in the payment program? Sorry for the long winded post but I'm at a fucking loss here
Topic:
Traffic and Parking

Answer: I doubt you have any recourse here. These suspensions are administrative in nature and done in accordance with the DMV and your state laws. The police and collection agency have no duty to educate you on the administrative side of things.


Title: Fake service dog?

Question: I keep seeing these people around my college buying service dog vest and putting them on their dogs to fake their way into  there dormitory with the dog. Sometimes it's just a visit friends and show the dog, other times it's to actually bring them into businesses where they are not allowed. Is this legal?  Furthermore, is it likely you'll get caught doing so?

Answer:
 IANAL, but in some places it is not legal, but the problem is it's not legal to specifically ask about the person's disability. People are able to ask 2 questions: 1. Is the dog a service animal required because of a disability? and 2. what work or task has the dog been trained to perform. Unfortunately, you cannot ask for legitimate documentation or an identification card to prove that the dog is a service animal.

People probably put the vests on so no one can question them. These rules only apply to staff trying to determine if the animal is a legitimate service dog. Unless the dog is not housebroken or is out of control, no one can really do anything. Answer #2: Some states make it a crime to do so. You'd need to post your location.


Title: Can I get out of a traffic ticket by showing up early to court?

Question: A friend of mine got a ticket in California for not stopping at a stop sign. Awhile back I read online somewhere that if you show up to court before your ticket is processed, and mail the court a letter saying you already showed up, your case will be dropped. Does anyone know if this is true? Thanks for your time.

Answer:
 That's just silly. Have you ever seen "one weird trick!" actually work?Answer #2: No, it isn't true.  If your ticket isn't in their system yet, the clerks can't add you to the docket.  And many counties require that you reserve a court date by phone or online.Answer #3: Not true.

If this was true, then every attorney everywhere would use it and no one would ever get convicted of a traffic ticket.


Title: [USA-OR] New store wants me to come unload stuff for an interview?

Question: [deleted]

Answer:
 Scam.

He wants to get out of hiring a dozen temporary employees for store setup so he's chosen to abuse his applicants for free labor.

Report him to the chain management, what he's doing is probably against their rules and if it isn't, it should be. Lots of exposure to unpaid wage suits for that one day of 'interview'.Answer #2: If you go in and get hired, you should expect to be paid for it. If you go in and don't get hired, you should still expect to be paid for it.


Title: [IL] I rear ended a guy this afternoon, I believe he is partially at fault. Can I do anything to better argue my case or ensure the claims agent looks into it?

Question:
[deleted]
Topic:
Traffic and Parking

Answer: You rear ended someone. You're almost certainly 100% at fault here.


Title: [WI] Employer gave us bad checks, now he won't respond.

Question:
I'm not sure if I'm in the right sub, but I figured this would be a good start. The following is what I'm currently going through.

I work at a sandwich shop that is a national chain. The firs shop I worked at closed about two weeks ago. Upon it closing the checks arrived almost a week late than expected. I went to cash in the check and it seemed to process alright. About 3 days later I notice my account is overdrawn. After investigating and talking to my bank they said that the owner gave us all bad checks. During this whole course I've been calling him, leaving him voicemail's and texting him asking for an explanation or just trying to get any response. Today one of co-workers at that time called him and he got a hold of the owner. He kept making up multiple excuses why this happened but wouldn't be direct. I found out that he picked up because he didn't have his number saved on his phone. I now know that he's ignoring my phone calls. So far I've called our corporate office, let them know of the situation, I left a complaint on their website as well (corporate advised me to do that also), and I also filed a claim form through the Workforce Development of Wisconsin and Equal Rights Division. The only problem I'm having is that their time frame is expected to be "several months," I'm also a student and live paycheck to paycheck. What else can I do to get my money back and hopefully the fees refunded that were a result of this as well. As of today I have almost $100 in overdraft charges and other fees.

I'm wondering if there's any other action I can take to get this resolved sooner. Any information or help would be appreciated.

Answer:
 1) File a claim with the federal Department of Labor. They not move any faster than the Wisconsin equivalent, but your boss/owner should be reported to them as well.

2) Write a professionally written and succinct 'demand' letter that asks for your back pay + overdraft fees. Give him a date to make the payment to you and advise (but don't threaten) that you'll sue him in small claims if the date passes without payment. Then file in small claims if he misses the date. A small claims case may be the fastest way to get your money.


Title: Is it illegal to claim on the menu that prices include the 7% meal tax and then charge the meal tax on top of those prices? Located in MA

Question: Is it illegal to claim on the menu that prices include the 7% meal tax and then charge the meal tax on top of those prices? Located in MA

Answer:
 **NAL**

If you feel the pricing is deceptive you may attempt to file a complaint with the ~~ATO~~ AGO\* using the following link: [https://www.mass.gov/how-to/file-a-consumer-complaint](https://www.mass.gov/how-to/file-a-consumer-complaint)

*I am not a lawyer and do not have a great grasp of this area of law.*

*\*Hit T instead of G*Answer #2: Does the receipt show the menu price + 7% tax, or menu price-7% + 7% tax?


Title: harassment from landlord about our blinds (north carolina)

Question: [deleted]

Answer:
 Since you don't smoke in the apartment, discoloration over time of the blinds should be considered normal wear and tear. I believe most state laws provide that wear and tear isn't the responsibility of the tenant, but not sure whether the lease can override that specifically.

In either case, it does seem like you're following the terms of your lease to keep the blinds in good condition, and discoloration of plastic is not something you can prevent.Answer #2: Do you smoke in the home? That would discolor them, and remain your responsibility.


Title: Can my dads child support go to me instead of my mom?

Question:
Hi, I’m a 19 year old male almost 20 and In college.  I’ve lived at home for the first 2 years of college but just signed a 12 month lease for an apartment. I pay for my car my tuition my gas my food my apartment and am/will  fully financially responsible for myself upon moving out. The only thing my mother who I love with pays for is my phone bill which I will be getting off soon. My dad says when I move out he wants my child support to go to me instead of my mom since she isn’t paying for anything for me anyway. Is he allowed to do this? We are both worried if he does that my mom will say that that is her money and that I can not have it. Am I entitled to my child support?

TLDR: can the child support my dad pays to my mom for me go directly to me since I am financially independent and will be living in my own apartment and in college?

Answer:
 Most states don’t even give child support after the age of 18 so you absolutely need to give your state.

I’m going to guess NJ.


Title: New building owner has served 60-day notice to all tenants to leave the residence, but our lease is still active until November 30th. What are our options?

Question:
This is in Los Angeles.

&#x200B;

We moved into our apartment in December of last year, and one month later, the property management company sold the building to another company. It's an old building that isn't rent controlled but is a decent price for what you get, so everybody other than us and one other unit is on a month-to-month agreement.

&#x200B;

Now, I know that unless we somehow violate the lease, we are legally entitled to stay here until the end of our lease term. But, as per a tenants-landlords meeting we had a few months ago, the new owners have made it clear they intend to completely renovate the building. It's from the 1920's, and they have expressed that they will remove and install brand new plumbing/electric throughout the building, in addition to updating all the units and adding a pool/game room, etc. They basically said it will be a completely different building by the time they're done with it.

&#x200B;

So, I want to know what we can do here. Is it all a matter of negotiation? What I'd like to do is agree to move out at the end of the 60 days PROVIDED they compensate us with the leftover rent that we would have paid on the remainder of the lease (almost $8,000), our security deposit, and moving costs. Is that a total waste of time or would that be something they might go for? Should we ask for reduced rent? I just want to know how to make the best of the shitty situation. It's a great place and we really hate to leave it, but there is no way we will be able to pay the increased rent when they're done with construction.
Topic:
Landlord Tenant Housing

Answer: Hunker down if you want - - you have a lease valid many more months. Let them know - - send them your lease and say the 60 day notice does not apply to you. Let *them* start the negotiations to get you out early. (And then UP it)


Title: My sister was raped in a Wal-Mart parking lot, but has no intention of getting rape-kit or going to court.

Question: [deleted]

Answer: It's going to be almost impossible to prosecute or investigate such a case. If your sister won't go to the hospital for a rape kit and will not make any statements for law enforcement then they can't even prove she had sex let alone tackle the issue of consent.


Title: Sheriff left his business card in my door and none of my neighbors. I'm kinda scared and don't know if I did something.

Question: So today I came home and there was a Sheriff's business card in my door. I don't know what it could be and its freaking me out a little. The sheriff wont answer his phone so I dont know. I don't do illegal things besides smoke a little pot. I live alone and I dont have more than one person over at a time so I just don't know why the sheriff could be coming by. Any suggestions?

Answer: No reason to panic. Leave a voicemail with your name and asking why a business card was left. Once they tell you, you can decide if you want to talk to them or not—you’re under no obligation to talk to them unless you’re subpoenaed. If they say anything that indicates that you’re the one under investigation, say nothing and contact an attorney.Answer #2: Honestly it probably is nothing. A sheriff did that with us once because someone in the system didn’t update their address. We just let the sheriff know he didn’t live there and he never bothered us again.


Title: [CA] HOA's sprinklers caused mold, HOA says they're not responsible because this is a PUD, are they all wet?

Question:
First things first, shitty MS Paint diagram: https://imgur.com/4E3J2Qm

I'm located in Southern CA and just purchased a home in a PUD development where the common areas are maintained by an HOA. The HOA has sprinklers in the landscaping bed alongside my home's exterior wall that are miscalibrated and have been pointed at the wall of the house for an extended amount of time - the stucco is damaged, and the moisture has caused mold to grow on the interior of the wall and on the baseboard.

I contacted the HOA as soon as I became aware of the issue, and they stated that while they will create a work order to reposition the sprinklers and repair the stucco, any interior damage is mine to deal with because of how CA treats planned developments. However, the interior damage was clearly caused by the sprinklers not being properly maintained, which to me seems like it would mean the HOA is at fault.

I understand and accept that were the mold caused by a water source on my property, this would be my financial responsibility - but because it is a common area water source, I'm not so sure. I have looked online and found differing opinions about who should pay to fix this - is it on me because I own the house, or on the HOA because the problem is clearly caused by an exterior water source being wrongly installed.

I have a lawyer friend helping me to review my CC&Rs but was wondering if anyone knows if there is a legal precedence I can point to when I reply to the HOA. The problem is limited in location, but still shaping up to be quite expensive.

Should I make a homeowners' insurance claim and let them go after the HOA?

Answer:
 This sounds less like the fault of the sprinklers, and more like something to do with the stucco not being properly installed. What would have happened if there was rain with wind blowing water against the wall? It's the same concept.

Who's responsible for maintaining the walls of the building? That is who is most likely responsible for the damage. Not the sprinklers.Answer #2: Document everything, have a contractor quote you on how much to repair your wall and send a demand letter. If they refuse sue them in small claims. You have damages caused by their negligence and I'm unaware of any law (anywhere) that nullifies them from liability.Answer #3: Honestly I would just make a homeowners claim, this is why you pay them.


Title: Car Tint Help! (5% Legally???)

Question: So i live in new hampshire, i really want to get all round 5% tint a buddy of mine has it and his car looks amazing no ricer shit stock jet black bmw with some 5% tint looks sexy and i heard this "If you roll down your windows in a traffic stop all four of them the officer cant really say anything" "Obtain sometype of permit" so what are my options i know i can go to 35% legally but i want DARKER! Please if anyone is familiar in this field could you tell me how i can get 5% legally or atleast get away with it or do i just send it and hope i dont get pulled over.

Answer: if you have illegal tint and you get stopped, an officer will ask you to roll your windows up to check the opacity. no one in this sub is going to help you get away with anything illegal


Title: I'm being told to do and pay for a year of substance abuse courses for testing possitive for marijuana in Washington state.

Question:
I  signed a dependency agreement in order to meet my 7 year old daughter who was being harbored from me and who was being sexually molested by her mother and stepfather. My daughter now lives with her grandfather while I complete about 14 steps listed in a dependency agreement.

The dependecy agreement states that I will submit to random UAs and if tested positive for any of the prescribed substances, that I will meet with a substance abuse councelor and follow all recommendations.

The dependency agreement does not tell me which substances they will test me for.

I work full time, have an AA, held my job for 4 years, have no criminal record of any kind or any history of drug or substance abuse. I have an honorable discharge from the WAARNG and have completed everything on the dependency agreement except securring a 2 bedroom house or apartment (I can barely aford the 1 bedroom I have now.)

Upon taking the hair follicle I tested positive for thc because I had smoked during the eclipse last year and during a couple of movies when out with friends. I don't use daily and I don't drink or do any other substances and never have.

I told this to the substance abuse councelors and he wrote a recommendation saying I show signs of addiction and withdraw and habits of substance abuse and recommend I take a substance abuse course that's over a year long and costs 30.00 a week. Not only can I not afford that but Marijuana is legal in this state and this case is handled at a state courtroom.

My court appointed attorney told me to just man up and do it, but the last hair follicle I gave came back clean and I can't afford another 120.00 a month.

As I said before I'm law abiding and have no record of any kind and I feel like I'm being treated as a drug addict with a record. Is there possibly anything I can do to defend my right to use legal marijuana when my child is not in my care? Because that is all I've done.

Also Im 31, ten years above the legal age to purchase and consume marijuana in Washington.

Answer: Err... why is the child being "harbored" from you. Any additional back story on this?


Title: [IL] If I [36] work in one county but my employer's address is in another, which counties employment laws apply?

Question:
I'm a member of the LGBT community and don't want to get fired if I come out to my boss. I work in a county that has strong anti-discrimination laws but my employer has a business address in a county with no such protections.

Which set of laws would apply to me?

Answer: The labor laws where you personally work apply to you. In order for your employer to operate in the county with stricter worker protections, they have to follow those laws.


Title: Need urgent advice (India): Neighbors call cops on us because male friend stayed 10 mins past 11 PM "deadline"

Question:
So basically, my flatmate (23/F) and I (22/F) moved into this Pune flat about a month ago and got the house through a broker. I was clearly looking for a house with no restrictions and had made this clear to the broker right in the beginning, and was also willing to pay a higher rent for the same. When he gave us the house, he said, "It's your house, you can do what you want; there are no restrictions."  He even joked about how this house is perfect for parties. My flatmate's boyfriend was with us when we went to check out the house. In fact, he was the witness for our contract signing.

**TL;DR at bottom**

**BACKSTORY**

2-3 days into moving in, the watchman starts harassing mine and my flatmate's male friends saying they're not allowed to enter the society. He changes the rules according to his convenience, sometimes saying they're not allowed at all, other times that they're not allowed after 11 PM. We tell him to get us in contact with the chairman of the society so we can talk this out. He says yes, but keeps delaying the matter.

Meanwhile, I continue to get my friends home cause I knew I was legally right in doing so. There was nothing in my agreement about this. I haven't signed any document that says that I won't get male guests into the house. I was not even informed about this before signing the agreement even though the caretaker had met my flatmate's boyfriend.

A few days later, the watchman sees me and friend go up to my house. The time is around 10.30 PM. A strange woman comes to my doorstep (she is neither the chairman nor the secretary). When I open the door, she doesn't bother to address me, instead looking at my friend says to him in a rude voice "I'm sorry but you need to leave right now". I ask her to speak to me. This sets her off and she starts screaming at me and threatening me about how I'll be evicted if I don't follow the "rules". I try to tell her that her "rules" are restricting our freedom of movement. I explain that the broker didn't tell us anything. I tell her my agreement doesn't say anything. I tell her that this is not a hostel or a PG where she can impose such rules on me. She keeps reiterating to me that these are the rules and I must follow them, with no other explanation. We decide to speak to the owner.

We have never seen the owner; she lives in Mumbai. She wasn't at the signing of the agreement. She has never spoken to us on the phone. She has a guy who acts as a caretaker for all her properties. We ask him for the owner's number. He doesn't reply. We ask the broker, who says he will send it and then doesn't.

A few days later, my other broker (female) calls me and says what I'm doing is not allowed. This time I clearly state how I'm legally right in doing so and tell her that I will sue everyone. She tells me not to do anything rash. A day or so later, the caretaker comes home because there are repairs to be done. We talk to him about the incidents so far and he says the society members gave him a call. He says, in these exact words, that the same woman called him and he asked her if there was a party/loud noises/nuisance being caused. When she said no, he told her then there is no problem with friends coming over. So we continue getting friends over. Watchman continues to harass them. We ignore him.

**Now coming to what happened last night.**

Friend gets done with work at 10. We plan to have dinner and catch up on Game of Thrones at my place. My cat had run away, so we go looking for him together, find him, and enter the society. The watchman loses it when he sees my friend and says he's not allowed inside. Tired of this shit, I tell him I want to speak to the chairman and resolve this once and for all. He tells me to go to the chairman's house, which I refuse to do. I tell him to call the chairman downstairs so we can speak. My cat is struggling too much so I go home to drop him off, while my friend waits in the parking area. While I'm gone, the chairman shows up and tells my friend to leave as "it is late" according to society rules (it's 10:20). My friend asks why and he just walks away without a word.

When I go back down, the watchman says the chairman will be back in soon and makes us wait until it is almost 11 PM. My flatmate is waiting with us. At this point we're starving and tell the watchman we need to eat, so we're going up. We tell him to come up and call us when the chairman is ready to talk.

Barely 10 minutes later (now it is "officially" past the "deadline"), 3 people from the society show up with the watchman. None of them are the chairman. 2 of them are men we've never seen before; the 3rd is the woman from the previous incident. They start off the conversation (if it can be called that) in an extremely aggressive manner. They are saying it's past 11 PM so my friend should not be here. I explain to them that we were in fact waiting to talk to them, but they aren't having any of it. Unbeknownst to them, my flatmate  is recording the conversation on her phone, as decided by us previously. One of them goes to the extent to say that he'll drag my friend out of the house. 2 minutes into this, the same guy threatens to call the cops. My flatmate tells him to go ahead, as we think he's bluffing. We watch him make a call as they all leave fuming.

After some time, someone is banging on our door. It's almost 12 by now. I open the door to two male cops. I inform them that they cannot enter my house without a female cop; they enter my house anyway. One of them is video recording us and not even being lowkey about it. The other cop tells my friend to come to the police station with him as there has been a complaint against him. He refuses to say what the complaint is, says "you'll find out when we get there". While we try to explain the situation to them, my friend takes out his phone and starts video-taping the situation for our own safety. (Note that this is inside my own house) The cops get pissed off and ask him to delete it, trying to snatch the phone from him.

I know that they can use excessive force against him so I snatch the phone from him myself. This doesn't deter the cop and he comes close to me in a threatening manner, almost grabbing my arm to take the phone away. I run into my room, and get the rent agreement and police verification with me, which I then show him. I tell him what the society is doing is harassment. He says I have no authority to say such things and threatens to arrest me. He questions my character and says it is wrong for a man who's not related to me to be in my house at this time. I tell him we asked my friend to stay because we were scared for our safety after the way the society members behaved.

The society people also come now and enter our house without permission. Everything goes to shit. The woman is making it about her kids, saying they understand "what you're doing". The cops are screaming at my friend. The crazy guy is incessantly screaming in Marathi that the cops have proof and hence must arrest my friend. Nobody lets us even complete our sentences and speaks over us loudly, as they have the majority. My friend and I don't understand Marathi, only my flatmate does. So we request them to please speak in Hindi/English. The woman says they are Maharashtrians hence will continue to speak in Marathi.

Everything is chaotic. Everyone is screaming at each other. The cop is trying to arrest my friend. The woman starts screaming at me when I mention freedom of movement, saying "there is no such thing as freedom of movement".

This situation is stressing me out too much so I tell the society people to please leave the house. The crazy man is still pressuring the cops to arrest my friend, even though they now seem reluctant to do so. They want us to apologize, tell my friend to leave, and end this drama. We agree and leave the house. Flatmate and I go downstairs with them to make sure my friend is okay.

Despite of this, the crazy guy hasn't had enough. He wants to escalate the situation further and calls up some higher up cop who's a friend of his. He joins us at the gate. They are now saying they can't let my friend go so easily and are telling the cops in Marathi to take him away and "do what is needed", which clearly means to beat him black and blue.

I have informed my dad (who lives in another state) about the situation and by this time, he freaks out and calls a family friend to handle this. Said friend comes over and cops start questioning him about his relation to me. When they find out we're not related by blood, they want to arrest him as well. He did not even step into the society.

At this point they are plain bullying me. Everytime I try to state laws, they laugh at me, saying that these laws don't exist. My friend tells me and my flatmate to go home and that he'll handle this. We watch the rest from my balcony. They harass my friends for another 30 minutes or so, after which a police van pulls up, right when my friends were about to leave. I see my friend get dragged out of his car and slapped by the cop. Note that all of this is happening outside the society now.

Eventually we see the cops leave - both the jeep and the original two cops, who are on a bike. Unsurprisingly, the ones on the bike take a u-turn and come right back at the gate and proceed to have some shady exchange with the society guys. They shake hands and leave.

Now I feel threatened for my safety. The law is not on my side as I learnt clearly yesterday. It was downright harassment and there is nothing I can do about it. The cherry on top was the broker calling me in the morning to yell at me, saying that "society rules" are not restrictions. He wants us to apologize for disturbing the "harmony" and then get on with life as though nothing happened. Owner is still missing from the picture.

**TL;DR**

Broker refuses to acknowledge that society's rules are "restrictions". Society members don't care about the broker's fuckup or the fact that the agreement doesn't mention any such rules. They refuse to give these rules in writing but are willing to call cops on us and enter our house at odd hours, making us feel unsafe in our own home. Any guy that enters our house henceforth could be arrested and beaten up.
Topic:
Landlord Tenant Housing

Answer: I don't think anyone here is an expert in Indian law though I suspect much of what you are facing is societal.  I would suggest consulting with a local Indian Advocate (I believe that is the term for a lawyer in India).  I'm not sure how it works in India but in the US, you can often get a free consultation to see where you stand legally.Answer #2: I am not a lawyer, but I am an Indian. The rules of the apartment complex make no sense, and yes, you should be allowed to have your friends come over. However, since this is India- corruption is ripe, and there is always a way to pay your way out of anything. The legal system can help you, but its slow moving, and it won't help you out. If you can contact the owner- then try and do so, get your deposit back, and move out . Just move into a more reasonable place, or just toe the line for now, until you can move out. If you were a Maharashtrian, you would be fine, but in a more conservative society, this is a major hassle, and as an outsider (EDIT: I mean, not a Maharashtrian), its a pain in the neck to deal with all of this.


Title: [MN/MI] Co-worker wants a DNA test to determine if a mentally disabled man is related to her, is not worried about possible legal ramifications

Question: [deleted]

Answer:
 Even if a DNA match is confirmed, I can't imagine there is any potential legal obligation to support a brother, much less a half-brother.

Regardless, how is your co-worker going to get the consent of this mentally disabled individual to do the test?


Title: We bought a house, partly for the wood stove, and two months later a chimney inspector condemned the chimney....what can I do? We are in South Carolina. I know, not a huge deal to not have a wood stove, but still.

Question: We bought a house at the end of December and during the inspection it was recommended to have the chimney swept before using the wood stove, a major selling point of the house. When the sweep (also certified inspector) came out, he said that the chimney would have to be condemned for two reasons. 1: there had been multiple flu fires and the terra cotta was cracked all the way up and 2: the chimney was 3 feet too short and not up to code. I did contact the inspection company and got a refund for the inspection, but I am wondering if there is anything further I can/should do?

Answer:
 You're going to need to read your contract with the original inspector.

I know that when I had my house inspected it was recommended to me by my realtor to hire a specialized chimney inspector, because the general inspectors (at least around here) would not inspect the chimney.

So go back to your inspection contract and speak to a local lawyer.Answer #2: With a stove you can get a metal flu to run inside of your chimney which will extend above the code requirements.  You need to contact companies in your area who do this work.


Title: [NM] LandLady came over to our house last night at 3:00 AM, banged on our back window and shined a light and peaked through the window.

Question: [deleted]

Answer: I'm not a lawyer but I think in this particular situation she is in the right.  She was responding to an emergency situation of a flooding looking for the leak and since she owns the property she can enter the building to look for the problem.


Title: Drug rape ending up in pregnancy

Question: Need to be vague here for several reasons, but living in SE Asia. My parents live in helper was drugged and was raped without her knowledge 2 months ago. She only found out yesterday when she was constantly vomiting, and she was tested positive for pregnancy. She was a virgin before this and she adamant that she did not have any sexual relations with anyone. She then recalled a time when she had felt sleepy and fell asleep at a friend’s place after a party, but did not recall anything, The next day she felt sore and had some bleeding but had put it down as Her having her period. I assume as she never had intercourse before she did not know what to expect. My parents feel that it is too late to report the rape as there is no proof and that it is her word against,.. who knows as she doesn’t know who did this to her. Her friend is not answering her messages. I am fuming that they are not reporting the rape. But I don’t know what to do. Are they correct in what they say? That it is hard to prove now? I know SE Asia is poor in convicting rape charges, so maybe they are right. Any advice here?

Answer:
 Brunei is not strong on human rights and have recently introduced Sharia Law which could be relevant in this case. You should not do anything, without real in depth knowledge of the legal and political situation in Brunei, as it is not entirely impossible that the rape victim could end up accused of adultery under Sharia Law with severe consequences.

You really need to know what you're doing.


Title: [PA, USA] Fell for a "wholesale vacation club" sales pitch and want to get out

Question:
Disclaimer: Please don't judge me. I made a stupid, impulsive purchase that I regret. I have agonized over this enough already.

The purchase was made in Pennsylvania, but I am currently living in NY if that has any significance.

I was at a festival and filled out an entry form to win a free cruise. And (shocker) I won, but had to attend a presentation in order to claim my prize. I'm sure this sounds familiar. My wife and I attended this presentation, and were not planning on making any purchases until they altered the offer 3 times in a last ditch effort to bag us (which they did). The offer was 12 weeks of vacation for $6000 total, at any of their participating vacation properties. I didn't have the cash at the time, so also signed onto their financing agreement (I know, I just keep getting dumber by the letter here).

Long story short, after a lot more research that I should have done ahead of time, I'm not happy with the company, their practices, their available properties, their peak/off-peak splits... any of it. And yet I'm making payments every month toward my $6000 package. The contract states that the buyer has no cancellation rights, and it's not subject to any right of rescission.

I have perused the complaint boards at BBB and I've seen some responses from the company, where "in the interest of ultimate customer service" or some BS like that, they send customers a confidential cancellation form that apparently allows them to nix the deal.

I would plan to write them a letter claiming financial hardship (which isn't entirely true, as I can handle the payments, I just don't want to anymore), and cite their own responses to other customer complaints in order to broker a cancellation. I'm debating whether or not I would even ask for a refund, as I have used one of the weeks, though what I've paid so far is way above the stated value of each week.

Some additional info, if it matters -- this company is shady. They operate under at least 3-4 different names, sharing the same PO Box and license information. The financing entity is within their corporate umbrella, but when others have tried cancelling policies, their customer services reps claim "we sold the debt to X financer, we have no authority to cancel it." I will edit the post with specific names of company fronts if I'm allowed to do so.

Bottom line, my question is, can I cancel this plan, or is the contract as binding as they say it is? If I have an exit, what is it and how do I approach?

EDIT 1: Neglected to mention that my wife and I, in order to attend the presentation, had to have her brother watch our baby. It went way longer than they said it would, and her brother was texting us angrily for the last 2 hours or so, baby was upset, etc. Could I make a case that, in order to finish the whole affair and get back to our baby, we might have been willing to agree to something we normally wouldn't?

Answer: Unless the contract has some squirrelly provisions or an exit clause, it's binding.  If it has a cancellation window you can try to use that.  Otherwise, it's entirely at their discretion.


Title: [US - California] New employer is requesting copy of last year's W-2

Question:
I was recently offered a position at a hospital but the employer is requesting a copy of my W-2 from me to verify past employment.  During the application process at the new hospital, I selected "do not contact employer" due to the fact that I did not want to be treated unfavorably once word got out that I was seeking jobs elsewhere.

My concern is that the new employer will use my past salary against me under the guise of employment verification.  I have been told  *over the phone* what my earnings will be but since I have yet to go in and sign anything, I'm afraid their HR will look at the W-2 and alter the offer.

So my question is: do I have to comply with the request and if so, could I provide a redacted copy of my W-2?
Topic:
Employment Law

Answer: Photocopy your W2, and black out all the amounts on it.  Then photocopy it again.  They will have their employment verification and shouldn't be an issue.


Title: Frustrated with doctors

Question:
Years ago ,I was misadiagnosed with a sprained ankle. The doctor and emergency rooms gave x-rays but refused to give me MRI's. I was recommended physical therapy for it,but ended up uninsured shortly after.But I treated the injury as if it were a sprained ankle.

Years later,I was still in agonizing pain,can barely walk.So I changed doctors,ended up getting the MRI I was denied it turns out I had a broken foot...as in the bone had broken off but did not dislodge,thus forming scar tissue.And it could only be found through MRI.

I believed my ankle was sprained for years ,but it was broken and I feel pain still nearly five years later.

Do I have any legal recourse for this ?

Answer:
 You can speak to a medical malpractice lawyer but in general when the average person has a sore knee/ankle, the first step isn’t a MRI.

Also, might want to check the statute of limitations, which you may be past.


Title: I was hit by an uninsured driver and suffered multiple broken bones, and my recovery will take eight months.

Question: [removed]

Answer: Wait, a lot of your money came from mileage? Does this mean you drive for your job? And were you on the clock during the collision? You may be able to obtain workers compensation.


Title: Poisoned dog????

Question:
Ok so I rented a room off craigslist with some college dudesin February of 2017. Everything was pretty good. Had a couple issues with the one but was nothing serious. Just like, he was picky about stuff/OCD and adjusting to change, and he was not good with communication. The other one was kind of some pretty boy, sorta stuck up douchey but still chill type that I got along with. Everything was cool. They moved back after summer break everything was cool still. The OCD roomie keeps to himself 90% of the time but is still chill, I enjoy talking to him, hes become a homie.

Now, about a month or month and a half ago, my preppy roommate started to kinda be a dick. Being crazy loud playing 2k till midnight. He got a cat, never gave this little ass kitten attention. Me and my girlfriend pretty much adopted him, fed him, bought litter and food. Disregarded my existence for the most part. Never really communicated any issues to me about anything. He also rarely cleaned anything cuz my girlfriend cleans. We've kinda shared some minor expenses, like garbage bags, paper towels, this food item, that food item, I've bought beer for the house at least 10 times and let him drink his more than his fair share. Anyway, he tells me one friday that hes signing a lease early the next week and moving out. He then like takes everything hes bought and hides it in his room. Cool, no biggy.  He bought it. He then is gone. Shows up with asshole friend and is locked out of house. Proceeds to try and kick basement door down. Damages the property in the process. I let him in like "dude wtf" doesnt even look at me. He grabs the cat that hes never taken care of past the first 2 weeks and dips. Leave all his shit here, including his hamster. My other roommate texted the land lord asking if he was coming back for his stuff. My girlfriend leaves a note on a whiteboard saying "if you find yourself in a tight spot, we will take care of the cat and your hamster, and try to help you out" out of concern for the guy cuz weve been chill with each other. He comes back when no one is home and absolutely destroys said white board, rips everything off the walls, steals a bunch of odds and ends from me, then leaves with most of his stuff, still leaving some of his stuff here. He comes back one more time for stuff and havent seen him since.

NOW. since the last time he was here, my dog has rapidly deteriorated in health. He cant eat, barely drinks, and now has diarrhea, among walking sporadically.  I have no idea what to do.

Answer:
 Take your dog to a vet???? How is that even a question? If your dog is poisoned you need to have it checked ASAP, not post to reddit about it. Answer #2: NAL. Has he seen a vet? They’ll be able to tell you if it’s poison or illness and help either way. It sounds like your dog is seriously ill and needs medical attention. Answer #3: To add to the people saying take your dog to a vet or shelter, some vets and shelters may let you enter into a payment plan.

Also, report the vandalism and criminal damage to the police and your landlord, and take photos etc. You’ll possibly end up on the hook for it otherwise.


Title: Landlord entered my room in a belligerent fashion while I was nude

Question:
I have rented a room from a woman who also lives and owns the property for almost 9 months, and while we had a good tenant-LL relationship, the last month has been a nightmare for me.

It started a few months ago when I had unintentionally damaged a vacuum cleaner that I have now replaced twice. About a month following this, she had basically reported to me I was not fulfilling my duties as a tenant to her liking and felt obliged to have me staying in her house more beneficial to her. She served me with a 30 day notice on the 14th of April, 2019 in terms of changing the rental rate. Fast forward to the 29th, I am being served a 30 day notice to vacate the premises. I had complied with said notice and found another room to rent shortly after. The process was going smoothly for the most part in terms of me paying rent on time as well as utilities. But in the last few weeks she has grown increasingly harassing to the point of badgering me to move as well as a spew of insulting texts. Last night she wrongfully tried to escort me off the premises and tthreatened to change the locks on me.

Today, I am planning to move. This morning as I was sleeping (around 8am) she had sent me a flurry of texts claiming that she is going to withhold my security deposit in its entirety as well as place added fees for bogus reasons such as me consuming a 4 oz can of coffee during my tenancy here that she previously welcomed me to use. She has also attempted for me to replace a $30 heater that she has already agreed to deduct from my security deposit. I had accidentally broke said heater due to it being left in the middle of the hallway and it being dark and me stumbling over it. I didn't comply with this stating I had already agreed to reimburse her for the heater, which I have text messages to prove. She also previously stated before all of this when I told her that I shouldn't worry about it and supposedly let me off the hook. However today she sent me a link for a $56 cast iron heater with $75 in shipping costs. I told her I would not be purchasing it for reasons stated above.

The situation involving the belligerence of her barging in on me this morning is due to her allowing me to use some storage crates for my clothes and other things. This was previously due to the dresser (it is a furnished room) being completely broken and unusable and me having to throw it out because of nails sticking out. After I had replied to her about the heater, she decided to knock violently on my door and state she was coming in. She did not provide a 24 hour notice of this prior. The only notice she gave me was she would be shampooing the carpets today. Instead of doing that, she decided that she would open the door, badger me and insisted I was stealing property from her (the crates, which would be left behind as she stated me to do) and started pouring out all of my belongings around my room. I was nude underneath my bedsheets the entire time due to me having woke up only 30 minutes prior. As she was standing at my door, I told her that she is not welcome to come in due to me being indecent and her threatening to go through my things. As stated before, she did it anyway. I recorded the entire incident.

Am I in the wrong because she had gave me a prior notice of shampooing carpet at 11pm last night? I don't think this notice also says she can claim I have stolen property from her, nor barge in my room and intrude on me and my belongings.... especially if claimed stolen items were still in the house and I had no intention of taking anything and transferring my belongings into boxes someone who is assisting me with the move is coming here with.

I feel violated. Any advice?

Answer: Your location is necessary, in an owner occupied rental situation he owner often does not need to provide 24 hour notice, not unless your lease states otherwise. Your recourse for a single failure to provide notice before entry is possibly rather limited.


Title: Help

Question: My Elder brother is a immigrant from Nepal and a citizen of America. He got his visa through "Diversity visa lottery". He got a loan of almost $200,000 on the basis of our fathers property(land) . He is in America for 10 years now. It has been 3 years he has not sent any money and is refusing to pay the loan. He is not on any finalcial problem as he drives a $70000 mercedes, bought a home last year and is planning to buy another car,a $60000 jeep. The bank, as we have not paid the interest money, has sent a 35 day warning to auction our assets(land) if we do not pay the loan amount.  What measures can we apply to make him pay the loan or support us finalcially?

Answer: I'm pretty sure nobody here is going to know Nepalese law.  I would assume your best course of action would be to speak with a local (Nepalese) lawyer.Answer #2: Get a judgement in your country then have it certified in USA and lien every damn thing he owns.  Sooner or later he'll have to payAnswer #3: You need to speak with a lawyer ASAP.Answer #4: Is the land in Nepal or America? Is the loan in Nepal or America?


Title: [NY] I want to do some online "side hustles"--how do I handle taxes with my parents?

Question:
I am 19 and have never done my own taxes (I have no real education in tax laws or such); my parents have an accountant. I also have never held a formal job, though I did help out at my parents business when I was younger.

Now I am looking into two side hustles, both online, one being a store and the other being a writer and publishing shorts online. Do I need to tell my parents? (I assume so) I would rather not disclose the online writing but I don't see much of a work around. Is there a threshold it is okay to not report or such? Am I being claimed as a dependent/would me having income mess up the taxes?
Topic:
Tax Law

Answer:
 You file your own tax return, even if you are a dependant. You don't report the income to your parents.

If you make over 400 as a self employed person, you need to file. Answer #2: At 19 why would you tell your parents?  Your income isn’t theirs.  If you are a full time student they may be able to claim you for a deduction up until you are 25, but that still doesn’t mean they need to know your income unless you are trying to argue that you provide more than 1/2 of your own support and thus shouldn’t be claimed as a dependent.


Title: UPDATE TO: (cross-post /r/personalfinance) [VA] Gave my 2+ weeks notice yesterday, employer is canceling bonus from my paycheck tomorrow. Is there anything I can do?

Question:
Original post: http://www.reddit.com/r/legaladvice/comments/2qx15p/crosspost_rpersonalfinance_va_gave_my_2_weeks/

Someone suggested I post an update for the thread I had put on here a month ago. The text of my update from /r/personalfinance is below.

***********************************

There were a few people who had asked for an update on my original post (if anyone even remembers it by now...), apologies that it took so long. I was waiting on the update post until the situation was actually resolved, and that didn't happen until today... finally.

tl;dr - I got the bonus back, read on for details

Brief recap of my situation - gave notice on 12/29, got a 4k end of year bonus with my paycheck on 12/31. Employer took the full amount of the deposit out of my bank account, and wrote me a check for normal salary, as their way of taking back the bonus as they learned I would be leaving the company in January.

What happened since: I did decide to follow through and work out my remaining two weeks. Some people advised me not to, but at the end of the day, I didn't regret it. When I left on the last Friday, my boss gave me props for the way I handled things and promised a glowing reference if I ever need one in the future. I figure that's probably a pretty good thing to have, as that place was my first job out of college. I'm sour at the company but glad I still have the important bridges intact with my boss/co-workers.

A big help to me was [the excellent reply](http://www.reddit.com/r/legaladvice/comments/2qx15p/crosspost_rpersonalfinance_va_gave_my_2_weeks/cnaokhx?context=3) I got from /u/proselitigator on /r/legaladvice, which talked about the rules for Direct Deposit transfers and in what cases they are reversible. The company had reversed the transaction as if it was an error, but the original deposit was clearly not an error based on everything they had told me.

So I called around a bit, and as it turns out, one of my family members knows someone that happens to be an attorney in VA. This generous fellow offered to write a letter on my behalf to the company, protesting the removal of money from my account. That was delivered on the morning of my last day at work. So that afternoon I had a nice sitdown with my boss and the CEO, and we all discussed our feelings. I expressed my disappointment with the company's actions (shoutout to /u/carsgobeepbeep for [this excellent summary](http://www.reddit.com/r/personalfinance/comments/2qu6tv/gave_my_2_weeks_notice_yesterday_employer_is/cn9pc9i) on the OP - I used these points almost verbatim). The CEO said a lot of things about how they viewed a bonus as half-reward, half-incentive, and therefore they were willing to offer me half. I expressed that I didn't feel that them changing their minds gave them the right to take the money out of my account, but they stood pretty firm on half and said to call them when I made up my mind.

For a myriad of reasons, I wasn't really inclined to take the offer of half. Mostly because the company kept dodging the matter of how and why they removed money directly from my bank account. So the past month has been a on-going exchange of emails between my lawyer and the company's on-staff counsel trying to get them to answer on that subject. Finally, they caved and sent a check for the full amount (sans taxes, etc) to my lawyer's office. I'll be picking it up tomorrow.

If anyone is curious as to what we would have done if they hadn't agreed to return the full amount: Small claims court would have been the way to go, according to the lawyer. Don't know what the chances of success would have been, glad I don't have to find out.

Huge thanks to everyone that commented on the OP. A lot of people keyed into the fact that I'm young and new in the workforce, and I really appreciated people taking the time to help a newbie out. I've definitely made some naive moves so far in my career - giving notice right before the end of the year, thinking that a company cares about me, etc., but live and learn I guess.

******************************

Additional note for you /r/legaladvice folks - don't worry, I got the lawyer a bottle of very old scotch as thanks for his extremely generous work for me.

Answer:
 >The CEO said a lot of things about how they viewed a bonus as half-reward, half-incentive,

Legalities aside, this is lame. Every place I've ever worked that had bonuses made clear they were based on performance up to that point.Answer #2: Thanks so much and congratulations. Many /r/legaladvice frequenters, me included, have somewhat emotional attachments to the stories we read here; it's great to hear any update, especially when it's positive.


Title: (TN) just found out my girlfriend of 4 years cheated on me. We have a child, house and two cars together. I'm overwhelmed and don't know what to do. She's already looking into a lawyer.

Question: [deleted]

Answer: You should look into a lawyer too