Title: I am personally being harassed for something my employer didn't do.

Question:
I can't give the state because you could do a search and find a news article about it with all my information and a news clip, but I am in the United States.

I work for a nonprofit that occasionally gives out funds for what we call " family support". These are things like helping someone fix a roof or with car repair or get an ipad for your autistic kid. Now other agencies that aren't us get block grants from the state to do this with but we declined to do that instead focusing on our other program and services. All the family support we give out comes straight from our revenue so unlike the block grants from the state we aren't bound by state regulations to give that money out to someone or to do so in a particular way.

I'm an assistant. I answer phones, make coffee, plan meetings, update calendars. I do not approve or give out these funds at all. Sometimes I answer basic questions about where the money comes from and occasionally I have been asked by my boss to call people and inform them that we won't be able to help them but they should apply again next fiscal year ( I also give numbers to other resources at this time).

It is literally impossible for us to help every single person. We go by a few internal policies that are based on need, how often we have helped them in the past, etc. It is all determined solely by our CEO and CFO. Literally no one else but those two can make a yes or no decision on this.

We get some angry calls. It happens. I try to sift through them and offer support and other resources when possible. Generally though, people work through being upset and just move on.

This is by no means a huge part of my job. We maybe allot a few thousand a year to our family support, if we revenue at the end of our fiscal year, and the majority of my time is spent working on other issues with our programs and services. And like I said I am just an assistant.

My CEO and CFO recently got a request that they denied. My CEO was leaving the office early due to a family emergency that eventually turned into a death in the family so I was asked to contact the person requesting assistance and tell them we were unable to help. We had originally told her we would help but upon receiving confirmation from her regarding a statement that we needed to process her request, we discovered an issue that wouldn't allow us to help.  I told her that we couldn't help her and why and gave her a list of alternative resources to look into. Conversation I have had hundreds of times before. She asked to speak to my CEO (who usually doesn't take direct calls anyway) but I told her she'd be out of the office for a bit because of personal emergency.

She freaked the fuck out. Literally. I spent weeks fielding calls from area regulatory agencies that actually don't investigate us (but she lied to them saying they funded us), the governor's office (which investigated briefly and found nothing) and listening to threatening calls  and voice mails about how she'd have my job. I forwarded each one as instructed to the head of our human resource department. I hung up a few times when she started threatening my job and generally making me feel unsafe.

I tried best I could to go about my day until she somehow managed to get a hold of my personal information. Then it was calls on my personal cell phone and she showed up to my house "to see what a nice house  you (I) lived in. Must be nice." I didn't actually see her at my house but she described it in a call to me.

I started keeping logs and calling HR routinely. My CEO is out of the office and unable to take calls (huge death in the family) , no one else is willing to address her directly (MY CFO takes the calls from the regulatory agencies that call us and gnerally handles those sorts of things). Recently she stopped by the office and asked the receptionist to talk to me directly. I have explained to this woman repeatedly and as the regulatory agencies have told her, I just take messages and make copies. I didn't deny her request. I can't approve it. I am literally just a messenger.

I have a four year old whose picture is prominently featured in a class picture in our lobby (one of our programs is a preschool) and I am with them ( all the staff took the picture with them) but my son wouldn't sit still so I held him. Our names are listed and positions. She has repeatedly threatened to report me to CPS for what I don't know.

Now a lawyer is calling trying to speak to me about block grants and I forward those on to HR but he stills says he needs to talk to me and only me. He claims to be her lawyer. How she can afford a lawyer and not her bills, I don't know.

Anyway, all the findings of the regulatory agencies and the governor's office cleared my agency but she keeps reporting me specifically, not my agency, citing " my combative attitude" and how I committed "fraud" with her paperwork requesting support. Even though I never touched that paperwork or even viewed it. It went straight to my CEO and there it sits, in her locked office that I don't have key to.

I spend about 75% of my day just dealing with her calls and the people she calls to call us.

I have been forwarding all that to my HR department but they are putting it all in a folder to wait until the CEO gets back. That is fine I mean I can deal with it for a bit longer.

I mean I can't deal with her calling my personal cell phone, which she is giving out to the agencies. I keep blocking numbers but I am having a hard time keeping up. I tell the agencies this is my personal phone number and they need to talk to my HR department.

But a few days ago, she called the media and they showed up to my personal house to ask me questions. I told them I was an assistant only and that they needed to talk to my employer and then I shut the door. HR sent them a statement the next business day that cleared up who they needed to be talking to. The station ended up emailing HR and cc'ing saying they were given erroneous information. They removed the news clip and it never aired but the story about my agency, naming me specifically is still up.

 HR said I handled it fine but I am legitimately worried about my safety.  They've told her not to call again but that doesn't do anything.

Help. I am just an assistant and this is ruining my life.

I am scared this woman will do something when she has exhausted all her efforts. I am scared she will sue me and bankrupt me. I am scared she will call CPS. She keeps using the word abuse and fraud.

Should I wait on HR or throw my savings on my own lawyer? When is it harasssment? I am not worried about my job, HR has sent me numerous emails (personal and work) about how this isn't my fault, my CFO has apologized for what has been happening, but no one has helped me make it stop.

Answer: A lawyer can help you get a temporary restraining order, and when you present all of the documentation of everything she's done at your hearing, it will probably turn into a permanent restraining order.


Title: [CO] Boss is trying to “push me out” by not scheduling me. How can I go about this where in the end I can still qualify for unemployment?

Question:
I’ve seen this happen before, but I just don’t know how to handle it. My boss cut me down from full-time 40+ hrs/wk to only 12 hours/wk. I’m having medical issues, so he says he’s trying to help by giving me time off. (He’s not a concerned/helpful type of guy) I never asked him to give me time off, and it’s making things worse because now I can’t afford to live. I’ve asked him to schedule me more, but he won’t. I believe he’s really just trying to get me to quit because of my medical issues, and doesn’t want me to be able to file unemployment. What should I do? IS there anything I can do?

More info. I can’t just go out and find a new job right now, because of the medical issues I’m on modified work duty per my doctors orders.

Answer:
 Reducing your hours from 40 to 12 could qualify as constructive discharge.

Start reading here:

https://www.colorado.gov/pacific/cdle/termination

http://www.mondaq.com/unitedstates/x/32101/Federal+Law/Constructive+Discharge+Law+in+Colorado

>Colorado cases recognize a claim for constructive discharge when there has been a significant change in working conditions that makes it so "difficult or intolerable that the employee has no other choice but to resign."

https://searsassociates.com/what-you-should-know-if-you-lose-your-job/

I could not tell you if the change in your work schedule qualifies as constructive dismissal in Colorado though - you need to ask a local employment lawyer, or call the unemployment office and see what their advice is (BEFORE you do anything like quitting).

Answer #2: Are you on modified duty in terms of what work you can perform or in terms of the schedule you can work?  If it's the second one, do you qualify for FMLA protected leave. Because punishing you with less hours for taking FMLA protected leave would be against the law.


Title: life insurance : the bank wants us to give up on the sum

Question:
so basically a few weeks ago my uncle received a letter saying our deceased grand mother had subscribed to a life insurance but the bank closed down and was bought by an european bank. The lawyer got back to us and sent us an email saying the file was being processed but the weird thing is the lawyer attached an email from the bank in which is said the lawyer should try his best to make us give up on the sum and to make us fill in an “opt-out” paper saying we renounce the life insurance.
Is it legal ? Why do they want to make us renounce ? Why did the lawyer attach an email on which it is clearly written *confidential* ?
By the way I live in europe - France, the bank is based in Luxembourg so are the lawyers.

Answer:
 These are great questions for your lawyer. He doesn't seem to be trying to get you to renounce, and has been transparent about the bank's attempt to get him to do so. I don't see any reason to doubt that he is working towards your best interests based on the above.Answer #2: Sounds like the bank wants to get your lawyer to convince you to forfeit your life insurance payout. He probably attached that to the email to show you what the bank really wants.

As /u/flownyc said, ask these to your lawyer, and needless to say, don't sign that form if presented to you.

The bank is just trying everything it can to get out of having to pay an obligation it accidentally purchased as part of the original bank's closing and subsequent buyout.Answer #3: >so basically a few weeks ago my uncle received a letter saying our deceased grand mother had subscribed to a life insurance but the bank closed down and was bought by an european bank.

Out of nowhere a policy for their grandmother that dies two years ago is found in another country...

Be very very careful, OP, if the lawyer asks for money up front...

i'm thinking this may be advance fee fraud.

i am betting somehow he needs money to get around having you renounce the policy somehow. very shortly...


Title: Divorcing my husband in NY, can I hide or give away his guns?

Question: [deleted]

Answer:
 Don't give them away. If you're concerned your husband is going to go "postal" upon his return, call the police beforehand. They may confiscate the guns if they determine your husband is a threat. Why are you getting the restraining order? Has he threatened violence? At least your MIL is out of the picture for now.

By the way, your attorney is correct about the locks. Answer #2: You can't get rid of the guns. Hiding them is also risky. It would be better to get out and away from the home temporarily.

Saying that you are really shaken up by his mother's threats and could he place them in storage so his mother can't get a hold of them and kill herself, the kids, or someone else accidentally. That way it's a concern for his batty mother and an "accident" rather than revealing your true intentions of leaving his abusive ass.


Title: [Fayette County, TN] Ridiculous traffic ticket.

Question: I was driving on I-40 in Fayette county on my way back to my hometown when I got pulled over by a TN State Trooper. He claimed that when I had passed a car a few moments prior, that I had not left enough room between us and nearly caused a wreck, and that I had not used my blinker. Both claims are complete horseshit: I know for a fact that I used my blinker and I know there was enough room there because nothing happened and the car behind me did not have to make any sudden stops or slow-downs. Anyway, he gives me a ticket for an illegal lane change that I found out today amounts to just over $250. This is a load of horseshit, and while i was planning on just paying it and getting it over with, the amount is absurd, especially for a broke college kid. That said, I really don't know if going to court would help me in this case, with it being a small town and with a State Trooper instead of a deputy or small town cop. So basically, do I pay this or go to court??

Answer:
 >  I know for a fact that I used my blinker and I know there was enough room there because nothing happened

He's not charging you with "something happening".  He's saying your actions were reckless and **could have** caused a wreck.  That's a legitimate charge.  Note, I'm not saying you **are** guilty here, but that "I didn't cause a wreck" isn't a defense because he's not saying you did.

It's up to you whether you fight it or pay it.  You should first check to see if your blinkers are actually working.  You should also determine whether taking time off to go down and fight is worth the time, effort and money.


Title: Pregnant and trying break an appartment lease (need help) Toronto, Ontario Canada

Question:
Hey everyone!

I'm struggling right now so I'm turning to the internet in hopes of any advise.

I currently live in Toronto, Ontario, Canada and am renting a 2 bedroom apartment. I live here with my husband and small dog. We started renting June 1st 2018 and signed a 2 year lease. I found out that I am pregnant and am due in August, this was not planned but life rarely is right?

Our lease will be up May 31st 2020. My issue is that I am trying to get out of this lease. Currently we pay $2450 per month plus we have other expenses. Both my husband and I work but I am the main income for the house (which has never been an issue). Because of this we really need to move a) we need more space for the baby b) we need to be closer to family (suburbs) c) we need a more economical solution and put our money to a house instead of rent. D) I'll be going on maturity leave and our income will significantly drop.

We have explained this to our landlord and he has agreed that if we can find new tenants he will let us out of our lease.

We are actively looking for new tenants and personally paying for adds however he has raised the rent for the new tenants to $2700 which is making it hard.

Yesterday, he threw a slight wrench into this and emailed us telling us he is selling the place. This we thought was amazing and called him and asked if we can just move out and be let out of the lease, but he stated no and to keep looking for tenants.

We find this odd because what if the new owners want this place for themselves? Why would he still want us to find new tenants?

Another thing I would like to add is that we signed a 2 year lease (super dumb) because we were under the impression that meant he couldnt raise the rent in that time period. But at the one year mark he did. He only did the legal amount and the rent went up $43.11 which isn't a lot but it really was  the point that made us upset because we would have not signed a 2 year lease and then we wouldnt be in this situation at all because we would currently be month to month.

I guess I have a few questions (again I am in Toronto, Ontario, Canada)

Are 2 year leases actually legal?

If 2 year leases are legal, can they raise the rent in the middle?

If the landlord is planning on selling the place, does that break the lease once he sells and therefore can we leave?

Other than finding a new tenants is there any other way you guys feel we could get out of the lease?

Thank you everyone. Our intention is not to fuck our landlord over, we just really need to leave and we want to find a legal way to do it.

Thank you!
Topic:
Canada

Answer:
 The standard form lease does allow for increases as allowed under the Residential Tenancies Act, which would include the standard guideline increase after a year.

Two year leases are legal.

The leases run with the property, so if he sells the buyer is obligated to take on the lease. That said, they can ask for an order to evict based on the new owner or family member intending to inhabit the property, which comes with a 1 month rent rebate IIRC.

There’s no way to really get out of the lease. That said, you haven’t mentioned anywhere about lease assignment, which basically allows someone to take over your lease under the same conditions and rent (so they would be on the hook for the remainder of your lease, then go month to month). The landlord can charge reasonable fees for the lease assignment (ie credit checks, etc). If the landlord refuses to allow the lease assignment, you can then give 30 days notice that you intend to vacate (see s95 and s96 of the Landlord Tenant Act).


Title: [IE] Was in toxic and abusive relationship during fight pointed knife at my ex to make him back off, he says I will go to jail for it. He is harassing and threatening me

Question:
Thank you for reading, I have posted to /r/relationships but then I realised this place may be better for the advice.

&nbsp;

Over the period of year I lived with my ex he wouldn't let me sleep at night. He would attack my self confidence and self-image. I didn't give up easily so we would argue a lot and at one point he took my bathrobe and pushed it in my mouth for me to "shut up".
He would throw things at me and try to humiliate me. When I told him to stop he would say that he is not doing anything.

&nbsp;

In one of the arguments I grabbed a knife and told him to back off.

He told me I'm nuts. Since then he became even more violent and grabbed my throat and drop me on the bed couple of times trying to scare me with furious face or throw things at me with even more force.

One day he told me to move out (gently speaking) so I found a place and planned moving out. He asap became apologising and wanted me to stay.
I left anyway. Week after living alone I realised he was really bad choice and decided to break up with him.

&nbsp;

Now my ex which I broke up over 1,5 year ago is still sending me e-mails. The problem is that he is sending them to my google account hence I can't block him but I don't want to delete them either by putting them in spam because honestly the messages are scary and I want to have them in case he did something.
I have also a few voice recording of fights when he was assaulting me (grabbed my throat).

He says in them that I destroyed his life. That he wants to punch my face until i bleed out. that he will kill me the moment he will see me that he hopes that my boyfriend beats me till I bleed. a lot of name calling etc ect. He even said that he will go to the police and falsify the statement so I will go to jail "and pay for I have done to his life" he is threatening that he will say that I threatened him with knife and I will go to jail.

I am currently going to therapy, my counsellor told me to go to the police but I haven't mentioned the knife to her because I was scared that she will have to report it.

&nbsp;

I am scared to do anything.
I reported him to google, they blocked him for 6 months (or so I thought) but then messages started coming back again few months ago. I reported him again around 2 weeks ago but I still receive them. This is over 50 messages per day. I have hundreds if not thousands of them.

&nbsp;

Can I go to jail for pointing a knife at him? Can he really make me go to jail? What should be my next steps? I haven't told anyone till now.

Answer:
 If the emails contain explicit threats of physical violence, you can report him to the police, and request a restraining order.

As to the knife, you are premitted to defend yourself. Since, he backed off, it was apparently effective.


Title: What is the best way to tell sister-in-law not to contact me

Question: Since the first time I met my sister in law 2.5 years ago, she has been bullying me by intimidation, manipulation, silent treatment, spreading lies, and showing up uninvited. She also gossips about me to other family members and from my mother in law’s description, she sounds obsessed with me. I have now blocked her on text, email, and social media.  Over the last several months she has started to tell my husband I am mean and she texts him asking him to make me hang out with her or like her or show more appreciation of her at family events. My husband has told her to stop contacting me at least twice. I’ve told her once. My husband is receiving emails addressed and sent to both of us from her. In addition, my brother in law calls my husband each time sister in law sends an email to know what I thought because I don’t reply or now I have blocked her. She is not respecting us asking her not to contact me.  It is very distressing to me and I’m concerned she is becoming more obsessed with me. There has been no physical harm yet, only emotional. What are my options to tell her don’t contact me? Cease and desist letter? A call to the police?

Answer:
 > What are my options to tell her don’t contact me?

You ahve no options, as she's not contacting you.  You've blocked her.

She's contacting your husband, and that's between him and her, even though it's about you.  Your husband can also ask her to stop contacting him, if **he** chooses to do so, but you can't stop her from contacting him.


Title: Mom fired because she's not Spanish.

Question:
[deleted]
Topic:
Labor Law

Answer:
 > The only reason this happened is because my mom isn't Spanish.

Why do you think that? It sounds like the boss just likes this other woman better.


Title: [Kentucky] Can an employer force you to take a month off without pay without officially laying you off?

Question:
About a year ago I was told to not come into work for a month due to there not being enough work for me. I wasn't given an official paper, neither did I ask for one(obviously I didn't go on unemployment either), so I was wondering if that would've still counted as being laid off? Can an employer force you to take such a long break without compensation?

The reason I am asking is because I entered into a verbal agreement with my employer that can only be voided by them firing or laying me off.

Answer: Absent a contract, yes. File for unemployment.


Title: Can i legaly use "Roomba" in a game

Question:
So i am currently in a relatively large group, based world-wide and comunicating over the internet.

we are creating a game based of an idea that has been circling around the internet.

One of the NPCs is planned to be called "Stabby the Space Roomba"

Would we be able to use this name in a released game for a world-wide audience?
or would we have to use a non-trademark name?

any help including directions on contacting the company perhaps to gain permission to use the name would be extremely helpful.

also, for the NPC shape and size, would we be able to use a round flatish shape as it is not exclusively used by iRobot

EDIT1: apparently world-wide isn't accepted by the location bot, uk, united states, australia, there that should make it happy

Answer:
 >any help including directions on contacting the company perhaps to gain permission to use the name would be extremely helpful.

Find the parent company that owns the Roomba name, peruse around and find some contact information. Were I you, I'd contact HR, tell them your name, and that you'd like to speak with the legal department regarding licensing.

Once you're through, explain to them very nicely what your plans are, and if you could get their permission to use the name, or if they say no, ask what kind of compensation they'd seek for use of the Roomba name. They'll either present an offer, or tell you no.

But yeah, it's certainly not a good idea to use this without permission.


Title: Airbnb host got raped in the room next to ours. Now rapist is back hammering at the front door while she ignores it and pretty much blanks us, too. What are our options?

Question:
My boyfriend and I are staying at this Airbnb in South Australia and last night, the host has been raped by her "boyfriend".

Police was here, took statements and we were up all night. I'm shocked at the situation, I feel really bad for her. Another resident told us that this has been going on for a while, but our host didn't report to the police because she isn't allowed to have subtenants and he threatened to tell her landlord about said resident and the Airbnb situation.

Yesterday, she called them, though, and they took him in for the night. A policeman told us that it's likely not going to court and that he'd be out by the next day again. But also that the boyfriend couldn't come close to our unit, otherwise we could call and have him arrested again.

Today, we didn't meet her and didn't receive any message, either. We haven't talked to her at all actually since before the police threw us out of our beds at midnight to stand outside till 5am. We didn't witness anything, we were just woken up by them and got everything explained while she sat in the ambulance for a check up.

So, we didn't really know what to do today, we just spent the day in the unit because we were tired and hoped to have a chat with her. Understanding that she must be really upset, we didn't try to approach her, though.

Now we are alone at home, it's midnight again and we are listening for two hours now to loud hammering at the front door. She isn't here or has locked herself in, but is not available to us. Same with the roommate. None are reacting to texts or calls, either. Then there's this situation where we're not supposed to call the police because of the lease.

Long story short: We don't feel safe and are unsure about what we can do. We also paid to stay here for ten more nights, do you think we have any chance to get this back? Or see any other form of compensation since we have a really tight budget? We've read horrible Airbnb stories about how their support handles crime during stays. We also don't want to harm our host who is already troubled enough at the moment, but we also feel quite left alone with that rapist situation now.

What can we do?

Answer:
 After you call the police and extricate yourself from this situation, please leave an appropriate review so others can avoid this, according to the other resident, ongoing matter. Answer #2: \> we are listening for two hours now to loud hammering at the front door

Call the police.


Title: A friend of mine middle manned Molly he got online and is ready to flee the country . Need legal help fast please Reddit . He's a good kid and just needed the money . Need advice asap!!

Question: [deleted]

Answer:
 Fleeing the country is an incredibly bad idea.  He needs a criminal defense attorney asapAnswer #2: Where is this kid going to go that he's able to live any sort of a life fleeing US law enforcement?

He should get a lawyer.Answer #3: So his plan is to do what exactly? Go somewhere without a job, without an extradition treaty with the US, learn the language, discover he can’t legally work, sell drugs to make ends meet, wind up in the same situation?


Title: I can't join the military over Domestic Violence, is there any way to clear this up so i can join?

Question:
okay so I've got a fiance and two kids, we live in Arizona (US) and joining the military is something me and my fiance have decided would be good way for us to get our lives just the way we want it. The problem is i went to jail about 6 months ago over me and my fiance getting into an argument and me getting a Domestic Violence charge (Assault and Damage of Public Property.) I won't go into too many details about the altercation, but my fiance suffers from PTSD and after i restrained her after she began freaking out she started getting physical. I called the police to defuse the situation (i had never called the police prior to this, and was unaware that i should have called a non-emergency number or just settled it without their involvement.) When they arrived they determined i was the agressor and took me in. I spent the night and jail, the following day my charges were dismissed, and my fiance didn't want to press charges. A few months down the road, i get a letter saying the state will also not press charges and things are going good. After applying to join the military, things were still sailing smoothly until they received the police reports stating what had happened. With that information, they determined since i was labeled the aggressor and my fiance had said we had a history of domestic violence (which she claims she never said, just that we had had arguments before) i was denied to join. I'm also planning on going to school to be a teacher and i highly doubt i would be allowed to work around children with a domestic violence charge on my record.I spoke with multiple branches, and they all said the same thing. Is there any way that i can get these charges removed, or set aside so that they don't hinder me so much in the future?

EDIT: To include Location of me

Answer: Contact an attorney about expunging the charges.


Title: [MA] Landlord illegaly sleeping in my apartment

Question:
I live in a suburb of Boston, and rent a 3rd floor apartment from an independent owner (not a management company). It's come to my attention that my landlord has been having an affair with my girlfriend (17) and sleeping with her in my apartment while I'm away on business. The terms of the lease dictate he's not allowed to come into the apartment without 24 hours notice, and she's not on the lease (she doesn't live there, but she has a key). Do the terms of the lease still apply if he was invited as a guest, even if the person inviting him doesn't live there and he knows it? Do I need a lawyer or is there some sort of state housing department I should be contacting? Thanks in advance.

EDIT: I understand the posts here are automatically closed after 12(?) hours so I'd like to thank everyone for their guidence. I didn't get the answer I wanted, but I got the "real" one, so thanks for taking the time to set me straight (except for the dick who accused me of rape, fuck that guy)

Answer:
 I call troll but here is the answer anyway

>Do the terms of the lease still apply if he was invited as a guest

The entry laws do not apply as he has permission

You have her unlimited access to your place. She can invite guests.

You need to dump your girlfriend and take her key. Problem solved. Answer #2: IANAL so asking a question: does it matter that the girlfriend was 17?Answer #3: Nobody asked yet... how old are YOU?


Title: I sent almost-nudes 3 years ago, dude is implying he has them and is trying to get me into sending new pictures. I was 12-13 in these pictures.

Question:
A few years back I ~developed~ and stupidly look pictures of my chest and sent them to a few friends at the time.  Luckily(or unluckily, depending on CP laws), I was wearing a bra in the picture I sent to a certain friend.

In this picture, the better part of face isn’t shown, mostly just my mouth making some weird trying to be seductive pose.

Time passes and I don’t talk to this “friend” anymore. We are still added on social media but we never talk.

Yesterday, he messaged me asking for updated versions of these pictures. I said no, and he said something along the lines of “Wouldn’t it be a shame...” but didn’t say what he was implying. However, with mentioning those and him having literally no other dirt on me, I connected the dots.

I have since blocked him, but theoretically if this wasn’t an empty statement and he did keep that picture all this time, what would be my options if he chose to post it or send it around?

We have never met in person and I literally just became friends with him through Facebook, so I doubt he could find my family but he does know a few of my friends names. I’m not too worried since I don’t have any evidence of him still having it, but I’d like to know my options if he did.

Would this be considered child porn or is the fact I’m wearing a bra completely disregard that? If it could be considered CP, could I get in trouble for making child porn if any of this came to light? I am in TN and he is in GA
Topic:
Computer and Internet

Answer:
 You'll need to be a bit more specific about jurisdiction, but in general, the threat "do what I want or I will reveal to the world that I've been in possession of possibly-borderline child pornography for years" isn't much of a threat. He'd be harming himself far more than he'd be harming you.

You're being extorted over a sensitive subject matter. I'd recommend talking to a local criminal defence attorney, and working out with your attorney how to go to the police.


Title: What are the legal implications of Valve's recent data breach?

Question:
What are the legal implications of the current issues Steam is having? My understanding is that currently anyone who tries to log on may accidentally log into another user's account. As a result they are leaking personal account information including credit card information, full name and address, etc.

Isn't this illegal? Will anything happen because of this from a legal perspective?

Answer:
 IANAL.

The information that was exposed (in a select few instances, mind you, not across their entire user base) were the last two digits of their credit card and expiration date (if they chose to save that information), as well as the person's name, email address, and phone number.

Now, from what I remember of Sony's major breach a couple years back, since the plaintiffs in the class action lawsuit were unable to identify any damages caused by the leak, the judge dismissed the case.

Considering that case, plus the fact that much less information was actually leaked, only a few people were even exposed at all, *and* the information that was leaked isn't really damaging, I would be very surprised to see Valve get in trouble for this.Answer #2: Name and address is public information, last 2 or 4 of cc# is on every register tape you ever threw out. The security implications of this are utterly minimal, Valve didn't get hacked, it looks like a caching system they set up to brace for the Christmas load malfunctioned a bit and basically let people shoulder surf random other users when they logged in.

They might get fined in Europe though, I think data protection laws there cover name/address/email


Title: Caught speeding at 115 in a 55...

Question:
Got caught by a PA state trooper for:

115 in a 55
careless driving
driving on roadways laned for traffic

Just trying to keep my license and not go to jail here.

Should I plead guilty or not guilty?

Any advice helpful.

Thank you!

Answer:
 You need a lawyer right now. You need to make peace with the fact that you're probably going to lose your license. You were going *double* the speed limit, for god's sake.

Also, as someone in PA: I hope to god you lose your license. You could have killed somebody I know. Answer #2: You should absolutely retain the services of a local traffic lawyer. You almost certainly cannot afford not to. Beg, borrow, or stea...actually don't do that last one.

Seriously though, while no one can tell you what the outcome of your case will be with or without a lawyer, it almost certainly cannot make this case worse for you.


Title: (CO) Distributing free supplement samples to test effectiveness. What do I need to do to limit liability?

Question:
Hi Legal-Logicians!

I've started a supplement company geared for the competitive gaming industry. I've have collected a list of fans that want to test or product. We are going to ship them three samples accompanied by a survey to gain feedback from their experience will gaming after taking our product. A total list of ingredients *without* dosages will be provided. They may sign an NDA to learn dosages. All our ingredients are GRAS (Generally Recognized As Safe) by the FDA.

A couple things to note:

* There is no monetary exchange
* We will be shipping outside of Colorado, but only to all USA residents
* We have a Colorado registered LLC

What are best practices for covering liability in a situation like this? Is a waiver necessary?

Thank you for any feedback!

Answer:
 > What are best practices for covering liability in a situation like this? Is a waiver necessary?

You really, REALLY need an attorney for this.  Legal expenses are part of the operating costs of a business, so the time to get started is now.  You don't want to be in court telling the judge "But *reddit* said that my homemade waiver was fine!"


Title: Witnessed some highly questionable behavior in a college class, not sure if overreaction/course of action

Question:
Just prior to the start of my class, the student directly behind me picked up another students crutch (while she was not present) and pretended that it was a machine gun, pretend-shooting towards the door. He then put it down and went in front of the classroom, ducked behind the front desk, and proceeded to pop out and pretend-fire an imaginary gun towards the class.

This all happened about 10-15 mins prior to class -- only approx. 1/3 of class (12ish people) were present, most were busy in conversation/just getting in. However, two of the people next to me saw the same actions. I said it was weird, and we paused and looked for a moment, but then continued on with our day -- the professor walked in shortly after, class continued as normal.

I would also note that the Imaginary Shooter has had spats with the Crutch Owner, including one today where she questioned him using something (perhaps the crutch? happened shortly after -- this is not factual) without her consent.

Here's the part I need advice with: I'm freaked out about the idea of someone "pretend shooting" the class. I'm not sure if it's my paranoia from my military service, or perhaps a stigma against... something, or if I'm looking at nothing as something. So the first part is: Am I overreacting?

Second is: what the fuck should I do?

I do not want to blow up someone's life with cops and alphabet agencies if it's completely false. However, I also do not want to have to go through any sort of school shooting. There's no other "weird" behavior, he doesn't seem to be "angry" or anything, and he participates in class pretty normally -- albeit, stupid, but normal none-the-less.

 Next class is on Tuesday. He may have classes before then (limited selection though), but I'd realistically like to figure out a logical course of action by tomorrow morning -- if there's an e-mail or phone call to be made, I'd rather make it early than late.

Also, this was an x-post (without the "Edit" part) from /r/advice, but with a mod's consent, I reached the conclusion that actual legal and law enforcement officials may be my better option.

I am in Michigan, for what it's worth.

EDIT: Speaking with Campus Police tomorrow. In my (unrelated) stress, I ignored the fact that they may just laugh at me and tell me to calm the fuck down without arresting a teenager in the middle of class. Thanks for the simple clarity, /r/legaladvice.

Answer:
 Dude.

Military here.

It is a jackass with a crutch.  Dude is probably one of those guys who said "WELL I WOULDA JOINED THE ARMY BUT I WOULDA KNOCKED OUT THE DRILL SERGEANT".

You can notify campus security, and I am a firm believer of the "see something, say something".

I also hope you are utilizing the services at the VA to deal with your PTSD.  There is nothing wrong with seeking help. Answer #2: As a former police officer, and if I was in service currently in the environment we find ourselves in these days, especially as a campus police officer, I would want to know about it. It may be entirely benign, but every time we have a campus shooting, there's almost always people who come forward and provide evidence of something they did that should have led others to question their behavior and whatnot.

If your campus has an anonymous tip line, use it. Otherwise, I'd swing by the campus police headquarters and at least talk to one of the desk officers there to see what they think. If they ignore it and something comes of it, then you'll have the satisfaction of at least having tried to do something. If they ignore it and and nothing comes of it, then it's no one's loss. However, if they don't ignore it and discover something amiss, then you'll have the comfort and satisfaction of knowing you probably prevented a catastrophe. These days, it's just impossible to tell what peoples' motives and intents are. If he'd done this in an airport, he'd have been detained and questioned at length.


Title: Trying to sell our home. We longer live there. After inspections and appraisal all of a sudden our toilet was clogged and overflowing and now have damages to repair. Do we have any rights?

Question:
Basically the title. We are selling our home and no longer live there. The house has had inspections and some other repairs already made now all of a sudden when the appraiser shows up our toilet is overflowing and we now have to fix those damages.

I would assume home owners insurance would cover this but do I have any rights here? It would be hard to prove we didn't do it it would assume but I have a video doorbell at our new home to show when we come and go.

Edit: sorry forgot that this is in Ohio.

Answer:
 > do I have any rights here?

You have the right to file a claim with your insurance and/or fix the plumbing problem in the house you own. It's *your* house.


Title: Roomies changing locks and trying to illegally evict us?!

Question:
Okay, so about a year ago my husband, son, and I moved in with an ex-coworker of my husband's. Everything went just swimmingly for a while and then, all of a sudden, his wife just went totally crazy. Not to toot my own horn or make myself so "awesome and 100% right" but we have done NOTHING to warrant the abuse she has put us through. (The only things wrong that could be used against us is that my husband has raised his voice at her a couple times and I once dumped out the entire trash can looking for my son's magnets she threw away then didn't clean up the mess because I was angry almost to the point of tears.) We have bent over backwards for this woman and the other day she had this massive blow up at us because we ate a meal in our room and she screamed at us and demanded that we pay all the damages that we incur on this carpet (which, mind you, there are none because we are very clean people).

Next thing we know she and her husband (who in the space of 48 hours went from being on our side to her side fully) verbally tell us we have 30 days to get out. Okay, we have a verbal agreement but in the state of Idaho (we live in Canyon County) they must provide us with a handwritten notice IN PERSON stating certain rules and stuff.

BUT NOW THEY ARE CHANGING THE LOCKS. LIKE RIGHT THIS SECOND. AND I AM FREAKING OUT SO HARD RIGHT NOW.

Like, yes, we did go report her behaviour to the local police department and we were VERY polite and courteous to the officer (no name calling her, no cursing, no raising voices, etc) and he let us know that this behaviour (changing the locks) would be considered illegal if they did it.
But my problem is that WE HAVE A VERBAL AGREEMENT and I think we messed up by only paying her in cash because this means we don't have receipts of payment and idfk what to do. We do want our own place but we were waiting on taxes to come back.

I keep Googling "idaho eviction laws" over and over and they all say that the notice must be served in person and they cannot change the locks but I cannot find out any information otherwise and it's a weekend and I am just freaking out so hard right now. Thankfully my son isn't here right now (chillin with grandma, will back tomorrow night) and my husband has this amazing capability to not stress out over anything but I AM MEGA STRESSED.
And I don't know what to do.

Does anyone else have experience with this??!
Topic:
Landlord Tenant Housing

Answer:
 She can end your tenancy with notice, as you already discovered. She cannot legally remove you herself: if you remain on the property past the end of your notice, she must apply to the courts to evict you, then take the eviction to the sheriff's department to have you removed by an officer.

If she illegally evicts you (by locking you out and refusing to give you copies of the new keys), you can sue to recover costs incurred as a result of the illegal eviction, such as temporary accommodation. You have an obligation to mitigate your damages (for example, it's not fair to stay in a 5-star hotel and bill her for it), and if you do so, you can recover some or all of your costs from your landlord by suing her.

Paying rent in cash doesn't change that. If there's a dispute as to the amount of your rent, your testimony is evidence, as are bank stubs showing that you withdraw similar amounts every month near the date of your rent, as are any other bits of incidental information you might have. A verbal lease paid in cash is still a lease, and she's still bound by laws with respect to tenancies.

Idaho's legal aid society recommends contacting a lawyer [immediately](http://www.courtselfhelp.idaho.gov/brochures/H-6.pdf).


Title: URGENT! HELP! Need a question answered quickly!

Question: I am a 17 year old living in Maryland. I am wondering if a minor under the age of 17 who was given a speeding ticket will be able to attend a waiver hearing without a parent? Originally I was supposed to attend with my mother and father but an emergency erupted out of nowhere so now I have to attend by myself. Will this be alright? Thank you so much everyone!

Answer: Over a speeding ticket yes. But some judges are a little particular and may ask where your parents are, just be polite and respectful and explain the situation. You should be fine


Title: Neighbor has hedges crossing onto my property and coming to within 18” of my house. I’m getting my house painted at the end of the week. He says he can’t do it, his arm hurts. Can I do the work and send him a bill?

Answer: Do what? It sounds like you want him to paint your house.


Title: [South Carolina] House I'm renting is for sale. Can new owners make us leave before lease is up?

Question:
The house I'm renting is currently for sale. An offer has been made and could close soon. Our lease is up on June 30th. Can the new owner compel us to leave before the lease is up, and, if so, what are the terms and how much notice will we be give?

Thanks.

Answer:
 Unless the lease says otherwise (and most don't) it is not terminated upon sale of the house.  The new owner is obligated to continue renting it to you until it expires.

Sometimes the new owner will offer you a relocation package if you agree to leave, but that is entirely voluntary on your part.

Since it's already mid-March and the lease is ending in less than 3 months, I doubt they will try to remove you.


Title: Crazed business owner threatening to sue over negative yelp review

Question:
Pennsylvania:

So this one started 2 years ago when my friends and I were engaging in some typical good-spirited banter on Twitter with some kids from a rival school over a competition our two schools were involved in. This random business account for a store in the rival school's area then completely out of nowhere inserts itself into the banter by rudely tweeting at my friends and myself, accusing us and our school of "cheating" in this competition, then claiming when questioned that she "doesn't care" if she loses business over calling out and berating random high school kids on twitter for completely unrelated matters. So, naturally, I posted a negative, completely honest Yelp review detailing exactly what had happened, and two years later, this woman somehow finds my parents' email address (I'll be 18 next month) and threatens THEM with "legal action" over my negative yelp review of her absurd and unprofessional business practice of, again, maliciously trash talking random high schoolers on twitter for matters relating in no way at all to her business. I have all the proof I need that this story is 100% true, but for obvious reasons I won't post any of it here. I know this lady is full of it, but my cautious parents treat any threat of "legal action" like it's some sort of hostage negotiation, so I've been instructed to give in to all of her demands including deleting the review and instructing my friends to keep silent about the matter. I know I'm a minor and that complicates things a bit, but does anyone have any suggestions as to anything I can do here without giving this person the satisfaction of having "won?" Thanks so much in advance for your time and help.

Answer:
 She's not going to win any lawsuit. Unless you are lying about her and her business, she has no case. However, Yelp will usually take those kind of reviews down if they aren't directly related to the business. Why is it still up there? Answer #2: First, this would be libel, not slander. Second, she can sue you for anything.  Doesn't mean she will win.  It also doesn't mean it won't cost you and your parents a lot of money.  Third, you need to decide if your Yelp review is worth the hassle (Protip, it isn't).  Learn to pick your battles.Answer #3: First, read [this](http://www.yelp.com/topic/philadelphia-being-sued-over-a-negative-review-advice) about another Yelper being sued for a negative review

And you have [this](http://www.law360.com/articles/674631/pa-senate-passes-anti-slapp-measure) on your side - basically the state of PA is trying to pass Anti-SLAPP measures.  And this woman is definitely trying to SLAPP you.

If you can't get your parents to wake up and DEFEND you instead of backing down to this woman's threats, you might want to call Sen. Larry Farnese's office yourself and see if his staff can help find you a pro bono lawyer to defend you.

(Granted, I am not a lawyer but a business owner going after teenager and threatening to sue over a 2 year old review . . .seems like a great test case)

Oh also consider dropping a line to the [Consumerist](http://consumerist.com/). They like your kind of stories.


Title: Pet custody?

Question: My ex girlfriend took the cat we both got together. Both our names are on the adoption papers, but it's only under my address, my debit card and only has my signature. Is this legal grounds to file a police report for theft? -in Michigan.

Answer:
 >Both our names are on the adoption papers

So you both own the cat.

>Is this legal grounds to file a police report for theft?

Sadly, no.


Title: Cinnabon trying not to pay for 15 hours of "training"

Question:
Like the title says, my first paycheck was short half the hours i've worked. I was never told i wasn't going to be paid for training, and i texted my boss about the missing hours and he said he would "explain" it to me next time i come in.

I am assuming hes going to tell me i wont be paid for "training" though it wasnt just sitting around, i was actually working.

I'm in Washington State, and i thought it was illegal to not pay for training. Whats going on/what can i do?  I logged all my hours.

Answer: Call your department of labor. They'll work to ensure you get paid for all the hours you're owed.Answer #2: Check the pay period on your paystub, first, to make sure the hours you worked were within the pay period.Answer #3: They'll pay you. Just go in and find out what's going on. Maybe it'll be on a separate check or something. Answer #4: Once had this issued as a separate check. So possible they are doing that.


Title: [CA] Someone accidentally deposited $100,000 to my bank account. What do I do?

Question: Edit: wired, not deposited.

Answer: Call the bank and tell them about the mistake. It may take a bit to get it worked out, but don't spend a dime of it. That money is not yours.Answer #2: The money isn't yours.  My best, non-lawyer advice to you is to stop wishing it were and trying to make it so.


Title: Canada- Bank filmed a notice of intention to enforce security, parents paid, they still filed a statement of claim

Question:
Location: Toronto, ON, Canada

Parents took a loan using the house as collateral/security for a principal amount of $150k in 2009.

Dad claimed to have had it cleared but has been hiding it from family.

On July 18th 2016, we received a notice of intent to enforce security. Mother freaked and called the bank to ask for an amount, we paid that amount and the employee confirmed it should be cleared.

Then on Aug 31, we received a statement of claim showing that nothing was paid and there is now a legal proceeding. We went to the bank and statements showed that there was a 2.56 amount left over on July 19 (after we paid). This then turned into 392.86 after the bank supposedly charged 390 for lawyers to serve us (as a form of cash advance??)

We went paid the 390 as well, and the bank said that their side is cleared and we should go deal with the lawyers ourselves??

What should I do? I tried seeking legal aid but all I got was a number that I called and had a lawyer who told me she didn't take legal aid???

Should I email the law firm? File a statement of defence??

Thanks

Answer:
 > the bank said that their side is cleared and we should go deal with the lawyers ourselves?? What should I do?

You can contact the lawyers office who sued you with evidence that you paid. Ask for them to withdraw the claim. But, if they do not you MUST file a statement of defence on time. Your defence is that you paid.

Its unlikely you'll qualify for legal aid for a civil matter.  You can go see a lawyer for advice or to represent you, but you will pay them for their time.


Title: I live across the street from a sociopath - [Louisiana]

Question:
**Background**

In September of 2015, I bought a wonderful new house in what seemed like a great, up-and-coming neighborhood. Within about 2 weeks of being there, I realized that I had likely made a mistake, and I've been regretting it ever since.

Directly across the street lives the Bad Neighbor (BN). He's in his mid-thirties, is married, and has an infant child. Several years ago, he scored a sizable disability payout and used the money to start a kiddie birthday party business (inflatable balls, video game trailers, etc). This means that the BN spends all day at home, and is intermittently busy during the weekend. He's got 3 trucks and 3-4 trailers he uses for his business, that are in semi-constant rotation at his house. Other neighbors have informed me that it was much worse prior to my arrival, when he'd scatter his vehicles up and down the street.

**The Neighborhood Watch**

Shortly after my arrival, the BN informed me that he drives around the neighborhood from 2-5 AM, every morning, looking for crimes in action, and calling both the local PD and the neighborhood off-duty police patrol about things he sees going down. He owns a black hat with the word 'Police' written on it, owns a black shirt with the word 'Police' written across the front, and drives around in a heavily tinted truck with emergency lights (I believe blue) mounted inside the windshield. He asked me to join his neighborhood watch (I politely declined) and informed me that the neighborhood is full of criminals, and that he had pulled his gun on people twice that month already.

**The Surveillance**

The BN informed me that he had a series of cameras mounted across the front of his house, and that they're aimed at my house and those of our neighbors - ostensibly to catch criminals in the act. I've seen photos of the fronts of our houses posted to the local neighborhood FB page.

He has informed me that he is watching me (from his camera system), that he knows when I come and go, and that he doesn't approve of me talking to several of the other neighbors.

But, what's hugely unnerving is a pattern in which he will **come outside, stand in his front yard, and watch me**, if need be for hours at a time.

* Every morning, for weeks, he'd come out to watch me load my kids into the car
* When I mow my lawn, he'll come out and stand in his driveway and watch me
* Whenever I've planted some stuff in my garden, and he's come out and watched me for a solid hour
* My wife has talked to friends in our driveway, and he's gotten in one of his three trucks, driven it to the end of his driveway, and turned his floodlights on (they're aimed at our house)
* 2 months ago, I had friends over, we sat on my front patio, he watched us for 4.5 hours straight
* On occasion, if it's a long surveillance situation, he'll bring his German Shepherd out and will do dog training/tricks/fetch in the yard (this strikes me as an intimidation tactic)
* If I speak to any neighbors outside, the BN will come out and watch us, turn his floodlights on, stand in his yard (ostensibly) talking on his cellphone, or drive his truck in front of us.

**The Other Neighbors**

* Neighbor A lives due east of the BN, and has come over and told me: *"I'm watching you, and this guy (pointing to the BN's house), he's my friend, and he's watching you too"*
* Neighbor B lives due east of Neighbor A, and has had a string of verbal altercations with the BN - in which the BN followed Neighbor B's pre-teen daughters around the neighborhood, in his truck or on foot walking his dog. Neighbor B's wife eventually confronted Mrs. BN and pulled her hair in the street (that court case is up later this year). The BN has told me (and posted on the neighborhood FB page) that Neighbor B is manufacturing drugs. The BN has also called Child Protective Services on Neighbor B, alleging Neighbor B was doing harm to his own kids. Neighbor B also reports the 'surveillance' pattern above.
* Neighbor C lives due east of me. She's reported catching the BN in her own backyard (the BN said he saw a suspicious black man trying to steal an air conditioner).
* Neighbor D lives due west of me. He's reported a string of verbal altercations with the BN that resulted in (unsigned and handwritten) threat letters in his mailbox and mighty suspicious damage to his yard. The BN called me and told me he suspected Neighbor D was attempting to hit my son with his car (both my son and Neighbor D deny this interpretation of events). The BN has posted on the neighborhood FB page that he suspects Neighbor D of pedophilia.  Neighbor D also reports the 'surveillance' pattern above.
* Neighbor E lives at the end of my block, and has reported a verbal altercation with the BN. The BN has told me that he suspects someone in Neighbor E's vicinity of running a prostitution ring.

**The Goons**

* There are a half-dozen other people in the neighborhood who are curiously loyal to the BN (I suspect his friends and employees of his business). They can be seen driving down my block, stopping in front of Neighbor B's, Neighbor D's, and my house, and eyeballing us.

**My Behavior**

Up to this point, I've tried to maintain a smile, and a healthy demeanor. I no longer let my children in the front yard or on the street, and I rarely speak to any of my neighbors outside (we will go away from the block to talk, or talk on our phones or over our back fences).

**What else have I done?**

I've spoken with an attorney who specializes in 'bad neighbor/HOA' affairs, and he's told me that nearly everything the BN has done is within the limits of the law, and that I could write a demand letter to him - but that it'd likely just enrage him further. I've talked to some of the other neighbors about it and some (like Neighbor E) are terrified of retaliation. I've talked to several cops, and they've informed me that they can go 'talk to him', but I doubt that will yield much.

The head of my neighborhood association (not a HOA) knows of the BN's behavior, but is more-or-less powerless to do anything to stop it.

**My current plan**

* Install an ton (6) of cameras on the front of my house, perhaps to discourage any trespassing/vandalism from the BN
* If things do not improve on their own, put a For Sale sign up next summer
* Document (in text, and with cameras) additional antisocial behavior by the LRB

Is there anything else I can/should be doing, besides saving up a down payment for another house?

*Edit: Minor grammar fixes*

Answer:
 Many towns have laws prohibiting the storage of commercial trucks on the street.

You could research that. Answer #2: >Is there anything else I can/should be doing, besides saving up a down payment for another house?

Nope. You've talked to the cops and and attorney, and I agree with everything they've said. Being creepy is not illegal. You can only get the police involved again if BN actually commits a crime such as trespassing.

By the way, the definition of a sociopath is someone who lacks empathy. That isn't BN. He sounds more like a narcissistic nut case.Answer #3: First of all, listen to your lawyer. He is probably far more right than I am.  Second, if you try to go after this guy you are poking a hornets nest of crazy that has free time to come up with ways to get you back. Be careful.
That said there are a few things he is doing that may be illegal. The blue lights strike me as the first. LA law prohibits blue dashboard lights in most vehicles ( http://law.justia.com/codes/louisiana/2011/rs/title32/rs32-327 ). Additionally, if he is wearing a police uniform (however crappy and obviously home made) and pulling people over he may be in violation of law against impersonating a police officer ( http://law.justia.com/codes/louisiana/2011/rs/title14/rs14-112-2 ). If you ever see him with his gun out or especially of you see him point his gun at ANYONE call 911 immediately. If he has a legit reason to draw he will want the cops involved. If not he needs to have police explain why he shouldn't pull a gun for no reason. If you suspect he is trespassing then motion sensor lights tend to scare people who don't want to be seen.


Title: Employer drastically changing vehicle policy. This policy was the #1 reason we moved across the country for this job.

Question:
My husband's employer (we're in TN but i think the company is based in AL) is rolling out a new vehicle policy this week. We've just heard that contrary to what he was previously told, it will be mandatory for him to make the switch to this new plan, he will not have the option of staying on his current plan.

Currently he has a company vehicle - the company pays for insurance and gas. It was spelled out in his offer letter that the vehicle was for personal use as well, and family would be allowed to drive it. There's a slight difference between personal miles and work miles but it's effectively nothing. He's been at this job almost 1 year now. His job covers this entire region, and at least once a week he drives 1-3 hours away to different locations as well as semi-regular overnights in places farther away. It's not possible for him to use our personal vehicle for this, it's prohibitively expensive. This policy is literally THE reason he accepted this job, and moved his family completely across the country. I left a job I loved, our kid left a great preschool, and frankly I'm pissed. We've let the registration on our other vehicle lapse because we didn't need it. We've scheduled a vacation this summer and the cost of gas might mean we have to cancel it. I will probably have to delay finishing school, AGAIN, because this is such a major financial setback for us.

Is there *anything* we can do to fight this? Do we have any rights here at all or can they just send us up shit creek with no recourse?
I'm hoping since he's a newer employee and it's so clearly spelled out in his offer letter (and the things he signed when he started the job, which I believe was a 2-year contract to start with) that there's something we can do to *at least* delay this change until the end of his initial contract.

Answer:
 Does the actual contract spell out/include personal usage or just the offer letter? Answer #2: Maybe I'm missing something, can you describe what the new policy requires? Answer #3: As others have said, there are probably just two options here:

1. If it's not in his contract, then just accept the new policy.
2. If it IS in his contract (not just the offer letter) then fight them, maybe in court, to allow the old policy for the next 13 months.

Have you looked into the tax implications of the new plan? (Which may have been implemented due to changes in the tax code for all we know.)Answer #4: Out of curiosity, what is the new vehicle policy? Are they refunding gas (I think industry standard is ~$0.50 per mile) or are they just saying he has to cover mileage himself. Answer #5: What is the new policy?

What is referred to in the offer letter?

How has it changed?

Who told him he'd be affected by this change?

Does he have a contract or an employment offer?

Whats in his contract?


Title: Clicked on wrong link, took me to something saying YOUR BROWSER HAS BEEN BLOCKED!

Question:
I live in New York in the United States.
Just now, I accidentally clicked a link on my iPad's Safari that sent me through many websites, but then it ended at a link that said data.txt/YOUR BROWSER HAS BEEN BLOCKED/crimes  and the rest was blocked off because Safari's link box is small. Panicked, I immediately closed the tab and the page never loaded, which was probably a stupid idea. Does anyone know what's going on?

Answer: Scam.


Title: Is it illegal to throw out someone else's prescription medication?

Question:
I live in Wales (UK) and was prescribed medications for my anxiety and depression. My mother found it (I'm an adult living at home whilst I study full time) and threw it away before I got to start taking it. She has a problem with medication.

I've managed to wait two weeks but I really do need something to help. I'm returning to the GP tomorrow but I'm worried that my mother will get into trouble when I tell my doctor why I haven't been taking the pills.

Thanks.

Answer:
 Doctor-patient confidentiality is a thing. But even if your mom does get in trouble? Um, she stole your medication and then destroyed it. The doctor wouldn't have prescribed it if they didn't think it would help.

I understand that you don't want to cause issues between yourself and your mom, but I'd strongly recommend moving out if it's at all possible.


Title: [CA] Does my wife have a strong case of Invasion of privacy against me?

Question:
About a month ago, I secretly obtained the login information to my wife’s iCloud because I suspected she was cheating. I then used that information to access her texts and apps and see call logs. Lo and behold, turned out my suspicion was valid. My wife of 2 years was cheating on me with several men. I discovered she was sending nudes to some and sleeping with others and I have never felt more worthless in my life.

I confronted her about it to which she immediately denied. Then I showed her the screenshots I had kept of all the disgusting things she was doing behind my back. She looked terribly ashamed. She admitted she had been cheating for over a year and it had become a habit she wanted to break. I told her I would be filing for divorce owing to her infidelity. She objected and begged that I give her another chance. When I refused, she is now threatening to sue me for invasion of her privacy.

What’s likely to happen in this case if she takes me to court. I have evidence that she was cheating. I would have never had proof that she was cheating if I didn’t spy on her.

Please advise.
Topic:
Custody Divorce and Family

Answer:
 You proved she committed a moral wrong by committing a felony. Congratulations.

California is a no fault state for divorces, meaning it doesn't matter if she was cheating. It's irrelevant. You took a risk to get evidence that doesn't help your claim for divorce in the slightest bit. What's more, the evidence isn't even admissible because it's both irrelevant (no fault, remember?) and because it was illegally obtained.

Invasion of privacy in this context is really more of a criminal action than a civil one. Answer #2: I mean, federal wiretapping and fraud and hacking laws aren't fun to be up against. Answer #3: She has a cause of action under the Computer Fraud and Abuse Act.Answer #4: It sounds like she does have a strong case of invasion of privacy against you. You committed crimes in order to snoop. Accessing the computers (including phones) of others without their consent is 100% illegal.


Title: I don't know how to handle getting pulled over

Question: I was recently vacationing in Georgia and was in a private resort area. I then got pulled over by a rent-a-cop and refused to provide ID. I was going to stick with that refusal and not comply with anything he was saying, not even roll down my window, but my wife was with me and she doesn't view things the same way unfortunately. So she made me comply. He also was rude and annoying which made me not want to comply at all. He asked for the name of who I was staying with and didn't give it to him at first, but when my wife made me I gave it to him. Then he went back and tried to find who we were staying with but couldn't, and instead said that he would let me off of a ticket since we were lost, which we were we could not find our place. I later found out that if he could have found who we were with he most likely would have definitely gave me a ticket because they bill the person on file rather than a paper citation. What are my rights in a situation of being pulled over by a mall cop or whatever he is?

Answer: If he is not actually law enforcement, you usually have no obligations. The resort could kick you out and ban you from the premises though.Answer #2: I genuinely don’t understand why youd enjoy causing trouble for everyone. if you’re rolling through stop signs, on private property, you’re a hazard to other patrons. if your main goal while on vacation is to bait someone doing their job to have to take a slap on the wrist into a pile of paperwork and possibly escalating the situation, then you have a very expensive and dickish hobby. Try considering your situation before assuming that everyones out to get you, or abuse their power. In all my years of driving ive been pulled over quite a few times for very common mistakes that are still traffic violations, and ive never received a ticket or felt threatened in any way. maybe its just a coincidence, but maybe im just not an asshole. who knows.Answer #3: He’s not a sworn peace officer. He’s private security. You really had no obligation to comply, but on the other hand, he could have had you trespassed from the property if you had not.


Title: Psychic stole hundreds of thousands

Question: Is there any legal case to be made against a psychic company who charged hundreds of thousands of dollars during a vulnerable time in a persons life

Answer:
 Did this person agree to pay that amount for the services they received?

Lots of people pay obscene amounts of money for the entertainment offered by psychics and there's generally no legal issue with that.  Remorse over having done that generally isn't legal grounds to force the return of that money.

But what *actually* occurred (along with your location) is important.


Title: Post from yesterday and we started to wonder if someone is climbing onto your car, can you just drive off? Are there potential legal ramifications for driving away and sending someone tumbling off your car in this situation?

Answer:
 Generally, you are not allowed to do something that injures (or could reasonably be expected to injure) someone, unless you are doing it self defense. Whether or not someone jumping on your car is threatening enough to count as requiring self defense really depends on the specifics. So yes, you could face potential legal ramifications.

This is like all those hypothetical about driving through protesters; just because they are harassing you in your car, doesn't mean you get to hit them with it.Answer #2: Law be damned, I'd be getting out of there.Answer #3: Only on [Tuesday.](https://xkcd.com/277/)


Title: I'm a 25 year old female who is pressing charges against an abusive ex, but I'm afraid I may get in trouble too.

Question:
Hi LegalAdvice!

I'm from Lancaster County, Pennsylvania. I've been in an on and off relationship with a 27 year old male for about 2 years. He has had ongoing issues with drug abuse (heroin, percocets, alcohol). He has been on probation for retail theft since February.  We'd agreed to cut ties for a bit while he attempted to get his life together.

In March he broke into my apartment but it didn't seem like he took anything. I didn't have proof that it was him, but I reported it to the police asking for help to keep him away from me. They called him and he denied doing it. They told him that if he shows up to my place or contacts me, it would be considered a felony.

Over the next few weeks, he slowly started contact again. He seemed to be making progress in his life so minor contact didn't bother me. Then I agreed to get something to eat with him. Eventually it got to the point where he was coming over to my apartment overnight occasionally.

The other day he stole and used my debit card. I filed a police report and intend on pressing charges. When I was at the police station, they'd remembered me from a few months ago and asked my why I let him around again. I said because I was stupid. He asked if I openly admit to that. I said yes.

So my question is, am I putting myself at risk by doing this since I'd gone to the police before asking for help in keeping him away?

Are they going to disregard my case since I'm a classic example of an abused woman who keeps letting her abuser back in her life?

Although I've never pressed charges for this, he has stolen my cards and cash in the past. Stole every valuable I have. He has hit me and damaged my property.

It sucks because when he was clean and healthy, he was so good to me. But I can't keep going through this. I have a new job, I'm moving soon, I'm starting to make new friends. But I'm afraid that I've screwed myself because of my previous police report about him.

What am I supposed to do!?
Topic:
Criminal Law

Answer:
 No, you will not get into trouble, you did nothing illegal. Police deal with similar issues a lot.

Is there a restraining order?Answer #2: police have an annoying way of making it sound like "this is your fault" when they mean "we don't want to deal with this."

you can always report any crime or belief/fear that a crime will be committed. no matter what you've reported in the past. even if you instigated the crime.

if cops won't act, you can escalate to the police chief or the DA. you can also seek out domestic violence advocates in your area. and you can get a restraining order just by going to the court. police aren't involved.


Title: Sister hit someone running through a Roundabout, "pedestrian" had no license, placed claim with our insurance

Question:
Good afternoon to everyone,

&#x200B;

We live in Miami, Florida and my sister got herself into a bit of situation over the weekend.

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In the middle of day, my sister was driving through Coral Gables (on Ponce de Leon) and she slowed down getting to a roundabout. My sister was looking to her left, and started going through it, and all of a sudden, a woman ran straight into the roundabout and got hit by her car. The "pedestrian" had a car parked on the side of the roundabout and her goal was to run across it, to her friends house, to give her something. She got up after a few minutes, got into a car but did come back once the police showed up. Here are a few more details:

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\- The person who got hit did not have a license with her nor could provide her social security number. She did give a name but God knows if that's the correct name.

\- The pedestrian provided the name of the owner of the car, who lives in Pembroke Pines (about an hour away from the accident site). She claimed that she works for him and does deliveries, business for him.

\- We have two witnesses who saw everything as far as the person parked on the side of the roundabout, run across, got hit, leave the scene, etc.

\- She placed a claim on our insurance. We talked to Geico and gave our side and they also talked to the "victim". She, or someone speaking on her behalf, claimed that her injuries were very severe (even though she was able to talk to the police for about an hour day of the accident).

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This smells like insurance fraud to us. We don't our insurance to take a hit because then our rates go up. Any advice?

Answer: I'm not sure why her having a license is at all important to this situation.Answer #2: Why are you putting pedestrian and victim in quotes? Your sister hit a person with her car. Stop trying to find a reason to blame the person for getting hit or finding a loophole.Answer #3: Your insurance company is already handling it. What is your legal question? And why does someone need a driver's license to walk across the street?Answer #4: Provide your insurance all the information and let them handle the claim.  That's about all you can do at this point.


Title: My mother is in the hospital and is being destroyed by overdraft fees while being unable to bank from the hospital.

Question: Didn't know where else I could post this. I'm trying to waive the overdraft fees in my mothers account. She's currently in the hospital and cannot do any banking herself. She's a PNC account holder. I deposited a check for her over the weekend and went into the account and its at -$100 in the account. I tried calling their line but they said they couldn't talk to me since I am not listed on her account. Are there any actions I can take from home while she is in the hospital? She's kind of out of it due to pain medications and cannot communicate with the bank over the phone properly.

Answer:
 You could check her bank statements, and look at where these are coming from.  The statements that the bank sends out on a monthly basis.

Beyond that, unfortunately, this is where your mother and you are going to have to sit down and start making hard decisions, including her possibly signing a power of attorney to you, and to protect her in cases like this.


Title: Not being allowed to leave work when scheduled

Question:
I work for a nonprofit organization in the state of New York. I work in a residential setting supporting people with developmental disabilities, and my organization follows the guidelines of OPWDD.

I'll keep this as short as I can. All houses have minimum staffing requirements. People frequently call out of their shifts, and our on-call service is mostly inadequate. As such, it is common that workers who work a morning shift are forced to stay and work the afternoon shift when their relief calls out or when there is an insufficient amount of people scheduled to meet the minimum staffing requirements. When these circumstances arise we are told if we leave at the time we are scheduled to leave it is considered abandonment as we are leaving the house below minimums, and we could face termination and could be barred from working under the OPWDD in the future.

Short of finding a new employer, what are my options when I am placed in this situation?

Answer:
 You're referring to being mandated. I work at a residential group home with kids, so we also get mandated to stay within ratio.

These types of programs are frequently understaffed. On-call is extremely unreliable. And someone is typically mandated a few times a week.

You should have been informed of the mandating policy upon your hiring. If you didn't agree with it, you shouldn't have taken the job. This is a reality in this field. If you need a job you can leave exactly at your scheduled time-- residential care is not for you.Answer #2: I worked in residential up until a month ago. There isn't anything you can do to prevent this, considering even the most reliable employee will sometimes have an emergency or even be stuck covering for someone at their second (or third) job. I can say that it's worth it to find an agency that has and follows policy about who is on-call and expected to fill open shifts.


Title: Local PD tells me I have 2 arrest warrants awaiting a signature from a judge, for attempting to purchase a firearm when I'm a felon. But I'm not a felon.

Question:
I have been trying to get my criminal record cleared up with the FBI and local state agencies for months, as I was getting denied at firearms purchase background checks for being a felon, when my only conviction was a felony that was dropped to a misdemeanor in 2009 (possession of drug paraphernalia, Arizona) after I completed my probation. I have a letter from the AZ court from 2009 clearly stating that my offense is to be designated a misdemeanor, but apparently this never got updated in federal databases. The past 2 months, I made several attempts (I believe 5) to purchase firearms, each time following the receipt of a letter or phone call from a government agency that either clearly stated or strongly implied that my record was confirmed as just a misdemeanor (Yet I was still denied at background checks due to the core issue actually being that the FBI record was still listing me as a felon) Finally, the appeal to FBI NICS went through, they acknowledged that upon further review, i am not a prohibited purchaser and I'm not a felon, and I have bought several guns since then, each time the FBI giving me an all-clear on the background check

I stop in at my local PD to apply for a pistol license (I don't need one to own a gun but most gun clubs want you to have one to prove that you can pass a background check), the friendly neighborhood cop tells me that there are two arrest warrants on the table for me for trying to buy a gun as a felon. They say I can go for now and that I can post my own bail if/when the judge signs off on it and they'll give me a heads up, but they sounded like they do expect me to be arrested, even though I've provided them the documentation showing that my felony was dropped to a misdemeanor.

Can they really arrest me over this?

Answer:
 Are all the warrants in NH?

I wouldn't trust our criminal justice system one bit, but I hate to say this. You're doing the right stuff, though if a arrest warrant is signed and issued I'd be proactive about it since you now know. If it's signed, give yourself up, fight from within with council. If what you're saying is true, other people's actions come into question, not yours. Alternatively, if the warrant is issued and your run, it won't help your case and noone will listen to you.Answer #2: You are going to be okay. You have the proper records to prove you were eligible to apply. I suspect that court made records that your charge was reduced. However the clerks office did not update something. Hire a lawyer, turn yourself in with your attorney. He will provide the records and you should be released without bail hearing.


Title: Being charged, continuously, for a stolen phone's calls and data

Question:
Edit: Forgot the location, but as my username points out, this took place in Barcelona. I'm currently residing in the United States in a southern state, however.

I won't be able to get super detailed or well formatted because I'm on mobile at the moment, but I just received my bill in an email and I'm furious with Google Fi. I'll get right to it.

The facts:

My phone was stolen while vacationing in Europe around June 14.

Due to some confusion with support, they didn't actually blacklist the device until the 16th.

Before it was blacklisted, the phone made up to fifteen minute calls every minute or so in certain time periods, charging about 100 dollars in international calls. I saw this on my July statement and complained. Because the device wasn't blacklisted soon enough, the charges were valid. Fine, whatever, I'll pay I just want to be done with this.

The new problem:

I just received my statement for July to August AND THERE IS ANOTHER 100 DOLLARS WORTH OF INTERNATIONAL CALLS ON HERE. The majority of it takes place, again, on the 16th! This time, it's listed as a delayed charge. How am I paying for these calls from months ago again??

But what's worse is that there are, again, data charges from the 14th and 15th as well AGAIN. But wait, there's more! International calls were somehow charged up to two weeks after the device was blacklisted AND I'M STILL BEING CHARGED. Again I'm not sure why this wasn't covered in my previous statement, but how is this even happening?

So, now that I've barely calmed down a bit..

Do I have any legal recourse? Are these charges valid even though they're theft? What about the delayed charges? What about the ones after support blacklisted the device? And most of all..

How do I end this nightmare??

Answer:
 When you've contacted them about this have you continued to demand they explain what's going on here?Answer #2: Have you called Google to dispute the charges?

Call them and ask to speak to a supervisor if the customer service representative isn't giving you the answers you need. Answer #3: Google should be going after whatever scammer they paid for those calls. Since that person or number probably changes every few days they have no way of tracking them down, so they are coming after you.

> Are these charges valid even though they're theft? What about the delayed charges? What about the ones after support blacklisted the device?

There are probably quite a few jurisdictions involved here on multiple continents so who knows. It's probably not even a legal issue since it depends on the contract you have with the carrier, or how the carrier is classified. Fiber isn't a utility like real phone or water i believe. But generally a company can invoice you for anything they want. If you don't pay it they can cancel your account. You can fight the collection agencies in court if you don't agree.


Title: Just moved into a new apartment building 2 days ago, downstairs neighbor already bothering us about "keeping quiet"

Question:
So we legit just moved in on 5/3.

**Day 1** - 5/4 we had a very passive aggressive note from our downstairs neighbor saying that: "they could hear everything, please keep it down. And whatever humming noise was on all night please make it stop" ... we had a fan on in the bedroom (which was not loud at all.) Just white noise while we slept.

**Day 2**: when we went to bed we turned the fan back on, and downstairs neighbor proceeded to bang the ceilings (very aggressively) until we turned it off...

**Day 3**: we have our cable installed and setup our wireless. We realize our downstairs neighbor has set their wireless network name to: "BeQuietApartment10" (we're apartment 10)

To say that we are very uncomfortable in our own new home, and feel like we're being harassed is an understatement.

What/if any should we do to take proper legal action ?  Should we go so far as to file a police report?

Location: MA

Apartment complex

Answer:
 >What/if any should we do to take proper legal action ? Should we go so far as to file a police report?

It doesn't appear a crime has actually been committed yet, so the police won't do anything. Report this neighbor to your landlord if you feel they are harassing you.


Title: TX, I felt harassed at my workplace and made a video recording of the harassment

Question: Some one who is about to be promoted gets defensive and yells at people anytime his work is questioned. I recorded a dialogue between him and I and want to know if I can get into trouble Bringing it up to my superiors.

Answer:
 >want to know if I can get into trouble Bringing it up to my superiors.

The can certainly fire you or otherwise discipline you for that.


Title: At the end of my rope. Don't know where to go or what to do.

Question:
I have been in construction majority of my life so go easy on grammatical errors please.  I have a son that is 7 yrs old.  I found out about a couple years ago that his mom was in a crazy relationship with a guy that has been arrested 44 times in 20 years.  My son tells me there is a lot of screaming and yelling between boyfriend and his mom.  Also between boyfriends mother and grandmother and his mom.  About 6 moths ago i picked up my son and he informed me that he saw the boyfriend hit his mom and give her a bloody nose.  This would now be the second time i know that boyfriend has hit his mom.  First was when boyfriend hit mom and my sons sister who is not mine and she was 23ish. I told his mom i am keeping my son until further notice.  She took me to court and we had a temporary custody hearing and the judge ruled in her favor.  But i do get him 3 out of 4 weeks and suppose to be apart of the decision making and have access to all his information.  The first 5 weeks I had no access to any of his school records.  As of today I still can not go pick him up from school.  I went to a counselor appointment last Friday and found out that his mom has had him on medication for adhd or something.  I have/had a lawyer.  I emailed him with no response about the situation and asked if money was an issue let me know.  Things are very tight have a job and going to school again.  It has been this way with my lawyer for last 2 months.  He has texted me 20 words.  I emailed my sons mother for info on doctor and what meds he was on.  No reply.  I live in Oregon mom is in Washington.  There is a lot more to this story.  I am getting stuff from her lawyer left and right.  I could use a direction or just be able to talk to someone about this.  My son deserves better than this.  Thank you for taking the time to read this.

Dad

Answer: You can file an Order for Enforcement.  You should be able to find the form online.


Title: [USA] Asked to change the name of a library program due to trademark

Question:
We received a phone call today as well as an email from an individual who says that the name of one of our past library programs (Spy Academy) has been trademarked by his company (US Trademark for "The Spy Academy"). He has asked us to remove any old reference to this program from our websites and social media. The email does have the trademark paperwork attached, but from my cursory glance it appears to apply to products or books using the name. I don't see how it would apply to our digital signage and marketing for a free program. In addition, a very quick google search reveals many books, tv shows, and other library/museum programs using this name. We did not use the companies logo, font, etc.

[This](http://www.bristollib.com/events/event/spy-academy/) is what they want us to remove.

[This](https://www.thespyacademy.org/) is their website.

It's not a big deal for me to remove it, especially since the program was held over the summer by an employee that no longer works here. It's more the principal of the matter that makes me want to stand up against it if there's no reason for us to remove it. The program was really popular and we already have people asking us if we'll do it again. Obviously it's easy to change the name, but still...

Any advice?

(Cross posted from /r/libraries)

Answer: Speak to your library's attorney and board of directors


Title: Gently Scratched someone's bumper while driving, they want me to pay for them to replace a whole new bumper?

Question:
Hello everyone!

Last weekend I was distracted at a stop light and gently tapped this girls bumper in front of me.

i can't recall the exact make/model of the car but it appeared to be a pretty beat up mid 2000's sedan.

The only damage was a couple small scratches that were largerly unnoticeable.

I apologized And gave her my insurance info.

She was super nice and didn't seem to be very worried about the whole ordeal as her dog had scratched the car in several other areas.

We both agreed that it would be easier if I just paid her cash for her to get the scratches buffed out (knowing that she likely wasn't going to use the money to get the scratches buffed out but whatever).

Anyways, she texts me a few days later and tells me that she went to a detail shop and they told her that the scratches were too deep to buff and that she got two quotes to pay for a whole new bumper with matching paint, totaling 800-950$.

What do I do here? Am I really in the hole here for $800+ because of a couple small scratches on her crappy car?

I know she's likely not going to actually spend the money on the new bumper (why would she when the cars probably worth less then $3000?)

This takes place in Washington state btw

Answer:
 You're in the hole for: elevated insurance rates due to driving into someone while you were distracted.

Don't give her cash. She has your insurance information. You should refer enquiries to them, and they will take care of it.


Title: Fedex Ground driver in Washington state. Fedex Ground is trying to ban me from their premisis knowing they cant actually fire me

Question: Im a Fedex driver for Fedex ground. I was diagnosed by my primary care with Paruresis (shy bladder) essentially if you stick me in a strange bathroom and knock on the door every 30 seconds asking me if I peed in a cup. I can't. They waited 3 hours and after no urine They chose to dispatch me 2 weeks of driving later they decided no urine is an issue and amnow preventing me from driving. So the last few days I have been on other trucks running packages and now fedex is trying to prevent me from walking into their building as a means of "fireing" me.

Answer:
 Have you asked for a reasonable accommodation for your medical condition?

Offering to take a hair follicle, blood, saliva or other drug test seems to be a reasonable compromise here.


Title: Girlfriend's ex took her son and the cops wont do shit

Question: So my girlfriend went into court last Friday to get a restraining order on her ex, immediately after he came to the school and handed them a bunch of old court orders that said he could have the kid and then while they scanned them in he took the kid, my girlfreind went to the police and they said the old court orders outweighed the restraining order and the Mediation that he and her have signed on after the court order. we are in Australia by the waywhat do???

Answer: Your girlfriend goes to court and gets new custody orders.  She can contact an attorney in your area to help with that.


Title: Roommate brought a turtle into the apartment without asking us about it prior to the move in. She's been here for over 30 days and pays rent to the landlord, not me. However, I am on the lease, she is not. What are my options as far as kicking her out goes?

Question: [deleted]

Answer:
 First and foremost, speak to your landlord about the situation. Your landlord would need to legally evict her.

Secondly, there is obviously an underlying issue because evicting someone over a turtle is a bit ridiculous.Answer #2: Did you lease specifically forbid pets? Or  do you just not like turtles? Or are you using the turtle as an excuse because you don't like the renter? Answer #3: It'll be a real stretch to get her out by the 30th.  The fact that she pays rent to your landlord pretty much kills your claim that she is subleasing from you.  However, if you can even overcome that fact and show that she is your actually sublessee and you are her "landlord," I don't see how you can prove she is in any "violation" of a sublease if you don't have anything in writing explicitly banning pets or her requiring your consent first.


Title: Can I still be held accountable?

Question:
I am planning on buying a relatively small amount of land (20-30 acres) in upstate NY and hosting epic airsoft battles with friends and friends of friends and so on (in addition to other outdoor activities). I'm a pretty chillax guy and not too overly controlling or unreasonable. I want to be able to allow friends (overall pretty trustworthy of them) and at the most friends of friends to host their own events (airsoft, camping, hiking, etc) when I'm unable to. These friends of friends can then invite whoever they want. Obviously as relations with friends of friends of friends of friends (you get the idea) deviate from my actual circle of friends, these people might get less and less trustworthy.

In summary, only friends and friends of friends can host events on my property when I'm not present, but then they can invite whoever they want.

I'll obviously have explicit rules like "no illegal activity" or "no possession of illegal goods" enforcing legitimate laws. If users of my property actually do violate these rules (and thus law itself), and get in with the fuzz, can I still be held accountable? If so, what actions can I take so that an individual can be legitimately held accountable to their own actions.

Edit: Not sure what flair I should pick so I'll just do real estate.
Topic:
Real Estate law

Answer:
 If these 'friends of friends' did something illegal and you genuinely didn't know anything about it, no, you shouldn't be held accountable. That doesn't mean the local law enforcement agency wouldn't investigate you and try to go after you for whatever [might] happen.

That being said, man, you really might be opening yourself up to a massive amount of liability for what you're proposing though. People you don't directly know hosting parties on land you own with fake guns?