Title: Can I obstruct my townhouse neighbor's view of my front porch

Question: So my neighbor has been kinda of an ass these few months of us just moving in and I feel uncomfortable being watched through his window whenever I'm on my front porch. Our house is a townhouse in NY and his house is extended and sticks out allowing him to have side window that is directly next to our porch.  Are we legally allow to put a plant in front of that window to obstruct his view?

Answer:
 A lovely trellis on the side of your porch with some climbing vines sounds like a plan, or a hanging curtain on the porch perhaps?  Answer #2: Unless your HOA agreement or lease says you can't have plants on your porch, then I don't see why you wouldn't be able to put a plant wherever you want on your porch. You obviously can't put one in front of his window on his property though.Answer #3: You can put what you like on your porch - not on his property.  I don't think a plant will obstruct much, but there are a ton of other options.

http://www.hgtv.com/design/outdoor-design/outdoor-spaces/smart-privacy-solutions-for-outdoor-spaces-pictures

They actually make shades just for this purpose!

http://lowes.baliblinds.com/Style.do?command=&productLineId=92

Mounted on your porch, exterior grade fabrics.

Or you could do a standing screen:

https://www.lowes.com/pl/Outdoor-privacy-screens-Patio-furniture-Outdoors/4294610398

I'm partial to this faux ivy trellis:

http://www.improvementscatalog.com/expandable-faux-ivy-trellis/gardening-supplies/garden-fences-trellises/11211


Title: If there are laws in the US requiring plumbing products be certified safe and lead free, how can the biggest online retailer legally sell items that are not certified?

Question:
Yesterday I tried to install a faucet I bought online that didn't fit American plumbing, went to the store to get an adapter and found out they don't carry that size. The man at the hardware store was very confused how I had that particular size. I went home searched the internet for the manufacturer and found out that the whole faucet industry is kind of scary. It seems that the manufacturer is hiding behind all these distributors with different names. There were no model numbers on the product or box, and the instruction booklet website didn't exist. After a little research, I found this website:
http://starcraftcustombuilders.com/sources.faucets2.htm#.VzCBCL7D7IW

So now if you scroll down and check products/sellers under "A" you will see Amazon is selling products that supposedly do not meet this minimum standard and may contain lead.  How can this be legal, and why isn't everyone screaming from the highest mountain about this?   Not sure how this can happen or if it's happening (can't believe everything you read on the internet).
Location: North Carolina

Answer: The table is pretty much meaningless. It marks Amazon as a whole as "made in China", for starters, which is demonstrably false. Any given product marketed on Amazon may or may not have the required certification. If the product itself is not certified and this is something that concerns you then you should return it.


Title: CA - Niece has been disowned for having sex, is there any way to help her financially?

Question: Sorry about the title, I'm mostly a lurker but I don't know where to turn. My underage (17 y.o.) niece has basically been disowned by her parents for having sex. She is currently living with my parents and all financial bearing is now on my father. Is there any way we can help her obtain some form of aid from her parents? Should we try to obtain legal guardianship? Should we even do anything? My niece wants to work and my sister is trying to buy her a car but insurance is expensive and we want the father to take care of it (or at least some of it).

Answer:
 CPS can "remove" her from her current home and place her with your parents.  Your parents can be made guardians, and her parents can be forced to pay child support.  For that, they will need a family law attorney, so that's really the first place to start.   The problem is that this process could be expensive and take a while.  Talk to an attorney.Answer #2: > Should we try to obtain legal guardianship?

Are the parents providing her clothes, food, and shelter? If yes then I doubt you would be able to obtain legal guardianship without their consent and even then that may be difficult.

>Should we even do anything?

If you suspect abuse you should contact the Child Protective Services.

>Is there any way we can help her obtain some form of aid from her parents?

What type of aid are you thinking of? Providing a cell phone without the parents knowing?

>My niece wants to work and my sister is trying to buy her a car but insurance is expensive and we want the father to take care of it (or at least some of it).

Sister as in the mother of the niece?  There is no way to force the father to do such a thing. Answer #3: Thank you everyone for your responses.Answer #4: How long before she turns 18?


Title: [Canada - BC] University Strike, Will not release proof of graduation

Question:
Hello,

Country: Canada

Province: British Columbia

University: Simon Fraser

The TSSU is on strike and is not releasing grades.

I require my proof of graduation in order to fulfill the requirements on my job offer. The requirements are non-negotiable. Explaining the situation to my employer does not do anything. They have already provided me a letter to the TSSU, university TA/Session union, to tell them I require my proof of graduation. They are now refusing to communicate with students to release the grades, even though they previously made us go through this rigorous process of providing documentation to get our grades released.

I really wanted this specific job and the job offer will only stand for one to two more weeks.
Is there any basis for taking legal action to get them to release my grades?

Thanks for reading

Answer:
 Have you tried showing them a copy of your diploma to tide them over until the strike is resolved?

Have you tried speaking directly to the university administration (ones that the union is striking against)?

There is also [this](http://www.the-peak.ca/2015/09/tssu-announces-picket-lines-for-first-week-of-school/) article:

> Students were invited by the TSSU to apply for their grades to be released if special circumstances existed. In a letter sent out by the TSSU to applicants to graduate, the union outlined that the university does have measures in place to allow students to be considered for graduation without their transcripts being completed, and therefore won’t be releasing the grades of those students.

If working with the administration doesn't work, I doubt any legal action instituted by you would get you what you need in 2 weeks. Good luck.Answer #2: While I sympathize immensely, even if there is cause for action here (I don't know one way or the other), the courts move slowly. It's unlikely that any court action would happen fast enough to make a difference.

You say you've spoken to the TSSU. Have you spoken to the university administration, i.e. your registrar's office? At my university they're the ones who handle official documentation. I suspect that you won't have much luck, but it's one of the only avenues you could try.

Again, I don't know for sure if you do or do not have a cause of action, but I suspect that even if you do miss out on the job offer you will not be able to sue anyone at the university for damages.

Good luck.


Title: DJ Failed to show up for our wedding

Question:
We hired a DJ  who was to work our wedding. We paid him on August 31, 2015 for our wedding on October 10, 2015. The day of the wedding, we couldn't get in contact with (DJ #1). I tried emailing, calling, texting and leaving voicemails to no avail. Finally, around 1:30, he finally answered and said he would be there between 3:30-4:00pm which was our prearranged setup time. At 4pm, he was still not there and never arrived. He then hired another DJ,(DJ #2)and forged documents with my signature on them as if I had contracted with the new DJ (#2) but I did not. DJ#1 lied and told DJ #2 that he was my wedding planner and they forged contracts with DJ#2 with my name on them. WE NEVER HIRED OR SPOKE TO DJ #2 and we did not have a wedding planner. The supposed wedding planner that spoke to DJ #2 was the wife of DJ #1. The replacement DJ was late, didn't know any of our songs and it ruined our wedding. We have spoken to DJ #2 and he is in NO WAY affiliated with DJ #1 as he states he is. Now, the DJ that did show up is asking me to lay him but I didn't hire him. What legally are my options?

I am located in Georgia.

Answer:
 Don't pay DJ #2.  You have no contractual obligation with him.  If he wants his money, he can seek it from DJ #1.

Sue DJ #1 for any deposits you paid.  This is a breach of contract.

Finally, call the police.  DJ #1 likely committed some form of forgery in the falsification of documents, and maybe even fraud if he intended on never showing up.Answer #2: Tell them both to go to hell. You have no contract with DJ2 unless your contract with DJ1 says he can sub it out. Sue DJ1 for breach of contract.


Title: I am being harassed, defamed, slandered, stalked, and berated publicly, online.

Question:
FL. This is serious. I  have been attacked now beyond trolling. It has gone way too far. Someone I work with recognized a picture and it has led to some very serious problems.

I have had pictures of me taken from outside sources (not reddit) and posted with terrible accusations written on them, involving my infant son and my SO. They have even used my name. They have broken so many rules that it's pointless to try and count. I have documentation of everything. Like I said, I have made every attempt to contact administration on here, and they have ignored me. Then I find out, they banned me. What should I do?

Answer: Really, this is insufficient info. Where are you being trolled? Who banned you?


Title: Is child support actually required to be spent on children? (Canada)

Question:
Canadian here who could really use some perspective from others in the same situation (if whoever can help understands the context).

Basically when my ex and I split and we did the separation agreement thing, including child support, section 7 stuff, etc.  Just one kid, lives with the ex mostly.  Apparently the law says that based on my salary, I'm to give the ex approximately 14.6% of what I gross.  Childcare expenses are low because it's subsidized.  Overall, not terrible, but still hurts.

The ex disclosed they are using the child support payments to pay their mortgage and living expenses.  They waived spousal support in the agreement.  Child wears almost exclusively hand-me-downs.

Is this normal?  Is there any obligation of the parent with physical custody to spend the money from that payor on the child?  And if not, can the person receiving the money justify demanding more money for childcare if the child support money isn't being spent on the child in the first place?

Answer:
 The child presumably lives in the house for which the mortgage is paying, correct? And breathes the cooled or heated air, bathes in and drinks the water, eats the groceries, and sits on the sofa that all are paid for by “living expenses,” right?

Your child support is doing exactly what it is supposed to.


Title: Illegal Blood? (NJ)

Question:
My buddy works at a public pool, and the other day somebody has some kind of accident in the bathroom and starts bleeding like crazy. (Not sure what exactly happened here). Anyway, he's bleeding all over the place, the ambulance takes him to the hospital, and the men's bathroom is soaked in blood. My buddy's boss makes him scrub and spit-shine the tile, didn't offer any gloves or anything.

My question is, does my friend have any legal recourse? He doesn't have any kind of hazardous waste clean-up training, or anything like that, and I'm pretty sure the public pool is part of the local government? But I'm basically clueless, so any advice would be appreciated.

Answer:
 If your friend cleaned blood without proper safety equipment  (rubber gloves) they should closely monitor their health. Many diseases can be transmitted through contact with the blood of an infected person.

Hopefully you friend didnt catch anything Answer #2: OSHA


Title: Mississippi- Boss replaced me with suspected undocumented immigrant.

Question:
Posting on a throwaway account for personal reasons. My previous job was a waiter at a restaurant, but it closed down due to the building being bought out by a new business, and everyone was laid off. I was unable to find work until my old manager and owner called me over to introduce myself to the new building/business owners. I was then hired on the spot and began work on May 9th on the store's grand opening. I worked every day as a cashier for two weeks from 10 AM to 3 PM, at $8.00 an hour.

After I recieved my first paycheck, my manager notified me that I could take a break for a while and it was nearly a week until they called me in on Sunday, and after that I didn't hear back from them until my husband and I went in there for lunch where I directly asked when I would be getting work. They told me to come back Sunday. I noticed when there that one of my previous co-workers, who admitted to me at one point, was an undocumented immigrant, was working there.

After another week of no work, I texted her and asked what her working schedule was. It was everyday except Sunday from 10 to 4. Management had apparently replaced her with me. Further inquiry says that it was because the boss had watched my performance and that I had anger issues, despite never having any confrontation with a customer or other employee.

I am a bit hesitant to call the authorities about this situation as I do not wish to have the co-worker who replaced me get arrested or deported. Who should I call about this, and if I did, would the business, the co-worker, or both get in trouble about this?

Answer:
 If your employer has received complaints from front or back of house about your behavior they can fire you. Maybe the other person up-sells better than you. Maybe they are more flexible.

You did not care that this person was an illegal immigrant before. The new management may just think she is a better employee.

My guess is you will report this person to be spiteful not because you suddenly care about her status. She will go through hell and may risk her life being deported. You will not get hired by this company because they will be forced taking close as the fines would put them out of business.

So now, lots of people are out of work. My grandmother fled the USSR using her sister’s visa. That was illegal. Her daughter became a self made millionaire starting as a secretary at a company and leaving as Vice President.

So, talk to a lawyer and see if getting her deported will get your job back. Pretty sure it will not.Answer #2: What is it you want to address/resolve here? The supposed anger issues, the undocumented immigrant, your boss? That would change who you’d contact.


Title: I ordered a pizza to a Twitch streamer's house [Canada, Ontario]

Question:
So I was doing a raid on a twitch streamer with a couple other guys. We found out his address from his facebook (which he linked on his profile) and I ordered a pizza to his house. With my own phone, like an idiot. In a stream on a different day he mentioned that he had already talked to the police. I can't tell if he was jsut trying to scare us off (there were some trolls in that stream as well).

He's located in Ohio. I'm in Ontario. I know, it was a stupid-ass decision. I definitely will not do it again. Is it likely that I'll get in any trouble?

Answer:
 Why punish a business because you wanted to troll someone?

Call the pizza place and pay for the pizza and be a good person


Title: Last night my car got booted because I parked in a handicapped spot that the owner of the closest business said was for their business, not the one we went to. There was no sign to this effect. Can I do something?

Question:
Longer version: I have a temporary handicapped permit due to hip replacement surgery. Last night we went to dinner at a place that shares a parking lot with 2-3 other businesses. Most spots are marked with signs "Parking for xxx business." The handicapped are not, they only have the wheelchair sign. When we came out from eating a man was waiting for us to pay to get the boot removed saying that this handicapped spot was for the business closest to it, and we should have tried to park in one closer to our restaurant.  We argued there was no sign, no way to assume that, and it made no sense. He dropped the price to remove the boot and we paid $75 to get it off.

How can this be legal? It felt like a straight up scam. Maybe we didn't see a closer spot or maybe it was taken. Can business owners dictate handicapped spots like that? This was in Austin, Texas.

Edit: spelling

Update: Thanks to the advice here, I've filed for a dispute on the charges with my credit card company and filed a complaint against the parking company with the licensing department. Hopefully it goes somewhere but could take a while to hear anything. Just wanted to say thanks!

Answer: This was a total scam and you fell for it. Only government employees can boot cars and they will have vehicles/uniforms/badges identifying themselves as such. Dispute with your CC card right away.


Title: Possible employer asking me to sign contract declaring Christianity for employment. Can someone explain to me how this is legal?

Question: I originally posted this in /r/answers but they suggested I post it here as well for better information. I live in Tennessee.

Answer: We need a lot more details. Certain religious institutions (like churches and schools) can ask for a statement of faith as part of the hiring process.


Title: (Indiana US) Buying a house with someone and told that I shouldn't put my name on the deed because other person's name is on mortgage.

Question: The house is closing soon and the bank said that I shouldn't have my name put on deed until six months after closing. The other person had better credit so they obtained the financing. I would like to be put on the deed at closing and avoid paying for a quit claim deed 6 months later. Will the bank cancel the mortgage if my name is added to the deed? How much does a quit claim deed cost?

Answer:
 Have you verified with the bank that the mortgage holder transferring 50% ownership to you will not violate the mortgage agreement? This seems like the sort of thing that either you, or an attorney, need to verify 100% before closing.

Answer #2: This whole thing is a disaster waiting to happen.

If you are not on the deed your relative can screw you over, if your relative does follow through and QC half of the property to you in 6 months, the bank will probably call in the note because transferring ownership of the property violates the mortgage contract.Answer #3: >Will the bank cancel the mortgage if my name is added to the deed?

Um. If you aren't married don't sign on the mortgage or the deed.

>How much does a quit claim deed cost?

You need to talk to someone to explain the implications of buying a house or being on a deed.


Title: I (foreign national) got my girlfriend (US citizen) pregnant.

Question: [deleted]

Answer:
 > What happens now ?

I'd suggest buying both pink and blue cigars in preparation.

> Do I have to pay child support as I still don't have any income ,What happens if I decide to leave the country?

It depends.

Many countries are part of a child support pact, where they will accept child support judgements from other countries.  Depending on where you ~~flee~~ head to, you will be compelled to pay child support in accordance to the laws of the country.


Title: [US-CO] Wife's sales bonus taken back after goals met, and breaks being added to timecard that were not taken

Question:
Hi All! Title says most of it. Wife works a front end sales position (Location: Colorado, USA) and met last months sales goal for a $300 bonus. She was told she would get it, but just got a text this morning saying that the managers consider her "still in training" and wont give her the bonus (despite working there almost 6 months, and the sales goals bonus sheet having no such requirements, or any requirements beyond percentages to meet to get a bonus).

She also alerted me that she is having breaks added to her timecard that she is not taking or allowed to take (due to being understaffed consistently). What course of action should we take?

Answer: Her best course of action is to find a new job, unfortunately.


Title: Found bugs in my instant noodles! Should I claim for compensation? Please help!

Question:
Mumbai, India.

So today afternoon I decided to make some instant noodles but what happened next completely killed my appetite. The noodles which I was making was the one which you get in a plastic pack with a sachet of seasoning inside.
As my noodles were cooking I noticed something unusual in there and so I turned off the gas started inspecting the noodles. I found not one but roughly 6-7 tiny bugs in there! Now, I'm a  huge fan of instant noodles and I eat them all the time, but what happened today has really shook me. To top it all off, I'm a vegetarian and this incident has really disturbed me.

Key things which y'all need to know -
1. The noodles weren't expired
2. The packaging wasn't torn/damaged
3. I took the noodles out myself so I'm assuming that the bugs were inside the seasoning mix.

I have kept the package with me and I also didn't dump the noodles. I put the noodles in a bag and have kept it inside the freezer. I contacted the company which makes these noodles and they said that they will call me back again tomorrow and within 2-3 days they will send their representative to collect the sample of the noodles for further testing.

Now here's where I need advice from my fellow redditors-
Something like this has never happened to me before so I really don't know how to go about it. I am definitely seeking for a compensation but I don't know how much money will I get or should I even expect any monetary compensation in the first place.
I haven't posted the pictures or videos of the bug noodles on social media yet but would definitely do so if the company doesn't take interest in this case. What's the best course of action? Please help!

Thankyou!

Answer: You are entitled to a refund of whatever you paid for the noodles, and nothing more.Answer #2: You seek them to replace the bad package of noodles, which they will probably offer in the form of a coupon or a refund in the form of a check.


Title: I was tasered inside of a jail and received zero medical attention

Question: So not too long ago I was tasered inside of a jail because I thought I was told to walk to my left and when I started walking/hobbling I started getting yelled at and I was then surrounded by guards who were thrashing me around while I was on my feet and handcuffed ( I was in handcuffs before I even started walking) and was then tasered while I was being held, then I fell to the floor/ pissed myself from being tased and still had the taser barb in my arm when I was put in restraining wraps which were bound to the point of torture and received zero medical attention within the jail. I ended up having to take the barb out of my arm in a dirty jail cell about a day later. I went to the hospital the night I got bailed out and they could not figure where the pain all over my body was coming from (being put in full body restraints) and just treated my taser wound and gave me morphine for the night. I also went to a Nerve specialist to see about my leg pain from being restrained so tightly and he couldn’t figure it out, either could the vein specialist, and finally went to an orthopedic who realized I had pinched nerves in my leg from being bound up so tight. I just got off probation from the incident which led to me being in jail and have procured through public records security camera and hand held footage of my treatment and will being meeting with a lawyer who frequents our families restaurant to discuss the matter in a less than formal situation. What should I except, and what could I do to help with litigation to receive compensation for what I went through?

Answer:
 To heighten the chances someone bothers to read your block of text you should consider reformatting your post and add paragraphs so you make it easier for others to read and effectively respond. Answer #2: Hmmm

I’m not saying I don’t believe you but this is A LOT of malice you are alleging that just doesn’t make sense. I’m not too far from you, and I work in policing. Hopefully you can help me shed some light on some questions I have so I can better assist you.

Jail staff tend to not carry tasers or guns on them. They keep them locked up in case needed but a CO may be dealing with 30 people at once. Taser holsters are not very secure so they aren’t usually carried unless they are raiding a dorm or there is a riot. Specifically we as officers have to disarm completely before we enter intake with a detainee.

What exactly do you mean by full body restraints? The only restraints I’ve ever seen are hand cuffs, leg irons, and a belly chain.  Are you talking about cloth wrappings like a straight jacket?

Detainees have to be medically cleared before being accepted in the jail. Anyone we tase has to go to the hospital and won’t be booked without discharge paperwork. Probes are taken out at the time of the tasing and cannot easily be removed from the wire.

Taser deployments are also tracked. When a taser is fired, it’s recorded on the onboard electronics and little data circle confetti is ejected that has to be collected.

Jails are full of cameras. If what you say is accurate then it likely is caught on camera and you have a strong 8th amendment violation case.Answer #3: You have a lawyer, you should ask him.


Title: Forgot to cancel water utility, new tenants stole water for almost a year

Question:
I moved out of a house in Arlington, VA where I was renting with two other people in January of 2014. We all moved out together, and I forgot to cancel the water/sewage utility. Last month I received a notice saying I owed almost $800 in unpaid water bills. I spoke to the company and found out the new tenants had been using the water for the past year. They paid the water bills for about half the year, and then left the rest of the bills to accumulate. They moved out out of the house before I found out they were using the water under my name.

The landlord was very shady and not very helpful. He did not have the information of the new tenants, and also did not provide me with their phone numbers. He did provide me with the names and current addresses of two of the tenants. I tried to get in touch with them, but did not receive any responses.

I don't know if the addresses he gave me are current or not, since he (the landlord) was very bad about keeping records.

My question is, do I have a case against these guys in small claims court? I have a copy of my lease showing when I moved out of the house. I have the billing history from 2014-2015 which shows someone was making payments to the water bill under my name. Is this enough information to take these guys to court or to the police?
Topic:
Landlord Tenant Housing

Answer: Do you know for a fact that these are the people who were living in the unit during the time the water bill wasn't being paid? IANAL- But I believe your case likely hinges on your ability to prove that.


Title: Friend's wife may have molested a minor

Question:
Throwaway here. Just got off the phone with a good friend. His kid was texting him saying boys at high school were saying my friend's wife sent boob pics to them and grabbed one boy's penis. This supposedly happened weeks ago. My friend says his wife was distraught over a death and went to stay by herself to grieve alone and drink. He left her at 3AM at her insistence and returned at 7 to find her gone. He knew she had been drinking heavily, so was very worried. She finally showed up and said she was just out driving. He ripped her ass for being out driving drunk, but no one got hurt, so that was that. I'm not condoning any of this--just passing along the story.

So today, friend gets these texts from his daughter and calls his wife. She admits that on that night, she left the place she was staying, drove to pick up a male high school friend of the daughter, and took him back to the place she was staying. She claims they made out, says he may have fondled her breasts, claims no one was ever naked, and says she doesn't think she touched his penis. After telling my friend this, his wife says to meet her at couple's therapy this afternoon (like 10 minutes from now) so they can talk it through.

I told my friend that I'm pretty sure the counselor has a duty to report if they talk about a sexual encounter between the wife and a minor. Here's the thing: the friend also works for the  public school district where this boy is a student. So I don't know if he now has like a Title IX duty to report it, or if that's trumped by his fifth amendment rights or what.

I told him to skip the therapist and go straight to a lawyer to find out what his obligations are and to ensure that he and his kids are protected. This will come out publicly--I think that's pretty certain. And if she's charged with something that leads to a sex offender registration, that could be more devastation than my friend and his kids will already have to deal with. What's his play in this situation? Obviously he has to think of his kids first and everything else second, but how does that play out?  Should he report it? Should he do something else? What's the move that legally will best protect him and his kids from the fallout of this fucking nightmare? Other than go straight to a lawyer, I mean. I think that's an obvious first move. What's his exposure here? Thanks for any help.

Answer: If your friend has kids to protect and evidence that his wife is sexually abusing minors, the lawyer isn't your first stop.   The police is.   He needs to protect what's left of his family.


Title: [USA] Hypothetical question about the legality of users of a video game trying to get their banks to chargeback the price of the video game after they were banned

Question: [deleted]

Answer:
 There's nothing illegal about someone disputing a charge on their credit card bill.  They'll just likely lose the dispute.

Blizzard's response to the dispute will be that the user violated the TOS, therefore their account was terminated.


Title: My doctor won’t write a letter for me

Question:
i am a 64 year old woman and I receive ssdi and am considered  permanently disabled. Where I live, the water company offers a discount for individuals with disabilities. They only require a note from my primary care physician.
My doctor will not give me a note without an office visit and his nurse told me that the doctor wants to determine whether I qualify as disabled.
I don’t get this: 1) s.s has already determined my status and 2) this note is to help me pay a bill. Both the doctor and the water company know I am disabled and the doctor just won’t cooperate.

Answer: Sounds like the doctor is following protocol that is both ethical and legal.Answer #2: You can't force any doctor to write any letter. He can certainly require that he examine you before making a determination like that.  He's the one signing his name after all.Answer #3: There's no legal issue here. The doctor is not required to write a note simply because you request it.Answer #4: If the standard for a discount is done on the basis of doctors notes, and the doctor won't write you a note without an office visit (common) then you need to do an office visit. The doctor isn't doing anything illegal here.


Title: [UT]My brother is doing/selling drugs in my parents basement.

Question:
So my brother has been in and out of jail for the last 10 years ever since dropping out of high school, my dad keeps bailing him out of jail because he promises he'll change and get his life back in order, which he does for a few months, but then gets back into his old habits and friends.  It finally got to a point where my parents neighbors -- rightfully so -- called the police on my brother one night because there was an unusual amount of foot traffic going in and out of my parents basement.  I feel like at this point, it's just a ticking time bomb waiting to go off and I wouldn't be surprised if they're currently working on getting a search warrant to my parents place right now.  My question is what should my parents do?  The last thing I want is for there to be a raid go on in their house and some druggie decides he ain't going down without a fight and it ends up in a shoot out or to have my parents end up being guilty by association because they own the house and it could be argued that they may/may not know what is going on down there.

My mom said she wants to just consent to allowing the police to enter and search the basement to show that she's cooperating, but my wife and I want her to consult with a lawyer.  She's planning on getting a security lock for the door to the basement and not telling anyone the security code.  She keeps trying to kick him out, but my dad is a softy and keeps letting him back in because he can't stand the thought of his son being homeless.  I'm just wondering what steps we should take to prevent anything crazy from happening.

Thanks

Answer: Explain to your dad that his enabling could very likely cost them their house and their freedom.Answer #2: your parents should see a lawyer, who can probably explain all the ways this could go terribly wrong to your father.


Title: Bad contractor work has ruined our home

Question:
tldr; Dad hired 2 contractors to install tile floors and fix up showers. Instead they did subpar work and one of them destroyed the tile flooring. Pics below.

Location: Texas

My dad paid a contractor (contractor #1) $7000 to install a tile floor in the living room and new tile walls in the two showers as well as a floors in the master bathroom shower. Contractor #1 did all the work and left, but when my dad got back he released later on that the work was subpar to say the least. The master bathroom shower was totally torn up after one use and the other shower has cracks in the corners. The living room floor got it bad too as some of the tiles could be literally just picked up from the floor (they would pop up when you walked over them). Contractor #1 then refused to come fix it.

My dad hired a lawyer and they sent contractor #1 a letter saying to come fix it or pay to fix it. That was three months ago, contractor #1 refused the letter and is ignoring us.

So my dad then hired a new contractor (contractor #2) off of reference from a neighbor (that turned out to be the neighbor's brother). Contractor #2 was supposed to just fix the cracks in the one shower and fix the loose tiles in the living room floor ($700 upfront cost and $900 after completion). He did fix the cracks in the shower but instead of just fixing the loose tiles, he completely tore up the tile flooring! A job that should have only taken a couple days is now on week five. In the process he has destroyed many tiles (which are out of production now so my dad has only so many left) and has essentially ruined the house. There is thinset on the furniture and dust covering the entire house. The work on tiles is even more subpar to contractor #1's. Now contractor #2 says it's costing him too much money and ended up just leaving.

My dad is going crazy. He saved up for twelve years to remodel his house and now these two contractors have ruined it completely. He's losing sleep and can't function at work. His lawyer says there's not much to do besides go to civil court to try to get anything back from both of the contractors but that most likely they could only get a lean on their houses. I'm just wondering if there are any other options. My dad's insurance says they don't cover contractor work like this.

Pics of contractor #1's work:
http://imgur.com/a/tQnUY

Pics of contractor #2's work:
http://imgur.com/a/2IfX4

Topic:
Other Civil Matters

Answer:
 Do you know if either of the contactors were licensed? Bonded? Insured?

Does your father have any written agreements? Invoices? Did he pay in checks? Answer #2: Tilesetter here. The good news is, if your dad ends up suing and their general liability insurance picks up (if they are insured) it should be pretty easy. The installation technique used in the living room is the 'dot method', wholly inadequate and the sign of a true amateur. Large profile tile like that needs to be backbuttered or there will be adhesion problems like you've encountered.

With contractor #2, this was doomed to fail from day one. Someone who installs tile as poorly as they did in the living room surely used no waterproofing anywhere in the shower and the entire thing should have been demo'd out immediately. He never should have taken the job on, and in chasing after contractor #1's liability insurance for the living room he may be able to recover for the shoddy bathroom work they did. In that case recovery against $2 would probably be filing against their insurance separately.

If your dad is looking for a contractor who actually understands how to install tile and build showers correctly I recommend checking out the forums at http://www.johnbridge.com . They have a section there where people who are looking for a tilesetter with a clue can post.

Best of luck!Answer #3: You can sue anyone, but can only actually get proceeds if they have assets.

Unfortunately many contractors are substandard and have no assets.  Typically this becomes a lesson learned situation, as often the cost to take legal action will far outweigh any likelihood of receiving money from someone with no assets working in a cash business.


Title: VA - Out of stater caught speeding over 80MPH in a 70 zone (46.2-862)

Question:
I really would really appreciate some help, please... My brain's frozen, and I need to know what to do next.  Google keeps giving me lawyer sites with some pretty scary sounding consequences for this ticket.

From out of state (CA), visiting relatives, driving a rental.  If it means anything, I'm also a woman and definitely not white (per the ticket, race "Unknown").  Officer stopped me, gave me a ticket, and just said to call the number to learn what my fine is.

I looked up what all this means, and I've got lawyer sites telling me that I'm now guilty of a misdemeanor equivalent to a DUI, among other things.   Also, VA gives a max of 6 points, a huge fine, and jail time.

What's the worst case scenario, what's the usual scenario, and what can I do besides pay the fine?  What are the consequences of just paying the fine (besides 1 point on your license)?

EDIT: I have the ticket from the officer. Should I expect anything else in the mail?

EDIT 2: HOW do I find a lawyer?

Edit 3: Spelling. Thanks again for the replies! My most active post, and my only one, so far. I wish it were about something happier. Wanted call out, in case it wasn't obvious, not my usual account.

Thanks so much.

Answer: It's a misdemeanor. You will have a criminal record if convicted of this. You need a VA attorney. This is serious.


Title: What are the laws on production and distribution of child pornography in the UK and the Netherlands?

Question: A friend of mine in the Netherlands has apparently recently shared explicit photos of me online. I'm only 17 years of age, and I understand fully that the both of us can be in a lot of trouble. However he doesn't seem to realise that.

Answer:
 First of, for legal purposes if your friend would get arrested for this and he shared those photos from a pc located in the Netherlands than Dutch jurisdiction applies.

In the Netherlands his actions (the production and distribution of an image of a minor (somebody who hasn't reached the age of 18 years at the time the image was made) portraying a sexual act)(I just translated what the dutch law that aplies here says [240b sr](http://wetten.overheid.nl/BWBR0001854/TweedeBoek/TitelXIV/Artikel240b/geldigheidsdatum_06-08-2011)) are illegal and can result in a maximum of 4 years jailtime or a fine up to €67.000,-.

IANAL and I am not aware of the legal consequenses in the UK but you might want to also try r/legaladviceuk.


Title: My school is using a cell phone jammer.

Question: if anyone knows what to do than tell me please I need help

Answer: How do you know this?  Cause I’ll bet all the money in my pocket against all the money in yours that the school isn’t actually doing this.


Title: Medical Negligence or am I over reacting (Ohio)?

Question:
I've been debating about whether or not to ask, but I really want to know. A little of the backstory.

August 5,2015 I had a total hysterectomy done leaving only my left ovary. After surgery I had complications that my GYN brushed off as me basically drug seeking. Prior to the surgery I had been in the ER many times due to issues, back in June 2015 they found a small cyst on my left ovary which they said was small enough and would fix itself. Fast forward to September 2015 I had another ultrasound done in the GYN office after another ER trip about the cyst. In the office it showed that the cyst was still there and getting bigger.

My GYN knew about the cyst prior to all of this from April 2015 when I had a hysterscopy done. The cyst is still there and getting bigger. So far there is no issues with it but if it's past 5 mm I will have to have yet another surgery to have it removed. If this is the case my insurance won't cover it because my deductible resets. Would it be worth it to me to contact a lawyer regarding this matter? To me and family it seems like negligence since they could have taken care of it in the 2 surgeries I've had. If it ruptures it will cause a lot more issues than I already have. I'm in Ohio and am not sure what to do. (Sorry for rambling).
Topic:
Medicine and Malpractice

Answer: Ovarian cysts are very common and generally resolve without any issues.  In August this was certainly reasonable to expect.  Leaving the ovary allowed your body's natural hormones to continue.  Taking it out would have put you into immediate menopause and you would have needed hormone replacements.  I doubt that you could find a doctor who would say it was beneath the standard of care not to remove the ovary in August.  Hindsight is 20/20 but that's not how medical malpractice works.


Title: Does my employers have the right to fire me because I refuse to pay the repairs for the damage I accidentally done on their delivery car, because they don't want to inform their insurance of the accident?

Question:
I first did this post in r/personalfinancecanada and they suggested to do this post in here so here it goes.

So last week, I damaged the passenger's back door and a back window on the restaurant's delivery car when I clipped the side of a large dumpster. Dumb mistake on my end, yes. Immediately after the accident, I informed my boss and they saw the damage.

https://imgur.com/a/YNU7j

They said that everything is fine, mistakes happens, that they will let the insurance deal with it. Note that I have been working for them for at least 9 months and that it was the first time I ever damaged their car. I've been driving for 3 years also and it was also the first time that I damaged a car.

So this happened a Friday. Now, fast forward next week's Wednesday. My boss give me 2 options about the car.

Option 1 : The boss will buy the parts and make the repairs his own way and we will pay the cost 50/50 so about 300 to 500$ EACH. Which means telling nothing to their insurance.

Option 2 : I don't pay the damage but he puts my name in his insurance so my insurance cost will go up starting next year and will go up again if another accident happen.

When I ask him "What if I refuse to do either of them?" He then tells me that they will report me to their insurance and that it will be dealt just like if I had an accident and ran away from the crash.

Of course, being a student with little to no money aside and afraid of having to deal with the insurance, I first accept to pay 50/50.

Now, fast forward 2 days so this last Friday (Friday the 10th of November) While I'm driving my car, someone rammed the back of my car with his pickup, leaving it badly damage, probably a total lost. I should have some news from my insurance about it this week.

I took the day off of work because of the accident after informing my boss of it. He was cool with it and told me to come work tomorrow. So now, tonight, I come to work and I inform my boss of the accident with my car and that the guy that rammed me is trying to put the blame on me, that I purposely turned in front of him, so the insurance may do a 50/50 cause since there is no proof, only his voice versus mine which means I might have to pay half of the repair cost or only have half of my car's value. With this, I tell him that I have to put on hold the whole thing about paying my half for the restaurant's car' repairs, that I want to wait for my insurance to tell me more about what's gonna happen. But then, he tells me that he needs an answer now.

My Boss - "Are you paying your half yes or no" Me - "I just told you that I can't tell for sure until I get more info from my insurance about my car" My Boss - "No no give me a yes or now NOW!" Me - "Well then it's a no for now. Later, depending if my insurance gives me full coverage for the accident, we can talk about it again" My Boss - "Alright, go back home. Come back next week for your last paycheck"

WTF! Just because you don't want to deal with your god damn insurance that you should have in the case that your delivery car get damaged, I don't have to be the one to pay for that nor being fired because I refuse to pay after my own car is wrecked!!

I need advice right now cause I am not sure what to do...

I live in the Province of Quebec, Canada. I am a 21 year old student in Visual Art and still living with my father. I am legally working there, nothing illegal or "Under the table" as we say here (Don't know if its the same expression in English)

Answer: Two different accidents in two days with two different vehicles? Is that what you said?


Title: [VA] How can I find out which court my friend will appear at?

Question:
Hello and thank you for your help.

My friend (let's call her Kelly) was arrested just over a week ago.  She is being held in Northwestern Regional Jail in Winchester VA.  I'm not sure all the details.  I was only just able to speak to them last night for about 15 minutes.

Kelly was arrested for narcotics distribution.  She says she is innocent, and has asked me to help her find a lawyer.  She does not have money to pay for one.  I am willing to pay for one to a degree but I really don't have much money, so this could be another issue.

On to the question.. I need help finding a lawyer, so i called the VA Bar referral service but they need to know which court the hearing will be at and I don't have that information.

Does anyone know a way to look this up?

I have tried this website for VA General District courts:

https://eapps.courts.state.va.us/gdcourts

I have used the drop down to search *every* court using her last name but I can't find any information.  Does anyone know a way I can find this info?  Her hearing is in a week so I don't have much time.  She is supposed to call me again at 8pm tonight (that is not guaranteed) but hoping I can get the info and I am anxious to get this process moving.  I know for sure that I have the correct name etc because I have already verified with the jail (automated system) that she is there, that she has been charged, etc. just cannot find her in the court systems.

Also, can anyone estimate (just ballpark) how much this can cost or what I can expect to pay for this service?  It is a very serious charge.

Thanks for the help!

Answer:
 >I am willing to pay for one to a degree but I really don't have much money, so this could be another issue.

I would suggest against paying for one at all unless she's so close to you that you would be willing to let her just have the money. And it's going to be a lot of money on top of that. Ultimately, if you can't afford it, don't do it because it will only complicate her representation and your friendship. Just let her get a public defender.


Title: Taxes withheld for a loan I did not take out

Question:
Last year my husband and I filed our taxes jointly (for the 2015 tax year), even though I hadn't made enough money to even file. (I was unaware of this at the time.) We filed with H&R Block. The time our refund was supposed to arrive came and went, so we went back to the H&R Block office to see what the hold up was. (We also moved to another state during this time, as my husband's contract with the Army was complete. KY-SC) Apparently, the IRS held our refund because I have an unpaid school loan that was in default and sent to collections.

My husband re-filed by himself, I can't recall what form he had to sign to do this, but it pretty much stated that he wasn't liable for my debt from the previous year, as I hadn't made much money, and therefore he would still receive his full tax refund. It never came. He's gone back to H&R Block twice & they told him they'd resend it, but it would take 12-14 weeks, and it has yet to arrive. He updated our address, as well, so there should be no question about where the refund check should be sent.

This school loan that I supposedly took out, which is now in default, is NOT my loan. I contacted the only college I ever attended, and they have no record of any unpaid loan. I filed a credit discrepancy report with Experian, and it went under review. Experian contacted me to tell me that they had "investigated" my claim, and the loan is legit, and I am responsible for it.

Here's what is going on now: I have NO idea who to contact about this, and I don't want my taxes to be withheld this year, since I did make money last year. We obviously will not be filing with H&R Block again, but we are completely lost as to where to go from here.

Thank you!

Edit: I have not attended college since the beginning of 2012, and haven't received anything by mail about this loan, though we have moved a few times.

Edit 2: I just checked my credit report, and this loan is now closed. Honestly, I have no idea what this means.

Answer: You need to speak with the loan servicer to get to the bottom of this. If the IRS held your refund, it is legitimate or was made to look legitimate, because it means that the servicer validated the debt and gained a default judgement against you.


Title: negligent pet owner threatening roommate and I with police

Question:
more than a week ago I came across a kitten in my neighborhood, in my area outdoor cats are common but this one in particular was very skinny with no tags so I took it in and checked with a veterinarian for a microchip, it did not have one. after some time I was able to find somebody willing to take on financial responsibility of the animal, they have since gotten it vaccinated, tagged, microchipped, and an appointment to get fixed. Yesterday evening my roommate let one of our neighbors into our apartment, the neighbor said that she was looking for her cat and my roommate confirmed to her that I took it. I asked the neighbor if she had documentation that would name her financially responsible for the animal, she said no, that she does not believe in microchipping or fixing pets. I told her I took the animal to our local shelter (I did not) so that she would not harass me for the name of the family who took ownership of the pet, now she is threatening legal action, because from her perspective I should’ve gone “door to door” with the animal until i found somebody who recognized it. do I have any legal obligation to do that, or put up signs, etc.? checking for tags and microchip, in my perspective was the safest and legally agreed upon way to verify ownership in my area.
US, Nevada (Clark County) thank you!

Answer:
 In most areas of the country, the proper procedure is to take the animal to the city/county shelter where it is put on a "stray hold" for a specific amount of time (like 3 days) so the owner can claim it. If the animal isn't claimed, it goes up for adoption. In some areas, you're allowed to do the stray hold at your house, where the shelter just records the animal as having been found, and posts pictures on their website, so the owner can find the animal that way.

As for what to do now, I don't know.


Title: My Grandmother is giving all of my siblings medicine they don't need, and the rest of my family is telling me there's nothing I can do about it.

Question:
Currently, my grandma has custody of my 4 siblings. She's had a long history of finding *something* wrong with her kids/grandkids, and getting them put on some sort of medication. Lo and behold, all of my siblings now suddenly need medicine for their mental issues. Given her history, I'm almost 100% sure these kids don't need these prescriptions. She put my 9 year old brother on Prozac for fucks sake.

Is there anything I can do about this? She got legitimate prescriptions for all of them, which is making my family think that there's nothing that can be done. I hope they're wrong.

Answer:
 You do have two potential avenues to pursue if you think your grandmother is lying to get medical care for children in her custody. Medical child abuse (previously know as Munchausen by proxy) is real, though rare and hard to prove. First, you can contact the prescribing physician to let them know your concerns. As you don’t have custody, the physician cannot give you any information about your siblings. But you can speak to them about your thoughts regarding your grandmother’s history. Second, you can contact your local CPS and let them know your concerns. True MCA/MBP is rare and often hard to prove. But if you are concerned, please let someone know. Answer #2: To be clear: these are medications prescribed for your siblings by a medical doctor?

If so, then no, there's little you can do, unless you yourself are a medical doctor who has examined them.  Or you otherwise have evidence that your grandmother or the doctor is somehow lying or cheating in all this.Answer #3: Are these medicines prescription medicines, and are they prescribed to the children?  Because if not, what she is doing is a crime and incredibly reckless.


Title: Restaurant employees not allowed to eat

Question: So my employer, upset over personal food being left in the restaurant, has banned eating on premise. Restaurant employees are not required to reciveve breaks (to my understanding) so this means I could be disciplined or fired to eating anything during my scheduled shift 2:30-12:30 (ten hours). Is this legal? It's obviously pretty shitty and immoral but can we really be told by an employer we will not reciveve a break and absolutely can not eat during a 10 hours shift. Our restaurant is in the state of Georgia which has very unfriendly laws to restaurant employees.

Answer:
 >Is this legal?

Yes, neither Federal nor Georgia employment laws require your employer give you a break.


Title: Do doctors have a record of what blood tests they ordered 6 months ago?

Question:
[NJ] My cousin was asked to check her thyroid hormones and the doctor gave her a note 6 months ago. Just for fun (she is a hypochondriac) she added cbc to the test list herself. After her blood work was done yesterday, suddenly she is worried that he might have a copy of the original prescription and she will be caught.

Is this possible?

Answer:
 Most docs use electronic medical records of some sort, so they may well have the record.

If the insurance company figures it out, they'd make her pay 100%, and her doc could well refuse her as a patient in the future.


Title: [WA] My GM wrote me up for using sick time. Washington passed a law last year that doesn't let employers punish you for using sick time. What do I do from here?

Question:
I used eight sick days over the course of four months. My new GM became agitated when I came to work with the flu after I was on a scheduled vacation. I am a supervisor where I work. She wanted me to cashier because she felt I was too sick to work my department. I told her if I was too sick to do my job, I would take a sick day. She told me if I took a sick day, she would have to reprimand me for my tardies from the last few months. I went home, took Nyquil, and passed out. I had a write up the following day for excessive sick time usage. My write up does list the exact dates I used sick time, along with a list of tardies from the past four months.

What do I do with this information?

Answer:
 > along with a list of tardies

That's a brief mention of a legitimate infraction. Why are you late to work?Answer #2: > I used eight sick days over the course of four months

Did you use more leave than you had accrued?Answer #3: In Seattle, contact the [Office of Civil Rights ](https://www.seattle.gov/civilrights/file-complaint). Seattle has additional worker sick leave protections on top of the state level protections, so if you live there that’s your best best. Im not sure if other municipalities have similar offices, I only know Seattle.

At the state level you can contact the [Department of Labor and Industries](https://www.seattle.gov/civilrights/file-complaint)


Title: Worked in a dangerous manufacturing job under 18, they knew my age. Do I have a case?

Question:
I started in March of this year as a machine operator at the age of 17. Many other employers who owned businesses in similar fields rejected me due to age. Is this a legality issue or an insurance issue? I have since left that employer and turned 18.
Topic:
Employment Law

Answer: What are your damages? If you were concerned why did you take the job?


Title: Ummmm?

Question:
My ex husband is apparently filing for Chapter 7 bankruptcy.  I got a letter today telling me this.

....Why would I get the letter?

We have been divorced for 5 years.

I do receive child support and I will receive 40% of his military retirement as contractual alimony once he retires. Those are both in our divorce decree from 5 years ago.

....does this bankruptcy affect those? Do I need to file to have them placed as exemptions or is that automatic under chapter 7?

Answer: My best friend is interning at a Federal Bankruptcy Court in the Southern District of NY currently so I sent her this post and asked if she knew the answer: "It's because he owes her what is called in bankruptcy a "domestic support obligation" and the court needs to know that so it reaizes that it's a bill he has to pay despite his bankruptcy. I'm not sure if she has to provide the documentation or if he does but the good news is that he listed it so he's not trying to thwart his child support payments. She needs to talk to a lawyer. She probably doesn't have to do anything but better safe than sorry."


Title: Terminated for whistleblowing nepotism in the workplace (SC, US).

Question:
I reported unfair business practices regarding nepotism by my boss to the company CFO. I was terminated today by said boss with no explanation other than “If you’re unsatisfied with the company, we should part ways”.

I live in South Carolina, an “at-will” state.

What actions, if any, can I pursue?

Answer:
 >What actions, if any, can I pursue?

None, except finding another job.


Title: Infected by ransomware, informed the school and they won't help!

Question: [deleted]

Answer:
 This isn't a legal issue.  You aren't going to be able to sue your school.  If you can convince them that you saved their asses, then maybe you can convince them to pay the ransom for you.  You could try taking your computer to someone in the school's IT department to see if they can recover anything from it.Answer #2: Not legal advice, but let this be a lesson on the backup rule of three:

Have 3 different backups in two different formats and one off site.


Title: Sexual assault case denied by prosecution

Question: [deleted]

Answer: Since it happened while the officer was off duty would she be able to report it to internal affairs?Answer #2: She could sue in civil court, but if the DA doesn't think they can win a criminal case, probably the best thing to do is get into therapy and start trying to heal a little.


Title: Indian outsourcing mafia ...These people evil as hell

Question: Appeared of you are laid off in California because the job was sold to foreigners from Indian on h1b visa.... you unemployment claim will be processed extra slowly and not at all by the same Indian h1b mafia that comes over and scares the crap out of people if they don't keep buying their  IT "protection" services from Indians...

Answer: Oh sheesh, it's [you](https://www.reddit.com/r/legaladvice/comments/2xyupf/antiamerican_born_foreignasiabirth_cia_attack_club/) again.


Title: If a third-party broke into an impound lot, drove off with one of the vehicles, and returned that vehicle to its rightful owner, would the owner be able to keep their vehicle?

Answer: The tow company can still pursue the vehicle owner for the cost of the original tow, and potentially foreclose on a lien and take the car back if they refuse to pay


Title: Florida - cam show dates

Question:
Im just wonderimg what the legality of those dates with cam models where you buy a raffle ticket and then could win the chance to go on a date with her ( and possibly have sex). Does this not count as prostitution?
Topic:
Other Civil Matters

Answer: I'll bet you her boyfriend ends up being the winner of that raffle.


Title: I got a ticket for parking on a snow covered road, and there were no signs - NJ

Question:
Location: New Jersey

My car was parked on the street before it began snowing sometime at night, and the ticket was on my car by 8am. The street is a cul-de-sac and there are only no parking signs that show you cannot park in the circle, which I wasn't. Now, I know somebody is getting ready to say something about "ignorance of the law", so I've copied the law verbatim below. The ticket references the bolded section specifically. I think I can fight this ticket because of section d.

>7-3.2       Parking Prohibited During State of Emergency.

>a.     Upon the declaration of an emergency, with the exception of snow emergencies, which emergencies are specifically regulated under paragraph b hereof, there shall be no parking upon streets or sections of streets where TEMPORARY EMERGENCY NO PARKING signs are displayed. The chief of police or, in his or her absence, the ranking police officer or the department of public works supervisor, is authorized to declare an emergency and to direct the posting of EMERGENCY NO PARKING signs when accidents, fire or public celebrations dictate or require the avoidance of hazards or other conditions which interfere with the free flow of traffic. Notification that EMERGENCY NO PARKING signs are being or will be posted shall be given to the operator or owner of any vehicle which has been parked prior to the posting of the signs.

>**b.     Whenever snow has fallen and the accumulation is such that it covers the street or highway, an emergency shall exist and no vehicle shall be parked on the following streets or highways or portions thereof: all municipally owned streets or highways.**

>**The above parking prohibition shall remain in effect after the snow has ceased until the streets have been plowed sufficiently and to the extent that parking will not interfere with the normal flow of traffic.**

>c.     Any unoccupied vehicle parked or standing in violation of this section shall be deemed a nuisance and menace to the safe and proper regulations of traffic and any police officer may provide for the removal of such vehicle. The owner shall pay the reasonable costs of removal and storage which may result from such removal before regaining possession of the vehicle.

>*d.     The effectiveness of this subsection is contingent upon the signs being erected as required by law.*

It is my understanding that section d is basically saying that a sign regarding this law is required to be posted. Is this accurate? There are no signs on the road besides the no parking signs, which I was on the correct side of. If this is accurate, would I be able to fight this ticket?
Topic:
Traffic and Parking

Answer: From my reading, section A states that snow emergencies do not need a sign posted. I would say that section D applies to all emergencies except snow emergencies.


Title: (TX) Sold car with contract stating vehicle was as-is. The lady then began harassing the business where the police were called multiple times to remove her. She was just awarded $1500 for the problems she had with the car.

Question: [deleted]

Answer: There's no mention in your narrative of your parents showing up in court. Did they?


Title: I’m moving soon and there might be a HOA. Here’s my issue

Question: Could I get in legal trouble if I refuse to pay the HOA in my neighborhood? If so how much? Can I tell them I want no part of them?   Please answer and thank you

Answer: The HOA can foreclose on your home if you refuse to pay. You'll have to agree to the HOA as part of the purchase.


Title: Mental ill older brother beats mom and becoming very destructive towards the house, mom and me

Question:
He is mentally ill because he's special needs but he can function more independently then the others he knows right from wrong.

 He just doing this to annoy I think, but I'm not too sure but it feels like his attacking more than anything else. He now targeting me by throwing shit to my room door and what not.
I don't know what else he might do to my room when I'm out.

I can't do anything cuz I'm smaller and weak and my mom is an enabler. She always says she will do something but she's afraid they will drug him up.

Also, he does a lot of stuff that's is weird and stupid.
He cooks rice just to waste it... Wtf.

Also, my mom doesn't want me to intervene but I might just have to if he keeps doing shit like this to me.

There's many things he did that's stupid and plain ass annoying.

What should I do?

Pls answer!
Ps not a troll question.
Topic:
Disability Issues

Answer:
 Do you feel that you are in danger?
Are you under the age of 18?


Title: Dust left behind from “routine maintenance” of our home. (CO, USA)

Question:
8 months ago, we signed a 1 year rental lease and moved into a newly built townhome. We were the first residents to occupy our unit. Two weeks ago, we were notified via an email newsletter from the property managers in advance that the maintenance crew of our townhome complex would be going around and completing a routine check on alarms and cleaning the filters on the heating/cooling units. We were not required to be present or prepare the space in any way, nor was there any indication there would be debris left behind.

When we got home that afternoon, we found there was a fine layer of white dust covering the home (on both levels and in all rooms). It was particularly concentrated directly underneath the wall units. I immediately called the property management office and explained the situation. I was told to send pictures via email. So I took pictures and sent them along with a detailed explanation of what had occurred and that we would like to be compensated in some manor considering it took us hours to clean every inch of our home, change bedsheets, dust bookshelves, clean the kitchen, wash plants, etc. I did not get a response until the next Tuesday after I called multiple times, after which I was further put off and told the lead property manager was gone and wouldn’t be back until next Monday so I’d have to wait. I was then informed that in fact, she had responded to my email after all. I went home, checked and there actually was no response.

 I wait until this Monday, still no response. On Tuesday I called twice and left a voicemail to the office. I emailed again, clearly stating our need for compensation and a detailed list of questions I had to determine exactly what this dust was and what caused this debris to get all over our home. I said I am speculating it was drywall dust which had built up in the filters during construction and was concerned.

Today I got an email response from one of the maintenance crew guys basically just saying sorry. No answer to my questions, no explanation of how they would make this right.

I have been experiencing some breathing issues lately and a sore throat. I thought it could possibly be due to allergies even though I never get allergies. Now I’m starting to worry that we have been breathing in drywall dust, especially during the cleanup. I will be scheduling an appointment with my doctor, although I don’t have any idea whether they could tell me the cause if it was from this dust.

What are my options? What is a reasonable expectation on our part it terms of compensation? How should I go about getting this addressed?

Answer:
 > What are my options?

pledge or endust + a cloth

> What is a reasonable expectation on our part it terms of compensation?

nothing

> How should I go about getting this addressed?

you should dust and move on with your lifeAnswer #2: \> What is a reasonable expectation on our part it terms of compensation?

The reasonable expectation would be that you aren't owed compensation because of harmless dust.


Title: [Alberta, Canada] is it legal for an employer to threaten termination if an employee talks about sexual harassment?

Question:
A while ago at my workplace we had a manager who was sexually harassing the female employees. Including touching them when they weren't comfortable with it and making comments about their bodies. He would also, to a lesser extent, bully the male employees. Including attempting to intimidate me.

He was reported numerous times to upper management and to HR. Our district manager told us "he will be around for a long time so you better get used to it" (paraphrased, I forget the actual words used). Eventually management had enough of us and transferred him to a different store, where he could presumably continue his sexual harassment. As far as I'm aware he is still there.

Now for my question. The district manager said to each of the women at my workplace that if they continued to speak about his sexual harassment they would be fired. Are there any laws in Alberta protecting against this sort of thing? Or is the company within their rights to suppress this information.

Answer:
 >The district manager said to each of the women at my workplace that if they continued to speak about his sexual harassment they would be fired.

This would be illegal. Each of these women could have made a human rights complaint for the sexual harassment, and the employer attempting to suppress instead of investigating would have resulted in larger penalties for the employer.Answer #2: Short answer: no

Long answer: What the actual fuck are your employers thinking? You need to start a paper trail right now and this is a huge liability for your employer.  If any of the incriminated discussion is legally recorded, any half-decent lawyer would have a field day.


Title: I think the ex is pulling a fast one and changed the custody agreement language. Can someone tell me if this is language that a lawyer would use?

Question: [deleted]

Answer: So you had your daughter last year and she wants her this year?  Even without that language any judge would give the kid to your ex this year.


Title: Can a landlord charge more than the security deposit? (CA)

Question:
We are moving out (semi-willingly). Our landlord threatened us with eviction because the house isnt "kept up". Her examples were its dirty outside when she drives by, she can tell the floors aren't cleaned often (we cleaned them the day before she saw), and we had an independent structure outside the house in the backyard and she said we had no right building things on the house (again, it was a shed thats in no way connected to the house, just flush against it). She told us if we moved out right now it would take at least $1500 to clean the place up to what it was. Which is ridiculous to us. Our deposit was $900. My question is, can she charge us beyond what our deposit was?

Ninja edit: we told her we would take the shed down. We said we could make one in the middle of the yard or get a store bought shed and she said that wasn't okay either.
Topic:
Landlord Tenant Housing

Answer:
 yes, she can charge you more than the deposit for any damages or other things needed to restore the unit to the condition it was when rented out, minus wear and tear.  whether or not her charges are actually legit is something you should dispute with her.  Answer #2: Yes-ish. They wouldn't necessarily "charge you" but they could bring you to court.

An example that would be easier to understand -
You damage your carpet. Let's say your security deposit was $1,000. They end up having to tear up the entire base floor's carpet because it's one piece. The cost of the carpet and labor exceeds that. Your landlord could seek legal remedy to recover the value beyond the deposit.


Title: Brought a pistol into ex-girlfriends house

Question:
I’ll start this off by saying that this is in Wyoming. I’m only 20 years old but I always carry, Ive been pulled over a couple times and I always let the officer know I’m carrying a pistol as well as a shotgun and an ar-15. I’ve never had a cop give me a hard time about my guns. My ex girlfriend has our child and she has not been very good about letting me see him, so I got a lawyer and have been trying to get a legal agreement signed between the two of us to protect my rights to my child. The other day she told me that I could come over and see him, so I showed up to her (her fathers) house and had my pistol on me. When I stood up to get a drink out of the kitchen she saw my pistol. I went and talked to her dad today seeing as how it’s his house and that I didn’t ask him if I could carry in his home. He told me he is considering pressing charges as he said his daughter (my ex) felt threatened. She [texted] (https://imgur.com/a/Igywm8n) me after asking why I was carrying. I guess my question is what should I be expecting from this?
Topic:
Criminal Law

Answer:
 He can tell the cops you were carrying illegally, they may or may not care.

He can exclude you from his home, and she can prevent you from seeing your kid unless there is a custody order in place. You being known to illegally carry a gun is not going to make a judge like you when it comes to getting a custody order sorted out.Answer #2: Do you have a CCW? Were you open carrying on your hip or was it sticking out of your pocket?


Title: Texas: Forced to resign for a start-up I worked 6+ years at due to grudge from owner's wife

Question:
Location: Texas

Quick background, I was one of the first employees at a bootstrapped start-up, we took the company to 70M+ in about 6 years, and grew from 5 employees to almost 70+ as of this writing.

2+ years ago, I chatted with an employee who directly reported to me (no longer employed at this time) about issues at work, and about different employees and the owners. Most of this was venting on his end, though I did offer some of my opinion. I said some things about the owner and his wife as I did not respect some of their decisions and also some flawed personal behavior. My mistake was to have done this on my work chat after-hours, instead of verbally in person. This chat was then looked up by the owner's wife from my work computer, printed out into copies, and then arbitrated with other employees in our conference room a few months later when it was discovered, where they tried to decide what punishment I should receive. I apologized in writing as well as in person to the owner's wife, and was put on probation for 90 days (the entire thing was pretty much a huge joke to the employees lucky enough to be present, as most employees felt the same way about the owners). The owner at the time did his best to protect me from being let go as I was an important part of the company and the team. I genuinely apologized for the chat and what I had stated within it, and thought it was the end of the story at that point.

Fast forward to present day 2+ years later, the owner's wife tells her husband (my boss) that she is still upset that I was not fired for the incident that happened long ago and would like me to be removed from the company, or she will divorce him and take 50% of everything he owns. I have not spoken to the owner's wife since that time. She stopped coming into the office about 2 months ago and more than likely will not return until I am forced out of the company. All of this is told to me by the owner himself, who lets me know that a resignation would be acceptable, as he has no choice in the matter, (and obviously, he wants to keep the status quo). He offered me some side business opportunities that I could work with him on instead without his wife knowing about them, and vaguely mentioned I could be paid a salary from the amount he funds in the new company.

Other than this, I have not been promised any severance, or anything else of the sort. I was promised equity in 1 or 2 emails over the past 6 years, however was never given a stated percentage. The emails made it quite clear from the owner himself that if he ever sold the company, equity would be on the table for me as I had deserved it.

The owner discussed with me on how we should create the story about why I am leaving, and made some suggestions, finally stating that it would be best to just state I found another job, in order to "prevent mass hysteria" or "mass depression" with the company's employees. I hold the 2nd highest position in this company, and me leaving more than likely will be a big blow to all of my direct reports as well as all of the projects I manage. Other than the issue 2+ years ago, I have never had a disciplinary action filed against me for as long as I have worked at the company.

This woman really wants to see the world burn!

Against my better judgment a few days ago, I sent an email stating I resign to the owner, who then let his wife know. I regret this, and did it because I believed the owner would come up good on his word about doing a side business with me, but there is nothing in writing to confirm this. Also, if his wife found out about this, I'm sure she would just shut this down as well and pull the same stunt once again, and why wouldn't she?

I believe my resignation email can be rescinded if I wish (it was never really legit in the first place).

A few questions:

Am I still able to rescind my resignation, and should I?

Am I entitled to equity with an email as evidence (doubtful)?

Any consequences for forcing them to terminate me instead of me resigning?

Any consequences in regards to me letting all of my closest co-workers, team members, as well as company's suppliers and partners (whom I communicate with daily) know what actually happened rather than keeping quiet (being sued for defamation, libel, slander, etc.)? More than likely many of them will leave the company or possibly walk-out, am I at risk of being sued for causing loss to the company if this happens?

Any other advice you'd be so kind to provide to me? I will also be consulting a lawyer.

Thanks!

Answer:
 I'm sorry, but unless you have something more than vaguely hopeful emails, the only thing you're entitled to is unemployment.

And yes, you can get wrapped up in a defamation lawsuit that will not be worth your time and money to defend against if you get into he-said/she-said.


Title: Custody battle (updated)

Question:
I am posting this because I am struggling with myself personally at this time. This is my first post of reddit as well.

My childs mother will be referred to as lisa and the other girl will be kayla.

But anyways to give some background. 2 years ago me and my childs mother parted because I was very unhappy with her and met someone else which would be kayla. Me and lisa struggled in our relationship because I cheated once on her before meeting kayla and because of Lisa's attitude. We got through that and things were ok for a time. I struggled to get a good job at the time. After awhile I struggled being happy with lisa. I am now at the point in my life where I have seen the mistakes I have made and more. I was young and stupid, I'm 25 now.

But anyways I left lisa and got with kayla. This was some time after my lil girl was born. I was with kayla for two years and in this time lisa has fought to get me back. She had unconventional means as she tried. As time passed though I could see how much she loved me and I slowly came to realize that I honestly loved her to. But she did countless things. She showed up at kaylas house and talked to her mother. She showed up at kaylas work and called her work. She would park her car by kaylas and sit there. She would leave my daughter home alone and walk down the road to kaylas house and walk by it over and over.

She would go to her car at home and leave my daughter alone in her apt. My sister has watched my daughter and is my evidence against lisa. She has harmed herself multiple times as well over me. All I wanted from lisa was to better her attitude and let the past be the past.

The entire time of my daughters life me and kayla have done more then lisa. We have bought majority of her clothes, toys, movies and more. I gave lisa a 400 dollar tv I owned for my daughter to use including my PS3 for her to watch movies. My parents have paid Lisa's rent to keep her from being evicted and we have stored her stuff in our garage. My parent's let her live with them as well. The bed my daughter has was my niece's and before that the bed she had came from my aunt.

My family has done more for her and my daughter then anyone else has including her family.

My problem is simple. I love lisa more then anything and left kayla because I made a mistake and wanted my family. I love my daughter more then anything and want her to be happy. I moved back in with my parents and am in between jobs. Me and lisa were trying to work things out but she has suddenly changed. She is now with a new guy and wants nothing to do with me. This hurts me and confuses me. She fought for 2 years to have her family and she finally got her family. She slept with me two days in a row before talking to this guy a day later and sleeping with him on the same night. I know that I made mistakes in the past but I have changed and want to do whats right by lisa and my daughter. Lisa even said she wanted a bigger family with me.

I have alot of info and its hard for me to convey whats happening better. I worry for my child. Lisa doesn't bath her often. She doesn't feed her right and lisa is constantly on her phone nonstop. She just had to have someone give her food because lisa can barely pay rent or anything else. Even when I wasn't with lisa ot was me who provided for my child more.

Before she got with her current bf she started seeing a guy at her work who had a child on the way and a gf. I found out and was upset and confronted her because she lied to me about going out with him one day as I was stuck at her apt watching out child. It upset me because I was trying to work things out with her. I got ahold of the guys gf and she confronted him. He admitted to only wanting to sleep with lisa which he accomplished. He went to jail for hitting his gf.

Back to the current guy he works in the same area as the first guy and knew about lisa and him. So after lisa slept with guy 1 the new guy moved in. I feel she is not thinking and he is manipulating her because she seems "easy".

I recently got into an altercation with him at her apt because I feel completely heartbroken by what lisa is doing. I took my daughter to her so we could discuss our child. When she opened the door and I saw him I got instantly angry. I got in his face and said he took my family from me. I turned to karen and asked her if we could go out in the hall to talk about our daughter. At this time though he pulled a knife on me and opened it and told lisa to call the police. I got more angry that this guy had the gull to pull a knife out infront of my lil girl and try to tell me that "he would do whatever it takes to protect lisa and my daughter" I tried to calm down and kept trying to get lisa to talk to me about our daughter. She eventually went to the bedroom where I followed. She told me no repeatedly. I got aggravated and grabbed the tv I had given her but was to aggressive with it and pulled it to the floor. This prompted her bf to put me in a tight chokehold. This made me react defensively as I got out and began to punch him. I knocked him to the ground and had control the entire fight. I stopped before it got worse and I helped him up and apologized. I told him this is hard for me because I love lisa so much and I wanted my family.

The cops showed up and took our statements. I have a misdemeanor battery and he has a misdemeanor battery and level 6 felony for strangulation. The fight did not happen infront of ny child. But lisa and her bf both lied to police about what happened. We both got arrested and went to jail.

As I sat in jail lisa went to my sisters to take my sister to walmart. My daughter was not in a car seat at all. She got to walmart and turned around taking my sister home and going to the police station and picked him up.

There is alot more info I haven't shared. I still have info how my daughter is not taken care of. Lisa's bf is now dictating things about my child. I have not seem my lil girl for almost 3 weeks because he has told lisa to hire a babysitter for the weekend so I don't have her. The babysitter she has now for the week as lisa work I have no idea who it is or where she is. She has refused to give me information and refuses to give me her number. She bought a spare phone and texted me from it without me knowing. She left this phone at my sisters. If something happened to my daughter I had no way to get ahold of her.

I have a lawyer for my battery case and I go to a lawyer for my daughter on friday. I have called DCS on lisa because of all the stuff she has done and how unwell she cares for my child.

I shouldn't have to tell her when to bath my daughter or anything. She hasn't worked with her on potty training and has refused to take her to a daycare for preschool. The preschool has called me and others trying to get ahold of her.

My daughter wants me more then her own mother. She screams and cries when her mom comes around because she doesn't want to go with her. She keeps her cooped up and makes her just watch movies. She does nothing with her at all.

I would like to know everything that I'm going to go through and my best course of action. My daughter is better off with me then lisa and I have a ton of evidence to prove her unfit.

Her bf also made her go refile support against me as well. This is the second time she filed. The first time she filed was after I caught her with the first guy. We went to the court house and got it dropped. She told them at the court house we was working things out now then.

I live in indiana so it would help to know the important laws.

I must say that kayla is the one who bonded me out. She is extremely good with my daughter and works at a nursing home. My daughter has even called her mom without being forced by me or anyone else.

Like I said I have some more info if asked I can share.

Sorry for the extremely long post and if my grammer has issues. I am upset pretty bad at this time and I am having a hard time coping because I thought lisa wanted her family like I did.

But I feel my daughter is in a very unsafe place and this new guy and lisa are trying to keep me from my child. She doesn't think I will do anything but I truely want to do anything I can to get custody of my daughter.

Any advice or help would be great. Thank you for your time if you read this.

((Update))

I had this posted in relationship_advice but I have new info today. I was served with a protective order against me for my child today.

In the order lisa said I attepted to harm her and my daughter with the tv I dropped on the floor. She is trying to make it to where I have to have supervised visits and can not communicate with my daughter peeiod other then that.

What bothers me though is in the police report for what happened with me and her bf she states that she believe I was not trying to harm her with said tv. Which I wasn't.  I simply tried to grab the tv and take it back but was slightly aggressive with it and dropped it. The tv is on a small table that has my daughters movies on it. The tv was also plugged in so that cause me to drop it as the tv would've knocked over the table since it was plugged in. She once again said I pushed her which I never laid a hand on her. If I had remotely pushed her then her bf would've reacted then.

I go to the lawyer friday for the custody. I am at a loss for words of why this is being done to me after all the things she has done. She went and filed this order against me days after everything happened. Her story in the police report states I didn't use the tv to harm her and now she says I tried to in the protective order.

Both her and her bf lied multiple times on the report and idk what to do. I'm worried for my daughter. She is only 2 and lisa drives around with her in a booster seat meant for children ages 4-5. Her car smells bad of gas because her fuel pump is going out.

I have always been told that lisa asked her bf what he would do if she got pregnant.  He told her she would have to get an abortion. Who says that to someone with a kid?

I'm at a loss for words on everything thats happening. If anyone needs more info feel free to ask.

Answer:
 So you went to Lisa's apartment with your 2 year old, got into an argument with her boyfriend, did not leave after he told her to call the police and pulled a knife on you, followed Lisa into her bedroom when she was refusing to talk to you and trying to get away from you, destroyed the TV, and then got into a physical fight with the boyfriend.  All in the same apartment with your child present.

You are wondering why Lisa got a restraining order against you?  You are wondering why she is requesting only supervised visitation?  Seriously?  Read the above paragraph again.  Does any of that look like good parenting?  Does any of that look like you should ever be in Lisa's apartment again?  Of course not.

You are missing the forest for the trees.  After you had been asked to leave, you smashed a TV during an argument in the same apartment with your 2 year old.

Follow the advice of your attorney.  However, I suggest you think much more carefully about your role in all this and your actions.  It is strongly unlikely that you will be getting custody.


Title: (WI) My 5 year-old daughter was sexually assaulted by a 12 year-old. His dad is a sheriff's deputy.

Question:
My wife and I have little faith that the investigation is being taken as seriously as it should be.

The incident occurred last Wednesday in the county where the offender's father is a sheriff's deputy. We live in a neighboring county. After about a day, the county in question handed the case off to a third county, partly due to our insistence.

My wife spoke to the detective on the case today and he informed her that he has not yet spoken with the offender or his family. He claims that the mother's number didn't work (she is also a county employee) and that the father hasn't been in the office for a few days and no other contact information is known.  We find this very hard to believe. A witness to the crime has been regularly trying to contact the detective but he has not interviewed her either.

We know that the offender has a younger sister and are rather shocked that, at least officially, the family of the offender has no idea that this happened. We assume, though, that they have heard it through the grapevine.

I have left a message with an attorney asking to talk about the situation.

Is there anything at all that we can do to press this case? Is the case going to just be at the whim of this detective who seemed to be more concerned with enjoying his long weekend than he was with pursuing the case?

Thanks in advance for any advice you can offer.

Answer:
 > Is there anything at all that we can do to press this case?

Other than complaining to his superiors, there is not.  The police have sole authority to decide how they work their cases.

> Is the case going to just be at the whim of this detective who seemed to be more concerned with enjoying his long weekend

That asshole, taking time off like that.  Man, I hate when people don't work 24-7 without a break.  Just real shitty of him to spend time with his family or whatever.

Police are people too.  They deserve time off.  It doesn't mean that they're not working your case.  They're likely working your case and many others.  Your daughter isn't in any continuing danger.  The detective also likely has *other* cases with *other* victims that also demand his attention.


Title: Is forcing a child to take a controlled substance a felony?

Question:
I'm in a custody battle with my mom and dad. I want to live with my dad, but my mother says I'm too emotionally unstable to make a decision. I have some mental issues but I am fine. Whenever I'd get really upset, she would force me to take her xanax (her prescription, I've never been prescribed that) so I'd shut up. Is that legal?? I am female, 16, and I live in Texas.
Topic:
Juvenile and Youth Law

Answer:
 No, that's not legal. Not at all.Answer #2: Holy shit, no, that's _very_ illegal. She cannot legally share her controlled medications with anyone, and forcing them on you may well be child abuse on top of misuse of a prescribed controlled substance.

[Call CPS](https://www.dfps.state.tx.us/child_protection/).


Title: [MN] Grandfather wants to give guns to me worried about cousins disputing after he passes away

Question:
Hi legal advice I've posted before but and I'm going to visit my grandfather who is very old and sick right now for Thanksgiving and he has two guns that I've always been interested in owning and when we were talking on the phone last week he offered to give them to me for free(we talk almost every week).

I want to draft up some kind of bill of sale and the necessary paperwork to transfer them and buy them from him and told him flat out I won't just take them because I don't think that would be fair to him. He keeps insisting that I just take them when I come up for Thanksgiving. The part that worries me is I have many cousins that have asked for things before from my grandparents and in their will everything goes to the grandkids. I am worried when if I were to get my grandfather to take some money he wouldn't accept much it could look like I am taking advantage of him and my cousins disputing it in his will.

What kind of steps should I take to make sure it doesn't look like I am taking advantage of him?

Answer:
 You don't need a bill of sale, just have him write a letter to you saying he's giving you the guns as a gift and call it a day.  You can absolutely just receive them for free, they have no claim to his property while he is alive.  This isn't about taking advantage of people.  Adults are free to give reasonable gifts, even if they're old.

If the guns are regulated weapons (shotguns <18.5 inch barrel, automatic weapons, etc) there may be additional concerns with the transfer.


Title: 23 y/o Female Charged With Controlled Substance in VT - Will Not Personally Attending My Affidavit Hurt My Case?

Question: [deleted]

Answer:
 Arraignment, not affidavit, for anyone who is reading and is confused.

I agree with the previous poster. It's common practice to either waive the arraignment completely or just have the attorney show up.


Title: (CT, CA, TX) Wife says I betrayed her, has been hiding money from me. Possible divorce incoming.

Question:
Sorry such a long story. Tldr is title.

We have a rental property in TX, that we're selling, and two more that we're in the process of buying.

We have a condo in CT (where I live) while my wife rents in CA. We also have a 13 year old son, who stays with me.

She has been working as a nurse in CA since 2015. I was the sole supporter of the family from 2007-2015, though she also did work from time to time as a language interpreter. I especially supported her through nursing school, financially as well as outright doing her homework in a few cases and proofreading many, if not most, of her assignments.

I have recently discovered that she has another bank account, from which she paid earnest money on the two properties we're buying (both our names on the papers). This other account is accessible only to her, and has a total balance in excess of $70K.

She has accused me of betraying her because of disagreeing with her in a rather heated argument about my cousin who was living with us at the time helping with household things while my wife worked away from home and I was still in the Navy and not able to be home all the time. She says I "took the side against her" and went on to accuse me of having an affair with my cousin, who was 20 at the time (I'm 39). This was of course not true.

She's recently accused me of betraying her again b/c I went to TX to visit my family and introduce my son to his 3 great aunts on my mom's side, most of whom he had never seen. They were in town to attend the wedding of that cousin from before, which we did attend. Most of the weekend was spent visiting with my mom, dad, brother, and the aforementioned aunts, but because I spent two hours at a ceremony and reception (with tons of other family members btw), I am turning against her again. The only explanation for my actions is that I was romantically involved with my cousin, according to her.

I feel that I am entitled to some of her income if we split, since I supported her 100% through her education financially and otherwise. I'm confident that my son would choose to stay here with me, and would also be entitled to child support at least for the next few years.

How screwed am I? Thanks for hanging in and any advice you may offer.

Answer: Bring your divorce attorney up to speed and let them worry about it. Figuring out which of those accounts are marital assets and ensuring that they're divided in the event of a divorce is what you pay your attorney for.