Title: Landlord won't replace my HVAC system because I didn't give them 180 prior notice to renew my lease...

Question:
Location: Ohio

I have a commercial lease, my lease just expired and I am in option now. The HVAC system which is 28 years old is broken and in the lease its says the landlord is obligated to repair and replace the complete HVAC system. I called them and they basically told me since I didn't follow every line of the lease they shouldn't have to either. The issue they are bringing up is that I should have sent a written letter to them telling them I want to renew or use my option. I did send the letter but they claim they don't have it, either a lie or they really don't they just bought the place 3-4 months ago. Is there something I can do?

Answer:
 >  they basically told me since I didn't follow every line of the lease they shouldn't have to either

This is where an attorney needs to get involved. You need someone to review the lease.


Title: South Carolina - Friend's ex boyfriend (3 months separated) broke in and stole her phone. He is currently posting her private messages, conversations, and pictures on Facebook.

Question: The police said there is nothing they can do about the phone until tomorrow when she goes up and signs some papers.  He is using her phone to call people (including myself) and to post things right now.  Is there anything she can do?  What are her rights?

Answer: She should contact her cell provider and have the number disabled. Most modern iPhone/Android devices have a 'lost' mode that can be activated remotely to lock-down the device until the actual owner enters a pass-code only they know.


Title: [AU] Someone jumped on my laptop at school.

Question:
I live in Queensland Australia.
Long story short we were in class and our normal teacher wasnt there and this student was jumping on peoples desks and his mates were recording it and out of no-where he jumped onto my desk which had my bag on it, my laptop was in my bag and he broke half the screen and damaged my phone.
Heres the laptop http://imgur.com/lFrWb6n
The school policy states that if i bring my own property to school that i should be aware of the risks that come with it. is there anything i can do in this cituation to get my laptop fixed or somthing?
I just expected better from my fellow year 12 classmates.

Answer:
 i don't know if your school was the same as mine, but i also went to school in QLD. If you have one, go talk to your year level coordinator or a vice principal OR head of department. Seriously bring up that your teacher didn't see a student jumping around on desks, that should make them at least interested in your case.Answer #2: Can you get a copy of the video showing him jumping on the desks, including yours, and actually causing the damage?

Seems like that would give you some leverage as you figure out how to pursue this.Answer #3: The only thing that school ruling does is protect the school from getting in trouble. "Having own responsibility" for own property means also having own responsibility for taking legal action.

Just go file a police report, and if anyone can witness that he jumped on your bag that is good in case of him denying everything.

EDIT: if the whole case was recorded, it's a best case scenario for you.Answer #4: Try to find if they uploaded the video on YouTube, [then use this to make an .mp4 copy](http://www.clipconverter.cc/) of it to use as evidence.


Title: Im 18M and my work told me they dont want me anymore since im not 21.

Question: I just started at a new upscale restaruant and Im currently 18. I live in Illinois. For the past 3 weeks they trained me to be a server. Yesterday was our soft opening, where I did really good. 3 of my tables even went to the owners and told them about my performance. I got a call from our manager saying that they don't want me to work anymore at the restaurant because im not 21. I rejected a few job offers within the last few weeks because I thought i had a secured job. Is there anything I can do? They fully knew that i was 18 for 3 weeks prior because I was denied a wine key. Is there anything I can do?

Answer: No, they can terminate you for not meeting age requirements.


Title: I have a spinal injury and my boss keeps suggesting she wants me to park my car and walk a very far distance, because the other employees think it's unfair I get to park in the front of the school...

Question: [deleted]

Answer: Do you have a handicapped parking permit?


Title: What's the oldest U.S. currency still considered legal tender in the United States?

Answer:
 All of it. Every ~~currency~~ type of coin ever produced by the US Mint, and every currency produced by the Bureau of Engraving and Printing are in circulation and continue to be valid legal tender. Some currency/coins are really only in circulation as they relate to coin/bill collecting, but can still be used as payment.

Edit: I don't know how my government works (thanks for the heads up, /u/SamOldman). Answer #2: The thing is though that older US currency is worth more than face value on the collector's market usually.Answer #3: I suppose the only thing that isn't legal tender is money minted by governments other than the current government, I.E. Confederate money. However, I wouldn't consider Confederate money to be "U.S. Currency" because it wasn't issued by the US government.


Title: Armchair Ruling for a will

Question: I was wondering how I would go about filing for an armchair ruling for a will in Massachusetts. The will was poorly written by the lawyer that drafted it and the only possible way to get the original intent honored is to do an armchair ruling... How would I go about filing for one? Thank you for any help!

Answer:
 > I would go about filing for an armchair ruling for a will in Massachusetts

The rule of this sub is you shouldn't post unless you know but I consider myself a good googler and I have no idea what you are even talking about.


Title: [FL] Security camera found in safe deposit box cubicle

Question:
On Monday, January 6th, my mother entered a Bank of America. She proceeded to check out her safe deposit box and entered a private cubicle (with locked doors) to view the contents. While inside, she looked at various documents, including my family’s birth certificates, social security cards, and valued jewelry. Upon leaving, she noticed a security camera, with a small LED light on, located on the ceiling of the room and aimed at the desk where she was sitting.

She confronted the manager of the bank, asking if she was being filmed while sorting through the private documents. The manager told her that she would have to “take his word for it”, and that the camera was not filming her. However, these rooms are about the size of a small fitting room.

Are banks legally allowed to record patrons while they are opening the contents of their safe deposit boxes in these private rooms? I understand that she was on their property, in a public place, but I was under the impression that there is a certain expectation of privacy (similar to fitting rooms or public bathrooms).

Answer: 100% legal. She's free to move her items elsewhere if she's unhappy about it.


Title: Oh hai! I can haz rockz?

Question: So I am doing a little DIY project and I need some rock. I see a lot of perfect ones on the side of the highway. Can I stop and grab some of these or is that illegal? Does it matter if it is a Federal interstate or a state hwy? (i'm in KY)

Answer:
 IANAL, but most of the time those are hauled there by the state/county/whatever to prevent the roads from being undercut by water and to assist with drainage. Most governments frown on people taking things that were put there for a reason.

It might seem like a small thing, but it's sort of along the same lines as people dropping pebbles in the Grand Canyon. One person doing it isn't going to make a bit of difference, but if everyone starts doing it, it's going to become a big problem.

I don't even know what they'd charge someone with for that, but I'd love to see the judge's reaction. "Rock theft? What is this, The Flintstones?"


Title: Porter at dealership took me (as customer) to his house instead of giving me a ride to work as promised upon return of rental car. Can I sue the dealership?

Question: ## Can I sue dealership if their porter who was to give me a courtesy ride to work after returning their rental car took me against my will to his home instead, took my cell phone from me so I couldn't call work or for help, punched me in the face, etc. and terrorized me while I was in the truck and couldn't leave for 2 hours for not creating a safe environment for customers or ____ ???? The employee is a convicted felon of drugs and a type of battery. I almost got fired over this. I filed a statement with Sherriff's Dept right after it happened and they took pictures. The employee was supposed to be at his job at the dealership during the time he abducted me. Can I sue Dealership?

Answer:
 Short answer.  Yes you have a lawsuit against his employer.

Whether you will be successful will depend on whether they were negligent in hiring him.  What they knew about his criminal background etc.

It’s also a criminal matter for kidnapping and battery.  How long ago did this happen?Answer #2: Assuming the employer negligently hired or supervised this employee, yes. Merely being a convicted felon doesn't it make it a slam dunk case though, you have to show evidence knew he had some type of tendency to cause this and they allowed it to happen by hiring him because this isn't going to be one of those situations where the employer is automatically responsible for the actions of their employee. This wasn't mere a frolic or detour debate. The employee went completely off the rails.Answer #3: And the Sheriff's department hasn't taken any action?


Title: Can my Canadian GF take my son back to Canada?

Question: My GF moved here (US) from Canada 5 years ago after a few years of long distance relationship. We have a 3.5 year old son together...things have not been going well between us lately, and she's been mentioning that she misses home. It just dawned on me that she may want to take him back to Canada if we're not able to fix things between us. How does this work? We recently moved to Arizona together, so it's not that he's very rooted in the place. What are my rights as an unmarried father? What can I do to be as well-prepared as possible for if/when the day comes? Completely clueless, never thought I would have to think about it in this way. Our son was born in the US and doesn't have a Canadian citizenship, but she could probably apply for it at some point. What are her legal options if she want's to try to bring him back home?

Answer:
 Are you on the birth certificate? If so, you need to get a custody order in place ASAP. If not, you need to prove paternity and then get a custody order. You need a family law attorney, now.

Without a custody order, she can take the child to Canada without your permission.Answer #2: >Our son was born in the US and doesn't have a Canadian citizenship

Assuming that your girlfriend is Canadian your son is almost certainly a Canadian citizen. http://www.cic.gc.ca/english/citizenship/rules/

The Government of Canada does recommend that children traveling with only one parent carry a letter of consent it is not strictly required. (http://travel.gc.ca/travelling/children/consent-letter).


Title: What is the extent of the privacy that HIPAA (and other relevant law) affords me [21]?

Question:
I live in California, and my parents claim me as a dependent under their taxes and insurance. I want to use my medical insurance to cover the cost of some blood tests. However, I do not want to disclose the fact that I received these tests to anyone, including my parents.

Is this an impossibility, or is there a way to receive the tests while also keeping this information private?

I cannot afford to pay out of pocket, and disclosing this information to my parents will have an extremely undesirable outcome. Please help me brainstorm my options.
Topic:
Healthcare Law including HIPAA

Answer:
 HIPAA doesn't require that your insurance hide the explanation of benefits from the primary enrollee (usually the parents); unless it would result in harm or danger to the patient (like in documented domestic violence cases). But your insurance company may [have policies](https://www.bedsider.org/features/275-the-girls-guide-to-getting-some-privacy-on-your-parents-health-insurance) that can keep it private anyway; so you should start with them.

Of course, the EOB shouldn't state the results of the test. Just what the test was. But I don't imagine that's much comfort.

Edit: if you're in college, does your school have a student insurance plan or medical service separate from your parents that you can use, just for the tests?Answer #2: So you are under your parents' health insurance?

If so, call up your insurance company and ask them what information will show up on the bill and/or statement of benefits for those tests. It is likely it won't be anything terribly specific.


Title: Trapped in a Never Ending Pit of Misery

Question:
I’m a divorced non custodial father. The basics of my divorce:

I was married for 6 years and managed to have three kids in the process. The marriage went south and I went through roughly a three year divorce. Pretty standard agreement in place after it was all said and done. “Irreconcilable differences”

My questions are regarding my children. My ex wife is a very hardcore Jehovah’s Witness and divorce is extremely frowned upon. This means that she has to non stop justify the divorce to anyone that will listen to include my children.

I have some very large misgivings regarding the way my children are being raised:

1. Receiving a blood transfusion is FORBIDDEN in the JW faith. My kids are one car wreck away from preventable death.

2. School isn’t encouraged as Jehovah will soon destroy the world and why would you do well in school when Armageddon is going to happen. My pre schooler has 21 tardies and ten absentees. My older kid had a very similar spotty attendance record until the mom was told about truancy laws.

3. I am bashed constantly. It’s very nice to hear a three year old tell you she hates you and that you abandoned her. My oldest has recently told me that she doesn’t believe her mom anymore. Small steps I guess. I have to maintain the high ground so I never sling mud and I try to remain positive.

4. Constant repeated complaints about my house. I live in a nice neighborhood and my kids all have their own rooms when they stay with me. I have recently asked for DFC to come and inspect my house. I’m tired of it.

5. I can count on a nasty text when I celebrate my kids birthdays or christmas. Always some vague accusation of abuse. I’m not a JW and until the kids tell me they are, they will get what other kids get.

6. No contact with my children when they are not with me. If I out an Apple ID on the phone the mom changes it so the kids cannot iMessage or FaceTime me

7. My kids live in a house with 8 other people and are forced to share a room. My oldest kid calls it the crowded house. She hates sharing a room especially when she has her own with me.

I could go on and on about it but this is what I do have.

1. I have adhered to the agreement and maintain very clear records in regards to it. I document when the mom fails to adhere.

2. I have thoroughly documented the kids visits to include pictures of their clothes and a general  idea of the items we did.

3. All of the text messages the ex has sent me are available. I have never called her a name in this year even when she girls constant abuse at me.

What are my chances of petitioning for custody of my children. I have been very patient and rebuilt my life (which is told to the kids that is proof I don’t care about them.) I would like to consult with a lawyer but I don’t want to waste my money if it’s a non starter.

I am in Georgia and this is firmly a mom state. Please advise.

Topic:
Custody Divorce and Family

Answer:
 Has your ex violated the agreement and to what extent?

Generally, you will need to show some change in circumstances to modify the custody order, but I would encourage you to speak with a good family lawyer in your state.Answer #2: Certainly worth talking to a lawyer.

No guarantees about anything, but judges as a rule HATE it when one parent tries to poison the relationship with the other.Answer #3: Good luck to you. You seem like you've got your kids' best interests at heart and you sound stable and like a good dad. This kind of thing can be very wearing and frustrating - I hope you can collect enough documentation of her violations to matter to a judge.Answer #4: You’re kinda screwed on the blood transfusion thing. If your ex wife’s allowed to make decisions about your kids medical care without you I would suggest trying to amend it. Otherwise, your ex would be within her rights to decline a blood transfusion on behalf of your kids. Even if you and her are making medical decisions jointly, I suspect she would retain a veto power over the blood transfusions.

The rest of this stuff you mention could be used to amend your custody arrangement. School absences and poor living conditions in particular may be helpful in getting part or full custody of your kids.


Title: Threatening legal action over a Facebook group - is this legitimate?

Question:
Hi everyone - thanks for you help in this.
My sister has been threatened with legal action regarding a Facebook group. The story is that one person owned the group originally - then changed its name (keeping all the original group members) my sister then started a group with the original name and now a few months later that original person has come with this message http://imgur.com/RAsIwo8.
Remember this is a Facebook group - no money is involved and the person threatening to call her lawyers changed her groups name herself. The page is also not for a commercial enterprise- it's a community group.
This sounds ridiculous to me - does she have any grounding?

Answer: Sounds like an empty threat to me, especially with the broken English.  I'd ignore her and wait to hear from her imaginary team of lawyers.


Title: Is he my nephew?

Question: This is my first time posting on reddit...not sure how it works but I was told to post this question here. I think my brother's wife stepped out on them before they got married, had a baby that isn't his, and I'd like to do a DNA for myself (aunt)[female 27] and him (nephew)[male 2] Are there any legal ramifications to this?

Answer:
 If your brother wants a DNA test, he can get one. You don't really have any rights as an aunt. Honestly, if your brother is happy with the situation  you should butt out. Answer #2: You don't have any right to demand a DNA test to determine whether you are an aunt or not.

You can ask for one, but if the legal parents refuse that will have to be the end of it.Answer #3: I just looked at four different online DNA test sites. You would not be allowed to use those sites because you don't have legal authority to do so (I.e., it's not your kid). This is vindicative and dumb, fyi.


Title: I was attacked by a pit bull, then assaulted by its owner. What are my options?

Question:
Throwaway.  Unfortunately I had to provide some specific details for the sake of clarity.

I was walking my two dogs on leash when a neighbor's pit bull got loose, charged us, and began attacking (growling, barking, bared teeth, snapping, jumping on/at us).  I blocked the other dog from attacking me, and did my best to stop my dogs from retaliating, but one of my dogs bit the attacking dog a few times.  Neither me or my dogs got injured.

After retrieving the pit bull and realizing that it was hurt, the owner became irate and verbally assaulted me at my front door.  He cursed and called me names, puffed up his chest and started shouting and pointing at me, and stood uncomfortably close to me and the threshold of my home.  I was genuinely scared that the situation was going to escalate to physical violence.  Fortunately no physical altercation occurred.

I now have panic attacks going from my apartment to the parking lot for fear of running in to this guy.  I also feel highly anxious in my apartment a good amount of the time.

I have already reported the incident in full to the management company (we have the same landlord).  However I am not sure this goes far enough.

My thoughts:
1 – File a police report regarding the dog attack
2 – File a police report regarding the (verbal) assault
3 – File a restraining order against the dog's owner

What does /r/legaladvice recommend?  I don't want to be vindictive, but I also want to feel safe again in my apartment and the surrounding grounds.  I am really scared of what would happen if the owner tried to intimidate me again, or if the pitbull got loose in the future through further negligence.

We are located in Maryland, USA.

Answer: You can file a police report, contact animal control, and sue him for your medical bills. If you have not sought medical attention I suggest you do so immediately as bites/scratches can become infected. As to whether you can get an RO for a single incident, that depends on if you can show this guy is a continued threat to you.


Title: Texas narcotics officers are attempting to coerce my girlfriend into doing an undercover bust, should we be worried?

Question:
Before you read, We are not bad people we're just young and got into a crappy situation!

  So for the backstory; I live in central Texas and had a warrant for a probation violation on a misdemeanor assault charge. I was staying at my girlfriend's apartment in her name for the previous few months before they figured out where to look for me. After they looked it wasn't hard to find me (I wasn't necessarily trying to hide, I just wanted to square things away before I went in).

 So fast forward to last week and I wake up to three S.W.A.T officers at my door banging hard. I happened to be sleeping in the living room so when I woke up startled they immediately saw me through my blinds. So being scared to go to jail and assuming they didn't have a search warrant to kick the door open I tried to wait them out in my hallway while they called, threatened, and taunted me until I realized they weren't going away so I announced I was coming out with my hands up and was greeted with gun's drawn and immediately and forcefully detained.

I realize I probably should've just come out right away but it is what it is. So now that I'm detained outside they have free reign in the apartment and informed that narcotics officers were on their way because i could have been flushing evidence although from the misc pipes, weed, and other paraphernalia it was clear it didn't even cross my mind cause i was too scared to move. Upon searching the place they come across a failed psilocybin mushroom grow in the spare bathroom and less than half a gram of hash oil. After they ask me about it and if I knew any dealers and where I got my stuff, I simply told them it was an old biology project and that it was filled with mold and I couldn't recall any dealers.

 At this time my girlfriend arrives home from school and the narcotics officers practically jumped for joy and asked the other who would talk to her. They talked to her and threatened her enough for her to say that it was mycelium but it had failed and was just mold now. At this point they come back inside and tell me that because I didn't want my girlfriend to go to jail they were going to charge me with a state jail felony for Possession of a Controlled Substance less than a gram but were gonna cut me a break on growing magic mushrooms because it looked like I screwed up. I said nothing and was taken to jail. The rest is what she told me happened after the S.W.A.T officers took me away.

The three remaining Narc. officers brought her inside and told her that they would make a deal with her. If she didn't give them the name of a major drug dealer within 24 hours they would put out a federal warrant for growing magic mushrooms (I believe they used the term pandering) and that she wasn't to inform me about this at all. They took four jars that were filled with nothing but mold and told her they'd better be hearing from her. So the next morning they text her and say "Did you forget about our deal?" at this point she's so freaked out she gives them the name of a friend of a friend and then they continue to say that she would have to buy from him/her twice and then they would come back and arrest him/her at a later date and no charges would ever be filed on my girlfriend. The officers said they would be contacting her Monday for her to come in and set up the buys. After she told me about this we agreed to cut contact and hope they're just puffing they're chest and fishing in the dark for something they don't have.

 If you made it this far any comments and advice on the whole thing in general would be so greatly appreciated!! Or more specifically what would/could happen (if anything) if she never responded again. Thank you for reading!

Answer:
 Hire an attorney. Answer #2: **DO NOT SAY ANOTHER WORD TO THE POLICE.**

ANYTHING you say CAN AND WILL be used AGAINST you.

If the police call, DO NOT ANSWER.

If they show up at your house, say NOTHING other than "I don't answer questions." DO NOT OPEN THE DOOR FOR THE POLICE. If they have a warrant, they will break in.

If they arrest you, say NOTHING other than "I want my lawyer."

DO NOT consent to ANY searches. If asked, DO NOT SIGN ANY paperwork.

You need need to hire a lawyer ASAP.


Title: Friend died, left behind a young boy. My friends and I want to help....

Question: A dear friend passed away not long ago, leaving behind her 7 year old son.  My friends and I would like to have a charity golf tournament to raise money for our late friend's son.  We have found a company that will sponsor the event, however we need to set up a "foundation" for the money to go to.  I'm not sure if it makes a difference, but we do not believe that this will turn into an annual event.  Could someone please tell me what kind of organization I should be setting up?

Answer: Contact your local bar association and ask for a reference to a trust and estates lawyer. You'll need his or her help setting up a rock-solid trust account that the next caretaker of the child can use for the child's expenses, but not to purchase a new Porsche.


Title: Announcing our next AMA. Two of our starred users that are criminal defense lawyers will be answering questions starting at 3 PM EDT on Thursday, September 1st.

Question:
Good evening, LAOT.

/u/PM-Me-Beer and /u/Zanctmao will be doing an AMA on Thursday, September 1st, starting at 3 PM EDT.

/u/Zanctmao is a lawyer in the pacific northwest who has represented juvenile and adult offenders both as a contract public defender and in private practice. At present his practice includes both civil and criminal matters. He has represented felony and misdemeanor clients and is uniquely familiar with the added burden placed on juvenile defendants and their attorneys.

/u/PM-Me-Beer is a criminal defense attorney in New York that typically represents adults, which are as young as 16 in New York. He has worked in New York for a number of years and has plenty of "fun" stories to share about his time in criminal defense.

See you all Thursday!

Answer:
 Don't think for a minute that I didn't notice your disregard of /u/Locationbot in the legaladvice announcement.Answer #2: Thank you both for ripping off my idea to do an AMA in here. I'll expect my royalty checks to be delivered by the first of next month.

Over the past few years, we've seen an awful lot of people pushing for various versions of criminal justice reform. Folks like the Black Lives Matter movement have gained a lot of steam focusing around police violence, and certain subsections of the libertarian and even the evangelical right have taken up arguments in favor of sentencing reforms for non-violent offenders and improved conditions for those currently incarcerated.

The two of you work on the front lines of this system, in a role that people usually don't think about. What do you think about the state of the current criminal justice system in the U.S., and the various efforts to reform it?


Title: [Massachusetts] What are my mother's rights regarding a right of way in her front yard?

Question:
My mother has a short right of way in her front yard between a neighbor's back gate and the main road, a distance of less than thirty feet.  Is the property on the right of way hers, the neighbor's, or is it public property?  I'm asking because the neighbors have recently been leaving a car parked in front of the gate for hours at a time and she wants to know if she has the right to tell them not to do that.  It was her understanding when she bought the house that the right of way was on her property, she just had to make sure that it remained unobstructed.

Edit: It sounds like she's going to have to check her deed/talk to city hall/maybe consult with a real estate lawyer to know exactly how the right of way works.  She does plan to politely ask the neighbors not to use that area as a parking space before doing anything else

Answer: I am having a hard time picturing this in my head.  Would you happen to have a shitty MS Paint diagram handy?


Title: Can my pay rate get penalize for not calling in sick/absence?

Question: I was free this summer and decided to work with a temporary staffing agency. I got a warehouse job that will pay me $9.5 and it will be Sun-Thurs 6pm-2am. Well, I started working on Wednesday. I went to work Thursday and they told me they were working also working Friday and Saturday this week. I told them i was unaware of that and that I had to go renew my license on Friday, but I would be able to work Saturday and I give my supervisor my number if anything changes. Saturday, I forgot my badge that allows me to get in and kept ringing the bell for almost 30 minutes. There were only like 4 cars outside. So, I decide to leave and wait to see if the supervisor calls me to explain myself. Nothing; no call. Well. By this point, I have decided that I no longer want at this place cause the job sucks, it far from my house, shit load of work, traffic, etc. The temporary staffing doesn't work on the weekend to tell them I'm quitting. So, I decide to wait till Monday. Today, I call the staffing and tell the reason why I wasn't able to work the weekend and I'm quitting. They say OK, but due to my irresponsibility they will pay me at minimum wage for the days I worked and that it was in the contract. I said OK and hung up. I was like "WTF???" I'm going to ask for a copy of the contract. Can they do this? Is this legal? Btw, I live in Texas in case of different state laws. I feel like I'm entitled to get pay at $9.50 for the work I did even if I made a mistake. That warehouse job sucked. Not only that, but it was about 40 mins from my house. Getting pay $7.25 makes me angry.

Answer:
 >So, I decide to leave and wait to see if the supervisor calls me to explain myself.

That's not how calling off work works. If you're not coming in, *you* call *them*.


Title: Eminent Domain: Oregon vs. United States

Question:
Could the state of Oregon use Eminent Domain to seize the Federal courthouse in Portland?

Surprised I need to say this, but please give at least one court citation in your answer.

Answer:
 There is no case because your question is a fallacy. Eminent domain is the government’s ability to take *private* land for public use.

As for something like adverse possession, in English common law the rule was that you can’t steal from the king via that rule.


Title: Is it illegal to lie about what country you were born in?

Question:
So the school year is almost over for me, and last year, before I entered this school year, I chose Spanish as one of my electives.

Everyone told me that the Spanish teacher I got hates the US and Americans. She's from Argentina and I looked up the statistics, which stated that upwards of 30 percent of Argentine people hate the US. Apparently she only moved here because her white husband made her.

Anyways, I'm already bad at Spanish and I didn't want her to have distaste towards me.

I'm black so I thought about telling her I'm from Africa, but I figured that would be too obscure and hard to believe. So I told her I'm from Russia, because since Russians also hate the US, it would help us relate. Everyone else in the class believes I'm from Russia too.

My excuse for not knowing much Russian and not knowing much about Russia either is that I got adopted within a few months.

I felt bad but it was too late to be honest. And the whole thing never came up because I obviously don't have any Russian culture in me.

Anyways I read that lying about your country of origin is actually illegal and you can be charged for it? Is that true?

Answer:
 No, your lie is not illegal.

Also, I hate to break this to you, but your teacher doesn’t believe you.


Title: Landlord gave me fine based on something my neighbor told them that didn't even happen.

Question:
It's in PA. I can't stand my landlords and we were warned about this woman from the day we moved in.

I got a dog about a week ago. She's well behaved but has an issue with liking to eat poop. Vet says it's a puppy thing and not an issue so long as I make sure she doesn't get to eat it. My building neighbor and I are the only people who walk our dogs in the area that clean up afterwards so there is poop everywhere. Before getting my dog I had put complaints in and my neighbor even got a fancy sign put on the yard. It is a major issue with my dog not to get her to eat the poop that is everywhere or even her own. I've got this super bitchy old woman that lives in the apartment across the street. Couple of days ago she watched my husband take out the dog outside to do its business and then promptly take her inside and then walk back out to clean the poop up. It was on our property less than two minutes and it's not like he can pick it up while she's trying to eat it out of the bag. Anyway, woman calls the landlord and tells them that our dog has been the dog profusely pooping around in her backyard and the entire area and that she watched the dog go and was never cleaned up after.

Few hours later some dude knocks on the door letting us know we are getting fined $400 for all the dog poop in the area. Didn't matter what we had to say, or the fact that we didn't do it, we are getting fined.

The landlord won't listen to my husband and I so what are we supposed to do?

Besides move. The lease is up in June and it sucks that we won't get a decent renter reference but the low price is not worth the shit we go though.

Answer:
 >Few hours later some dude knocks on the door letting us know we are getting fined $400 for all the dog poop in the area. Didn't matter what we had to say, or the fact that we didn't do it, we are getting fined.

A few questions, first off who is the dude? Landlord? Landlords agent? Works for the management firm?

Second, fined under what grounds? Have you checked your lease to see if there is a clause about pets? I'd find it hard to believe that a private landlord can fine you $400 for pet defaction outside without a specific provision in the lease. Even then it may not be enforcable because there is no way that it amounts to $400 worth of damage.


Title: Hypothetical situation; We come across a young child on the side of the road with no adult supervision. We call the police and they are on their way in 30 minutes. After 20 minutes a woman appears, said she is the child's mother. Will not give her name but wants to leave with child. What do we do?

Answer:
 How old is the child?

If the child is kindergarten age or thereabouts, just ask "is this your mom?"

If you're really worried, stay there with the child until the police arrive.


Title: What could you be charged with if you were aiming a sniper rifle at a crowd from a hidden location?

Question:
Suppose a person takes their brand new, legally owned sniper rifle and, in accordance with all applicable laws, takes it to the roof of a highrise building. They lock and load and find a good spot, and start aiming at miscellaneous people in the crowd below. While they went out with the intention of going on a killing spree, they change their mind before shooting and pack up and go home.

It seems like there must be something illegal here, but I'm not seeing exactly what. I looked up a few states' brandishing laws, and they all seem to require the criminal to be intending to threaten or itimidate (such as variations on "*in such manner as to reasonably induce fear in the mind of another*"), and so this would seem to not apply in this case. I also thought possibly reckless endangerment, but while it might fit it seems like a stretch, and it's not even a serious misdemeanor.

In the scenario as I outlined, what crimes are actually being committed? Does it make a difference if the intent in the beginning was to commit murder versus intending to just spend a day looking at people through a rifle scope for funsies?

Answer:
 It’s attempted murder. Lying in wait, substantial step, it’s a classic inchoate crime.  And yes, intent is a big part of it.

Edited to add mens rea. Answer #2: If there's a video of him doing it, like you mention below, probably federal or state terrorism laws.Answer #3: >While they went out with the intention of going on a killing spree, they change their mind before shooting and pack up and go home.

Yeah, that's attempted murder a lot of places.Answer #4: My question is how would the police know he was doing it in the first place ?


Title: [Texas] Do I have to pay my university parking tickets?

Question: I recently requested a transcript from UT Dallas, only to find out there was a hold on my account due to thousands of dollars in parking tickets. I only did a semester of school there, so it is literally cheaper to take the classes again somewhere else rather than pay these tickets. My question is: do I, legally, have to pay these? And if not, what will they do to try and get this money? Really appreciate any advice, thanks.

Answer:
 You racked up thousands in parking tickets when a parking pass is $60?

>And if not, what will they do to try and get this money?

Eventually they'll sell it to a collections company and you can deal with that. (Fun times)Answer #2: Call the University and beg and plead to have the fine lowered as much as possible. Doesn't hurt. Answer #3: Depends. Do you value the idea of even okay credit?


Title: I'm a homeschooled 17 year old from Ohio. My parents never did any of the requisite paperwork, and my education (which they have discontinued) is completely off the books. What can I do about a GED?

Question: [deleted]

Answer:
 I can help you navigate this, but to narrow down my answer, it would help if you answer a couple of questions...

1) Why do you need a GED? (In Ohio your parents grant your diploma so you shouldn't need a GED)

2) Were you ever (k-12) enrolled in public schools?

3) Have your parents filed any paperwork with the local district?

4) Are you still in High School (a senior)?Answer #2: If you're still under 18 you might actually be eligible to enroll in the local public school or at least take advantage of some of their programs. Provided you enroll before you turn 18 you'll probably be able to continue in the program afterwards - I think a lot of public schools embrace the policy of enrolled until graduation. You might want to contact your district and see if they can help you.


Title: Sold car with issues. Person wants a refund and threatened to call police

Question:
Hi,

I sold a used car. 100k+ miles on it.  It has frame damage, lots of dents, and a check engine light.

On my craigslist ad I listed these problems.  The person came over and test drove it.  I also drove it to the DMV (10 miles) to get the deal done.  He gave cash, signed over the title, but we had a handwritten bill of sale.

The day after, he calls me and says that the car engine doesn't work and that he cannot drive it on the highway because of that and wants a refund.  I told him I listed out the issues with the car, he test drove it for 10+ minutes, and the deal is done.  However, he has my address and drivers license number.  He said he will bring the car to my house and call the police if I did not give him a refund.  I am also concerned that since it was a handwritten bill of sale, he will add things to the document.

I am from DC and he is from Virginia.  He also said that he had 30 days to return the car.

What can I do to prevent issues from happening?

Edit: Thanks for advice guys.  Hopefully he wont harass me.

Answer:
 Cops will tell him "It's a civil matter."

You offered disclosure and your bill of sale indicated 'as-is', right? If that's the case, you should be fine.Answer #2: Make sure you yourself follow whatever process is in your state to release your liability from the vehicle. Do not trust the buyer to do this. Answer #3: Let him call the police.  They won't do anything for him.Answer #4: A Bill of sale sells things "as is." There is no 30 day period where he can return it and you disclosed everything to him.  As long as you have a picture of it then you are good my friend. As people love to say on this thread, "tell him to pound sand."


Title: Online friend admitted to raping a woman in messages. What do I do? United States

Question:
Recently one of my online friends confided in me that she had messages where another one of our online friends basically admits to having raped a woman. The alleged rapist is active duty military and lives on base. The alleged victim attended a party on base, got very drunk, and wandered away. He acted like he was caring for her and instead raped her.

The messages go into more detail and he talks about how she was very upset afterwards, questioned why he would have sex with her when she was so drunk, and demanded he never speak to her again. He is adamant that it wasn't rape while also admitting that she was extremely drunk. She did not report the alleged rape or go to the hospital.

He has a history of sexually aggressive behavior (including spreading nudes around and encouraging people to harass the girl in the nudes) and may have assaulted another woman in a similar manner as the alleged rape victim.

We know his name, we know he's active duty military, and what base he's stationed at. We also have the name and a way to contact one of his superior officers.

Will it be enough to send screenshots of the messages to his CO or should we be doing something else?

I don't know if anything at all will come of this, but at the very least we want some kind of trail in case he does something in the future.

Thanks

Answer:
 As someone that has seen the full gamut of the military sexual assault machine operate; from beginning to end multiple times there is one critical thing to remember *this is not your call to make*. As noble as your intentions may be, white knighting this and blasting the texts to whomever will listen is *not* what the victim needs right now. She needs support and resources which will allow *her* to be the one to push the investigation forward, when she is ready to talk about it. You reporting this before she's gotten some counseling or assistance makes it *far* more likely that this ends up in an acquittal, meaning this guy is free to find someone else.

I fully understand the desire and compulsion to come forward; but sometimes the best move isn't charging in.  Answer #2: "online friend".

You really have zero idea what happened, if anything.


Title: [GEORGIA] Falsely accused of rape, not formally (yet).

Question:
[Georgia, USA] My friend Grant was caught having sex with a married woman named Gloria by Gloria's sister in law Julie. After Gloria and Julie went home Julie promptly told her brother Dick. Dick confronted Gloria and from what it sounds like she panicked and told Dick she was too intoxicated to remember and now Dick has given her an ultimatum, either it was rape and report it to the police or it was consensual cheating and the marriage is over.

Grant is understandably freaking out about this. Grant has no violent crime history or illicit drug arrests, Gloria on the other hand has been in and out of rehab with several drug arrests. Grant has spoken to Julie about the night in question and their versions match; Gloria at no time appeared incapacitated. Both Grant and Gloria were intoxicated on multiple substances that night as well.

Allegedly Gloria's therapist has told her that Gloria was incapable of giving consent due to her intoxication and this can be considered rape. It doesn't sound fair but part of me thinks this is probably true.

Nothing formal has taken place and since the people there (Julie's friend, and sister in law) are firmly in Grants camp he gets updated on whether she decides to go to the police or not. Gloria is extremely emotional right now, Dick has kicked Gloria out of the house and refused to let her see her children and given her fragile nature Dick's ultimatum could tip her over into thinking this lie will solve all her problems.

Obviously Grant will hire a lawyer if Gloria goes to the police, but does he need one right now to head off anything? Will it look guilty if he does? What type of lawyer should he be looking for? Both Julie and Gloria have been calling Grant explaining their positions and he has been recording them, is this wise? I've told Grand to never call them and frankly I don't even like that he's talking to them but he thinks he can get them to say something contradictory, which they have.

Thanks for reading if you've gotten this far and I'll answer anything to the best of my ability.

Answer:
 Grant should shut his trap and disappear from this woman's life. Ghost. Her marital situation is not his problem. His freedom is his problem.

If a police report is made and officers come by, he shuts his mouth until his criminal defense attorney tells him to open it and exactly what to say and how to say it. Answer #2: >Grant has spoken to Julie about the night in question and their versions match

And Grant should keep his mouth shut from this time forward.

>Allegedly Gloria's therapist has told her that Gloria was incapable of giving consent due to her intoxication and this can be considered rape. It doesn't sound fair but part of me thinks this is probably true.

If somebody is shitfaced drunk or stoned then they indeed cannot consent to having sex so that can be considered to be rape.

>What type of lawyer should he be looking for?

A criminal defense attorney.

>Both Julie and Gloria have been calling Grant explaining their positions and he has been recording them, is this wise?

He should keep his mouth shut himself. edit: and as long as he is part of the conversation it is legal to record.


Title: False Child Molestation Accusation Made By A Child (California)

Question:
I will soon be falsely accused of child molestation by an eleven year old girl; this is in Southern California. I was tipped off to this through a friend of both families.

From what I was able to gather she; the girl, intends to either accuse me, my brother, or the both of us; of sexually molesting her.

My brother has multiple alibis because he spends a lot of time out of the house with his friends; on the other hand, I don't have many alibis because I stay home when I am not working.
I am a loner with a history of mental health issues (3 involuntary hospitalizations), I am an avid fan of both sci-fi & fantasy genres, I am a fan of anime, and I spend quite a lot of time on reddit and the internet in general.

The only witnesses that I can call to my defense is the person who gave me the heads up and my mother - both of them are questionable witnesses IMO.

On the other hand her father doesn't think that she, the girl, can do anything wrong, and would side with her.

Knowing how the police and people can react - guilty until found not guilty, I can only see this ending very poorly for me with little recourse for if the court does recognize my innocence.

TL;DR: She said, He said case of child molestation

What can I do to limit the damage?

Answer: Why would this girl accuse you and your brother of molestation?


Title: Removing voicemails from someone else’s phone

Question: My ex keeps threatening me and will not remove embarrassing and humiliating voicemails I felt on his phone after I tried to commit suicide is there any legal action i can take to have him delete them permanently.

Answer: No, you cannot force him to delete messages you left on his phone.


Title: In need of serious advice ASAP

Question:
We are in the process of selling our home to get away from neighbors that are absolute terrors. They have been calling the sheriff on us pretty much every other day for a week and a half over bull honky reasons letting our dogs off of their tethers that we put them in to try and satiate them until we can get the house sold and move. We are the second people they have runn off in 2 years over dogs.

Let me get this in order for you:

1. Week 1 we were given a fake set of covenants from them trying to keep us from getting any animals other than dogs and cats. They were from 1976 but the neighborhood (5 acre+ tracts in the county) wasnt established until 2001) we pulled the correct covenants and put a certified copy in our file and went ahead with our plan to get some nigerian dwarf goats.

2. We have 2 german shepherds that they are fine with but recently adopted 2 great pyrenees (yes they are trained to protect livestock) to protect our goats because we have a serious coyote issue in the neighbor hood. The first time we were made aware there was any issue my husband walked outside to a shot gun pointed at our house and threats to shoot them where they stood in our yard we immediately locked them up even though what they were doing is legal in the county I live in as it has a leash law exemption for working dogs that allows them to run through their yard in chase of predators or threats to my animals

3.the next night we had sheriffs at our door saying they received reports of vicious dogs on the loose and the neighbor said they threatened him we put them away again when they promptly jumped the fence they are NOT required to be behind and were given 24 hours to have them contained so the next morning we bought tethers  as we were not yet aware they were allowed to work even in the neighbors property as long as they were working which they were

4 one broke his collar so we had sheriffs out again and were told the animal control officer would be visiting

5. Animal control shows up the next morning and tells them the law and to cease and desist calling unless they are in their yard while not working and then they had grounds to call

6. That night I went to get the mail and it was infested with ants soaked in what smells like ant bait so we ask the post master what to do and they suggest filing a police report for mail tampering so we do.

7. Yesterday they stormed into our realtors office demanding we make additions to the house that we are selling to bring it up to the covenants and are laughed out of the office

8. 2 times in less than 24 hours we find our dogs released from their tethers with no damage to the tethers or their collars and no way for them to release themselves

9. We had them in kennels tied shut with carabiners while we had house showings today only to come home to one of them being opened and one loose on our property

10. We have moved the tethers to the back side of the house behind a locked gate and the they remain tethered without issue.

These people are also the cause of 2 other people on the road selling thei homes as soon as they can.. what can I do to protect myself and my animals until we can get gone? I dont have money for cameras as my husband has been on fmla and we are barely scraping by and we are losing almost 10k by selling and moving so quickly after buying

Benton county arkansas

Please help I need serious advice as it seems they are trying to damage us either civilly or legally and we are accepting an offer and will be out in 30 days

Answer: I’d recommend getting a trail camera on your dogs where they’re tethered.


Title: HOA is warning me not to rent a room -- what should I do?

Question:
I recently purchased a 3BR townhouse in California. We are part of an HOA. I am currently renting a room (mother-in-law unit, separate entrance) to a tenant.

The HOA bylaws state "Single Family Use: Each Residence shall be used as a single family residence and for no other purpose. Single family shall mean a group of people, not to exceed two (2) persons per bedroom plus one (1) person, who regularly live together as a bona fide housekeeping unit."

Note: renting the entire lot IS allowed by the bylaws, as long as it is "single family use".

I live with my fiance and my son. The house was listed and sold advertising the mother-in-law unit as a potential rental unit. I realize the HOA bylaws trump whatever the selling agent said...however it may be relevant.

I know I am in the wrong. However, can the HOA really prove that the tenant is NOT my "uncle" and that I am collecting rent? Seems very hard for them to prove.

Answer:
 > I am leaning toward ignoring my HOA's notice to remove an unauthorized renter.

As someone with some experience with HOA's, that's probably not a good idea. You had the chance to review bylaws and CC&Rs before your purchase. HOA's are basically the devil, but now they are *your* devil. Answer #2: Often times the HOA is in the wrong here but not here. You're renting against HOA bylaws. It's plain as day. If you ignore them you deserve whatever they do to you.   The correct legal advice is to not knowingly violate HOA bylaws.Answer #3: What are the penalties for ignoring the rule and continuing to rent? Is the mother in law unit attached or unattached?

If you're trying to make sure you run afoul of the HOA's rules and want to create a contentious relationship with an entity that can and probably will do their best to fuck with you, then by all means, lie about the tenant. Though, I'd submit that's an incredibly short-sighted approach to take.


Title: [FL] - Grocery store charges an additional 10% over shelf price on all items

Question:
Sorry I couldn't think of a better sounding title.

Basically, there's a grocery store near me that charges customers as follows: Collective Shelf Price + 10% + Tax. So if you picked up a box of cereal for $3, it would actually ring up $3.30 at the register, then taxes would be applied.

Apparently, everything in the store is this way because they say they're listing everything on the shelf as the price the store purchases the items at, then the 10% is added on as their markup.

Is it even legal to run the entire store like this?

The only two things I can find in my quick googling are:

1. [This document at NIST](https://www.nist.gov/sites/default/files/documents/2017/04/28/US-Pricing-Laws-All-States_2.pdf) that is 8 years old and only mention is "No person shall misrepresent the price of any commodity or service sold or offered, exposed, or advertised for
sale by weight, measure, or count, nor represent the price in any manner calculated or tending to mislead or in any
way deceive a person" - Surely this would be some kind of deception?

2. [This document at the FTC](https://www.ftc.gov/sites/default/files/documents/reports/price-check-report-accuracy-checkout-scanners/scanners.pdf) which seems more concerned with the accuracy of scanners vs deceptive practices.

Answer: There is a store here that does that but it is very clearly posted at the entrance in large letters of the "upcharge".  As long as they are totally upfront about it, I don't see a problem. I guess it's challenging tho for those who struggle at math


Title: Got kicked out of apartment by boyfriend without notice, landlord supporting him?

Question:
Long story short: I came home to find my boyfriend had put my stuff and that of our child's out on the curb to our apartment building. He moved his mistress in. Our daughter and I are now homeless. I spoke to the landlord but he says there has never been evidence that we've ever lived there, and he can't do anything about it. I talked to the police, alongside the landlord, and they said the same thing and to take it to civil court though they warned me that my case was weak. Is it worth going to court over this? Can I win even though I am not on the lease or have any evidence of having lived there?

Location: NJ
Topic:
Landlord Tenant Housing

Answer:
 > Is it worth going to court over this?

Over the illegal eviction? I'm not sure it'd be worth the effort; you might get a couple hundred bucks less legal fees at some point in the distant future when you won't need it.

Over the abandonment of your child and the support that he owes her? Oh hells yeah, whatever women's shelter you're going to ask about a place to live and a way to get your feet back under you is going to have the names of all sorts of lawyers who'd be eager to go after a guy who turned out his conjointe and kid in the middle of January.

Answer #2: OP

[Here](https://www.google.com/webhp?sourceid=chrome-instant&ion=1&espv=2&ie=UTF-8#q=women%27s%20shelter%20new%20jersey&tbs=lf_od:-1,lf_oh:-1,lf:1,lf_ui:2,lf_pqs:EAE&rflfq=1&rlha=0&rllag=40789840,-74187831,13883&tbm=lcl&rldimm=10729356011597867948&rlfi=hd:;si:10729356011597867948;mv:!1m3!1d404294.55343092047!2d-74.01461230566406!3d40.951350975853735!3m2!1i952!2i805!4f13.1) is a google search of women's shelters in New Jersey.  Reach out to one.Answer #3: IANAL but did you use the address to file tax returns? Bank statements? Would a Voter ID card be sufficient?

Just brainstorming for you. Good luck, reach out to a women's shelter, and know there are good people out there who will help you in your time of need. Answer #4: How long did you live there, even if you can't prove it?


Title: rear ended and pushed into a another car. charged with following to close ...

Question:
So basically what happened I'm driving a lot a residential street and a car in front of me came to a complete but sudden stop to let the car in front of them park. I saw this and am able to come to a COMPLETE stop just as they were. So I look up in to my rear mirror and I see someone driving towards me looking the other way  down another street. The next thing I know I am rear ended and pushed into the car in front of me.

Can/should I fight this in court as its 3 points and a $200 fine or should I do as the police officer said and told me that if I plead not guilty the charges should be dropped.

Answer: I would argue to fight it, what's the worst that could happen? If you fight it and win, boom no ticket no points. If you fight it and lose, its the same as if you never fought it at all.


Title: What, if any, legal documents and/or proceedings are required from me before I choose to discontinue dialysis?

Question:
I am currently on dialysis. I would like to stop. From my understanding, I have the choice to opt out if I wanted to. But I have a feeling there will be much more of a hurdle than a simple "I don't want to continue dialysis".

Edit: Location is Minnesota, USA

Answer: With regards to outpatient dialysis, there's nothing, you can just say you don't want dialysis anymore and not go to your dialysis appointments. As you are aware, eventually you will die. If you are a minor or for some other reason not a legally competent adult making your own medical decisions, it may be more complicated.


Title: Permanent address

Question:
I use my mom's home address as my permanent address (drivers license, credit cards, etc) because I travel all the time for work and don't live in one place long enough to make my own permanent residence.

She recently Asked me to not use her address anymore because her auto insurance provider told her that if I get in a car addident and its my fault, that the other victim could sue my mom or come after her assets because I am officially tied to her household because I use her address.

Is it true that someone could come after her assets because of an accident I caused? Or is this insurance guy full of BS?

We are residents of Indiana.

Thanks for any advice!

Answer:
 IANAL, but IMHO if she wants you to stop using it, stop using it.  Get a P.O. Box for mail.  Sometimes that does not work when having packages delivered, but UPS and FedEx have a program where you can "intercept" a package or have it held at a Kinko's or other address.

I so the same thing you've been doing, here's my license with my permanent address, but this is my current residence.

It sucks that everything would have to be changed over, but maybe you could see if she'd let you put a "-B" at the end if the number to denote a number different than her's.  Something like if she were to legitimately rent a room out.  I don't think she could deny them the privilege of using her address as their address.


Title: My Neighbor is a Dickhead [MN]

Question:
My neighbor is a contractor and we have never gotten along. I finishing up some home projects when I was getting ready to sell my house. We got into an argument about a fence and fixing it. I was in the process of selling my house and found a lien on my house from the contractor neighbor. He will not talk with me about why he did this, or remove this.

What can I do to get this removed quickly as I am a couple weeks away from closing on the sale?

Answer:
 So he filed a mechanic’s lien on your property with no work order or corresponding documentation to justify it?

That would be a lot of fraud. Fraud that has cost you demonstrable material damages.

State attorney general. Lawyer. Today. Answer #2: Talk to a lawyer ASAP, the quicker the better because you want that cleared up before closingAnswer #3: > I was in the process of selling my house and found a lien on my house from the contractor neighbor.

What is the lien for? If your neighbor put a lien on your house in regards to fixing a shared fence, they may or may not have been able to do that. What kind of fence do you have, partition or division? One kind has a shared-cost obligation, and the other doesn't.


Title: New Roof Leaking; Roofer Checking Leaks with Garden Hose; Water in Drywall! Help!

Question: Location: Eastern PA. We got a new roof 2 years ago. Last year after a big rainstorm, we noticed water damage on the ceiling in our Master Bathroom. We called the roofer and he came quickly (we have a 100% guarantee) but he claimed it was caused by condensation from the shower. Had another heavy rainstorm this year and it was clearly causing the leak as it was dripping down the walls. We couldn’t figure out why we were smelling a wet insulation smell in the vent/wall. The roofer came quickly, and was sheepish after he hosed the area and he and his assistant saw that water was indeed coming in. Now there is water damage in two spots downstairs from water coming in the walls. He says he isn’t responsible for the slots and it must be from our shower or toilet. He doesn’t think he is responsible for repairing the damage. Now he wants to come back on Tuesday and hose down the spot on the roof to make sure it is fixed. My concern is that 1. That doesn’t seem like a great way to check for a leak as it is causing more interior damage, and 2. I can’t let let him do it again if he isn’t going to open ceiling or wall to pull out wet insulation and repair/paint. What should I do? Is  the legally reposible for the repair of water damage? How to I get him to commit to the cost of the repairs?

Answer:
 Non-legal advice: When you say he is checking for leaks using a hose, is he arcing the water up so it's coming down pretty much vertically (like rain does), or is he directing the stream against the roof straight from the hose (mostly horizontal, possibly with an upward component)? If the latter, he's incompetent - you need to get someone else to do the repairs, and sue him to recover. Roofing is NOT designed to stop water coming at the shingles edge-on.

Wet insulation and plasterboard? That needs to be replaced, and if the cause of the water getting in was a defective roof (or an idiot blasting water under the shingles), that's the responsibility of the person who installed the faulty roof or did the harebrained "test".


Title: Legality of editing digital contracts?

Question:
Let's say someone sends me a contract they want me to sign.  They email it in some digital format like MS-Word.  But there's a part of it I don't like - for example, a binding arbitration clause.  I want to be able to take them to court if there is a dispute.  So I simply delete the offending clause, print out the contract, sign it, scan it, and send it back.  Then they sign it (assuming they don't read it and notice the change) and the contract is done.  It seems perfectly legal to me.  I mean, yes, I changed it, but they knowingly signed it and had every opportunity to read it as much as they wanted.  It was all there in plain sight for them to read, nothing hidden.  Could I get in trouble for doing that?

To take it one step further (and I assure everyone that I have absolutely no intention of doing this, just curious because I'm a writer and may use it as a plot device in a story), what if I went further and changed other terms, like an interest rate or payment amount?  Or even wrote new bits beneficial to me?  If they're lazy and don't read things before they sign them, it seems like one could change just about whatever they wanted.  Would this be legal or some kind of fraud?

In am in the USA.
Topic:
Contracts

Answer:
 >It seems perfectly legal to me.

It's not.  You have made the enforceability of the contract up for dispute, because you made a material change without bringing it to their attention.  Just because you did so digitally is no defense.  Contract law assumes good faith on the part of the parties, and editing the contract without their knowledge is not acting in good faith.

The law does not exist to help one party pull a "gotcha!" on the other.


Title: (Maryland/Texas) Ex-wife is a suspect in a murder. Is this grounds for denying her access to our daughter?

Question:
My ex-wife, who lives in Maryland, has never been any sort of active parent in my daughter's life. We separated when she was a year old, and I got full custody (due to her history of mental disorder, and an incident when she took my daughter to another state without my knowledge). She's been allowed to have visits with her since, but her visits have been spotty at best, going about a year without any contact at one point.

I moved to Texas almost a year ago for work, and her access was modified to semi-weekly phone calls. Up until now, she hasn't made a single phone call. At one point, she emailed, saying her work schedule was hectic, and that's why she hadn't made any contact.

But lately, I've heard from a mutual acquaintance, that her behavior has become more concerning. She had been dating one guy, who seemed like a decent guy, but they broke up, and she started dating a guy with a pretty long criminal record, having been arrested several times for grand larceny and grand theft auto. Our mutual acquaintance also expressed concerns that she might be using illegal drugs, which I'd never know her to do before.

Last week, her boyfriend was arrested for murder. According to the police, he broke into a woman's house to rob her. She caught him, he murdered her, and made off with credit cards and her car.

He and my ex were seen on security cameras spending the victim's money, and a woman the police believe to be my ex made a call from his phone, impersonating the victim, to change the debit card PIN.

He was arrested, and confessed to the murder. She has not yet been arrested. All of this information I got from a news article.

Earlier today, she tried to call me. In her voicemail, she said that she's been temporarily suspended from her job because of the investigation until she's been cleared of wrong-doing. Since she's not working, she said she now has time to talk to my daughter.

Obviously this is pretty disturbing to me. I feel like her being under investigation in a murder justifies me refusing to grant her access to my daughter, but I'm not sure how that would fly legally.

I live in Texas, but she lives in Maryland, and our custody case (and the murder investigation) are in Maryland.

Answer:
 Absent a change in the custody order, no.

Your daughter is in no danger from a phone call.Answer #2: You cannot just decide to change the custody order. You need to get a lawyer, go back to court, and have the order modified. Do not go in without a lawyer, the mother already has very minimal contact and courts are very reluctant to completely cut out a parent.


Title: My car rolled down my hill, out of my driveway, struck a parked car, then a building at the bottom of the hill. WA state

Question:
Hi! First time poster here.
So, as the title says, my car rolled out of my hill top parking spot (ebrake failure, im sure of it) and struck a parked car (legally parked) and then some front polls of an apartment complex (that hold up its second floor walk way. two story building) denting them/bending them (they appear to be steel, 1/8 in thick, and welded to the second floor balcony). i called my insurance and all that but, didn't do an official statement as i was flustered at the time and didn't want to say something stupid. I have liability and my insurance says they'll cover up to $25,000 for both the other car and the buildings damage. the building owner was there later the same day, told me her building is insured but the deductible is high.

Should i call a lawyer? should i let the insurance companies fight it out? I was able to move my car the 120 feet back up to my parking spot (with insurances permission) and put some chalk blocks behind the wheels to prevent another accident. Any experience in this area? also, friendly reminder to adjust your steering wheel when you park on a hills so that if your car's ebrake goes out and it goes on a rampage, you wont accrue thousands of dollars of debt.

relevant details:
Washington state. all parties insured, i only have liability. know one injured. no one was there when it happened.
Topic:
Insurance

Answer:
 > Should i call a lawyer? should i let the insurance companies fight it out?

Let the insurance companies work on it.  This stuff happens all the time, they'll likely figure it out.

Also, fix your car, turn your wheels, and leave the transmission in gear.


Title: I am an 18-year-old male trying to date a 16-year-old, what effect would age of consent laws have on our relationship?

Question: We live in Kentucky. I can give more information if need be.

Answer:
 Kentucky's age of consent is 16. wrap it before you tap it, and don't stick your dick in crazy.

no nude pictures until 18, though.Answer #2: You can have sex and do all that fun stuff. However, no pictures/video/etc.


Title: (OK) Child Support Advice

Question:
  This may be the wrong place to ask but, my wifes ex husband contacted us last night asking if we would write a letter to the child support offices and say that we want to temporarily end receiving child support checks. His reason is that every time he goes to work he says he gets sick. He was diagnosed with Ulcerative colitis and his trying to get unemployment. He says when he goes to work the Ulcerative colitis hurts his bones (which I dont see how ). And also says the Child Support agency is threatening to take away his vehicles (which I have never heard of them doing before) and they were going to freeze his bank accounts.

  In the 11 years I have known him, he has never kept a job longer then 6 months and child support checks are always very scarce but we have managed to live without them. Though they do help when they do come in. Often times the child that his his goes without because we do not have that extra money each month.

  The question is, what should we do? Should we show grace and mercy? It would seem that every time we have done so in the past, it has come back to bite us. Or should we show tough love and tell him we will not write the letter. He actually wouldnt ask himself, he sent his wife to ask us for him. Which puts her in a weird position AND it puts us in a weird position. So now if we say no, she is going to see it as us taking away from her children as well. Thoughts? Advice?

Answer: I would absolutely not do that.  If he needs a reduction, he can file for it in court.


Title: Landscaper Made Promise in Bad Faith so we Canceled the Job. They Now aren't Refunding the Deposit.

Question:
This takes place in Omaha, NE

Back in May, I was vetting landscapers to install a patio and fire pit in our backyard. I narrowed it down to 2 and ended up going with the one that said they could complete the job a week ahead of the other as prices were in line for the work. I have in writing (email) that they would be at our house late June to do the work but needed 10% down. I never signed anything but gave my credit card number and they took the deposit.

I don't hear anything from these guys in June so I call first week of July asking when they would do the work. I get told: "within the next couple of weeks." I'm disappointed but understand delays happen with weather, etc. Around July 20th I call again wondering where they are. I get told the same thing: "next couple of weeks." At this point I cancel the project and request they refund my deposit. The guy I was working with says he will work on getting my money back to me. I've called every week since then and they simply take my number and say they will call back. Today I was told: "we don't typically refund deposits when you change your mind."

What are my options to get my money back? I feel they entered into this deal in bad faith as they were going to be a month and a half late from the promised date. Is doing a charge dispute with my cc company my best option? Again I never signed a contract and was never told the deposit was non-refundable. Thanks in advance for any help.

Answer: Contrary to other posts, contact your cc company. You didn't sign anything saying the deposit was non-refundable. You had a contract with them to start at the end of June, and it's been over a month with no solid start date. Your CC company will help you.


Title: (NM) My girlfriend collided head on with a car that partly crossed the center line (driver and passenger wheel completely over it). The driver is 28, been licensed for 12 years and had this same accident 15 times now. Can something be done to take her license away?

Answer:
 Can something be done? Sure.

But not by you.


Title: (MN) Fiancé denied a job because of our upcoming wedding.

Question:
So little backstory my Fiance, who is currently employed, has been looking for another job and was found by a staffing company on Monster. She went through the interview process and was told she had the job - At the end of the interview, she mentioned that we had a wedding coming and that she would be out for a week. However, the recruiter said that it wouldn't be a problem.

She had to fill out some paperwork and go get fingerprinted over the weekend which she did.

Early morning today, she got a call from the same recruiter saying that his manager denied her getting the job because of the time off that she will have to take for the wedding.

She's quite upset with the whole process and at very least its pretty crappy what they.

Not sure if this is the case but was there any right violated by the staffing company in this situation? Fighting a corporation most likely isn't in our budget but is there anything we can use to get them to honor her employment?

A larger corporation is using this staffing company as well - could we potentially go to the other company's HR team to file a complaint as well?

Answer: Nope. You don't have a right to have the time off for a wedding. It was poor management to say it was ok and then change their mind, but at least they did it quickly. Poor management sucks, but isn't illegal.


Title: [MI] Was just in a car accident. I am told I have to pay $10 for a police report of the incident. Is this legal?

Question: This seems like it should be illegal. Any ideas where to look to find something saying I don't have to pay for it?

Answer: Common. Paper and ink ain't cheap.


Title: [KY] Woman I contacted to trade money for sexual services with, but did not actually have sex with, pulled over for expired tags with my hotel key card on her person. Anxiety ensues.

Question:
First off, I acknowledge and own all my bad decision making. I'll try to put this in narrative form, since that seems to get more responses.

For background, I've been posting on Craigslist recently to find a partner interested in my particular kinks. I live in a rural, conservative area and it's hard to meet people in general, so that's why I've resorted to Craigslist. Loneliness and unmet needs don't help my decision making process.

Last night, I got a real response from a woman who was actually knowledgeable and enthusiastic about my kinks, but asked if I could be 'generous'. I'm in my mid 30s and have never, ever paid a woman to spend time with me, but...loneliness and unmet needs. We agreed on a price, what would happen (my kink doesn't actually involve me penetrating her), and general banter assuring that we were both sane, discreet adults with no records or ill intentions. She also wanted to make sure I wouldn't flake out on her.

Again, I live in a rural area, so I had to drive an hour to her general location and get a hotel room. The agreement was that I would get a room, call to give her the details, and she would then actually get on the road to show up. After about thirty minutes I get a knock on my door and it is, indeed, her. I think we were both surprised and relieved that neither of us was horrible looking.

We are polite, determines I am not a serial killer, and pics up the money I had left on the dresser (I knew enough to do that from reading novels). Then, she pulls out her cell phone and calls her ride to assure that she is safe. She tells the person on the other end that she will be able to pay back their gas and to buy her a phone card at the gas station across the street and that they should hang out there for about an hour and a half. She then tells me that her bag of toys is down in the car and that she will be right back. She takes my hotel key card with her (I had left it out like a dummy).

Then ten minutes pass. Assuming I've been scammed, I call her to make sure that's not what happened. No response. Well, of course not. I try to call a few minutes later and leave a message basically saying "I hope you haven't pulled a runner" because I am a sad sack.

I hang around in the room for about 15 minutes and even consider staying the night since I payed for it. That's when I got a call from a number I didn't recognize. Of fuck. It's a man, her ride, I guess, explaining to me that in the time it took for them cross the street to the gas station, she got pulled over and arrested for driving on expired tags. She apparently wanted him to update me on this. I got another call from him about fifteen minutes later explaining that I should hang out because he would try to bail her out as quick as possible. I doubted that greatly, even though I've never been arrested I understand that in and out processing takes for ever.

I take about twenty minutes to take a shower, to get humiliation feeling off me as well to get the most out of the room, and call the guy back. It's during the shower that I remember that she had my room key. If she was arrested, then her belongings would be processed for evidence. I was stupid enough to pay for the room with a debit card and sign with my real name and everything. My anxiety disorder kicks in.

I call the guy back and make sure that there would be nothing in the car that was illegal. He was adamant that she was "completely DD free". I guess I have to take his word on that. I told him that there as no hard feelings and that I was taking off. I then proceeded to have a very long, dreary late night drive back to my home.

So, should I worry at all about this woman having my hotel card key on her when she was arrested? Assuming that all she was charged with was expired tags, would they scrutinize her mundane personal effects all that much? If they impounded her car and found a bag full of sex toys, would they put two and two together? Am I just letting my anxiety and paranoia make my imagination run wild?

Also, I do realize that this could have been an overly elaborate scam. If what I described fits a known scam framework, please tell me. I'd rather live with that blow to my ego than worry about a CSI terror fantasy biting me in the ass.

Thanks for any input.

Edit: Yes, I figured I was scammed. Intellectually I realize that. It's that 1% percent of worry that made me want to hear somebody else say it. Thanks for the feedback.
Topic:
Other Civil Matters

Answer:
 I think you were scammed.

The chances of being arrested only for expired tags, absent something else going on, is truly tiny.


Title: Is there any way I can get my son back?

Answer: What do you care? You let your child go so you didn't have to pay child support. Who cares what you want? Your priorities are pretty clear. So she lied to you. You thought spending less money was more important than spending time with your child. Your child is better off without you so I guess I'm not feeling too sorry.


Title: Was diagnosed with late stage pancreatic cancer. Need advice as to where I can get my will done.

Question:
Hello, /r/legaladvice. Unfortunately a couple weeks ago I was diagnosed with PC. It was too far along for anything to be done and its not an easy cancer nonetheless. I've come to peace with my fate and now I have no idea what to do. I own a 2002 Mercedes that I want to leave to my youngest brother and a $90,000 apartment to my dearest mother. I would also like to take care of funeral costs and my burial site but I'm not quite sure this might be the correct forum to ask for that. My question is where exactly could I go to do a will. I've never done one and I'd like to get that done as soon as possible. All recommendations are very much appreciated.

The bot says I forgot to add location. I am in the SF Bay Area in California.

Answer:
 You can call your local bar association for a referral for a probate attorney. For the funeral, decide where you want to be buried, buy a plot, then contact your funeral home of choice. You can prepay for everything. Answer #2: Ask friends if they have an attorney who did theirs or you can contact your local bar association and get referrals.

Sorry life is crappy for you


Title: Could you get in legal trouble if you sneezed on someone’s feet that are on your seat? I saw this picture and people recommending to sneeze.

Answer:
 If it was an intentional act, yes. It is no different than spitting on someone else. That is assault.

If it was an accident, then no. She (and I'm assuming it is a "she" based on the painted nails, but maybe I'm being gender insensitive) has taken a risk by putting her foot there.

Personally, I'd knock that shit off. Well, not literally. I'd be hitting that Flight Attendant light to have him/her do it for me.Answer #2: Oops, I accidentally dropped an elbow on your toes real hard, didn't see them there.


Title: How do you protect yourself from harassment

Question: Wasn’t sure if this would be more appropriate for here or legal advice, so trying here with a throwaway. Having issues with an ex-roommate who has a few mental issues, history of harassing people as well as filing false reports. Had a visit today from campus police over the accusation that their property had condiments poured on it, despite not having had any contact or access to their possessions in over a week. What can I do to keep myself covered in the event (and total likelihood) this person isn’t done trying to mess with me; they once told me they like to try ruining the lives of people they dislike. I thought not having contact would be enough, but it looks like that isn’t going to be good enough. What steps can I take to make sure I stay relatively unscathed?

Answer:
 Block them on everything.

File a restraining order.

Document all cases. If problem persists, press charges and consult a lawyer.


Title: Am I being blackmailed?

Question: I began talking to a girl on a dating app/site, we exchanged numbers, and eventually traded nude photos (which she initiated/requested). I got a call today from a sheriff's department stating that a family has claimed I've been talking with their underage daughter. The sheriff (I didn't get his name) explained that the family hasn't pressed charges yet and would like to speak to me before doing so. He provided me with the fathers phone number. I called him up immediately to explain myself. He said that upon her mother confronting her about the situation, their daughter then had some medical complication. He said she also has a history of mental illness and will now need to undergo more therapy. He spoke with his wife and called me back and said they would agree to not press charges if I pay the medical bills. Am I being blackmailed? I googled the number the sheriff called me from and that number appeared to be legit, but I still can't help but feel like I'm being blackmailed. I don't want to push back if it will result in them pressing charges, but at the same time, I don't want to just roll over and pay them the amount requested (which I absolutely cannot afford). Just to be clear, the daughter was on a dating app/site that requires users to be 18 to sign up, her profile said she was over 18, and she absolutely never said anything to indicate otherwise. I'm fucking terrified of going to jail for doing something I had absolutely no intention of doing. Please tell me this isn't happening. Is this all just an attempt at blackmailing me? Should I call the sheriff's department back? Should I contact a lawyer?

Answer:
 This is a common scam.

There is no girl, there is no sheriff's deputy, there's just some dude in Nigeria.

Block and move on with your life.


Title: Got absolutely screwed by my lawyer, what can I do?

Question: About a month ago I was charged with a DUI and had to spend the night in jail.  I was given an arraignment scheduled for April 9 and a court date set for June 5, both of which I was fully intending to go to.  I contacted a lawyer that had been referred to me by a friend.  I sat down with him and we talked through the details of my case, he seemed confident in being able to get it reduced to reckless driving due to the fact that I was not pulled over but rather I was involved in an accident where the other driver was at fault.  I also blew a .08, the exact legal limit.  Anyway, he happily accepted my case and told me that I did not need to show up to my arraignment as he would be representing me and he would go on my behalf.  I asked him if he was sure multiple times and multiple times he told me not to worry, it would just be a waste of time for me to go.  As long as I made a deposit, he would legally be able to go to the arraignment on my behalf.  So I made a $1000 deposit and went about my business.  Well last night a cop showed up at my house and had a warrant for my arrest because he didn't fucking show up to the arraignment and so I was taken into custody and sent back to jail for skipping court.  The magistrate gave me $4000 secured bail which my girlfriend signed for and we paid the $425 bondsman's fee.  I had to spend 5 hours in jail and I have now been charged with a second misdemeanor because of this situation.  My question is how do I take my revenge on this lawyer? Ideally I want my $1000 deposit back, the $425 I paid to the bondsman and I want his license to practice law revoked.  What are my options here? Can I do anything, or do I just need to accept the fact that I have been royally fucked, I'm out $1425 and I just need to get a lawyer and move on?  Any advice is appreciated.

Answer:
 First you should investigate to make sure that this was actually the attorney's error. I can't tell you how many times I've heard a criminal defendant tell a judge that they have an attorney but were mistaken because they hadn't fulfilled one of the conditions of the offered representation, such as signing a retainer agreement. Less frequent, but not unheard-of, are court errors like misfiling a waiver of arraignment that the defense attorney submitted to the court clerk.Answer #2: I meant the first thing you can do is contact him and ask what happened. You can terminate him as your attorney and demanding the deposit back (although if he’s done any work on the case he may be able to charge

Feel free to Report him to the bar association in your state but no one gets disbarred for missing one court appearance - it’s likely he’ll get a slap on the wrist if anything. The standard for disbarment or discipline is pretty high depending on if there’s been other offenses and the state.

It’s unlikely you’ll get the fees paid for. The amount of effort and money it would take you to sue him for that would probably cost more than the money itself. You can ask him for it because the worst he can say is no but


Title: Legal recourse if a donation made "in your honor" against your wishes?

Question:
Hello,

&#x200B;

This might be an odd post. But anyway, I have a very strained relationship with my mother, and she recently made a donation "in my honor" to a mental health nonprofit which I used to work at. I don't have a problem with her making the donation; what she does with her money is none of my business. But I do have a problem with it being tied to my name. For some background, we haven't been on speaking terms for three years. Because of some specific interactions that transpired in the past, I view her tying the donation to my name without consulting me (and possibly keeping it tied to my name despite my request that she change it) as an extremely disrespectful gesture. Is there legal recourse to get this changed? I have followed up with both her and the organization, and I am also considering legal forms of protection from harassment such as a restraining order, but I'm also just curious about the question.

&#x200B;

Thanks in advance for any info.

&#x200B;

Update: this is happening in Pennsylvania and it sounds like the answer is there's no legally binding course of action for this.

Answer:
 > Is there legal recourse to get this changed?

No. Get over it.Answer #2: There is no legal issue here- she is free to make donations in the name of anyone she chooses.


Title: Can a New York City inspector from the NYC DEPT. OF HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES trespass without prior permission from, or acknowledge to, property owner, on a fenced property, that's locked, when no one has made any complaints?

Question: [deleted]

Answer:
 >Who do these people think they are? How do they even get the gall to enter private property and then make demands, that if "are not complied with" will certainly lead to a hefty fine?

They are the inspectors, charged by the people of New York through the city government with enforcing the applicable ordinances and codes.  If you or mom are unhappy with that arrangement your solution is to become politically active and change those ordinances.

>doesn't have the money for any fines

Things can often be worked out in a legitimate hardship.

>nor does she have the desire

That goes back to the political concern rather than the legal one.  If the inspectors requests are to bring the property in compliance with the code, the only solution would be to work to change the code.


Title: Mom picked up my (18F) prescriptions without telling me and took half of them, then claimed that since I live with her & she pays for them she’s allowed to control them.

Question:
Sort of as the title suggests:

I’m 18 years old & I live with my mom in Idaho (in the event that Idaho law makes a difference). She went & picked up my prescriptions (2 forms of Adderall, which are both controlled substances) without telling me. I tried to go and pick the prescription up on my own but the pharmacy wouldn’t let me, claiming that they had already been filled, as they are strict with controlled substances. I asked her about it and she said she had picked them up for me.

Initially I didn’t think anything of it until I finally got the bottles back from her & noticed they were not full. There were supposed to be 30 pills in each bottle but there were only 17 in each, so she had taken almost half of my prescriptions.

She’s claiming that since she paid for them & I live under her roof that she’s allowed to control & monitor my prescriptions, is this true? I am an adult.

Side note- I’m not an idiot & I’m not entirely sure what she’s doing with these pills. The fact that she didn’t tell me & was being secretive/defensive when I called her out on it leaves me to believe that her “monitoring” my pills might not have been her intent. & she’s being forced to work from home now, my mom & I both have attention issues, I know it’s hard for her to focus while working at home but that doesn’t mean it’s a free-for-all trial on prescriptions.

But yeah, basically I need to know if she’s legally allowed to take my meds from me or not? Again, Idaho law. Thanks.
Topic:
Drug Possession

Answer: No, she can't take controlled substances that are not prescribed to her.  She can be arrested and jailed for that.Answer #2: Stealing anyone's prescription regardless of age is a federal offense. Picking them up for you is fine but not letting you have access to it (and then only having half of the script) is illegal. Highly illegal. Especially considering its a controlled medication. Call your insurance and your pharmacy and you can tell them not to release your prescriptions to anyone but you personally.Answer #3: You might want to contact your doctor’s office for advice on how to handle this situation. Maybe they can switch pharmacies or request your medications cannot be released to anyone but you. But you want to get this on record somewhere Incase it causes issues.


Title: Pulled over without proof of prescription (Maryland)

Question:
Hi,
I was pulled over for a tail light, officer supposedly smelled weed and searched my vehicle. Found two pills from an older lorazepam prescription in an aspirin bottle (sometimes I travel with all of my meds in one bottle, which now I realize is dumb). He said he is doing me a favor by not taking me to jail, but to expect something in the mail about this... Does this mean I will be summoned to court? I have my prescription in writing and the correct bottle in my possession now. What should I expect? Can I defend myself without a lawyer?

Answer:
 Oh boy.
If that's an older prescription that is not currently active, you might be more boned than you think.
While they may cut you some slack after you go through court proceedings with a lawyer to help, you are only allowed to have prescription  medication  for the duration the prescription  is valid for; anything left over must be destroyed  and disposed of, and prescriptions can only be carried (in most states) in their original  container with the information labeled  on it.
Any deviation from this can result in someone being charged with possession  of a controlled  substance.


Title: [TX] Ghost debt collector suing me, not on credit report?

Question:
I recently was served and I've been researching how to fight it but I have my original claim form and because I can be a bit stupid with wording, I don't know how to fill it out citing the statute of limitations without admitting or trying to admit guilt. I cannot find these people anywhere on my credit report yet they are suing me, I'm going to submit my answer but I can't find an example online. It's been 5 1/2 years since the date the supposed debt was charged off. The time limit in Texas is 4 and why can't I find them on my credit history? throw away account for reasons ;>.>

Update: I tried to submit my answer but the place I needed to go closed at 4 I will try again Monday. Once this is all said and done I will post exactly what I did to help others like me.

Answer:
 >I cannot find these people anywhere on my credit report

That doesn't matter.  They don't have to list the debt on your credit report to sue you.

>citing the statute of limitations

The statute of limitations would start from when you last had activity on the account (when you last made a transaction, like a payment or purchase).  If you don't want to litigate the case on the merits by filing an answer, then you would file preliminary objections (if allowed in the court that the case was filed in).  Otherwise you can argue that the SoL has passed as part of your denial that you owe the debt.Answer #2: Have you actually been served with a summons by a court, or did you receive a letter from the collector threatening suit? If an actual summons, you must reply with an answer or you will lose by default and the collector can attack your bank accounts, paycheck, etc.

You could fight this yourself with sufficient research but if he amount is substantial you should probably hire a lawyer to represent you. If indeed the debt is time-barred, an attorney should be able to get the case thrown out without a trial. An attorney's time to write letters and file documents is expensive, but to show up in court is *very* expensive.

Did you make any payments after the debt was charged off? This will reset the statute of limitations.


Title: Kicked out of the house at 15 and seeking advice

Question:
Hey r/legaladvice,

My name is Hayden, I'm 15 years old, living in Ontario, and got kicked out of my house by my dad yesterday. After a trivial disagreement turned into an argument, we traded insults, and eventually he told me to pack my bags. I'm at my grandparents' house and haven't had contact with my father since the incident. I talked to my mom and explained the situation to her, but she believes that I'm at fault in the situation, because a 15 year old should not be allowed to talk back to their father.

Everything is still a mess right now, but is there anything I can do right now in the immediate aftermath? Most of my possessions are still at my parents' house, and I don't know what my plan will be long-term or how long I might have a place to sleep.

Answer:
 You can contact [the ministry of children and youth services](http://www.children.gov.on.ca/htdocs/English/childrensaid/reportingabuse/index.aspx).

Since you are 15 most of what you consider to be your belongings are probably things your parents can refuse to give to you.