Title: (GA, USA) (Real Estate) I had signed a purchase agreement for a home, being sold by my real estate agent (he owned the home, is his own agent, and is mine) my offer started as backup offer, his original contract failed, he accepted mine. Is now trying to give an 8 day extension to failed contract

Question:
I have been looking to purchase my first home for about 3 months now.  I went online and found a house I really loved and completed the email form to request a showing.  I got a call that the house was under contract but the owner was a real estate agent and said he could help me find a house.  After looking at several houses that sold before I could take time off from work to tour, I told the agent that I would be willing to provide an all cash, quick closing for the right house as my family agreed to front me the money until I could get a mortgage to make it easier to close.  He commented he wished he had met me before his house went under contract as he would have loved to have had that offer.  I really loved his house, house #1, so I told him I would be willing to make an all cash, 10 day close backup offer on his house.  He verbally accepted this offer, and told me the closing date for the current offer was June 11th (I have this in a text).

I finally found a house I really liked and after touring it twice and conversations with lots of people with expertise in non new construction houses (built 1980), I decided to make an offer.  On the evening of June 10th I told the realtor to prepare an offer on the second property and make it all cash with no contingency aside from the inspection.  I also asked was his house still closing the next day, the 11th, and he confirmed it was.  I waited all of the 11th for him to send me the offer to sign on house #2 but I never received it. At 8pm on June 11th, still waiting to get the purchase and sale contract to sign on house #2,  he informed me his current buyers failed to get financing to close on his house that day, June 11th.  He asked was I interested in proceeding with an offer.  I am thinking awesome, I am going to get his house if I like it. I went and walked through his house the next day, Jun 12th, as soon as I left work and I loved it.  I placed the first offer around noon of Jun 13th, he countered a few hours later, and we settled on a price at 6:32 PM Jun 13th.  He drew up my offer on his own house and sent it to me 9:55 PM the same day.

I sent the standard Purchase agreement to a lawyer friend to look over and sent it back unsigned at 11 am Jun 14th for him to address some changes, one being that the refrigerator stayed and the other was for a termite bond.  I received the contract with changes at noon Jun 14th, with the purchase agreement set to expire the same day at 6 PM.  The contract he sent me had already been signed by him, I signed it and sent it back at 5:03 PM the same day. The closing date was set for Wednesday Jun 19th, all cash, so a 5 day close.  At his request, I had the bank provide a letter saying that the cash was on hand and that there was sufficient liquidity to honor the contract.  Wow, I just bought a house... or so I thought.

I got a call from my real estate agent, who is also the seller of his home, at 8 pm June 14th.  He informed me the original buyers had filed for an 8 day extension, as was their right under the purchase agreement.  He said he had to honor their agreement, and hoped I understood the awkward situation he was in, having 2 contracts open on his home. He also said he hoped I wouldn't push matters, he believes they will not be able to get financing again (their previous issue) and he could put in an offer on my second choice, or I could wait for their closing to fail, set for June21st, and then purchase his house if it did not close under the first offer.

Here is where the problems start.  The contract he sent me to sign was the same contract he had with the other party.  In that contract, it states they have until the date of closing to file a 8 day extension and the extension can be filed if 1) the Seller cannot satisfy title objections, 2) the lender or closing attorney is delayed, or 3) the Buyer did not get the disclosures required under federal law.  None of these apply, the Buyers wanted an extension to go try to get another lender.
Their closing was June 11th, and they filed the extension June 14th.  Their offer was roughly $6,000 higher, and did not include the seller leaving the$2,000 fridge, which mine did.  Also, in my contract the real estate agent listed himself as a representative of the buyer, and as a rep of the seller, even though their was an option for acting as the buying and selling agent. It seemed odd to me he would choose an option that differed from the facts so I asked him to change that in the final executed contract.

As far as I can tell, I have the legally binding contract, and he is hoping I will overlook that fact and be 'understanding' of his situation.  My understanding of the situation is this: my real estate agent is trying to back out of his contract with me, in order to sell for a higher price and keep his refrigerator (read: fuck me over for for a few grand and a fridge).  All of our contact had been through email and text until he called to tell me he had to honor their contract.

I sent him an email explaining all of this last night, and basically telling him I feel I have what constitutes a legally binding contract in the state of Georgia, and I intend to push forward with said contract.  If he chooses not to honor our binding agreement, I will pursue whatever legal actions neccessary, including filing an injunction on the property so it cannot be sold.

I know I need to find a real estate attorney but what are my options?  At this point my agent has burned his bridge with me by insinuating that he has 2 contracts open on his house.  Basically, he signed a binding contract with me and now says the prior contract is still valid, ironically at a much higher price.   I no longer care to maintain a professional relationship with someone so disingenuous.  I  was aware he had a massive conflict of interest representing me as the buyer and himself as the seller on his own house but felt I had taken steps to protect my interests.

At this point I am beyond furious, and have two goals:
1. Purchase the house, settling the contract matter through court if necessary.
2. Should I fail to get the house, my goal would be to rain glorious hellfire down on his professional career, with the full weight of righteous fury I now carry.

I'd love to hear any advice you can offer, as I am currently in way over my head.
Topic:
Real Estate law

Answer:
 You're already dealing with lawyers so that's good.

Honestly I think its most likely you will NOT get this house, but you'll be able to prove the contract is invalid so you're no longer on the hook for it.

The first buyers have the earlier contract, its possible yours never should have been written up and signed.

But I don't think you have a strong case to get the house over the initial buyers, based on my understanding of real estate law.

I would find out if he was allowed to close with you during the first buyer's 8 day extension period.

**CALL YOUR BANK**. Tell them what is going on and do NOT allow the money to go through until this is resolved.

One big thing sticks out:

>   my real estate agent, who is also the seller of his home

I imagine this is a bit of a no no. I know there are rules against a real estate agent representing both buyer and seller.

I would definitely check with a real estate attorney and then report this whole fiasco.

He may get fined or even his real estate license revoked.Answer #2: So I'm gonna stop you right there. Lawsuits where you make people do things in real estate are neither fast, nor are they cheap.

You seem to be under the impression that you hold some power over him. If he doesn't want to sell you the place, you are going to have a hard time making him. But that will involve lawyers, and a lot of time. A lot of time of you not living in that or any house.

Go find another house.


Title: Abusive brother is getting out of prison and coming to stay at home (Kentucky), at what point can I call the police on him?

Question:
My brother is getting out of prison, and coming to stay at our family home (in **Kentucky**) for the time being, where I'm currently staying with my mother to help out while I finish up my degree (it's just us right now). The problem is my brother is more or less a psychopath, criminal and drug addict. Like the last few times he's gotten out of prison, my mom has hopes of him being better / reformed (as do I). But there's a good chance he will be constantly asking for money, rides, and just being parasitic to everyone around him, throwing tantrums (he's 30ish), making threats, stealing our things and just treating my mom awfully, he could even escalate to violence. My question is, if he is acting this way, **at what point can I call the police and press charges and/or get him in serious legal trouble?**

* If he's yelling and demanding money or a ride, you can call the police because it's a domestic dispute? But he's not going to go back to prison just for being a huge a-hole, right?
* What if he steals something of mine that isn't worth more than say $50? If he steals something of my mothers can I call the police or would it require her pressing charges?
* What about if he steals something valuable of mine (say $100-$700), how serious of a crime is that (considering we live together so it's not a full breaking and entering)?
* If he breaks something in the house out of anger or punches a hole in the wall?
* What if I won't do something for him and he threatens to "beat my ass", would I need to record him saying it for evidence or would the police and court take my word on it, would that legally be a serious threat (a felony)?
* If he's using drugs in the house, I can call the police or parole officer (I'm assuming he's on parole) and have him drug tested? Or would I have to call the police and tell them he is currently using and holding drugs? Can I just call them and have them search him?
* If it's just a small amount of marijuana, would he get in serious trouble still (because parole)?

*Basically, I just want to know what does he have to do for it to be considered a felony and get him sent back to prison for awhile?*
I don't want to call the police on him and have him spend a night or a week in jail before coming right back home, because he scares me. I think he would seek revenge, and sometimes when he's at his worse, I'm really not sure what he's capable of.
Of course, he's my brother, I hope he's reformed and wanting, trying to be a better person. I hope he really goes to rehab like he told my mom he would. But I never really know with him. He's not stable, and I truly do spend time pondering if he is a true psychopath or just neurotic, egotistical  and lacking in empathy. But either way, my mom is a great person, and she doesn't deserve the constant harassment and stress that my brother tends to bring her. If he's acting how he has in the past, I want him gone as fast as possible. Sorry, that last paragraph wasn't all to relevant, just wanted to explain my position on the situation.

Answer:
 Why are you allowing him in the house?

If he's belligerent/threatening/stealing/violent/using drugs that will likely violate his parole and put him away. Contacting the police and his PO would be a good idea on that case.


Title: [Washington] My last apartment complex is trying to charge me to replace the entire floor due to two damaged floor boards.

Question:
http://imgur.com/a/gvqYf

Above are the photos they sent me of the damage.  For scale, the nick in the floor in the first photo is about a half inch long.  The second photo shows raising on another panel that was the result of a liquid spill that I mopped and let air dry.  According to them, if one panel is damaged the whole floor needs to be replaced.  The amount being charged against me is $1500.  Am I stuck paying this or should I consult with a lawyer?
Topic:
Landlord Tenant Housing

Answer:
 Dispute this, it sounds very dishonest to me. I'm NAL.

That looks like laminate flooring to me.  All I see is normal wear and tear.

If it is laminate flooring then they do not have to replace the entire floor. http://homeguides.sfgate.com/replace-laminate-floor-board-middle-floor-37327.html

The landlord has a duty to mitigate. They aren't entitled to a whole new floor.


Title: What action is available against a school teacher who told my nephew to pick up rubbish, which turned out to have peanut crumbs, to which he is allergic to and suffered an allergy attack?

Question: [deleted]

Answer: none, based on the facts as presented.


Title: Going to the doctors alone age.

Question: I have an appointment with my dermatologist on monday at 12:20pm during school and I don't want to bother my parents if they don't need to be bothered. So my question is at what age can you go alone to the dermatologist with your parents conest. By the way in 16 years old and live in Illinois.

Answer:
 You can go to doctor alone whenever the doctor allows.  But you probably won't be able to leave school w/o a parent.Answer #2: Have you seen this doctor before? Your parents might need to sign a financial responsibility form.Answer #3: Give the doctor's office a call. One of my kid's doctors wants a written note, the other figures of they're old enough to get there and are an established patient, it's fine.  They did call and get my verbal okay to let him sign the immunization disclosure form himself before getting a shot.

If it comes down to a procedure like having a mole removed or something more significant, they may insist on a parental signature. Whether they'll require that in person or not, you'd have to ask.


Title: Are clones of Reddit legal?

Question:
There are a lot of sites out there that are clones of Reddit. Basically they copy Reddit's exact format and style and make their own site with it.

Examples include [Voat](http://www.voat.co) and [The Fempire](http://thefempire.org/).

Are these sites not breaking any copyright/trademark laws by using reddit's design/functionality?

Answer:
 Reddit's code is open source. It's likely fine.Answer #2: Reddit's software is open source since 2008. Anyone can use it as long as they publish their code changes and give reddit credit.

http://www.redditblog.com/2008/06/reddit-goes-open-source.html


Title: Bitten by a dog at a doggy daycare.

Question: So I took my friend to work about a week ago at a doggy daycare. She asked me if I would like to come in and see her work. Of course I did because I absolutely love dogs. I handed my purse to my friend and she put it behind the counter with the manager. So I go to the little dog open roam area and its awesome, doggy kisses and pets all the way around. I go into the big dog open roam area and right as I step inside the pen I'm bitten by a white dog we'll call Brenda. After this happened I was told that brenda didn't like people with hats and has bitten a child before(never mentioned before I went in). So my friend asks that I dont tell anyone because she will lose her job because she's not supposed to have anyone back there(never mentioned that to me). Well, now its a week later and I can barely walk on my leg and everyone ive showed it too thinks its infected. I told my friend that I was going to go to the hospital because its gotten so bad.  All she is worried is about losing her job and offered to pay 100 towards my e.r. bill if I go and only say it was a stray. I really dont want to get anyone fired or the dog put down but I dont want to have to pay an e.r. bill. This is in Ga. If that helps. Any advice would be appreciated.

Answer: Go to the doctor. The business has insurance for this. The dog won't be put down. The manager saw this and let it happen. Your friend is not a real friend if she's putting her job over your health. Animal bite infections are something that shouldn't be ignored.


Title: My university does not pay overtime

Question: I work a full 40 hours a week at a summer job at my university--or at least that's what my pay stub would have you believe. In reality, I work closer to 50 but my university doesn't pay overtime. And by not paying overtime, I mean we don't get paid at all. $0.00 for hours of physical labor and occasional all-nighters. Are schools allowed to do this?

Answer:
 No, not paying someone for hours worked is not legal.

Unless you are salaried exempt which I can’t imagine, you would be due overtime as well in most, but not all, situations.


Title: Received multiple tickets while driving a borrowed car, not sure how to proceed

Question:
Some background on what happened:

I am 23 and am located in Westchester NY. I needed a car because mine was in the shop because of a transmission problem, and a friend of mine who is living on a campus let me borrow his car for a few days. On one of these days I am pulled over because a New York state trooper noticed that my inspection was up, which I did notice. He said that this would not be a problem and it should be taken care of until he runs the registration. It turns out the father of my friend stopped paying the insurance and never renewed the registration. Because I was driving the car I have received a ticket for all three. VTL 0306B, VTL 0319 01U, VTL 0401A. The car was in his mothers name who was deceased, but the father was still taking car of all the paperwork.

My court date is now approaching, and I have a pre trial date on august 5th. My question to you all is how should I go forward. Should I get a lawyer because I am afraid to loose my license, or should I just go and meet with the prosecutor during the pre trial. I also do not have a clean record, I have a two year old speeding ticket and what was called a VTL 1225-D 01 from earlier this year, yet i have not appeared in court for it yet.

Also, I am not sure if it makes a difference but since then I have purchased the car from them after they transferred and received a new title under my friends name and it is now owned and registered by me since my car was unfix-able.

Any advice is greatly appreciated.

Answer:
 You can get a lawyer, and I would. Just note it is your responsibility to ensure the vehicle you drive is legal.

I'd get all the issues fixed, bring proof to the court and let them know the situation.


Title: My son had an incident on his school bus (USA), I am wondering if we should meet with an Attorney.

Question: My son who is in Junior High infromed us that he and his buddies were talking football on the bus, when somone heckled the Bus Aids favorite team. The Bus Aid assumed it was my son. As punishment, he sat on my sons lap for several stops. The Bus Aid is a man, approx 55+ years old. My son immediately felt uncomfortable and told him to move, he refused. The school reviewed the footage, confirmed, and the Aid was fired. Days have passed and my son still seems very embarrassed and just doesn't seem to be himself. Would there be any value to seeking legal advice?

Answer: Good lord, everything doesn't have to be a lawsuit. Answer #2: Embarrassing things happen when you're in middle school.... The school took action and the situation was delt with. Consider it a lesson for your son about dealing with weird situations. Attempting legal action wouldn't make your son any less embarrassed,  if anything it would just drag it out.


Title: Is my boss required to pay me?

Question:
I finally got a call back from a local restaurant! I just moved to Oregon and have been job hunting for weeks.

When I had my interview, the manager told me that she requires everyone go through a "two-week evaluation" to see how I work "before things become permanent."  She told me, "No strings attached, no commitments for me, no commitments for you." I agreed (assuming I'd at least be paid for the work done) and she had me come in the next day.

Now, this is not my first job-I am a trained waitress and have worked with 3 other restaurants before in my life.

When I showed up for my first shift, she didn't have me sign any tax paperwork. I was put straight to work and stayed for 5 hours.

I didn't get a server number, and the other waiters did not tip me out when I left even though I did 100% of the bussing, seated and hosted all the guests, and even waited on some tables by myself. No, I did not get to keep the tips, they require that I bring all money up to the front; No, I am not sure what is done with them once they get there.

After 5 hours, I hopped in my car and it finally crossed my mind, "Hey, I don't think I'm getting paid for this."

I then thought, hey, maybe this doesn't count as real work, maybe it's like a training thing...but let's get real:
I'm wearing their uniform
I'm cleaning their restaurant
I'm bringing food to their customers
I'm handling the customers' checks
It's clearly work, right? A restaurant can't just /not/ pay me simply because I'm still in "training", right?

Is she required to pay me, or does this count as some sort of training thing? Is this some sort of cheap "free labor" trick?  How do I go about bringing this up to her?

*Keep in mind*: I've only spent one day there. I have no clue how they ration out tips, or anything along those lines.

Edit:
It's not even like the job isn't working out-She said she was surprised at how good a job I'm doing, and even pointed out specific tables that told her I was doing well on my first day. I'm just concerned that she hasn't even mentioned a starting wage and hasn't bothered to have me fill out paperwork.

Answer:
 Oh holy crap, that sounds illegal as fuck. ***Yes***, they're legally required to pay you for your time there. Even if they said it wasn't working out and you only worked five hours for them. If it was unpaid training, they need to have told you that *upfront* and made sure you understood.

And taking your tips? Also hella illegal.Answer #2: There is no such thing as unpaid training, with the exception of internships. And even those have regulations; you can't just call an employee an intern to avoid paying them.

You need to get paid; even if at the end of the day she told you it wasn't working out and told you not to come back. If she refuses, then file a claim with your state DEpartment of Labor. Answer #3: Don't do another minute of work without getting the specifics of how, when and what you're being paid, both during the "training period" and after. This "no strings attached" thing is bullshit. Most employment these days is no strings attached. You can quit whenever you want, and they can fire you for virtually any reason.

If your boss actually isn't planning on paying you, stop working. If she doesn't give you at least minimum wage for the hours you have worked, go to the Oregon Bureau of Labor.


Title: [FL] Friend was lied to while buying a townhouse (with drawing)

Question:
https://i.imgur.com/gXNLaQ9.png

Friend was interested in buying a town (dark blue), but was worried about what would go in the open lot (green) in front of them. She specifically asked the realtor if there would be a gas station put there, and got it in writing that there would not. Now, less than a year later, there's a 7-11 (red) there.

Does she have any recourse against the realtor that lied to her?

Answer:
 What exactly did they get in writing? Was it like “I (realtor) guarantee that s gas station will never go in that lot.”?
Or was it more like “no I don’t think a gas station is looking at purchasing that lot right now.”?


Title: [PA] - I think my landlord was in my apartment today...

Question:
Okay, I'm expecting a ton of snark but I would like some legitimate feedback on what trouble I could be in here...

I had a bag of weed on my dresser, possibly as recently as this morning. It was 1/4 oz, and I'm not entirely sure when I last saw it on my dresser because I haven't touched it or used it in probably over a week.

However, today, I went to get it and it wasn't there. I'm 99% positive that I didn't misplace or put it away anywhere. I'm 99% positive that my landlord was in my apartment at some point today and took it. There was no note, I haven't received a phone call, text, or email, saying that he was coming or that he was here.

I doubt someone broke in because literally nothing else was touched. My laptop was in the same room, as well as camera equipment and all kinds of stereo equipment and TV were left untouched in the living room. There's no sign of break-in, either.

Now... where this gets even more interesting (maybe) is that this morning, I noticed that one of my two bikes is missing (probably stolen) from the basement of the apartment building that is only accessible by keypad on the door. I want to call/email my landlord about the bike situation seeing as how if the code has been compromised it should probably be changed. But now I'm nervous about contacting my landlord and I want to know what my rights are (if any) in this situation and what I can/should/shouldn't say to him if he brings up his being in my apartment today and taking the weed.

Any advice is appreciated. Snark is not. But expected, nonetheless.

Answer:
 You can report the bike theft to the police if you'd like. You're going to have to overlook your loss of weed. As the only evidence you have of the break-in to your apartment is your missing illegal drugs, it wouldn't be a great idea to bring that up.Answer #2: Your landlord can't go to the police and say 'I entered my tenets apartment and took this bag of weed'. Although he could call in a tip to the police department at a later time so best not keep anything there for the time.

You can setup a hidden camera inside to record him entering your apartment. If anything is stolen again then he'll be arrested.

As far as your bike goes I think you are out of luck. File a police report but don't expect much.


Title: My partner and I have been threatened with a libel, slander and defamation of character lawsuit. What are our options?

Question:
Hello all, and thanks for taking the time to read this. An acquaintance recently threatened to sue my partner and I for libel, slander and defamation of character. As far as we are concerned, the charges are completely false.

We received the threat via text, and I have not yet replied in any way except to say that the legal threat has been received, we are seeking counsel and will be in contact soon.

We have had our share of disagreements with the person, but have only discussed those in private settings with friends and family. We never wrote or posted anything in a public forum...not on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, blogs--nothing. And even in private settings, we never knowingly spread false information about them.

A couple other things to mention which may or may not be of consequence:

1. The accuser is known to have a litigious past
2. We are almost certain they are in the country illegally
3. We are located in CA and the accuser resides in MI

So far, we've gotten legal advice to not respond at all and wait for them to formally file a complaint. Any other suggestions would be greatly appreciated.

Thanks again.

Answer: Like, a text message? Unless you get served official papers I wouldn't bother spending any time on it. Suing for defamation is fairly difficult. They'd have to prove you knowingly spread lies about them with the intent to damage reputation, and that it's actually caused monetary damage.


Title: Can a job withhold holiday pay for good Friday to an employee if said employee doesn't come in the following Monday?

Question: [deleted]

Answer: Is your job offering a free day of holiday pay for an office closure, *if* you show up to work the day after the holiday?  If so then yes, they can do that.  Holiday pay isn't required by law, it's basically a bonus.  If they put conditions on it and you don't meet those conditions, you don't get it


Title: Ex has an R.O. against me (NY), what if I see her on dating apps?

Question:
No contact OoP in NYS.

If I see her on a dating app, would swiping right constitute breaking it?

Answer: Most likely yes. That is a form of communication. Just leave her alone.


Title: Please help!! I've been fined 300$ for driving on a newly paved road I live on!!! No signs or cones or barrels saying road was closed!!

Question:
I live in New Jersey in Morris County,

So the road I live on is being paved for the last couple days... I came home at 12 while they were working with no problem, 2 hours later I go to leave again there are no signs say road closed not blockades or cones hinting towards it... I leave the same way I came in and pass 3 road workers with no problems they didn't seem to care at all, down the road a man stops me and starts screaming at me asking if I'm fucking retarded and more things I can't fully recall, I then was harassed by this town workers who refused to give his names after they threatened to asult me after he tells me to get get out of my car!! He's coworkers hold him back and send him away those said workers we not rude but wouldn't give me anyone's name or company since the town hired a contractor. I drove away after the guy told me to just drive slow and keep left.... As I did. An hour later the township calls and said I will be receiving a 300 dollar fine for ruining the pavement job...  Idk what to do. I came home after they left and there are no marks coming from my driveway but there are Many marks from all neighbors around the street but I'm getting fined??

Answer:
 I would start by contacting the Office of Public Works; Road and Bridge Division for Morris County. You should be able to find out what notices were required before the paving started and if any flaggers, barrels, cones, safety standards, etc., were required as the paving progressed.  At the very least, Road and Bridges should be able to direct you to the correct office to get the information ... then go from there.Answer #2: My money is on the contractor skipped out on notifying the people on the street of the job about to happen and skimped out on the signs and cones just to save some money.

Town will love to hear that the contractor they hired almost assaulted one of their residents...


Title: Autosound electronic's mechanic broke my car and refuses to take responsiblity, is there anything I can do?

Question:
Some background:
I recently had a radio installed for my car, aside from that, my car is completely stock with no upgrades to it. This is not a brand new vehicle, its a 2004 car. Two weeks after installing the radio, all my electricals stopped working (no air conditioning, fan, heated seats, powered mirrors). I went to my trusted car mechanic and they said that it was most likely the radio installed wrong and it shorted something in the car. He told me to go back to the people who installed my radio and complain.

Here's the problem:
I went back and they took my vehicle to the back, inspected it for around 20 minutes and said that the problem is not related to the radio at all and they refused to fix it or even pay for the damages. Now normally, I wouldnt care if it was a small fix, but I have to replace the whole wiring harness ($400 part) and pay my guy 6 hours of labor equaling close to $1000 dollars worth of repairs. I'm clueless when it comes to this but is there anyone I can talk to or bring this to so I can at least get them to pay for the damages? I am located in Canada B.C.

Answer:
 Find a different mechanic. Seriously. He's giving you so much bad advice.

Unless the wiring harness is fried, find the short and fix it.

Until you find the problem you can't say if they caused it or not.

Auto electrical work is a bit specialized. There are shops that only do electrical repairs. Rare but they exist.


Title: PA: the hospital I work at has a policy that they'll boot your car if you park in a certain lot. They are a private hospital. Is/how is this legal?

Question: I totally understand that I'm probably going to get a lot of, well don't work there responses, but the heart of my question is really, can you disable someone's car on your property bc they aren't following your rules?

Answer: The hospital is free to set the rules for their parking facilities.


Title: Entering the US with copyrighted material on laptop

Question:
Where I live, up to fairly recently downloading copyrighted material from the internet was legal even if it was from unauthorized sources such as the Pirate Bay. I believe this is not legal in the US. If I enter the US with downloaded music/movies on my laptop and the US Customs searches it, is the possession of these materials as such illegal or is it legal because I did not download them in the US?

EDIT: in case it matters, I'd be going to Florida

Answer: You're not going to be detained because you have dallasbuyersclub.avi on your hard drive if that is what you're worried about.


Title: [AL] Family member overpaying me for a car with company money.

Question: A family member recently got a new job. His old job gave him a company car and paid for it's maintenance and gas. He brought this up as an issue with his new company and they told him they would buy him a car. They told him to find a car under 20k and that they would reimburse him for the purchase. He proposed to me that he buy my car valued at 14k for 16-17k. So he gets a reliable vehicle and I make a few dollars. Is this fraudulent or just on the line of immorality?

Answer:
 If the first thing that my new employee did was to overpay for a vehicle, I'd have serious second thoughts about my hiring acumen.Answer #2: Maybe-fraud is almost as bad an idea as definite fraud. Does your family member want to be on this sub in a few weeks’ time posting a thread titled “Fired for knowingly overpaying for family member’s car with company money - any recourse?” And that’s not the worst title it could have.Answer #3: Is part of the deal that you both share in the 2-3k windfall, that you "owe" him some of that profit directly or indirectly?

Look, maybe this guy really likes your car, you weren't planning on selling it, and he offered you 10%- 20% over the blue book value to buy the exact car he wanted, which is still 3k less than the car stipend the company gave him. That, in itself, isn't fraudulent to me. Not a great use of his company's money, but not a fraud.

People overpay for stuff all the time when spending company money, that's how Ruth's Chris stays in business.


Title: Legal tender (for all debts public or private) not accepted. US in general, Oklahoma specifically

Question:
General question: if our paper money states "This note is legal tender for all debts, public and private", how can businesses get away with policies that don't allow cash payments?

Situation that lead to the question: I was trying to help a friend pay her rent today, bounced checks late fees etc.  Because the rent was late, they required a cashiers check (not even postal money order) or e-check payment online with additional fee.

I don't use a local brick and ~~mirror~~ mortar bank so personal checks or postal money orders have always worked for my own needs- cashiers checks would take some additional hoops or pre planning.

According to staff, these were "corporate policies" because of __internal__ problems at __other__ locations (safety hazard keeping cash, making money orders out to individuals instead of the property).

Add to that that she has long since used up any good graces they've ever had for her (and personality of the two staff I worked with were definitely a factor- one was very accommodating and professional, clearly would have used any discretion available to her; the other (superior) clearly would have chosen not to use any discretion even if she had any)

I haven't looked at the rental agreement, I'm guessing at best those policies would be mentioned there, but even if it is, is that truly a waivable right?  Could I have raised a stink if it was worth my time?  I mean what would I get besides a point of pride, and maybe at best small claims for a couple hours of inconvenience at current wages or whatever other opportunity costs there may have been for the two of us.

But in a scenario where someone's already at the point that overdraft fees and check holds and missed time at work could realistically lead to unemployment and eviction proceedings, it becomes more worth a fight.

And it could conceivably come to that in the future.

New to the sub, please forgive any broken rules- let me know I'll try to resubmit.  Rules suggested this hypothetical was better suited in this forum than r/leagaladvice

I did try searching but still haven't figured out how to do that well on mobile.

Answer: There is no Federal statute mandating that a private business, a person, or an organization must accept currency or coins as payment for goods or services. Private businesses are free to develop their own policies on whether to accept cash unless there is a state law which says otherwise.


Title: Inheritance Issues

Question:
Hello r/legaladvice,

I've got a complicated one. I was supposed to receive an inheritance from my grandfather (my father's father) on my 18th birthday. All my life, I haven't known much about this, and neither did most of my family, and my father said it wasn't even there for most of my life (we have a estranged relationship, and we haven't spoken for almost a year now). So, when my 18th birthday rolled around (Sep 2016), my father presented me with some papers, and he told me that I would receive my inheritance in monthly installments, 500 a month. Our relationship at that time was getting better, so I trusted him and signed the forms. However, I recently found out that he withheld documents that said I was receiving a lump sum payout, and that the lump sum was to go to his bank account. So, on paper, it looks like I received a lump sum to my bank account, but my father secretly put his bank account on the forms. So, what should I do? I'm having trouble finding a lawyer to help me at the moment. Please help.

Edit: I live in West Tennessee.

Answer: You need an attorney.


Title: How can I legally create a social network to shame the immoral, rich and powerful? (USA - WA)

Question:
Hey legaladvice,

I'm a web developer, and I want to create a website where people can discuss the worst people in our society. I'll certainly need a lawyer before launch, but if you could help me out with some general feasibility questions.

**Can I avoid libel liability by framing everything in the term 'X alleges:'?**

For example, "Dick Cheney eats babies" could be libelous, but if a user posts that comment to our site, and our site displays it as, "Bob alleges: Dick Cheney eats babies", would that no longer be libel?   Could Cheney sue to get it removed?  (Technically, the fact that Bob alleged that statement is factual and not libelous, the content of his allegations are what is libelous).

**Is it legal to post personal contact information online?**

If I found Dick Cheney's personal phone number, would it be illegal to post it on my website?  What about email, facebook, etc.?  Is it illegal to 'dox' someone in any states?

Would instructing users to only use the contact information for political speech improve things?  Make users agree to not harass before releasing info?

I presume that if I called Cheney's house 1000 times, he could get a judge to tell me to stop calling him.  But if I assisted 1000 people to express their personal beliefs to him, one at a time, is that harassment, or just political organization?  Is there a legally defensible way to organize a large number of people to contact a single person?

**Would the level of fame of the person be a factor?**

I thought I've heard something about once you're famous, you have less expectation of privacy or something like that.  A reason paparazzi are treated differently from stalkers or something.  Would there be any information I could post about celebrities, but not about 'ordinary people'?  Would people in politics or CEOs of companies, or police be included in this 'public people' class?

Thanks!

Answer: If you're serious about doing this, you should consult an attorney or three before you even get started.


Title: Legally binding way to control spendthrift brother's finances?

Question:
My 39-year-old brother has a history of reckless spending and financial irresponsibility. He wants to turn over complete control of all of his finances to me \[30\]. I already have a durable power of attorney, but my understanding is that he can revoke that at any time.

He doesn't trust himself and wants to willingly give me total control over all of his spending  in such a way that he is unable to appeal my decisions. I've looked into legal guardianship but it seems like that requires a clinical diagnosis that the individual be mentally incapacitated. My brother is a high-earning professional and functions more or less normally so I don't think he would meet this standard.

My next thought is to create some kind of irrevocable trust and have him sign a contract turning over all his assets and future earnings over to the trust in perpetuity -- is this possible? He has had a series of failed marriages and we're also trying to hedge against potential future spouses taking advantage of him. What are some other ways we could do this?

Answer:
 >He has had a series of failed marriages and we're also trying to hedge against potential future spouses taking advantage of him.

Is this meant to be a way to hide assets in a divorce?


Title: Health Insurance denying one day of nursery care for my newborn.

Question:
I had a baby by c-section late last year. She had to be delivered a full month early because I was diagnosed with HELLP syndrome and my life was at risk.

Thankfully she was born in great health and went to the regular nursery (not the NICU). However I was extremely sick and they would not discharge me and I stayed in the hospital for several day (5 or 6).

During my stay there the physicians cleared my baby for release because she was healthy but since I couldn’t care for her I asked them to keep her in the nursery. I was staying in the high risk ward and could not be left alone with the baby at anytime. My husband was there with me but he didn’t feel ready to care for our first baby alone.

The hospital agreed to keep her longer but they weren’t happy about it. Now I am hearing from my health insurance company that the claim is denied for the last day of her stay in the nursery. The hospital appealed it (I had to sign something to allow them to release my medical records for the appeal) but my insurance company, Aetna, called me this morning saying I am the only one who can appeal according to my plan.

Should I legally file this appeal? Am I agreeing to anything I’m not aware of by doing so? Do I need a lawyer?

My husband was insured by another carrier but during a phone call from Aetna last year they determined Aetna would be responsible for the charges based on my husband’s and my birthday months.

Please give advice if you have it. They seem to want me to take care of this appeal today and at one point I saw the charge was many thousands of dollars. Thank you!

Answer:
 If the baby was cleared for discharge and the parent was able to care for the child (your husband), I'm not sure I see why additional, unnecessary care would be covered by insurance. He may not have felt ready to care for an infant but that doesn't mean insurance would cover what essentially would be hospital babysitting, since the baby was no longer in need of or receiving medical care. It seems that you opted for additional care beyond what was covered by your maternity/infant coverage so you would be responsible for the bill for that service.Answer #2: >My husband was there with me but he didn’t feel ready to care for our first baby alone.

You should definitely appeal and don't lose anything by doing so, but the insurance company may not find this a valid reason.Answer #3: Yes.  You should absolutely file an appeal and work with your insurer to see if they'll cover this day.  And while it's never wrong advice to talk to a lawyer, you probably don't need one to file a standard appeal and see what Aetna does.

Whether or not the appeal is successful will obviously turn on the terms of your policy.


Title: My school followed "protocol"

Question:
A few weeks ago i got attacked by a kid in my class. He strangeld me as a joke. But this is not about him. As i forgave him as he was/is afraid of my knowledge of the law.
This is about how the school handled the situation. They suspended him internally for one day and he got to go back to class. They told me to suck it up and look for therapy. He got the exact same punishment as a boy who threw a can. What can i do against the school

Answer: If the school followed their procedure, then you and your parents can work with the school and/or school district to change the procedures.


Title: Baggage is currently on hold due by customs and they require 2700 fee? UK

Question:
Here's the basics - apparently someone I know, let's call them A, knows, B, whose baggage has been claimed by 'customs' and is claiming they need 2000 handling fee due to high amount of cash in the bag.

The bag itself was taken by accident and A has been trying to talk to the delivery guys to send it back to where it came from. They have apparently inspected the bag and found 20000 in the bag and a list of items, including things like passport and credit card, and are threatening that if fee is not paid then the contents of the back will be auctioned off.

is this legit? Can customs charge you 2k for transporting a bag that wasn't meant to be taken? or is this a scam?

Answer:
 Other than Switzerland and Hong Kong, I think every country requires you to declare currency you're importing.  I'm pretty confident this is a legitimate fine for failing to do so.  "Wrong bag" is not a goodexcuse.

Edit: to be clear, this bag was being shipped into the UK from abroad, right?  Also, humor us with the full story about how it was the "wrong bag" please.Answer #2: This is a scam.

There is no bag, there is no online friend who needs help. There is only a scam.Answer #3: Google 419 scam or "advance fee fraud".Answer #4: /r/legaladviceuk

Edit: That said, you said *'customs'* which makes me believe that there's no proof about who actually has the bag or that the information came from an official source.  Seems that would be your first stop. If it did come from an official source, then the next stop is to verify the policy or law that governs this issue and how it applies to this baggage. If so, likely the large amount of cash wasn't declared and is the root of the issue.

If you mean your friend has been trying to send it back because it isn't his, then that could be a different story.Answer #5: They're going to auction cash??


Title: Someone I'd prefer not to legally owns my car. (WA)

Question: So, due to a mistake involving insurance coverage and a minor collision with my fiance driving, my dad has stated he will take my car away tomorrow. I am 24 and my fiance is 27. The problem lies in the fact that the loan is in his name, and the title is in his name as well. I am currently employed and my fiance is a high school teacher. The car was purchased new from GM financial and I have made every payment of the car loan and car maintenance, and have proof. The only thing he pays for is insurance which we are switching to my fiance's coverage today. Is there any way I can prevent my car from being legally stolen tomorrow? Any advice helps!

Answer: If your dad is threatening to take the car then why don’t you offer to have the loan transferred to your name and take responsibility for it? You might get a higher interest rate depending on your credit but then you wouldn’t have to worry about your parents taking your vehicle from you.


Title: Trying to collect settlement, fucked up and "hired" a "debt collector"

Question:
In Minnesota, took ex roomie to court, won $3000 that he owed me for me letting him use my carecredit card to pay for his dogs knee surgery. Garnished his wages but he went to part time hours so the amount they were garnishing was about $6 a paycheck.

The sheriff that was garnishing his wages called and told me that because it was so little, she wouldn't even be able to collect her fee and could not continue garnishing his wages after the end of march. I went to see a low income free lawyer and she told me that there was nothing else i can do since he has nothing of value, and she had no information positive or negative to give me on debt collection.

sleep deprived and hysterical i called this site http://accountsreceivable.com/ because it was the first yellow page not to be specifically business collections, intending just to see what they had to offer and the guy who talked to me was so aggressive and manipulative that i literally paid him before i realized a) my garnishment isn't actually complete for a month and b) this is probably totally a scam

I tried to tell him but I don't think he cared or understood i suspect because he isn't going to do anything and just scammed me out of $100? Or will I get in trouble for having a garnishment and employing a debt collector?

Answer:
 First off, depending on what you agreed to, and what you signed (if anything), you may be able to, and should if you can, cancel your agreement/contract with this company and ask them for a refund (you are correct in that they aren't really likely to be able to help you in any way).

Second, you might want to subpoena your defendant's employer, and ask them where/how they are paying your defendant.  For instance, if the defendant's employer is direct depositing the defendant's paycheck into a bank account, then you can ask the employer (via a subpoena) for the name of that bank, and then garnish the defendant's account at that bank.


Title: Should there be a sticky about not talking to the police?

Question:
I know most people go to legaladvice after they are arrested but I can't tell you how many times I've seen people start posts where they willingly talk to the police and forfeit their rights.

There should be a sticky telling people to keep their mouths shut.

Answer: The blanket advice "Don't talk to the police ever" is bad advice.  There are plenty of situations where talking to the police makes sense.  A sticky for "don't ever talk to the police" would never be applicable.


Title: Traveled out of USA while on NJ Unemployment Insurance, they want money back

Question:
I need some advice -
I am receiving NJ UI and taking an approved online course. In August I traveled out of the country for 3 weeks, on a trip I had set up before going on unemployment, to visit family. During my time away, I continued to submit my weekly claims for UI online.

When I returned, I found that I had not received payment for two weeks I was away, and a request for me to return one payment I **had** received while away ($657).  Apparently, the foreign IP address had raised a flag on this, whic set wheels in motion.

I appealed this decision. I did not dispute the fact that I was out of the country, but did explain that while away I still kept looking for work, and even had a few phone interviews (got to love VoIP and cheap phone rates). I explained that, if work would have been offered, I would have been happy to pay for the ticket change and return earlier. I received mail today that my appeal was denied. reading the denial letter, it, seems to me that the denial hinges on the fact that I should be available for work "at a moment's notice", which I could not do since I was out of the country and would have to fly back.

I do have the chance to re-appeal this decision, and hope someone on this sub can tell me what I can potentially state/say that might help. Refunding the money would not be easy, and I can definitely use the missing payments.
To me it seems that the  "At a moments notice" claim does not apply to the work I am applying for - No one will hire an IT analyst to 'start tomorrow'. Best case, the employer would start a background check and related actions, send an offer letter etc.
Changing the ticket would have cost me ~$200, which I would have been happy to do if I could start working again. I could have been back home within a day or two if I had to.

Hope someone sees this and can suggest a course of action. I have $657 plus 2 weeks unpaid UI in the balance. If m ore information is needed, let me know.

Answer: You were not available. (If I called you up at EOD and said "I've got a great job for you, permanent position, starts tomorrow AM!" you'd not be able to take it.)


Title: Want to break our lease over fencing issue... (Raleigh, NC)

Question:
We moved into our rented house in Feb. 2014. When we moved in, the backyard was fenced in. It was not a permanent fence (metal posts and wire fencing - our landlord says she told us "it was only temporary" which I don't remember but we asked her if we got a dog if it would be okay and she told us that the previous tenants had a dog so it would probably be fine. The REASON we wanted a house with a fence was so we could get a dog. She used this fence as a selling point to rent us this house). Apparently some tenants prior to us had put the fence up without getting it approved by the HOA. So now we are getting letters from the HOA to take it down. The landlord is sending someone to take it down. I understand that it was unapproved, but wasn't it her job to rent out a property that's up to snuff with all the regulations? Not USE those unapproved additions as a selling point? We didn't even know the house was in a HOA community until we moved in and got a letter a few weeks later, though I'd need to re-read the contract to double-check that. Either way, we did not know this fence was an unapproved addition. We would not have moved in were that the case.

Basically, are these grounds for breaking our lease and moving elsewhere? Or are we stuck until it's up next February?

EDIT: Hi all - thanks for the advice! For the most part, you confirmed what I already suspected. There is nothing in the lease about it, so we don't really have much ground to stand on. I think the best compromise I'm getting here is that we could just ask them to put up an approved fence, which we may at some point. I know that they would prefer that we don't move out in Feb. (want us to extend into the summer - much easier to find tenants that way) so perhaps we'll make it conditional on getting us a fence at that time. Honestly I would even pay more each month to have the freakin' fence! It makes our lives that much easier. We'll just deal with it until then. Thanks!
Topic:
Landlord Tenant Housing

Answer: Unless the lease specifies a fence, there's not much you can do about this. You can try to negotiate with the landlord -- perhaps she'll figure out what she needs to do to put in an approved fence or give you a rental discount -- but this isn't a lease-breaker (unless the lease specifies otherwise) and you're not going to get anywhere with a "false advertising" claim.


Title: Accused of assisting employees in stealing (AL)

Question: I was a manager at a small clothes boutique for awhile, but had to leave due to serious illness. There was no conflict, and as far as I was concerned no longer involved with the company. Yesterday I got a call from my former regional manager and was asked questions about missing items from the store and inventory numbers being off. I helped answer any questions to the best of my knowledge and told her if she needed any help she could call me anytime. Today I got an email accusing me of helping employees steal hangers (giving me a ballpark date), damaging out items that were not damaged for employees to have for free, and telling an employee they could take home a steamer belonging to the company. They gave me to the end of the day to respond in my defense and they would proceed with further investigation.  I, in no way, was involved in anything they had stated. I called a lawyer and asked how I should reply and he said to deny everything, not going in to detail about anything, and tell them I would gladly assist in the investigation to help get to the bottom of this. I'm really scared they are gonna try to go after me. Even though they couldn't give me solid proof or dates (they have security cameras that would clearly show me doing what I've been accused of), they are very much a prosecute type company and have been known in the past for making false evidence to use against employees. They only evidence I know they have so far are "Employee testimonies". What should I do to prepare myself if they do decide to prosecute me? I have people willing to testify for me and this would be my first offense, I am honestly the last person in the world who would ever want to steal anything. I really don't want my record ruined for something I absolutely did not do. I'm in very poor health and going through a trial process would be very hard on me physically. I would greatly appreciate any advice and thank you so much in advance!!

Answer:
 > I called a lawyer and asked how I should reply and he said to deny everything, not going in to detail about anything, and tell them I would gladly assist in the investigation to help get to the bottom of this.

This is the best advice, and the best thing you could have done. If anything else happens, call the attorney back and get his advice.


Title: Boss is canceling weekly salary with no notice, contingent to making one sale per week. Orlando, FL

Question:
I work for a sales company on door to door sales. Being hired I was promised and given a weekly salary. After a few months of work I was promoted and given a raise. We work 5 days a week, in the office for about 2 hours and turf for about 6. Today my boss told us that we will no longer get our weekly pay unless we make one sale per week. I have a housing lease, and bills for which I depended on the weekly pay. We have no workers contract.

My question is, is it legal to cut pay without notice, and do I have a case for civil suit concerning lost wages or unfair worker treatment?

Answer:
 As long as they are not changing your pay retroactively they can change your pay going forward unless you have an employment contract.

That being said, your new pay scheme sounds illegal, since generally you must be paid at least minimum wage. Will need more details regarding that.


Title: Can DCFS force me to take medication?

Question:
I’m 17 f and I was recently discharged from a psych ward. Because my reason for being there was directly caused by my mother’s physical abuse of me, DCFS was called and I now have an investigator to follow up with.

They came yesterday but they showed up way earlier than they said they would. I was in the shower at the time so they left without speaking to me.

My mother is now claiming that DCFS told her that I have to take the prescription I was given at the hospital. There’s a few problems with this.

a. My mom lies all the time so this could very well be total horse shit.
b. The medication gives me killer headaches and I hate taking it.
c. The medication is for anxiety, something I don’t really struggle with anymore and have a different prescription for if the need were to arise.

Can they really compel me to take this drug?

I’m sorry if this is the wrong subreddit for this, but I’m new to Reddit so please bear with me. Any advise is appreciated.

Answer:
 You need to speak with your doctor. You can also contact DCFS and speak with them on your own.

When do you turn 18?


Title: [Texas] Landlord sent security deposit back in a way we can't cash and now wont respond

Question:
My roommate and I moved out of a townhouse this march at the end of our lease. We received an invoice from our previous landlord indicating we would be getting a large portion if our security deposit back and we were then sent a Chase quick pay transaction for the amount via email. Upon clicking the link and choosing the bank the website showed no transaction was available, therefore we could not access the funds. We contacted the both Chase and the bank about the issue which they were unable to resolve. We have emailed the previous landlord about the issue multiple times with no response and called multiple times, leaving voicemails, with no answer. I've thought about sending a demand letter to the landlords, however the issue isn't a lack of returned deposit so much as it was returned in a form we cannot access the funds with. Should we send a demand letter?
Topic:
Landlord Tenant Housing

Answer: If they won't answer the phone send a demand letter. Document all your attempts to resolve the issue. Sue them in small claims if they won't respond like normal people.


Title: (Maryland) Job scammer threatening to call cops on me, should I worry?

Question:
I'm a 21 yr old student who applied for a job online to be someone's personal assistant while they were out of the country. The job would consist of doing their shopping and bank errands for them.

&#x200B;

The scammer asked me for my info such as full name, phone number, and address so that they would be able to send checks to me. I gave them that info, and then soon after had a medical emergency and contacted them to say I couldn't take the job after all. Despite that, the day after I was told they had sent me a check for $1960 USD to cover the cost of the shopping and errands I would be doing for them.

&#x200B;

I was also contacted the same day by the job site I had applied on saying this person was a scammer and somehow would steal my money if I deposited the check, and not to deposit the check or respond to them any further, which was fine with me because like I said, I'd already backed out due to being sick. However, I didn't respond to any more of the scammer's emails including the one about sending me a check. The next day, they texted me saying hello, still acting professional. Today, I got another text saying they'll report me to the police if I don't respond. I'm not sure what for, maybe the fact that they sent a big check to me and I suspiciously stopped replying to them. I don't know what kinds of things you can report for exactly on this topic.

&#x200B;

Should I let them know I am aware that they're trying to scam me? I'm worried that if they report me to the police, I will somehow get caught up in some kind of legal mess because of a misunderstanding on the police's part since I am still very ill and haven't gone back home yet, so I can't even retrieve the check from my mail to destroy it or go to the police station with it. I know this sounds like such a dumb thing to fall for but I don't want to get in any kind of trouble or misunderstanding while I literally can't get out of bed still.
Topic:
Criminal Law

Answer: No, you shouldn't be worried.


Title: My dad broke my PC and wont pay up. Can i minor legally claim property damage?

Question: Naperville, Illinois. So I am a 13 year old. I recently but a gaming PC for 1500 dollars of which I didn't use a single penny of my parents money. So I was playing video games and left to go to the crapper. I usually keep my door locked but my father goes in there for who knows why and leaves it open and leaves a half empty glass of water. I have a small brother around the age of 2 who when I get out of the bathroom, runs towards my room. He hits the glass of water and it spills on my new PC. I immediately unplug it and wait a few days. The Graphics card is fried, the processor doesn't work and keeps turning off and the MOBO is just dead. All of those components that were damaged cost $1200 and my dad refuses to pay saying it's my fault the PC was left there, as if I am supposed to shove it up my arse.

Answer:
 No, you can't sue your father. Not yet, anyways. Your father isn't exactly free to destroy your property, but your parents are able to withhold your property from you indefinitely, for nearly any reason, until you reach adulthood.

You might be able to recover your money when you turn 18, but by then it won't be worthwhile.

The good news is, if you're able to pull together $1,500 for a gaming PC at 13, you'll probably be fine.

Edit: I'm not even 100% sure your father would be directly liable, here. He's not the one who spilled water on your computer. Your brother did. Parental liability could, in principle, make your father responsible for it anyways, but it's a moot point as you won't be able to sue either of them for at least five years. In that time, you'll likely have solved the problem other ways.


Title: What is total yearly net income of Zapopa? I need estimated figure for auditing and research purpose. Can someone help?

Question: /u/Zapopa Pinging you. Texan Lawyer.

Answer: I became independently wealthy when I invented toaster strudel back in the 80s. Since then I have had no income. And even though it has been divided multiple times with ex wives there is still enough of my strudel cash left to get me to the sweet embrace of the grave.


Title: Is my company's time clock legal?

Question:
I work for a city in the state of Michigan. If I punch in at 8:03am, the clock counts that as if I had punched in at 8:15am -- the clock steals 12 minutes from me.

If I punch out at 8:12am, the clock counts that as if I had punched out at 8:00pm -- the clock steals 12 more minutes from me.

Basically, the time clock steals minutes from employees on a daily basis.

Is this legal under Michigan and federal law?  (At some point, it must become illegal. For example, if I punch in at 8:03am and the time clock rounded that to 10:00am, I've got to assume that would be highly illegal. So... at what point does the rounding become illegal?)

EDIT:  From what I've heard so far, this is illegal. How do I proceed from here... without getting fired?

Answer:
 The law does allow for some rounding of hours worked, but as I understand it, it has to go both ways (8:12 should always round up to 8:15 and 8:06 should always round down to 8:00). I'm not sure about Michigan, but where I am, rounding to 15 minutes is allowed.

edit: Quick google search [Seven minute rule](http://smallbusiness.chron.com/7-minutes-labor-law-60768.html)


Title: Please help me with a lease dispute with my condo landlord!

Question:
Hello All!

This is my first time posting on /legaladvice so please forgive me if this isn't the right place for this.

I'm currently under a one year lease for a condo in Tennessee that expires in the beginning of November.  The property is managed by a third party and I have no contact with the property owner.  I was approached in June by the manager of the HOA overseeing the condo, who was trying to get in contact with the condo owner due to back-owed HOA fees.  I passed along to the HOA manager any information I had to contact the property management as a courtesy and left it at that.  A week later I saw the manager again in passing who stated she was unable to get in contact with the property management, which was of concern because there was a lien placed against the property by the county due to the HOA fees and the owner needed to be made aware of the situation.  I asked for a copy of the lien documentation, which was then forwarded to me from the lawyer of the HOA.

In the lease ([lease](http://i.imgur.com/duaLtwF.jpg) it states I have the right to resend the lease in the event the property owner neglects to stay current on the mortgage and/or HOA fees. (see section 13 on pg 5)

I have given notice via certified mail to the property management that I have elected to terminate the lease agreement (see the end of the Imgur gallery) do to the landlord's failure to keep current with the HOA fees.  Since then, I have been contacted by mail and phone by the property management both disputing the legality of the lease termination, as well as asking for permission to show the property.  I have withheld consent for them to enter the property until they have accepted the legality of the lease termination and agreed to a refund of the security deposit.

I kindly ask anyone experienced in such matters to review the lease and confirm that I have a legal bases to terminate the lease in case this situation is elevated to small claims court.

Thank you so much!

[lease pg 1](http://i.imgur.com/duaLtwF.jpg)
[pg 2](http://i.imgur.com/F4YhrdN.jpg)
[pg 3](http://i.imgur.com/DXM2cxs.jpg)
[pg 4](http://i.imgur.com/TYxtXid.jpg)
[pg 5](http://i.imgur.com/KpaMFDr.jpg)
[pg 6](http://i.imgur.com/f754Xyk.jpg)
[pg 7](http://i.imgur.com/dUlMG1L.jpg)
[pg 8](http://i.imgur.com/Z3ZwLjv.jpg)
[pg 9](http://i.imgur.com/r7FAAz4.jpg)

[letter to property management](http://i.imgur.com/4PEhQhD.jpg)

[response from property management](http://i.imgur.com/bv12fTG.jpg)

Update:  While I was at work this morning, the property management entered the premises without permission to leave a checklist on the counter and placed a "For lease" sign on the lawn.   By showing the property, would this be considered an acceptance of the legality of the lease termination?

Answer: That property management person is an idiot.  You look to be in the right on this one. (Please tell me you didn't open mail address to the landowner.)


Title: [PA] girlfriend has not had her son on any holidays for 3 years and gets to see him less then once a month.

Question:
Girlfriend had a kid about 4 years ago they split up before he turned one. On his first birthday she was invited to the party but was later charged with trespassing plead guilty since it was her word versus the other persons entire family. She didn't have money to higher a lawyer and signed papers stating joint legal and full custody for the biological dad. The dad then began taking meds to transition to becoming a woman and has done everything but get the surgery at this point.

We now only get to see the kid when she has no plans, her significant other has no plans, her family has no plans and  she feels like letting him go. This ends in us seeing him less then once a month and getting overnights maybe 3 times a year if we are lucky. We have never gotten him for any holiday or birthdays (including mine or my girlfriends) minus one trick or treat in the past 3 years. When she broke up with her old boyfriend we got to see him more but now she just moved her new girlfriend from europe in who she has physically met once before when she went to Europe. During that trip we were also not given him while she was gone and instead have him to her parents for the week. He has also not been allowed to see my girlfriends mother in over a year by order of his biological father.

Me and my girlfriend have been together for almost 3 years and have a room just for him, clothes, and toys. Is there anything we can do to force her to let us see him more, have time for holidays, have him overnight or at best get physical custody of him?

Answer: Absolutely. File for visitation. It can be done pro se but I would advise getting a lawyer as she will likely use the non time against you when you should use it for you.


Title: Paid a lawyer a retainer fee, ended up not retaining him. Can I get a partial refund?

Question:
Back in 2011 I was raided by the FBI due to a search warrant related to computer crime. At that point, I was not charged with any crimes, and it would be until late 2013 when I was finally charged and an arrest warrant was issued.

Shortly after the initial search warrant in 2011, my parents and I were nervous and basically wanted the best lawyer to represent me. We didn't have much experience with lawyer, we just did some research online and decided to go with a lawyer that seemed to be very experienced with computer crime cases.

During our first meeting with the lawyer, he said he could help us and asked us to sign a retainer agreement and pay a $7000 retainer fee, which my father signed and paid.

The extent of our collaboration over the course of 3 years before I was charged with a crime ended up being a couple of meetings at the lawyer's office, and an occasional exchange of emails whenever I had questions to ask. This was between when the search warrant was executed in early 2011, up until I was finally charged in late 2013. We ended up deciding that our plan of action was to do nothing at all, that it was a “wait, lay low, and keep quiet” game, all in hopes that the feds would just forget about going after me and go after bigger fish.

When I was finally charged in late 2013, we had a meeting a few days afterwards, and the lawyer asked us for another $10000 on top of the $7000 we had already paid him, in order to take the case. We concluded in our meeting that my father and I were not able to afford the amount of money he were asking to take the case. Ultimately, I ended up retaining a public defender down in Virginia who helped me through everything. After I retained the public defender, I ceased communicating with the lawyer for the most part.

I do not believe that the few hours of the lawyer's time that were ultimately spent working on my situation was worth anywhere near the $7,000 of my father's hard-earned money that we paid as a retainer fee, and I would like some sort of partial refund of the retainer fee.

With regards to my case, it eventually ended with me accepting a plea deal and pleading guilty to a misdemeanor computer crime charge. However, I am required to pay around $9000 in restitution as a result of this, which is why I am trying to get some money back from this lawyer.

I tried emailing the lawyer but it's been a few weeks and he hasn't replied.

Any suggestions for best course of action, or general advice would be appreciated. Thanks!

EDIT: Lawyer is in CT, USA. The case was actually in federal court in the Eastern District of Virginia.

Answer:
 What does your retainer agreement say in terms of billing rate? Is it an hourly rate or a block fee?

If an hourly rate, have you received any statements of accounts? If not, call them and ask for copies and for a total of what the lawyer is holding for you in his trust account (if anything).

Also check what your retainer agreement states in terms of getting the balance of your funds remaining in trust back.

The lawyer cannot just unilaterally decide to keep the remainder of your money, but it all depends on your retainer agreement, hourly rate and any bills or a block feeAnswer #2: you can get back the balance of the retainer that the lawyer didn't earn. if it really was a retainer against an hourly fee. if it was a $7k lump sum payment for a service, and he provided the service, that's it. but if it was like $7k against $300/hr plus expenses, and he spent less than $7k worth of time on it, you get the balance back.

you should have gotten itemized bills from him.


Title: Taking Money for Burned Cookies out of Paycheck

Question: [deleted]

Answer:
 You should reach out to Massachusetts Labor and Workforce Development. They'd be able to point you in the right direction, or possibly even handle the whole the for you.

http://www.mass.gov/lwd/


Title: How to Modify Child Support (MO)

Question:
I am paying the mother of my 2 year old daughter $100 a month in child support. I get to claim her on my taxes every year. The agreement was made when our parenting plan stipulated that we would share 50/50 joint physical and legal custody. For the past 6 months, our daughter has lived with me 100% of the time with her mother only visiting for a few hours once every couple of weeks. This is likely to continue indefinitely. I want to know how I would go about eliminating my child support obligation, as it does not go to supporting my daughter.

Edit: Additionally, is there anyway to do this without going through a lawyer? There is a lot of backstory with this, but at the minimum I think I can get baby mama to agree to stopping child support, but she is very unpredictable, and this has been a huge headache. In other words, I don’t want to rock the boat, I just want her to sign a piece of paper that amends my child support payment to $0.

Answer:
 Nothing she signs that doesn't come from court will carry any weight. Five years from now she's suing you for $6,000 and you'll owe it.

Go to court, adjust custody and support. Answer #2: https://www.courts.mo.gov/page.jsp?id=38335

This seems like a good resource. You should probably hire a lawyer and definitely be prepared for her to request more time with your daughter/attempt to return to the official custody agreement if you file.


Title: [WA - Custody, Not Divorce] Ex-GF Due In 1-2 Months, Just Found Out From Adoption Lawyer, Couple Seeking to Adopt

Question: [deleted]

Answer: Get your own family lawyer.  Think logically about your ability to care for and love a child 100% on your own.


Title: My mom says it's illegal to curse on the internet.

Question:
At least in e-mail. Text messages too.

Is there any truth to this?

We're in the United States.
Topic:
Computer and Internet

Answer:
 My mom thinks if she turns off her monitor, the computer is off.

Both our moms are wrong.

(Truth be told, I could start a subreddit called /r/thingsmymomthinksthatarewrong )Answer #2: No, you can curse all you want on the internet. I'd guess your mother got the idea from broadcasting standard in radio and broadcast tv. You can't swear on those mediums but the internet is a free to curse zone as opposed to curse free.Answer #3: yeah. you should listen to your mommy, mommy knows best.

the nsa monitors all communications on the internet and will come looking for you.


Title: Facing an eviction under a strange circumstance. (Roommate complication)

Question:
Hi, I hope I could get some help here regarding my situation.
About six months ago, I leased this apartment and got a new roommate from the craigslist. It was going ok for a while beside her missing rent for few months which she ended up paying later.
Fast forward to March she just disappears out of nowhere. I cannot contact her (I think she blocked my number for whatever reason) anymore so I visited management office and told them the situation and let them contact her. She actually answers and tells them that she’ll pay. Well, she did not and never came back to the place. Now I am facing an eviction because of the accrued payment, I cannot kick her out because of the lease documentation states that she has to be present to sign in.
So now I am in this position where I cannot even contact/find my roommate and unable to kick her out. It seems like only way out of this is either 1) I pay the whole rent by myself and I take her to the small claims court, which seems impossible at the moment since I do not have time/money nor know her whereabouts, 2) Get evicted and face the aftermath. Is there any legal ground that I can use to kick her out?
Strangely enough, all her furniture, and stuffs are there. She just disappeared and only answers phone calls from the management office (which she kind of stopped as well)
Let me know if you need more details, thank you!

Answer: Pay the rent and sue her. An eviction will make it much harder to rent. You can't deny her access if she is on the lease.


Title: I got fired for a mistake others have made, and received a slap on the hand.

Question:
Hello, I worked as a valet in California and was fired last week because I accidentally gave the wrong car to a guest. It was a rental car and two guest with almost identical last names (the way we verify the owner is through their last name) had rented two of the same cars (same make, same color, same model, heck, even the guest thought it was his!).

Now people made that mistake 2 weeks before me, 2 different people in two different occasions, and they only got written up about it. My manager then decided to make it a "rule" that anyone that made that mistake was to be terminated automatically. I was the first person to be fired due to that rule, and it was my first mistake ever after a year and a half of working there. All my co-workers can vouch for me, and they are mad at the manager for letting me go like that, with no warning or write up whatsoever.

 Here are my questions:

* Can I file for unemployment? I did some research and it says that here in CA if you are fired for not doing your job you cannot file, but I think my situation is different as i was fired after just making one mistake. I will graduate nursing school soon, I only need it for this last semester and after that i will drop it.

* If it comes down to it, can I legally make my boss rehire me because he fired me without a warning or a write up, even though others that made the same mistake did not receive the same punishment?

* Any recommendations?

Thank you so much in advance for your help. Happy Holidays!

Answer:
 >If it comes down to it, can I legally make my boss rehire me

Almost assuredly not.  The rule wasn't made for you, you just happened to be the first person to violate it.  It's generally not illegal to fire someone for screwing up on the job.


Title: Help, online dating gine terribly bad

Question:
I need some advice on what to do, this just happend within the last few hours, please don't judge me to harshly

I signed up to a a dating website, I've been using this site for about a year and this has never happened before. I messeged this girl who in her profile read she was 19 (you have to be 18 to be in the site, relevant later you can imagine where this goes next) requested name and number (should of been my first clue) and i obliged. The next day we start talking and exchange pictures. As the day goes by convo starts getting more and more sexual oriented (it's a hook up site) eventually we trade nudes, we stop talking a few hours later after we make plans for the weekend.

The next day (today) i get a text from who appears to be the parent of this girl telling me what the hell i have going on with his daughter, apperently shes is a rape victim, and she is 15 years old ( i know what you think, i am not a fucking pedo) i panic and erase the txts and number, a few hours later i get a call from the same number and i answer because after a while i thought maybe it was a joke, in my opinion if that happend with my daughter i wouldn't text the person i would call directly, and this man is telling me all sorts of stuff about his daughter and the nudes and how i broke the law, i apologize profusely i have never apologized so many times in my life and he threatens me with going to the authorities, i try and explain how i have never met the girl we have been talking for bearly one day through a dating website were she clearly lied about her age, as you have to be 18 to be on it but this guy is not having it ( which i understand i would be the same way) i end up telling him to stop calling and texting me and that i would contact my lawyer if he was going through with pressing charges for wat clearly is a misunderstanding. I block the number and save the convos and screenshots.

I don't know what to do i feel sick i feel like throwing up im scared shitless this is clearly a misunderstanding, i fear any moment now the cops may show up, as i gave her my address for the plans we had made. reddit please help me what do i do? How can i explain this without automatically being judged guilty

This is in texas btw

Answer: Its a scam, no real girl. Just block contact and be more careful in the future.Answer #2: Relax, this is a common scam.  He was trying to extort money from you.   There is no girl, just a sleazy guy trying to con you.


Title: Sold item on auction website. Buyer wanted return for a defective item and sent me a paperweight. I'm completely screwed right?

Question:
Long time lurker here

I recently sold a relatively expensive computer component on an auction site (under $1000) and sent it to the buyer. The buyer claimed that the item was defective and not working. He requested a refund and I wanted to see the item before issuing the refund. When my returned "computer component" showed up I was shocked to find it transformed into a ball bearing (paperweight). He did send it back in the exact same box with the packaging I used and even used the original component box so I do have the serial number for the product and proof of purchase.

I contacted the website and filed a claim and even though I had proof that the buyer sent me the wrong item they are offering no protection to me and refunded the buyer and now want money from me and said if I don't pay within 2 months they will send it to collections (which will ruin my credit right?).

edit: it was pointed out to me since eBay doesn't have my SSN there is no way this will ruin my credit. is this correct?

They will not listen to an appeal telling me "these are the risks of owning a business". Is there anything I can do? Can I take the buyer to small claims court since I have his name and address? Even if I did I feel like since there is a tracking number that the item was delivered I'm screwed regardless. Or can I take action directly against the website?

It's not the end of the world if I'm out this money but I just wanted to see if I have any options before I concede defeat.

edit: So the buyer is lazy and used the exact same box I used and just put his shipping label over mine. I went to the post office and got a print out of both tracking numbers and there was almost a 1lb difference in the weight of the packages with the exact same box and packing materials used.

Answer:
 You could probably report him for [mail fraud](https://postalinspectors.uspis.gov/contactus/filecomplaint.aspx). Whether or not you can sue depends on the terms of the auction site. You may have agreed to mandatory arbitration.Answer #2: You can try and contact Trust And Safety, they tend to look at more detail and be less reflexively in favor of the buyer (i've gotten three closed claims unclosed and reversed this way over the years, one for about $500).

They are almost impossible to get a hold of directly unless someone escalates a call for you (fastest way to do that is call the usual number you get when you use the Contact Us page, then ask for the Escalation Team, etc) or you can send an email headed "Trust and Safety" to eBay Customer Support<rswebhelp@ebay.com>Answer #3: Check the weight on the returned item.  Does it match what you sent over?


Title: Do I admit I know the thief?

Question:
My credit card was stolen and used and I've heard I can claim the money back from the bank.

I know who stole my money but don't want them in trouble.

How do I best claim my money from the bank?

UK specifically.
Topic:
Criminal Law

Answer: You can report the unauthorized charges to your credit card issuer, and take the chance that the issuer gets the police involved, or you can take responsibility for the charges yourself, and protect your friend from the consequences of their actions. There's no middle ground.


Title: Car was towed, after they 30 days they scrapped it ( it was a cheap car). California.

Question:
After they scrapped it, how much do you think i should pay to settle this?   Fees - Scrap $ = $2,000

$500 is the lowest they go

Since they scrapped it, do they hold the lien on the car?

Do i pay them money and its settled with the DMV?

Answer:
 You owe the tow company for storage minus what they got for scrap.

Anything you owe the DMV or lien holders is separate


Title: Neighbors recording my backyard

Question:
I have a old neighbor who really doesn’t like my dogs, he’s made multiple attempts to have them taken by the dog pound as well as tried to kill them (he’s poisoned them and has tightened their collars to the last hold, we came home to the dogs running around trying to get them off) We’re separated by a 10foot brick wall [here’s the wall we share and the yellow circle is where the camera is ](https://imgur.com/gallery/Ol5BNOs)

I’ve talk to him about it and he says it’s not a camera but a siren. [camera in question ](https://imgur.com/gallery/PlyDhiG)

What can I do about this? Since he said it’s not a camera I’m ready to go rip his shit out. I’m so fed up with this guy.

Answer: Even if it's a camera it doesn't appear to be illegal. Maybe you should get a camera of your own?


Title: [US] My 19 y/o gf has a package containing fake IDs being investigated by customs. Any advice?

Question:
I’m 22.  My gf ordered fake IDs online for her and her roommates.  We’re in Wisconsin.  Her address and name are on the order and she told me that the fake ID sender said the package is being investigated by customs.

I’m trying to keep her calm, but she’s panicking.  I think she’ll be fine.  I told her not to sign for any packages that may arrive in the next few days...

Should police or someone contact her, what should she do?  Reddit has never let me down, thanks guys haha
Topic:
Alcohol Related Other than DUI

Answer:
 Did she ever have tracking? This is an extremely common scam for people (like your gf) who are gullible enough to put their actual name and address on a package full of extremely illegal goods.

If they're telling the truth and not just scamming some kids, you will receive a letter asking you to come down and claim your package. Don't do that.


Title: Landlord trying to find a way out of letting me have an ESA?

Question:
I moved into this building about 2 months ago and have made the landlord aware of the fact that I need an emotional support animal. I have documented mental illness and have a letter from my doctor stating that I should have one and have the right to have one in my home. I tried to get this letter to my landlord but he said he wanted to speak to his attorney first. He was telling me how he didn’t want animals in the apartment even if I have the documentation, if he has a choice. He also claims his attorney “might be” at his vacation home out of state and if he is there’s nothing he can do about allowing me to have my ESA. I don’t know when he would be back. He recently stopped by and took a copy of my letter and is waiting to hear back from his attorney. The only reason he wants to talk to his attorney is to see if he “has to allow it”. My question is, if I’ve already provided the documentation, is there anything he could do about it if I adopt my ESA, get the animal legally registered, and then bring it home? I’m not sure when his attorney will be back and i don’t really think it’s fair for him to make me wait for an undefined amount of time. He also says he would want to charge me extra rent and take a deposit out to replace the carpet if he “is forced to allow it” (he’s convinced I’m getting a dog even though I’ve stayed multiple times I’m getting a cat. He thinks the dog I’m not getting will destroy the carpet). Is adding extra rent legal if you have a service animal?

Topic:
Landlord Tenant Housing

Answer:
 > if I adopt my ESA, get the animal legally registered

I feel like this is again going down the road of service animal vs ESA. As far as I'm aware there is nothing pertaining to "registering legally" with ESA's. It's simply a comfort thing that a doctor writes a note for. Service animals perform specific tasks and are a entirely different ballgame. Answer #2: There's no legitimate US registration service for ESAs or service dogs. That letter is supposed to be all you need for an ESA, I think.

That said, ESAs are not protected by the ADA in that places that have no pets policies can (in some places) keep you from having an ESA. Your location is important here because some states have protections for ESAs that others don't.


Title: Being evicted from a duplex. Their reason is "owner wants to move back in"

Question: Excuse shitty grammer and spelling for i am on my phone. Ok so a little back story. Me and my roomates (mostly college students) are renting out a duplex behind a dealership and the owner owns the dealership and the house property.  There is a duplex and another house behind, like a one bedroom also being rented out. So we get our notice from some lady that knocked on our door January 6th and says we have 30 days to vacate (rent is due on the first which is usually when we pay it) and like i said, on the eviction notice the reason given for the eviction it says  "the owner wants to move in his property" which i think is bs.. This past month they have done alot of work to the property like remove a bunch of big trees dig trenches and put up asphalt on the driveway (before the driveway was just dirt) all of this work was done without any warning or notice what so ever. So there were a few days where we couldn't use the driveway.  Not to mention all the heavy ass equipment that they used early in the morning and woke us up constantly.  So with all this being said i think they just either wana  A) use the house as an office or B) tear down the house and expand the dealership. . Our lease was only like 6 months which was up and was just month to month to this point . Is all this justifiable?   This is in in San Jose, CA. US . any advice would help . Also they said they will charge us 1000 if we stay past the first of February . (Rent is 1600) oh and everyone is getting evicted. Everyone in the whole duplex and the other little house behind as well.

Answer:
 >  Our lease was only like 6 months which was up and was just month to month to this point

Since your lease is month to month, your landlady can give you whatever notice your lease and the law requires and you have to move out at the end of that time. She doesn't have to give a reason. Answer #2: You are a month to month tenant. You have been given a thirty day notice to vacate. That is completely legal. They so not even need to give you a reason.

Also, you are not being evicted. Your tenancy agreement is being terminated. Big difference.


Title: Dumbest possible question - who owns your feces once it gets flushed?

Question:
The context of this question is dumb and not worth going into, but the question arose - if you're pooping at work, what is the legal status of your feces once you're done? Whose property is it? Can your employer use it for personal gain? Or can you demand that your turds sail onwards to freedom?

(I'm already sorry for posting this.)

Answer:
 Uh...I think we need the context.  For science.

But my guess (nal) is that it would fall under whatever laws apply to trash disposal in that jurisdiction, which usually is, as far as I know, that anything you throw away is officially no longer yours and anybody can use it for whatever, including as police evidence.

If you managed to keep it at your desk, the same thing probably still applies.  Employers don't need a search warrant for company property.  But if you had it in your personal bag, you'd probably be in the clear, as long as you didn't let it stink, meaning that the employer could say it's a possible threat to health or safety and they have a right to look.


Title: (FL) Employer won’t give check until I come in, been a couple months received/replied a text from the manager but didn’t reply.

Question:
I’m not sure if I should post here or on advice because I’m unsure if there’s really anything I can do legally.

I was hired at a chain store to be and overnight staff, however I only stayed a week for orientation because the one manager was being very creepy towards me.

I was suppose to train with the morning manager for three nights in a row, but the manager who interviewed me wanted to personally train me at night  so he changed the schedule around, which had me wait a week later then originally. It would have been only me and him at that time, and prior to this week he kept texting me.

He would text things like where I liked to hangout, how much money he makes, and unnecessary stuff like that. After I received those texts I decided i wasn’t going to go through with the training because it was not worth dealing with this guy.

Since I did orientation I have a check of $100 dollars. He texted me saying I had to come in to pick up the check and asked if the address was still correct. I replied yes and for it to be mailed, but I never received the check in the mail.
He texted me back saying I had to come in and pick it up but I said to mail instead and he never replied back

Answer: This is Florida so there is almost certainly no law on this. Is it a problem just going to pick it up? Because your alternative is a wage claim with the US Dept of Labor or a lawsuit both of which will take a long time.


Title: 'Vicious' dogs chasing me (threatening to bite) while I am running on public roads (Idaho)

Question:
I live in a city in Idaho where many houses have lots of land as part of their property and the houses are sometimes very spread out.  Some of the houses use their land for farming and have a variety of animals on their property (cattle, horses, llamas, dogs, etc.)

I often go on long runs throughout the city, and when I get to some of the areas where people have lots of land and animals the owners' dogs are often just roaming freely on the property.  Almost without fail, dogs from certain houses will run after me, barking and threatening to bite, and on some occasions they have even followed me as I ran.  As a side note, the dogs do this while bicycling as well.  One dog shoved its nose into my entire spokes while biking once.

I am incredibly frustrated by this.  I know from other runners/cyclists that they have encountered the same thing at probably the exact same houses.

Should I call the police the next time this happens?  Will the police cite the owners?  Is there any other way to solve this problem?  Would I be within my rights to mace a dog that is chasing me down the road?  On some occasions I have had to pick up rocks and threaten to throw them at the dogs to get them to back off.  If anything ever happened (ie-I get bitten) I would be able to prove where it happened since I always wear a GPS watch that records where I run and would show I was on the road (not sneaking on to someone's land or something).

Answer: Are you clad completely in spandex or not?


Title: [PA] public drunkenness summary offense

Question:
Need advice!

Was picked up and placed in drunk tank over the weekend for public drunkenness. I blacked out and stumbled onto someone's property who called the cops and had me escorted away. Basically guilty by all reasonable doubt.

Should I plead not guilty and fight for community service or a local ordinance crime? Extremely concerned about background checks and will do whatever it takes.

Edit: spoke to lawyer. Advised me to plead not guilty and get evaluated and take some classes. Steps to show trying get help. Best case scenario would be get pushed to community service and charge dismissed.

This is a summary offense
Was Told similar to traffic citations. Officers have told me it will not show up on record pay fine and go away. Anyone have experience with this??

Thank you

Answer: Those would be questions better answered by your lawyer.  If the future background checks are at stake, then you most definitely need representation.