Title: Texas- My wife filed for a divorce, and i don't want one. I suspect she has a mental disorder

Question:
I am not perfect,  and lord knows I've made mistakes. I have never cheated on her or hit her. My wife was diagnosed with a sleeping disorder a few years back and has been on different medications trying to find something that works. 3 christmas' ago she had a really bad experience with her medications and was hospitalized iin a mental hospital for 10 days. Since then,  thr doctors have been looking for thr best combination. My wife told me in a daily basis that she hears the neighbors call her names. Every neighbor. We live near an elementary school,  and the kids he'l cus words at her.  The wait staff at a restaurant talks about her.  Employees st the grocery store takes about her. I've tried explaining to her that it isn't happening,  and she says i think she is lying. This has caused really the only fights we've had.  Due to this, I've reclused. I told myself it isn't as bad as it was,  and eventually the doctors will figure it out. I've been drinking more and more,  and got myself lost in video games to not cause any issues. Yesterday i was served with divorce papers- which was a surprise.  I've tried talking to her too try and find a solution. I stopped drinking and playing the games. But after taking with her,  it appears everything about me is repulsive. I truly feel that whatever the side effects are that is causing the psycosis had manifested in her mind that i'm her enemy.  I really do not want a divorce.  Im willing to work in my issues and fi whatever it takes to keep our family together. We each have 2 kids from a previous marriage,  so we are a mini Brady Bunch. No kids together. What are my options?
Topic:
Custody Divorce and Family

Answer: If you've actually been served with divorce papers you need to retain counsel today.Answer #2: Texas, in fact all of the United states have no fault divorces, which basically means that either party to a marriage can get a divorce at will.  The divorce is going to happen.  You need to retain counsel.


Title: [CA] Identity Theft and Fraud

Question:
So I live in the California Bay Area with a couple of roommates. One of my roommates had all the utilities in his name. He moved out about a month ago, so I called up Pacific Gas and Electric to attempt to open an account up in my name. PG&E said I can't open up an account because i have an outstanding balance of ~$2,700 that I racked up from June-August of this year at some address that I never lived at.

I told them that was fraudulent and that I had never had a PG&E account. They started a fraud investigation. I filed a police report with the local Sheriff's Office and faxed PG&E a copy of the report.

I called PG&E last week to ask what the status of the fraud investigation was. They told me they are unable to proceed with the investigation until I provide a proof of residence. They want monthly bills in my name at my address during the time of the fraudulent activity. I provided them with my credit card bill which links me to my address, and my auto-insurance which also links me to my address.

PG&E said they need at least 1 utility bill in my name during that time or else they cannot proceed with the investigation. I told them that my former roommate had all the utilities in his name, and could provide copies of those. They said that wasn't good enough, that I need utilities in my name in order to prove residence. They said that if I couldn't provide a utility bill in my name for those three months, then I would be forced to pay the $2,700 in charges that were fraudulently racked up. They said the only thing they could do for me was try to set up a payment plan to pay off the charges.

There's no way I'm going to pay $2,700 in charges that someone else made using my name. Is there any recourse that I have? I've asked to talk to supervisors, and went around and around in circles with them for ages, but it always comes down to them saying they need a utility bill or else I have to pay the charges. What can I do?

Answer: Submit a complaint to the Public Utility Commission:  http://www.cpuc.ca.gov/complaints/


Title: My travel insurance is denying my claim for a trip to Nepal canceled due to the earthquake. Do I have any legal recourse?

Question:
I spent over $4000 on a two week trek to Everest Base Camp, which was scheduled to begin just two days after the earthquake. It was booked through a tour company in Nepal that runs guided treks. Obviously the plans were canceled due to the danger and an utter lack of viable transportation in the country, and I was confident that I would be able to get my money back through my travel insurance... nope.

My claim is being denied based on the wording of my policy, which states:

>Trip Cancellation and Interruption Covered Reasons
Coverage is provided for the following unforeseeable
events or their consequences which occur while
coverage is in effect under this Policy if there is a
change in plans by you, a Family Member traveling with
you, or Traveling Companion:

>1. Sickness, Injury or death of you or your Traveling
Companion and/or you or your Traveling
Companion’s Family Member or Business Partner.
The Sickness must commence while coverage is
in effect, require the examination of a Physician,
in person, at the time of Trip Cancellation or Trip
Interruption and, in the written option of the treating
Physician, be so disabling as to prevent you from
taking or continuing your Covered Trip;

>2. you become pregnant after the effective date of
coverage (Trip Cancellation coverage only);

>3. Common Carrier delays resulting from inclement
weather, or mechanical breakdown or organized
labor strikes that affect public transportation;

>4. **arrangements canceled by an airline, cruise line,
motor coach company, or tour operator, resulting
from inclement weather, mechanical breakdown or
organized labor strikes that affect public transportation.**

>5. arrangements canceled by a tour operator, cruise
line, airline, rental car company, hotel, condominium,
railroad, motor coach company, or other supplier of
travel services, resulting from Financial Insolvency;

>6. being directly involved in a documented traffic
accident while en route to departure;

>7. being hijacked, kidnapped, quarantined, required
to serve on a jury, or required by a court order to
appear as a witness in a legal action, provided you,
Family Member traveling with you or a Traveling
Companion is not 1) a party to the legal action, or 2)
appearing as a law enforcement officer;

>8. your Home made uninhabitable by fire, flood,
volcano, earthquake, hurricane or other natural
disaster;

>9. being called into active military service to provide aid
or relief in the event of a natural disaster;
>10.a documented theft of passports or visas;

>11. a transfer of employment of 250 miles or more;

>12. your involuntary termination of employment or
layoff and was not under your control. You must
have been continuously employed with the same
employer for 1 year prior to the termination or
layoff. This provision is not applicable to temporary
employment, independent contractors or
self-employed persons;
>13.your host at destination is hospitalized or dies,
provided you made previous arrangements to stay
at the host’s personal residence during the Covered
Trip.

Despite several appeals, they are telling me that the earthquake doesn't count as inclement weather or mechanical breakdown, so they're not covering it. I checked after the fact and I saw that the more expensive plans have wording specific to natural disasters in them - but this wasn't shown in any of the "policy comparison" tables on their site so I didn't notice it when I purchased the policy. I would have had to read the entire policy statement of each plan, and even then I obviously wasn't anticipating a natural disaster as a possible trip cancellation scenario.

Am I shit out of luck?

EDIT: I am in the state of Connecticut in the US.

Answer:
 I don't think that they have to cover it.

The wording for that paragraph states "inclement weather."  But "natural disasters" are listed in other provisions, meaning that they draw a distinction and cover for each type of event separately.

But that's just my first impression...


Title: Ohio statute re violation of a business's No Guns sign says defendant must "knowingly violate a posted prohibition" to be criminally liable...does that pretty much mean you can just say "I didn't know" and get off?

Answer: "Knowingly", like everything else, can be proven through evidence.  So no, you can't just say "I didn't know" and walk away free.


Title: Will cops tell me who they're looking for?

Question:
[deleted]
Topic:
Criminal Law

Answer: I doubt they will tell you, or every criminal would call the police every day to see if they are wanted.


Title: [New Jersey] Can I reschedule a court date after I have posted bail?

Question:
This is a remake of a thread I made about a half hour ago ([\[New Jersey\] Can I reschedule a court date after I have posted bond?](https://www.reddit.com/r/legaladvice/comments/5fnqc9/new_jersey_can_i_reschedule_a_court_date/)). I remade it because I used the wrong terminology. Sorry about that.

So I had a court date for a speeding ticket I missed for a plethora of details I won't get into. Because I missed the date, a warrant (unsure if it was bench or arrest) was put out on me. I posted bail and was given a new court date. Now I'm not going to be in state at the time of the new date given after I have posted bail and want to reschedule my court date which I am going to attend, is it possible to reschedule those dates or is that not possible because it was given to me after I posted bail?

Answer: Call the court clerk and ask if they'll allow you to reschedule. Any rescheduled court date should happen before the date you will be out of state, because you may not be able to leave the state while out on bail.


Title: (FL) My (soon to be former) roommate is threatening to sue me for cruelty because I wouldn't let her eat all my food.

Question:
*The landlords sick of her shit and this is her last week here*

She's unemployed and mommy pays for everything. She gave her ~$500 to spend on food for the month for herself. She woukd spend all of it and eat all of it within the first week. Rinse and repeat for 4 months.

She started to steal my food(the first month she ate everything I had within a couple days)I brought it up to the landlord and he was kind enough to give me a mini fridge/freezer. He also warned her to stop stealing food.

For the next 2-3 months she tried to guilt me into giving her food, but usually just mooched off that months boyfriend. She's been single for the past month so after she finishes the first weeks food she tries that crap with me. I caught her trying to pick the lock on the mini fridge, told the landlord and he started the eviction process.

Fast forward to today, she has to be out by Monday. She came to me begging for food and I told her no. Now she's threatening to sue me for cruelty for not helping her. Her family's pretty wealthy(they wanted her to have the "experience of struggling" so they're making her live on $15,000 for the year) and I know that she'll have lawyers to help her.

Can she do this? What would a judge say?

Answer:
 Tell your former roommate to kick rocks. (And yes people, I mean kick rocks. Not pound sand. It's a saying too.) You have no duty to provide her with food. There is no cognizable cause of action for "cruelty." And even if there was, this would not be that. She's an adult. She can get a job or go to a soup kitchen somewhere to get food. Answer #2:  not giving a hungry person food is a NOT criminal or civil offense.  this law suit would go literally nowhere.

edited because I forgot the most important word lolAnswer #3: Can she do this?  Yes.

Would any lawyer help her do this? No.

What would the judge do?  After about 5 minutes of laughing, dismiss the case, but you would need a lawyer to file the motion to dismiss.  It would probably be cheap, you could find a legal aid society to help you.  Only hire a lawyer if you get served with a lawsuit.  It would just be a waste of money at this point.

If you do get served, even before you call a lawyer, call her parents.  They might be able to deal with it.Answer #4: a judge would first think it was a joke, and then get angry at herAnswer #5: No lawyer would take that case.


Title: I want to make sure I understand my school's gun policy correctly. [MnSU]

Question:
I was looking at buying a rifle of some sort with my tax return, but I don't have anyone who would be willing to store it for me until I move off campus in May. Now, I could just wait until May to buy, but if I come across a really good deal I want to know if I can jump on it.

I do own a car that I keep in university parking lots. If I'm reading [this](https://archive.is/cqr9n#selection-4299.0-4302.0) correctly, I could buy the gun and keep it in a case in my trunk until I move out. I just want another few sets of eyes and opinions to see if anyone sees it any differently.

Also, for location bot: Mankato, Minnesota, USA

Answer: You have your answer from other people but I just feel I need to caution you about storing it in your car until you move out. For every day its in their both at the parking lot or anywhere else you drive theres a chance for it to be stolen even if its hidden out of sight. At the very least do not let ANYONE know your keeping it there because word will work its way to someone willing to snatch an easy to get gun. Be careful


Title: Someone wrote private information about me in their book, what can i do?

Question: My ex husband wrote a memoir of his travels and throughout this time, i was at his side.  I am mentioned often In this book. he said many things about me that were not true and other things that i would simply just like to have kept private.   He changed my name in the book but does mention our divorce thus proving he is talking about his ex wife, which is me.  Anyone who knew us during the 10\+ years we were together would obviously know who he is talking about.  Are there any legal actions i can take against him?  if so, what?

Answer: Assuiming you are in the US, If he said anything that was defamatory and factually untrue you can talk to a lawyer about the possibility of a defamation suit.


Title: (NJ) ex roommate/tenant left fleas in house, how do I sue?

Question:
I own a 2 bedroom condo and rent out the other room from time to time to pay bills. Yes i live in one of the two bedrooms. Long story short my ex roommate lived like a hoarder/slob with two cats (and never took care of them) and I noticed jumping tiny black bugs and kinda hoped they were only temporary because of the good weather.. I was wrong. Anyway she's gone and moved out but I still have the bugs, later found out they are fleas

1: how would I prove to a judge she's the cause of the bugs?

2: I don't know her new address, I have her old address which is her parents house. Can I serve her a lawsuit there?

3:is there a statute of limitations on suing for money/damages?

Thanks. And yes she is on a lease
Topic:
Landlord Tenant Housing

Answer:
 Bug bombs are cheap. You have minimal financial damages here.

And proving it would've be hard if the roommate was the only one with pets

Edit: wouldn't be hardAnswer #2: You'd probably spend more money and time with the filing fees, tracking her down, and taking her to court than you would be either handling it yourself or getting someone to come and do a one time spray. You're assuming you're going to win. You might not. Answer #3: I don’t see any damages so a suit is out of the question. Answer #4: Fleas are pretty easy and cheap to get rid of — they’re nothing like bedbugs. Just treat the house . You’ll be fine.


Title: [CA] Help understanding pregnancy discrimination - wife was let go two weeks after disclosing her pregnancy.

Question:
My wife recently was let go about two weeks after disclosing her pregnancy to her employer. They claim it's for low demand for their firm (medical care provider). I feel like this is probably true based on things they've said to employees before she disclosed her pregnancy, but it just doesn't sit right. I'm just not sure of the details of discrimination laws but I would like to reassure her either way that I've tried to understand the laws online. If you could help that would be great. She is pretty unhappy, understandably.

Possibly relevant details - she worked there for about 10 months before she was let go. The firm has about 100 employees. She is a medical care provider but not an MD.

Answer:
 It is not illegal to fire someone who is pregnant.  It is illegal to fire someone **because** they're pregnant.

You should talk to an employment attorney; but generally speaking, if there's a legitimate reason to fire her, there's no case.


Title: Can the mall make all of their employees park outside the mall parking space?

Question: [deleted]

Answer: Yes, a private property owner can restrict parking on their lots to customers only (to exclude even employees) if they choose.


Title: Can they change the salary on a formal, signed, offer letter? (Wisconsin)

Question:
I completed enough graduate-level courses to receive a Master's degree but never finished my thesis. I thought I was clear about this on my resume.

I had great interviews with an employer, and they made me an offer and gave me a signed offer letter which I told them I accept. Had me do a drug test and fill out a background check form.

They called the university where I did my graduate work during the background check and the university told them (incorrectly, in my opinion) I never 'received' a Master's degree from them. I received a pretty angry call from the recruiter and I explained I completed my coursework, just never turned in my thesis. I told them while I concede I never 'completed' my graduate education, I thought I had done a substantial part of it and I noted this on my resume. Part of the confusion is that I initially inquired about this position through a staffing agency who summarized my resume for the employer, leaving out a "(coursework completed)" I added after the line on resume detailing this education.

Anyway, it took them a few days to decide what to do and today they sent me a revised offer letter offering me $5000 less per annum. Is this legal? How can the CEO of the company send me one letter offering one thing and then send me another? Is this legal?

Answer:
 > How can the CEO of the company send me one letter offering one thing and then send me another?

Offer letters themselves are almost always not legally binding. But in this case the first offer letter was contingent on something that wasn't true (you having a Master's degree).

> Is this legal?

Yes.Answer #2: Usually the resume is not what is tied to the offer letter or the calculation of your compensation.  It's the application.  If you put Masters in your application but don't have a Masters, not only can they change your pay, but they can fire you and would not collect UI for falsifying an application.

Here's a tip:  don't put education achievements down that you did not complete.  It's confusing and you'll run into things like this a lot.  Just put what you completed.  Stop trying to gain an edge by being dishonest or misleading.

Any rational person would see "coursework completed" as the degree is finished.  You can get technical all you want, but the end result will be this result in best case and worst case fired with no UI.


Title: 78 Year Old Father Just Arrested NYC

Question:
My dad is a Uber driver and he called me this AM saying he needed to submit some papers to the TLC.

I just got a call from my dad who said he’s being arrested for unpaid tickets.

We are located in NYC.

When you take my dads age, our current quarantine is the arrest necessary?

Is this a form of  negligence?

Answer:
 Arrests don’t stop because of a pandemic or because of someone’s age. Break the law, get arrested.

Is it necessary? That’s not a relevant question.


Title: Ex MIL showed up with court order to take my son.

Question:
Son's father and I split in June '15, July '15 he and I signed paperwork stating she could have temp guardianship until I got him back. July '16 I picked him up from Kentucky and brought him back to Florida, she told me she took care of the temp custody and everything was golden for me to leave with him. Turns out in Aug '15 she was appointed FULL custody somehow and she allowed me to take him back to Florida with me. About a month ago she called DCF with false allegations, drug use and child abuse, neither of these things are even slightly true. So social worker calls me Saturday, tells me we have an emergency meeting Sunday morning to close the case- cool, been waiting forever for it to close. Saturday night I am contacted by a police officer stating I must surrender my son or face 3rd degree felony charges. My lawyer has sent me all the info he got from the sheriff's office, but he said he can't do anything else in regards to fighting, and I need to get a lawyer in Shepherdsville KY, got TO KY, and try to have the judge dismiss her rights. Currently she has sole custody. He is 4, his birthday is Friday. She knew she had full custody and allowed me to take him then uprooted his whole fucking life one week before his birthday.
EDIT: Is there anything I can do FROM Florida before spending thousands of dollars in travelling and lawyer expenses in a state I don't live in?

Answer:
 No one here is going to give you advice other than to follow that of your current layer: get a lawyer in Shepherdsville KYAnswer #2: One thing I would be careful of- if you have an open CPS case in Florida, I would go out of my way to make sure they know *exactly* what you're doing, where you are, how to reach you. IANAL, I'm not a social worker, but I would make sure to have proof in writing that you informed them where you were going and that they had up to date contact information.

You do need to get to KY, and you can reach out to lawyers and see if anyone can help you somewhat while you arrange to get there, but you need to get yourself to KY.

Unfortunately, you've handed this woman a very strong case for visitation rights. You need to get the best lawyer you can find in KY and get your butt over there.Answer #3: The only thing you can do from Florida is hire a lawyer by phone in Kentucky.  You need to do this as soon as possible.  Any delay at this point will hurt your case.


Title: Large Dead Tree in neighboring yard. What are my options?

Question: Pretty straightforward, my next door neighbor has an ~75 foot tree that’s dead/dying. It’s about 2 feet from the easement but is pretty close to my home. Do I have any legal recourse to push my neighbor to cut it down?

Answer:
 First, send a certified letter to neighbor that his tree is dying and a threat to your house. Do this tomorrow before it falls. When a homeowner is notified that a tree is diseased, they and their insurance is now on the hook for damage.

Second, Call an arborist.

My town has an arborist they share with other towns. You may need to hire one.

They will write a professional opinion that the tree needs to come down. Send that to neighbor. Arborist should be able to contact your local government if they have some tree regulations

I would also contact your homeowners insurance to let them know of the problem.


Title: [MD] My Parents Are Sending Me to Africa for Conversion Therapy

Question: [removed]

Answer: Were I in your position I would do *anything* possible to not get on that plane. I would lie and tell them I wasn't gay and that you prayed a bunch and realized it was wrong, would call CPS and report the attempt at conversion therapy (which is illegal in MD), [would reach out to any of these resources](https://www.lambdalegal.org/sites/default/files/publications/downloads/fs_resources-for-lgbtq-youth-by-state_1.pdf), would throw my passport in the shredder and refuse to get a replacement, etc. There is no guarantee that you'll ever come back if you leave.


Title: I see no benefit to marriage.

Question: Sure nobody goes in thinking it could end. Not us! Horror stories abound with the whole “common law” marriage as confusing as it is depending on the state. How does a person go about being in a committed, unmarried relationship without the threat of being sued for alimony years down the road if it doesn’t work out? People change, prenups have holes and the law feels slanted. I’ve worked hard all my life and want to know that I am protected. Currently unmarried with no kids. Please only genuine responses.

Answer:
 It doesn't seem like your troll post is actually seeking real answers, despite asking for them. But what the hell, I'll bite.

Marriage means the spouse becomes your default next of kin for decisions about your healthcare. They are also your default guardian.

They are your default beneficiary if you die intestate and get your survivor's social security.

They are elligible for health insurance through your work (generally speaking, although many employers are starting to allow unmarried partners this benefit).

You also get cheaper car insurance as a young married person vs. young unmarried (not sure the exact age where it drops out).

You can file joint taxes, which may or may not benefit you depending on your specific circumstances.

You can own property in some states in a tenancy by the entirety, which is complicated but offers some creditor protection.

Divorce may seem messy, but unmarried break-ups with intermingled assets are a clusterfuck, so you get the benefit of clearer separation/divorce law.

And, for people who aren't selfish pricks, you also get a life-long partner. Yes, some people actually do stay married for long stretches. Sometimes even when life is hard--can you believe that?


Title: College moved handicap parking, service trucks keep parking in a handicap spot because there is no sign, college won't be helpful. (Florida)

Question:
Hi all - hopefully this is the right subreddit, but if not - please point me in a better direction. Thank you!

Back in August, my roommate dislocated her knee a week before classes started. She already has knee problems, and this last dislocation (the 11th) was pretty severe. She has a small tear in her meniscus, some small bone particles floating around in her kneecap, and one leg is longer than the other, among other issues. She wasn't allowed to walk for about 5 weeks and just now stopped wearing a knee brace. She missed the first two weeks or so of classes, but all of her professors were very helpful and allowed her to make up work.

We live off campus but only a few blocks away from our school. It's less than 1/2 a mile, in a city area with decent traffic, so neither of us had purchased university parking passes before because it was easier and faster to walk. Her orthopedic surgeon decided that she qualified for a temporary (until Dec 31st) state handicap placard. The university (it is a private school) required us both to buy commuter parking passes (\~$300) despite our disabilities policy guide stating that temporary state issued handicap passes would result in a temporary parking pass being issued to the injured student. The head of our campus safety office said this was because her handicap placard is valid through December, and whole semester was "not temporary" so they would not provide one. This was frustrating, but the guidebook doesn't specify a timeline that they consider to be temporary, so there really wasn't anything we could do about it without causing a fuss, and we just wanted to make sure she could get to class. The head of campus security told us that if we did not pay for the parking passes and parked in a handicap spot, even w/ the visible state placard, that they would give us a parking ticket because it "is a private institution so some rules don't apply and we need to know who is parking here." (?!?)

The major issue now is as follows. All but one of her classes are in the same building. This building is on one edge of campus, and has a small (main) parking lot on one side (around 60 spots - 3 handicap) that is for faculty and university staff that work in this building. There is another parking lot on the other side, but it is for visitors and the president's office and has only 8 spots and students are not supposed to park there, and they will give you a ticket for doing so. One of the handicap spots in the main parking lot is always taken by a professor, who is in a wheelchair. This is the spot right by the front door. There were two more spots on the side of the building that I think may have been meant for someone to park and be able to walk around to the sidewalk and then go in a side door - but this door is always locked. They are about 50 feet from the front door, so not terribly far. (Hopefully this is clear - please ask if you have any questions.)

The beginning of October/end of September, we drove to our class and when we pulled in - there was nowhere to park. One spot was taken by the handicap professor, and one of the two spots along the side had been painted over in order to make room for another "university official parking only" spot. They adjusted the lines of the remaining spot to allow for more room on the driver's side also, as before it was right up against to the curb of one of those grass things. They did not move the signs, however, so the handicap sign for this spot is awkwardly in between the handicap spot and the university official parking spot. This readjusted spot was taken, so there was nowhere else to park. We ended up parking in the handicap spot of the other small lot which my roommate has been told not to do before - but we had an exam that day. I thought they had just gotten rid of one of the handicap spots in the main lot. My roommate called the dean of students, as well as the disabilities office, and was informed that they still had 3 handicap spots but they had moved one over the weekend to the far side of the parking lot which is against a small residence hall. This doesn't really make sense, as the residence hall is a specific learning community with about 15-20 apartments, is 2 floors, and AFAIK, has no elevator... just a set of outdoor stairs. I'm sure someone could visit who is handicapped, but it just seems a bit illogical. Logic aside, the new handicap spot is next to a giant trash dumpster now. And by next to, I mean, you open the car door and you could probably reach out and touch the dumpster. Also, the main problem is that it used to be a "service vehicle parking only" spot. The dean said they were working on the parking lot, and because this repainting took place over the weekend and this was on a Monday, they would have to wait until after class or the subsequent weekend to finish. Except... they haven't. The metal sign (about 1.5'x2') that reads "Service Vehicle Parking Only - all others will be towed" is still nailed to the side of the dorm building 3+ weeks later. They did paint the lines on the ground blue, and paint the wheelchair symbol on the ground but there is no handicap sign.

Every time we go to class, there is a different truck in this spot. From campus security, to unmarked maintenance pickup trucks, to landscape people, to outside AC and electrical contractors, you name it. This is twice a day MWF, and once on TR. Obviously... none of these people are handicapped. And I don't blame them, because the parking lot is very tight, the sign is still up that only service trucks are allowed to park there, and if you are driving a big truck and don't know to look, you probably wouldn't see the wheelchair painted on the ground. My roommate tried to complain, but keeps getting brushed off by everyone, and it's not really logical for someone to call the cops every single day. Police response time for non-emergencies is ridiculously slow, so if she did call the cops every time to give someone a ticket, she would likely miss most or all of a class, and I would feel bad for someone to get a ticket because they parked somewhere that a visible sign said they could. (The same issue happens with our campus security... they are always driving around until someone calls them, and they just vanish.)

We tried to think of ways to get around this situation without causing a fuss because our school is just generally... a pain. Please comment if you have any other suggestions.

She can't park in another lot. This building is on the far edge of campus, the closest lot is another tiny one about 2 blocks away and there is only one handicap spot there that is always taken by a handicapped department chair person, and there are no other parking lots (at all) within 4 or 5 blocks - and she still can't walk that far. There is a city parking garage across the street from this building, but it is all permit parking (think $600/yr) and she would have to walk way down the busy street to get to a cross walk and walk back.

Uber doesn't work (not just because that would be stupidly expensive) because she is tall & can't fully straighten her leg, and you never know what kind of car will show up. It works for us as we both have SUVs.

Timing doesn't work for me (or anyone really) to drop her off and park on the other side of campus and walk to my classes, that would be an addt'l 20 mins, and we both work until close to various classes start.

What should she do? Just try and call campus security/the city police every time someone is parked in the handicap spot? She's called the dean of students again (who told her to call him with any issues but never answers/calls back) and the disabilities office (who told her to call the dean of students). All she wants to do is get to class.

Thanks for reading this far! Sorry it is so long, I wanted to make sure everything relevant was here.

TL;DR: roommate hurt leg, has temp handicap placard, college moved 1/3 handicap spaces next to a dumpster and away from the main building but didn't fix signage so service/maintenance trucks park there almost every day. There is no where else to park, and the university is being very unhelpful/rude. What do we do?

Answer: I don't think a lot of people are going to read that massive wall of text. You might want to cut it down to the essentials. I didn't read it other than the TLDR, but have you tried your student government?


Title: My friend got arrested last night

Question: So my friend got arrested last night at a football game for “being drunk” but she wasn’t. They didn’t even test her to see if she was they just arrested her because they thought she was. Is this legal?

Answer:
 I doubt this is the full story.Answer #2: Sure. Public intoxication is unlawful in many places.

Also you didn't bother saying where this was and laws are different all over the world. Answer #3: Yes. I doubt thats the full story but it is illegal. Unless there is probable cause. Meaning shes unable to control herself. Answer #4: Was she drinking under age?


Title: My last week here and I'm being asked to sign an NDA. Do I have to sign it?

Question:
I recently put in notice at my job that I would be leaving and this is my last week here. I just received an email from our HR department saying that they happened to be doing an audit of our NDA agreements and noticed that I hadn’t signed one. They also mentioned they asked for one in December of 2015, and that I never submitted it. However, I have no record of this.

I was never asked upon employment to sign an NDA. The company I work for is in California and was a small business when I started and was grown to the size to attract investors. These investors are the ones looking for me to sign the NDA, which is 3 full pages and basically says I can’t use anything I’ve learned or implemented since I’ve worked here for any job I have in the future.

Do I have to sign it? Are there consequences to not signing it?

My last day is the 17th.

Answer:
 Seems they screwed up. I wouldn't sign it.Answer #2: Your last day is tomorrow? Well if you refuse, they could fire you now and you'd miss a day and a half of pay...

I'd suggest you don't sign it.Answer #3: Sign nothing unless you are given something.Answer #4: > basically says I can’t use anything I’ve learned or implemented since I’ve worked here for any job I have in the future.

I feel like this is wayyyy outside a reasonable scope for an NDA even in California. It sounds like a non-disclosure-but-not-really agreement since not being able to use anything you've learned is essentially cutting you off from your industry of choice.


Title: [New York] My fake ID got confiscated at a gas station. Now it is on display at said gas station kind of as a trophy. I feel publicly humiliated, how do I get it taken down?

Question: [deleted]

Answer:
 Go tell the police you tried to use a fake ID to illegally buy booze, and the gas station took it from you and put it on display. They will be happy to confiscate the fake ID from the gas station...and then arrest/ticket you for the fake ID.

Seriously...just leave it. You should be glad they didn't call the police.Answer #2: If I were you I would go to the store and apologize and ask if there is anything you can do about getting it taken down.  Don't ask for it back just ask for them to throw it away or something.  Tell them you realize you were stupid but that it has your actual address on it.  If there is anyone working there you've had a good experience with try and do it when they are there and offer to buy them a pizza or something.Answer #3: When you break the law, you lose a lot of your ability to find legal recourse. Any attempt to get them to take it down carries the risk of this coming to the attention of the police, which brings about its own form of public humiliation and shame.Answer #4: >I don't feel comfortable having this publicly displayed. I also feel publicly humiliated and shamed.

You are not a victim in this situation, so don't try to play one.

You successfully broke the law for two years, and you have yet to be charged with your crimes.  Chalk this up to a learning experience.Answer #5: Wait, so you have friends over 21, and *you're* the one going in to buy the booze?


Title: Recreational Flag Football Team Kicked Me Off and Won't Refund Money

Question:
I joined my friend's flag football team and paid $250 for the season. The season hasn't even started yet and a couple players on the team have kicked me off of the team because they "don't like me". However, they are now refusing to refund me the money. Even saying "yeah we'll take your money though".

How can I go about fighting this? What are my options?

Thank you in advance for your help.

Answer:
 Is there a league organiser you can speak to?

Otherwise I'd send them a letter of demand for the refund and if that doesn't work sue them in small claims court.


Title: Please help! An adult with Down syndrome being kept in his home

Question:
My girlfriend's 21-year-old brother, Josh, has Down syndrome, and he still lives with his parents. Their family is under the impression that Josh is not living a good enough life there. The parents are not necessarily abusive, but they're extremely controlling, and don't let Josh see any of his siblings, make his own decisions regarding his life, and he is forced to stay at home every day without any mental or physical stimulation.

What we would like to do is remove him from his parents home and find him someplace better. We just need to know if there would be any legal repercussions or the like, like if this would be a crime. Any other advice is also welcome. :)

Thank you for your help!

fyi, I'm in Ontario, Canada.
Topic:
Disability Issues

Answer:
 If you are concerned for his well being, and its urgent, please call Adult Protective Services.

With regards to seeking guardianship over Josh, you really should consult with a lawyer. They can guide you through the process of challenging his parent's guardianship (if they have one).


Title: [CO] Want to set up a "kitty cam" but I have a cleaning service.

Question: I have no reason to think my cleaning service are doing anything in my house (I love them). This is literally for me to see what the cat (and possible future dog) do in my apartment when I'm not home (and maybe the maintenance guy, but honestly in six years I haven't had a problem). Do I need to tell them? I kind of feel like a creeper but honestly this is just to see what the pets do when I'm not at home.

Answer:
 It's your house.  You can have all the cameras you want.  I'd recommend telling the cleaning service just what you said above as a courtesy more than anything else.  If the cameras are open and obvious and don't record audio, it's probably not legally necessary, but it's polite.  I'm sure you're not their first client with cameras.Answer #2: When I walked dogs 3/10 had cameras. So many people do these days, it makes sense if you think about it.

My friend had one to watch her dog during the day and one day she caught her neighbor (who was supposed to be helping around the house) sniffing her panties. Answer #3: If you want the kitty cam without making the cleaning staff uneasy, tell them it's OK to cover the cam while they are working.


Title: I got a DUI last night in California. What happens now?

Answer:
 It will cost you 0 to multiple thousands if convicted.

You can take the hit or you can hire an attorney.


Title: [VA] Scammed on Turo

Question:
I was, until recently, renting my car on Turo. My last rental pulled a bit of a scam on me where he was able to cancel the trip and still end up with my car. Long story short, the driver hit a deer and damaged my car. I did not collect enough preliminary photos (according to Turo) for them to be responsible.

My question is. Can I pursue l legal action against him outside of turo? If the trip was technically canceled does this not amount to him just stealing my car and wrecking it?

The odd part of it is because of Turo I told him where my keys were according to their remote pickup policy.

I certainly do not want to take this to my insurance provider. Will I be able to pursue a settlement without involving my insurance provider?

Answer: NAL: Does your insurance cover other drivers? I know people who use their cars for Uber and Lyft have had insurance problems because the vehicle is being used for commercial purposes and not personal. If your policy covers commercial use, I would file a claim ASAP and give them his information. However, if you do not want to go through insurance at all, you can take him to small claims court for the damages. I would however, file a dispute with Turo over the incident and try to get them to cover it.


Title: Consensual Incestuous Relationship as Minors Turns Bad (New York)

Question: [deleted]

Answer:
 > I want to be able to explain to my family (excluding my uncle, of course), my side of what happened

Oh God no. There is no explaining anything. Shut up, don't talk to **anybody** about this except a religious leader if you need to confess something, a therapist, or your attorney. Is there anything not 100% crystal clear about that?


Title: Can an image on Facebook count as sexual harassment?

Question:
A strange thing happened on my Facebook page a few days ago. In a thread about the girl that was sentenced for convincing her boyfriend to commit suicide, an acquaintance of mine began being very nasty to my other friends. She kept insisting that it was a "free speech" issue, and then started telling everyone else to kill themselves.

One of my friends took her profile picture, in which she was saluting, and photoshopped a dildo in her hand, along with a voice bubble saying "kill yourself - 1st amendment". While this was immature, the fact that this made her upset and she asked me to delete the picture kind of ruined her whole "free speech" argument.

Now, no one is denying she was being a horrible person, and my friend stooped to her level. Some people are saying this picture is sexual harassment because a dildo "is a sexual object" and she's female. The other half (seriously, it's about 50-50 right now) say it's definitely not, as putting dildos in someone's hand to make them look stupid is a time-honored yet immature way to insult people, like this: http://www.boredpanda.com/dildos-replace-guns-gop-politicians-republicans-matt-haughey/

I'm not asking if it's stupid or rude, I'm asking if "sexual harassment" is the right term. Here is the image in question, with the person's face censored: http://imgur.com/a/2Pd5u

EDIT: We're all in NC, but the principles don't know each other

Answer: Do they work together? If so, sure, she could be fired for sexual harassment.


Title: First time juror duty in NYC, im a full time SUNY student returning to college in 2 weeks

Question: I received a letter for juror duty back in September but I go to college at SUNY. I postponed for my winter break but I called only this week and i have to return back to college around the 21st. That 2 weeks from now and i'm nervous about getting a case close to or after the day I leave nyc. I have read the summons up and down and read a bit online but i'd still like to know if its possible to say i'm a full time student and can't proceed through the entire case the day of? Anything i can tell my professors/college in case i cant and im late to classes?

Answer: Your school will excuse you for jury duty. Simply notify your professors/advisors/program office when you know what dates you'll be required to serve.


Title: [WA] 8 months pregnant, apartments never verified my partner's income, saying we made too much last year and they may be asking us to vacate.

Question: [deleted]

Answer: There's not anything we can tell you to do. You don't qualify and it sounds like you've been even less qualified in the past. I hate to say this because I don't believe it should be true, but you don't really get to live in subsidized housing, be paid enough to survive, and have an able-to-work stay at home parent. Stay at home parenting is a privilege in the US and those that have privilege enough for that are too privileged for the amount of subsidized housing that exists. Others need it more than you guys, especially if you feel that moving to the Seattle area with a new born and not being subsidized is feasible. Maybe it would be better to get out quick now than to wait until a week or two after the baby is born.


Title: [Pennsylvania]Landlord rented floor from underneath us

Question:
I was wondering if I have legal leverage on this situation.

I was talking to my landlord and I said my floor wanted to renew our leases, since the renewal term was coming to an end. He stated that the people on the second floor had gotten a group of guys and they rented our floor from us, and he already signed their leases and took their deposits. Here is the renewal term.

**5. RENEWAL TERM**

(A) Unless checked below, this Lease will AUTOMATICALLY RENEW for a renewal of 1 year at 3200(month-to-month not specified) at the Ending date of this lease(May25th, 2016) or at the end of amy Renewal term unless proper notice is given. Proper notice requires tenant or landlord to give 180 days(28 if not specified) written notice before Ending date or before the end of any Renewal term.
(UNCHECKED BOX) This lease will TERMINATE on the ending date unless extended in writing.

(B)If notice is given later than required, Rent is due for the entirety of the Renewal term.

(C) Any renewal will be according to the terms of this Lease or any written changes to it.

He had emailed us in september asking if we were renewing. Our lease started on June 5th of this year, 2015. I was under the assumption we were still in the renewal term, so that was my mistake. any help will be appreciated

Answer:
 If I'm reading that section correctly, then you get an automatic renewal unless you, or the landlord, advise of termination.  That advise must be within 180 days of the end of the lease.

180 days would be sometime in November.  If he's telling you today that your lease will not be renewed, he's in the clear.


Title: (North Carolina) I do not know where to turn. My 13 year old sister was raped, and has a child by him. My parents refuse to press charges, and the state seems to be okay with this. I am NOT okay with this. Please help!

Question:
To help the setting, I am 26 and am not even in the same state.  In 2013, my sister was 13 when she was raped by a 20 year old, and she has birthed his child.  She is in love with her rapist, and despite the restraining order, he is still seeing her, and has been physically and emotionally abusive to her and my mother (neither of which will stand up for themselves).  She is saving herself for him; the day she turns 18, they are to be married.  He is psychologically abusive, and to his credit, very smart.  He has talked his way out my parents putting him away, and the state of NC hasn't picked up the case for some reason.  Apparently, in this state, hitting a woman will get you taken to jail even if the abused doesn't want you to go, but raping teens is A-okay.  Is there some recourse I have here?  May I press charges without having guardianship?  Is there some state agency I can call and get them to press charges on the state's behalf?

Edit 1:  I wished to state that the rapes happened in Henderson County, Polk County, and Buncombe County; all of which are in the same general area in western NC.

Edit 2:  I wished to clarify that his case has already been tried in a court of law in Polk County, NC.

Update 1 2/5/14:  I have called and informed DSS of Buncombe County all pertinent information, including all names and addresses that I know of.  Because this case has already been to trial, he cannot be brought up on Statutory Rape charges again.  However, I reported an abuse which may lead to a probation violation and therefore get the ball rolling on this case again.  In speaking with them, I have found that he is a registered sex offender with the following stats: Convicted 11/13/13;  Statute14-27.5A;  Sexual Battery.

Answer: A paternity test of the child should be enough to prove that sex happened between the two when she was underage. As far as the police go, just notifying them of this fact should be enough. I'll let an actual lawyer tell you more though.


Title: Was sexually assaulted at work and they said the investigation was inconclusive, but I think it's a cover up.

Question:
I work at a high-end department store in the mall. I can't say their name because of legal reasons but, yeah. At the end of April one of my coworkers, who I viewed as a nice old man, followed me into a dressing room and kissed me. Then did it again later. I froze when it happened and was terrified that I appeared compliant or inviting. I was scared of losing my job after hearing rumors that others had been fired for speaking up and decided to stay quiet for a few days to get my head straight.

Anyway, I told my store manager/my boss and she said there would be an investigation. I wanted a little more assurance so I also filed a police report.
So days go by and I'm still freaking out. They took him off my shifts and moved my schedule around but I still feel scared because he seems so manipulative afterwards.
They finally call me in and tell me that the investigation was inconclusive.
I was very confused.
No one asked me anymore questions.
No one had mentioned the investigation after the initial meeting.
My boss told me she had showed him the video footage and he said that I HAD INITIATED IT. She had also apparently talked to other staff and then told me he had been laid off during the time of the investigation (which has got to be a lie since my other coworker mentioned him working during the week)
I was dumbfounded into silence which led her to start talking about my review that was coming up soon. She told me and I quote "If things appear to go well then you should get a dollar raise!"
. . .
You're kidding me.

I pretended like I was excited and asked when it would happen. She said even though my review is at the end-ish of this month I won't see it till July.

I go home and start thinking...
Why didn't I get to see the video. I was the one who brought it up in our conversations! I told her that I knew a camera would be able to see him follow me in TWICE! And are you really going to have the audacity to sound like you're bribing me into silence?

I understand that my review was coming up; however, you had already failed to give me my previous review so why bring it up now?

Is there anything I can do about this. I will most likely continue on the police path for the 70 year old man who decided my mouth was his tongues new home. The police did tell me he's probably only looking at a misdemeanor 1 which would be up to 1 year or $25,000 fine. However, what do I do about a Luxury department store covering up (terribly) a sexual assault?
Topic:
Employment Law

Answer:
 It's not sexual assault. In [Virginia](https://law.lis.virginia.gov/vacode/title18.2/chapter4/section18.2-67.4/) misdemeanor sexual battery requires that the offender touch your [intimate parts](https://law.lis.virginia.gov/vacode/18.2-67.10/). It is regular assault, though it is gross.

That said your question relates to how you handle this at work and that depends on your employment contract and/or if you are a union member. They don't have to show you the video unless/until it is subpoenaed in a civil trial or in the criminal proceedings. If you sue them or him you could legally obtain access, but otherwise there's no need for you to see them.


Title: [FL] Girlfriend's employer is treating her as a minor

Question: [deleted]

Answer:
 What do you mean they are "treating her as a minor"?Answer #2: Are *you* sure she's 18 ?

Florida's Dept. of Regulation does [limit the hours that minors can work](http://www.myfloridalicense.com/dbpr/reg/childlabor/childlaborhours.html) during the school year, with a bunch of exceptions and details.  But those regulations end when the worker turns 18.

Walmart sounds like they're taking a more conservative approach by treating all high-school-aged employees like minors for the purposes of those limitations.

As long as they aren't also taking advantage of another law that allows them to pay minors less than minimum wage for training/apprentice/seasonal labor, there's nothing illegal about it.

She can almost certainly get her high school to send her a usable certificate describing her graduation for this purpose, without going to get her original diploma.Answer #3: So they are not allowing her to work before 6:30 a.m. or after 11 p.m. or for more than 8 hours per day?

They can do that whether she's 18 or 81. They might not *need* a diploma legally, but if that's what they want, she should just give it to them.


Title: California - How to establish Parentage?

Question:
Out of the blue, I just found out that I am a dad but my baby was given to another family by the mother without ever informing me(I never knew she was pregnant); the baby was not adopted through a formal process. The mother simply lied and listed another man(known to her) as the father on the birth certificate and this man took the baby home, who lives out of state, to his family straight from the hospital. I am not okay with another family raising my child and would like to establish my rights and gain custody.

My baby will be turning one in June and I would like to figure this out as soon as possible before she's old enough to remember this ordeal. I have tried to reach out to this "adopting" family but my words fall on deaf ears as I imagined they would.

1. Where do I get started to petition for a paternity test to prove I am the father and not the person on the birth certificate?

2. Baby was conceived and born in California. Birth Certificate Father lives out of state with the baby. Since father is out of state, does that affect where I have to begin the process?

tl;dr wife gave away baby by falsifying birth certificate. need to get baby back. birth certificate father lives out of state. where do I begin?

Answer: Honestly, the most helpful advice anyone here will be able to give you is to contact a family law attorney immediately. He or she will be able to tell you where to properly file your paternity action.


Title: My wife is getting money taken by her employer. (Michigan)

Question:
My wife is a dental hygienist and has performed services per the  policies and procedures required by her employer (She's not the only one). The insurance company that her employer goes through found out a complete oral exam and full mouth debridement were being performed in the same day, which is against whatever deal her employer and the insurance company they are working with decided.

The insurance company wouldn't have normally covered those costs so when they found out they notified the employer and the employer cut the insurance company a check for the amount. The employer is now trying to make up that cost by taking money from every dental hygienist for every time they've done both exams within the same day, even though it was how she was trained by the other Dental Hygienists. Some hygienists have been there for decades, others have had so much money taken out in one day it actually shows negative at the end of the day.

How is this legal?

How can they take money from the hygienists (we are talking hundreds a day) even though they were following the policies of the company?

We are going to consult a local lawyer but I want to get an opinion of legaladvice in case there are other avenues. Thanks.

Edit** it seems her hr department doesn't know about it and directed her to the billing department when asked. She is going to fill out a wage claim per suggested and we will see where it goes.

Thanks for the responses.

Answer: That isn't legal, so it should be an easy case. You probably don't even need an attorney, just file a [wage claim.](http://www.michigan.gov/lara/0,4601,7-154-59886-107123--,00.html)Answer #2: Deducting money from an employee's paycheck without the employee's written consent or a wage garn is [illegal in Michigan](http://www.michigan.gov/lara/0,4601,7-154-59886_76527-180810--,00.html).


Title: I went to uses restroom at a store and employee accused me of sexual harassment

Question:
The following is the background on the situation, as well as the notes that I took directly following the incident in Ohio, USA.  I'm wondering if I'm at fault for anything in this situation, or whether there was any wrongdoing:

I was at a grocery chain that had a wine tasting night. I had not only my share of tastings, but also the tastings of my friend. We grabbed some food then sat down at the tables in the front of the store. I had to go to the restroom, so I get up to go and a friend of mine follows.  I walk to the men's room and enter and walk toward the urinal. As I go to unzip my pants I hear noise behind me and see a woman emerge from the stall. I'm very confused as to why there is a woman in the men's room and I stand there silently looking at here. I hear her say "you're sexually harassing me" as she walks toward the door, props the door open with a trash can, then leaves the restroom. At this point, my friend that had followed me to the restroom was at the door, having never fully entered the restroom, and he tells me that we should go. I left the restroom and went to the nearest cash register to ask an employee if the lady I had encountered was an employee of the store. I also asked the cashier if there was a manager that I could talk to and the cashier directed me toward customer service. I went to customer service to lodge a complaint about the lady in the men's room but there was a line so I went back to talk to my friends that I was with. By the time that the line for customer service had died down the lady I had encountered in the restroom was there talking to the customer service people, apparently complaining about our encounter. By this point it had become obvious that she was in fact an employee of the store. My friends and I decided at this point it would be best to just leave the store.

Following the incident and from talking to my friend who had witnessed the incident, I learned the following. First, upon emerging from the stall the lady had said "Get out, get out, you're sexually harassing me, get out". Additionally, my friend told me that like myself, he didn't see any sign to indicate that the bathroom was closed or being serviced.
From my perspective I think there are two important things regarding this incident, first, despite walking up to the urinal, I never unzipped my pants, I had just walked up to the urinal when this lady walked out of the stall, and because I was so alarmed, I never was at the point where I may have exposed myself.  Second, I never said a word to the lady, because I was in such shock I never responded to anything she said to me. This whole situation is something that has really hurt me, given everything that has been in the press lately, I never would have any intention to sexually harass anyone, or make anyone feel as though they have been sexually harassed. Sexual harassment is a very serious issue, and there is no place for it in our society. This is a store that I shop at on average more than once a week. Following this incident I really don't have any desire to return, but would it be a bad idea to email or call customer service to make them aware of this incident? Do I put myself in any legal jeopardy by speaking to them about this incident? Should I take any action against them regarding this incident? As I said, I have been very shaken today because of this incident. I also know that it is very much he-said she-said, and even more so given that I had consumed more than a single person's share of wine. Any advice that you can provide will be greatly appreciated. I'd love to know whether I can continue to buy fresh produce, or if I must start shopping elsewhere. Thanks.

Answer:
 > Should I take any action against them regarding this incident?

What type of action are you thinking about?

A crime wasn't committed against you and you have suffered no damages to sue for.

I say drop it, don't try and communicate with them, and move on with your life.Answer #2: My God dude... don’t worry about it. Nothing happened.

If you’re seriously worried... just don’t visit that store for a few weeks. That’s basically an “eternity” for a retail establishment. Nobody is going to remember that night or give a damn about it. Thousands of folks have walked through their doors since.

If trouble was indeed present... the police would have been called at the time of occurrence. They can’t do anything this late in the game.

You’re FINE. Continue on with your life and shop there like any other customer with cash to spend.Answer #3: >but would it be a bad idea to email or call customer service to make them aware of this incident?

Not a bad idea, but not entirely a good use of your time.

>Do I put myself in any legal jeopardy by speaking to them about this incident?

No.

>Should I take any action against them regarding this incident?

For what?


Title: My brother wants to destroy our car, what can I do

Question: Me and my brother have been sharing a car \(Sonata\) up until recently. We were lucky enough to get a second one \(ford escape\). We're now deciding who takes what car. The problem is we both want the same car. Now I'd love to sit down with him and talk but the second I said I'd like the original car he freaked out. He said if I keep wanting it he'll pour sugar down the tank. The car is in both of our names. What recourse do I have if he does this

Answer: You take him to small claims court for your equity in the value of the destroyed vehicle.


Title: (US) Former employer not sending W2 from 2019

Question: [deleted]

Answer:
 You wouldn’t normally get your w2 until this month anyway, even if they are a former employer. They have until the end of January to send it.Answer #2: Employers generally have until the end of January to send W2s.

As for filing taxes without the W2, this might be better in /r/personalfinance


Title: Ticketmaster will not send me my festival tickets. If they can't get them to me, they told me that I can not get a refund and I am SOL. What do I need to do?

Question:
My wife and I bought tickets to a music festival that is coming up this weekend. Ticketmaster had a payment plan option, so me and my wife both bought our own tickets that way. It was 4 payments of $37.50 once a month, July 5 being the last day. Well, my wife had to get a new debit card a week before the last payment after suspicion of credit card fraud, so she had to change her information on ticketmaster and the last payment didn't go through until July 10. They said it was too late to deliver, so they would email her a link to print her ticket. She never got it, so I called and was told they would send them to will call. I started looking at the festival website, and it said there was no will call and they were delivery or print-at-home only. I called them back and told them that, and they said something is wrong with their system and it said there is no available delivery methods and she would have to email the box office and see if they could work something out to have her ticket pulled up there when we arrive. She told me that she would contact me when they responded and it's been 24 hours with no phone call back. I asked her what happens if they can't do that or they don't respond and she told me that I will just have to buy another ticket. I asked if she could just refund that one, and I would purchase one of the two day passes off of ticketmaster that give you the option to print-at-home. She said refunds will not be an option period and hung up on me...what do I need to do? $150 is a lot of money to just be thrown down the drain, I feel like if they can't deliver our tickets because their system is messed up, she should be able to get the money back. Any advice?

Edit: I'm from Birmingham, AL

Answer: If nothing else works and you paid for tickets you didn't get, then you dispute the charges with your bank.


Title: A popular US retailer has robbed me of over ~700 dollars worth of product from missing items purchased online. What can I do to legally protect myself?

Question:
Location: Utah

Full details: I purchased $700 worth of products last month online.  I immediately returned the products back to the seller for a full refund.  I spoke to the retail agent on the phone, they emailed me a pre-paid shipping label to refund the entire product back (5 items that total $700 total).  I returned all the products back in one box, none of the items were open, left in original plastic wrapping and product boxes, and I kept a tracking number.

After 2-3 weeks, I never received a refund, so I called the retailer.  They are a well known retail company, so I thought I should have received a refund by now.  They said they never received my product back, until I provided a tracking number and proved to them that the product was delivered back to them.

I was told to expect a refund with 7-10 business days after that phone call.  13 business days later, still haven't received the money back, and I got another email today (ignoring the original previous email) saying that they will refund ~$100 dollars back to me today, and to expect this from 7-10 business days from today.  They said they don't believe they ever received the entire product from me.
Topic:
Business Law

Answer: How do you expect help when you didn't post any details?


Title: A family member with sketchy business history has my social security number. Risks? and how to keep an eye on my credit (that is stronger than the conventional credit checks)?

Question:
This is a throwaway.

I live in Ohio, and this particular family member has had businesses in Ohio, Indiana, and Illinois. Is there a higher level of credit check available to keep a closer eye on what/how my name is being used? I just want to check what businesses are under my name or where all is my identity being used/what accounts are in my name.

This family member has a long history of business deals that have ended by screwing other people. I recently found out that they have used my social security number to open an electricity account in my name and then not paid the electric bill. Thus, now I want to make sure something like this isn't happening elsewhere/on a larger scale.

Should I be doing this through a lawyer? If so what kind? I don't want to drag down other family members because of this one person, and thus am not pursuing/filing a legal complaint.

Thanks in advance for any advice.

Answer:
 Report the use of you social security number to the police and inform them of who you think is doing it.
Try and change your social security number if possible go down to the social security office. These are things you should have done yesterday!


Title: My mother found my union rep's number and called him and threatened to sue because I wasn't given a break today and other times in the past

Question:
She isn't actually going to sue. It's an empty threat (that she makes a lot). I'm concerned this is going to get me fired or at least get me into some kind of trouble with management. Do I actually have something to be concerned about here? I'm expecting to be called into management's office sometime next week...

EDIT: I'm in Ohio. Thanks, LocationBot.

Answer: LifeProTip:  Never let your mother contact anyone in your workplace.  It will take you a while to live this down.


Title: [Richmond, Virginia] Storage unit dispute - my stuff is being held hostage

Question:
So, I have a unit in Richmond Virginia that me and a friend have stuff in. Lease is in my name, and my friend paid me 30% since he uses roughly a 3rd of the sq footage. I paid six months in advance rent at a pre-agreed upon rate; 50/monthx6= $300 in cash. I do have a receipt. The lease agreement I signed did not specifically cover rent increases, but I had asked this and got verbal confirmation that all was OK since I paid in advance, my friend was present.

Fast forward 3 months, 2 days ago, and the unit company calls me, says they jacked up their rate and they now want another $150 for the unit. I am pretty strapped for cash so I told them I'd be terminating my service and they can refund me a prorated amount per the contract. They refused.

I went to my unit today to get my stuff, and they cut my lock off and put one of theirs on. I call the office, kindly ask they release my unit. They refuse. I called the PD, they said that this is civil matter.

I cannot afford to take them to small claims but the stuff in there is important to me. So I have to ask: Would it be criminal to cut the lock with bolt cutters ( its a circular lock they sell at HF for a few bucks ), get my stuff out? I have all the documents and receipt for payment as well as a letter they mailed to me that said the same as the phone call I got, essentially. So, I almost want to do this but I'm almost sure this is vandalism. Can I get any confirmation?

Answer:
 Let me get this straight, you paid for 6 months and now after 3 months they want more money?

I'd call the police back and insist on a theft report.

If they refuse, I would call the police out again, cut off the lock, and take your items back.

Leave a new lock or a fiver in the unit for the price of the lock.

On the flip side, you could sue them civilly for the value of your items and your remaining rent as they are not allowing you access to the unit.

As I am a police officer, I would recommend the suing  first. Answer #2: I always wondered how they get so many storage units on Storage Wars.  They sound like criminals.  I'm not advising you to cut the lock and take YOUR stuff, but if the police say this is a civil matter, I can't see them taking you to small claims for the price of a lock.  Just make sure you keep your lease and it definitely doesn't say they CAN raise prices over the course of your lease.


Title: [AZ] Motorcycle "Repossessed" after claims of violating a simple handwritten contract of payments. Will not return $1500 down payment.

Question:
I purchased a motorcycle on Craigslist on the 19th. The seller offered to take $1500 down with monthly payments. The contract was hand written by myself and signed and notarized at a bank by the two of us. The contract is incredibly simple. All it says is that I made a down payment of $1500 toward the total and would be making monthly payments and that the bike would have full coverage until balance was paid. The title would be signed over once balance was paid.

It took several days to put insurance on it. (29th) The bike sat parked until that time. I notified the seller was listed as lienholder and he would receive a copy of everything in the mail in a few days. There was no complaint or response but the message was received.

On the evening of the 10th/morning of the 11th the bike was taken. I reported it stolen. He notifies me the next morning the bike has been "repossessed" due to breach of contract. He claims that I didn't make the first months payment and didn't provide proof of insurance. I have not had the bike a month and insurance has been on the bike for almost 2 weeks. I responded with that explanation and went on to say we can revise the contract and offered the first months payment in person with proof of insurance. The seller refused. They also refused to return my down payment.

What should be my course of action?

Answer:
 [AZ repo laws](http://azlawhelp.org/articles_info.cfm?mc=4&sc=70&articleid=11)

Take them to small claims court. IANAL but according to AZ law even if you were late on a payment, they have to accelerate the loan and ask for the full loan amount and give you 10 days to pay it before they can repo. The fact that you haven't had it a month and the fact that it was repossessed without a warning about being late on a payment should give you the upper hand in court.Answer #2: Don't buy a vehicle without immediate title transfer. A payment plan is a horrendously bad idea unless the other party transfers title immediately (of course then it would be stupid for the seller). IF you have PROOF that you completely honored your contract then you can sue him in small claims. Without proof it's your word against his and I wouldn't even bother with small claims.Answer #3: This feels kinda scammy. I'd take it to some kind of court just for moral reasons. He might continue to do this because no one puts up an actual fight. Even if you don't get anything back from it, he still gets something on record in case he tries it on someone else.


Title: Recording job interviews on my phone (USA, NJ)

Question:
I find myself out of work in I.T. , over 50 years old, in an industry rampant with age discrimination.

I may be a bit paranoid, but I am worried about this. I am considering if I should record job interviews on my cell phone. Or not. I am in a quandary on this. I know NJ is a one party consent state, but in a job interview situation does that still hold? Is there a privacy or other issue involved here?

What other legal considerations do I need to concern myself with?

Answer:
 What purpose would this serve?  Do you expect someone to come right out and say "We're gonna not hire you because of age." during the interview?Answer #2: No advice on recording.

AARP has a list of the top employers to hire someone 50+. Maybe worth checking out.

http://www.aarp.org/work/employee-benefits/best_employers/


Title: Can I drive with my left foot in Utah? I broke my right foot, but I need to get around to work and school since I am literally all alone, for transportation that is.

Question:
I drive an automatic SUV and I can easily move my right foot out of the way.

I also play the drums so I possess the foot muscles and skills to drive with my left foot.

Answer: As long as you can drive safely, I don't see why it would be a problem.  But if you get into an accident, I guarantee that it will become a major issue & point of liability.Answer #2: Yes, There are many veterans and others without a right foot, and they still drive.


Title: Unnecessary FBI raid lead to my arrest?

Question:
[deleted]
Topic:
Drug Possession

Answer:
 >Any advice on the matter would be helpful

Get an attorney


Title: I (20m) am a U.S. citizen and financially independent, but since my parents are in a foreign country I pay out-of-state tuition. Please help

Question:
Throwaway since my brother and other friends reddit.

My case is so complicated, any advice is greatly appreciated.

I was born in the U.S., after a few years my whole family moved back to their native country due to documentation. I recently came back alone to continue my education. Since the wages they gain in their country is so low, they cannot give me any financial aid, so I have become financially independent while living with a close relative temporarily.

Now here's the problem: I have applied to a county college and received the pell grant, but will still have to pay around 1k per semester because I am considered out of state. My school's counselor informed me that I am under where my parents live until the age of 24.

My question is: is there anything I can do to change to in-state tuition? I have considered going to court to anticipate my independency. The only problem would be that if I anticipate my independence I will not be able to grant my parents legal citizenship in the U.S. when I turn 21.

Edit: I am currently in New Jersey
Topic:
School Related Issues

Answer:
 >The only problem would be that if I anticipate my independence I will not be able to grant my parents legal citizenship in the U.S. when I turn 21.

Are you sure about that? Because that seems... unlikely.

And the whole going to court? As far as US courts are concerned at 18 you are already an adult and there's nothing you need to do about that. What you are dealing with here is the issue of how to become an independent student. The only thing you might qualify under is

>Be a student for whom a financial aid administrator makes a documented determination of independence by reason of other unusual circumstances.

Once you become an independent student your tuition is based your own state of domicile.


Title: Brother was Shocked at school by faulty wiring during class and is in severe pain days later (Illinois)

Question: [deleted]

Answer: Well what happened when your parents took him to the ER?


Title: Cop never gave me back ID after being pulled over

Question: I was pulled over for having a headlight out and the cop could smell alcohol on me. I'll be 21 in a couple months and passed the sobriety tests and breathalyzer I blew a .17. After seeing I was not that bad the officer let me leave with no charges or anything but the next day realized I never got my license back. What happens now?

Answer:
 > I'll be 21 in a couple months and passed the sobriety tests and breathalyzer I blew a .17

I doubt strongly you blew twice the legal limit and were allowed to drive away.

Regardless, the answer to your question is "Call the station and ask for it back".  It's likely just an oversight.


Title: Routine Dental Cleaning Lead to Severe Infection, Hospitalization, and Head Injury (MI)

Question:
Hello Tl;DR at the bottom, somewhat of a long story. As described in the title I was just discharged from the hospital after going in for jaw pain and ending up with a lot more problems than I ever imagined. I only have medicaid so there are few dentists in the area that accept that insurance and I went to this less-than-stellar clinic on Monday. The lobby was disgusting and staff very unprofessional (think an entire office of people that play music on their phone speakers trying to compete over whose is louder) but I figured it's just a cleaning, beggars can't be choosers, they can't really mess that up can they?

It was the worst cleaning of my life. I have early perio so it is partially my fault for discomfort, but the hygienist was absolutely brutal just ripping my gums, tongue, and cheek with her tool. I didn't have a cleaning for years at a time as a kid and that first one was rough, but not even comparable to this one that was within the standard 6 months of the last. I left with severe bleeding and pain, told to come back in a month. After 2 days of pain so bad I couldn't eat I called again on Wednesday and asked to get looked at. "Gum pain is normal the doctor don't do follow-ups until at least 2 weeks." I don't think this is an insurance thing or scheduling as they do walk-ins, but I let it go, should've flossed more as a kid.

 Friday I called again saying I can't sleep at night from the pain, please I need to be seen, and got the same answer which frustrated me so badly I was just calling any dental clinics open and asking if I could pay with a credit card just for an exam to see what's going on. All 3 places told me the same thing essentially go back to where you had your cleaning done, they have your records, and it'd be a lot of money to just come in for us to look and not know what's going on. I called the dentist back again saying I **NEED** to come in ASAP, put me on as a walk-in if you have to, but something is very wrong and it's not typical pain. They said OK SIR then come in next Wednesday during walk-in hours if that's how you feel.

Next day (Saturday morning) I woke up feeling like someone kicked my jaw in on top of feeling generally awful. I couldn't speak or even smile without pain so bad that I vomited. I went to the ER closest to me that had a dental unit and waited for a doctor. BP was insanely high (168/98 I believe) and heart rate as well, my jaw hurt so badly the triage nurse didn't take my temp and said the doctor will when he sees your jaw. After about an hour I had started getting dizzy and went to get a nurse. Last thing I remember was my heartbeat feeling very slow and everything went black. I woke up on the hospital floor surrounded by nurses and a doctor that took me to the real ER and not the waiting rooms I was in. I was told I had a seizure but I only really recall blacking out. CT scan showed a terrible infection in the area I was complaining about, no major brain bleeding, but concussion symptoms from when I smacked my head on the ground. ER doc was very cool and said it's pretty unusual to see an infection that deep from just brushing or eating, best guess is someone cut way too deep with their tools during the cleaning, and if it was there already then they should've noticed it.

I stayed overnight for observation for the head injury and was put on antibiotics, toradol for the pain, and klonopin for the seizure plus severe anxiety about it all. I have to see an oral surgeon 6am on Monday or I could lose (even more?) bone in my jaw. I can't work for 72 hours just from the ER incident, I don't know if the surgery will prevent me from working even longer because I work at a restaurant it was difficult enough with the pain I had before. If I'm missing part of my mouth I don't think the manager will want me working until it's healed, but I intend to unless told otherwise.

One of my friends is a doctor and another a lawyer, neither are involved in dentistry or malpractice, but are encouraging me to consult with an attorney. I really am just worried about losing bone that I don't know if replacement will be covered and I'm extremely angry that the dentist wouldn't listen to my concerns to the point where I'm ill, missing possibly 2 weeks of work, and facing surgery. I've heard it is very hard to prove medical/dental malpractice and none of my discharge paperwork says what the ER doc told me about it being extremely unlikely this was something I did. I signed a waiver/consent to treatment form at the dentist and I'm not sure if I have a case if I'm an infrequent cigar smoker. Does the waiver, smoker status, or a lack of something more concrete mean I should just take my lumps and just find a new dentist?
TL;DR had rough cleaning done, dentist wouldn't see me again, ended up in ER with an infection, fever, and several other conditions but am skeptical to bother with consultations if I clearly don't have a case

Answer: Medical malpractice is very fact-specific, so the only advice we can give you is to find a lawyer or attorneyAnswer #2: You should definitely see an attorney about your claims. However I also want to put a pin in this - please remember to ask the attorney how to go about reporting the doctor and his staff to medical licensing agencies. Not only does the cleaning doing problematic, but as the ER doc mentioned, SOMEONE should have noticed that the cleaning cut your gums too deep. Even if for whatever reason it’s not practical to pursue money damages, you can at least let the state know about the facility’s practices and the conditions there (i.e. lack of cleanliness).


Title: Friend keeps getting her Social Security Income stolen from her.

Question:
I have a friend who lives in Osceola, Florida who is asking me for advice. I live in Colorado, so I have no idea what the laws pertaining to this situation are in Osceola.

My friend, we will call her Susan, is 23. She gets SSI (from what I understand, about $700 a month). She has a chronic disease. She recently went to go apply for SSI and found out she was already getting it--or at least her father was. He had been taking it for years and spending it on his hobbies (mainly I think video games). She talked to the SS office and they said this was not legal, so she had it changed so that the check would be mailed to her instead. Her dad told them that she is not mentally capable of handling the check (which she is perfectly mentally capable of, she has no mental disorders of any kind). So she has to take a representative with her to get the check.

SO she takes her fiance's mother, who takes the check and does not give it to Susan. Fiance's mother spends it on whatever she feels like.

I told Susan she should probably get a lawyer, but she has no money. Would a lawyer even be able to help in this situation? If so, what kind of lawyer should she contact?

Also, she just recently moved out of her parents' house. They were very strict with her despite her being over 18. She does not have a lot of independence. She is now living with her fiance, I think.

Update: Actually, her and her fiance both live with his mother.
Topic:
Disability Issues

Answer:
 She should consider talking to the police, as her fiance's mother is stealing her check.  This was different when her parent was taking the check as a minor in his home.

I would also question why the fiance isn't standing up to his mother, demanding the check back.  There is something else going on with this situation, more than you are writing here.Answer #2: She should talk to legal aid or adult protective services, or both.


Title: My business partner's soon to be ex-wife wants half of our company what do I do?

Question:
I am the de facto business partner in a company that has been operating in California since 2005. I co-run all the daily operations and get an equal split of the proceeds, but I am not on the paperwork because it was originally set up as a sole proprietorship by my partner and we did not make it an LLC until this year. It is now set up as an LLC with he and I having equal shares. He wants to give the company to me because his soon to be ex-wife has been a drain on the company since the beginning and it's clear to everyone but her that she doesn't deserve to get half. On a separate note, he is fine with paying her a more than reasonable amount of spousal support.

My questions are:

Does the fact that we are now operating it as an LLC mean that she has any claim over the business that it was as a sole proprietorship? We have switched over all the old banking accounts and whatnot, but we are still operating under the same name. What are my/our options to retain as much of the business' worth as possible?

I've poured my heart and soul into this and I can't imagine it going into the hands of someone who has only been a thorn in its side. Thank you in advance.

Answer: You absolutely want an attorney here. This is well beyond "advice you find on the internet."


Title: (CA) My Boston Terrier got out of the backyard and was attacked by an off-leash pit bull. Are they liable for any damages?

Question:
Hi there folks. The title describes the situation at a glance, so I'll go ahead and go more into details here.

•A little after 1:30 this afternoon I got a knock on me door. A neighbor let me know that our two dogs had gotten out of the backyard through a broken board. I went out to find my Queensland Heeler thankfully unharmed, but my Boston Terrier (25 lbs) in pretty bad shape. He had gotten into an altercation with a pit bull easily twice his size and weight. (Probably 60+ lbs)

•The owner maintained his distance from the scene, telling me that "My dog was only protecting itself!" before promptly leaving the scene. I did not get his name or address but witnesses told me what nearby street he lives on, and neither the pit bull owner or any of the witnesses said that his dog had been injured in any way.

•Because my Boston was bleeding so badly, we took him to the vet right away. They told us that he was stable and that one of the puncture marks narrowly missed his jugular. They estimated the cost at between $1,700 ~ $2,500. My mother took out a vet-bill related card with $3,000 available on it for a 12 month payment plan. Surgery will take place only a few hours from now and he should be ready to pick up in the morning so long as no other complications arise.

•Upon arriving back home my mother went to go check the mail and by pure chance ran into a family who witnessed the event. They told her that their 12yo son witnessed all of it, and that he had seen the pit bull chasing my Boston down the street off leash while the pit's owner chased after it. It wasn't until the pit had gotten a hold of my Boston that the owner was able to get a leash on his pit bull. The family stated that the son would be willing to swear by that statement.

•We tried to file a report with the police, but as it was a dog-on-dog incident they differed us to the ASPCA, who are closed until 8 AM tomorrow morning to file a report with.

So with all that being said, would there be any legal liability involved on behalf of the pit bull owner? Any advice would be greatly appreciated as in my 29 years of dog owning, this has never happened before.

Answer: At best, the other dog owner would be responsible for probably 50% of the vet bills and damage. His dog should've been on a leash, of course, but you failed to keep your dogs contained or leashed as well.


Title: Ex-husband's Best Buy card is on my credit report.

Question:
We live in Oklahoma.

We were married for a little over a year, but separated after less than a year. I had trouble locating him for a few months in order to proceed with the divorce.

Within a week after returning from our honeymoon, my ex opened up a Best Buy credit card account without telling me. I never knew about it or signed anything. Apparently he threw away the card that came in the mail in my name as well, because I never saw or was aware of one. It has never been activated or used.

We married in July of 2013. He opened up the credit card in August of 2013. We separated in June of 2014 and divorced in October of 2014. He kept the credit card in good standing/didn't really use it throughout this time.

In May of this year, I applied for a loan at my credit union. I was denied, and the only negative thing on my report was a Best Buy credit card. I was shocked because I don't have one. I called Best Buy and give them my name and they can't find me in their system. My mother suggested that I give my ex's name, and they find his account and say that it is so past due that they can't look into any further to see if I'm attached to it in some way and refer me to the collections agency they sold the account to.

I did learn that he didn't rack up charges on the card or go into the negative until over a year after our divorce, however. And our divorce decree explicitly states that we are free from the other's debts. I think this should especially include debts that are acquired AFTER the divorce.

I call them and I am told that I was listed as an authorized user, and they can't take me off without his approval. Yeah, that's not going to happen, I have no idea where he even is. Getting him to sign the divorce papers was hard enough. There is no way he would ever do anything to help me in any way. They tell me there is nothing more they can do.

After doing a bit of research, I learn that they lied to me. They absolutely CAN take me off of the account. I call them back with this information, except this time I am told that I am not just an authorized user, but it is actually a joint account in my name and there is no way I can be taken off of it, I owe the debt etc. Then they start asking me what my address and telephone number is because they don't have my information in their system. I didn't give it to them.

Is there anything I can do about this? It has absolutely demolished my credit and my peace of mind. How can I be held liable for debts accrued after a divorce on an account I never signed for or was aware of?

TL;DR- My ex-husband opened up a Best Buy account without telling me right after our honeymoon, racked up some serious debt on it a year after our divorce, and it has gone on my credit report. Called the collections agency, was first told I was an authorized user and can't be taken off without his approval, which he would NEVER give. Then I learn I can be taken off without his permission, inform the collections agency and once again request to be taken off, but now they are telling me it is a joint account. I never was aware of it, never signed anything, never received a card, and they don't even have my address of phone number in their system.

Answer:
 The credit agency is going after you because you're findable.  Does your divorce paperwork say something about how both parties are responsible for any of their own debts incurred in the future beyond the date of the divorce?  That may help.  I had to send my divorce paperwork to about 45 different companies so far after my divorce, but it's helped.  IANAL, by the way.  I found this:  http://www.creditcards.com/credit-card-news/help/dividing-credit-card-debt-divorce-6000.php

"Once the parties are separated, debt incurred on credit cards is the responsibility of the spouse who made the purchases charged on the card."

There are some states that have exceptions to this but Oklahoma is not one of them.

I'd write to the credit bureaus and dispute, noting the date of your divorce and the date of the debt.


Title: Would a 5150 hold when I was a minor prevent me from becoming an FFL licensed firearm dealer?

Question:
I know this post is gonna be downvoted to hell, but hear me out.

When I was 17, I'm 18 now, I didn't know how to handle a breakup, and made an empty suicide threat. I never had any intention of causing harm to myself or others, it was just a stupid idea to get my ex's attention, and I regret it greatly. I tend to attention seek, but never ever have any intentions to cause harm to anyone. I was brought to my local general hospital for evaluation, and after 6 hours of being held, they evaluated me and decided to send me home but on suicide watch. At this point, I was on edge due to extreme boredom and emotional strain, so I non aggressively objected to the suicide watch, since I was not suicidal and told them so multiple times. They ended up deciding to send me to a psychiatric ward for a 3 day stay, and I now have a 5150 hold on my record. So, my main question is, would this hold prevent me from obtaining an FFL Dealer's license after my 5 years are up? I have always loved guns, and it's a dream of mine to be a firearms dealer one day.

To stress this very important point, I am not, and have never been a danger to myself and others. The only time I would seriously consider suicide is in the event of a nuclear war. In fact, death is absolutely terrifying to me.

Answer: If you've been involuntarily committed, you are most likely a prohibited person. This is something you need to speak to an attorney specializing in firearms about - to see if A) you are prohibited and B) if so, can you get it expunged/cleared.


Title: State agency seized a portion of federal refund to satisfy a fictitious tax bill

Question:
I received my federal refund today, and noticed it was substantially less than what it should have been. After some investigation I discovered that the money was seized by the state of Louisiana to cover a 'delinquent' tax bill.  The tax bill in question is for the year 2012.  I lived and worked in Alabama for the full tax year.  I moved to Louisiana in February of 2013, so I used a Louisiana mailing address to file my federal taxes. This was enough for the LA dept. of revenue to claim I owed for the year 2012.

In order to get the money they seized, I have to provide evidence showing I filed a return with Alabama.  They require I produce my state return from 2012 as well as my w2s.  I have them and can easily provide, but I find it absurd that the burden of proof is my responsibility.  Shouldn't the state have the Burden of proven it is owed?

Prior to the seizure, I spoke to a rep at the department of revenue that told me it was a requirement.  I requested the state code/regulation that made this my responsibility to be mailed to my address in order for me to comply with the request.

Do I have any legal recourse in this situation?

I feel as though the state of louisiana stole something of mine and now requires that I jump through hoops in order to get it back.

Any advice on this matter is appreciated. Thanks

Answer:
 You must jump through the hoops they ask. There is nothing else you can do. You have no legal recourse--although they might give you interest on the money.

It is good to be King.