Title: My dog escaped the yard and tried to attack another dog (TX)

Question:
TX near San Antonio

We have a German Shepherd Dog (10 months) that we let outside while we monitor him-he loves people, but hates dogs. We have a large fence around our property and a Beware of Dog sign which is clearly visible. This lady visiting our neighbor came out with her bulldog on a leash. I saw she was coming up to the fence so I immediately went to her and said he doesn't like dogs while I watched him. He didn't have a collar on, so I couldn't hold him back-stupid, I know.

Our dog was clearly showing signs he did not like the dog - fur raised, barking, running back and forth. She said "oh, he's dumb, it doesn't matter." Not sure which dog she meant. Unfortunately, it did matter. He went crazy because she came right up to the fence and managed to find a weak spot to crawl under. It happened so fast - he started running around the dog in circles around her while she yelled. I ran out and grabbed him, she started screaming at us and calling us f*cking idiots, my sister ran out to get him and started yelling right back at her. Sister pointed out the sign, but the lady kept saying "There's a FENCE!" etc.

I'm pretty sure he didn't harm the dog, just scared the hell out of it & her.

I think the neighbor she was visiting witnessed at least the end of it, plus my sister & myself. Kinda freaked out right now. I feel terrible, but at the same time I feel like it's her fault.

Can she do anything? She was yelling about animal control and now my parents are worried about being sued.

Answer:
 Worst thing they can do is ticket you for a dog at large or aggressive dog.  Assuming no one or no dog was harmed.  Pretty light ticket to my knowledge.

And dude.  Socialize your dog.  Dogs are social animals they dont just naturally hate all other dogs.


Title: Update - Ex-employer charging me for unemployment claim. (OH)

Question: [deleted]

Answer:
 In your demand letter and later small claims suit bebsure to add in any costs you endured for the cancelled check.Answer #2: If you quit, how can you claim unemployment?
Especially as a contractor.
Have you checked the contract you signed about unemployment?


Title: Marriage self-solemnization (CO)

Question: Is there any issue with self-solemnized marriages being recognized in other states? I've seen a few things on message boards where people are saying it might not be recognized elsewhere. Of course, no one cites anything and it's something they heard from some unidentified source and are repeating as fact. Hoping someone here knows for sure. We're trying to elope with minimum fuss. This is in Colorado. Thanks in advance.

Answer:
 [Here](http://gazette.com/colorado-couples-forgo-traditional-wedding-ceremony-self-solemnize-their-marriage/article/1567958) is an article.

>"You will still get a marriage license recorded in Colorado and every other state will recognize that marriage," said Harkess. "You don't become unmarried when you move to another state."


Title: [Anywhere, USA] What happens when a defendant kills themselves during the trial period?

Question:
Hi there,

I'm writing a feature length horror about an 'evil' city, and the film's protagonist is a D.A./Prosecutor. In the story, the defendant is undergoing trial for a hit-and-run. The trial isn't going well for the defendant, and neither is her public perception, so she offs herself.

At this point, I'm wondering what the immediate series of events would be for the D.A. Is there a court date the next day? Realistically, what should the next couple days for our protagonist look like?

Thanks in advance!

Answer: If the defendant dies in a criminal case, that is it. You cannot try a dead person. So, the case would be dropped and that is the end of it.


Title: Are teachers allowed to go in your bag without consent ?

Question: I live in Canada

Answer: Needs more detail than this.


Title: So I get to work today and my boss pulls me in her office and says that one of my coworkers reported me because she has been “noticing that ive been acting different” [CA]

Question:
and that I yelled at her. (which is complete bullshit) so now the backstory, I work for a university, and there are a lot of old timers clinging on. Well luckily for me I have one working with me who cant retire because her husband refuses to get a job, and anything new she refuses to learn and brags about her refusal to learn anything new because she says “the more you learn the more youll have to do”. Now I try to be cordial with this lady and every now and then she crosses the line, every morning at some random time be it 15 minutes – 3 hours in, she will announce “Im ready for coffee” and apparently that means we are supposed to jump up and go with her (which lately I haven’t been because I like getting my coffee before I sit down to work as opposed to some random time) to which she takes offense to, im an introvert and like taking my lunch alone to catch up on reading and she takes offense to this and constantly states “he doesn’t like us, that’s why he doesn’t go with us”. We had a xmas party and she asked me if I was going to which I told her I was not, she stomped her foot and said “Why not?” she wouldn’t let up so I finally told her I have general anxiety disorder to which she replied “Youre just being a big baby”. She makes rude comments about my looks at times and says “Oh my husband would be jealous if he saw me walking with you in the parking lot” (I leave alone), Whenever I have a doctors appointment she will say outloud, “did they prescribe you more crazy pills”. I am lactose intolerant and its only occurred the past year and is getting worse, if im in the restroom for over 5 minutes, she will make a comment out loud “Dang you were in the restroom that long? I thought you flushed yourself in”. We have a new female boss who got hired about three months ago who I think is great, and she begs to differ, shes constantly talking shit about her and it finally got to the point where I told her I disagree, id appreciate if you kept your opinion to yourself. So this past week I have tried to just focus on my work and keep my talking to her to a minimum unless its work related, so we have skype messenger at work and she messaged me “Ive noticed you’ve been quiet” to which I replied “I listen to podcasts all day” and she said “yeah but youre not talking to me and I worry about you” I didn’t respond because I was getting creeped out. So the following day (today) my boss pulls me in and tells me that she complained about me to her saying that I have been being rude to her, in my mind im thinking (yeah because I don’t want to involve myself with her talking shit about you but didn’t say anything) I was more dumbfounded that this creep of a lady had the nerve to report me for essentially not talking to her about my personal life. Im worried now about what her intentions are now that ive made it clear I don’t want to be her friend, I work for a union and am still on probation period (it’s a year, ive been there 10 months) what should I do?

Topic:
Employment Law

Answer:
 NAL. document everything. Email or IMs are excellent since it's timestamped & receipt is easy to prove. Tell her, in writing, that you prefer to keep work communications in writing now & always have a 3rd party present when talking face to face.

Last time I had a similar conflict with a coworker I told her, in front of a supervisor, that I would not ever speak with her without someone else present and if she had problems with me she could direct all complaints to a supervisor along with ample proof of my wrongdoing. Luckily, everyone hated her since she was a lazy witch so everyone was automatically on my side but I knew to cover myself anyway


Title: Maternity Leave Discrepency

Question:
First time poster here. I work for a startup out of a larger entity. We operate as a small business with our own HR team.

We have two different types of full time employees, Hourly paid and Salaried. Upon accepting my position, which is hourly, I was told there were no differences in benefits and the only difference is how often you’re paid (weekly for hourly and monthly for salaried)  Now I am pregnant and come to find that hourly employees are only compensated  at75% whereas salaried employees are compensated at 100%, despite both being full time.

HR will not budge though no difference in benefits was ever communicated to me in on-boarding. They’re defaulting to the HR policies of our larger entity, though I never once met with a representative from HR there. They’re fully acknowledging that the benefits were miscommunication to me, but say there were no harmful intentions, and there is no way around this.

What are my legal rights here? Am I just going to have to suck it up?

Answer:
 Where are you located?

In most places, paid maternity leave is not legally required, so what they give you is what you get.  They could say "We give you zero percent" and there'd be no issue.  Answer #2: Location is not optional. It's likely paid maternity leave is not required in the first place.


Title: [WA State] I got a $240 photo enforced speeding ticket going 11MPH over. What do I do?

Question:
Hey guys,

I received a letter in the mail with a $240 speeding ticket for going 31 in a 20 school zone. The ticket has pictures of the back of my car and license plates, as well as a link to a video showing me speeding. There is no picture of video showing my face behind the wheel. The top of the ticket reads “this infraction will not be a part of your driving record and will not be processed as a parking infraction”. I have been combing through a bunch of stories online with people trying to either get out of them by claiming that a third party can’t issue a ticket, that the radar might not have been calibrated, etc. Since it says that it will NOT be a part of my driving record, is there any downside to me just not paying the ticket? I don’t deny I was speeding but I think $240 for 11 over is overkill and I just can’t afford that right now. Thanks!

Answer:
 >What do I do?

Slow down.


Title: Tow company released my impounded vehicle to my criminal ex-boyfriend - implications on tow company?

Question:
**i know the legal implications for my piece of shit criminal ex boyfriend, and trust me that is my #1 priority, but I am just curious of the legal implications for the tow company**

Okay, this is a long and messy story I am going to try to keep short.

I dated a criminal (save me the lectures, I am now just trying to move on with my life & leave all this behind) and he put his truck into my name. Therefore I am the registered owner of the vehicle.

After our breakup (truck still registered & insured in my name) the truck was impounded when he got arrested whilst driving the truck.

I then had to cancel the insurance which cost me approx $400 from paying outstanding parking tickets, cancellation fees etc. I explained to my ex boyfriend that as the registered owner, I was the ONLY person who could get this vehicle out of the impound. I told him if he paid me the $400, I would hand over the registration transfer papers so he could do with it what he pleased.

I had no desire to keep this truck and it didn't really bother me to let it sit in the impound. Since the police were very involved - due to his arrest, domestic disputes between us etc, there were notes on the file at the tow yard that my ex boyfriend was not to have access to the vehicle etc etc. The only loss I took from this was the $400 and some belongings I would have liked out of the vehicle (the tow yard refused me access to the vehicle unless the invoice was paid).

Fast forward to one week ago, I get a call saying one way or another, my ex had gotten the truck out of the impound. The tow company had **photocopied the ID of a girl who was not me (something they do when matching the person picking up the vehicle to the registered owner) and handed it over to him**

Complete utter negligence on their part and could have been avoided by the person at the front desk simply READING the name on the identification that this person handed over and noticing that it obviously did not match the name of the registered owner.

Since the truck had no plates on it (the police took the plates off when they impounded the vehicle and gave them to me so I could cancel them) my ex boyfriend placed a temporary operating permit onto the truck to drive it off the lot. Fraudulently. Because the truck is still in my name.

The truck has been reported stolen, but it's been proven hard to find because we don't have a plate number for it. We are assuming he is driving it around with stolen plates because he cannot insure the truck because it is STILL in my name.

What are the implications for the tow company due to their complete negligence in checking the identification of the person picking up the vehicle? They released the vehicle to criminals, and subsequently gave away my only ammunition to get my $400 and belongings back.

Obviously I'm extremely angry because it seems like such a stupid mistake. What are my options at this point? I feel like even though my ex boyfriend orchestrated all of this, the tow company definitely did not play their part in protecting me as the registered owner and seemed to just carelessly hand the vehicle over to whoever walked in there.

I know I said I don't care to keep the vehicle now, but the rage this situation has built up in me has almost made me want to find that vehicle and take it for myself out of petty revenge. Haha.

Answer: You reported the car stolen. I would sue the tow company for the cost of the my car. It's not your boyfriends car. You are the owner. Answer #2: In our state, you can sign a document (forget the form) saying you have legal rights to the vehicle, may not be the tow company fault. Most likely, another a crime on his part.Answer #3: Well, if you got full coverage report it to your insurance company.  They will pay you off, then go after the ex boyfriend and the tow yard for the value of the car.


Title: [IN]Lawyers representing my HOA tacked on 130% fees. Do I have to pay those?

Question:
My HOA dues were due in April with a $15 fee if they were late. Completely slipped my mind and now lawyers sent me a bill asking for 200 more dollars just for sending me a letter. I agreed to pay the original assessment and the late fee but they said the other fees will not be waived.
Topic:
Credit Debt Bankruptcy

Answer:
 Does your HOA agreement stipulate that you will owe costs and fees in the event that they have to use an attorney to collect payment? If so, you may have to pay it. $200 for a demand letter sounds high, but not the highest I've ever heard.

Do you know if all the attorney has done is send the letter? If they've recorded a lein, that $200 may be going toward the cost associated with recording the lein and subsequent cancellation.


Title: Should I be allowed to clock in for a mandatory meeting?

Question:
So I understand the short answer to this ought to be yes - but here’s the thing. I work part time at a movie theater in Texas. We’re having a mandatory (as in, unless you have a good excuse, you’ll be “written up” if you don’t attend) this Wednesday evening. Our manager is serving us dinner and then we’ll have our meeting. We’ve been told we aren’t to clock in - but isn’t this illegal?

I’ve tried to do some research of my own, but I don’t know what exact laws protect me/I should cite when I speak to my manager about this. I don’t wanna be a dick, but like. Hello. If I’m required to be here I should be required to get paid, right?

Also, in case it’s relevant: I made minimum wage (in Texas it’s still $7.25) and we technically fall under “tipped employee” category, because occasionally people don’t want their quarters back.
Topic:
Labor Law (Unions)

Answer: If you HAVE to be there, they HAVE to pay you


Title: Bought a brand new Chevy this week. 150 miles on it, check engine light comes on. Major work. What are my options?

Question:
So, I bought a brand new car (and pretty much got hosed, but that's par for the course lol).
2 days after we bought the car, the check engine light comes on. We take it back to the dealer, and they are now tearing apart our engine.
What are my options here? We're five days out (We bought the car last week) and the dealer is being pretty rude/non-communicative. Chevy corporate is about the same.
FYI: Chevrolet dealer/car, I live/bought the car in Georgia, and no, not on any prescription/illegal drugs.
Topic:
Other Civil Matters

Answer:
 You may have a claim under Georgia's [Lemon Law](http://consumer.georgia.gov/consumer-services/lemon-law-complaint-process/georgia-lemon-law-steps-to-follow) eventually.  The statute requires reasonable attempts to repair, which generally is three or so.  You should start documenting, and reading through that site to get an idea of your issue.

BTW, be aware that the "check engine" light is often super minor.  Answer #2: Your vehicle should be covered by the warranty that came with the purchase. Check your purchasing paperwork and let me know which warranties came with your vehicle. Also, do you know whats wrong with the vehicle?


Title: Could Cards Against Humanity actually have any effect on the construction of a border wall?

Question: As you all may have heard, Cards Against Humanity has launched a campaign in which they've purchased a plot of land on the US Mexico border in an attempt to delay the potential construction of a border wall. They recognize that this issue would fall under Eminent Domain, so they have "hired the best eminent domain lawyers" for that reason. My question is whether that legal team can actually do anything that would have a real impact. Does the government not have access to better lawyers? Would even "the best" eminent domain lawyers actually have a case here?

Answer:
 Uh, first you got say why you think the wall is going to happen. It's not funded, and won't be.

Plus, there is already a wall. I live in southern California. (It's more of a fence, but the USA government isn't selling anyways). You can see it from the 8 freeway. Answer #2: If enough property owners fought the eminent domain claim, they could probably stall the wall long enough to get a new president who would work on their own boondoggles instead of this one.


Title: Dog and mother attacked by dog at my apartment complex? What do I do?

Question:
My mom was taking my dog (a corgi) out to use the loo and as he was doing his business this woman and her husky approach from across the street of our apartment complex. The dog somehow managed to get unleashed and sprinted towards my corgi and started attacking him. The owner, after 5 minutes of my dog and mother being bitten, finally ran over and wrestled her dog to the ground and my mother snatched my dog and ran back to my apartment . She was hysterical. Luckily, no one was hurt and I couldn’t find any visible marks of the altercation. My dog was covered in spit and was shaken up tremendously.

My question is, how can I handle this situation? I don’t think that husky should be on the property if he’s so aggressive. I don’t even think it’s allowed to be in our apartment complex. I am scared to take my dog out now honestly! What do I do from here?

Thank you for helping!

Answer: Get some pepper spray. Contact landlord. Contact police if you want and file a report. This way if it happens again they have the previous incident on record.


Title: Did the cop his duty?

Question: [deleted]

Answer: How many more places are you going to post this? Are you expecting a different answer from us?Answer #2: It sounds like it. She sounds lucky not to have been more seriously injured when trying to assault the cop. Police aren't allowed to strip people naked; but there isn't some magic immunity which occurs if you try to attack a police officer while naked. As long as his actions were all about restraining her and not to sexually abuse her, I'm not seeing anything out of line.


Title: [CA] Driver hit me in a parking lot

Question:
I'll keep this simple, basically another car scraped my bumper while we were in a parking lot. She admitted fault and said she would pay for the damages to my car.  When I got the estimate (around $1100) she said in that case she would rather call her insurance.  She filed a claim and when I called them, they asked for information about the accident, and confirmed that she was at fault.

My question is, do I need to contact my insurance if they are admitting fault? I was under the impression that if she admits fault and filed a claim with her insurance, that was it, but not I am hearing different things from other people.  Also this happened 4/15 if that makes a difference.

Answer: Yes. Notify your insurance company. In CA accidents that result in damage over $1000 have to be reported to the DMV. Your insurance company may do that reporting for you (many do but some don't). Notifying your insurance company is generally a good idea and if you have comprehensive coverage redirect the other side's insurance company to your insurer if they contact you (most comprehensive policies have a duty to defend clause where the insurer has to represent you in case of a lawsuit).


Title: California - Was overheard after 2nd bar we went to...

Question:
We had our company quarterly at a bar/restaurant.  The bar was open.  We all ate, drank, and reviewed our fantastic success.  Meeting lasted maybe 2 hours.  Afterward, everyone was free to leave, but a group headed down to another bar down the street a bit.  Boss paid for the booze, etc, at the first place, then the second as well, I think...I opted to pay for my own as I was leaving.

Walking away from the second place, probably after a total of 4 hours, I'm talking with a group of male coworkers (all of us pretty drunk).  The conversation was about polyamory (which I'm interested in; there's background there, but not important) and one of the guys asked something to the effect of whether I'd sit by and watch two other people I'm with having sex.  Because alcohol, it made sense to me to say, "you know who I'd really like to see having sex: X and Y".  Neither X nor Y were part of my group awareness.  I thought they were both already along their merry way.

A week goes by and the following Monday, I'm pulled into HR and have to sign a statement saying that I understand talk of a sexual nature is not tolerated at the company at all and if I do it again I'll be terminated immediately.

This was after the event, off company property, in the open air, and the comment was not even intended for the recipient that took exception.  In fact, I didn't even know they were still in the area.

So, my question is...although obviously not the right venue for the conversation...was there anything I did that was actually wrong, legally?

Beyond that, was that context (about a block away from the 2nd bar) even considered "workplace"?

If any thing, wasn't the first bar the actual company event, and everything else personal time?

If I'm at a bar this weekend, say I'd like to see a coworker have sex, and they overhear, and take exception...is that something actionable by or liable to my employer?

Many thanks in advance...  =)

Answer:
 >was there anything I did that was actually wrong, legally

Not illegal. You can say anything you want at any time. But your employer can fire you for it, personal time or other. Doubly so when it is severely inappropriate.


Title: Wondering how to get an adult child into rehab

Question:
Not sure if this is the best place to ask about this, but seemed to be a decent start.

A family friend is having a lot of trouble with their son (19) being addicted to drugs. He is stealing from them, homeless, and probably committing other thefts to support his habit. He won’t agree to go to rehab. They are in New Mexico. Is anyone aware of the laws and process for an involuntary commitment in New Mexico?

Answer: They won't get an involuntary commitment for drug use.  Well, not into rehab anyway. Their option is to call the police when he steals from them. As crappy as it sounds, it can be an eye opener. Maybe if he is arrested, he'll see the light.


Title: My landlord kicked me out and now is threatening to trash my things and call animal shelter on my cats- Texas

Question:
I tried looking on the Texas tenants website but couldn’t find anything dealing with this and need proof because he will call the shelter tomorrow
Topic:
Landlord Tenant Housing

Answer:
 So many questions...

Why/how did he kick you out?

When did he kick you out?


Title: Question about drunk driving laws my high school teacher taught me.(CA)

Question: So I had this computer science teacher in high school and he told me how he used to legally drink and drive by pouring alcohol into a cup and drinking while staying under the BAC limit. Since he had no open container and was under the BAC limit he was legally able to drink 1-2 beer while driving. He even said he was pulled over a couple times and the cops didn't do anything since he wasn't breaking any laws and only told him to pour it out, then let him go. Is this really true in California?

Answer:
 A cup full of alcohol is an open container.Answer #2: A cup of alcohol is an open container.

It is still a crime to drive intoxicated if you blow below .08. In CA it could be a full DUI still


Title: Neighbor exposed himself - what can (should) we do? - Michigan

Question:
My wife and I have lived in our home now for 3 years. We share a backyard with a neighbor that has never come over to introduce himself because, just assuming, 1) he's a younger guy and 2) we believe he rents the home. We believe he rents because other neighbors that we HAVE met have told us they think that house has been rented out. There are several other little reasons we think he's a renter, too, but for brevity's sake I won't get into too much detail.

We've lived peacefully with this guy all 3 years we've lived here. Until yesterday.

Yesterday was a nice, sunny day, so my wife and her sister decided to pull out the lawn chairs and relax in the sun on our back brick paver patio. While doing so, our backyard-sharing neighbor came outside onto his patio as he often does. He'll usually just chill out there: Sit on a lawn chair while looking at his laptop, smoke a cigarette/joint.. nothing unusual. Yesterday afternoon, out of nowhere, my sister-in-law says that he pulled down his shorts, completely exposing his flaccid penis. As soon as she saw it, she turned to my wife and said, "Uhh... look. That guy's dick is totally out right now" (Her words, not mine). My wife looked up, also saw his penis, and quickly looked away never looking up again. My sister-in-law kept watching in complete shock. My sister-in-law describes that he started to play with it, twirl it around a little, etc. I don't know exactly what that meant, but I'm sure you get the picture. She says he exposed himself for maybe 20-30 seconds. From there, he pulled up his shorts and went back inside the house. The women went inside our house, too, but noticed that he came back outside later and was just sitting on his lawn chair, not doing anything but weirdly just sitting there.

Obviously, I'm beyond disgusted. Since he's outside all the time I thought about just catching him the next time he's outside and confronting him about it. I also have a 1.5 year-old daughter who loves to run around in the back yard. So my only concern with that is  he gets angry with me confronting him and... I don't even want to say it, but somehow puts my daughter's life in danger in some way. I have no clue if this guy is some kind of gang member, or what he's capable of. I'm 98% sure he's harmless, but I don't want to take that chance.

With that being said, now my only thought is to tell my wife to keep her phone/camera handy so that if he does this again she can take a photo in the act. From there, we prosecute. Who knows if he'll do it again.

I guess my question at this point is, since we don't have any proof other than the word of my wife and her sister, should we be doing something...anything from a legal perspective? Or should we simply just wait and see if it happens again. Again, what's really sickening to me about this whole thing is this creep knows that our 1.5 year old is out in the yard playing all the time.

I really appreciate any advice in advance. I've been torn up about since I found out last night, and I just want to make sure I'm taking the correct actions in this whole matter.

Answer:
 > With that being said, now my only thought is to tell my wife to keep her phone/camera handy so that if he does this again she can take a photo in the act. From there, we prosecute. Who knows if he'll do it again.

You're overthinking it.

1. Call the police.

2. Let them deal with it.

3. If he does it again, call the police again.Answer #2: You can report him to the police. You don't need photos or video before you go. Eyewitness testimony is evidence, and you have two witnesses.


Title: Pennsylvania DUI for Trooper being wrong.

Question: Stopped for minor code violation (tinted windows) wasn't cited. However he claimed I was DUI due to constricted pupils. Passed sobriety test, arrested solely due to the constricted pupils. He was insisting I was on either opiates or amphetamines when I stated I haven't done either in 5 plus years he said I was a liar. Told him I smoke pot when at home, and haven't smoked since day prior. He said that wasnt it and cuffed me and took me for blood, which I failed for THC even after he stated that I wasn't on pot it was the other for certain. And if it was pot, he didn't care...Any possible was out of this, I'm 36 married with 3 kids. A DUI conviction is going to be a toll on all of us. I cant afford a real attorney, and my public defender don't seem like he's much help.

Answer:
 > I cant afford a real attorney, and my public defender don't seem like he's much help.

Your public defender is a "real attorney".

They don't seem like much help because there, frankly, isn't much help for you.  You got pulled over for a traffic violation, you acted as if you were under the influence, and your chemical test showed you were, indeed, under the influence.

No defense attorney, public or paid-for, can do miracles.  In some cases, there's little to be done.  You can, of course, try to hire a different attorney, and you absolutely can mount your defense with this attorney or a different one; but not every case is winnable.


Title: Damage to rental car

Question:
Hello legal advice,

So I was in an accident and insurance set me up with a rental. I just noticed a very small dent on the edge of the driver door which was not noticed during the inspection of the vehicle. I am certain this was not caused while in my possession as I have been cautious to park away from other cars and have only been back and forth to work. I probably wasn't as thorough as I should have been but the inspection was very quick and was done as the sun was setting so its likely that I and the rental rep missed the damage. I'm not sure if it will even be noticed when I take it back. Should I inform them now or see if they notice and deal with trying to dispute it then?

Answer:
 Stay quiet and dispute it when they notice it. Informing them beforehand, and after the initial inspection which you said the car was fine, is just causing unnecessary headaches. Answer #2: I've always taken the vehicle back and pointed them out.  I have never been stuck with the damage. The worst was a Tahoe that had a a bunch of scrapes and scratches all over the backs of the third row seats I didn't notice until I went to load something in there.

(I have probably rented at least 100? vehicles.  Maybe more)


Title: Duplex burned down

Question:
My girlfriend duplex was burned down today when one of her coworkers was fired, blamed her, broke into her house, and set it on fire.

My question is, if she paid rent for this month, and cannot live in the space, is she entitled to her rent back? St. Louis, MO

Answer: I hope you went to the police first.Answer #2: Please please please tell me she had renters insurance.Answer #3: She is typically entitled to a pro rata amount of the rent back, but she should check her lease and confirm.


Title: Landlord is fining me $500. They say they will take it out of my deposit if I don't pay. Is there any way I can prevent that from happening now instead of just taking them to court later?

Question:
According to my lease, I may not leave "decorative lighting" turned on unattended.  I have Christmas lights visible in my window.  I don't leave them turned on unattended.

A couple of weeks ago I had them turned on and was home at the time.  Someone knocked at the door, and I chose not to answer for personal reasons.  They are assuming that because I did not answer I was not home.

Apparently it was one of my landlord's agents.  They have sent me notice of a $500 fine and told me to pay it immediately.

I contacted them and told them I have not left lights on unattended.  They responded telling me an agent stopped by my apartment on this day at this time and I was not home.  I realized it was the time I didn't answer.

I explained that I was home, did not leave lights unattended and would not be paying $500 because I did not break any of their requirements.

Now they have told me that they will simply take it out of my deposit.

I have offered them proof,  such as phone records for my home phone that show I was making calls from my apartment during that time.  They refuse to look at anything, or reconsider.

Can I do anything to prevent them from withholding the $500 BEFORE they actually do it?  I don't know if small claims can work like this, or if I can only use small claims AFTER they withhold the $500 from my deposit.

Location:  CA

Answer: You have no losses until they actually withhold it. Then you can sue. Document everything you can in case you need to.


Title: Boss suggested I am on the spectrum, but I'm not

Question:
This is in New York.

I have a new boss that I don't really get along with.  After some incident at work where he threatened to fire me in front of most of the team, he privately came to me to apologize.  In this conversation, he told me he believed I am on the spectrum, and that he would work with me.  He also proceeded to demote me from my role.

Given that I'm not actually disabled, what can I do here besides find another job (which I'm doing now)?

Answer: Tell him you are not and that you mess-ups are entirely your fault not a diseases


Title: If I use my fake ID to apply for UPS Delivery Driver (I'm a year Too young) what's the worst that could happen, best that could happen, and what's most likely to happen?

Answer:
 You will be fired and the UPS people will be fined for using a fake ID.

also, /r/legaladviceofftopic is where you could have asked this instead.


Title: Fancy.com is selling our product which is 200% funded on Kickstarter. No way for them to actually fulfull the orders, featured number 1 on their website.

Question: The website Fancy.com is currently selling our product on their website. Our product is a Kickstarter product and hasn't even had the campaign ended yet. They are selling the product on their website for $400 and have it featured on their main page. With a shipping date of 10-21 days. Not only is it IMPOSSIBLE for them to fulfill these orders we did not give them permission to tell the products. Since they can't fulfull the orders this is going to look bad for us because it's our brand name. What can I do? I sent them a cease and desist letter to take it down.

Answer:
 Have an attorney send them a cease and desist letter. Are they located in the US?Answer #2: >All sales final, no refunds.

Hmm sounds like fancy doesn't intend to ship out the product anyway. Answer #3: Depending on the complexity of your product, it's entirely possible they are having a company recreate it from scratch and selling their version. There are a number of companies that specialize in finding successful kickstarters and then recreating the product and selling it before the kickstarter can get their version to market. They could even be using your art and pictures since they don't have any yet.

It's still not legal, but it's a lot more complicated to make them stop/get money from them. And your first action is also likely getting a lawyer to send them a cease and desist.


Title: I'm 17yo, and my mother stole property that I have proof of purchase for.

Question:
I live in Lower Merion in Pennsylvania, and I recently bought something with a MSRP of $400 and I have proof of purchase. She has stolen it. Do I have any right to call non-emergency police on her? Can I force her to give it back to me? Or do I have no rights since I'm a minor?
Topic:
Other Civil Matters

Answer: You are welcome to call the police but they won't do anything. You are a minor. Your mother has care, custody, and control of you and all your stuff. She can take your things away.


Title: My 17 year old son was just arrested for stealing cash at work. What should I do first?

Question:
He called us with his free phonecall and said he got stealing around $500.  What kind of trouble is he in? Should I get a lawyer or is this just like a misdemeanor with a fine of some sort?  Calling the jail now to find out what we do next.  We are in Dallas, Tx area

Update:
He has 2 charges  Theft of property $500-1500 and possession less than 2oz

Answer:
 Do not bail him out of jail, but hire an attorney. Encourage him to follow that attorneys advice.

When he gets out, address his significant lack of integrity and judgement seriously. He is getting to the age where acting with this level of selfishness and shortsightedness could ruin his life.

If you don't deal with the root of the problem here(your son's character and judgement), he may quickly end up a felon.

EDIT: I see that I am already getting downvoted. 17 is right at the cusp of adulthood, and about the end of where "kids" can make decisions like this with a reasonable chance of not ruining their lives. Addressing the root of the issue here(what caused the son to steal), is both the best legal advice and life advice for the parent.


Title: Pregnant but don't want the father involved (Florida/Georgia)

Question: I'm expecting to have a baby in June and the father of the child was my boyfriend, who encouraged me to get an abortion but wants to have custody since I decided to keep it. I honestly do not see him being a good father, personal feelings aside. He uses drugs occasionally, idk if that impacts the case or not but he also does have a steady income and makes more than me. I'm fairly young but I know my parents will help out and support me if it means keeping me away from an emotionally abusive relationship. Does he have any rights to my baby once it's born? He lives in Georgia and I live in Florida. He doesn't know when he or she is due.

Answer:
 >Does he have any rights to my baby once it's born?

Yes. He has the exact same rights as the child's other parent - you. The court will likely give joint legal custody and divide physical custody based on the best interest of the child.  As another poster mentioned, you can technically keep him away until paternity is established, which would be an incredibly asshole thing to do. I also find it to be a waste time and judicial resources.

Your time to decide he was not fit to raise a child with was when you procreate  with him, not now. Answer #2: Agree with /u/MikeAndAlphaEsq. Wanted to add: 'emotional abuse' of the other parent probably won't play into any custody decisions; it's too grey of an area for a court to rely on, though certainly it's something you could bring up to a guardian ad litem or court investigator. But be prepared for that not to matter much if at all.

And: if you're going to bring up his drug use, be prepared to have your own looked at. It does of course happen that one person in a relationship used drugs while the other never touched them, but IME it's rare. Hair and toenail tests can go back quite far.


Title: [NJ] Got caught rolling a blunt in my car. Cop asked me to "work with them".

Question:
So a few hours ago I was sitting in a parking spot with my friend (who's still a minor, while I'm an adult). We had all the lights off, car was off, etc. and I was rolling a blunt in the driver seat. A cop drives by, goes around the block, and comes back with another cop car. Cop A gets out of his car, asks us what we're up to, if we're rolling a blunt, etc. At first we deny it but he sees the blunt on the ground and picks it up. Meanwhile, Cop B gets out of his car and watches us. Cop A then asks for the weed, which we gave him (~.5 gram, plus the blunt had around half a gram in it), and he takes my grinder as well (which was empty). He didn't search us or the car. He begins cursing under his breath, he asks us to get out of the car and takes us to the back. He tells us that he would've let us go, but the other cop, who is recording, got him holding the weed on his camera. He told us that he had to bring someone in to the station, and he suggests to my friend that he takes the fall, as he's a minor and it won't go on his permanent record.

We consider this but no one volunteers to take the blame for it, so he goes back to his partner and talks to him. He asks for my license, and he writes down my info on a notepad. He tells me that he has one year to bring me in for possession charges, but if I work with him to catch a dealer, I'll have a completely clean record. I ask him a couple more questions about it, and he tells me that he'll never put me in a situation I'm uncomfortable in, I can back out at any point, all I have to do is catch one person (with a substantial enough amount on them), and I'm good to go. He told me that I will never be present while an arrest is happening and no one will know it was me. I agreed, and he told me that I'll either get a call or text from him with instructions on what to do next.

I can't have this on my record, as I wouldn't be able to get my dream job. I know ratting is shitty and I am absolutely miserable at the fact that I chose to rat. I also can't afford a lawyer- I'm 18, broke, and my family's broke.

I'm wondering whether I made the right decision, what you would do, and the process that will follow. Thank you.

Answer:
 > I'm wondering whether I made the right decision, what you would do, and the process that will follow.

Personally, I'd say no. You did not make the right decision. I would never agree to a deal like that without a lawyer. However, you clearly indicated that you can't afford a lawyer, so at this point it's all up to you. Don't be surprised though if you end up giving info to this cop, helping a person or two get busted, and still end up getting charged with something, especially if the people you rat on don't fit the cop's idea of "substantial enough". That's why you need a lawyer.


Title: UT: Rapist trying to get child custody

Question:
Hi guys,
I am posting on behalf of my friends who will stay anonymous. Last year my friend got married to this girl who left TX and moved to UT to run away from her rapist. She had a child from that event and the rapist followed her to UT. Ever since then the rapist has been fighting for child custody and my friends have been trying to get his termination of rights to the child since. They have had a P.I. dig up dirt on this guy, they have had enough video evidence the prove that he has violated stalking injunction and that he is sexually abusing his daughter and the judge and the cops are not doing anything about it. He hasn't paid alimony to them even though he can afford somehow a lawyer. Does anyone have any advice for what they need to do, they have a lawyer but it just doesn't seem to be going anywhere? I just am flabbergasted that the judge is letting this man still walk around without being put into prison for the things he has done.

Answer:
 She needs a lawyer. This is a complex issue and will require a lot of fighting, which you're not going to find yourself able to adequately conduct without one.Answer #2: 1. You are posting anonymously right now, so I don't see the point of you posting anonymously for someone else to remain anonymous, but whatever.

2. The custody proceeding is going to be separate from any rape charges, and it sounds like he doesn't have a rape conviction, making him an "alleged" rapist, and that is why he's not in jail. Whatever evidence you have given police is clearly not enough to trigger a criminal investigation.

3. Law stuff is slow. Really slow. Even when kids are involved (especially when kids are involved, in my experience). Your friend should listen to her lawyer and, if she doesn't trust her lawyer, find a new lawyer. She shouldn't be asking random internet strangers who aren't licensed in Utah for advice and not her lawyer. Answer #3: If you have provable claims, Utah DCFS is going to be your next stop. Seeing as he's not a convict, there's no parole or probation officer you can phone up.

Not sure what you're referring to 'stalking injunction.' Does the girl have a protective order issued by a Utah court against this man?

There's a lot of vagueness and misused terms here. Please clarify, otherwise the advice will be to simply contact DCFS with your conerns.Answer #4: You're saying there is *video evidence* of him sexually abusing the child and nobody's willing to do anything? What, is he buddies with the all the cops, judges and CPS officials in UT as well as TX?Answer #5: Has this guy been convicted of rape?


Title: [US] Is Failure of Consideration A Valid Argument in a written contract & promissory note?

Question: Say my friend Larry has a written contract with Billy to pave his driveway. Bill Paves it, Larry pays him 5k, and 7k in a promissory note for x percent in 6 months. When Billy tries to collect in 6 months, Larry refuses and claims failure of consideration cause of faulty work. Is this enforceable? My first thought is no because of the written contract and promissory note, but is there something i'm missing here? Thanks.

Answer:
 Its not failure of consideration.  It's breach. The contract is binding because it *contemplates* an exchange of value.

Whether or not performance is completed doesn't change the nature of the contract as valid -- unless perhaps one party had no intention to perform at all.


Title: Divorce defamation of character question.

Question: [deleted]

Answer:
 Life advice. Leave her work out of your marital issues. Answer #2: The truth is a defense to defamation.

That said, the divorce court judge is not going to look kindly on this. Get a lawyer, shut your mouth, and do what the lawyer tells you to do.


Title: [Pa]Parking Authority only allows for 1 guest pass for 3 consecutive days. All streets are 1 hour parking, seems very restrictive.

Question:
I don't understand how the parking authority can restrict how many days in a row a guest is allowed to stay at my house.  I live in a residential area, all the streets around me are 1 hour parking, no parking garages.

I don't understand how they can make a rule about how many days someone can stay with me.  I know other areas of the law state this restriction isn't allowed, such as the tenant landlord act.

Honestly it is a WTF moment.  I just moved into a 4 bedroom house, and I should be allowed to have guest come and go as they please.

Answer:
 >seems very restrictive

That's the point.

They aren't restricting how long a guest can stay with you, they are restricting how long they can park on the street.


Title: Were my hipaa rights violated?

Question:
I just had a very disturbing experience with a doctors office and I'd like to know if my rights were violated.

I had pain in my finger that came out of nowhere so I went to a doctors office to get it checked out. I was seen by a nurse who looked at the finger for two seconds and did no assessment. He said that there was inflammation and then wrote me a prescription for ibuprofen and said I could fill it at the office . I know that ibuprofen is just otc advil so I said, "why do I need a prescription for it since it's over the counter", but the nurse had no answer.
No medical paperwork was given to me.

Anyway, the pain continued for the next few days and got worse,  so I went to another doctor who diagnosed me with an ingrown fingernail and did a minor surgery in office to remove it. I then went back to the original doctors office and told them that the nurse had misdiagnosed me or didn't even diagnose me because no assessment had actually been done. The front desk manager asked me the name of the second doctor I had been to. I told her and she said she would call me back at the end the day.  She then proceeded to call the second doctors office, spoke to the doctor,  and asked her if they had done anything wrong (her words). The other doctor said if there was no inflammation, then no. The office manager then called me to relay this conversation. I was flabbergasted and absolutely disgusted. I told her that she had no right to call my doctor without my permission and ask her those questions, and she said that she had the right to call because it was provider to provider. I never gave permission for her to call the doctor and for that second Dr to tell her anything about me. I cannot believe that this even happened.

Furthermore, the nurse at the first doctors office said that I had inflammation and that's why he prescribed me ibuprofen. I then asked office manager for my medical records and there was absolutely no mention of inflammation, the only thing mentioned was "diagnosis is "finger pain". Which isnt a diagnosis but the actual symptom I came in with.

The first office is refusing now to speak with me, and I'm not sure what I should do about the second office. I do know that I feel that my rights were violated because of the breach of confidentiality and the fact that the first office lied and change their medical reports to scrub any reference of inflammation. What should my course of action be?

Florida

Answer:
 The HIPAA Privacy Rule permits a covered health care provider to use or disclose private health information for treatment purposes without the authorization of the patient.

>"why do I need a prescription for it since it's over the counter"

If you have health insurance, a written prescription for ibuprofen is often infinitely cheaper than buying it over the counter. Just an FYI.


Title: Landlord from four years ago in another state is suing for rent I do not owe and damages I did not create help!

Question:
County sheriff served me papers last week for a court date in Colorado. The landlord of our last residence there before moving to another state four years ago is saying we owe 1 months rent plus damages to carpet, doors and walls "beyond normal wear and tear."

The sherrif was very nice and told me all I need to do is fill out the answer to the court page advising that I do not owe these charges and send it to the court before the court date, registered or certified mail.

The page in question doesn't really give me any room to actually address the issues line by line, more like yes or no do you owe this money. Should I attach another page with more detailed explanation?

Also, if it goes to trial there is no way I can afford to travel to Colorado to appear, much less take off work to do it. Am I just screwed?

A few other details: we gave the landlord the required notice in writing but they say we did not. It has been 4 years and I do not have a copy of it, if I ever even made one. Also, many of the items that fall under damage are things that we noted on the paper we filled out prior to move in. Our first months rent was lowered precisely because they did not want to paint or clean carpet because they planned to renovate at a later date. How do I make the landlord produce that document we filled out? What if they claim it never existed?

Any ideas or perspective would be sincerely appreciated.

Answer:
 It's a landlords responsibility to take inventory of the contents within a rental and the condition of the rental. This is supposed to be done in the lease and be checked when the tenant moves out. If he didn't bring any case against you for damages when you moved out then that means, that everything was in order. Trying to sue you 4 years later is ridiculous and will not hold up in court.

As of the alleged unpaid rental, do you have any transnational records of payment? If you paid via EFT or deposited into the landlords bank account, you can get those details from your bank as proof. If you paid by cash, then there is no paper trail. Again if the landlord did not bring up a case against you for unpaid rental 4 years ago, then the landlords case will not be successful.

Do as the sherrif told you and answer the court page. A simple denial of all accusations levied against you is sufficient.


Title: [Michigan] Police officers came to house on "Welfare Check"; left certain information out.

Question:
This morning a couple of police officers knocked on our door on a "welfare check", coming from 'one of our neighbors'. We told them that nothing was wrong and that someone in our house had just had a baby and was sleeping.

We proceeded to let them come in and search our house. We showed them all of our rooms and they were very nice in the process. Once we were finished and ensured them there must have been a mistake, they left.

We only have one neighbor that is even in sight of our house (other neighbors are down the roads), and thankfully we know her, so one of us went and asked her if she had anything to do with it and she said no, and that they even came to her house as well and asked for the person who just had the baby in our house -by name-, even though they never mentioned her name to us at all during the search.

So as you can imagine, we're very confused... We're wondering if this was some sort of sick prank call against the person who just had a baby in our house, or if this was some sort of mistake on their part.

My main question is: Do we have any right to know who made the initial welfare check call? And what should we do if the police end up at our doorstep again for the same issue, should we consent to another search?
Topic:
Searches and Seizures

Answer:
 > Do we have any right to know who made the initial welfare check call?

Maybe. You can request a copy of the police report with a FOIA request after the investigation is closed. But they'll redact a bunch of stuff, possibly including the caller's name. The name of the caller *alone* is likely not protected as a "clearly unwarranted invasion of privacy". But it's a gray area and highly circumstance-dependent. See the discussion in [*Michigan Federation of Teachers and School Related Personnel v University of Michigan*](http://courts.mi.gov/Courts/MichiganSupremeCourt/Clerks/Recent%20Opinions/07-08-Term-Opinions/133819-Opinion.pdf). And the police tend to err on the side of privacy.

> if the police end up at our doorstep again for the same issue, should we consent to another search?

I wouldn't.
Answer #2: > against the person who just had a baby in our house

Was it a home birth? If so, it could have been anyone that was concerned about mom and baby.Answer #3: It's unlikely you'll find out who made the request for a welfare check, but if the police come back for another one you don't have to let them in. There need to be exigent circumstances for them to enter without a warrant.Answer #4: Why would you allow them to search your house in the first place? There's no reason to do so.


Title: Landlord asking for 6 months of rent upfront before signing lease in CA.

Question:
My sisters and I are looking to lease a single family home in Glendale, CA. We submitted our application and the landlord is concerned by our financial situation. I am a graduating student and one of my sisters is unemployed, but the other has a job. We lost both our parents, but we have a beneficiary IRA worth roughly $300K each where we will be making our rent payments from.

The landlord said that she is concerned that 2/3 of us are unemployed and is asking for six months upfront of rent, plus a security deposit of both the first and last month of rent, totaling close to $30K. We included our beneficiary IRA account manager's letter of explanation, showing that we have more than enough to pay. In fact, we could technically pay a year in advance. But we have read things about it being illegal for a landlord to ask for six months of rent upfront.

We have been approved for another place, asking for the standard security deposit of one month of rent with no months upfront. She is the only one making these demands. The terms of our beneficiary IRA are that we must take mandatory disbursements and we can pull from the account without paying any penalties.

Is it illegal for her to ask for six months upfront of rent? Even if it's not, we believe it is an unreasonable demand and will be taking another offer.

Answer: You do NOT want to be a tenant for this landlord. Please do not make this mistake. If you do, DOCUMENT EVERYTHING!!!!!!!!Answer #2: Nope. Deposits cannot be more than 2x the monthly rent.


Title: [FL - USA] - Wife has been diagnosed VERY RARE, Stage 3 Aggressive Breast Cancer while Pregnant. Likely caused by Progesterone injections. Any Recourse?

Question: [deleted]

Answer:
 I'm very sorry this happened to you.

Drug liability is very complex area of law, and the only way to have your specific situation evaluated is to consult a local attorney who takes such cases.Answer #2: The doctor told you that it's a *possible* cause of the neoplasm. There is no competent provider on this planet who would tell you that it *was* the cause of the cancer. That would be next to impossible to prove.

I don't mean to be an ass, and I understand how devastating this is to you. But as a provider myself, I can tell you that you misunderstood what the pathologist intended to tell you. That's understandable as most rarely interact with patients.


Title: Pregnancy/Maternity Leave - Kentucky

Question:
I have worked for my employer for a year and a half, and am due to have a child in late February. My boss called me into the office and asked what my plans were for after the baby is born. I told him that I planned on coming back to work shortly after the baby was born, and we both agreed that we didn't know if there were any laws in Kentucky governing how small businesses handle pregnancy leave.

According to Google, it seems that there are no laws governing maternity leave in Kentucky. My boss seems to think it's somewhat comical that even if I only take a few weeks off from work after having a child that there are no laws protecting my job. I hope this is incorrect, and that hopefully someone has some more information on how a business with less than 50 employees is mandated to handle an employee who takes any time off at all to have a child.

Edited to add: I understand that there are federal FMLA laws governing maternity leave, but I don't think those apply to my employer who employees less than 50 employees.

Answer: There isn't any protection.  Be grateful your employer is willing to work with you.


Title: Riding e-skateboard and being harassed by a driver

Question:
My neighborhood has a universal speed limit of 20 on every road, and my e-skateboard goes exactly 20mph, and this one driver kept following me around, tailgating me and honking at me before pulling into his garage and hiding when I pulled out my phone and showed it to him.

&#x200B;

Where I live, e-skateboards are technically not legal or illegal, and the police allow them as long as they stop at stop signs and signal (which I always do). Should I notify the police if this happens again? And if so is it considered reckless driving or something of that sort? I'm kinda mad right now but I figured the smart thing to do would be to ask for advice before I do anything.

Answer: You can report unsafe driving to the police, yes. Whether the cops will do anything about it is a whole other question, unfortunately.


Title: A foreign client is asking for a "stamped" invoice. What does this mean?

Question:
The client is in Saudi Arabia, and I am in Florida. I did some work over the past few months (machinima, video editing, graphic design etc) and now am invoicing them. They have asked for a "stamped" invoice.

In Florida, the only things that need stamps according to my research is deeds and promissory notes and transfers of real estate or property. There's no state income tax. I need only report to the IRS and pay federal taxes next year.

So what kind of stamp should I put on the invoice? Or should I explain that no stamp is needed? They seem to think I should have one. I have a business partnership (A DBA license, not an LLC) so it's just the two of us working here.
Topic:
Tax Law

Answer:
 Check with your local chamber of commerce.  If they can't help, try the CofC in the largest city or county nearby.  The phrase you're looking for is "Certificate of Origin".

Basically it's a seal & stamp  - much like a notary seal - that certifies your product/work originates in the US.   Once you have it, you will need to send the original via tracked mail (we usually use FedEx 2day service).

I don't believe we've ever paid to get a Cert (in Maryland) but your local CofC may be different.


Title: Am I liable for their theft?

Question:
I live in Maryland and sell things on etsy.  I sold an item to someone in Utah last Sunday, the 20th.  I shipped it on Monday and it was delivered (left on porch according to tracking) on Wednesday.

Unfortunately, the customer left town before the package was delivered and was gone through Saturday evening.  On Sunday, they saw the package was showing as being delivered, and checked to find it missing.

They contacted me and I told them to contact their local post office.  The post office told them that there had been a large number of thefts of packages reported recently and advised them to contact the police.  They also said that the package would not be covered under shipping insurance as the customer didn't know what day it was stolen.

The customer is pushing me to provide a replacement or a refund for their product.  A replacement for this particular piece will be impossible.  There were vintage parts involved which I can't replace, and I have to rent kiln time which is booked this time of year.  I feel that a refund is ridiculous, and money is tight enough now that I would suffer for it.  There was nothing on my end I could have done to prevent this, and frankly it was irresponsible of them to leave a package out for three and a half days without making other arrangements.  Frankly, I also suspect this might be a scam.

They are threatening to have my etsy store taken down, interfere with my business license, have my paypal account closed, etc.  They say their brother is a lawyer who can "cause me a world of trouble".  Frankly, I think they are just grandstanding, but I want to make sure.

Answer:
 I'll add that the customer is refusing to go to the police.  I don't know why.  I pointed out that if they had a police report, they might be able to claim it under homeowners insurance.

This is mostly why I think there's the possibility of it being a scam.Answer #2: You sent this irreplaceable item with insurance, tracking, and signature confirmation... right?

If not, what did you ship it with? I'd assume there was tracking based on the content on your post, so I'm confused as to how the customer isn't aware of what date the package was delivered.

> They are threatening to have my etsy store taken down

Blowing smoke.

> interfere with my business license

What?

> have my paypal account closed

A malicious attacker could actually do this, but not legitimately over one transaction.

>  They say their brother is a lawyer who can "cause me a world of trouble"

Adorable.Answer #3: Smells like a scam.  Your aren't liable for the theft of their mail.  Block them and ignore unless they do actually file suit (very unlikely) or etsy contacts you about the issue.


Title: Just moved into apt and next door neighbor is a major heroin dealer with people coming by all day and night and causing problems (B&E, Hypo Litter, Stabbings, etc.). Anything that I can legally do? (Austin, Tx)

Question:
So my girlfriend and I just moved into an apartment complex on the East side of Austin that was recently purchased by a new management company. After speaking with a few neighbors, and just observing in general, we came to learn that our next door neighbor is major heroin dealer. He has enforcers/ lookouts posted about the complex at all hours of the day, and sometimes they have visible guns in their belts. People are coming by and banging on our door constantly, thinking that we are our neighbor. I work in the SUD field and these folks generally have open track marks, as well as other indicators of regular heroin abuse. These guys leave hypodermic needles around the complex, break into vacant units, and take things from cars and backyards. The second day after we had moved in, there was a stabbing and multiple arrests at our complex. While I've taken some basic security precautions, I wanted to know if there was any legal action I could take. We've filed complaints with the management company, as well as the Austin Tenants Council. Any advice is greatly appreciated. Thanks.
Topic:
Landlord Tenant Housing

Answer: Call in a very specific anonymous tip about your neighbor to the local PD.


Title: [Melb, Aus] Today I was caught trespassing a school after hours. What will happen?

Question: [deleted]

Answer:
 I don't think the police have a need to contact your school if you go to a different one then the one you were trespassing in.

Your parents will more then likely be contacted. The rest is up to the police. They may just contact your parents, Say what happened they'll talk to you (punish?) You'll learn your lesson.

Or the police will prosecute you for trespassing The most likely outcome of that if found guilty scenario is a fine, community service. (This is the option you don't want)


Title: I was bit by a dog

Question: [deleted]

Answer: Complain to corporate.


Title: Is it okay to read mail after it's been opened?

Question:
From what I understand, it's illegal to read another person's mail. My mom has been known in the past to go through and open my mail anytime it looks interesting. (This includes anything from opening up my daughter's social security card when it came to opening up bills cause she's wondering who I owe money to, or opening up packages because she's curious). My sister and I (31 and 24) have both confronted her about this, and she stopped after us repeating multiple times that it's against the law to do.

Recently I opened a piece of mail and left it on the table in our front hallway for an hour or so while I went outside with my daughter. I came back in to find my mom had read it, and when confronted about it she told me that since I'd already opened it she was allowed to look at it. Is this true? Can she just come into my room and go through my mail once it's opened?

I'm in PA. Also, if it helps, my sister and I both pay rent/utilities and have our own areas of the house. All of our mail goes into the same mailbox.

Answer:
 Once you open mail it isn't mail anymore, it's just paper. So, yeah, legally she's not reading your mail. She's reading your paper.

Get a PO box or move out, because your mother doesn't respect your boundaries and it's not like you're going to send her to prison.


Title: Wrongful Dismissal

Question:
I had a post earlier but I was still emotional about the situation so I admit it was horribly written as I was just trying to get the information out there to get advice.

Anyways, this morning I got a traffic infraction, serious enough of and infraction that I had to call my wife to come and pick me up in order to solve the situation.  During that time she had called her work place to tell them that she was not coming in today, the owner said that "That was fine, see you next week".

As we were conducting our business the other Owner called her and fired her for job abandonment and said she was going to "pay her 2 weeks in lieu of notice".

Its a part time job because this town is dead, It is really hard for my wife to get a job it seems (HS education only) once she was without a job for 7 months till this last job came up.

In short we are looking to get as much money as we can out of this BS situation.

Country: Canada
Province: Ontario

Answer: What is wrongful about the dismissal? Is the termination pay not in line with what she should be entitled to?


Title: Kentucky couple with 1 child, husband moved out, took most possessions and all income with him, leaving the mother with nothing but a roof over her head.

Question:
I have a friend going through a situation where her husband moved out, took all income, vehicles and many valuables with him, leaving the mother with little to nothing.  She was left with their small home that she cannot afford in any way.  They have unofficial joint custody right now as he fights and threatens to take their daughter.  She cannot afford food, cannot afford her vital medication and was left with absolutely no transportation of any kind.

Is there anything she can do legally to help her situation, or is she simply stuck with nothing?  She cannot afford to live in her current situation and medically speaking is in danger.

Answer: She needs to borrow money, hire an attorney, file for divorce and custody.


Title: I'm not capable of rational thought. What do I do about it? [New York]

Question:
I've come to the conclusion that I am not capable of rational thought. This conclusion is supported by my interaction with other people and my inability to understand reasoning other people consider "common sense." See my past posts if you want a long, rambling, incoherent mess of my thought patterns.

What do I do? I am clearly too disconnected from reality to function properly in society. Laws are set up with the assumption that I can understand them, but that's clearly not the case. I can't understand a damn thing and am paralyzed by fear from stimuli other people consider not an issue.

What are my legal options to handle this situation?

Answer:
 > What are my legal options to handle this situation?

Sign power of attorney over to someone, then never ever disagree with them.Answer #2: Looking at your behavior and thoughts, determining that they are not rational, and wanting to do something about it IS rational thought.

Chew on *that* for a while.

Edit:

Also, if you have irrational thoughts, how can you trust your assessment of your thoughts as irrational?Answer #3: > I've come to the conclusion that I am not capable of rational thought.

How do you know? If you're not capable of rational thought, then you shouldn't be able to conclude that you are. Looking at you heavily down voted post history, I don't really think you need legal advice. What you need is to get off reddit for some time, go outside and talk to a therapist.


Title: Could SCOTUS make a ruling about marijuana like they did marriage?

Question:
Theoretically, could SCOTUS make a descision overturning state's laws against marijuana like they did with gay marriage?  How likely is that to ever happen?

I know it's two different things. One of it involves banned substances while the other one involves human rights. But I'm j/w.

Answer: You'd need a basis to find prohibiting marijuana to be unconstitutional, so "it's not likely."


Title: [OH] & [NJ] Issues with an agreement pursuant to an uncontested guardianship of an elderly person.

Question:
My grandmother lives in Ohio. My mother lives in NJ. My grandmother is 98. My uncle who also lives in Ohio was given guardianship a few years ago, grandma has dementia and needs close supervision. My mother agreed to drop her contesting guardianship claim in exchange for access to grandma and information in emergency situations. This agreement was authorized by the court controlling the guardianship. Without anyone's knowledge, my uncle moved my grandmother to an assisted living center, so that he could suddenly start fostering 4 children, neither he nor his "life mate" (Lady he has been with for like 30 years but never married) have any kids and they are both well into their 60s.

 Grandma fell and broke her hip. Doctors say she laid there for 4-6 hours before anyone found her, because its assisted living and not full time care. Mother went out to Ohio this past week to be there in case anything happened during surgery. Surgery went fine. After getting back home and contacting the hospital, all of Grandma's nurses and doctors told Mother that Uncle had instructed them not to tell her anything about Grandma's condition. Mother had thought to get the Nurse practitioner and Physical therapist's number. NP said Grandma needed PT 4 times a week and that she didn't think it was a good idea for her to go back to assisted living. PT said they weren't doing PT because she was non-responsive due to dementia.

Before you guys give the usual "Get a lawyer" advice I want to hear thoughts on the different legal actions to take.

Answer: there are two options generally here, applying for conservatorhip yourselves, or alleging he is failing in his duties, generally both are done at once. you CAN NOT do this on your own with any hope of success, you need an attorney.


Title: I asked a waiter to take a group picture, on which he dropped my phone with 200€ screen damage as a consequence, what do I do?

Question:
Hey all,

last night I had a dinner with my colleagues. I asked one of the waiters to take a group picture, but he dropped my phone in the process. Now one of the corners has some black, dead-pixel, spots and scratches. It is an expensive phone and repairing it is around 200€. What can I do in this situation? Can I send the restaurant a complaint?

Answer: Don’t hand strangers your expensive phone or punish them for trying their best to do you a favor and making an honest mistake.


Title: Were my HIPAA rights violated?

Question: [deleted]

Answer:
 Doctors not being able to communicate diagnoses and treatments done by each other would lead to alot of dead patients.  There are protections in place to ensure they are free to talk to each other as long as the form of communication used isnt a privacy threat. They cant post a notice on the wall to other doctors but they can call.fax.ect

http://www.hhs.gov/ocr/privacy/hipaa/faq/authorizations/481.html

http://www.ama-assn.org/ama/pub/physician-resources/solutions-managing-your-practice/coding-billing-insurance/hipaahealth-insurance-portability-accountability-act/frequently-asked-questions.page?Answer #2: What do you think the walk in clinic was discussing with the podiatrist? They are a member of your health team in this case. You have also suffered no damages in this situation, you have nothing to stand on in this case.


Title: Is calling an officer a "douche" against the law in PA?

Question:
My coworker and I were just protected and served in the form of $600 citations for soliciting without a permit. So I gave the officer a bit of shit by mentioning that usually we're given a warning before a citation and asked him if "they just say 'fuck you' to working people such as ourselves" and he confirmed that yes that's exactly what they do. So on his way to the car I muttered "thanks douche" and then he felt like he needed to get within inches of me and make sure he heard me right, threatening me with a disorderly conduct charge and at that point I conceded and told him I had said "thanks sir." Of course he knew I didn't but he never elaborated on what he intended to do.

This guy never explained any statute or anything, he just bullied my coworker and I into accepting our punishment and making sure we understood who was the cock of the block. I don't care about the fine because my company is going to pay it. But I am interested in whether or not I can get in trouble for insulting a police officer when they're being unreasonably harsh.

Answer: Contempt-of-cop is a misdemeanor charge in most jurisdictions.  Does it result in convictions? Usually not, but you do get some fancy bracelets and a trip downtown.


Title: How was the NFL redskins team able to trademark the name washington football team wouldn't this be a generic trademark and untrademarkable?

Answer:
 >How was the NFL redskins team able to trademark the name washington football team wouldn't this be a generic trademark and untrademarkable?

The same way "Burger King" can have a trademark.  The word "burger" itself is obviously generic, so they can't stop people from using "burger", but the whole phrase "Burger King" clearly marks their brand, so it can be trademarked.

It's similar with the "Washington Football Team." "Football" and "Team" are generic on their own, but the whole phrase together clearly marks the NFL franchise from Washington, so it can be trademarked.Answer #2: It doesn’t seem generic to me, I see it and immediately think of the NFL team. How many other football teams are based in Washington? What else would the average person think you may be referring to?

This is where the idea of a generic term can get a bit subjective.Answer #3: They were able to trademark it because the trademark office wasn't about to force them to go back to "Redskins."

It probably is too generic to really enforce very broadly, but they are the only NFL team using that name, and in that context, it's probably OK.

If another "Washington" (and there are hundreds of them) with a football team that happened to use red and yellow as their colors were to start selling merchandise with "Washington Football Team" on it, then there could be issues, and it would probably be best for everybody if the NFL team chose to either ignore them or pay them a lot of money to change their colors.Answer #4: Is this true, or does the trademark incorporate fonts l, colours and perhaps images


Title: I got a DUI, but I wasn't in the car. Case dismissed???

Question:
Ok so one day my wife had gotten a ride to work, because our car wouldn't start. I was at home when I started having a bad anxiety attack. I walked to the store and grabbed a pint of whiskey to sleep through the anxiety. I drank about half the bottle rather quickly and laid down. The next thing I remember was waking up at my sister's house.

My wife told me that I showed up to her work and that her car was on the curb in the parking lot (as if someone went to park but didn't stop and ended up jumping the curb). The vehicle was in drive with the driver door open. Some customers said I was walking up to every white car (same color as my wife's car) and trying to open the doors.

One customer called the police. I'm not sure exactly what they told the police. The police showed up an hour and ½ after I had arrived. My wife came outside to talk to me and that's when she noticed the placement of her car and that the police were there. She asked me what happened and I told her, "I have no idea what's going on." Then the officer came to me and pulled me aside.

My wife said the officer asked me if the car on the curb was mine and if I had been driving it. She said that I answered no to both questions. I did have the keys, but the car is push button start so I could have been anywhere in the vehicle for it to start and the car was still running when I exited the vehicle. The officer said I was too inebriated to do a field sobriety test so he arrested me and took me to the station and gave me a breathalyzer. I blew over the limit. The officer said I was too drunk to be put in jail so he released me to my wife and mother. I guess the judge decides what I will be charged with. The options are dui, extreme dui, driving on a suspended license, or another option that I'm not sure what it is.

I've never had anything like this happen to me before. I've blacked out before but never to the extent where I don't remember anything. The only bits and pieces I do remember we're when I was at the jail being questioned. It felt like a dream or almost like I was on a dissociative drug. I would never in my right mind drive a vehicle after consuming that much alcohol. I'm not sure if perhaps I had someone else drive me there and maybe they took off when they jumped the curb? I don't even see how it would be possible for me to make it to my wife's work safely in the condition I was in.

Do I have a chance of getting the case dismissed? The officer never saw me in the car. We're not sure what the complaint was from the person who called the cops. They may have called, because I was trying to enter other vehicles. As far as I know the witness was not present when the police arrived. The officer didn't request any of the surveillance tapes.

What would you say my odds are of having the case dismissed based on the above information? Thanks in advance for any responses, information, or opinions.

Answer:
 Bless your heart. You're screwed. You need an attorney, and you need to face reality. You blacked out. ( probably going to get down voted for this, but sometimes you gotta call it like you see it.)  ETA: I once drove 10 ish miles, parked my car, and passed out. Woke up being loaded into an ambulance.  Not something I'm proud of. Don't remember ANY of it.Answer #2: Your odds are zero. Arizona doesn’t require proof that you drove the car for a DUI. Rather, the prosecutor just needs to prove that you had actual physical control of the vehicle while drunk. The fact that you had the keys, the car was in drive, and you were trying to get into the car are things that really work against you.

A good lawyer should be able to help your defense. You’re in a lot of legal trouble, don’t try to represent yourself or hope for the best.


Question:
## Loosely written easement for ingress and egress, owner says I must pay him for utility access

Bought bare land in WA, Cowlitz Co. comes with a very loosely worded easement for access to land locked property. Owner of easement is now saying I must buy a utility easement from him in order to get power to the property. Utilities would go along approx. 600 ft on an established road that has been the access point for 30 years. Exact wording "Together with an easement for ingress and egress, over an existing road, as disclosed by quit claim deed...." Can a land owner that has granted an easement in the past add conditions to it or limit it at any time?

Answer:
 > Can a land owner that has granted an easement in the past add conditions to it or limit it at any time?

No. But that's not what's happening here. The legal issue is whether utility access is within the scope of the easement grant. An easement for ingress and egress means you can only use it for entering and leaving the property.

Have you contacted the utility to see if they already have an easement that they could use to serve your property?


Title: Bought product online, attempted to cancel order. When that failed I cancelled my debit card altogether before the charge went through. Product still shipped and charged afterwards. Options? [WI, USA]

Question:
On Friday afternoon I bought a product online at the suggestion of Google's shopping tab (saved $20).  Website guaranteed 3-5 day arrival.  At 11:45 AM Tuesday my order status had not updated at all and I emailed customer support (7 AM-9 PM Mon-Fri, allegedly in Maryland) asking about this.  I did not get a reply until 3:58 AM on Wednesday, and my question was not really answered.  I replied at 7 AM on Wednesday morning asking about canceling the order.

I got no response and around noon on Wednesday I started to dig.  I found that four similar sites had been hosted on this server in the past and all had reports of people not getting orders or not being able to return items because the website didn't reply.  Upon seeing this I sent another email at 12:30 PM demanding a cancellation.  No response to that either.  My order status still said "awaiting payment".  I tried calling customer support five times over the next few hours but the phone number listed on the website was disconnected.

By the time 4 PM rolled around I was feeling a bit uneasy about this site and I called my bank about this charge and cancelled my card.  The charge was pending at the time (website still said awaiting payment).

Today at around 12:30 AM I got an email from this company saying my order had shipped.  It appeared to be an automated order system email, not one from customer service.  The package has shipped and arrived at my residence.

Just now my bank emailed me saying the charge has gone through and sent me a dispute form.  My banker assures me that this form is just to make it official but there should not be any problem with the chargeback based on the details of this experience (I have email and call records).

My question is this: I have the item shipped, am disputing the charge with my bank (as it shipped hours after I requested a cancellation during their customer service hours), and have ordered a replacement from Amazon.  Once the dispute goes through, what am I able to do with the item if this website never replies to my emails about this issue?

**TL;DR** Item ordered, site looked sketchy, demanded cancellation before item shipped, customer service could not be contacted, cancelled debit card.  Item shipped and charged to account.  Charge disputed.  Can't get a hold of website to return item.  What do I do with the item?

Answer: You can't chargeback something that you received after you ordered it. You have to return the product and follow there return policy.


Title: Male truck driver fired

Question: A male truck driver is asked to train a female. The male truck driver is not the company trainer. His title is just 'truck driver'. He refuses to train the female because he doesn't want to be alone with her in the truck. The truck has a sleeper berth and would be out on the road for 3 days. The company fired him. Is there any legal action the male truck driver can take?

Answer: No. Training a new coworker is a reasonable work request. Refusing to do assigned with is a perfectly valid and legal reason to be fired.


Title: Is it legal to transfer money from my spouses savings account to mine?

Question:
Not a post I ever thought I would have to make not a question I ever considered.
Yesterday my wife, of three years, blindsided me by removing everything she felt was hers from our apartment while I was at work. When I got home she text me to meet and there dropped she will be handing me divorce papers this week.
Over the past three years of marriage she has worked on and off due to immigration issues that arose. We made a deal that when she is working that her pay goes to savings and I will continue as always paying the rent and bills. All our savings is located in her separate account right now. She told me she would be taking all of it as well as anything she felt she needed still left in the apartment. I have been left with having to pay rent for something over my price range, two car payments (both in my name) and any other bills. I have her bank account information, as she has mine. I am wondering, out of only fear of this whole situation not going cleanly, can I move half of the saving to my account legally if it is a separate bank account from mine?
Topic:
Custody Divorce and Family

Answer:
 Don't take the money. But do print out a dated statement of how much money is in each account. Also take photos of your apartment and/or make a list of all the stuff acquired *during* the marriage.

WA is a community property state, which means everything is 50/50 owned, including money. Your income is 50% hers and her income is 50% yours. So although you thought of it as "my salary paid bills her salary went into savings" legally the reality all the money was "ours".


Title: [GA] Roommate is making the house inhabitable.

Question: So, I live in Atlanta in a really nice building. My boyfriend happens to live in the same building so I spend most of my time up there. I went to my place today to do laundry and it is disgusting. There are bugs everywhere, mildewed clothes, piles of dishes in the sink. The bugs are the worst part. This has been going on since she’s moved in but it’s gotten a lot worse since I moved my cat upstairs. Do I have any options?? There are about 6 months left on the lease.

Answer: Stay in your apartment some so your messy roommate doesn't have run of the place.


Title: College roommate failed to pay a lot of rent for a joint lease. Lied about setting up a payment plan and never told us about an eviction notice. Very messy and I need to act fast....

Question:
This is a big one so I guess I'll just go from start to finish. I'll try and separate the info so it's easier to piece together information.

**Location and Background**

Me, one of my best friends (let's call him "Alex"), and someone else we knew (we'll call him "Ben") signed a *joint lease* for an apartment complex in Bloomington, Indiana. This lease was from August 2016 to July 2017 for my senior year in college.

**Rent Split and Payments**

Prior to paying our first month's rent, we split the rent ($1,950 a month) as follows: 670 for me, 640 for Alex, 640 for Ben. This was just because I had my own bathroom attached to my room so I was willing to pay more. After setting this rent schedule, we started paying our rent month to month. Alex and I had no problems with paying rent so we paid it on time every single month. However, Ben had difficulties paying on time so he would pay a big sum every other month or so and cover the late fees. This was only until the end of 2016 though. *From January 2017 to the end of the lease (July 2017), Ben paid no rent whatsoever.*

**Confronting "Ben"**

Throughout 2017, Alex and I had been asking Ben what the status of his payments were. At first, he said he was waiting for scholarship money to pay his balance. Then he said his mom talked to the GM and set up a payment plan. We (stupidly) believed him and thought the situation was being handled.

**First Eviction Warning**

On May 5, 2017 we got emailed a warning that the complex will file for eviction. The GM said he would send a breakdown for who paid what the next day so we could see the damages. We did not get that second email. In addition, I replied to the GM and asked if Ben's parents set up a payment plan mentioned above. I did not get a response. Since we did not get the email the GM promised and I did not get a response from the GM, I assumed everything was fine (also stupid).

**Move Out**

After the school year ended (May 6 2017) Alex and I moved out immediately. Although our lease was until the end of July, I'm from Chicago and Alex is from Northwestern Indiana so we wanted to move our stuff out early. We also assumed Ben was going to move out soon thereafter.

**Phone Conversation with GM (IMPORTANT DETAILS)**

On August 30, 2017 I was finally able to talk to the GM over the phone and have the situation clarified. It did not go as expected. Below is a summary of the key things I learned after this phone conversation:

* Ben's parents **did not** set up a payment plan with the GM, contradicting what Ben told us.
* An official eviction warning was posted on our door on June 21, 2017 (after Alex and I moved out)
* The official eviction warning that was posted on the door was removed by someone and placed on a counter in the apartment. This meant the GM assumed we received the notice. Ben DID NOT TELL US ANYTHING SO WE HAD NO IDEA!
* Court date and eviction was filed on July 3, 2017. Since we did not know about the eviction notice, no one showed up to the hearing and eviction was filed. Since we were all moved out, we couldn't even physically tell that we were being evicted.
* Damages hearing is set for September 14, 2017 in Bloomington, IN. This is where they will be addressing who is sent to collections for a specified amount of the balance.
* **The outstanding balance on our account is $4,475.**

**My Options**

After learning all this, I freaked out. Talking with the GM helped because he was very understanding of my situation knowing Alex and I paid rent on time every month. He gave me a few options, and I thought of my own.

*Note:* He even said that if the outstanding balance is paid in full by the Damages Hearing on September 14, the eviction will be removed from our records. If it isn't paid by then, the eviction will go on our credit reports. Not sure if this is true but it's what he told me.

These options are listed from best case scenario to worst case scenario in my opinion:

* Ben pays the full $4,475 by September 14 and the eviction will be prevented from going on our credit reports.
* Alex and I make a deal with Ben, agreeing that Ben pay the majority of the $4,475 balance and we will split the rest by September 14, preventing the eviction on our credit report.
* Alex and I will split the $4,475 balance before September 14, preventing the eviction on our credit report. We will then sue Ben in Indiana small claims court for the $4,475.
* I attend the September 14 Damages Hearing and provide evidence that Alex and I paid our rent on time. I would be hoping the judge understands my story and only sends Ben to collections. However, the eviction is still on on credit reports.
* I attend the September 14 Damages Hearing, however there is nothing I can do and the judge upholds the joint lease agreement. We all go to collections and the eviction is on our credit reports.

-------------

Alright so I think I have listed all my options and all the background to my situation. Here are my questions:

* Are the options I listed actually viable and will they yield the results I stated?
* Are there any other routes I should take? (lawyer, etc)
* Is there a way for me to avoid the eviction on my credit report without paying a dime?
* What evidence will I need to acquire other than a ledger showing who made what payments?
* Any other advice?

My biggest priority is for this to not go onto my credit report. I don't fully understand the repercussions of an eviction on your credit report, but I assume it's worse than biting the bullet and paying the $2,237 to make it go away.

If you've made it this far, thank you so much. I am very restless and paranoid for the next couple of weeks and appreciate any and all advice on what routes to take. If you need any other information feel free to let me know.

--

**TL;DR** I had a joint lease with 2 other people from Aug 2016 - July 2017. Me and one roommate paid our rent consistently but the other had issues and then didn't pay rent all together in 2017. He lied to us about setting up payment plans with the GM. Miscommunication between us and the GM made me assume everything was ok. I called the GM and he basically told me we were evicted and the damages hearing is in 2 weeks and we have an outstanding balance of $4,475. I can either get the balance paid by then, to prevent the eviction from going on my credit report, or go to the Damages Hearing and plead my case to avoid being sent to collections. My very basic options are to deal with the eviction on my credit report, but not have to pay any money now, or pay split the balance with my other roommate and prevent the eviction from going on my credit report.
Topic:
Landlord Tenant Housing

Answer:
 Pay it then sue the person who didn't pay their share of the rent. You don't want an eviction on your record if you plan on renting again in the next 7 years.  Answer #2: Don't even consider making a deal with Ben.  You already know you can't trust him.  Your best option is to pay it off to avoid the eviction, and sue the jerk in small claims.Answer #3: > Alex and I will split the $4,475 balance before September 14, preventing the eviction on our credit report. We will then sue Ben in Indiana small claims court for the $4,475.

I just want to emphasize that if this is doable, then you need to do it like yesterday and make sure you have everything in writing from the LL. If possible for one of you to do it, that'd be ideal, cause then only one of you has to chase down Ben.
Answer #4: > My very basic options are to deal with the eviction on my credit report, but not have to pay any money now, or pay split the balance with my other roommate and prevent the eviction from going on my credit report.

Correct.

If you pay, you then sue the third person for the money they were supposed to be paying and didn't.Answer #5: You will pay now then sue Ben, you will then attend the damages hearing as well. This is the option you have complete control over


Title: Evicting drug addicted son and gf

Question:
Someone close to me (really) has a 35 yo son who is a heroin addict who has a 30 something year old gf who is the one that got him hooked and - well - hooks a little herself. The son steals from my friend, credit cards, checks, tvs, pawned everything of value. Two months ago son agreed to getting shot that makes opiates ineffective for 30 days. Friend said if you go back to drugs you are out. He went back she kicked them out. They left and then came back saying you can not kick us out without notice. When friend is not home they bring like street people home to bath and sleep. Son stole friends car the other night and she threatened to call cops so he brought it back - with a needle in backseat.
Cops showed up at house and said there was warrant for son and she could be arrested for aiding. UUUGGGG - sorry for going on. She loves her son. How can she legally get him and gf out of house without calling cops?
EDIT - live in Florida.

Answer:
 > They left and then came back saying you can not kick us out without notice.

This is accurate. She needs to give them 15 days written notice to vacate. Then if they do not she needs to take them to court.

She could report them to the police, they might get arrested for drugs, but she'd still have to give proper notice under Florida law and be granted an eviction if they didn't voluntarily leave.


Title: My girlfriend infected me with a STD she did not tell me about. Can/Should I take legal action?

Question: [deleted]

Answer:
 Did your GF know she was infected? HPV is fairly common.

Also, I know nothing of German law.