Title: (Maryland) I and another person are being sued because we rescinded an acceptance into our non-profit, co-op house because she asked me for coke.

Question:
Alright. I am a part of a non-profit, housing co-op that serves students and young professionals. Basically we're a bunch of young dumb people who want to live cooperatively. Our new membership committee accepted this person into our organization for housing. She paid a security deposit, membership fee, and signed a membership contract that says she agrees to pay a certain amount per month, membership fee, and security deposit while living in the house and uphold our co-op's mission and values and this includes house rules. That's for our organization, this house is not owned by the organization. It is rented through a landlord. She has never signed the lease. In fact, I am still trying to get the lease from the landlord so that my housemates and I can sign it. She had a house tour. During this tour she said to me that she wouldn't necessarily need to move in until August (lease starts July) and I mentioned (stupidly didn't go into the details- said no hard substances) near the end of the tour that our house has a verbal drug policy. Meaning that everyone in the house agrees to a certain set of rules when it comes to illegal substances, cigarettes, and alcohol. We have people were moving in that actually were previous opiate users and is three years clean.

All is fine and well, then she asked me one day a few weeks before the lease starts if "my dealer had any coke." This was via text message (I only talked to her via text and yes I have all of the texts she's sent me.) I was  in the drive thru at starbucks, trying to get coffee before going to work, when she asked me this. I kinda panicked and said no hard stuff. She asked if I could look around for her and I said I'll ask around. I only said this because I legit didn't know what to do. I got to work. I texted my roommate who was still living in the house currently over the summer and would be starting the new lease with this person, my president and treasurer of the organization, and the new membership committee member  that interviewed her and accepted her into the organization. I have these texts as well. I basically asked for advice on what to say to her, if it was ok to revoke her acceptance because she hasn't moved in, and I basically expressed how perplexed I was that she would ask me, basically a stranger, for drugs and that she thought I would know where to get that stuff.

My roommate was not comfortable with her moving in. The treasurer and president wanted to know if she had moved in. I told them she didn't and that new members hadn't moved in so it doesn't make sense to involve them for a vote or meeting. If she had moved in, we would not have evicted her without a vote. We would have tried mediation services too, but since she never moved in and we weren't going to hold her liable for the empty space, and we refunded the money she had given us, (security deposit, membership fee) it just made sense to tell her, that we have to revoke her acceptance into the house because it's a red flag that she's asking a total stranger for like a hard narcotic. I told her as much and she apologized and said she "should have known better."

She is suing me and the person, who sent her a formal email explaining why we were rescinding her offer, for "pain and suffering" and "financial hardship." She's claiming on the writ of summons that she signed a lease and was booted out before moving in and that she has to accept a room in another house with higher rent. We tried to mediate with her before the court date but she was dead set on getting a settlement.

I deal with depression and anxiety really really badly. I waited too long to seek legal help because everyone including some friend of a friend lawyers that she doesn't have a case and I trusted them and let myself cope by avoiding the whole issue till the last minute. I went to a self help legal aid center to just be sure that I wasn't forgetting anything and like get walked through on what to do. All parties are representing ourselves. The person there basically said she couldn't help me and my fellow co-op member because we were affiliated with a co-op that's incorporated and that we needed to speak to a lawyer and prove that she is suing the wrong party. We don't want her to sue our co-op either. It is too late for a lawyer and the other legal aid service nearby is for our university (which we are affiliated with), but I am not a student nor is my fellow co-op member.

I feel so terrible. Court is tomorrow morning. How screwed am I? Is there anything I should know? I have a timeline, her actual membership contract (which she doesn't have), and all of the texts. I don't know what else I may need besides our house lease, which my landlord hasn't sent me to sign yet despite asking a few times for it. Did I incriminate myself for panicking and saying "I'll ask around [for coke]?"

I am so scared.

Edit: elaborated on why it was stupid to mention the verbal drug policy and not go into detail.  I sent her an email, soon after that house tour, that had an agenda to it that went into details about drugs (no drugs that you can overdose on, your business with everything else as long as it doesn't negatively affect the house itself or the residents. I can't find that agenda though.)

Answer:
 Somewhat TLDR-Based Translation: you signed a lease with someone and then refused to deliver possession.  You are liable to that person for the damages you caused them.

Getting creeped out is not grounds to terminate a lease.

But.  **BUT** you are almost certainly not liable for pain and suffering, but rather only _actual_ damages.

You need to show up in court and adjourn and seek counsel.  Or just risk it and go before a judge because this sounds ridiculous and she probably has no actual damages.


Title: [Maine] Vacation Rental Booked 7 Months Ago, Just Cancelled On Us, No Alternatives

Question:
As a group of 12 going to a wedding in a picturesque area of Maine, we booked a large lake-front mansion for three nights (Thurs-Sun) in August for a total of $3,868. We found the listing on vrbo.com but negotiated with the owner privately. There was some back-and-forth over the lease/contract he sent us, which I mention just to emphasize that we specifically discussed our dates and this wasn't some automated booking. This happened back in November, and unfortunately there is nothing in the lease about cancellations.

Today we get an "Oops the place is double-booked" email from him. He hasn't answered or returned any calls. Obviously we want to at least get our deposit ($1934, half of the total) back, but seeing as we're now only two months away from the wedding there are no comparable places to stay nearby. Finding a place to house 12 people for 3 days is no picnic, let alone a nice house right on the water.

Do we have any recourse? I'm not sure I'm buying the double-booked excuse, as we reserved the place 7 months ago. If we were to sue for some kind of damages, how would we compute that? One thought was if were to all stay at nearby hotels (at least $150/night/person, 12 people, 3 nights) that comes out to $5400 which is $1500 more than our reservation, and that wouldn't be taking into account the downgrade from a lake-front house to a road-side hotel...

Thoughts?

TL;DR: Vacation Rental we booked 7 months ago just cancelled on us, no way to reserve comparable place with only two-months notice.

Answer:
 > We found the listing on vrbo.com but negotiated with the owner privately.

There's a saying out there that sometimes the point of your life is to serve as warning to others.

I'm sorry for your situation, but I want to highlight this point: NEVER negotiate or pay off of the VRBO/Homeaway/AirBnB site. They are set up to stop scams and to refund your money if anything goes wrong, but the minute you take it off their site, they don't care about your issue. Answer #2: You can sue for the return of your deposit, and that's it.


Title: Friends won't leave my house..

Question: GA. So, we let two of my friends stay with us at the house we are renting because they needed a place to stay and we had an extra room. They have paid a portion of rent/utilities sporadically, but never regularly, as they are pretty crap with money. Our lease is up at the end of the month and we were supposed to return keys tomorrow, but these guys haven't figured out a place to go yet, despite months of notice. How can I get them out? Is just kicking them out and trashing their stuff legal? Should I get the police involved? Please help!

Answer:
 Just kicking them out and trashing their stuff is definitely not legal.

How long have they been living in your home?  Have you given them any written notice to vacate?


Title: (Alberta, Canada) Can I compel a paternity test if I'm not in contact with the mother?

Question:
Long story short, I dated this girl last summer. We broke up
 (but no drama) and I haven't spoken to her since. I ran into her the other day pushing a baby carriage. I asked around (friends of friends) and the dates check out. She also has appearantly not told anyone who the father is, just said "he's not in the picture".

If it's my kid, I want custody or visitation. I'm even willing to pay child support, but she makes more than me (by alot) so that's not really levarage.

Do I have any legal options to make her get a DNA test? There's alot more to this story with me asking around and I'm 100% sure the kid has to be mine. I also plan to just ask her but I don't think she'll tell the truth because I know what kind of person she is. If she hasn't told me yet, she's not going to and will probably just lie if I ask her. So I need to know if there are options for me if she says the kid isn't mine.

Answer:
 If you can't work something out with the mother, this is beyond self-help.

Right now, you are not the legal father of this child, thus, you have no right to force a medical procedure on the child. A lawyer may be able to pursue this matter further within the legal system, but this is not a simple process and falls outside of the scope of this sub.

I hate saying these words, but you need to speak with a lawyer.


Title: [nh] landlord entered apt without notice and shut off electrical devices

Question: My fiancé accidentally left her ac on when she went to work. The landlord showed up for some reason and entered her apt shut off her ac. The thermostat for all 4 units is also in her unit. She lowered the thermostat as well. After she did this she sent multiple texts to my fiancée scolding her for the ac being on and the thermostat not being lowered all the way since it's now June. The landlord has all utilities included in rent so the tenants don't pay for heat and electricity. Does my fiancée have any actual recourse or can she only send only really send a letter saying please stop entering my house

Answer:
 Give written notice. It is illegal for a LL to enter a tenant's premises without permission in NH.

Under RSA 540-A:

> No landlord shall willfully enter into the premises of the tenant without prior consent, other than to make emergency repairs.

Turning down the AC is not an emergency repair.

Give LL a polite notice telling them to fuck off. Inform them you'll be calling the police for trespassing and filing civilly for breaching the lease should such acts continue.


Title: Was recently fired from job, need advice

Question: [deleted]

Answer:
 Your question is.....

I'd cancel that exit interview if I were you.


Title: [MT] Work at a fast food chain, being accused of discrimination against a customer.

Question:
I work as a manager at a corporate owned franchise store. Last Saturday someone called accusing me of kicking someone out of the store because they were Native American. I told them they were mistaken as I've never kicked anyone out of the store and haven't had any altercations since I've been working there. They said they were going to sue and I just chalked it up to a prank phone call.

&nbsp;

The following day another manager on duty receives a phone call saying that I had kicked out a handicapped child, because he was handicapped. He called me and I told him about the phone call last night. I told him to leave a note so if they call again whoever is there will know that it is just a prank, scam, or whatever.

&nbsp;

The next day I receive a call from the general manager that someone had contacted the corporate office about me kicking a handicapped kid out of the store. I made a statement that I signed pretty much saying what I've said here.

&nbsp;

Now I've found out that one of my coworkers had an incident while riding the bus. Someone on the bus asked if the coworker worked at my store and that someone told the coworker that I, "had trouble coming my way."

&nbsp;

I plan on contacting the corporate office and letting them know that I plan on taking action. I was wondering if some sort of criminal defamation was possible, or is there something I could do in civil court? Does the company have any incentive to protect me?  There are cameras and audio recording throughout the store so I assume that will be enough to show the whole accusation is bogus.

Topic:
Disability Issues

Answer: There is no action for you to take, really. You don't know who is making this claim, and the police aren't going to follow up (and criminal defamation isn't a thing). Just document anything that happens and hope for the best.Answer #2: The co-worker / bus incident sounds odd. Like something someone would say to  push your buttons.


Title: Someone is spreading lies about me

Question: So I was letting this girl stay in my house bc she had nowhere else to go. She was only there for 2 weeks before my landlord found out. He said he was going to charge $25/day until she left (we were over occupancy). I told her this, and that she needed to find somewhere else to stay. Now she is going around and telling people that I kicked her out because she wouldn't have a threesome with me and my boyfriend. We are in Missouri. How can I shut this down?

Answer:
 Live a type of life where those who hear this will go "F0xQueen? Hell no that didn't happen. She isn't that type of person. Thats is 100% opposite the sort of person she is."

You can potentially bring a claim of defamation, but you would have to prove damages. How are you damaged?


Title: Lanlords are going back on everything they said (VA)

Question:
Hey there Legal Advice!

Here's the story as it stands with some money details fudged to keep anonymity. We were renting a house a three years. Around nine months before we were due to re\-sign we were given notice the homeowners were coming back. Then a few months later, just kidding, they weren't. Finally, at the start of this year, they hammered it out and decided they were coming back. We went into overdrive trying to buy a house \(as was our intention to all along but figured we'd give it one more year\); the lease was set end April 30. Unfortunately, the house contract fell through and we were left about mid\-March to find a new place to live and start moving.

Around this time, the property management company started reaching out to see if we would move out early as the homeowners really wanted back in. Like, really wanted back in. The PMC and the HO \(home owners\) were relentless in this pursuit. One of the HO reached out via Messenger \(after stalking us online\) and told us not to worry about the carpets, painting, cleaning, anything; just get out. They said they would release the deposit, give us the back rent, everything, just get out as fast as we can. The PMC was reaching out via e\-mail, phone call, and text, trying to pressure us out as they were getting the same on their on from the HOs.

Now I should stress that I am a one man show in this as my better half is Stage IV with bone cancer and cannot do much to help and the kids are sub\-teenager and are more under\-foot than anything else. Some family and friends stopped by on occasion to help out but, there was a lot do for one person.

So from about mid\-March until mid\-April, it was getting to the point where I was calling in to work just to get more move time in. This was costing me a lot of money. Multitudes of trips to the dump as we literally were halving our living space. I should have slowed down. I should have told them to bugger off, and that we had to the 30th to move. But, I didn't. I was being harassed, guilt\-ed, promised, etc... Then it hit the fan. All of a sudden, I get a text from PMC saying HO will be at the house that morning to do a walk\-through. I tell him no, as we are not out yet. PMC said sorry and that they were insisting and there was nothing he could do about it. So while we are trying to move, the HOs show up. Staring at us. I am a gun owner for recreation. This is the first time in my left I felt like I should open carry, that's how hard and how menacing they were staring at us. They were pissed. Here's why...

We had a pet in the house. Yes, it was a no pet lease. I am aware I broke that part of the lease. It was a emotional support pet for my better half \(which I know isn't protected in VA\) and I'd do it again if I had to. They were also pissed we put a fence in. We put one length of non\-permanent fence in and it was removed before we left. Had they not physically seen on one of their trips to the house to spy on us \(yes, multiple times they showed up under the guise of "seeing friends" and just happened to wonder around to the yard\), they would have never have known about it.

Now, back to it. As we were moving stuff out, the PMC and HO did a walk\-through and the HO approached me and said they were taking possession of the house and we were to not come back. Thankfully, that was it for us anyway. We left the keys on the counter and waited for our check. Keep at the front of your brain that we were explicitly told NOT to clean the carpets, the floors, paint, deep clean etc... I have this all in writing from the HO and PMC.

That night, what do I see on Facebook, from this persons public profile? Trash talking, pictures, more trash talking, things that didn't make any sense. I screen shot everything. The vile nature of these two sets of posts and what them and their friends were saying were just terrible. Then, a few days later we received an e\-mail from the PMC saying they are releasing the deposit to the HO and laid out a bunch of bullet points. Things that made NO SENSE. Like how we removed a tree from their yard. A fully matured version of this tree \(which is what they said we removed\) would have costs thousands of dollars as where it supposedly was would have required a specialized team or crane to remove. Yeah. No. They tried to say we did a whole bunch of damage to the roof and outside structure to the house. Yeah. No. That was from the rotted oak tree that fell that was reported and dealt with by the HO and PMC \- I have pictures to prove. The list goes on and on and on...

So I sit down with the PMC and they tell me that the HO told them they weren't worried about anything as they were tearing the house down to the studs and putting a whole new second story in and that the were going to renovate the house as soon as we vacated. They have plenty in writing about how they just wanted us out and that they didn't care about the condition. Suddenly, after this meeting, they person I normally deal with has be reassigned and I have to deal with a new person. This new person doesn't care about anything other than giving the HO the deposit. I dispute everything.

Now, today, I get a letter in the mail demanding almost $7000 in damages and they are taking my pro\-rated rent, deposit, and demand the rest in cash. I'm thinking at this point should go ahead and get lawyered up and sort this out. Do you all have any advice? I'll provide more details if anyone needs them.

TL:DR \- I have in writing that I get the deposit and pro\-rated rent back in exchange for moving out early and now the homeowners are reneging on the deal. What do?

Answer:
 They have already taken this to a place beyond self help.  You need a lawyer to fight this and counter sue for your money back.  Good luck.Answer #2: What a shit show. You need a lawyer ASAP.
You should be firmly in the right. Your "pet" issue is irrelevant to the voluntary early termination and concessions offered to secure your agreement. Good luck, but get nasty immediately. Lawyer will want to sue both the HO and the PMC. That's appropriate.

Anecdotally, I'll share that I had a client return to his property in a big hurry after a long time absent from it and try to stick the renters/our agency with every dollar of depreciated value/damage he could even possibly conceive of under the guise of "failures to prevent, report and withhold properly" from a 10 year succession of tenants. It did not go well for him in the end, but it was a mess.Answer #3: Lawyer up, and good luck, friend.


Title: A man who was a registered sex offender earlier has become a teacher and is looking for a new job. How do I inform someone about this?

Question:
This is highly bizzare, but this man has his name and photos on multiple sex offender registry websites with being convicted of possession of child pornography and films in 1997, but was a teacher at a school in texas, then in 2004 went on to teach abroad in an american school in the middle east.
How on earth was he allowed to become a teacher in the first place?

What is more scary is that he is back in the united states after 10 years there, and is looking for a job again at age 57. No one i know in school knows about this and it is really bizzare.
I badly want to inform someone before he does this again.

Also, i need advice on if he is legally allowed to hide his criminal history if its been a long tme.

Please help.

Thank you

Answer:
 >How on earth was he allowed to become a teacher in the first place?

Probably because background checks weren't the norm in 1997, and for the most part weren't required.

But they are now. If that dude is a registered sex offender (and especially if his offense included children in any way) he will not be able to get a teaching job because of the background check and the terms of his probation or parole will likely prohibit it (assuming he's still on probation or parole - not entirely likely). Answer #2: > but this man has his name and photos on multiple sex offender registry websites

> Also, i need advice on if he is legally allowed to hide his criminal history

How do you figure he is "hiding" anything if his name and picture are on "multiple sex offender registry websites"?  And how do you know he is hiding anything and not being truthful? You're making a lot of assumptions for something that happened almost 20 years ago.

He's allowed to *apply* for jobs. They will do a background check.Answer #3: Criminal background checks for k-12 teaching positions --even for substitute teachers-- are required in every US state I am aware of. This includes getting fingerprinted.

It sounds like what you're dealing with here is facebook drama. "Some guy posted something on facebook about wanting a teaching position" is not the same thing as "some guy has become a teacher."

That said, the guy *might* be able to land a job teaching adults, like at a community college or university. Probably not, but in such a position he wouldn't be entrusted with minor children.


Title: NY - lowball offer by insurance

Question: I got a super lowball offer by the insurance of the driver who hit me. My injuries are mostly chronic pain from the event. Honestly the money doesn't even come near to the physical and emotional suffering. Anything more I can do to get more? Lawyer seems to have no ideas.

Answer: If your lawyer thinks this is the best you can do then they are likely right. They have all the details of the case.


Title: Apartment issues with mold and poisonous insects that the management hasn't done much to fix.

Question: [deleted]

Answer:
 >~~poisonous insects~~ venomous arachnids

FTFY


Title: I work at a shooting range and have developed lead poisoning due to health and safety negligence. What are my rights?

Question:
Hello reddit,
I have been working at an indoor shooting range for about 9 months. Through my time there I had been told that I had the risk of lead poisoning but that if I followed the safety procedures I would be fine.
I have been following all safety instructions for the duration of my employment and am still getting sick due to high volume of lead in my blood.
When I started I am sure that they had me sign something that said I was accepting the risk of such contamination, but now I am curious because the location I work for has failed multiple Occupational Health and Safety investigations.
What are my rights as far as Workers compensation or further legal action?
Any help is greatly appreciated.

Who knew working at a shooting range my greatest risk would be lead poisoning?

Answer:
 >Who knew working at a shooting range my greatest risk would be lead poisoning?

Honestly, pretty much everyone.

Go to your doctor and tell them you think that you are getting sick from work. Worker's comp will pay for it. Contact OSHA or your state's equivalent to file a complaint.Answer #2: Where do you live?Answer #3: What is this lead poisoning actually from and how do you know?  Obviously, you believe it is from your place of employment and your employer apparently was aware of the possibility.  Maybe I'm just missing something, but beyond the cliche "shot = lead poisoning," I'm at a loss to understand how?

Also, location is important.


Title: Golds Gym Scam?

Question:
I am a 20-year-old college student. During this past summer break, I decided to purchase Golds gym $4 initiation fee for a trial membership. The employee insisted that I put a card on file, so I used my cash app card. I went to the gym a couple of times that month  but stopped going after 30 days.

The following month after the initiation of the trial membership, Golds gym attempted to charge $100 on my cash app card, which had no money. I believe they called, but I don’t recollect any conversations. A couple of weeks later I moved back to college (far away from home) and I continued to ignore their attempts. I know that I was negligent and I should have been more responsible. I will definitely not do this again.

Months go by and they continue attempts to charge my cash app card and send emails. The amount due gradually increased every month or so (4 months worth of time). They probably attempted to charge my cash app card at least 30 times. I was emulsified with my school work and I procrastinated about figuring this situation out. I got a call from a collections agency saying that I owe $487 and that I could settle with $387. He also mentioned that the agency did not buy my debt yet. They knew the nature of my situation with golds gym, my address, my full name, and so on. They began to sound a bit more legitimate. I call the collections agency back and another employee told me that I would have to pay the full $487. They said that I could pay over the phone or online. They kept persisting that I pay over the phone, but I declined. They said that if I set up a payment plan, they would report that I paid in full to Golds Gym, which makes no sense to me.

I am confused because golds gym attempted to charge me $499 the same day the collections agency called me.

The following day, Golds gym called me and told me that I have to pay $500 by the end of December. I told her that I was confused because my bill said $487 yesterday and now it's $500. I also mentioned the call from the collections agency. She said something bogus and that I could pay either the collections or golds gym itself (she suggested paying GG itself ). She said that I could do a payment plan, but I have to pay half of the balance by Friday or they will report it to the credit bureaus and send it to collections (which is so confusing). She also mentioned that there is a $100 cancellation fee. She said that I will continue to be charged unless I pay the full balance. She also said that I could only pay over the phone.

I know this is really long, but I really need help. Who should I pay? What are my options? Am I being scammed? How do I prevent this from showing on my credit report?

Topic:
Contracts

Answer: Not a scam. You signed up for a membershio, you failed to pay or cancel.Answer #2: You prevent this from showing up on your credit report by paying in full or an amount they agree to settle for.  You needed to cancel the membership, not just give them a card with no money.  By the sounds of it, you are still not cancelled and may continue to incur monthly fees.


Title: Florida: I sold my car last night after posting it on Craigslist. The buyer had me sign a bill of sale and a power of attorney for the vehicle. Did I make a mistake?

Question:
As stated in the title, I put my car on Craigslist and sold it last night. Instead of directly transferring the title, the buyer (who owns a paint and body shop) had me fill out a bill of sale (with him as a listed seller), and a power of attorney for the vehicle (with his dealership as the appointed). I kept the portion of my title that shows I've sold my vehicle. We made the transaction in cash.

My questions are as follows: Is there any way this could come back and hurt me? If I turn in the portion of my title that releases liabilty, am I in the clear?

Thanks so much for your help!
Topic:
Traffic and Parking

Answer:
 The body shop owner is trying to be able to sell the car without having to register it in his own name first.  You used to be able to do this by having only the seller sign the title, but they started cracking down on that.  I don't think that it works anymore unless you have a dealer's license, Florida was losing too much tax revenue.

If you turn in your copy of the title, you should be in the clear, but he might be screwed over, and have to pay the transfer fees anyway.  Keep copies of the bill of sale, the title, and the receipt you get when you turn the title in, in a safe place.

Don't sign a POA in the future.Answer #2: Definitely turn in your copy of the title and make sure the state knows you no longer own that vehicle. I did that once and ended up having to pay tickets I got in the mail.


Title: Got a traffic ticket in California, live in Wisconsin. Can I just not pay it?

Question:
Hi, so this is what happened.  Went to cali for the first time to hang with a friend who just moved there.  We decided to go surfing, so we brought a 6 pack and headed up to malibu to spend the day.  After a few hours of surfing some cops on ATVs showed up near our stuff, and were super pissed that we had beers on the beach.

Keep in mind we are both from Wisconsin; having a beer on the beach is completely normal.  We even brought cans, not glass, because most beaches in WI have a no glass, bring aluminum policy.  Anyway, the cops said that open alcohol containers on a beach were a felony, but they would be 'nice' and give us glorified parking tickets.

The tickets were $192/person.

This is stupid.  I don't want to pay this.  I read that WI is a state that does not reciprocate/communicate over traffic violations.  The ticket itself says traffic violation.

Do I have to pay this?  Will it just go away?

Thanks!

Answer:
 > Will it just go away?

No.  You'll be back here in a year or two wondering why your $192 has become $1,092 and why there are warrants for you.  Answer #2: Ignorance of the law is no excuse. Alcohol is banned on almost every beach in California. Theoretically, no you don't have to pay it but it could eventually turn into a warrant in California if you just ignore it. Is $200 really worth having a warrant in California? Answer #3: You're likely reading that Wisconsin is not a member of the interstate license compact and does not share driving record information with other states.

That is *not* the same thing as Wisconsin law enforcement not picking you up on a bench warrant in California should they have contact with you.  Which is the likely outcome of ignoring a ticket.

You did the crime.  Accept your punishment.


Title: Employer owes $1600, refused to pay and now won't pick up my phone.

Question:
[Maryland] Over the holiday season, I worked at a kiosk at a mall. I started during the first week of November.

Because it is a mall kiosk, there is no paper trail for my employment or for anyone else's for that matter. For the first few weeks, everything was great. Employer would pay on time. Sales were great from beginning to end. However around December 20ish, when payment was due, Employer says next week. Apparently, I am not the only one who he said this to. A few other employees also were having issues with the payment.

January 1st, the employer shows up to close the kiosk and he told me that he would pay later. I and the other employees have called him non-stop and would call multiple times. Now he has stopped picking up any of our phones.

There is no proof of our employment or how many hours we worked. Employer would pay in cash. The rate was 9.50 which is much lower than the state minimum wage.

Basically, what can I do to make sure the other employees and I receive our payments?

Answer:
 >Because it is a mall kiosk, there is no paper trail for my employment or for anyone else's

That's not how employment works. It sounds like you and everyone else was working under the table. Your employer already sounds shady as fuck. Contact your labor board asap.Answer #2: You can sue in small claims.  FYI, $9.50 is well over Maryland’s minimum wage which is $8.75.Answer #3: You can either sue in small claims or file a wage claim here:

https://www.dllr.state.md.us/labor/wages/essclaimform.shtml


Title: Potential legal fallout from dog DNA test?

Question: [deleted]

Answer: Why would you voluntarily give up information in this type of situation?Answer #2: Dog DNA tests are, quite frankly, shit. You can send the same sample to three different labs and you will get three different answers.


Title: I want to help my mom get full custody of her granddaughter but don't know where to begin

Question:
Hello everyone! I'm sorry I'm on mobile but I'll try to keep it short.

So my mom has been dating the same guy for about 8 years now. He has a daughter who had a child in November and day one the baby tested positive for heroine. After a long fight with the other grandparents through DFS my mom and step dad got temporary custody of the baby with the intent that the daughter gets clean.

Well so far the daughter has tested positive for cocaine and heroine on two separate occasions but because she's in a special program they "don't use visitation as punishment" but they did step back from unsupervised visits. The daughter still goes to my mom's house to see the baby.

We're also having issues from one grandma (the dad's mom). She will pick up the baby from daycare (she lives an hour away)  and spend an hour with her and return her to daycare. Last week the baby was returned with symptoms of a heat stroke because grandma thought it was a good idea to stay in a park in the Missouri heat. By the time daycare called my mom the baby was already better and no one called the police or a hospital. Unfortunately the dad is on the birth certificate so if my mom wanted a DNA test to prove that he really is the dad, she would have to pay $600.

The baby is now 6 months old, my mom took her in when she was 4 months and was there for the withdrawals and long nights. My mom and step dad will do anything to make sure the daughter never gets the baby back.

So I'm basically wondering if there's something they should be doing to really solidify their case against the daughter and if there's a way to avoid the $600 DNA test to keep the baby away from the grandma who doesn't understand how to take care of a baby.

If you need more informative please let me know and thank you so much for reading this

Answer:
 Unless grandma has a court order then she doesn't have a right to see the baby. Take her off the approved list of people to pick her up from daycare. That is dumb.

Hire an attorney and fight for full custody.


Title: Violation of student rights, Maryland. Time sensitive.

Question:
My daughter is in 3rd grade and is not being taught how to spell. But more importantly, The Elementary school is trying to force My son (first grade) into a different school (albeit temporarily) against my consent until he has a "successful day". meaning, not flipping chairs or dumping bins or tugging on other classmates or breaking objects. All of which he does not do at home. This was told to me by the Vice Principal via phone call. I have no written documents of any form. It was done on a Friday (03/30/2019) at the end of the school day and they expect him to attend a different school on Monday morning. Yes he has some behavioral issues when he is at school but he does not have them at home but my son has ADHD. I do not have a written formal diagnosis but he attends a mental health facility every week, sometimes twice a week. He needs a more individualized approach when it comes to learning.

I am currently attempting to read up on IDEA, FAPE, FERPA and ESSA. They have denied my request for an IEP because academically he is fine. He is a smart child. But he has ADHD. Under the Individuals with Disabilities Act (IDEA), my son has a right to an IEP, which the school denied. Under Every Student Succeeds Act (ESSA), I have the right to volunteer and participate in my child's classroom, which was denied. I have requested a special education or resource program for him, denied. The excuse that I was given by the Vice Principal of the school is that it is not offered due to him being okay academically. Another excuse I received is that because he is okay academically, they do not have the funding to provide him his equal opportunity.

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What can I do? I don't understand most of what I am reading and/or do not know exactly where to look. Does the school have the legal right to send him to another school like this? (Due to child care being held at his school, It would be unavailable at a different school which would force me out of work) Is there any specific laws that I would be able to use in our defense to keep this from happening and to get the help he needs?

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Another question I have is, Can I transfer him to a different public school? I don't know the rules about school districts and such.

Answer:
 The lack of a formal diagnosis could explain the refusal for an IEP. I can’t speak to the other matters.

My brother had an IEP solely regarding his ADHD, even though he has no other mental challenges but he had been formally diagnosed.

Answer #2: 504s can be given for behavioral issues, and can give your child more support.


Title: Should I file a lawsuit against my employer or just find a new job?

Question:
Summary: Made a complaint against coworker, can't promoted as a result.

Not even sure where to begin, but here it goes.

Started working at a third party legal service company in October 2019. We provide third party documentation services for law firms that out-source that type of work. So editing PDFs, working in word, transcribing, and working in office products like excel.

Initially, I didn't feel well liked by my coworkers. My state was a medical marijuana state when I first started and now has gone full legalization. Upon the initial job offer, I was told that there was a drug test and promptly tried withdrawing my application, mentioning my medical card as the reason. My company assured me this wasn't a problem and someone on the team has had their card. However, when I actually started working with my coworkers, they all knew that I had my medical card and would make snide comments about it.

Furthermore, I didn't endure myself that well during my first interview. When I was asked why I was leaving my job, which was at my state's child protective services, I said that I was looking for something a little more balanced as I was the only dude working in my department. Which, looking back, was stupid thing to say. I don't hate women or anything, just wanted to try something different.

My manager, whom I didn't meet till I was actually working, is this former female army vet, daughter of a cop and super butch looking. She must have been told about what I had said because on my first day said something mentioning it and just did not like me.

Okay, so not a great start, I'm a pot head who hates women, apparently. I'm dealing with verbal abuse and snide remarks daily, about things I feel I have a right privacy towards. But, hey, maybe if I do a good job and produce good work, I can turn this thing around - classic mistake though.

Apparently at my company, and a number of others, you're given the work up to your ability to get it done correctly. So if you can't do a certain type of job because you don't have the skills to do so correctly, then you dont have to do it at all and wont' necessarily get fired for it. You just dont have to do that type of job, I guess. It never worked that way for me, though.

So I'm in this situation where coworkers don't have to do difficult tasks because they will mess them up but, I who did them successfully, has to do them because I demonstrated that I can do it. Total Catch 22.

I think it's worth mentioning that a lot of my coworkers are pretty chummy with the HR folks, and it seems like they knew exactly what to do to get out of certain tasks. I think it's also worth mentioning that a majority of my coworkers are non white and are of a similar race/religion and I'm a white dude.

I'll agree that white people are afforded certain privileges in society. However, I'm the minority in this situation and have been treated as such. Now, I know what you maybe thinking, a white guy complaining about racism, yeah right. But honestly, that just how it feels. I'm from a diverse place, always gotten along with my black and hispanic friends. Hell, all my serious relationships have been with black and hispanic women. I've always voted Democrat. I'm sure I do have bias, not a perfect person in any stretch of the imagination. But it just didn't seem to matter what I actually believed in, all that mattered was that I'm white. I tried very hard to make friends with my coworkers, even bought everyone first-class breakfeast burritos. Just never liked me from the second I entered the door.

Anyways, so a few months go by, I'm being forced to do more and more work that my coworkers aren't being asked to do and the verbal abuse is getting worse.

Finally, my line gets crossed. I'm getting called thing like white trash etc. and I'm trying to defend myself like, 'hey, I have a trust fund and visited family in Europe/England because my Gma was from there.' Which was a dumb flex, for sure. Not even sure why I said it to this day. It is true , though. But one of my more nastier coworkers says that everyone from England is dirty and ugly etc.

I'm like, 'hey, insult me all you want but leave the grandmas out of it.' So I finally get the nerve to talk to my supervisor's boss and lay out my many grievances at this point. In return, I get the run around and asked things like, 'well, did you say anything to your coworkers about your medical card first?'

So I complained but nothing happens, expect now my coworkers know I complained about them and things get worse.

It hits a head one day, oddly enough, as I'm walking to the bathroom. Another nasty coworker comes up from behind and asks why I have my medical card? Is it because I have aids and that's why I'm so skinny?

Can you imagine if I a white dude said that to a girl coworker? I would've been canceled that second. Maybe I'm too sensitive but everyday I'm getting called virgin because I don't have kids, and all my coworkers seem to have them, while also asking if I ever had sex. This is really demoralizing and embarrassing for me. I've stopped dating and just feel like shit all the time as a result. I've never felt this bad. I've tried reaching out to the mental health in my insurance, but my coverage is of course garbage and half the lines in my supposed in network are deadlines.

Well, I get the nerve to escalate this and complain to HR, which, of course, is a terrible idea. The HR lady is a Hispanic lady who clearly doesn't believe me. I said my coworkers have been saying nasty things, and she's like nasty, Any particular reason why I can't post this?

Is it better to sue my employer or just find a new job

Summary: Made a complaint against coworker, can't promoted as a result.

Not even sure where to begin, but here it goes.

Started working at a third party legal service company in October 2019. We provide third party documentation services for law firms that out-source that type of work. So editing PDFs, working in word, transcribing, and working in office products like excel.

Initially, I didn't feel well liked by my coworkers. My state was a medical marijuana state when I first started and now has gone full legalization. Upon the initial job offer, I was told that there was a drug test and promptly tried withdrawing my application, mentioning my medical card as the reason. My company assured me this wasn't a problem and someone on the team has had their card. However, when I actually started working with my coworkers, they all knew that I had my medical card and would make snide comments about it.

Furthermore, I didn't endure myself that well during my first interview. When I was asked why I was leaving my job, which was at my state's child protective services, I said that I was looking for something a little more balanced as I was the only dude working in my department. Which, looking back, was stupid thing to say. I don't hate women or anything, just wanted to try something different.

My manager, whom I didn't meet till I was actually working, is this former female army vet, daughter of a cop and super butch looking. She must have been told about what I had said because on my first day said something mentioning it and just did not like me.

Okay, so not a great start, I'm a pot head who hates women, apparently. I'm dealing with verbal abuse and snide remarks daily, about things I feel I have a right privacy towards. But, hey, maybe if I do a good job and produce good work, I can turn this thing around - classic mistake though.

Apparently at my company, and a number of others, you're given the work up to your ability to get it done correctly. So if you can't do a certain type of job because you don't have the skills to do so correctly, then you dont have to do it at all and wont' necessarily get fired for it. You just dont have to do that type of job, I guess. It never worked that way for me, though.

So I'm in this situation where coworkers don't have to do difficult tasks because they will mess them up but, I who did them successfully, has to do them because I demonstrated that I can do it. Total Catch 22.

I think it's worth mentioning that a lot of my coworkers are pretty chummy with the HR folks, and it seems like they knew exactly what to do to get out of certain tasks. I think it's also worth mentioning that a majority of my coworkers are non white and are of a similar race/religion and I'm a white dude.

I'll agree that white people are afforded certain privileges in society. However, I'm the minority in this situation and have been treated as such. Now, I know what you maybe thinking, a white guy complaining about racism, yeah right. But honestly, that just how it feels. I'm from a diverse place, always gotten along with my black and hispanic friends. Hell, all my serious relationships have been with black and hispanic women. I've always voted Democrat. I'm sure I do have bias, not a perfect person in any stretch of the imagination. But it just didn't seem to matter what I actually believed in, all that mattered was that I'm white. I tried very hard to make friends with my coworkers, even bought everyone first-class breakfeast burritos. Just never liked me from the second I entered the door.

Anyways, so a few months go by, I'm being forced to do more and more work that my coworkers aren't being asked to do and the verbal abuse is getting worse.

Finally, my line gets crossed. I'm getting called thing like white trash etc. and I'm trying to defend myself like, 'hey, I have a trust fund and visited family in Europe/England because my Gma was from there.' Which was a dumb flex, for sure. Not even sure why I said it to this day. It is true , though. But one of my more nastier coworkers says that everyone from England is dirty and ugly etc.

I'm like, 'hey, insult me all you want but leave the grandmas out of it.' So I finally get the nerve to talk to my supervisor's boss and lay out my many grievances at this point. In return, I get the run around and asked things like, 'well, did you say anything to your coworkers about your medical card first?'

So I complained but nothing happens, expect now my coworkers know I complained about them and things get worse.

It hits a head one day, oddly enough, as I'm walking to the bathroom. Another nasty coworker comes up from behind and asks why I have my medical card? Is it because I have aids and that's why I'm so skinny?

Can you imagine if I a white dude said that to a girl coworker? I would've been canceled that second. Maybe I'm too sensitive but everyday I'm getting called virgin because I don't have kids, and all my coworkers seem to have them, while also asking if I ever had sex. This is really demoralizing and embarrassing for me. I've stopped dating and just feel like shit all the time as a result. I've never felt this bad. I've tried reaching out to the mental health in my insurance, but my coverage is of course garbage and half the lines in my supposed in network are deadlines.

Well, I get the nerve to escalate this and complain to HR, which, of course, is a terrible idea. The HR lady is a Hispanic lady who clearly doesn't believe me. I said my coworkers have been saying nasty things, and she's like nasty, huh? Like Donald Trump. And I'm like no, nasty like aids, not nasty like let's be fascists.

It devolves into a he said/she type of deal with neither side able to prove anything. The end result was we had to watch individual Powerpoints. My Powerpoint explained that Anglos aren't the main group in the country anymore and I need to act accordingly, which really pissed me off because when was that an issue? Don't care about england or who is from where, but if say my relatives come from there and I visited them and you shoot back that they are a dirty group of people, I will take that personally.

Around this time, we started just getting outrageous jobs from our client that seemed to have a personal bent. Things like long transcriptions that adequately describe the situation exactly like how I complained. Calling the subject of the transcriptions things such as Mr. Blair and other British historical figures but always, ALWAYS referencing scamming and being a fraud. Of course, they were making me do these jobs too. It felt super personal. I complained and you're making me do this unpleasant task that's referencing my complaint and has racial overtones. Another example would be after the capital riots, when I got this editing job (jobs that aren't assigned to my shift's coworkers) that said terrorist repeatedly over it. Can you imagine making your Muslim friend write terrorist repeatedly after 9/11? It really felt like that.

Now, you maybe asking, how do you know these jobs were singled out for you? Well, my coworkers can't do edits or transcriptions because they don't have enough "skill" and need more "training". So they know sure as shit who is going to do these higher level jobs and at what times. No one else on my shift has to do jobs of that level. Anytime I ask when they are going to get the training completed, I feel like I'm either told that management is setting me up for promotions by giving me higher level jobs, or will give me the run around, or straight up just bully me into not asking anything more suggestion I'm asking a because I'm racist, not that I have to do an obnoxious more amount of work on the daily.

My company then promotes these same people that can't do these jobs, even after telling me they are setting me up for promotion. It's beyond frustrating. I feel lied to and abused. There really is a lot more too.

Do I have anything here? Should I just be okay with continually fucked over and hope by some miracle my next company doesn't make me miserable because I'm not the right kind of person? Anyone out there? Sorry for the wall of text.

huh? Like Donald Trump. And I'm like no, nasty like aids, not nasty like let's be fascists.

It devolves into a he said/she type of deal with neither side able to prove anything. The end result was we had to watch individual Powerpoints. My Powerpoint explained that Anglos aren't the main group in the country anymore and I need to act accordingly, which really pissed me off because when was that an issue? Don't care about england or who is from where, but if say my relatives come from there and I visited them and you shoot back that they are a dirty group of people, I will take that personally.

Around this time, we started just getting outrageous jobs from our client that seemed to have a personal bent. Things like long transcriptions that adequately describe the situation exactly like how I complained. Calling the subject of the transcriptions things such as Mr. Blair and other British historical figures but always, ALWAYS referencing scamming and being a fraud. Of course, they were making me do these jobs too. It felt super personal. I complained and you're making me do this unpleasant task that's referencing my complaint and has racial overtones. Another example would be after the capital riots, when I got this editing job (jobs that aren't assigned to my shift's coworkers) that said terrorist repeatedly over it. Can you imagine making your Muslim friend write terrorist repeatedly after 9/11? It really felt like that.

Now, you maybe asking, how do you know these jobs were singled out for you? Well, my coworkers can't do edits or transcriptions because they don't have enough "skill" and need more "training". So they know sure as shit who is going to do these higher level jobs and at what times. No one else on my shift has to do jobs of that level. Anytime I ask when they are going to get the training completed, I feel like I'm either told that management is setting me up for promotions by giving me higher level jobs, or will give me the run around, or straight up just bully me into not asking anything more suggestion I'm asking a because I'm racist, not that I have to do an obnoxious more amount of work on the daily.

My company then promotes these same people that can't do these jobs, even after telling me they are setting me up for promotion. It's beyond frustrating. I feel lied to and abused. There really is a lot more too.

Do I have anything here? Should I just be okay with continually fucked over and hope by some miracle my next company doesn't make me miserable because I'm not the right kind of person? Anyone out there? Sorry for the wall of text.

Answer: Please repost this and cut out all the bullshit. None of us care about your coworker drama and relationships. Keep it relevant please, this is a totally inappropriate tone for soliciting advice on this matter.


Title: I'm starting to feel like my new job is a scam

Question:
So I had been applying for a bunch of jobs through monster and similar websites. I got a job offer from this company based in Italy (I'm in Atlanta). As soon as I email them saying im interested I get a call from a representative talking to me about the position. I filled out what I was told was an application but turned out the by an employment form. The representative told me ill be working for commission for a work at home position which would involve me talking to customers on the phone. She told me that I will be talking to a manager the next day and well as receive my first assignment.

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Well it turns out that this company wants me to receive checks which they will have their customer send to me and then deposit the check into my own bank account and then send that money back to them, after I take out a 10% commission for doing so. This is all starting to sound really fishy to me so I told my manager that this doesn't sound legal at all and that I am not interested. She replied by saying that the first check had already been mailed to me and I am required to follow through with the transaction. She explained that this is something the company rarely asks people to do and they only do it when their customers request to pay with checks (which is why they need someone in the US to receive it and send to Italy) instead of money order or wiring. I guess what I am trying to ask here is, is this a common practice foreign companies ask employees to do or should I take some sort of action. The job sounds like it pays well but it also sounds too good to be true.

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I appreciate any advice.

Answer:
 Not a lawyer, but this is a common scam.

Check out r/scams and ask about it there for more details as to how it works, but if you get the check, turn it in to police; block that number and don't take their calls, and good luck with the job hunt.


Title: Legal Age To Date (Hawaii)

Question: Is it legal for someone who is 17 years old to date and have sexual relations with someone who is 28 years old in the state of Hawaii?

Answer:
 Legal since the age of consent is 16 in HI.  However, it is also legal for a parent to prohibit their 17 year-old child from seeing a person they disapprove of. Parents can restrict their kid's activities until the child turns 18.

Watch out for pissed off relatives who don't take the time to ask whether it is legal to beat you to a pulp.Answer #2: Not if they are a teacher/supervisor/doctor/therapist or in another similar position. But yes if they are independent adults.

But that 28-year old likely has problems.


Title: Accused of arriving to work at my restaurant "drunk", despite being completely sober. Zero history of such behavior, I take my job very very seriously. WA state, Seattle

Question:
I truly apologize for the wall of text, I am very frustrated at the moment and more than anything trying to document the situation in a public forum, as well as vent a bit. I do apologize if this is against this subs rules.

I arrived to work at my restaurant today as I always do, clocked in, and moved to the line where food is served, as my job entails ensuring that orders are accurate, prepared on time, and delivered to the appropriate diners.

 After working for less than 15 minutes. I was immediately approached by my manager, and asked to step outside with him to have a conversation.

He immediately accused me of being intoxicated, stating that I had been slurring my words. He had not heard anything out of the ordinary, but an un-named source had reported the "slurring" to him. He stated the I did not smell of alcohol, nor did I appear drunk, but he was, "worried something was going on."

  After speaking with him for about 15 minutes, pointing out that I have never had any alcohol on the job (before or during), did not smell of alcohol, and was clearly not drunk. He appeared to agree with me. Moments later, he asked thay I clock out (depriving me of a shift that I desperately need) and leave immediately. Additionally, he mentioned that he would "let everyone know know that I was simply being sent home because I was "sick", as the staff had all already been told I was "drunk".

I relieve there may well be no legal recourse here, thought this feels very much like classic defamation, especially considering all of my co-workers were well aware of my manufactured drunkenness.

If there is nothing I can do, then so be it. I guess I will just be the guy who shows up to work drunk, except I don't, and never would.

TL:DR: accused of showing up to work drunk. Was not drunk, at all. Was sent home with no pay. Anything I can do?

Answer:
 Physician here, please just to be safe see a doctor to get a quick check-up. Also, since this is r/legaladvice, check your house for carbon monoxide.Answer #2: > thought this feels very much like classic defamation

Defamation requires a false statement of fact.  It may have been his opinion that you were drunk.  Opinions are not defamation.

Additionally, you would generally need to prove economic damages to succeed on a defamation claim.  You may have some, but not much.

> Anything I can do?

Nothing worthwhile, aside from keeping an eye out for other employment if you continue to have issues with this manager.Answer #3: OP is there any chance you had a stroke? Stroke symptoms can be confused with alcohol intoxication. Answer #4: i would reiterate what u/ccfccc already said. get yourself checked out man. if you were showing early signs of stroke you would have exhibited similar traits to being drunk. get a checkup, just in case

and ask your manager for a meeting. let him explain his logic in taking you off the line that night. he didn't defame you, he made a judgement call


Title: Employer requires I have internet

Question:
Hello I work for a large insurance company and they have recently indicated they want me for oncall work.  Hr told me they don't pay for internet any more.  I currently don't have internet or cable at my house.  I was wondering can they make me get internet for my job but not pay for it, or reimburse me.   I am in MN
Topic:
Employment Law

Answer: They can make it a condition of your employment. This is pretty common for disaster relief policies; they want to make sure you can still work if weather, etc. causes the office to close.


Title: (CT) - Property Management Company sent me to Collections

Question:
Hi all! Obviously a throwaway. So I moved out of an apartment back in February, cleaned the whole apartment, took a good amount of pictures, and anxiously awaited the return of my security deposit. Believe me when I say the place was spotless. The carpet was undamaged. I spent 6 hours cleaning the place from top to bottom. I was VERY thorough. And I only lived there a year.

I got a letter from my management company instead of my security deposit, stating I was not getting any money back and in fact owed THEM money. The two major items of contention were 1) Cleaning charge for the bathrooms for $60 (I left that bathroom clean as a whistle); and 2) Full carpet replacement for $900.00.

I lurk on this forum a lot, so I already knew what to do. I sent them a letter stating that I disputed the charges and requesting proof that the full carpet replacement was necessary, as well as the bill for the bathroom cleaning. The letter was sent certified mail return receipt requested and we received the green card back a few days ago.

Well, yesterday I got home and had a weird letter in the mail. I opened it, and lo and behold, it's a letter from a collection agency for the money that I owe the apartment complex.

So, my legal question, where do I go from here? Is this standard operating procedure when you dispute charges? What do I do now?

Answer:
 1.) Dispute the debt.

2.) Sue your property management company in small claims court for your security deposit. How long were you in the apartment for? Odds are that they can't charge you anything for the carpet - at the minimum, you only owe a fraction of the value for replacement.


Title: Can I be issued a 14 day eviction notice when I have a one year lease? (Wisconsin)

Question:
My rent was due on the 1st, I told my landlord I would have it tomorrow (the 4th). She came over today and served me with a 14 day notice to vacate. Last month I was given a 5 day notice to pay or vacate, which I paid (in full) before the 5 days was up. I thought 14 days were only legal when you have a month to month lease. My understanding is I can only be served with a 14 day if I did not remedy the 5 day I was previously served. Am I correct, or can she legally evict me?
Topic:
Landlord Tenant Housing

Answer:
 Once you've been late once, the landlord can simply give you the 14 day notice to terminate your tenancy. They don't have to keep allowing you to pay rent late.

You should really consider the fact that you can't afford this home and find something more affordable for you in the next 14 days.


Title: I left an apartment I was renting before the 6 months on the lease, now the landlord wants to keep the deposit AND charge me for a damaged furniture.

Question:
My dog chewed up a bit of a nightstand (not very noticeable, but still I came clean about it and the landlord noticed it then).

Now he just called me and told me he's having it fixed and I will be billed for it. Can he do that? I thought the deposit was meant to be as a backup in case of damage to property and me ending the lease before it was up gave him the right to keep the rest.

Can he legally keep the whole deposit AND charge me for the furniture? Or is he just taking advantage of a mild mannered individual such as me?

Edit: Forgot to include location, Im in Sonora, Mexico. Im sorry if that is not your area of expertise, I appreciate the general advice you could give me. Also, unfortunately there was a problem and the lease was misplaced, so I cannot read through it. But it was standard lease, no modifications from others Ive signed. Maybe you guys could tell me what the standard penalty for breaking the lease is?

Answer:
 You won't find much Mexican law people here, but generally if your dog chewed up the nightstand you're responsible for it to be fixed or replaced. Why would you not? This is EXACTLY what a damage deposit is for...

I'm not sure why he'd send you a bill for it if he has your deposit. It's possible your damages were more than your actual deposit?

If you ended the lease early, you owe the whole lease.... unless it says otherwise. I think you owe more than you think...


Title: Car got booted at a lot with a faulty machine. Breach of contract?

Question:
Hi everyone,

I regularly park at a pay lot near a local restaurant to grab lunch. I always pay my ticket but on this particular day the ticket machine was out of order.

Rushed for time, I entered the restaurant and got my togo lunch.

I was gone for probably less than five minutes, but when I returned my car was booted. I explained to the technician that the machine was out of order but he didn't care and forced me to pay the fine to remove the boot.

I filed a dispute through the companies phone line and email dispute systems which were both shams. I received no response. Looking online and reading other complaints I found that the only way the company responds to disputes is through Better Business Bureau complaints. I filed there and they claimed that the machine was functioning correctly and implied that I was lying.

I am thinking about taking them to small claims court. I know that this will take some time and stress in my life but I am willing to do it.

I'd like to gather the opinions of the members of this sub on whether or not I have a case.

Here is my case as far as I can see it.

1. The contract between myself and the parking lot is that in exchange for providing parking, I would pay them a fee for a parking ticket.

2. The machine was out of order, which means that there was no reasonable means provided for me to furnish my end of the contract. Because of the companies negligence in providing a reasonable means for me to complete the contract, the contract is breached.

3. Because the company did not provide a reasonable means for me for me to complete the contract, they are not legally justified in enforcing the contract and booting my car. While they could ask me to leave the lot, they cannot immobilize my vehicle.

4. A note about trespassing. I believe they could claim that I was trespassing by parking on their lot without consent. My argument against this would be that even if I was parked without permission, because they did not furnish reasonable means for me to pay and fulfill the contract, they were still in violation of the law by immobilizing my vehicle.

I would argue that the most they could do legally in the situation that occurred is ask me to leave the lot and that the act of immobilizing my vehicle was illegal because the contract was broken.

I'm located in Atlanta, GA.

Thank you for any advice you can give me.

Answer:
 If you find that the method of payment for a parking lot is not working and therefore you're unable to enter into a transaction for parking, your recourse would be to not park there and find somewhere else to park, however convenient or inconvenient that may be.

I mean, if the registers at the supermarket are down, you don't just get to take a tomato.  This seems like a similar situation.


Title: [AUS] Does this count as sexual assault/rape?

Question:
When I was 15, my boyfriend at the time, also 15, and I were at a party. He had brought a flask of vodka and offered some of it to me and, wanting to be cool like a stupid 15 year old, I took it. Because I had never drunk anything before and hadn't eaten anything prior to drinking, I was intoxicated within 4-5 swigs from the flask.

Later that night, he pulled me into a secluded area and we started getting sexual. He went to go down on me, but I said no so he stopped, only to try again a minute later. I said no a second time and he stopped, only to try again. It's here my memory blanks because the next thing I can clearly remember is my boyfriend and I surrounded by our friends, who were laughing at something he had said.

I asked him several days later what had happened that night and he explained to me that he did perform oral and that I was very into it.

I never questioned if there was anything wrong with what he did until today, nearly 4 years later. So, even though he said I was very into it, and I have no doubts about that, does it still count? (I totally get this is probably a stupid question but I need someone to tell me what to think about it so I can move on from there)
Topic:
Non-US

Answer:
 You might want to post over in /r/rape or /r/rapecounseling. They can help you sort through things.

While I don't know Australian law, it's pretty clear that you didn't consent and that you were under the influence of alcohol.

Therapy can help you put the pieces together and start making sense. However, many countries have mandatory reporting laws, which requires certain people (or sometimes everyone) to report child abuse to law enforcement. This can mean that if you disclose abuse to a therapist, they may have to report that abuse to the police or some other social service agency. In most cases, once the victim is over 18 the reporting requirement vanishes, ***but this is not the case everywhere***. Some locations do not have this "expiration date". Don't let this stop you from getting help, but definitely discuss it as a hypothetical with whomever you see before you disclose any details.


Title: (NYC) Per my lease my Landlord is required to provide heat. Monday night it was turned off and I woke up with a major fever resulting in missed work/medical fees. He will not budge on crediting next month's rent for these costs. Is this negligence/worth going to housing court over?

Question:
[deleted]
Topic:
Landlord Tenant Housing

Answer:
 > the outside cold air seeped into my room causing me to wake up with a 105 degree favor

Um, that's not how that works.


Title: [IA] It’s 1:30am and I believe I’ve overheard my neighbor plotting to break in and steal from me after I leave for work at 7

Question:
We have a bad neighborly relationship and the words I’ve overheard him speak about our relationship as neighbors and his plans for the future this afternoon/tonight include, but are not limited to: “whatever you want while he’s gone, take it”. This is as I, audibly the only logical person it could be, re-entered the main door by the door to his apartment and took the stairs that lead to my apartment (directly above his). I also have an extremely consistent work schedule and he does, in fact, know I will be gone.

I do not know who the accomplice(s) is/are, but there was a conversation in which the other man I heard (there could be others involved) responded, “whatever I want?”

I do not have the ability to record audio or visual for 8+hrs while I am gone. I also am unable/unwilling to ask someone to stake out my apartment building based on what evidence I currently have.

I cannot call the police until after I have left the building, perhaps in the parking lot before leaving for work (walls are quite thin), which I will absolutely do.

Tomorrow morning I will also notify a loved one and a coworker, as well as our mutual landlord.

I will take detailed pictures of my apartment and the valuables within as I leave.

I’ve now posted this online, stating my belief.

What else can be done? What should I do if I heard correctly and he follows through?

I will stay up a little while longer while I think and have a drink or two. I will update in the late morning. I will update once I return around 4pm CST.

P.S. If you actually follow through...fuck you, Greg.

Answer:
 If it were me I’d call in to my boss and let them know I’m going to be an hour late due to a possible in home burglary you’ve been tipped off about. Pretend to leave at 7, set up a live video feed from your laptop to your phone, monitor it and wait for him to enter. Then, as soon as you do, call the cops and block the exit of the door (wedge it or put something heavy and big infront. Record it all. Do not let him out. Wait for the cops.

That’s just me.

I’m sure your boss would understand.

Also get as much info about him as possible. Go to your landlord and ask them who lives near you. Report that info. Maybe even call the cops at 6:30 and let them know so they can be standby


Title: Wife is pregnant and boss is trying to force her out of her position.

Question:
North Carolina

My wife is almost 8 months pregnant and is a salaried worker at her company. Her boss has been incredibly rude to her the past couple months and is basically trying to make her quit. She says he is going to try to cut her hours down and make her a part time employee so she loses her benefits and is forced to quit. Her direct supervisor has always been complimentary of her and for whatever reason he is trying to get rid of her perhaps because he doesn't want to pay for her maternity leave. Is he allowed to just take an employee who is on salary and make her a part-time worker and take away her benefts? It is a fairly small company, probably under 15 full-time employees. What should I advise her to do?  Sorry if this post is all over the place. Just not sure what I need to do because my wife has the insurance through her job and I'm not sure what to do with our baby coming in the next 2 months. Thanks for your help!

Answer:
 Yes, he can.  She can file for unemployment if he does.

At a small company, she doesn't even qualify for protection under FMLA.


Title: [California] Kicked off the bus due to a Transfer Fare Policy. After reading the policy online, I find that I should not have been.

Question:
Hi, thanks for reading. I had an incident today that was really embarrassing on my county's public transportation. I'll try to only include the facts and not go into story mode.

Basics -
I get on "Bus A West" (this is my normal route), pay my fare and get a transfer pass. I get off of the bus shortly to stop at the store and return to the same stop to get on the next Bus A West and continue my normal route. When I boarded, my transfer was not accepted. I was told by the bus driver that I could not use the transfer because I was again boarding Bus A West and you cannot use transfers for the same route. I did not have any more cash and could not pay fare(which is why I got the transfer). I dispute the policy and stay on the bus. I also call customer service to A) Ask whether or not that was their policy B) Ask them to authorize the driver to let me ride for free if it was. No help from customer service. Driver starts to call dispatch to send a police officer to get me off of the bus. The people on the bus were very rude and yelling at me, but I did not feel be kicked off the bus since I had valid fare. I finally get off, realizing that this would not and cannot be resolved by the driver.

After -

I research their online policy. Their website is informative and spells out how to use each pass. For transfer fares, it states *"Transfers can only be requested when boarding a bus. Transfers are valid for two hours and cannot be used to complete a round-trip. Transfers must be surrendered to the operator upon boarding another bus"*

* Only request when boarding the bus **check**
* Use within two hours **check**
* Surrender to operator upon boarding *tried to*

* Do not use to complete round-trip <-- I believe this is what they were referring to when both the driver and call center rep told me transfers may not be used on the *same* bus.

*Round Trip* is defined as "a journey to one or more places and back again" as told by my Google search. You could try to define it with other words and whatever, but basically "there and back".

Taking the same bus and going *Round-Trip* is not the same thing. I got off the Bus A West and got back on the next Bus A West. That is not round-trip. Round-Trip is me getting off work, Taking Bus A West to the store and then hopping on Bus A East back to work.

Do we do TL;DRs here? - I got kicked off the bus and threatened to get the cops called on me, but had valid fare according to their policy. I was embarrassed, inconvenienced, berated, threatened, and want to take legal action or get some type of resolution to this.

Answer:
 Um ok, so complain to customer service. What is the cost of bus fare there? That's about all you are entitled to, if even that (probably nothing, really).

This really isn't a legal issue, unless you want to sue for $2 or whatever.


Title: Neurologist hasn’t been writing reports on my case for 11 months, now disability is threatening to close my claim (Canada)

Question:
Hey guys. Writing from Canada.

So I’ve been diagnosed with multiple sclerosis since September 2016, and been seeing a neurologist since then. I’ve since had to leave work and open a disability claim, but they’re requesting copies of reports from my recent appointments — all reasonable. His receptionist however gave me the runaround telling me she didn’t have time to make a copy or send it off and told me “short of writing it myself, I don’t know what you expect me to do”. That was when I saw my family doctor to try and access HER copies of my reports. Turns out none existed. The last report available to my family physician and myself is from December 2016, I’ve had three appointment since then.

What is my next feasible action to “acquire” these reports? My insurance is closing my claim as of December 14th if I can’t send them copies. Don’t I have a legal right to my own medical records, and isn’t it severely negligent if he’s not writing any? He won’t know me from a stranger by the time my next appointment comes if he’s not keeping records.

Sorry for the wall of text, but I’m stuck in quite a desperate situation and appreciate any advice you guys can give.

Answer:
 > His receptionist however gave me the runaround telling me she didn’t have time to make a copy or send it off

This is part of her job. Raise it with the neurologist. Often however there's a fee that specialists expect for making copies of their chart notes for insurers. Answer #2: Hello Fellow Canuck.

This is a very common tactic by EI, it's why the Disability Lawyers exist; you may want to check with the law society for your region, free or low co-pay, or percentage legal help may be an option depending on your household income.

I don't want to pry but you are posting? Does EI have a INS5140 on file for the condition listing MS? If not you need to demand one filled out from the Neurologist or failing that your GP with a date far in the future. MS isn't a fracture or pregnancy it is a lifelong illness you will be dealing with for the rest of your life.

Also if your RoE's marked as Leave of Absence it is possible employer benefits may have included a short term or long term disability component you can claim. Check your paystubs, if the symptoms started during your coverage you may be able to continue regardless of workplace status.

Some parting advice:

* Readjust your past 2016 tax return to include a disability tax credit, you can get a substantial refund.
* Apply for your CPP disability payment
* Check for Provincial support payments/programs.


Title: I'm 17 and just got a speeding ticket for 99 in a 45. Where do I go from here?

Question: I was being stupid on my way home from work and did that. First time ever going that fast. Fastest was maybe 20 over. The deputy said I am lucky he was not arresting me for it, and he also did not give me reckless. I now have a mandatory court date I have to go for. I also have an $1106 fine. Where do i go from here. (I am also paying for my insurance increase and fine out of my own pocket.)

Answer: A lawyer can possibly help reduce it is it's a first offense. But really it's just about showing up, pay the ticket and court costs and move on. Can take certain online classes to reduce or remove the points on your license.


Title: Ohio firestation telephone paid for by firefighters. City will not allow us to get rid of the landline phone.

Question:
I work for a medium sized city.  In all of our firestations, the landline phone is paid for by the employees (firefighters), some stations have tried to get rid of the landline since everyone has cellphones now, but administration told us we could not, since the phone is used, at times, for firefighters to call off if they are sick.  How could it possibly be legal for a city to make it's employees pay for the phone lines?  And not ALL of the employees, just the firefighters.  I'm sure that the police department has working phones, water department, legal, accounting etc.  Thanks.

**Additional info:**  We have a "firephone" that can call any other city phone, but does not have an outside line capability. We are a full time professional fire/ems department with 13 fire stations in a city of about 200,000 people. I have no idea how it started like this, but it has been like this since before I got on 18 years ago. The residential phone lines are in firefighters' names, some have retired years ago.

Answer: Bring it up with your unionAnswer #2: What happens if y'all just stop paying?Answer #3: If some of the phone lines are in retired firefighter's  names, then why don't they call the phone company and cancel their service? What can the Fire Chief do to staff that retired years earlier - nothing. Once a few stations that have moved on to whatever new system will inevitably get implemented, it will be a lot easier for the rest of the stations to do so as well. Or the Chief might just bite the bullet and implement whatever new system in all stations at once.


Title: Is it illegal to follow cops?

Question:
So I was driving home last night around 2:00, 5mph under the speed limit, staying in my lane, etc., when it became apparent I was being followed home by a car I could not identify, because they had their brights on while tailgating me. I assumed if they followed me to my house, instead of parking, and I'd circle around and drive to my friend's house, who is a county Sheriff. Well, as I make my final turn towards my driveway, the car turns off, and it's the police. They had followed me for roughly 5 miles, into my gated neighborhood. This made me extremely mad, as I can almost guarantee you it would not have happened to someone of a different skin color.

That made me wonder: what would have happened, hypothetically, if I had turned and followed them in the same fashion they followed me? I mean, evidently they have no qualms essentially harassing me for 20 minutes with their brights on 5 feet from my bumper, so could I expect legal repercussion if I... followed them back? lol Thanks y'all.

BTW this is in south Texas

Answer:
 Weekend before Halloween, at 2am, driving 5 miles under the speed limit? The officer was waiting to see if you'd show signs of being a drunk driver.

There's nothing explicitly illegal about following cops, but it is suspicious behavior that might get you pulled over.Answer #2: If you're driving with your brights on or tailgating then you may have problems. Otherwise you are allowed to drive behind police.

On the skin colour note. You may want to consider that they were following you because of behaviour/circumstance.  It's very hard to tell what ethnicity someone is when you're driving behind them in the dark.Answer #3: Going 5 under at 2am is suspicious. He probably wanted to try and catch any signs of you being drunkAnswer #4: >This made me extremely mad, as I can almost guarantee you it would not have happened to someone of a different skin color.

How do they know what skin color you are in the dark? Rofl Answer #5: Same thing happened to my pasty white husband. Apparently driving below the speed limit rather than the standard ten miles above is highly suspicious, at least in Massachusetts.


Title: [ON-Canada] Collections Agency calling about person with same name, took that person to court, and now have my work has a court order to garnish my wages

Question:
Just looking for some quick advice here about any possible recourse I have.  I'll start by that I don't have any debt in collections (it's typical stuff, mortgage, line of credit and credit cards)  Always paid and up to date.

Here's the story

In June 2016 I was called on my work phone from a Collections Agency - they were looking for someone with my name and had lead 'he' worked where here.  This was for an AMEX Card, the guy was super nice and confirmed a few things and that was the end of it.   Never heard from again.  (At this time I ran a credit report - which was very good)

In August of 2017, I get called again at work, the first call I wasn't so sure who he was or why he was calling.    He was super aggressive on the phone saying things like "We got you", "You know why I'm calling", "this is about the letter we sent"  I ended up hanging on on him because he wanted to verify personal information and well I had no idea where he was from, or why he was calling.
He called again a few times before I was able to figure out where he was from (debt collector) and why (some debt from BMO).  I gave him very little, but enough information throughout a few calls that he stopped calling.

Eventually, sometime in September I received another call from this company again wanting to verify my address (as far I remember) I freely gave this information knowing that they needed confirm I was the right person.  This person asked a few times "You haven't lived anywhere else in this city?"  I answered no, and that was the end of it.   I didn't check my credit report at this time because I had just purchased our first home in June.  So any debts would have impacted a mortgage obviously.

Flash forward to yesterday.  My company gets a court order to garnish my wages.  I explain this whole story to my companies finance officer that there is no way this is me and explain the story as best I can.  They have put our company lawyer to review this court order for now.

After the meeting with the CFO, I ran a credit report and sure enough it's flawless.

Is there anything I should do in the meantime while the company lawyer is looking into it?  The company isn't going to action it at this time.

I do plan on contacting the government agency in charge of the consumer protections act for Ontario.

How they found 'me' you ask?  Well if you happen to google my name & city, you find things like Facebook and linkedin with where I work.

Funny Side Story:
My Brother used to live in an apartment building, and while visiting scrolling though the directory to get his buzz code, there was a person with my exact name there.

TLDR:  Collections Agency Sued 'me' by googling my name and found my place of employment, even though I have no debt in collections and there is another person in the same city with the same name.
Topic:
Credit Debt Bankruptcy

Answer: Does the garnishment order contain any other identifying information such has home address or SSN?


Title: Paternity - Pennsylvania - 18 years later not sure if kid is mine

Question: Went to court years ago when kid was about 6-8 months old, kid is now 19-20 y/o, paid over $1,000 US a month for 17 years and 9 months, lost job last year 3 months before kid graduated, total of $2800 US is owed and child support will be complete. Initial Masters hearing at Domestic Relations in Media, Pa.  At the end of the initial hearing, Master said I would go to prison if I didn't sign papers, which I later found out was paternity acknowledgement.  Master called bailiff in and told the bailiff, "He's not allowed to leave until he signs these papers!".  Waited about an hour, caved and scribbled on papers "not my signature" and left.  I've always wanted a DNA test but figured after signing the papers I could do it later, never did.  Raised the kid as my own but when the kid turned 16-17 we fought and cursed each other and haven't spoke for 3 years.  Is it to late to sue the court for violating rights, false imprisonment, signature under threat etc... Im not looking for money I just want domestic relations held responsible for DNA testing and possibly exposed as I'm certain I'm not the only person with this story from this court.  If this is my biological kid, I can at least attempt to salvage our relationship, without knowing I really don't want anything else to do with this kid.  I provided a DNA test kit 3 years ago but the kid refused.

Answer:
 >. If this is my biological kid, I can at least attempt to salvage our relationship, without knowing I really don't want anything else to do with this kid

I'm gonna go out on a limb here and guess that this is the crux of the relationship problems you have with your child. And I think that you need some serious relationship advice, not legal advice, and you need to take a real hard look at yourself and ask "is the biological aspect of my child really the most important thing about them? It's really so important that it's worth permanently losing my child over? And I'm really going to hold paternity over my child's head, even though they themselves never had anything to do with it?"Answer #2: Eleven years ago, I found out that my dad isn't my biological father. That is irrelevant, he is my dad. I still talk to him a couple times a week and still go home for the holidays. He is my son's grandpa and my wife's father in law. He knew from the beginning that he wasn't my biological father but that didn't change anything.

After reading what you wrote about how DNA would make a difference in your relationship with your "son", I hurt for him. You never were a Dad. I seriously hope that he has a good life without you. Answer #3: Since you only want to connect with the child if he is in your blood line, and the child has already refused to submit his DNA, then I think you already are out of options. You can't force your adult child to provide DNA.


Title: Apartment charged twice for rent three weeks ago, I have provided my bank statement, but they are saying they can't do anything without a written letter from the bank. What happens now?

Question: [deleted]

Answer:
 Just dispute it with the bank.  "Hey bank... this check I wrote?  You cashed it twice."

You don't need a letter.  They'll undo the second cashing of the check.  And hopefully they'll penalize the landlord which both electronically deposited it and deposited the paper copy.

Easy.
Answer #2: >Is there anything I can do to get my money back sooner?

Why is it difficult to get a letter from your bank? You walk in and request it, and it can be done in approximately 10 minutes, as long as what you're saying is true.

Also, if the check came back as NSF, then it was processed twice, you need to speak with the bank. That's their issue.


Title: My Dying Father was informed that his girl friend is pregnant.

Question:
[South Carolina]

My father (in his early 40s)has cancer and the doctors say that he has about a month left to live. He won a large sum of money in a court case and I was to be awarded the money in his will when he passes. A couple of months  ago he met a girl (she is in her late 20s) and they have been dating, everyone believes she’s a gold digger in the family but he doesn’t seem to get it, she proposed to him and said she just wanted his last name for when he passes. About a month ago he broke up with her, before they got married, due to her lying about me wanting to see and him and hiding his phone, she also stole some of his medication and the paper work for the will and refused to give back the work and required the police to come and supervise as he got his stuff from her house. Today he got a call from her and she was saying that she is pregnant with his child, she was on birth control but it didn’t seem to work.

My father  wants to put the unborn child in the will, is there any way that we could hold off giving the money until the baby is born and has paternity test to make sure it’s actually his or is even real? Also is there any way to set a trust so the mother will never be able to touch it and only the child will get it when they reach the age of 18?

Answer: There are ways through which *your father* could make paternity testing a condition of inheritance or set up a trust. There is probably no legal way that you could disinherit the child or modify the provisions of your father's will if he doesn't want you to.


Title: Bought two items at Dice online store, order still processing after two months. 8 emails sent, one elusive reply

Question: I placed my order two months, it is still processing. I contacted them 8 times in the second month, they replied only once two weeks ago saying they were gonna ship it the very next day. Their "Terms and conditions" page (http://store.dice.se/home/terms-and-conditions/) clearly states that they are bounded to send me my stuff within 30 days. Joystick Junkies, the company that manages that store, is based in UK. I'm from another European country. What should I do?

Answer: You should contact your credit card company that you used to place the order and tell them you never received the items and would like to dispute the charge. They can help you get your money back.


Title: (US) How do I maintain good relations with opposing counsel?

Question: Essentially, I think this is still asking for legal advice. I recently moved into a pretty small circle of law where we generally deal with the same plaintiff and defense firms on a regular basis. It would be in my best interest to maintain good relations with these people for all future litigation. However, for the most part, I think a few of these guys are scumbags. I'm aware that they're doing whatever they can for their respective clients, and thereby representing them in the most cost-effective way possible. I'm not at liberty to go into detail about some of the things they do. I will say that they're operating legally, although shady at times, what they're doing is perfectly legal. It's their morals, more so lack thereof, behind their representation that makes me dislike a few of these guys.

Answer: This may be a better question for /r/lawyers, but you'll need to prove bar membership to the mods before they let you in.


Title: (New Jersey) can't get ahold of anyone to pay a traffic ticket.

Question:
This happened in New Jersey but we're from Wyoming if that matters. I don't really know if this sub is the right one for my problem, but I'll give it a shot.

In June this summer, my boyfriend and I were traveling around the east coast and found ourselves in New Jersey. We decided to stop by the Statue of Liberty. We parked at Liberty Park and long story short we got a traffic ticket. Whatever no big deal we'll pay it.

The problem is every time we try and call the number on the ticket, an automated voice recording answers and says due to the high volume of calls our call cannot be answered and to call back later. This happens every single time. The ticket was suppose to be paid by the first of July but we got a thing in the mail saying the date had been pushed back to July 31st. July 31st comes and we still get the same recording. We've been calling everyday. We tried paying online but every time we enter the information it asks for (court id, prefix of where we got the ticket, ticket number and license plate number) it says there is no record of that ticket. I've tried looking for a help line or an email address to ask what to do but can't find anything.

I guess my question is how do we get this paid? The cop who wrote the ticket never put an amount on it and said to call the number and they'd tell us how much it is. But we can't get ahold of a real person all we get is a message to call back. I don't want for this to turn into a big deal where there's a warrant out or something. How do we take care of this?

Answer:
 Traffic ticket, or parking ticket?

I would look up the police department (or parking authority) that issued the ticket. Call whatever number you can find, even if it's a number for the dispatcher or front desk. Hopefully whoever answers can give you some useful information.

I have been issued a parking ticket (in a different state) and not had it appear in the online system until a month after it was due to be paid. Unfortunately that is the pace of some of our governmental agencies.