Title: A review online has lead to a company threatening legal action - How should I proceed?

Question:
I’m based in England. This is a LTD company signing up for a subscription service. This is my small one man ‘hobby business’.

This is a real scenario. For fear of repercussions, I won’t use the real business name, or real example that lead up to the review, but another of equal meaning.

The company in question is an online subscription company that provides a list of all Ice cream shops in the country. I was searching for one specific rare type of ice cream. The company offers a higher tier of subscription with a claim of “If you can’t find the ice cream you’re looking for, we’ll refund the cost of your subscription”. There was no indication next to this guarantee of further terms and conditions relating to this guarantee.

At the end of the sign-up process, I ticked the ‘I accept all terms and conditions’ button without reading the terms and conditions. (Doh)

I proceed to use the service, but am disappointed because I can’t find the rare ice cream that I’m looking for. I contact customer services for this company and request a refund under the guarantee because I wasn’t able to find the ice cream I was looking for.

The ice cream company responds with a copy/paste of a clause, buried 20 clauses down in the terms and conditions that says they will only grant a refund if you successfully found the ice cream you were looking for and didn’t like the taste. As I didn’t find the ice cream at all, I’m not eligible for the refund.

I am frustrated, so go to a well known Trusted website and post a review about how I feel like I’ve been misled into purchasing a subscription under the guise of a false guarantee.

Ice cream company immediately marks my review with the review company as violating the review companies terms of service and sends me a direct email apologising for the confusion, stating that they will process an immediate refund, and requesting I reconsider my review. They put a comment on the review stating that they are verifying the authenticity of the review and attempting to align the review with a valid order.

I stand my ground, thank the Ice cream company for offering me the refund, but clarify I wasn’t attempting to get a refund, I was trying to raise awareness to other customers that might fall into the same trap. I offered to remove my review if the ice cream company updated their sales page with a non-misleading guarantee.

We bounce around 3-4 emails disagreeing over whether the fact they hide a very limiting clause of the guarantee deep within the terms and conditions that they know customers will not read.

I finally send an email stating that we will have to agree to disagree, requesting they remove their report of the review so it can be published for the public to see.

Ice cream company follows up with two very aggressive emails riddled with threats.
- Clarify your address so we can send this to our solicitor.
- Provide your solicitors details

Second email (39 minutes later, on a Saturday evening)
- We sent you an email requesting you clarify your address - you haven’t responded, please note a judge might see this as lack of communication
- Recommended I read the ‘Malicious Communications Act’

Ice cream company also redacts their offer of their ‘immediate refund of the subscription cost’, in light of me not removing my review.

I find out since these two emails have been sent, Ice Cream company has deactivated my account, so I no longer have access to the services of locating ice cream, even though I signed up to and paid for a 12 month subscription and had 8 months remaining.

I’m baffled by how to proceed and reply to their latest email. To clarify, the review itself has not been read by a single member of the public, so if they did have a case of arguing defamation based on the content of the review, no damage has been done.

Is this a company bluffing, or can I really be sued for posting an honest review of their service?

Answer:
 I'd update the review by saying that "for this review, I am being threatened by a lawsuit"...Answer #2: IANAL. If your review was factual, they're not going to have much of a leg to stand on. It sounds completely like they're bluffing, and the request for solicitors details / address makes it look like they're just trying to scare you into deleting the review. I did a bit of reading on the MCA a few years back, and it'd be a bit of a stretch to classify a review based on your experience as malicious communication.

I'm assuming you provided details when you signed up - they have these, if they want to carry out legal action, I'm sure they can do it with the information you've provided.

I'd mark their emails as spam and ignore them. You could probably also open a charge back request with your credit card company if you wanted to get a refund given they terminated your service, however this may add fuel to the fire.Answer #3: /r/legaladviceUK. Hope UK has something resembling California anti-SLAPP for your sake.


Title: My ex-girlfriend is threatening to kill herself after I told her that I'd like to cut contact with her. Am I in trouble?

Question:
First things first, I don't know if she'd actually commit suicide or is just saying it so I won't ignore her anymore. She had a history of suicidal thoughs and bipolar(?) depression. She refused to get any professional help, often blamed me for it (main cause of the break-up; emotionally abusive) It is/was also a long-distance relationship, I live in Germany/Lower Saxony, and she in USA/Ohio.

Here is her (presumably) last text: http://prnt.sc/eeead1

Is it legal for me to ignore the threat?

Any attempts of telling her to see a therapist/expert were neglected by her so what should I do?
Topic:
Contracts

Answer: Notify the police for her safety, then BLOCK all lines of communication.Answer #2: Borderline personality disorder


Title: Am I legally entitled to notes made during a call with a corruption? e.g Chase, BofA. [Virginia]

Question:
Please note I misspelled corperation.

I had a call today with my bank. The person was very rude and I'm afraid they made false notes on my account. Someone told me that if I request the notes made on my account they must legally provide them. I am not requesting a copy of the recorded call. Just the notes made on my account. What does r/legaladvice think?

Answer: No


Title: Can you leave someone out of your will for marring a "non-white"

Question:
My aunt(married my uncle who died in the 70s and she is now with a new man) might not have that much longer to live. In her will it says "stuff" is this legal

Is it legal to only not give anything to someone if someone marries a "non-white."
       A My aunt will not give anything to her nieces which includes me and my cousins if they marry "non-whites." Both are getting married to "non-whites" in spring.
       B this does not apply to me since I'm not getting married to anyone since I'm a teenager

Topic:
Wills Trusts and Estates

Answer:
 It can be challenged.

However as the nieces aren't entitled to ANY inheritance in many locations if the aunt dies with a living spouse this can be iffy.Answer #2: Yes, that’s legal. She isn’t obligated to give anyone anything regardless or her reasoning. Answer #3: That is the sort of thing that can be vulnerable to a will challenge,  however if she just writes them out of her will that will almost certainly stand up.


Title: [USA] Is it illegal to lie on a resume?

Question: What is the worst that could happen to someone who lied on a resume?

Answer:
 Depends on what they lied about - consequences could be anything from simply getting fired to charged with fraud. Depending on the job, like say lying to become a doctor, more creative charges could come up.Answer #2: It's illegal to lie about being a doctor, lawyer, accountant, financial adviser, or anything else that involves licensing. It's also illegal to lie on a government application.

That said, if you write "people person" under skills, no one's the wiser.


Title: Recieving Money to get a woman pregnant

Question:
I have recieved an offer by a (f) 41 who is in love with me (m) 22. An offer of 1 one million dollars USD (1,000,000) to get her pregnant. I have offered her an anonymous sperm donation to her for a smaller sum hower she wants it to be natural. I understand this is a horrible thing to do to ask for money for sperm donation especially natural as it will be my child too, but I will get the the point. I have offered a straight transaction of a higher sum in case she says I have to raise the child, so instead of collateral I will simply accept the money, paying child support might be a must but I am willing to. I am left in huge debt due to the passing away of my mother and will happily use the money to support the child, I simply do not want any accosiation in seeing the child at the moment because I would not like accosiation with her, and most importantly I do not want to become attatched to the child, she agreed. That I do not she would also not want me to have accosiation with the child. I simply cannot raise a child at my age, and do not have any interest in raising the child with this woman. I would like it to be a "natural sperm donation with collateral" she is completely against sperm donation and would like it to be natural. She really wants twins as they run in my family and and my genes are what she is looking for. I requested 2 million USD if she has twins. The transaction would be from her very wealthy parents that are willing to do it. Is such a thing humane? possible? I stated that I would not sleep with her until after a discussion with a good lawer that would state in writing I am taking the transaction with all the terms I stated above and then I will proceed to sleep with her constantly until she becomes pregnant. paying child support would not be an issue as I study business and will recieve help to turn that milliion to multimillions, I plan to transfer funds all around to my father, and brother and potentially leave money for a rainy day in a secured account even cash in secured banks so that I will not be left with a while I have to raise with her and no money.

Is there a special lawer to see that can do this?

is This legal?

Is this Humane?

Please no bashing, I am in a desperate situation and I live alone in debt in Israel.
Topic:
Custody Divorce and Family

Answer:
 Absolutely nothing about this is a good idea.

There's no way you're getting a million dollars out of this. Because what she's asking for is illegal, so you have absolutely no recourse when she says "lol no" when it comes time to pay.


Title: In California, I was caught with marijuana before it became legal.

Question: I was caught and received a ticket for possession of less than one ounce of marijuana on June of this year before it became legal to possess. Right now my ticket is over 400 dollars and that isn't a small sum of money because i'm between jobs, what are my options? (Just to be clear, I live in California)

Answer:
 So you're getting bad advice here.

The California law is actually backwards looking, and allows for you to petition to dismiss/recall/modify the charges pursuant to the new law:

11361.8

(a) A person currently serving a sentence for a conviction, whether by trial or by open or
negotiated plea, who would not have been guilty of an offense or who would have been guilty of
a lesser offense under the Control, Regulate and Tax Adult Use of Marijuana Act had that Act
been in effect at the time of the offense may petition for a recall or dismissal of sentence before
the trial court that entered the judgment of conviction in his or her case to request resentencing
or dismissal in accordance with Sections 11357, 11358, 11359, 11360, 11362.1, 11362.2,
113 62. 3, and 113 62. 4 as those sections have been amended or added by this Act.

You can call the court where you're being prosecuted and see if they have a procedure/form in place for petitions under the new law.

[Link to full text here.](http://vig.cdn.sos.ca.gov/2016/general/en/pdf/text-proposed-laws.pdf#prop64)


Title: [CA] My landlord has held me hostage and violated HIPPA and West Hollywood's rental laws.

Question: My landlord or technically sublandlord has been doing many illegal things in the home, such as running a private therapy practice, not allowing me access to the kitchen, forcing me to pay him rent in cash, running a business out of his residence, as well as not letting me leave my room when he had therapy clients. etc. I also have paid him $650 towards Octobers rent and a $500 deposit. When I went to the city of West Hollywood, they told me I had full rights to move out, what forms do I need to let him know I\\\'m leaving by October 1st, and to request my money back for Oct rent and my security deposit?

Answer: What makes you think you have the right to move out? How is he not allowing you access to the kitchen? How is he violating HIPAA?


Title: Can someone explain to me what the hell this paragraph in a contract translates to in plain english?

Question:
"That in the case of default in the payment of such rents or in the performance or observance of such obligations I shall pay and make good to the Landlord on demand all such rents, losses, damages, costs and expenses thereby arising or incurred including all costs of any claim against the Tenant and/or the Guarantor PROVIDED THAT no variations of the terms of the Agreement, nor any neglect or forbearance of the Landlord in endeavouring to obtain payment of the rents reserved by the Agreement when due or to enforce performance or observance of the Tenants obligations nor any time for payment which may be given by the Tenant by the Landlord, nor any surrender of the tenancy, shall release or exonerate or in any way affect the liability of the Guarantor under this idemnity."

The whole thing is one long sentence. I can't wrap my head around it. please someone

Answer: It's saying that you promise that in the event you fail to pay rent, that you will pay rent and ancillary costs associated with getting you to pay rent (i.e. a lawsuit).  And that so long as there is no change to the contract, even if you surrender the property, your promise is still valid.


Title: [PA] Was speeding on highway but braked before passing cop. He gave me a traffic citation instead of a moving violation to "cut me a break." Is this a trick?

Question: [deleted]

Answer:
 I would not fight it. Lots of people say "always go to court" and I've had good luck doing that, but only when the ticket had points.

I just pay the non-points bearing tickets.


Title: [MD] restaurant makes server pay small amount to bartender who pours alcohol

Question:
A friend of mine works as a server at a restaurant (MD), since she is under 21 she cannot pour alcohol. The sketchy part is that the restaurant makes her pay $1 to the bartender (out of wallet) for every $40 of alcohol that is served to customers. Is this legal for the restaurant to force her to pay this small fee for performing normal job duties?

Thanks in advance

Answer: Yes, most servers have to pay out to the bartenders.


Title: (AZ) Would this be considered harassment? Could I get a restraining order?

Question:
I'm a college student, I'm in my mid-twenties and have a family so I don't live on campus.

One of the "student advisors" at my school has taken it upon herself to decide that I should be in the military instead.

She calls me and tells me that I need to join, has military recruiters show up at my house and call me. She even took my husbands number from my emergency contact form and has called him and told him that he needs to make me join.

I've spoken to her boss(and the bosses boss) they just say that she's trying to help me. I'm a 3.5 GPA student I don't *need* to join the military.

Would this be considered harassment? Could I get a restraining order against her and her military friends?

Answer: It's possibly a violation of FERPA at least. You should keep complaining up the chain at the university and file a FERPA complaint.


Title: Is it fraud to give references?

Question:
About two weeks ago I left my job in a untimely way, i did not show up for work as I was so fed up with the management and hours.

However flash to today I have been offered a new job working with vulnerable people so it is necessary for me to get character references from my last place of employment. So I asked my old supervisor for one. He replied saying as he was the one who fired me it would be fraudulent to give me one, this seems completely false to me ? He did not even have the power to fire me anyway.

I know he doesn't have to give me one if he doesn't want to but I think he genuinely believes it would be fraud and I am kind of stuck now, any advice would be very appreciated.

Answer: It sounds like an excuse because he doesn't want to give one.


Title: Parking Spots required to be vacated during business hours for emergency snow plowing

Question: My business is located in Lemoyne, PA, within Lemoyne Township of Cumberland County. On the day of the incident at 10:00 AM, my business received a call from Lemoyne Township asking us to re-locate vehicles from the parking spots on the road in front of our business for an "emergency snow plowing" by 5:00PM the same day, and if vehicles were not moved, they would be towed and fined. My business does not have designated parking spots for employees and customers, so we have to park in the parking spots on the road. Our business hours, 10:00 AM to 7:00 PM (Mon-Sat), extend beyond 5:00 PM, so it would be in conflict with the "emergency snow plowing" time. As a consequence, one of my employees had their vehicle towed, and the employee had to cover the cost for the towing ($95). Two weeks later, my employee received a fine in the mail for an additional $159. Due to the lack of designated parking spots for our business, if these types of incidents continue to occur, our business will suffer more severe losses, whether it be customers or employees. Is the township justified in what they are doing without compensation to our business? Is there an legal action that I can take in my defense to prevent this from recurring?

Answer:
 I mean, it sucks, but the township makes the rules and they also warned you all of the consequences.

> My business does not have designated parking spots

Not the Township's problem or fault.

> Due to the lack of designated parking spots for our business, if these types of incidents continue to occur, our business will suffer more severe losses

Sounds like you need designated parking spots. If none are available, I would consider relocating the business.

> Is the township justified in what they are doing without compensation to our business?

Absolutely.

> Is there an legal action that I can take in my defense to prevent this from recurring?

Run for office, get on the ballot, run for township supervisor, change the rules.


Title: NM Bankruptcy vs. inheritance.

Question: [deleted]

Answer: If you declare bankruptcy, you'd be required to disclose expected income like an inheritance, and your creditors will be able to potentially make claims against it.  If you don't disclose it, then you risk some pretty serious trouble


Title: What can I do to build a case to leave my family

Question:
I’ve been emotionally abused a few times through my life and I’ve been planning to call CPS and leave my family yet I can’t figure out how to make a case to secure me leaving
Because my parents will try to keep me even though more likely than not it’ll end badly
My stepdad punched a hole into my door because I locked it so I could cry after 2 hours of yelling at me saying I was driving my family to hell and that I was stressing my mother like crazy
I’m sorry for ranting about it but I need help making a case for this
Topic:
CPS and Dependency Law

Answer:
 Talk to your school counselor or a trusted teacher.   Take s photo of the door.  Start keeping a journal of every incident.

It's unlikely you'll be removed - it's an extreme step, and if you have appropriate housing, food, and clothing and are physically safe the state will be extraordinarily reluctant to take you into care.

However, there are a lot of resources that should still be available to you - family and individual counseling, anger management courses, etc.    COS can still help, even if you have to stay in the home.

So keep records, tell someone, develop a support network for yourself, and take care of yourself.  4 years is a long time to live with verbal abuse,  but it is also a long time to save money, make plans, and set yourself up to able to leave easily and safely the day you turn 18.

Good luck.Answer #2: What is there to "build a case" for?  How old are you?  You can simply leave if you are of age, there's no requirement to prove that you need to.


Title: (Los Angeles, CA) Can I record my coworker as evidence in a case involving sexual harassment?

Question: [deleted]

Answer:
 California is a two-party consent state.  You can't record her secretly.  Obviously if she consents or is otherwise aware of the camera recording when she's speaking then it isn't against the law.

On the other hand the fact that you think she wasn't offended by your boyfriends grossly unprofessional behavior isn't likely to help him get his job back.  He was fired for drawing a penis on a hat, not for making someone cry.


Title: Is it illegal to (can I get in trouble for)....

Question: Zip tying a shopping cart to a car that is double parked (Ontario, California)

Answer: Dont be an ashole and yes they might come after you if there are damagesAnswer #2: I'm not sure I understand your question.  How and why would you zip tye a cart to a car?


Title: Temp tattoos on a toddler

Question:
My ex has been putting giant chest pieces and neck TEMPORARY tattoos on our 2 year old. One of them included a large hop which is a logo for a local brewery.

Is there any illegality to doing this? Especially the alcohol company ones?

Located in Oregon.

Answer:
 ...

Be adults, this is childish on his part and also childish by you to think there is a legal issue.


Title: Who owns my medication in this scenario [US,MD]

Question: I paid for 3 prescriptions over an app and went to pick them up. I had an email receipt. The cashier, pharmacist and manager weren’t used to people using this app (it’s was the store’s own app, wtf) and were having trouble processing the transaction. Then their computer froze. The meds were sitting right on the counter in labeled bottles. Would I have been within my rights to just grab them and leave, letting them know I’m sorry for the inconvenience but I paid already and don’t have time to wait for them to get their shit together?

Answer: You might have been morally correct, but they would have been legally correct to call store security to stop you until they can verify payment.


Title: is it legal to use thousands of parrots to pull a massive chariot around?

Answer: You'd need a lot but I guess as long as you aren't disturbing anyone and keeping the noise level down I dont see why notAnswer #2: Will any parrots be harmed ?Answer #3: I think you'd run into physics before the law.Answer #4: Yes, please do so and make sure to swing by my house. This is a bucket list item for me.Answer #5: As long as you don’t molest the geeseAnswer #6: Depends on their migratory legal statusAnswer #7: I'm going to assume your location is Florida.Answer #8: Probably not state laws and city/county ordinances would prohibit it in some fashion or another. Usually there is a catch all provision which allows officers to make stops on cars/vehicles that are generally unsafe.Answer #9: I'm both saving this post *and* dropping a comment for proof to future memeologists that I was present.Answer #10: Just from a logistical standpoint, look into Ostriches.Answer #11: I suggest you contact an expert in bird lawAnswer #12: Yes but you have to legally say “make way for the king” everywhere you goAnswer #13: How would you even accomplish that?? Forget the legality.


Title: Can a car lot hold a car I bought? After signing the title over and signing a bill of sale?

Question: I bought a car 3 weeks ago from a car lot. It used to be their work truck, so it is in the car lots name on the title. They said I couldn't take the car off the lot until the title has been transferred (usually they would send me to the DMV and get it done in the same day, but due to covid I had to send it though the mail, it will take 8-9 weeks just to get processed). Is it legal for them to hold the car for 8-9 weeks until the title gets transfered? My coworker says the car is technically a stolen vehicle at this point (I paid for it, they signed away the title, gave me a bill of sale, I even have insurance on it now). I'm worried about parts getting stolen off it, them not starting it up for weeks on end, and the fact I'll be paying 400+$ in insurance before I can even drive it.

Answer:
 Once they sign over the title the vehicle is yours.

For example, if you were to buy a used car off Craigslist the previous owner would sign the back of the title over to you and fill out the bill of sale. You are then required to go to the dmv and submit the proper forms to transfer the title. The previous owner doesn’t maintain possession of the car until the new title arrives in your name.

You paid for the vehicle and by signing the back of the title they transferred the ownership rights to you.

If you both signed the title and they mailed it to the DMV then it is effectively transferred to you.


Title: Trapped in another country with abusive father, wondering what our (myself and my mom’s) safest options are for divorce/getting out of the house once we are back in Canada

Question:
As the title says, my mom and I (23F) are in another country on a family vacation with my father who has a history of being verbally and at times physically abusive with me and my sister. My mother always turned a blind eye, however on this trip she finally saw him in his truth when he threatened to kill me (exact words were “I’ll fucking kill you”) and was visibly trying to get over to me to become physical. I pulled my mom out of their hotel room and brought her into my room where we will be staying until we know what the best plan of action is. I will also be asking the hotel for a change of rooms tomorrow so he does not know exactly where we are.

The trip we are on was meant to continue on until Saturday, at which point a small shuttle bus was going to pick us ALL up, take us to the small airport, and fly us to Canada where we then have to drive ~2 hours to get back to my house (we are still trying to sort this out as my father has the car keys to my mom’s car that we drove to the Canadian airport)

The advice I’m searching for here is what we should do when we get back in terms of safely getting out of the house my parents share and safely getting my mom a divorce, likely against my fathers wishes. None of us have ever dealt with this sort of thing and I just want to make it as easy as possible for my mom to exit that ~30 year relationship that involves financial intermixing etc., while still ensuring that none of us have to be alone with him at any time, given his death threat and history of being aggressive.

I’m sorry if this is a weird post or I didn’t provide bough detail, it’s my first post on reddit and i’m a bit shaken up still. Happy to give more info in comments if anyone sees this

Answer:
 Your life was threatened.  Instead of asking for a change of rooms, find a way to go to an airport and get the hell out of there.

Your mom can file for an order or protection (not sure what Canada calls them) that will keep your dad at bay for a bit, but ultimately it is just a piece of paper and if he wants to hurt you it won't stop him.

Look up domestic violence shelters in your area and seek refuge in one for you and your mother.


Title: My neighbor's lawn service's mower cracked my window. Should they pay?

Question:
My neighbor's lawn service's runs their mower without a chute to deflect clippings. I don't know why, but it's probably less work for them.

Their mower kicked up a rock and it cracked one of my windows. The guy is saying that it wasn't him, but I watched it happen. He won't pay and says I have no proof that it was his mower. That's true - it's my word against his. Do I have no choice but to file a homeowner's insurance claim? Are lawn services required to use the deflector chute?

This is in central Florida. What should/can I do?

Answer:
 You should pursue this through your homeowners insurance. They'll go after the guy.Answer #2: Unless it's a very large window it's likely going to not meet your deductible and then you'll have a claim in your record. As another said, the fewer claims the better. Altho most claims aren't goiing to affect the value of your home at all and certainly not a broken window claim. I'd suggest getting estimates first before filing a claim to prevent a possible denial and still having zero payout claim on CLUE. If it's enough over deductible (I wouldn't file a claim for only a couple hundred dollars), to make it worthwhile, then file the claim. Otherwise sue in small claims. Answer #3: I try to avoid homeowners insurance claims.

These claims become part of your home's permanent record (C.L.U.E. and A-PLUS), and can adversely affect your home's value and insurance rates.  And your insurer may cancel your policy if there are excessive claims.

True... this isn't that big of a deal... It's not like water damage or mold which is a scarlet letter for a home's record... But still...

If you can get it handled without involving your insurer, all the better.


Title: Facing a 12(b)(6) motion to dismiss..

Question:
I filed in ohio common pleas using the generic court provided ppwk which created a very lackluster complaint. Defendant files 12e motion for more definite statement to which i respond with a much more intelligent and intelligible 1st amended complaint. While wanting to keep things moving i submit a 22ct RFAdmissions knowing that defendant cannot answer truthfully, and the next day i get MTD with a statute of limitations (affirmative defense) on a 12(b)(6) MOTION. My question is,  if defendant has not answered my complaint, and has not pleaded his affirmative defense affirmatively, what is my best strategy? Yes i know i have a fool for a client, but i know my claim is meritorious no matter how inartfully plead. Anyone wanna take a shot at this please?. Thank you all for your advice.

Edit/update. Havens-tobias v eagle 2003 oh app,
So they are adding a statute of limitations defense and this is for a gross negligence claim. The 1st amended complaint clearly makes statements of fact, not conclusions as to misrepresentations and civil fraud on tortfeasor to avoid discovery. So the face of the complaint has the dates which bring up the time bar defense. But how can you "assume all facts as true" and attempt to call the claim deficient at the same time? non legal common sense tells me that these 2 cannot succeed on the same motion, am i wrong?

Background, i have kept in touch with my childhood babysitter casually for 25 years, for some reason my aunt has hated her for as long as i can remember.  Lived in ohio until i was 5, but grew up in hawaii and texas never to return. Having no real family, and being a new father myself i moved my family to be near my former sitter so my child might have some kind of familial relation from my side of the family vs just my wifes.  My former sitter watched my kid a couple of times and threw a bunch of red flags, not all at once but over a few visits. The last time my 2 year old kid was with her, i show up and nanna is taking a bath and my kid was rifling through electronics with a shitty diaper on a different side of the house. I was pissed, grabbed my kid and left. While discussing the incident with my Aunt she tells me thats why she hated her (fmr sitter), i asked for clarification and my aunt told me she was asleep when i was with her as a child and lost my eye. I dont know the exact details but i asked Nana and she didnt deny it she just said she was not asleep, she was cooking and put a 2 year old outside to play, and she heard screaming and the neighbors yelling. She let me tape record our conversation in detail and i plan on using that, she does not deny fault, just that shes not responsible. I had asked her about the incident a few times growing up when id come to visit, and she would tell me that she was running after me trying to grab me. After learning it was all bullshit AND seeing how she treated my kid, i told her to pay for some treatments and we would be settled. She agreed and now no longer takes my calls. I served her a complaint just before Christmas.

Answer:
 >Anyone wanna take a shot at this please?

Do I want to do legal work for you for free and without any of the information I would need to do it adequately?

No.


Title: [General] Do all lawyers have to do Pro-Bono work?

Question: [deleted]

Answer:
 1.  Not all lawyers do pro bono work.

2.  There is no "official" tracking of pro bono work across the US.  A few states [require reporting](https://apps.americanbar.org/legalservices/probono/reporting/pbreporting.html).

3.  This is pro bono in the sense that it's for the public good, and without compensation, but it's not pro bono legal advice because it's not actually legal advice & doesn't create an attorney client relationship.  Also, the vast majority of people posting here aren't lawyers.


Title: [VA] I left a position without giving my employer a 2 weeks notice, now he is refusing to provide my final check, and won’t respond to my inquiries, what is the next step?

Question:
I had been working at a retail location in central, VA for about 5months, getting paid in cash, which I believe is illegal, as the employer isn’t making appropriate deductions nor would consent to providing a check and paystub. I recently received an opportunity to intern in another area, and took the chance, though it required me to change location quite suddenly, so I was unable to provide proper notice, as is courtesy.  The lack of a final paycheck is creating some financial difficulty for me, and I’m wondering what I can do to receive those earned wages. I’ve sent my employer multiple messages, and the only time my employer responded, they stated that they weren’t required to provide a final check, as I had not given proper notice. What’s the best way to navigate this situation?

Thank you!

Answer: That employer is full of it.  File a wage claim with the Virginia Department of Labor.  They'll get you your money.


Title: Just had a baby, company gave me an ultimatum?!

Question:
So I had a baby in April. My company and I made an agreement before she was born, that it would be ok for me to come back as part time, because I will only have a sitter for Wednesday-Friday. I got 6 weeks unpaid leave and then went back to work. I have been back for 10 weeks now, and last Friday they sat me in the conference room and said they need me to work Monday- Friday or they will need to replace me! So because I can't work Monday or Tuesday are they allowed to just let me go like that?! I live in Colorado, and I have worked there for 3 years now. Thank you in advance for any insight you can give me on this sad situation  :(

(Edit: I don't plan on taking any legal action against this company, because they have been like family to me for the past three years. I'm asking more for my piece of mind, and because Google doesn't tell me much about this situation.)

Answer: The answer is probably. Colorado is an at-will employment state so either of you can end the work relationship for any (legal) reason at any time unless you have a contract to the contrary.


Title: [IL] Boyfriend's IT temp agency contract auto renewed instead of the company hiring him on, but he doesn't want to continue it, how would unemployment work?

Question:
To start off with, he has legitimate reasons to not want to continue to work there. The contract was for 6 months, he's been there 7 so it just "auto renewed".

1. He started to suffer from szeirures, so now I'm his only transportation to work, and his main transportation home. I too, work a full time job and can't keep doing this.

2. If he were to be hired on, he would have been able to work from home; but they told him they are going on a hiring freeze soon, and that they have no intention of hiring him on before then.

3. He is actually in constant pain due to fracturing 5 (or 7?) vertebrae  in his spine, and bone spurs; due to ostioperosis. Took him a couple years to walk again. He's been denied SS because he's "too young" and that he can "work through it"

4. He's GOOD at his job, like creating twice as many incidents than the team average, and constantly trying to come up with ideas to improve the process. Those get slammed down pretty hard. But for some reason it seems like one of the team leads is out for blood (for everyone). They recently got a new manager that is making the workplace down right toxic.

5. it's very much not the right job for him, he gets so much anxiety and really can't handle the constant yelling from end users.

6. We want to actively have him looking for a work from home job, but he can't handle the stress of that, and all the stress from work at the same time. But can't afford to do that without unemployment in between.

Answer: He would not be eligible for unemployment if he quits.


Title: Friend got screwed on child support - he can't afford to live, what are his options? [Houston, TX]

Question:
My very dear friend just had a mediation hearing yesterday and got screwed with child support. He is a good dad, and he wants to/expects to pay something. But what they are asking is too much, he literally can't afford to live off the remainder. What are his options? Does he have to wait three years to try to get it modified?

He got divorced last year, has two kids, and makes $3000/month after taxes (but really only $2500 after insurance, 401k, etc).

He has been ordered to pay $776/month (25%), plus $95/month for health insurance for kids, plus $75/month for back child support.

Income:
$2,500 - Take home pay

Expenses:
$946 - Child Support,
$600 - Rent (that's dirt cheap for Houston, TX),
$450 - Car (this is high but he has to have a reliable car for work),
$120 - Car Insurance,
$100 - Phone,
$500 - Food,
$100 - Gas

I feel these expenses are not excessive, and do not even include everything and he is already in the red $200.

His lawyer yesterday just told him to accept what the mediator offered, because going to court would be another $5,000 and he probably wouldn't get a better outcome. Is that right?

[Edit] I was guessing on the food expense, he much spends less. I spend a lot on food, so I was applying my own food budget to him. I am sorry - please stop down voting me to oblivion for this.

Answer:
 How does he spend $500 a month on food for one person? And he can sell his car and get a cheaper one.  Answer #2: That seems pretty standard. His expenses are a bit out of whack. You can get a reliable car for less than $450/month, and $500 for food is absolutely insane. Answer #3: That's really not much for 2 kids. Do you have any idea what kids actually cost? He should work on getting his income up, his car payment down (he's paying almost as much for a car as he is for rent!), and his food costs lower. Answer #4: "reliable car" has become such a misnomer.  There is a vast, vast difference between a $1,000 beater and a $450/mo car payment.

25% isn't bad. Adding on all (or a portion) of health insurance isn't either. Back child support is on him.  $100 is too much for a phone, $500 too much for food and, quite honestly he doesn't need to contribute to a  401k. It really, really sucks, but it's just part of divorce. Kids come first, he comes second.

Edit: wordsAnswer #5: I'm amused by this.  I got $800/month for 4 children.  Answer #6: That amount does not seem abnormally high.


Title: A vindictive ex is trying to screw me over, how should I deal with this :(

Question:
Throwaway, and a bit of a story, but thanks in advance for any suggestions you have. Backstory- I met a girl, hung out and hooked up with her a few times, it was fun but it became clear that it wasn't going to work so I told her we need to stop hanging out. Fine. She wasn't happy and got pretty needy with texts but it didn't seem that out of the ordinary.

Here is where I screw up- she has a car, a beater Forester, it's got two blown headgaskets, a locked up wheel, but she works at a tire shop so it has a brand new set of snow tires on it, and an unmounted set of all seasons for the summer. I need a backup winter beater, she asks me if I want to buy it all for 1250$, I say yes, we sign a contract with the vin, date, our signatures stating that I'll give her $100 a month until the end of august when I get my bonus and I'll pay her off, I give her $100, and I think we are good. Wrong.

The next day she immediately starts texting me about how she can't wait, she needs more money, she made a mistake and needs the car back blah blah blah... I've bought an air filter for it, put gas into it, spent time researching what I need to do to repair it at this point so I don't want to give it back to her. She then goes completely insane, starts texting me all sorts of threats, it got to the point that I blocked her on my phone. She has her roommate call me yelling at me about how dare I try to rip off this sweet innocent little girl blah blah... keep in mind, she came to me with this idea, she wrote the contract... this goes on for another couple of days until I decide fine, she can have the damn car back. Well, now all of a sudden she doesn't want it back. And since the set of summer tires that I need to be able to use the car aren't specifically mentioned on the contract they don't come with it now, and I need to stop trying to break the contract blah blah...

Basically, she is using the car as a way to stay in my life by any means possible, anytime I agree to something she moves the goalpost to keep a fight going. I have hundreds of text messages from her that very clearly indicate that the tires were a part of the deal, I have many texts from her where she is demanding I give the car back, and then many more showing that when I try to give it back she refuses, that we have a contract, and that since the tires aren't specifically listed on the contract she doesn't have to give them to me.

At this point all I care about is getting her out of my life, so I parked the car on the street and asked her to either bring over the tires and I will buy it according to our original agreement, or just drive the car home and we will be done. I offered to drive it to her house and drop it off. She refused, and then came over and took the license plate off of the car and took the key as well. It is now sitting in front of my house with no plate and as soon as a cop drives by and sees that it's going to be tagged abandoned and towed.

I again ask her to bring the tires or take the car, she refuses, says we have a contract and it's my car now, if the city tows it she will sue me blah blah. I tell her that I have piles of her texts where it is clear that the tires were part of the car and that I am still willing to buy it according to the deal we made originally, and that I offered to drop it back off at her place if she didn't want to sell it with the tires and she refused... she straight up admits in text form that she isnt worried about it because she thinks texts aren't admissible in court, and even if they are she will just lie and say she didn't send them. There are hundreds, and I can link times and dates to her phone number with my bill.

She is very obviously going far out of her way to try and screw me over here over literally nothing... she has no use for a set of loose used tires, she has my money, she has the title and key to the car, and she left it on the street with no plate. I have her admitting all of this in text form, and no matter what the outcome, she wins, because I have sunk time and money into the car already along with giving her $150 before she went insane.

So.. what happens if she doesn't back down and lets the car get towed? We do have a signed contract, but it seems to me that she broke it twice by demanding the car back because she decided that the payments were too slow, and then changing her mind and demanding I keep it without the tires once I had had enough of her constant text harassment and tried to give it back. The car isn't worth what I'm paying her without the tires.

Help me Reddit... what happens if the car gets towed? I don't care about anything other than getting this girl out of my life. I am willing to follow the intent of the original contract, her whole sticking point is that the tires aren't specifically mentioned on it, but I have text proof that they were part of the deal, I have texts of her trying to bring them over the day before this started (I wasn't home at the time), and I have proof she is the one that left the car on the street with no plate for the purpose of having this go to court.

Can she win?

ps.. Never agree to make payments on a car to someone my friends... this is awful

Answer:
 She's frustrated the purpose of the contract. If you have held up your end of the deal and she has made it impossible to complete the contract she's in breach of that contract. Simply tell her you will file in small claims unless she gives you the plates/keys/whatever else back. Send a demand in writing for the return of everything or a complete dissulotion of the contract and return of all respective consideration (You your money back, and her taking the car back) Send it in a physical letter certified-mail return receipt.

And save all those text messages, they are almost assuredly admissible in court.


Title: Maricopa County, AZ. Boss is being taken to small claims court and wants me to testify.

Question:
My boss is being taken to small claims court by a customer. She claims we overcharged her for a product/service. She was told what the price would be before we did the work, and she agreed to pay it. Only after the repair didn't hold up (as we warned her it would not) did she claim we overcharged her.

Basically she wants her money back for the service we provided.

Now, she was previously a customer of a company that my boss bought out and absorbed. He did not maintain all records from that company. He did this with 3 companies. Because of this, I'm trained to answer the phone with only the words "service department, how can I help you?" because he doesn't want customers getting confused and thinking they've called the wrong number. Only after someone asks "is this [company name]?" am I instructed to say yes, and if they give the name of one of the companies we absorbed, I'm supposed to say "Yes it is" and then after that, clarify that we are now called [company name].

Well this woman is raising a fit, saying that I shouldn't be saying "yes it is" when she asks if we're [company that was absorbed] because we're "not them". She even recorded me. But we *are* that company, just with a different name.

My question is, does this woman have a case? Can her recording of me claiming that we are [company that was absorbed] be used against us for this somehow? She does not have any documents saying that [company that was absorbed] had any specific pricing for the service and repair we provided, and honestly I don't see what us being [company that was absorbed] has to do with her claiming she was overcharged.

Answer: She'll have to prove her claims.  You just need to tell the truth and answer any questions you are asked to the best of your ability.


Title: Drunk patron stole my food. Can I do a chargeback?

Question: As the title says, I was at a marina bar with my girlfriend a few nights ago having a few drinks and dinner. This drunk guy was bothering my other friend and when she left he turned his attention to me while I was peacefully grazing on some excellent chicken wings. He snatched some wings off my plate and gave me a dumb grin. I stood up and grabbed one back and there was a brief scuffle when he pushed me before a few other patrons broke it up. The bar manager came over and threw the guy out.  The manager / owner refused to remake or refund my dinner. He said " I threw the guy out, what else do you want me to do?" I talked to a few other people at the bar who were familiar with the drunk guy and alleged that he was a friend of the owners. When I asked the owner who he was and he said he'd never seen the guy before. I never got to finish my dinner and I think the manager/owner handled this improperly. Can I do a chargeback on my card for the value of the wings?

Answer: The restaurant isn’t responsible for someone else stealing your food. They should have offered you something as a gesture of good customer service but your recourse is to stop patronizing that establishment.


Title: I was sexually abused by a close family friend between the ages of 5 and 13 (I’m 35 now). By the time I felt comfortable speaking up about it, the statute of limitations was up. Is it worth suing him in civil court?

Question:
Unfortunately I don’t think the case would be a hard one to win because when I came out with my story lots of kids in the very tight knit community I was raised in also came out. We all had the same story, the same patterns of abuse. Also, the church we were raised in was somewhat aware of the abuse. Apparently this man had gone to the pastor of the church and confessed that he had troubling feelings towards children but that he never had acted on them. He was removed from his leadership position and contact with all children at church. He said he was “stepping down.” The pastor of the church did not report anything because he trusted this man (as the entire community did because he was one of the most respected men there) and believed that no children had been hurt. That was a huge oversight on the pastors part. The church no longer exists, it actually fell apart when I told my story. It divided the church, some people unable to believe the truth about someone they respected so much. But at the point I went public, the pastor of the church spoke about it on a Sunday. I think the pastor messed up by not reporting, but I think he’s a decent man who made an unwise choice back in a time when there was not nearly the awareness around these topics there is now.

All that to say. There is a lot out there on this guy, but unfortunately all his victims came out too late for him to actually go to jail. For years I haven’t thought about it much. But I’ve recently started back in therapy to work on some of the issues that have resulted in my life from the chronic abuse spanning 8 or so years. My counselor isn’t cheap and doesn’t accept insurance, and I got to thinking he should be paying for this. That’s when I thought about a civil suit.

He’s just a middle class guy and his wife is a school teacher (she staunchly defends him and says we’re all lying. This woman was my mothers closest friend in the world before this all came out 15 years ago). So he doesn’t have a lot, but anything could help.

Would it be worth it?

Answer:
 > Would it be worth it?

What would make it worth it to you?  Fully covering therapy?  Therapy + damages?  A criminal conviction?

It's probably "worth it" to consult an attorney about the strength of your case.Answer #2: You could talk to an attorney, but if the criminal statute of limitations is up the civil statute of limitations has almost certainly expired as well.


Title: (CA) Work is moving me 150 miles away. I just signed a year lease.

Question:
My husband and I work for the same company and they're moving us to their other location 150 miles away. I'm having two dilemmas:
I just signed a year lease in April. Is it possible to get out of this without legal repercussions?
I signed a year with a pest control company. They are saying I'll have to pay $200 to break this contract because they have a location where I'm moving and I can just transfer my services up there.
Do I have any rights to get out of my lease and my pest control contract?

Answer:
 Absent language in the contract saying so, no.  That's what a one-year contract means -- you're committed for a year.

Talk to your landlord, talk to your employer, and see what can be worked out.  As far as the pest control goes, either pay the $200 (and see if your employer will reimburse you) or transfer the service.


Title: Credit card transaction completely disappeared?

Question:
I rented a car for a month with Enterprise starting last week and they charged $950 to my credit card account. Today when I logged into the website, I noticed that the charge completely disappeared. However the amount hasn't been deducted from my available credit.

Is this normal? Will they charge my credit card account again when I return the car?

Answer: What you saw was probably a temporary authorization to make sure you had sufficient credit available to cover the amount of the rental.  The company will finalize the transaction and charge you upon the return of the vehicle.


Title: [CALIFORNIA] Moms Ex Boyfriend stole thousands of dollars and her SSN and continues to pull out high interest loans in her name

Question: Hi this might be long, I'm F 20 and me and my mother were kicked out of the home we shared with her ex boyfriend October of 2017. Thankfully we have a house now but at the time of living together he had stolen all of my mother's bank information. We didnt even realize he had been siphoning funds from her account until months later, my mother won't tell me what the full amount stolen is but it's in the thousands. Additionally, he has her SSN and is pulling out loans in her name, and we are still not back on our feet because of this. Her bank believes that because they lived together that she consented to him having her info. It's been two years and the loan sharks are so aggressive that they are calling her ex husband (my father) looking for her. I'm not sure what to do at this point, it's been very difficult and my mother just wants to pay off the debt. Is there anything we or I can do ? I'm just at my wit's end. Any advice will help, thank you for taking the time to read this

Answer:
 Mom can put fraud alerts with the credit bureaus. That should prevent additional loans.
She can report the thefts from her bank accounts to the police if she is willing to deal with the situation. But if she is determined to be an enabler there is not much for you to do except look out for your own interests and healthy detachment.  The boyfriend can only get away with it for as long as she is willing to allow it.


Title: [UK] Won eBay dispute as the seller, buyer requested my info from eBay and is now sending me threatening emails and phonecalls

Question:
Hi

I sold an item on eBay (digital goods, not covered by money back). Buyer used the item (I assume) and requested a refund. I was busy that day and didn't respond until the following day- during this period the buyer lost his marbles and send a torrent of abuse. I told him I would not communicate further and eventually eBay closed the despute in my favour as digital items are not covered under their returns.

At 1am last night he requested my info via eBay and called me twice with a load of threats and abuse and court on top, he said he runs a business and will sue the living shit out of me via that. I told him this is ridiculous and explained that eBay closed the case and to leave me alone.

This morning I have emails via his company email (Plumbing Service) threatening me with court. I'd like to note the value of the item was £12 and as far as I'm aware small claims court costs £50 to even enter the proceedings.

What can I do here? I'm not only afraid of what he will do with my info but really how volatile this guy really is. The address he has on me belongs to my elderly grandparents, a house which I only live at occasionally when visiting which doesn't help me feel better.

Thank you.

**Edit:** Thanks for all the advice/help. I spoke to the police who think this is a civil matter and that the threats are not a concern due to the buyer living a few hours away. A police officer friend has taken my crime number and is going to look into it for me. Buyer has since emailed me twice with more 'Im taking this to court' warnings. I'm just going to let him go ahead and do that.

**Edit 2:** For anyone interested; threats continued, police didn't give a shit, refunded buyer to get him to go away. Abuser wins I guess.
Topic:
Other Civil Matters

Answer:
 Inform ebay and provide proof (they don't like this kind of buyer at all).Answer #2: Yea i was shocked that ebay so freely shares their users personal information with other ebayers. I bought a laptop that was describe in "like new" condition, and the laptop seemed like it was pulled out of dumpster and reeked of smoked.

I submitted a refund request and next thing I know I get a phone call from the seller yelling at me.


Title: [CO] Divorce settlement final, just realized ex is entitled to a portion of my retirement benefits.

Question: [deleted]

Answer:
 Unless you were married for 10 years which coincided with 10 years of service, DFAS isn't going to make payments directly to her. The actual division should still be included in your final order; that's a pretty big oversight on her attorneys part. Especially because your VA disability compensation (if any) reduces the amount she can get directly.

This is one of those things where it's probably better to just keep your mouth shut about.


Title: [North Carolina] What happens if, after signing purchase agreement but before closing documents are signed, the seller dies?

Question: I am purchasing a property in North Carolina.   It was brought to my attention that the seller received a rather grim prognosis recently that requires surgery.  I am due to close shortly after the surgery.  If the worst happens, and he does not survive the surgery or until the closing date, is there a legally predictable outcome?  Are real estate purchase agreements handled differently than standard contracts such that the obligation to perform passes to the heirs or estate? Is there an addendum we might seek to protect our interests in the event of his demise?  The purchase agreement includes the following language:  "This Contract shall be binding upon and shall inure to the benefit of Buyer and Seller and their respective heirs, successors, and assigns."

Answer: My parents ended up in this situation, and the sale was delayed by several months, but went through per the purchase agreement. In their case, the deceased had a widow who was able to sell the house.


Title: UPDATE: Student's mother found out I was abused as a teen and is now telling everyone I'm a danger to the kids. I might lose my job. [NY]

Question:
[Original Post](https://www.reddit.com/r/legaladvice/comments/3y3b7m/students_mother_found_out_i_was_abused_as_a_teen/)

Let me start by thanking everyone who took the time to give me advice and answer my questions in the previous post. That was a very helpful starting point. There were a few requests for updates so here we go.

Many of you suggested that I contact an attorney to write her a letter, which is exactly what I did. He said if I *really* wanted to pursue this with a lawsuit, I might be able to. But to be honest, I'd much rather not spend the time and resources if I don't have to, especially since my last court experience was less than great. I'm not looking for a big payout. I just want to move forward with my life.

I asked my boss if we could set up a time to meet since we're technically closed this week. I knew she was aware of the situation since this woman had posted on our facebook page which my boss manages, but I wasn't really sure where my boss stood on the issue, so I was pretty anxious going in. I told my boss about my visit with the lawyer and about the letter he was going to send her. Turns out, she had a lawyer friend of hers do the exact same thing on behalf of the business. So this woman got not one, but two letters ordering her to shut the hell up, from two different lawyers. Hopefully that is enough to scare her into keeping her mouth shut.

She told me to just avoid this lady at all costs. Like if I run into her at the grocery store, turn around. Her daughter is still taking classes with another teacher during a time when I'm not working. She said she knows this woman is batshit crazy and if she thought there was any real concern regarding me being around kids she would have fired me. She also said she thinks I've been doing a great job handling this and that overall the kids and parents respond really well to me and she's glad to have me on her staff. Always nice to hear and at this point it looks like my job is not in jeopardy.

The facebook posts have been deleted. Not sure if Facebook did it after I reported them, or if she did it herself. Hopefully this is the last you'll be hearing from me. Big thanks to the community for your wise advice and kind words.

Answer:
 You've got a great level-headed boss, particularly if she not only investigated but also had the business' lawyer take some action to support you. She didn't have to take the extra step of having the lawyer send the woman a letter. Answer #2: Hopefully your boss kicks the kid and their parent out of the dance academy.
Whatever the crazy mom pays monthly is not worth the hassle.
Answer #3: Beautiful.
 She wanted drama and all she got was some legal threats. Sounds like you didn't play into her game at all. That's the best way to do it.Answer #4: Thank you for the update but I'm sincerely happy this has turned out well for you. Victims of abuse shouldn't continue to be victimized by assholes like this helicopter mom. Your boss sounds awesome too, you're both lucky to have each other!


Title: How bad did I mess up?

Question:
I posted an anonymous love letter to a coworker on Craigslist.  They don't have a category for it, so I just chose missed connections.

It was short, just outlining my feelings and noting that I was ashamed of them and I that I knew I would regret posting the letter since it wasn't fair to my coworker.

I deleted the post less than 48 hours later.

Before I deleted it, someone sent it to the coworker.

The coworker is now convinced they have a stalker and has been researching how to identify a stalker and restraining orders and seems terrified.

That obviously wasn't my intent - I just thought I was venting and posting a love letter.

How screwed am I?  Should I just assume Craigslist will hand over my IP address and that my ISP will hand over my contact information?  Should I just assume I'll be identified and lose my job?  What sort of charges am I facing here?

For geographic purposes, assume metro St. Louis

Update: Meeting with an attorney Wednesday.

Answer: You're fine. Move on and be less creepy.


Title: [TX] Debt collection company giving me 14 days to respond or I'm getting sued. Help!

Question:
[Texas]

I'm being threatened to be sued by CACH, LLC - Scott Lowery Law Office for $1,708.28 if I don't respond to them in 14 days.

Summarized letter:

> If we are unable to resolve this matter within 14 days of the date of this letter (7/15), our client has authorized us to file a lawsuit to collect the balance owing on the above referenced account.

I know I have the debt but I don't know if this company is a scam. - I've read mixed things about them online.

What do I do? There is no way I can pay the amount in full. Should I get a lawyer? I don't know if I can afford one. Should I just call and request a payment plan? Will they settle for less? What if they are scammers?

PLEASE HELP, I'm practically clueless.

Answer: Send a certified mail reply telling them that you don't recognize the debt and asking them to validate it.


Title: Veterinary Malpractice?

Question:
I just took my dog to our vet, she was hobbling, had a weird bump, and we thought she might have broken something.

Turns out she basically had a massive splinter, so the vet pulled it out but in the process the tip broke off and is still lodged deep in her muscle.

The vet says it may dissolve over time, but it also might abscess and require surgery to the tune of thousands.

It seems to me that the vet screwed up (for lack of a better term) and broke the tip off... is this something that I should try to hold the vet legally responsible for?

We have pet insurance which I believe will offset some of the cost thankfully should she need surgery, but I can't help feeling like the vet should be responsible for messing up.  I really don't know though if I have a leg to stand on here. I'm in California, thanks for any help you can offer!

Answer: How do you know the splinter's tip wasn't already broken? Unless there is clear and definite evidence of negligence, you might struggle to get anywhere.


Title: Took out a loan for my ex. What are my options?

Question:
Louisiana, USA

In June 2016 my long term boyfriend(20 now 19 at the time) got arrested. In January of 2017 his fees were due or hed have to go to jail(wed already got them to push back the due date twice i think) and he made ut seem like the only option was to take out a loan. Since i am a college student i took out a student loan and used $700 to oay his fees.(stupid i know. But im naive and wed been together a long time) In May we broke up and now he is refusing to pay the loan cuz "im just trying to get money from him" Which im not! I just want the loan paid! Is small claims court an option? If so- how do i go about that?

Answer:
 Sue him in small claims court for the money (plus the filing fee).

Go to your local courthouse and follow the procedure to file a small claims suit.

Before that though, you should send him a demand letter requesting the money and give him a reasonable amount of time to pay it (30 days is typical). Send it certified with return receipt and keep the receipt when you get it. That way you can show the judge that you tried to resolve this first without involving the legal system. Bring 3 copies of all your evidence (demand letter, receipt, loan paperwork, all text/email correspondence, etc...) to court; originals for the judge, one copy for you, and one for him.

EDIT: make sure you bring PAPER copies of your evidence to court. Don't just show up with your cell phone or tablet.Answer #2: Yes do small claims, although you may have a had time collecting. If you go through one of those court TV shows they usually pay you so you don't have to do the collecting yourself. Just have to be okay with your drama and embarrassment being there for the world to see.

Also a bit of life advice, don't take a loan out for anyone EVER. Do not co sign, or co mingle or get a credit card for anyone. Not unless you are married. Not even if you think you've been together a "long time" at 19 I'm curious what a long time was, but it's not my business.


Title: [Florida] Employer wants to randomly search my person

Question: [deleted]

Answer:
 Your employer can ask to search you. You can refuse. However, your employer is within their rights to discipline you for refusing, up to and including termination.

Absent law enforcement and a few states with strong shopkeeper's privilege laws, there's no law that compels you to subject yourself to a search by another private citizen

>Florida is a right to work state.

FYI, you're probably thinking of "at will", not "right to work". "Right to work" states grant you the right to work at a given employer without being forced to join a union. "At will" means either you or your employer can end the employment at any time, with or without cause, without penalty.


Title: (Washington) My brother's husband was in a car accident and the hospital won't tell him anything because its Catholic and don't recognize their marriage

Question:
Edit: Fuck whoever flaired my post as a troll post and the people who are sending me messages about it. Discrimination against gay people is still a thing as much as you fuckers might want to believe otherwise.

The hospital won't tell my brother anything about how he is doing or what's going on. They won't let him make decisions either. My brother is married to him and they have a daughter. The hospital is trying to contact my brother-in-law's family in Texas even though my brother-in-law hasn't spoken to them in 12 years. My brother showed them their marriage certificate but the hospital is Catholic and says they don't recognize it. It's a legal marriage. He has talked to management even. I want to help but I don't know what to do. What kind of lawyer would my brother even need for this? I would appreciate any help, thank you.

Answer: Contact the local bar or ACLU, they'd probably be able to help you find an LGBT rights lawyer who would specialize in this. The entire point of recognizing gay marriage was to ensure spouses share all the same rights whether they are same-sex or traditional, and making medical decisions for your spouse is absolutely one of these rights. Answer #2: Is he showing the real marriage certificate or the diploma looking one that is just for show?


Title: [FL] Girlfriends internship won't let her have sick days.

Question: [deleted]

Answer: Is this a paid internship? Florida doesn't require paid sick leave. She could just not go to work. Slavery is illegal. But unless this is a serious medical condition and she qualifies for FMLA she could be legally fired.


Title: [US] Copyright and Sewing Patterns?

Question:
I found a woman who made a design for igloo covers and she sells them online on a variety of colors and with different patterned fabrics. She says it's copyrighted.

As far as I'm aware, if I construct an igloo cover without her actual pattern or instructions, I'm not infringing any copyright, correct?

EDIT: This is what I was referring to: http://thehedgieden.webs.com/

Thank you all for your help

Answer:
 Her copyright extends to her text and illustrations. The underlying method can't be copyrighted, otherwise there would only be one dress pattern, one shirt pattern, etc.

Look at [this dress from Simplicity](http://www.simplicity.com/p-12272-miss-and-miss-plus-vintage-dress.aspx) and [this one from Butterick](http://butterick.mccall.com/b5882-products-44960.php?page_id=371). They are extremely similar, almost identical, but because each company drafted their own version and wrote their own instructions, they aren't infringing each other's copyright.

I'm a knit designer, so I have a vested interest in the other side. If someone copied some or all of the instructions in one of my knitting patterns, and published it, they would be in breach of copyright. If they made items from my pattern and sold the items without permission, they would be rude but arguably not illegal. If they looked at a picture of one of my designs, and figured out how to make something that looks the same, and wrote it up in their own words, they could perfectly legally sell their own pattern or items made from their pattern (provided they didn't use my illustrations!)

So you are correct in your assumption.


Title: Landlord removing all but once trash receptacle from property? Is this legal?

Question:
I got an email last week from my landlord saying that because of illegal dumping, they were removing all dumpsters and leaving only a single 'central' trash compactor. Quotes there because it is not central. It's at one end of the park, quite far away.

This central trash compactor is across the complex from me, about a quarter mile. Long enough that hauling one or two kitchen bags of garbage, boxes from Amazon, or any other trash would be unreasonable.

In other words, to throw away weekly trash, I have to load up smelly, potentially leaky bags into my car, drive 5 minutes up the road, open a massive compactor, then go home.

Do I have any recourse? This is a sudden, annoying change and seems highly unreasonable to expect that everyone in the complex begin hauling their trash to one location on the edge of the complex.

Answer:
 It seems to hang on what is considered "appropriate" as far as dumpsters for tenant use:

>(5) When the landlord is a party to any rental agreements that cover four or more dwelling units in the same structure, provide and maintain appropriate receptacles for the removal of ashes, garbage, rubbish, and other waste incidental to the occupancy of a dwelling unit, and arrange for their removal;

http://codes.ohio.gov/orc/5321.04v1


Title: (Idaho) Fiance wants to use me as an eye witness and lie in court

Question:
This is not my fiance, I'm posting here for a friend because she definitely needs advice and I know you guys are perfect for it. I'm going to be pasting what she wrote and her questions.

I'm planning to leave my fiancee of 8 years (he half-assed proposed 7 years ago... god)
He's mentally/emotionally unstable (I hate using words like unstable to describe someone. Who the fuck is stable, anyway?) and every time I get my paycheck- it's gone within days.
He's a former drug addict, crack baby, abandoned by parents... I feel nothing but pity for him. I tried to stare statistics in the eye and win, but I can't.

And NOW, he's either going to plead guilty to one count of grand theft, or he'll go to trial (he wants to go to trial) using me as a witness to lie about something I didn't feel right about in the first place. He used his grandmother's credit card info to buy a gun online, and he's getting the book thrown at him.
Long story short (too late) we have evidence that his grandma bought us tons of things and wrote out checks written out to me, and I deposited into my chase checking account. (I was the only one with a checking account at that time.)

Can that evidence make me an accessory? Or enough to get me with aiding and abetting?

If anyone needs more information I will be sure to answer as soon as she tells me, but I do have work tonight so it may not be as immediate as I would like. I have already told her she should not lie at all and will be held responsible for doing so.

Answer:
 Do not lie to the court. That would be Bad.

She should consult her own attorney about how best to divest herself from his fuckery.Answer #2: > He used his grandmother's credit card info to buy a gun online,

So he's a prohibited person. Which means you either:

A) Tell the truth, thereby avoiding charges of perjury and self-implication; *or*

B) Lie, thereby subjecting you to charges of perjury if the lie is found out, *and* implicating yourself in facilitating a transfer of a weapon to a prohibited person.

Note that the latter two are, since the gun may have crossed state-lines, federal felonies.

Just tell the truth. Why would she want to cover for her felonious soon-to-be-ex anyway?Answer #3: > 18-5409. Punishment for perjury. Perjury is punishable by imprisonment in the state prison not less than one (1) or more than fourteen (14) years.

Don't lie under oath, full stop.

It doesn't sound like you're even under investigation, right now, but if you're concerned that you may have been an accessory to a crime, it's worth speaking to a defence attorney of your own. I don't see anything in here that would make you criminally culpable for your fiancé's actions, here, but if there's more to this story you may have some problems.


Title: [MA] Employment Law - With about six weeks left of paid maternity leave remaining, wife gave notice of intent not to return to work following end of her maternity leave - is she entitled to remainder of paid leave as an "earned" benefit?

Question: Employee handbook has no language requiring return of paid maternity leave if employee does not return.  We've got about 6 weeks left of paid leave and employer is threatening to terminate her immediately and withhold it.  Does MA law count this as an "earned" benefit we are entitled to, or is it forfeited upon notice of intent not to leave?  Wife was trying to do the right thing by letting company know so they could start looking to hire replacement.  Thanks everyone.

Answer: MA law only requires payment of vacation at termination. Does she also have vacation time? If so, then they likely have no obligation to continue her paid sick leave and can accept he resignation right now and just pay out vacation.


Title: Don't know how to retrieve my license after unofficial DUI.

Question:
I was arrested for a DUI in October of 2015 in Alaska.

I lawyered up and after a few months she had found discrepancies with the certification of the Datamaster that measured my BAC. She told me it was likely we could turn this into a "Wet Reckless." Therefore there is no official charge on me at the moment because we are contesting.

I had a temporary license until this February. I needed to be licenseless for 90 days which was up 5 days ago.

My lawyer hasn't replied to phone calls or emails for 28 days now.

I don't know who to contact or what steps I need to take to get my license back. I am very desperate.

Answer: Call the DMV tomorrow and ask them.


Title: My Expunged Criminal Record (of 14 years) is Suddenly Showing Up On My Background Check, Costing Me Jobs!

Question: [deleted]

Answer:
 http://www.nolo.com/legal-encyclopedia/employer-use-arrest-conviction-records-texas.html

http://www.kielichlawfirm.com/employer-background-checks-texas-show/


Title: Stalker trying to get me fired

Question:
I have a stalker. He wants to hurt me however he can and in particular is working hard to get me fired from my job. He's bombarding executives with grossly exaggerated versions of unfortunate aspects of my past and some blatant falsehoods.

Knowing what I do about libel law in the US, I don't think that's a claim that would hold up. I'm wondering if there is any kind of law against maliciously trying to keep someone from doing their job or falsely harming the employer/employee relationship.

I'm in Utah.
Topic:
Employment Law

Answer: You need a lawyer. Period. Not to mention that fact of possible physical harm to you. Get a lawyer.


Title: Free Fitbit? Or maybe not so much?

Question:
I guess I should have listened when my high school economics teacher told me TINSTAAFL, but here we are.

&#x200B;

The quick background is that I am a student at a university in the great State of Georgia. A few days ago I got a text from a friend saying I could get a free Fitbit if I signed up at a link with my UGA email, everything was very legitimate and it was through USG (University Systems of Georgia) and Fitbit, so I, of course, placed an order, got a confirmation email, and then received the item about a week later.

&#x200B;

Today I got an email saying:

"**Dear University System of Georgia Employee and/or Student,**

We recently became aware of unauthorized access to the University System of Georgia (USG) Well-being promotional link for free or discounted Fitbit devices. This Fitbit Health Solutions (FHS) promotion is part of USG’s Well-being program and is limited to USG employees enrolled in a USG healthcare plan and participating in the well-being program.

The promotional link was provided to nonapproved individuals and you are being notified because we have you on file as receiving an unapproved Fitbit.

**Please complete one of the following three options by** **Monday, July 8:**

**Option 1**.  Remit payment of $50 for each Fitbit device you received. Payment should be mailed to USG at the following address:

Make check payable to:  Board of Regents of the University System of Georgia

Board of Regents of the University System of Georgia

Attn:  Accounts Receivable

270 Washington St, SW

Atlanta, GA 30334

*Please include your name, mailing address, and copy or number of purchase order to validate your repayment.*

**Option 2**. Return the Fitbit by mail it to the following address:

Ingram Micro USA

2675 Reeves Rd #190 (Product Return Center)

Plainfield, IN 46168

**Attn:  Fitbit FHS – USG Promotion**

*In order to facilitate the return of these devices, please use the following link to create a return authorization, and in the note section, please denote:* ***“Fitbit FHS-USG Promotion”*** *(*[*https://www.fitbit.com/legal/returns-and-warranty*](https://www.fitbit.com/legal/returns-and-warranty)*). This will generate a FedEx label and the device(s) will be returned to our distributor at no cost to you. If you paid a discounted rate for a Fitbit device(s) from this FHS promotion, you will be refunded once the device is received by the distributor.*

**Option 3.** E-mail [usgwellbeing@usg.edu](mailto:usgwellbeing@usg.edu) to request to have the subsidy deducted from your paycheck if applicable.

If no action is taken by Monday, July 8, the amount due may be sent to collections. In addition, unauthorized access to a Fitbit without payment will result in the Fitbit being disabled and ineligible for warranty replacement. The unauthorized Fitbit devices will be disabled Friday, July 12, if not returned or no payment or direction is received.

If you have any questions, please contact USG Well-being at usgwellbeing@usg.edu.

Sincerely,

USG Well-being

Fitbit Legal – Brand Protection"

&#x200B;

Am I obligated to pay or return the item now that I have received it?

Answer:
 Yes, you don't meet the requirements of the giveaway. Apparently it was massively abused and now UGA is taking action to cover the loses from the abuse.

Most colleges have ethics requirements, if you do nothing they may take disciplinary action also.Answer #2: This is a pretty cut and dry demand letter. Pay it off or return the fitbit, or your credit will take a hit.


Title: Is it illegal to remotely wipe a cell phone in police custody? (Montana)

Question: This is in Montana. A friend wiped their child's cellphone while it was in policy custody. The phone was taken when he was arrested during a traffic stop (arrested for possession of narcotics), not as part of a search warrant. Is this considered tampering with evidence?

Answer: Yes, it's destroying evidence.  Spoliation of evidence, maybe obstruction of justice.  If it's evidence.


Title: Trespassing Animals Legal Issue - MT

Question:
I'm having an issue with tresspassing farm animals on my property and who/what to do.

One of my more distant neighbors subscribes to the philosophy "Let animals roam free".

I live in a very rural area with no police presence (2+ hours to closest town) and we are very independent. My neighbors nearly fucking feral donkeys are knocking over my wooden ranch fence (on a state maintained gravel road mind you) and generally being a nuisance and destroying property. They are grazing illegally on my property. They are defecating illegally on my property. They are breaking my property. They are destroying irrigation ditches on my property after breaking the fences.

Legally, is there anything wrong with shooting these animals on sight and expensing the cost of ammunition to the owner? (I kid, but only slightly)

Answer:
 Have you contacted the owner and requested he contain his animals?

If so, and he has failed to contain the animals, sue him for damages. In the mean time start making records. Take pictures of damages and contact the relevant authorities every time you observe loose animals on your property.

Don't shoot livestock.


Title: [PA] if you just get a job and then suddenly have to go to hospital for an extended stay, can you be fired?

Answer: Absent a contract with other guarantees, yes.


Title: (WV) Obtaining medical records for deceased minor son

Question: In December, my husband and I lost our four month old son to suspected SIDS. I called the hospital he was brought to to find out what procedure we would have to go through to get hours medical records, and was told that since he was deceased, they couldn't release the records to anyone other than the administrator of his estate because of HIPPA. I would hate to pay a lawyer if I don't have to, does anyone have any insight into whether this is the case?

Answer: Talk to the patient advocate, hospital administrator, or ombudsman. They will be able to tell you exactly what you need per their internal policies.


Title: Can a landlord legally charge us for a canceled check (for the security deposit) when we've already paid to cancel the lease and we've found a replacement tenant?

Question:
Edit:  Ann Arbor, Michigan

Discovered a landlord verbally misled us, so we decided to cancel a lease.  We found someone to replace us, and we just want this over with.

He changed the rent on us 3 times in the process - 2 times he at least told us in person, but the third time, he snuck it into the end of a long paragraph in a 7 page lease.  We realized we had to find a replacement because we were liable for the amount of the lease. We participated in the re-leasing process, posting it on different forums and working with the existing tenant to re-lease it.

The landlord signed a lease with the new tenant before actually nulling our lease.  We sent an email to the landlord to confirm that the lease was terminated, and he replied that we owed him $240.  $200 is the re-rental amount stipulated in the contract, but the extra $40 is for a "returned check fee" because we told him not to cash the security deposit (we wanted out of the lease the day after we signed it).

I realize that we can't really fight the $200, but the extra $40 just adds salt to the wound.  Can he really claim that? If not that, am I legally okay to call him a manipulative asshole over email?

Fuck landlords.  Read contracts VERY CAREFULLY.

Answer:
 Nobody lied to you, nobody snuck anything into the lease. You just didn't read your lease fully and that's your fault.

Yes he can charge a $40 returned check fee if he already cashed it.


Title: Sorry, I was just wondering...

Question: [removed]

Answer: Why did you apologize twice for this post? Take the con artist that scammed you to the British equivalent of small claims court.


Title: [AUS] We paid the deposit for a cruise but mum has been diagnosed with cancer and can’t go because of her treatment. Should we be able to get the deposit back?

Question: My family and I (9 people) paid the deposit to go on a cruise at some point last year. Unfortunately mum has been diagnosed with stage 4 cancer and was forced to start chemotherapy as soon as possible. Do we have any legal grounds to get the deposit back? Any help would be much appreciated.

Answer: What does the ticket say? Did you also buy cancelation insurance?Answer #2: That's what travel insurance is for. Cruise line only offers refunds when it's their fault - and this isn't. You might have it automatically through your credit card if you didn't buy it specifically for this.


Title: Can I win a lawsuit against the hospital that circumcised me as an infant?

Question:
Hi all, I need some advice on this matter. I was circumcised as an infant. As far as I know the procedure wasn't "botched", as in, it didn't stick me with any other medical conditions. Although I know this is a common thing in the USA I still feel like less of a man and hate that it happened.

As far as I know my parents, technically being legal guardians at the time, consented, which means that there's nothing I can do. However I do not know the specifics, I'm not sure if written consent was given or only verbal, and I am certain she was given pain medicine which could invalidate consent, correct?

I believe what happened to me as an infant has given a gigantic hit to my self esteem and is resulting in some pretty heavy depression and anxiety, however I'm not sure how to prove this in a court, I mean how would I connect it? I could get a brain scan maybe, but if something was there how could it be connected to the circumcision? I mean it is to the point where I have trouble taking care of myself and responsibilities, such as getting out of bed or feeding myself, or hygiene or errands, and all of that is not necessarily resulting from what happened to me as an infant, as I have other troubles in life, but I believe it's a huge part of it.

I know of the hospital I was born in and the woman that delivered me, although I don't know for sure that she was the one who performed the circumcision.

I am a 19 year old male, located in the USA, in the state of Oklahoma. Thanks for taking the time to reply.

Answer: You should speak to some actual counselors if you're having these troubles. I'd bet my circumcised penis that your circumcision isn't the reason you can't deal with seemingly normal tasks. If anything, it's just a case of "millenials."Answer #2: No.Answer #3: Just like the others said, you have no case. The most you can do is campaign with any of the organizations working to stop circumcision in the US.


Title: My (18) girlfriend was raped while she and the scumbag were drunk.

Question:
So my girlfriend confessed to me that she went over to a friends house to watch movies and they got drunk. He was making moves and she said no but then she said she passed out and when she woke up there was a condom on the floor and she was sore. She then drove to my house. Is there anything I or we can do legally to get him locked up and if so how much trouble could she get in for underage drinking(he gave her the alcohol and was pressuring her into stuff). By the way we live in NC. I want him gone mostly because im angry he did this to her but also i dont want this asshole doing it to anyone else.

EDIT: 12:08
She told me she does not want to press charges ( likely because they are(were?) good friends). Because this is a traumatic experience for her I won't push her to do anything she doesn't want to do. I guess there isn't anything I can do. I feel so helpless and angry. Fuck. I hate this. I guess there's nothing left that you guys can offer me. Thanks for all the advise.
Topic:
Juvenile and Youth Law

Answer:
 She needs to call the police. Answer #2: You cannot do anything *other than calling the police, which would be an enormous violation without your girlfriend's consent.*  Legally, you have no other part in this.

(Edited to state that obviously, anyone can report a crime.)Answer #3: You can be there to support her.  I would encourage her to seek counseling for sexual assault victims.

If she wants to, she can report it to the police.  Answer #4: Rape is utterly terrible, and I'm so sorry for your girlfriend.

She can call the police and file a report. Depending on how long ago this happened, it may be possible she can have a rape kit done. It should be done as soon as possible.

She can contact RAINN, an organization that helps out victims of rape and sexual assault. They are a godsend with highly compassionate, educated staff who can offer her a lot of support.


Title: Sister wants to sign her vehicle over to me to avoid sales tax, will this hurt me somehow?

Question:
She bought a new vehicle from a third party, and wants to use a bill of sale to show that she sold me her old car, to get a deduction on the new car and avoid sales tax somehow. She says she'll pay the insurance because it will have to be in my name as I "own" the car without money ever changing hands?

I want to help her, but I'm a bit nervous about this increasing my taxes or something and I'm not sure I really understand what's going on

Answer:
 You are nervous about committing tax fraud? Good, you should be. Unless she is actually selling you the car you shouldn’t do this as it’s a crime.

You don’t say what state you are in, so I can’t say just what kind of crime it is, but tax fraud is a serious crime in all jurisdictions.


Title: Why does double jeoprdy apply when new evidence comes to light?

Question: If you can be acquitted due to new evidence why can't you be retrialled?

Answer: Because the Constitution forbids double jeopardy.  Sometimes it works an injustice but the Framers felt the principle was more important.  It also incentivizes the police / prosecutor to do their best.  Also, note that double jeopardy would not prohibit a state from prosecuting, if the first trial was a federal trial.


Title: What can i do about a group of girls wanting to attack me at school?

Question:
To keep things short, today i called a group of bullies bitches because they were making fun of my friends for no reason. Things got pretty heated. Today all they really did was push me around and stuff.

I wasn't scared then but thinking about it now they might try to jump me at some point, or the main girl in the group might try to get her older brother to beat me up.

Now if it ever does come to some really serious physical violence, i have a few questions:

1: if they (bullies, family, their friends etc) tried to attack me because of the situation and i stab them with a weapon like let's say, a pencil, pen, or something else minor in self defence would i get in trouble?

2: could i get the police involved? What would they do? What would happen to the attackers?

3:legally would it be smart to attack them (girls) back?

I'm in the state of Wisconsin

Answer:
 Tell your parents.  Have them report it to the school and/or police.Answer #2: Tell your teacher. Do you have a school police officer on site? Ask to talk to them about it.

Stay away from the bullies. Don't get cornered alone. Keep a phone around you and know how to emergency dial quickly.


Title: Ia, think lawyer is getting some kind of kickback to get us to settle. Please help

Question:
Update: I googled best personal injury lawyer today and called I guess a firm that is really good at these things. I snuck and called, I talked to a secretary and she said they'd get back to me. About ten minutes later a lawyer called me and asked me about it. He wanted me to come see him this afternoon but I told him I couldn't. I think I might be right in my suspicions of not getting enough because he seemed real keen on seeing us asap.

My daughter was in an accident with my wifes mother. They were hit by an electric company truck. Mil was killed and my daughter was severely injured. Driver of utility truck had alcohol in his system. Charges were not brought. We are being offered a settlement of 175k plus medical costs. My lawyer is obstinate that this is the most we can get, but I'm having trouble believing this. Is he getting paid something on the side or does he just suck? He told us we aren't allowed to talk to another lawyer because we had already sued. We aren't educated about things like this. Any help would be appreciated

Answer:
 >He told us we aren't allowed to talk to another lawyer because we had already sued.

You cannot have another attorney represent you in court, unless you remove your current attorney as your representative in court.  However, if you have concerns about your current attorney, then you can take all of your information to another attorney at any time (with or without telling your current attorney), and you can pay that other attorney to evaluate what your current attorney is doing/offering (ie. you can get another attorney to give you a "second opinion") before you agree to any settlement.Answer #2: OP, are you talking about 175k just for your daughter or for both your daughter and the wrongful death of your MIL?

Either way, you can absolutely talk to another lawyer. Answer #3: First, you can always consult an independent lawyer.  If you're concerned about your lawyer's evaluation of the value of your case, pony up the money for a meeting with another lawyer and bring all the documentation you have.

Second, remember that personally injury law is often a practice of averaging for lawyers.  They see people fight hard and get no further ahead, especially after paying legal costs for the fight.  Taking a decent offer quick may not pay out as many dollars as winning a battle but it has none of the downsides that come with taking on a fight.

Can you get more?  Maybe.  It'll depend on the facts of the case.

Is this offer a good option?  Maybe.  It'll depend on the facts of the case.

The one thing you need to do is put aside ideas of your lawyer getting a kickback.  He gets a percentage of your settlement.  That's his kickback.


Title: Is it possible to request a former employer to terminate all of your information (account number, address, etc) from their system(s) after they fire you?

Question:
Not a long story. Manager yelled at me for sleeping. Wasn't sleeping. Got fired for being upset about being yelled at for no reason. Had a police officer retrieve my belongings for me (pure luck; I caught the officer as he was leaving a restaurant and he helped me out). I was a temp, so I have no fight. I just want to know if there's a way I can have them destroy all of my information from their system. They have zero need to kept it, and after this experience, I don't them to do innocent things with it.

(No, they didn't pay me, though I don't really give a shit if they do because I want absolutely nothing to do with them, hence wanting all my info terminated from their system. Not the first job I was fired from that didn't pay me for the days I worked. Second, though.)

Location is Piscataway, NJ

Answer:
 No. There are also plenty of legit reasons they need that info. They did hire you, you did work there, and they have to report to the IRS. If they don't pay you them you can file a wage complaint. Freeze your credit if you're worried about that.Answer #2: State and Federal laws require employers to retain employee records for various numbers of years, so they won't be destroying your information or removing it from their system any time soon.

But if you don't get paid for the hours you worked then you should consider [filing a wage claim with the New Jersey Department of Labor](https://www.nj.gov/labor/wagehour/complnt/filing_wage_claim.html).


Title: I weaseled out of jury duty during voir dire. A day later and I am horribly ashamed of myself because it's a child sex abuse trial. Trial hasn't started yet. Can I go back and say "hey I found a way to avoid financial hardship?" I am so sad about this.

Question: [removed]

Answer:
 If you've been released, you've been released.  The judge isn't going to go back on that.  They have a panel, and they're not going to re-add you.  Answer #2: > I told the judge that I rarely hear voices but it tends to happen in periods of stress or when I'm upset. So, on those grounds I may be rejected because I said I feel very, very strongly about veganism. I can't take back that part of what I said because it would be lying.

Reported.

OP is either a troll or is beyond our ability to help.