Title: (CA, USA) Do I have to pay my landlord's mortgage late fee or do they have a responsibility to mitigate their damages?

Question:
My landlord wants me to sign a new lease but she has a section about late fees where I have to pay $300 for her mortgage late fee and $50 for the HOA late fee if we pay a day late.

Am I wrong in thinking that we shouldn't have to pay the HOA late fee since we aren't responsible for paying the HOA fee to begin with, why would we pay the late fee? Shouldn't she be responsible for her own HOA bills?

Also, isn't her $300 late fee for he mortgage also excessive? Shouldn't she just have to pay her mortgage on time to avoid the late fee and then collect a late fee fro us? From my understanding she can only charge us 10% on the total rent for the year which amounts to like $20 a day for being late.

Where would we stand in court if we wanted to fight it? Is what she is doing legal?

Answer:
 > From my understanding she can only charge us 10% on the total rent for the year which amounts to like $20 a day for being late.

Source?

First off, I'd never sign that lease. But read [this](http://www.dca.ca.gov/publications/landlordbook/living-in.shtml):

>*A rental agreement cannot include a pre-determined late fee. The exception to this rule is when it would be difficult to figure out the actual cost to the landlord caused by the late rent payment. Even then, the pre-determined late fee should not be more than a reasonable estimate of costs that the landlord will face as a result of the late payment. A late fee that is so high that it amounts to a penalty is not legally valid.*

My gut tells me a judge would laugh this out of his or her court, but I'd avoid that hassle and either not sign the lease or make damn sure I was never late on rent.


Title: Really fudged up

Question: I have a friend that has a restraining order against him with his ex girlfriend....they spent the week together and then got into another argument. He ended up driving his vehicle into her apartment and drove away. The police went looking for him and the vehicle. The police impounded his vehicle but he hasnt turned himself in yet. What kind of charges will he be looking at?

Answer:
 >He ended up driving his vehicle into her apartment and drove away.

A perfect example of "winning the battle, losing the war".

He can face a multitude of charges, both civil and criminal. He needs a lawyer yesterday.Answer #2: >>He ended up driving his vehicle into her apartment and drove away.

Just to make sure I understand this correctly, are you saying he drove the car through her apartment wall? Answer #3: He should expect to spend a significant amount of time in jail and end up owing a life changing amount of money...Answer #4: He needs a criminal defense attorney immediately.

I would seriously reconsider your choice in friends. This man is unstable and is clearly danger to others and himself.


Title: Can someone force you to sign papers?

Question:
I'm in New Jersey, but half of this is happening up in Maine/New Hampshire area (all USA). Short backstory, my great grandmother died, my parents (and all my mom's siblings) got inheritance along with my great aunt.
So now my great aunt is trying to sue her daughter (who is the executor of the will, she handles all affairs and money things and what-not) because my great aunt wants to handle all the money. My great aunt sent my parents (and all the siblings) papers that she wants us to sign, which we refuse to. We've probably had the papers in our possession for about 2 or 3 weeks. She has just called us this morning and basically told us that if we don't sign the papers, she's going to send the Sheriff to basically force us to sign them. We don't want to sign them, and she won't listen to us when we tell her we don't want anything to do with any of this and we want everything to stay as it is. Can she really force us to sign the papers?

Side note, I have told my mom that she should talk to a lawyer, but if worse comes to worse and we don't get to talk to a lawyer before a sheriff shows up at our door step I don't want anything bad to happen to my parents (or any of my aunts and uncles that are being dragged into this) should we all refuse to sign the papers.
Topic:
Wills Trusts and Estates

Answer:
 > She has just called us this morning and basically told us that if we don't sign the papers, she's going to send the Sheriff to basically force us to sign them

That won't happen.  If you don't sign, she might sue you, but the sheriff won't force you to sign.  This is *especially* true when she's asking you to sign onto something you must swear to, which this likely is.


Title: (US-Ca) Motorcycle dealership cancelling contract after 10 days

Question:
Hey Reddit,

I recently went in to purchase a motorcycle in 10/30. After a few hours of verifying my income and negotiating with the lender the dealer told me they'd secured me 0% financing and a $0 down payment.

Yesterday I received a call from them but didn't answer as I was busy, so I got in contact with them today and was told I had two options. One was to return the bike and the other was to sign a new contract at 9.99% APR. The salesperson admitted fault to me over the phone saying he mistakenly offered me this deal when I should not have qualified for the offer. It was not the lender who reneged on the loan, but a mistake in how it was presented to me.

Over the course of the loan this is over $6,000 which makes the deal much less appealing. I thought I was up a creek without a paddle so I started going over my contract.

It states, "Seller shall give you written notice (or in any other manner in which actual notice is given to you) within 10 days of the date of this contract is signed if Seller elects to cancel" Then there's some more language which talks about damages incurred to the vehicle and how I'm liable if I don't return it, etc.

The dealer states they sent me certified mail, which I've yet to receive, and that it was sent on the 10th. Does the 10 days stated above start the day of the contract or the day after? I believe either way they failed to notify me within the allotted time frame of ten days.

In this instance I believe that the dealer assumes responsibility as the financier and must agree to the original terms of the contract which state 0% interest. The contract has the dealer listed as "Seller-Creditor" which implies they must finance me if they fail to find someone to honor the terms.

Are my assumptions incorrect?

If so I am willing to return the motorcycle but have put approximately $1,000 worth of parts and maintenance into it since purchase. Will I be entitled to compensation for the costs I incurred due to their mistake?

Thanks for any clarity you may be able to provide

Answer:
 You need a local lawyer to review that contract and that letter, if and when you get it. Make sure you get a receipt showing when it was delivered too. Te time frame here is very close and you'll need to be sure you are clear before keeping the bike.Answer #2: This sounds like a classic bait and switch. Get a lawyer, do not respond or return the bike until you talk to one.Answer #3: get a lawyer, this needs to be reviewed by someone knowledgeable about local contract laws.   They made a mistake, and it might be a reason to revoke the law but not necessarily in your jurisdiction.

and at worst, if you do have to return it you could get compensated $1000 for your parts and whatnot.

again, the wording of the contract is huge here.  get a lawyer.

check avvo.com or with the local bar association.


Title: If I'm choosing to have a public defender for traffic court, do I just show up?

Question:
Or do I need to tell the court ahead of time that I will need a public defender?
Topic:
Traffic and Parking

Answer:
 You may not *get* a public defender for traffic court.

In a lot of states, you don't get a public defender unless the prosecutor is seeking jail time for the offense.  If the prosecutor takes jail time off the table, then you will either have to hire an attorney or represent yourself.


Title: Neighbor has live in boyfriend not on lease

Question:
I live in a split duplex unit in VA 3 bedrooms up, 3 bedrooms down. We share a basement that has access from my apartment and from them going in through an outside door, which is where both tenants have storage, and laundry is done. Due to laundry being in the same room for both units, we share utilities. My wife and I are responsible for electricity, and the upstairs is responsible for water. Three girls live upstairs, so we already get the shit end of the stick when it comes to how utilities are split as we are paying for more between two, than they are between three.

Moving on, one of the tenants has a boyfriend who hardly speaks english, so unfortunately I am unable to even speak with him most of the time when I try to ask him things. Either that, or he is good at *pretending* not to speak english. I have multiple times, noticed he is there every night, he takes her to work in the morning with her car, then comes back staying in the apartment almost the entire time, wielding either his own set or her set (I am unsure) of keys to let him back inside. I have caught him multiple times doing his own laundry in the basement (it is obviously menswear) and have covertly recorded him letting me into the house and saying that he has keys (single party recording laws in VA, not his home so he should not expect privacy)

On top of this, the boyfriend is unnecessarily loud and stomps around at 1 or 2 in the morning on weekdays, but I am unable to have a conversation with him due to his *apparent* lack of understanding the English language. The reason I say *apparent* is because he has a very loud voice and I have heard him have fine conversations while up in the other unit in English.

I was also informed by the tenant upstairs that the reason that one of the girls is never there and has license plates from Mexico, is that she is "getting to know her new husband as they got married for convenience" which is also alarming to me as it leads me to believe I may have to deal with other things coming up, such as a knock on the door from whatever alphabet group in the government deals with those things.

I recently went to the landlord to inform him of this issue and he said that in order to try to hide that it was us, he would send a letter stating he received a report stating that neighbors on the street reported an extra tenant. Obviously upon sending this letter, they knew it was us and I received text messages from one of the women upstairs stating that they wanted to know when we would be home, because they wanted to chat with us due to them receiving a letter saying we were the ones reporting them, the conversation goes like this:

*Hey! Do you have a minute to chat??*

Unfortunately not, I am leaving here in ten. What's up?

*Are y'all gonna be home tonight around 9? We got the complaint from the landlord and just wanted to sit down and chat!*

We are leaving for a concert at five, it's in [area] so it's unlikely we will be back until 1AM. We will also be spending time with my wife's family this weekend so we wouldn't be able to chat until Monday. Which complaint are you referring to?

*[Landlord] said our downstairs neighbors complained about an extra person living upstairs and they wanted to terminate our contract. We just wanted to check in with you all about what they told us and get it resolved.*

In a phone call or in a letter they told you this?

*Letter.*

I have written a response to them, explaining that it's within my rights as a tenant to report suspicious behavior that violates the lease of the dwelling, and while I apologize for not being neighborly, this affects me financially and physically (lack of sleep from constant noise) and so I was the one who reported it. I also stated it is unfair to have to know someone else who is not approved has keys to the building as our inside door to our unit is not very thick, and it is unfair to be paying for his laundry, because our lease specifically states "long-term overnight guests" are not allowed.

Should I go ahead and send this message, or allow the landlord to mediate it himself? What is my best course of action here that makes me the least likely to be involved in this situation or have something dumb brought against me?

Thanks for the advice.

Answer: There's nothing that you can do to press the issue. The only one who has a legal relationship with the neighbors and can do anything at all about it is the landlord. Interacting with or otherwise antagonizing the neighbors should be avoided, and further complaints should be addressed to the landlord.


Title: Oregon: My community manager is upset my underage neices are staying with me, even though we fall within the housing guidelines. The park owner has been informed.

Question:
[Edit: thank you for your responses. I have a meeting with an attorney today.]

We own a home on rented property. The occupancy rule is 2 people per bedroom, and we fall within that. My nieces are minors (16&17). The park manager stated that she is concerned that we're breaking rules by not having guardianship paperwork. Their living parent signed their rights away to their grandmother, who kicked them out. We're trying to get her to mail that to us. She said that she had to talk to the park owner tomorrow about how to proceed, followed by "I hope you understand, this is big". Both are employed. The 17yr old turns 18 soon, the 16yr old is applying for emancipation. Basically we're playing the waiting game to be approved for certain programs that will help get them out on their own. I'm worried that they're going to try to make trouble about this, so I'm doing research but thought I'd ask here too. There's nothing in our contract for or against minors staying with us for extended periods. The limit for visitors is 2wks, but the context is shaky. The inference is obvious, but they couldn't use that on minors, could they?

My question is: if they decide to try to tell me I have to have them leave, is there any way I can fight them? These aren't random kids staying with me, it's underage family who will be homeless otherwise. I don't want to see them at a shelter when my house is safe. Those beds could go to who need them more. Any advice on what laws to research would help too. Do I look up custody? Familial rights?

Edit to add: She doesn't claim we're breaking a rule yet. She kind of waffled on having them fill out applications, then decided that since they weren't 18 they shouldn't fill them out.

The only thing the contract says about minors living with Approved Adults is that once the minor turns 18 they are considered Approved Adults unless they have drug or violent charges, which they don't. All additional adult occupants have to apply and sign an agreement.

Answer: What rule does the management claim you are breaking? What does your contract say about additional occupants? Do you need the management's permission to add occupants?


Title: How to legally get someone out of my house?

Question:
I own my home, and let my brother move in, in November 2017. Long story short, he's got to go. He pays no bills and hasn't worked in over a year at all. How do i make him go?
Topic:
Landlord Tenant Housing

Answer: You evict him according to the law in your state.


Title: (Indiana) What powers do game wardens have?

Question:
In my county there is a particularly nasty game warden that patrols this camping area me and my friend are gonna camp at this weekend. He's known for entering peoples sites while they are away and searching everything without even asking. He'll even do it while your sitting there at camp. This seems like a clear violation of my fourth amendment rights. What can i do to ensure a peaceful camping trip without having my rights infringed upon? Do we even need to present ID if he asks for it? one of our friends is underage and she doesn't have an id but we aren't really doing anything illegal, maybe some pot smoking but no alcohol or anything.
Topic:
Constitution

Answer:
 >really doing anything illegal, maybe some pot smoking

Newsflash genius, possession of marijuana is illegal in Indiana. Answer #2: > one of our friends is underage and she doesn't have an id but we aren't really doing anything illegal, maybe some pot smoking

That's illegal.  The first answer to "How do I stop getting investigated by a game warden" is "Stop giving him an excuse"

Is this a federal or a state park?Answer #3: Christ almighty you're dumb.


Title: I just received a piracy letter from Twentieth century Fox. They are literally trying to sue me...

Question:
I'm 14 years old, from Germany. I just received a letter stating that I illegaly downloaded The Martian.
And that I have to pay 915euros for the damage I allegedly caused...

The letter is on my mother name, my parents are freaking out right now...

What should I do? What are my options?
and what are the chances something evolves from this?
Should I even reply to the letters?
How can I lose as little money as possible from this?
Can I cease and desist the claims?
I read about a "modifizierte Unterlassungserklärung", will that work?

Any help would be really appreciated.

Answer:
 They are not literally trying to sue you. They are demanding €915 from your mother because her account was used to break copyright law. (Germany is a state party to the Berne Convention.)

> Can I cease and desist the claims?

Cease and desist means that you stop something. If you are not currently breaking copyright law then there is nothing for you to cease and desist.


Title: Vandal smashed back window of vehicle

Question: Hello Reddit Legal Advisory. I'm hoping you can help with an issue me and my fiancee are having. We parked her vehicle on the street in front of her parents home (Langhorne, PA) for the night, as we were out of town for the evening. Her father awoke the next day to find her back windshield smashed in with a broken vodka bottle in her back seat (clearly the instrument that was used to smash the window). Several other neighbors reported damage to their property (smashed mailboxes, broken side view mirror on car, etc.) We were told that the police had caught the suspected perps and a report was filed. We notified her insurance company and proceeded to take pictures and clean up the mess. The window was repaired 4 days later. After playing phone tag with the officer, we finally received a call back at which point the officer told us that only 1 person was charged (a 20yo male), and he was charged with possession of Marijuana and possession of paraphernalia. The officer said that they could not prove that the kids they had stopped caused the damage. To my knowledge, the officers did not take any pictures themselves of any damage to the vehicle or other neighbor's properties, nor did they interview anyone that was supposedly at the house party that the offenders were asked to leave. To me it sounds like a terrible attempt at an investigation, and it seems we are now stuck with the $380 bill for the window replacement. My question is: if the police report will not identify the individuals as being responsible for the damage, and the police do not have any witnesses or evidence (due to lack of effort on their part), do I have any chance of settling this in small claims court? Would it be beneficial to speak with other neighbors that had property damaged to get information, or reach out to guests of the party to get any accounts of the individuals at the party or with the vodka bottle in their hand (specifically leaving the property)? I'll try to provide more information once we receive the police report. We are more concerned with being compensated for the cost of the damage more so than the individual(s) being charged with vandalism/property damage (although it would be nice for those punks to learn their lesson).

Answer:
 You can try to take him to small claims court. It's probably a waste of time and money since it sounds like you, like the police, don't have anway to prove that this guy broke all this property.

Do you have comprehensive insurance on the vehicle? That should cover this.


Title: Found a will signed by deceased parent, but not filed in probate court. Gives everything to children, Credit card companies out of luck?

Question:
Reddit I need your advice/help once more. In California.

I have recently found a will signed by my parent who has recently passed away which basically gives everything to her children. The house, Car, anything materialistic is passed on to the kids. It also words the remainder of the estate be split by a certain percentage to the kids which is all the money (Which isn't much).

To my understanding this leaves her with nothing left in her estate.
______________________________
Are credit card/Debt collectors out of luck and have to sign it off as a loss because there is nothing left in the estate?

Will debt fall onto the spouse due to community property law in California? or due to some obscure reason?

Do credit card companies Collect the debt before the deceased's will is administered?

Will beneficiaries inherit the debt?

Thank you for your time. Any light shed on this topic will help greatly. In my previous post a few have posted not to worry about debt. I would like

Answer:
 > Are credit card/Debt collectors out of luck and have to sign it off as a loss because there is nothing left in the estate?

No.  The estate is assets minus debts.  In other words, the creditors get paid first, and you split what's left.


Title: [Ohio, USA] How to commit someone making suicidal and homicidal threats?

Question:
A *possibly* mentally unstable family member is making concerning statements after his romantic relationship ended. We confronted him before the breakup because he was exhibiting abusive behavior. He made homicidal/suicidal threats before the breakup. He's young and we assumed he was just being dramatic, so we advised him to seek mental help and warned him that we must take those statements very seriously. Now, after the breakup he's made the threats again. We feel we must take action.
Topic:
Other Civil Matters

Answer: Call police report your concerns.


Title: The #1 of all time post on Reddit is about a guy taking pictures of asscracks during a Magic event. Is he breaking a law?

Question:
The post in question: http://www.reddit.com/r/funny/comments/202wd3/i_participated_in_one_of_the_biggest_magic_the/

The state the even was held in is Virginia.

I was reading the [Video Voyeurism Prevention Act of 2004](https://www.govtrack.us/congress/bills/108/s1301/text)
and it says you are not allowed to knowingly take a picture of a persons private area under circumstances in which the individual has a reasonable expectation of privacy.

Private area includes "buttocks" and reasonable expectation of privacy means "circumstances in which a reasonable person would believe that a private area of the individual would not be visible to the public, regardless of whether that person is in a public or private place.".

So is asscrack legally buttocks and private area and does reasonable person believe that their ass crack is hidden when it is not?

Answer:
 >and knowingly does so under circumstances in which the individual has a reasonable expectation of privacy

I don't think you have a reasonable expectation of privacy while sitting on a chair in a convention center during a tournament open to the public.  Answer #2: That post made my house smell for weeks.


Title: What is the typical cost of lawyer for a person that is charged with 2 felonies?

Question: I won't go into specific detail, but a guy I know has have some really back luck. A situation that spiraled out of control landed him with at least 2 felonies. What is the typical price for getting a lawyer to defend yourself?

Answer: Depends on where he is, what the felonies are, his history, the facts of the case, and what the disposition ultimately is.  Anywhere from $2500 to $50,000 in the realm of reasonable possibility.


Title: Went 82 in a 55 in the state of Virginia, got charged with reckless driving.

Question:
I’m from Maryland and I’m heading to a traffic court in the state of Virginia without a lawyer, was just wondering what I’m looking at in terms of sentence, also should I just plead guilty right off the bat as well?
Topic:
Traffic and Parking

Answer:
 This is a misdemeanor, not a traffic citation. I doubt you're going to traffic court and bet that it's actual criminal court. Plead not guilty so that they schedule a pre-trial conference and you can negotiate with the prosecutor.Answer #2: Virginia is particularly rough on traffic offenses. Do not take this lightly. Find a lawyer (it shouldn't be tough) and fight it, regardless of cost.

Lesson to all: Don't speed in Virginia. Also, Radar Detectors are illegal there. Answer #3: Just get a traffic lawyer. The cost will be worth it in time and gas money alone honestly.

https://law.lis.virginia.gov/vacode/title46.2/chapter8/section46.2-868/

https://law.lis.virginia.gov/vacode/title18.2/chapter1/section18.2-11/

Reckless driving is a class 1 misdemeanor, so up to 12 months in jail or $2500. This isn't a regular speeding ticket m8. Also, your insurance costs over the next decade will be potentially much greater than the fine.


Title: Grandmother's friend had power of attorney; is trying to loot estate upon her death

Question:
I am her next of kin.  This is ny state.  He's  refusing to share her will with the family.
What recourse do I have?

I'm waiting for my lawyer to get back to me

Answer:
 I expect that your lawyer will tell you that the POA ceased to have effect the instant that Grandma died.

I expect your lawyer will tell you that concealing a will is a Class E felony under section 190.30 of the NY penal code.

I expect that your lawyer will advise you to let HIM contact friend in a letter discussing these two points, since you could risk inadvertently appearing to commit extortion if you try to do it.


Title: Friend's AIRBNB Guest might be EVICTED (help!) - Chicago

Question:
My friend has received an eviction notice from her landlord (she's $1500 behind on rent from the summer). She tried doing a weekly payment of $500 for the next three weeks to pay it off but they don't care. They want her gone.

Here's the real issue:

Unfortunately, she dragged me into this mess a few months ago. She told me she needed to sublease the apartment until summer cause she was moving back into the student dorms but had signed a lease until next summer (2019). I told her to just airbnb it because she could cover rent and make extra money that way. She asked me to help, in exchange for 10%, with cleaning the studio and making it presentable. She failed to tell me she was extremely behind on rent so I thought this plan would go smoothly. I find out two weeks ago that she received an eviction notice. We have a guest currently staying until November 10th (the eviction papers were received Oct 16th). Last night, I got a message from the guest saying she had checked the mail and saw in big red letters "EVICTION NOTICE" which obviously worried her. I told her we were aware and it was being handled but she wanted confirmation that she wasn't going to have her possessions taken/doors locked while staying in our airbnb. Now, I'm trying to get my friend to call her landlord and find out but honestly, she's an emotional mess who isn't really doing much to figure this situation out and is expecting me to do all the labor and work for her.

I just want to know if the 30 days applies in this situation. Should our airbnb guest be worried?

Answer: If rent isn’t paid the landlord can issue a 5 day notice to quit or pay rent. If rent isn’t paid IN FULL, at the end of the 5 days they can file the lawsuit for eviction. Now the entire process will likely take more than 30 days, but things can get messy in a hurry.


Title: Invoiced for outrageous travel time

Question:
i had a plumber come out and was charged $115.50 for travel time (travel time was less than 1 hour)

I was told by a friend that legally I am not obligated to pay for travel time if I do not agree with the amount. Any truth to that?

Answer:
 Was the $115.50 different than his hourly rate? In my area plumbers are $110-$125 and charge travel both ways. If you agree to have them come out you are agreeing to pay for their time.Answer #2: >I was told by a friend that legally I am not obligated to pay for travel time if I do not agree with the amount.

You are legally obligated to pay for travel time if you agreed to do so. You are not entitled to refuse to comply because you don't agree with the amount.

Did they tell you that there is fee for traveling to you?


Title: [UPDATE] [CA] Boyfriend's been in 'training' for 5 weeks and is not being given his tips.

Question:
Previous post [here.] (https://www.reddit.com/r/legaladvice/comments/3wsobx/ca_boyfriends_been_in_training_for_5_weeks_and_is/) Basically, my boyfriend was told he'd be a server and then they had him in 'training' for five weeks and wouldn't let him have any of his tips.

My boyfriend gave the manager and owner somewhat of an ultimatum, and they let him keep his tips and things were fine for a few weeks through the holidays. But since the new year started, things have totally unraveled. Both the manager and one of the owners abruptly left for China for 'emergencies,' and this left them without a manager at the restaurant. The remaining owner, who was essentially just an investor who knows nothing about running restaurants, promoted one of the servers as the new manager once it became apparent that the original manager wasn't returning.

Rather than pay the new manager a decent wage, however, they're keeping her on minimum wage and having her take a share of the tip pool every night. This has created a frustrating situation for my boyfriend, who has tried to tell the owner numerous times that this is illegal. I waited tables for six years from high school to the end of college, and I'm not familiar with any state law that allows the management or owners to take employee tips.

As I stated on the previous post, normally I would tell him to quit without another thought. However, jobs are extremely difficult to come by here, and he's been looking for more jobs from the moment he got this one to no avail. We used up most of our savings during our move, and we can't really afford to have one of us out of work right now. At this point, I'm also just annoyed by the flagrant disregard for basic labor law that this guy has. Is there anything we can do to pressure the owner into compensating the employees fairly, or is this too small-time for anyone to care?

Answer:
 Report to the DoLAnswer #2: Report to DoL like /u/Dweali said.

But also op from the sounds of things I doubt that palce will be going much longer. If one owner and the manager have left and arent coming back, that's not a good sign. I'm guessing if the DoL start fining the investor he will view it all as to much of a liability and close shop.


Title: Can I refuse to have sex with a woman unless she takes a 'morning after pill' *before* we have sex?

Question: [removed]

Answer: No.  You are legally required to have sex with any women under any circumstances she desires /s


Title: (Va) Injured my back while working, employer is using sick days to pay my wages. Supervisor says workers comp doesn't kick in until after the first year.

Question:
I did some reading and it looks like VA law says the first 7 days aren't covered unless I exceed 2 weeks away. I thought workers comp aaas required, is my boss ful of shit?
Topic:
Personal Injury

Answer:
 He's full of shit. Stop dealing with your boss. Contact HR and ask how to file a claim.  If they won't help you contact these people:

http://www.vwc.state.va.us/content/injured-workers


Title: Charged with DUI, advice please

Question: (California) I had police officers knock on my door at 1:00am on Saturday morning. They asked me if I had been driving. I told them I had been at home all night. I admitted I had been drinking. They accused me of drinking and driving and arrested me. My car was towed from my driveway. They say they saw a car matching my car's description that hit a curb a few streets over. There was apparently some oil that spilled which they followed to my driveway. I did have oil under my car admittedly. Is there any possible legal defense here? Please advise.

Answer:
 Did you drive?

Best advice is to hire an attorney. I would bet they have a bit more on you than just "a blue late model ford escort" hit a curb. Answer #2: Don't talk to the cops.  Get a lawyer.  When you have one, I suggest you be honest with him/her.  Because if their evidence doesn't jive with what you're saying, the court is not going to have sympathy for you.  As opposed to someone who is being honestly remorseful.

I'm also assuming this is your first DUI- I mean, alleged DUI. Answer #3: You need an attorney. The police would not have arrested you without enough physical evidence. So time to hire an attorney to get the best outcomeAnswer #4: Get an attorney asap.  You might have potential defenses, but they are fact-specific and you obviously haven't given the full story and we don't know the totality of the evidence the police have against you.  Were there eyewitnesses?  What did they see?  When?  How much time lapsed between the car hitting a curb and them showing up at your house?  What sobriety tests were you given?  When?  Was there any damage on your car or other evidence it was your car that hit the curb?

They are going to have to prove that 1) you were the one operating the vehicle and 2) that you were intoxicated while you were driving.   Depending on how the evidence pans out, they may have trouble proving these points beyond a reasonable doubt.


Title: Legal ethics

Question: One of the posts here had me wondering an ethical question. As someone's lawyer, how do you decide what the person's best legal options are? What if you disagree with the client (say a domestic assault case)?

Answer:
 You decide what the best options are based on the particular situation and years of education and experience. It's the same way anybody decides on the best option for anything.

I'm not sure what you're getting at with the second question. Can you be more specific?


Title: Dealership Broke Our Car

Question:
Took my husbands 2004 Chevy Monte Carlo in for a recall on engine oil leaks and ignition issue. Car drove fine.

Pick the car up and it overheats in five minutes. We inspect it and there is a brand new coolant hose in there that was not on the work order. Dealership offers to tow it back, and does not say we will have to pay for the towing. Coolant was completely drained from the vehicle five minutes after leaving. We’ve spent a week playing phone tag with corporate and they now want $900 in repairs that weren’t needed until they touched the car. Refuse to acknowledge the brand new hose either.

Husbands work friends told him to file a police report. Can we do that? They want us to pay $80 for the towing that I never agreed to pay for as well. What can we do about this if anything?

I looked around before posting and couldn’t find a question about this but if it has been posted I apologize.

Answer: Try contacting Chevy directly, since they were supposed to fix a recall, and your car got messed up they may do something about it.


Title: 17 years old, 83mph in 65

Question:
Hey everyone,
So I’m 17 years old and am from West Chester Township, in Ohio. I received a traffic ticket at 1:20AM on 06/27 for speeding at 83mph in a 65mph zone before exiting the highway. I have never been pulled over before, received a ticket, or been involved with any form of the law. Is there any way I can fight it? I really don’t want my insurance to go up and parents to kill me. There wasn’t really anyone on the highway besides 2 or 3 other people, and I was trying to get home quick so I didn’t fall asleep at the wheel. What advice do you have?

As I am a minor I will have to appear in court, is it worth getting an attorney? My biggest worries are how much my insurance will go up by, and are what my parents are going to say - I’ve always been told not to speed. I got yelled at the other day for it. I know it’s my own fault so I’ll plead guilty to the judge. I just don’t know what to do with my parents so I need advice on this and an attorney please

Answer:
 >I have never been pulled over before, received a ticket, or been involved with any form of the law. Is there any way I can fight it?

That's means nothing because you have like 0 driving experience. You fight it by pleading not guilty. You will lose though. Hiring a traffic attorney will typically help mitigate the punishment.

>I really don’t want my insurance to go up and parents to kill me.

You should have thought about that before speeding. Your insurance will go from high to stupid high because you're an at risk driver in the category where typically people are the highest risk and you just proved why.


Title: Looking for a subreddit similar to /r/legaladvice... Any help?

Question: [deleted]

Answer: This isn't a constitutional issue. The campaign would just continue. There are still dozens of states and almost as many candidates still in the race.


Title: Cayman Speeding fine

Question:
Im currenty in the Caymans and got a speeding fine yesterday, the day before I leave the country.
It was for 48mph in a 30 (just before the 50mph sign, damn it) and at $20 per mph thats a hefty fine of $360.
I have no plans to return to the Island, and dont particularly have the money to pay for it.
Do I need to worry about this following me back to the UK?

Answer: So you went to another country, didn't respect their laws, and now you're just going to run out on the consequences? Way to be that guy.


Title: Can I be charged for drug possession without lab results? (MI)

Question:
Hi,
In October 2018, the police found in my dorm room a plastic baggie with a few crumbs of suspected marijuana in it (very very tiny amount). They allegedly field tested the substance, and claim that there was a positive result. It was then sent to a lab for further testing. Despite the fact that marijuana is now legal here, the prosecutor Is wasting government resources and not following “The People’s” wish. I am being charged with misdemeanor possession of marijuana.
It is now 6 months later, and my trial was supposed to be yesterday. The day before yesterday, we had a pre-trial conference and the case was adjourned for 30 days because “The People have not received lab results for the suspected marijuana.”
Shouldn’t they have these lab results by now, after six months?? Is it possible the suspected marijuana was lost, or somehow rendered untestable? What will happen if I go back in 30 days and they still have no lab results - will the case be dismissed?

Thanks

Answer:
 I work in criminal defense in Michigan. It isn't even remotely uncommon for lab results. We have a client right now who was arrested in October on suspicion of OWI - Drugs and he still has not been charged because the police are waiting for his blood test results to come back from the lab.

The prosecution doesn't need lab results confirming that the substance found in your dorm room was marijuana in order to prosecute you for possession of marijuana. If you're pulled over with an open container of alcohol in the car, the cops don't need to conduct a lab test to determine whether or not it's actually alcohol. They can use other factors to identify the substance. In your case, the prosecution will likely call what is called a Drug Recognition Expert at trial, which is a police officer who has extensive training in drug recognition and can testify that he or she believes that the substance found in your dorm room was marijuana.


Title: I have shit in my bedroom. What can I do? (california tenant law)

Question: poop

Answer:
 You're being pretty impatient. You need to give them *reasonable* time to fix the problem. Also, I have no clue how bad this problem is, but I'm not understanding why you think they should have to completely replace the carpet.

You really come across as a nightmare tenant.


Title: Ticket for 29 over speed limit

Question:
I was going 64 in a 35, just got a new car and got too excited. The cop told me that he could've arrested me and that because of how fast I was going it is a criminal charge, but he gave me a civil citation instead. Would I handle this as a regular ticket? Can I pay it off instead of going to court? Will it affect my insurance? Since I just bought the car today I didn't have my insurance information, my mom (I just turned 18, car is in her name) is supposed to call tomorrow to get the insurance figured out. Would it be possible to pay the ticket without her finding out?
Location: United States - Arizona

Answer:
 Let's start here: you have no business going 64mph in a 35mph zone. Hopefully you understand this from here on out.

What did the cop actually cite you for?

You are almost certainly going to need a lawyer, and that lawyer can work out a plea agreement with the court on your behalf.


Title: Grubhub driver ran over my lawn in the rain

Question:
I ordered food from Grubhub, and the driver pulled up in the pouring rain and ran over my lawn, ruining it. I saw him do this. He backed out before I could get a pic of him on the lawn. I took pictures of the damage, and have the driver's license plate number. He apologized over and over for it.

I called Grubhub support, and they said their terms and conditions said they weren't responsible since the drivers were independent contractors, and I should go to the police and hold the driver responsible. Is this true, or can I take Grubhub to court?

Answer:
 Get a quote and ask the driver to pay it

If he refuses just file a claim with his insurance. It is property damage


Title: Delaware. Can employer make an employee pay for mistake/errors?

Question: We are salary plus commission for our pay. Items are sold from stock and then we special order items for customers as well. Our employer has told us that if an item is ordered incorrectly that we ate to pay the cost out of our pocket. Is this legal?

Answer:
 >No employer may withhold or divert any portion of an employee's wages unless:

>(1) The employer is required or empowered to do so by state or federal law; or

>(2) The deductions are for medical, surgical or hospital care or service, without financial benefit to the employer, and are openly, clearly and in due course recorded in the employers' books; or

>(3) The employer has a signed authorization by the employee for deductions for a lawful purpose accruing to the benefit of the employee, except that the Department, upon finding that it is acting in the public interest, may, by regulation, prohibit such withholding or diverting for such purpose. If the Department abuses its discretion and acts arbitrarily and without any reasonable ground, any aggrieved person may institute a civil action in the Superior Court to have such regulation declared null and void. The Department, in such action, shall not be liable for costs or fees of any nature.

http://delcode.delaware.gov/title19/c011/index.shtml

If you don't feel comfortable bringing this up to your boss directly, you can anonymously call your state's DOL and inform them of this business practice. It has the advantage of not only keeping a target off your back, but if you get fired in retaliation for making a good faith complaint to a governing agency such as the DOL, EEOC, etc you have legal protections there as well.

https://dol.delaware.gov/


Title: [Maine] Ejected from Campsite Justly But Without Refund

Question:
My friend was recently camping in Maine.  She, let's call her Michele, had come with another person, let's call him Bob, in one car.  They occupied two tent sites, booked for two days.  The first night apparently they fell out and made quite a bit of noise after midnight.  Bob ended up leaving right then and there.  The next day around noon Michele gets a call from management that she is being *evicted* and she has 30 minutes to pack her stuff or they will pack it for her.

After she packed up, she asked for a refund for the second night - it was a small sum of $80, but significant to her.  The campground management stated that multiple other campers had identified her site as the source of the disturbance.  That they had been shoving and making a lot of noise after midnight.  This was a major violation of the campground policies and it was their policy to not provide a refund in the event of an *eviction.*  So she left without a refund.

Given that this was a transient stay it is almost certainly an ejection not an eviction.  And she didn't dispute the noise, so certainly a fair ejection. But is that legal for the days booked but not yet used to be kept by the camground?  It seems to be similar to theft to keep the fees for services not provided, especially when they are the sole arbitrator of their rules...

Answer: It's legal.


Title: How far can i phisically go to stop someone from aggresively shouting at me before i can get sued?

Question:
This occured to me after remembering the Sanders video where some activists crash his speech.

 What can you do in situations where the other party outright refuses to back down or talk it through, and just shout out loud in your face in a very aggresive manner?

 You cannot punch or kick, but can you do holds, retentions or throws used in gentle martial arts? Do you must make them throw the first hit to make sure you don't get sued? How far can you take it? And finally, can you "incite" them by doing annoying things like poking their forehead/nose, etc.?

Location: US, California.
Thanks.

Answer: You can not make physical contact with an individual that's yelling. The best move is to just walk away. If you feel that the person is unstable or they are refusing to comply with demands to leave your property, you call the police.Answer #2: You can walk away. You can't legally assault somebody for yelling at you. Assault includes practically any unwanted physical contact.


Title: Can I get in trouble if I run a smear campaign against my company.

Question:
I work for a “locally” owned retail store, so I’m not trying to take on Wal-Mart or anything. Not worried in the least about being fired. I think I would actually enjoy it. Been with the company for 10 years and have seen them screw a lot of hard working people out of things they deserve. I’m currently graduating and looking for another job, so my time here is very limited.

Example:
Employee who has worked with the company for 20+ years, requested a 3 month unpaid leave to visit a pen pal in Italy, they “sat” on the idea of almost 6 months before telling him 2 months before the trip that they would fire him if he left. Remember, he is an employee, not a manager, so there are people to cover his responsibilities. He is 60, and now thinks he will have to wait until he retires to meet this pen pal in person. How sad.

The President of the company bought a yacht. The owner of the company owns 3 different properties throughout the US, and an Orchard.  And they often brag about their “lifestyles” and thank us for their amazing lives. Straight to our faces when we have families who work for the company and can barley get by. Remember that this is a “locally owned” store. They refuse to pay anyone more than minimum wage, even those that have worked here for 10+ years since the wage increases. So new employees are making as much as employees who have been here for decades.

This is just one small example of the situation. They have this image in the community that is wholesome, caring, and “locally owned” business that is struggling, while the higher ups are making literally millions. I’m a manager and have been with the company for 10 years, so I see reports and actually understand our financial situation.

So, my question is......
What is the worst that can happen?
If I changed my reddit page to a mocking page of their actual page, could they sue me?
As long as I did not disclose confidential information, could they sue me for telling the public of their awful business practices?
They wanted a web presence, and I think I could really give them one. I would reveal all the lame shit they pull and show our community the awful people that actually run this place.

Answer: Future employers are going to be leery of any applicant who launched a smear campaign against their last employer. Just saying.


Title: Emotional Support Animal Denied at Apartment in CA

Question:
I live in university owned housing in California (at a UC school). My roommate just applied for an emotional support animal. She has a documented history of anxiety and depression and her psychiatrist wrote a letter to the Disability Services at our school to support her in getting an approved Emotional Support Animal. This is the normal process; I have several friends in our housing that own dogs, and they went through the same process.

They denied her request today. Their email back stated:

"At this time, we are unable to approve your request to have an ESA live with you for the following reasons:

1. Functional limitations were not identified (ways a diagnosis is impacting you in the educational environment) by you or your health care provider.

2. Presence of an ESA would alter the living community due to midyear request."

I'm wondering how this is legal. They required my roommate to supply not only a letter from her psychiatrist, but also a personal letter detailing exactly her emotional problems and to defend why she needed an ESA. This seemed invasive and I don't understand how a school office can ignore a doctor's support of a disability animal. What else could they require as proof?

As for the second point, there are a number of pets that live in our housing complex. Cats are allowed, and dogs if they are ESAs. I don't see how it could "alter the living community" since there are already pets. The Disability Services office called me last week to confirm I was supportive of a dog in our apartment, so I know that it can't be that.

Looking for some legal advice to help my roommate respond. Thanks!

TL;DR Roommate was denied an Emotional Support Animal. Looking for some understanding of her rights to an ESA in CA.

Answer: The FHA allows a denial of an ESA if the presence will be an undue burden on the owner or other residents. If there are already a number of other pets or ESAs living in units nearby, the University may technically disallow additional ESAs.  I'd ask for a clarification of their decision, specifically if they are claiming an undue burden will exist as a basis for the denial.


Title: Rescinded auto loan, dealership forcing me to get a new contract that increases monthly payments

Question: Backstory: I recently bought a car on August 20th from a Hyundai dealer in Southern California. I was approved for 14% APR and was set to pay 700 a month. For some reason I receive a letter in the mail claiming the contract has become rescinded and to contact my dealer. I spoke with a finance manager and I am informed that I essentially have to sign a new contract with them that makes me pay more than expected and requiring a larger down payment. My question here is whether or not I have the grounds to essentially give my car back to them since there is no active contract. I live in California and the manager made it abundantly clear that we do not have a cooling off period. Would this be considered a return on my behalf as I agreed to pay the initial monthly payments no problem, but now that I am being strong armed for more, I am reluctant. The reason for the rescission is lack of proof of income, even though my wife and I turned in pay stubs proving we can pay for the car.

Answer: There is no world where spending $700/month on a Hyundai is a good deal or a good idea. You’re coming ahead on this by getting out of it.


Title: Had to call APS for self neglect...what are MY rights?

Question:
Posting on mobile while i am on break so please forgive spelling errors and formatting.

I am a Pennsylvania homeowner with a family of my 3 year old, his father, and another baby on the way in a few short months. Additionally in march 2016, i allowed a family friend to move in due to having nowhere to go and some health issues. He is a 57 year old wheelchair bound man from a faulty hip replacement, cirrhosis of the liver, diabetes, and HBP. When he first moved in he was compliant with his doctors visits, taking medication, showering and reaching his ADLs independently with some assist from myself as needed. He is a steady drinker on top of his cirrhosis but was not a sloppy drunk and began the process of detox which he did for a month and then declined in early May. We did not provide his alcohol given his situation but he obviously found ways to get it but at the end of the day while he was steadily drinking on top of cirrhosis, he still went to his doctors appointments, took his meds, showered, and his PCP was fully aware of his current consumption of alcohol daily. Since then its been a battle of hospitalizations from edema, blood sugar, kidney failure, etc all related to his drinking and non compliance with his medical care. This week alone i have came home from work 3 days in a row to him shaking, not knowing that he had defecated and urinated on himself, him defecating on my kitchen floor from it falling from the wheelchair and his soiled sheets, low blood sugar levels, non compliance with medications, not eating or bathing, the list just goes on. A month and a half ago i set up visiting nurses when his health started to fully decline. They change his foot wrappings from his diabetes but he is not being showered. I work 50-60 hours a week and majority of the time am not home when they come. I dont know if he has the right to refuse a shower but i assume that is what is happening. I unfortunately had to call APS this morning and have them assess his health and condition when they will eventually arrive in the next 72 hours. I opened my home to this man, free of charge other than paying the difference in water and electric (which is around $80 a month). He is fully unable to take care of himself due to self neglect and i cannot have me, my son, or him, and me with a baby on the way living in these conditions. What are his options for home placement since he is under 60/65? Do i have a final say that he can no longer stay here and he is not welcome when they come? I deeply care for this man but ultimately my family has to come first and i cannot come home to working 15 hours to shit on my kitchen floor and a man that i am unable to physically bathe. I've stopped my life for so long already and now feel like I'm being run out of my house but also filled with guilt...please help me with some answers!

Answer:
 He's a month to month tenant who's been there for less than a year so you're able to serve a 15 day written notice to vacate. After that point you can evict him and have him removed from your house.

You've no need to feel guilt - he's a grown man with many self-inflicted medical conditions which he's continuing to exacerbate.

Here are some resources you can print out for him or contact on his behalf before he's evicted:

http://www.dhs.pa.gov/citizens/servicesfordisabled/

http://www.dhs.pa.gov/citizens/findfacilsandlocs/countyassistanceofficecontactinformation/index.htm

https://www.compass.state.pa.us/Compass.Web/public/cmphome


Title: A hospital is refusing to provide chemo treatment for an illegal immigrant, can anything be done to help him?

Question:
He recently had surgery to remove 60% of his colon. Doctors said he would need to have chemo treatments afterwards, but are now refusing because he is not a US citizen.

He has lived here for at least 20 years. Is there any legal action that can be taken to help him?

Any advice would be greatly appreciated!

Answer:
 Guessing they're not refusing service due to his immigration status, they're refusing service because he doesn't have health insurance.  If he can't come up with a way to pay for the treatment or to get health insurance that will cover it, then he's in a tough spot because although ERs are required to provide emergency services and pain stabilization to anyone regardless of ability to pay, there's no legal requirement to give chemo free of charge.

Did he pay for the surgery to remove his colon?  If he did pay for that, he might be able to show the hospital and affiliated organizations that he is a good credit risk so they might be willing to continue to treat him.


Title: I just masturbated in a mall parking lot and I'm worried that I can get caught.

Question: [deleted]

Answer: Sure, it's possible that you get caught and they could turn it over to the police. It's unlikely that anything will come from it, but hire an attorney if the police get involved. Additionally, stop jerking it in public.


Title: Employer approved my Paid time off. When I was on my vacation they went back and denied and lost out on 3 weeks of pay....

Question:
I got hired at a new job in February.  One of the conditions upon me excepting a position was that I get PTO for a 3 week backpacking trip that I had planned for a year. They agreed.
Put in my formal request online for May 13th-May 31 on March 18th. It was approved by the owner.
Nothing was said after that about my trip.
I left and came back and noticed I hadn’t been paid at all while I was gone.
I went back into my clock in app on my phone and found out he went back and denied it May 14th (day after I left) without saying a word.  After I got back to work nothing was said to me until I brought the issue up.
Who would I talk to about this is there anything I can do? It put me in a huge financial pickle for a bit.

Answer:
 Posted after your 1st edit:

Don't be afraid to get things in writing in the future as you now realize.  This process doesn't have to be contentious, the purpose is to provide a clear, unambiguous record of what was agreed to.   And getting things in writing protects BOTH sides.

I would also consider this a red flag and you may want to consider moving to a new company.  If the owners are willing to engage in a bait and switch this early, it is very likely to get worse in the future.  I.e. if you think you are working towards a salary increase, more vacation time, or a promotion, those things will be unlikely to materialize.

It sucks that you relocated, but if you have skills that are in demand you can most likely find something else.  Contact a recruiter and let them know you are open to offers.  I wouldn't worry at all about how this will look to your next employer, just be honest.

For those who think 3 weeks paid time off on a new job isn't a thing, you are dead wrong.  Anyone that has skills or experience that is in demand has all kinds of perks thrown at them: delayed start with pay, signing bonus, stock, expanded paternity/ maternity leave, company car for personal use, relocation stipend, generous retirement plans, etc. The less desirable the location, the deeper the employer has to dig to get talent.


Title: MAGA bomber voting rights

Question:
Just curious because a friend and I were talking about the guy caught today for sending bombs through the mail to 12 or 13 people.

1. Does he have any right to vote in this election, even though he's in jail and (presumably) not convicted?

2. Let's assume he gets a light sentence and makes it out of the federal prison system as an older man. Does he automatically get to vote in whatever election(s) then? Is there a waiting period or is he automatically not getting to vote, ever again, or the opposite: he gets to vote just as soon as he a free man? Or does it revert to the state in which he's doing time? (which doesn't seem right as these are federal offenses, but you never know).

Asking for a friend.

Answer:
 He ~~can~~ could vote absentee while awaiting trial were he not already a convicted felon in Florida. As for post conviction, I’m guessing that FL’s felon disenfranchisement law would prevent him from voting (unless that’s overturned this election). This actually raises another question I’ve been wondering about: if you lose your vote in FL due to a felony conviction and, post incarceration, move to another state can you vote there or is that covered under full faith and credit?

Edited to account for criminal record. Answer #2: He's already a felon. He wouldnt have even been able to vote in the 2016 election because of his criminal history.


Title: Rental car fraudulently towed while on a business trip and Chase won’t chargeback - Minnesota

Question:
I am traveling for work and parked in a lot downtown. I paid for the spot at the machine which did not give me a receipt but it did show as charged on my credit card app. I returned to my car 30 mins later to find it towed. I showed the towing company proof that I had paid for the parking but they didn’t care and gave me the lot owners phone number. That number is a dead end and just rings. I had to pay $300 to get the car back which as I see it is basically extortion. I googled this tow company and found they had a history of fraudulent tows.

Chase said they won’t do a charge back because I authorized the transaction To pay the tow company but I didn’t really have a choice.

How can I get my money back from the tow company?

I live in AZ but am in MN for work.

Answer: You're going to have to sue the towing company, and you would need to be able to convince a judge that you did, indeed, pay for that parking spot. I would keep any evidence of receipts or paperwork you had.


Title: I just signed a lease in June and my leasing office presented an "Crime Free Addendum" they would like all of the current tenants to sign.

Question:
Colorado

This question is purely on basis of general principal -- not that I have any kind of problem with the subject of the addendum.

The point of the addendum is to restrict tenants from smoking weed in their units, which is legal recreationally in my state. I don't smoke very often and this addendum doesn't really affect me either way.

Isn't the point of signing a lease to agree to terms for the duration of your agreement? They can't force me to sign this addendum or agree to these new terms, right?

Answer: Correct. You are likely not obligated to sign this addendum.


Title: How can my landlady discriminate?

Question:
Was making small talk with my landlady when paying rent, mostly focused about an empty unit next to me and who was moving in there and it came about that she denied a couple their application because they were large and the only unit she had open was in the third floor, and she was concerned about noise, and that she gave the one next to me to a person who seemed creepy because she knew that there weren't any kids in the nearby units. She also said that she doesn't accept ESAs, only the real service animals.

It went on. She said that subletting isn't allowed, which is fine, but that if I were to get a roommate, s/he wouldn't be on the lease, just file a roommate paper thing with her, and would have no rights if eviction was needed, said it would be my problem to get him/her out.

This doesn't feel quite right.

Answer:
 > if I were to get a roommate, s/he wouldn't be on the lease, just file a roommate paper thing with her, and would have no rights if eviction was needed, said it would be my problem to get him/her out.

Yes, if you decide to become a landlord by renting out a room in your apartment, and then you want that person to leave, you would have to legally evict them, not your landlord.


Question:
https://en.bitcoin.it/wiki/Myths#Bitcoins_will_be_shut_down_by_the_government_just_like_Liberty_Dollars_were

"Liberty Dollars started as a commercial venture to establish an alternative US currency, including physical banknotes and coins, backed by precious metals. This, in and of itself, is not illegal. They were prosecuted under counterfeiting laws because the silver coins allegedly resembled US currency."

Is this true, and if so, why has there been no other private currency?

Answer:
 There are and have been PLENTY of "Private currencies."

Ever go to an arcade and buy tokens for the games?  Private currency.  Ever go to an outdoor event and buy "tickets" for beer or rides?  Private currency.

Ever receive a gift certificate?  Private currency.Answer #2: We've had a few in the US. I know somewhere in MA has something called 'Berkshares.' These are bought with USD and can be traded back for USD by businesses.

In Ithaca, you have Ithaca Hours. These are interesting because they cannot be traded back for USD, although they are still pegged to the dollar.


Title: Medical waste in the trash at work? Can I do anything? (PA)

Question:
Hi, R/legaladvice.

So I sit near one of the (single-occupancy) bathrooms at work, and notice this one guy going in for long periods of time.  He leaves the water running, and you can hear the automatic paper towel dispenser going off frequently, so he's using a lot of them.  No big deal, right?

Well, I went in to use the bathroom after him a few weeks ago, and noticed what looked like sterile packaging for some sort of medical whatever and what looked like plastic tubing.  There was also a lot of paper towels folded up into little squares with the other stuff.

I don't know what any of the stuff is, but feel like tossing it into an open trash can is definitely not the way for it to be disposed of.  I went to the building manager and HR, who said that they identified who was responsible and had dealt with the situation, but today I saw the same stuff in there again.

Is it possible to compel them to do anything about this, legally?  Or should I just suck it up and use a different bathroom?

Answer: It's probably a disposable catheter, it's not blood, it's not anything sharp. I would leave it alone.


Title: Question about the legality of prescription OTC drugs. (U.S.)

Question:
I'm not in any kind of trouble or anything like that, I'm just curious about this. I broke one of my ribs about 4 or 5 days ago. Didn't go to the Doctor, I can feel the broken rib with my fingers and can breathe fine, just hurts. Prescription strength Ibuprofen is normally the medication they prescribe. So, I just took over the counter ibuprofen in prescription dosages.

Well my Mom had some of the prescription stuff from a previous injury and offered it to me because I could just take one of those instead of 4 over the counter ibuprofens. I've been taking those because it's vastly more convenient.

Now, my question is, if I were to get pulled over and a police officer found the bottle of pills in my pocket. Could I be charged with a crime since it's a prescription? Or is it legal because ibuprofen isn't a controlled substance and I only have what amounts to Extra extra strength Advil?

I live in Indiana, but I'm more curious about the federal laws than local ones.

Answer:
 800 mg ibuprofen is NOT OTC. It is a "schedule VI" drug. Aka prescription only, but not a controlled substance like hydrocodone or Xanax.

You are taking an Rx only drug without an prescription. That is not legal. Stick to taking 4 200 mg ibuprofens. I know it sounds stupid, but that is how it works.


Title: Dog abuse

Question: So I was driving home from visiting my horse and I noticed a lady in the ditch just beating on this poor dog so of course I stopped and yelled at her telling her to stop and that if she wasn’t going to treat the dog better or she didn’t like him that she could give him to me and I would find him a good home to which she replied telling me that I’m what’s wrong with the world. I phoned the police and they said that they have multiple complaints about her being intoxicated and violent constantly but they can’t take the dog away so I phoned the animal shelter and they’re closed until Tuesday.. I don’t know what to do, I don’t want to leave the poor dog with that lady but I don’t know if there is anything more I can legally do.. The dog looked like a German shepherd, he was very skinny and he cowered  at every move she made, it brought me to tears not being able to take the dog right then and there but I just don’t know what legal moves I can make now.. I live in Alberta, Canada..

Answer:
 [Contacting the Alberta SPCA might be a good place for information] (https://www.albertaspca.org/about/contact-us.html)
I believe they will also investigate any founded claim of abuse themselves.

[They also have specific information on their website](https://www.albertaspca.org/neglect-abuse/legislation.html) about animal cruelty legislation that may be useful in citing to the police to see if it will encourage them to take action.

IANALAnswer #2: Call 311 they will put you in contact with the best branch of bylaw. That's all you can legally do sadly.

They can do something about her being intoxicated so keep making complaints and if you're really concerned make reports in person. Answer #3: You could offer the lady cash to take the dog off her hands. Just record the transaction with your cell so you have a record she agreed to the deal, if she says yes.Answer #4: Call the police and ask to speak to the K9 unit. Those guys love dogs and go way above and beyond the call of duty when a dog is on the line. They also know dogs, so they will notice the signs of abuse.

I've done that twice when dogs have been mistreated, and they really showed up in force and put their foot down on it.

I guess that, in theory, any police should behave the same if called, but even police are humans. Get the ones who loves dogs.


Title: Can I talk to the police for advice?

Question: Hey guys, I'm in Virginia and have a friend who is an abusive relationship but is unwilling to,press charges. There is a possibility that my friend has charges for child abuse becuase they hit a younger sibling while they where underage so I'm not sure what to do. They are a good parent but the other isn't. I want something to change because they don't deserve the abuse but I'm afraid to speak with police and then the child end up in foster care. Can I speak,with the policy "off the record" about options?

Answer: Sure you can. Use hypotheticals and don’t give names.


Title: My tinder date vapes cannabis in the car. How much trouble am I in as a passenger?

Question:
Location: TX

So I met someone new and we are really, *really* hitting things off.  He is a cannabis user (which I don't have a problem with) but he carries a lot of paraphernalia in his car and is *not* very subtle about it.  He keeps a not-very-pocket-sized vaporizer and herb cartridges in plain view next to the gear shifter, and his car is in general pretty disorganized so who knows what else is in there, really.  He uses febreeze or whatever to cover up the smell, and has apparently been doing this for awhile including the occasional traffic stop without any issue.

I am not a drug user of any kind and so I don't really have any idea what I'm getting into, in terms of either legal, relationship, or etiquette advice.  My sense is that he's into me enough to adjust his behavior somewhat to make me more comfortable if I asked, but I'm not sure what I can/should ask for.  I guess my primary concern would be getting hit with a constructive possession charge, so maybe I need to ask him to keep his stuff under his own seat?  Alternatively I could either ask him to keep it out of his car completely (which may or may not be rude?) or just not get into his vehicle at all (which may also be rude?).  I don't drive, and Uber/Lyft is annoying but a drug charge would be more annoying, I'm guessing.  But at the same time I don't want to come across as super shamey just because my vices are more legal than his.

Answer:
 > Alternatively I could either ask him to keep it out of his car completely (which may or may not be rude?)

If you're going to be in the car, it's not rude at all.

> or just not get into his vehicle at all (which may also be rude?)

Refusing to get into a car that is going to be driven by someone under the influence is also not rude, it's incredibly intelligent.

While marijuana may be all shades of legal in a great many states, remember that in *none* of them is it legal to drive while under the influence of marijuana.


Title: Signed lease and moved in now HOA might be going to the city to have us removed

Question:
Myself and four other housemates just moved into a house in Lake Oswego, OR.  Our landlord is an international student who is currently overseas.  It turns out the HOA (which is made up of almost entirely retirees) here has some strict guidelines the house is not in compliance with and that we were not made aware of prior to moving in.

We have five cars and only four parking spaces (two in the driveway and two in the garage); the landlord failed to inform us that all overnight street parking is prohibited so we now have to find somewhere to park the fifth car.

This is a single family unit.  We are currently waiting on a copy of the HOA guidelines, but just having five adults living here is already in violation of the regulations.  Will update post with specific rules once we have them.  This is the issue that the HOA is most likely to pursue with the city to force us out.  There was a property in the HOA being used as Air BNB that the city was made aware of and had shut down.

There have been other issues in the past with landscaping (currently not in compliance), garbage, and parking.  When we spoke to the HOA president this morning he told us that there have been a lot of issues with our landlord since he purchased the property and honestly seemed exasperated that there was going to be a whole new set of issues with all of us tenants moving in.

We are going to reach out to the management of the condos just down the road to see if we can use one of their guest parking spots, as well as hire a landscaper.

What are our options?  Can we back out of the lease somehow?  Looking back at it now there are definitely some inconsistencies.  The house wasn't cleaned like it supposed to be. The landlord offered to pay for cleaning but only if it was less than $200, despite a clean house upon move-in being guaranteed in the lease. The landlord is supposed to do a move in inspection but he is currently overseas and will not be returning until August.

We also have almost no communication with the landlord.  In the lease, the landlord's address is listed as the house we are currently living in, we just found out the phone number he provided is for a friend of his in town who is moving across the country in a week, and he did not provide an email.

One option we have discussed is cooperating with the HOA and helping them take this issue to the city.  If we are forced to move out, which seems likely, we believe the landlord will owe us a relocation fee.  Then we can get out of this prickly situation with retirees breathing down our necks.

TLDR; Housemates and I moved into a house without knowing we were moving into a strict HOA area with a preexisting tense relationship with the landlord.  The HOA may pursue action against the landlord with the city and have us evicted since these residences are intended for single families. To top it off we have very limited communication with the landlord, who is overseas. plz help!!
Topic:
Landlord Tenant Housing

Answer:
 The HOA can fine the landlord, and eventually foreclose if the fines are not paid. In principle you as tenants are not bound by HOA regulations, unless the lease says so. Chances are the landlord would be very happy if you're willing to move out because it saves them from these fines. As such you have a good negotiation position and should ask for compensation in the form of them paying for your moving expenses.Answer #2: The HOA certainly can't evict you and can't legally force you directly to move out.  It's doubtful the city would involve themselves in any of this unless there's a violation of city ordinances and codes.

I'd be very wary about breaking the lease over any of this.  You're not in an ideal situation, to be sure, but you do have the privileges (and the responsibilities) of whatever landlord/tenants laws apply in Oregon.  If the HOA has a beef with the landlord that's their prerogative; they can fine him and perhaps foreclose if the fines accrue, but unless and until the HOA takes legal possession of the property there's really nothing they can do to kick you out.

I think it's perfectly reasonable to be polite to the HOA and your neighbors, and to cooperate with them but *only insofar* as neither impinges on your rights as a tenant.  A firm "I understand that you want us gone, but until such time as the lease expires or the courts intervene we have every right to be here."


Title: [OR] What are the state laws in Oregon with regards to relationships that involve multiple people?

Question:
This seems like a bit of an outside question but I recently moved to Oregon and after searching around I haven't been able to find any info on this. I'm not sure if it's because there's nothing to be found or if I'm just not search right.

I ask because I'm poly and the norm is generally long-term relationships involving multiple people. This seems like it should be no problem, especially in Oregon, but it's something that unexpectedly pops up in several states as being outright illegal and sometimes even runs afoul of bigamy statutes.

Are there any laws I should be aware of in Oregon?

Answer: You can't be married to more than one person. You can bang all the people you want (with consent, of course).


Title: Biological father attempts to force biological mother's boyfriend to stay away from son's activities.

Question:
Can a child's biological parent legally keep the biological mother's boyfriend from attending functions such as sports practices and school plays?

The parents have no legally binding custody agreements. Only a mutually agreed upon 50/50 custody schedule.

Other important info:
- The father coaches one of the sports teams.
- The boyfriend has attended every school play and sports practice for the last two years without any issue or argument until now. I assume this became an issue because it's the bio-dad's first year as a coach.
- Mississippi is the location.

I'm asking for a non-redditor. I hope that is alright with everyone.
Thank you in advance for your thoughts.
-

Answer: Absent a court order, no. But can a custody order say that? Yes. Answer #2: If there is no court order, then bio dad cannot dictate who visits a public place, or private place unless he owns it.


Title: Found out my vehcile has a lien on it!!!

Question: So I've never heard of this happening and I've been researching everywhere and can not come up with an answer. I purchased my vehicle from a private party back in July of 2014. Everything was good the title was clean registration was clean nothing indicating a lein on the vehicle. I was able to transfer the title over to my name with no issues and Ive registered the vehicle twice since. I recently take my vehicle to carmax to trade it in. They give me and evaluation and offer which I accept. 2 days later I get a call saying that my car has a lien placed on it from a financial institution which was never paid. I paid for the car cash so the lien definitely isnt mine. Apparently the previous owner had undisclosed lein in the state of NV and was some how able to get it removed off of the title when transferring it to CA, What can I do, what are my rights?!

Answer: Go to the CA DMV, and get a title history, also contact the NV DMV to get a title history. If something comes up dirty, you sue the guy who sold it to you.


Title: [Help](Canada, BC) I screwed up big time, I lost 90k in a matter of a few months.

Question: [deleted]

Answer:
 90k is definitely lawyer time. Especially given the labyrinthine facts here. Answer #2: INAL, but you should get one ASAP.

I just find myself wondering how you did not smell the BS rolling off this guy from the start.  This is going to be a very expensive way to learn that you probably should not be in business for yourself until you're a bit more worldly, cautious and embittered by the vagaries of small-business ownership.  It's a hard row to hoe and fraught with snake holes all along the way.

I hate this whole situation for you and hope you come out whole eventually.Answer #3: your money is on fire and you're trying to put out the fire by throwing more money onto it.  it's really hard to say exactly what's going on but it sure seems from here that your business is dead in the water and your partner stole everything instead of registering the company like he said he would.
assemble all the paperwork you can and contact a lawyer.  and accept that sometimes life punches you in the nose but you can bounce back.Answer #4: Is there any extra inventory?

I'd be selling it at your local market if it's still an option and keep all the funds.  Partner shouldn't make a dime till you're square.

Get a lawyer. Now. Make sure you have all his promises of payback documented. Time for your BP to take out another mortgage to pay you back.  If he's broke now, he's going to hate the lawyers fees.

If there is no record of your business together or trademark, he's committed fraud.  Time for a lawyer and the police.


Title: Can not afford to fulfill court summons

Question:
Legally seperated from my wife, we have 2 children together.
She had the children (living in Texas), relinquished custody to her sister (living in Virginia) and I was not informed.
Now that her sister is trying to sign the children back into their mother's care a custody court date ended up getting set. I have been given papers to appear in court in May (I live in Florida) however I am unsure why I need to appear. The trip is honestly outside of my budget at this time as well.
I love my kids but I can not afford to leave my job for a week, pay for plane tickets and a hotel as it stands.

Answer: These poor children. You better beg and borrow and be there for them. Allegiant air is a budget airline between FL and VA you can check with. Answer #2: Have you checked with the court to see if you can appear at the hearing via phone?Answer #3: Hit your friends and family up for money. You *do not* have a choice; that summons is a court order and if you are not there I can give you two guesses what is going to happen at that court hearing.Answer #4: If a singular DATE has been set, why do you need to go up for a whole week?


Title: [Canada] I'm a part-time worker who was just given 40 hours for the next week, no full-time employee is working more than 32.

Question:
I live in Ontario, Canada and I work at a Real Canadian Super store. I have to be honest, I'm not really sure what my rights are as a worker, specifically as a member of the union and it's difficult to find information.

It's not so much the legality of it, I'm sure it *is* legal, it's just scummy and I'm looking for next steps and advice.

So I'm 19 and I just finished my first term of my second year of my University program. I've worked this job about two years now and I work part-time during the summer and a couple hours when I come home for two weeks during Christmas break.

Between last Christmas and now, the department has gotten a new manager who isn't the best manager. She almost never works a full week and it's difficult to find her doing any actual work in the department. My hours were reduced a little over the summer but started to pick up again near the end when she realized I'm pretty good at my job and I have more experience than anyone else who is part-time.

The problem is that she's giving me 40 hours next week, the most that has ever been given to me (even when I pick up shifts). She gave no indication that this many hours would be given. No one, not even the full-time employees are working more than 32. This is including her, the *department manager* in the busiest week of the year and she is scheduled for 24 hours. We are closed on Christmas and close early on Christmas Eve.

She knows I'm a part-time employee and that I only have two weeks with my family but she gives me 40 hours regardless.

I find it really difficult not to see that she is using me so she doesn't have to work as much next week.

So this is my plan. I am going to talk to her tomorrow. I'm going to explain that I'm part-time and that 40 hours is way too much for me as I only have so much time at home. Me coming back to work this holiday was just mean't to be a few hours, 24 at max. I'll request the 24th and 26th off and if she gives me this wishy washy bullshit answer, I'll tell her that the 23rd is my last day and I quit. I can do that right? Since I'm part time I don't need to give notice but I'm not sure of union rules.

Does anyone have any advice?
Topic:
Labor Law

Answer:
 >specifically as a member of the union and it's difficult to find information.

Talk to your union rep. No one here has any idea what your collective agreement says.


Title: I have a hater

Question: [removed]

Answer: People are allowed to have negative opinions about you and your work, and express those opinions on their own platforms.


Title: Got a new job, background check initiated, arrested over the weekend for possession. Am I safe with my new employer?

Question:
I'm a Louisiana citizen living in Texas for the past 5 years. I got a job offer with a company that doesn't drug test, but they perform the standard criminal background check. The background check was initiated on Thursday, and I went on vacation with friends driving to Colorado, and I tried to bring back some substances (THC gummies & less than 1 oz of marijuana.) I was arrested in Texas on Sunday and released Monday afternoon. I anxiously received word from my new employer that the background check was all clear and they expect me to begin on Monday, which is great...

My question is if I am safe with my new employer, or should I disclose that my background check would appear differently since before it was initiated? I have not put in my notice (I will be walked out as this is a competitor) and am afraid that there might be a mistake or that I will be approached about it after starting. Is this possible? I don't want to leave a job only to be turned away a week later. Please advise, thank you all so much.

Answer:
 It depends on what you mean by "safe with [your] new employer". If you mean "can they fire me if or when they find out?" the answer is absolutely yes. If you mean "will they find out?" then we have no way of answering that.

Also:

>I'm a Louisiana citizen living in Texas for the past 5 years.

What do you mean by this?


Title: I want to sue the guy who sexually assaulted me in New Jersey. I know the civil statute of limitation is two years but I was a minor when this happened and up until recently I forgot all about it. I’m wondering if the statute of limitations would be pushed to when I turned 18 because I was a minor.

Question:
I can’t afford therapy and I think he should pay for it. He did some stuff to me in my sleep when I was 14 and he was 16. I’m about to turn twenty and am wondering if the civil statute of limitations started ticking when it happened, when I turned 18, or when I remembered a few weeks ago.

I’m also a man and he did this to me after he found out I was gay. But I don’t know everything that happened because I couldn’t watch the whole recording.

I know I still have time to have him charged with criminal sexual contact though which is somewhat of a relief.

Answer: Rush to an attorney and ask. It may also make sense to file a police report. Do not rely on Reddit on a statute of linitations question.


Title: I got a parking ticket when I broke down and never saw signs

Question:
I’m going to court in a few days to argue my case, my case is in point - I never saw the parking signs, so how could I possibly enter into a contract with the firm? It didn’t look like a private road, I got to the top of the road thinking it was a short cut, stopped the car to get out a sat nav, car didn’t start back up pushed the car at 3 am to what I thought was a safer spot.
What can I say in court?
Topic:
Traffic and Parking

Answer: That you are responsible to look for the signs and know that you can legally leave your car somewhere? They likely hear "well I didn't see the sign so it isn't my fault" defense all the time


Title: Did my family doctor breach patient-doctor confidentiality? Now I seem to be refused service? What should I do?

Question:
I was recently prescribed Adderall roughly a month ago. I'm 21 years old. I have been diagnosed ADD-PI for about 4 years now, but just recently got back on my medicine. After about my third week being on the medicine, my brother went to see our family doctor about getting on something for anxiety. After going through all the usual process to see the doctor, he was put in the waiting room for the doctor to come in. Now, I never told my brother I was on my Adderall again because last time I was on it he was constantly begging me to give him some of my prescription, which I always refused to do. It just would cause more problems than it would be worth, so I kept it a secret. So, my doctor goes in to see my brother, sits down, looks at him and says "So, since you've been on your Adderall again, you've been having anxiety, huh?" My brother didn't know that I was on my medicine again until she said that. He told her that she must have gotten him mixed up with me. She then scurried out of the room and it turns out the staff had given her the wrong file. This all happened 7 days ago. I've been trying to see my doctor to talk about what happened every day since then. I've tried to go visit her 5 times now, and every time I am told that I will have to come back another day. I'm getting very aggravated with the office, and after the confidentially breach, I'm getting frustrated that I'm being refused service. I also have to see the doctor for my prescription refill, but she won't see me, so I am now out of my medicine as well. I've been told that I technically could sue this doctor/her office for malpractice and invasion of privacy under HIPPA laws. Is this true? What should I do? I've been thinking about filing a complaint with the state medical board, but I don't want to do anything drastic. I just wish the doctor would let me see her and talk to her about the situation.

Location - MS, USA
Topic:
Healthcare Law including HIPAA

Answer:
 > I'm getting frustrated that I'm being refused service

You're being refused service because the doctor is busy.  No doctor I'm aware of is going to have an easy time accepting drop-ins, especially ones that aren't actually a medical emergency.  Call and make an appointment.

>  I've been told that I technically could sue this doctor/her office for malpractice and invasion of privacy under HIPPA laws

Nope.  HIPAA(Not HIPPA) does not offer a private right of action.  You could sue if her negligence caused you damages, but I'm not seeing that.

You can change doctors, and/or you can [file a complaint](http://www.hhs.gov/ocr/privacy/).


Title: Tennessee Hotel Night Shift Attendant

Question:
Hello,

I am currently the Night Shift Attendant at an extended stay hotel which is located in Tennessee. I am also a full time student at my University.

I work Monday and Wednesday from 6 pm to 9 am, Friday from 6 pm to 10 am, Saturdays from 4 pm to 9 am, and Sunday from 9 am to Monday at 9 am. The majority of my hours worked are on-call hours. I am given a room to sleep in, both on and off duty, as well as WiFi.

My duties as a Night Shift Attendant require me to be by a phone at all times to answer to a guest's needs. The company I work for only allows me to clock in only when I receive a call and clock out when I am finished. By doing this I'm working 35 hours a week.

I read about FLSA On-Call Hours and how employers are to count said hours on call if within a certain distance. I'm supposed to remain on site or a good distance (1/2 mi) from the hotel whenever I'm on call. If this is the case, then I have technically worked 87 hours a week for the past 3 weeks.

I don't want to talk to my manager for fear of losing my job. Because of this, I've been considering complaining to the WHD of the US Department of Labor, for they can at least provide me with job security against retaliation. Also, could the room and WiFi provided be considered compensation for my work, even though I'm working well over 40 hours?

I would greatly appreciate it if you could help me.

TL;DR
I think the company I work for is overworking me

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Edit 1

I called local Wage and Hour Division today about my hours. They didn't give me an answer yet though, since I'm living on site and working on site. I'm going to request for my contract and call a lawyer about this. Hopefully, he/she will be able to find something I'm missing. I'll keep you guys posted.
Topic:
Labor Law

Answer: I am not a lawyer, and this isn't legal advice.  But I've worked the night shift at hotels, and yes, your employer is overworking you.  I thought you'd gotten the hours wrong at first, because they seemed so unreasonable.Answer #2: You need to file a wage claim with your department of labor asap.


Title: [UK/CA] Want to report family sex abuse but selfishly don't want to deal with legal consequences.

Question:
I need help.

I'm 25, talk to strangers online because I have my own issues going on. I'm also in a relationship and have a good job.

I met a girl that's 17. After some time she's now admitted she's being sexually abused by her dad that she sees once a week and on some weekends. I think it's the worst kind of abuse but I don't want to try and get specifics from her.  She currently has a very large bruise on her arm.

She's scared, and doesn't want anyone to know. She made me promise not to tell anyone but she is being hurt and knows exactly what she "should" do. I'm gradually building her up to the point where she might consider talking to someone close to her, but I don't know if it will ever happen. Last night I had her write a letter with everything that she's been through, and she closed it out with "I need help".

I know which high school she's at and have found her guidance Councillor's email address.

My issue is anonymity. I don't live in the same country as her but I'm older and I'm worried if I tell someone they'll trace my IP or something and have me be a part of the investigation. I can't risk ruining my life, losing my job or my girlfriend with a court case; I need to do something though.

I don't need lectures about meeting a minor online, please. I appreciate the age gap but if I hadn't made an effort with her she would still be alone.

Any advice?

Answer:
 There's no girl.

This is actually a really common romance scam. She (probably a dude, though) strikes up an online relationship with you then brings up this sob story about getting abused by her father. At some point she will ask you for money to help her get free and come to you.

Whatever you do, do not send nudes. She's probably already asked for them and you said no, which is why you're on part 2 of the scam (sob story.)


Title: I am liable to pay back my training costs?

Question:
Hi,
Hopefully I can get some advice here, it may also have been covered before in another post.
I went for training in May which was paid by the company, a few weeks later I received a letter stating I would need to pay for any training if I was to leave before 2 years. I signed this letter as I was at that time happy in my role, mistake on my part was to not check if this regarded the training I had been on.
Now the job is extremely overwhelming and the major project we are all on is run very badly and very much unethical so I would like to get out as soon as possible.
As I took the training before I had an option to sign this letter, would I still have to pay the training back? Or because I've signed this letter, I will be liable to pay the training back?
Cheers for any help on this matter.

Answer: You're probably liable. You agreed to it in writing.


Title: 1 week to closing on home. Seller claims they are schizophrenic and want to back out of contract. Any experience with this?

Question:
Location: NJ. It's been a 2.5 month buying process that has really tested my patience. I've met the seller on 2 separate occasions and there was no suspicion that anything was wrong with this person. Come time to close and seller wants to cancel the deal and claims they were in a state of confusion when they signed due to their schizophrenia.....

Edit: I've already spoken to my lawyer and can pursue specific performance, my question is, how defensible is the schizophrenia thing? Is it possible for them to fake it and still win?

Edit to fully describe the sellers participation in this 3 month process: This purchase took the course of almost 3 months. So this person was supposedly in a psychotic episode where they listed the home for sale, were there for an appointment to show me the place and explain why i should buy it, accept and sign an offer from me, sign a contract of sale, a few weeks later they provided assistance in the inspection, helped me set up my parking permit, provided additional documents for closing, asked for an extension on the closing, asked to rent the place 2 weeks after closing. All these actions were taken by the seller in a supposedly "psychotic" episode. How do you think that sounds to a judge?

Answer:
 > I've already spoken to my lawyer and can pursue specific performance, my question is, how defensible is the schizophrenia thing?

If he's legitimately schizophrenic and can get a doctor to testify that he lacks the capacity to make a contract, then he has a decent shot.  But that takes a lot, and also creates a public record that he's incompetent to manage his own affairs.

> Is it possible for them to fake it and still win?

Fake it?  No, not really.  If he's claiming a lack of capacity, you'd have a right to have him examined by a neutral doctor.  Unless he's good enough to fool multiple doctors into wrongly diagnosing him with a mental illness