Title: What are the repercussions if a teacher is appropriating culture or racist in Canada?

Question:
 I'm a student in high school and I'm know pretty much nothing about law. I joined a french club recently to boost my mark as I am not doing well in the subject. We are doing a play loosely translated into "The Middle Class Aristocrat" In the play an aristocrat is trying to change himself to being a high ranking noble, and in the last scene, a sultan comes to place a spell on him, which will transform him.

This is where the trouble begins. The only brown kid (Paki) in the club is deemed as the sultan. She was told to wear a Sikh turban while the rest of us dance to Muslim Arabic music . And that's not even the worst part. Our dance is *E g y p t i a n.*

I felt really put off about this because we are going to be performing this in front of the entire school and parents and I can imagine that a lot of people will not be pleased. I tried to speak up about it but was shut down quickly. In theory, if I took this matter to the principal, can my teacher get fired?

If she won't get fired, I don't think I'll have the courage to ask because I can't afford her hating me at the moment. I'm applying for university soon so my marks are crucial.

Answer:
 > The only brown kid (Paki) in the club is deemed as the sultan.

"Brown kid" isn't very sensitive and "Paki" is a racial slur, so be careful with your own language.

*"The slur is used mainly by certain Europeans and even North Americans to refer to anyone resembling South Asian descent. In more recent usage, the term has been used as a blanket term for all South Asians. The slur is used chiefly in the United Kingdom and is also considered pejorative in Canada. In the United Kingdom and Canada, the term "Paki" is commonly associated with "Paki-bashing", violent attacks against people of South Asian origin, chiefly Pakistanis."*

> And that's not even the worst part. Our dance is E g y p t i a n.

Can you explain this, and how this is the worst part?

> if I took this matter to the principal, can my teacher get fired?

Highly unlikely but the principal might disallow the play.


Title: Can I file a noise complaint anonymously?

Question:
My downstairs neighbor has kept their TV up loud enough for me to hear it over my A/C for the past week and a half. My landlord has dealt with it once a while ago, and told me to file a noise complaint if it happened again. My husband doesn't want to.
My questions are can I file one anonymously, or if I can't, will they come talk to me at my home about it? I want to avoid a fight with my husband. I can always go out for a smoke and make the call, but I can't hide an officer knocking on my door.

Answer: Officers usually don't come knocking at your door- they knock at the offending party's door if the complaint is valid. Yes, you can refuse to give your name when you report it.


Title: I just terminated my employment with a shady and toxic workplace. Please help me understand this Release Agreement! [TX]

Question:
Hey y'all, I've been working for a company in Austin, TX that has been a horrible experience. I just terminated my employment today and they are withholding my final check upon signature of [this](https://www.evernote.com/shard/s414/sh/af45df33-1632-49aa-bf60-ab34486d1f86/17c2ea8d9b594792c25640ef7f3977f5) release agreement.

It seems very weird to me and I would be forever grateful if someone can make any sense of it.

Thanks so much!

Extra link just in case:

https://www.evernote.com/shard/s414/sh/af45df33-1632-49aa-bf60-ab34486d1f86/17c2ea8d9b594792c25640ef7f3977f5

Answer:
 What part of it don't you understand? Nobody here is going to read that entire thing and advise you on it as that would create an attorney/client relationship. You will need to take it to an attorney if you want that level of review.

If you don't want to sign it, don't sign it. They can't legally hold your pay check past the next regular pay check.


Title: [GA] After school daycare gave young kid scissors, he cut up his clothes. Worth asking for compensation?

Question:
So today I picked up my 4 and a half year old and was told there was an incident with some scissors. That after the official school day he was in after care and they were doing a cutting activity. The report said the person in charge turned to help another child and when they turned back my son had cut his hair and some of his shirt. This was an understatement.

When I get him home and took a closer look he has 15 different cuts on his shirt and 20 on his pants. It looks like Edward Scissorhands tried to tickle him. These are nice and sharp edge clean cuts too, so they must have been a decent pair of sharp scissors, not safety scissors. Also he must have been left alone for a decent amount of time to get that many cuts.

I’m amazed and relived that he didn’t cut himself in the process aside from a lock of hair.

Is it worth my time to ask for some replacement value on the clothes? The pants were only a week or two old and I likely can get a receipt. The shirt was a few months old and I can replace it online. Altogether around $40. My wife and I are going to talk to the director tomorrow about why they handed a 4 year old some sharp scissors anyway.

Thanks!

Answer:
 I don’t mean this in a mean way at all, but spend less money on your pre-schooler’s everyday clothing, they are basically feral. I say this as a parent, and I love kids, so please don’t think I’m just being an ass.

I would certainly discuss handing 4 year old scissors sharp enough to cut clothing, and if you don’t get a satisfactory result, consider changing day cares.

However, kids will run their clothes in day to day activity. I got my kids clothing at goodwill at that that age. They really are little monsters. Adorable and worth it, but little monsters none the less.

IANAL, but I really don’t think you have a case here.


Title: Are there websites or apps I can use to get quick answers from legal professionals?

Question: [removed]

Answer: If only there was a Reddit sub that did that. Answer #2: I've been a big fan of yahoo answers for as long as I can remember.


Title: Is this considered as theft?

Question: My mother had two mopeds that were sitting in our garage and that she needed sold.  One of our good family friends (GFF for short) said that he knew a buddy that he could sell them both to for her. Long story short, his buddy came by, picked them up, and from what we know, GFF has gotten paid by buddy. But my mother has yet to recieve any sort of payment. He has facebook messages saying that he does admit that he needs to pay, and after asking my mother, we still have the registration for both of the mopeds. I guess what I am asking is, would I need to go to the police and report this as theft, or what would I do if not this? (IN)

Answer: Not theft. She gave them permission to take them and sell them. It is a civil matter and your mother will have to sue GFF


Title: Soon to be ex husband being investigated by CPS

Question:
I only know this because Cps came to call, the case worker interviewed us and we can keep the children in the home, at this time my soon to be ex is not legally required to leave the house;

Weeks ago Husband was investigated by DHS for sex chatting with a person who may have been a minor. When the person disclosed their minor age he says he discontinued contact. He says DHS declined to pursue further, but  forwarded all info to county.

I have been a stay at home mom for the past decade, I have no income, we have no savings.  We have been readying  our home for sale so we could move to a different state with a really good job my husband had lined up, but i can't imagine that working now. I'm permanently disabled but not collecting any disability income, I don't know where to look to see if I qualify for any kind of assistance.

He says he will divorce in the most amicable way possible, he has been a great dad and our children were already interviewed by Cps and apparently really talked us up.

Washington state

Answer: Ok. What's your legal question? CPS looks into things all the time that's their job. He may or may not have broken the law.Answer #2: If you're disabled, you should seek out your county's Department of Social Services and inquire about applying for SSI and state benefits if available. They will walk you through the process. It may take a while so get started right away. If you are awarded benefits you can potentially get them retroactively from the date of the final decision but only back to when you filed the first application.


Title: Both parents have wrecked my credit score, need to know what course of action to take.

Question:
I was chatting with a friend today about various nonsense when the topic of credit scores came up. She was bragging that after paying off a loan recently, her credit score was somewhere around 750. I was happy for her, and went to go get my own score so I could give her an accurate number. I had checked it previously about a year ago and it was around the same number, 750. When I pulled up my Credit Karma score though, I was met with a very nasty surprise. My score had dropped almost exactly 200 points from 750 to 550. So of course I immediately started to investigate to figure out what had even happened, I wasn't aware of anything that could have negatively impacted it that badly.

&#x200B;

So after doing some digging, making some calls, looking things up on the credit report, I know the two biggest culprits in my lowered score. Firstly, about a year and a half ago, my father used my credit card to put a down payment on a car, without my permission beforehand. He reassured me that the credit card would be paid off in full in three months time, but that has not happened. The card has been pretty close to maxed out, or some months even above its limit, ever since he put down the payment. That's enough to hurt the score on its own, but he's missed payments on it the last two months. He has been paying the minimum every month before that just to keep late fees at bay, but not doing much more than that. The only reason I haven't confronted him about this before now is because he has still been paying it monthly. However, these two missed payments are starting to make me doubt if this is the right course of action. He's told me that when he gets his next check, he's going to put it all into paying off the credit card. I don't actually believe him, because this isn't the first time I've been told such a thing.

&#x200B;

Second, and perhaps most important of the two, is the problem with an unpaid medical bill. The bill is for $150 for some medical service that I don't even recall ever getting, but the problem isn't with the legitimacy of the bill. My mother, who I live with currently along with my father, has been taking bills addressed to me out of my mail and setting them aside without telling me I even got the bills to begin with. When I brought up the bill in question, she told me she knew all about it and again, it was planned that it would be paid when my father got his check. This bill was due to be paid February 12th, exactly 9 months ago. The outstanding balance has resulted in a derogatory mark on my credit, and now I have to deal with it for the next 7 years or so. Her reasoning behind not giving me my bills is that she's "setting them aside so \[they\] can pay them later for \[me\]." This, of course, has lead to a bill being overdue by 9 months that I could have easily paid off myself if I had known about it. She effectively has been stealing mail from me, and now my credit is hurt by that. I also cannot pay off the bill myself right now, both because I am currently unemployed, but also because the bill has been handed off from one collection agency to another and is right now in limbo. I would have no idea who to pay the money to if I were to do it right now.

&#x200B;

So what should I do? What *can* I do? I'm hesitant to pursue legal action against the two of them, because despite all of this they are still my parents, and I do still love them both. Not only that, but I live with them currently and although plans are being worked on for me to move away, right now this is the only home I have. I would rather not burn bridges I am currently standing on, if you understand. So what actions should I take from this point?
Topic:
Other Civil Matters

Answer: Best thing to do is move out if possible. Home life with the parents sounds toxic. The whole credit card for the down payment is a horrible idea even if you had your finances in order. Deal with the medical bill first while maintaining the credit card situation. Make as many calls as you have to and find the collections company holding it. Tell them you are ready to pay but can't pay all of it. They will settle to get something rather than nothing, they do it everyday. Once medical is paid sort out the credit card. I know they are your parents, but family has screwed me over a few times too, including parents. Whether they meant to or not.


Title: I found my stolen moped, but the responding officer couldn't figure out how to check the VIN.

Question:
So, as the title states, my moped was stolen last summer and I reported it immediately on the day it was stolen. I live at the top of a large hill in town and it would be easy enough for someone to wheel it down the driveway and the hill I live on towards downtown. I gave them all the information I had on the moped, including the color which was blue.

&#x200B;

This morning, while walking downtown, I saw a collection of motorcycles and other bikes in a driveway and I decided to check it out to see whether or not any of them looked like my moped and that's when I spotted a dent on the exhaust of one of the mopeds that looked exactly like the same dent on my old one (I have many photos of my old bike due to previous parking disputes out of town). Another odd tidbit is that the ignition was obviously swapped out for another one at some point because the ignition was clearly too small for the original hole in the body. The exterior plastic around the body was also a red, but that would be an easy enough switch to make, and the plates were obviously different.

&#x200B;

So, I called an officer on scene to check it out and she checked the plates and they came back to, what i presume, would be a red moped. She never checked the VIN over the radio as I could hear her and see her looking for it (It was hard to find the VIN on my moped as well and I forgot where it was since it's been so long), and she only checked the plates. But I'm positive that the exhaust on this bike is the same as my moped with the same dent and rust marks (I have photos). Is there any way that I can get the police to check the VIN? Or am I just at the mercy of whatever they feel like checking up on at the time? When I called, I did specifically ask that they check the VIN on the bike as I did not know how to. I'd rather not seem confrontational with an officer and tell her how to do her job, but I don't think she was even able to find the VIN.

Answer: Why didn't you Google where is the vinyl on your model moped?Answer #2: So what are the chances someone stole your moped, and chopped it for parts? For example, taking the exhaust and putting it on another, also potentially stolen, moped?Answer #3: Call for another officer to come.


Title: Neighbor's hedge

Question: My neighbor has a hedge that is growing on their side of the property line, but has significant branches that pass over to my property.  These branches occupy approximately 80 square feet of my backyard and I would like to cut them back to the property line.  I've knocked on the neighbor's door multiple times in an attempt to inform them of my plans.  Today I met their daughter who said the three previous occupants of my house had the same intentions but were stopped by her mother.  She said her mom is not the type I want to have legal trouble with, which I took as quite a threat.  Everything I've read about boundary trees makes it seem like I have the right to trim branches back to the property line.  Does the same hold true for a hedge?  I live in Portland, Oregon.

Answer:
 You can legally trim the hedge on your side, as long as doing so does not damage, or injure the hedge.

As a means to Cya, take photos, and send them with a certified letter, asking her to remedy the situation, include a time-table, stating that if she fails to comply, you will do it yourself.

The letter is not necessary, but if the mother is especially sue happy it won't hurt.


Title: Divorcing wife with no way of contacting her

Question:
Hi everyone! St Louis Missouri here.

I got married in NC and we eventually split. She went to Georgia then I lost contact. New number, I'm blocked on Facebook, I have no way of contacting her.

How do I go about getting a divorce with no way of contacting my wife?

Answer: You follow whatever procedure Missouri Family law has for alternative service. There's a mechanism for each state. The court isn't going to make you stay married to someone just because you can't find them. Either get an attorney to do it for you, or call the clerk's office and ask them how to get started.


Title: [NJ] I was terminated for "theft" but I didn't steal...

Question:
My employment was terminated last week due to their claim that I used a company vehicle without authorization. The thing about it was that I did in fact use the vehicle, and when asked, I said I did. I also asked if there was a problem with it and if I could get in trouble for having done it, HR said she didn't know. I told her that I was told previously it wouldn't be a problem and I could use it. She said "did XXXX (current boss) say you could?" Which I said no. I said it was previous management. She said she would get back to me if they have to do a full investigation.

I then tried to talk to my current manager about it, and he said "we can't talk about it right now. I have to do an investigation. We'll talk about it then".

The next day I was terminated. The approval to use the vehicle was verbal. However, I have a text to the previous manager where I said which vehicle I was going to use, when I was, why, and for how long. To which he replied "got it". To me, that's confirmation of the previous conversation that we had where I had approval. He doesn't work for the company anymore though... he left 2 weeks prior to me actually using it. I know I messed up by not running it by the new manager, but I didn't even think about it because of past approval.

Do I have anywhere to go with this?

Answer:
 File for unemployment. They can certainly fire you for this. Not illegalAnswer #2: Welcome to at-will employment.  See, as long as they're not firing you for a legally protected class (they're not, unless there's something significant you're not mentioning), they can fire you for any reason they want.  It doesn't have to be a good reason, or a correct reason.

However, when filing for unemployment, the fact that you have some evidence of approval will be important.  Theft *is* a reason you can be denied unemployment, so you will want to keep your evidence that you had approval.Answer #3: There's nothing even remotely actionable here. File for unemployment.


Title: Thought I was smart and cautious. Now I've knocked up a girl who can get deported any day. What are the legal ramifications for the child's future?

Question:
Bay Area, CA

This girl I met online came here via a student visa but decided to stay. As of now she has a work visa but she has a court date pending in Aug which will decide if she can file a case for asylum. Apparently she's had many court meetings prior but it seems like it getting closer and closer to the limit.  She's been  here for about 5 years. I've known her for only about 10 months.

We had an "accident". I'm pretty sure the child is mine but I want to push her for a paternity test. Now I can't be completely sure she loves me, maybe just wants the green card but blah blah here's my question:

If I don't choose to marry her, what are the ramification for the child? Does it get sent back with mommy? If it does, what are my legal obligations to this child?

I'm no dead beat, I want a kid, I want to raise that kid right. But I don't want to be bamboozled and fenced and used by someone who may not love me.

Thank you all.

Answer:
 If she is pregnant when a decision is made, the baby will obviously go back with her.

If she has given birth, even if you do not marry her the child will stay, as he is a US citizen.

If you marry her the courts may heavily investigate the marriage, will want to see that you have been involved for a while, probably co-habitating, etc. They want to see that you are in a mutually exclusive relationship.

So, no matter what she is at risk for being deported, a moderate risk. Having a child and a husband who are US citizens MAY help her case, but you said she stayed past her student visa? That's a 5 year ban I believe.

You don't need to be her husband to be a good father. If she is bamboozling you, then she may decide to divorce and clean you out. Establish paternity. If it isn't yours, walk away. If it is yours, you seem like you really want to be in the kids life, but depending on your living situation you may not be considered the best fit for the child.

Either way, prepare for her to be deported.


Title: [FL] Hostile work environment/workplace bullying. Not against the law but....EEOC violation?

Question:
Using a throwaway for the obvious reasons.

I used to work for a major financial services company here in Florida.  I started off as a contractor and was hired on as a permanent employee after about 3.5 months (hire date: 8/30/13).  I worked in a large department, but on a very small team (3 people including me).  One of my teammates was the most knowledgable and had been in the department since it's inception.

He was a jackass.  He trained me but would only give me half the answer and when I'd go back to ask for the rest of the info, he'd roll his eyes at me, mutter under his breath and give me 25% of the remaining information.  He would then email others in the department, including my best friend who sat next to me, about what an idiot I was.

This really bothered me.  I went to my supervisor and she just said "Oh we know he's that way....." But never did anything about it.  I sought out counseling utilizing my insurance and the company sponsored EAP benefits.  They also had a stress management program that included after hours phone counseling every two weeks.  What I'm trying to say is that I sought help on my own dime and time to deal with the nastiness.  And it worked.

Until....September 20, 2014.  My aforementioned best friend was in a small group of people (5 or 6 people) who went to lunch with him. She came back and told me --after some prodding about what was wrong--that asshole had spent the entire lunch telling everyone there that (verbatim) I was a horrible employee, I should be fired, he didn't know how I was ever hired, if it were up to him I'd be gone.......

I immediately went to my supervisor.  She told me "I don't know if this is something I can or should do anything about..." (WTF kind of response is that?) and she never pursued it further.  She did tell me that he has never told her any of those things (yeah, like he would....).

Over the next six weeks, he was very passive-aggressive with me.  Please note that he never said any of the horrible nasties to my face, only behind my back to other members of my department.

On November 18, 2014 I had had enough and went to HR (mistake) and filed a formal complaint against this farkwit.  They promised to investigate.  (At this point, my direct supervisor was out on maternity leave and we were being supervised by the person who hired asshole and went out for drinks with him regularly.)  On November 20, I went into the replacement supervisor's office to ask a question. Moshe told me to go to asshole and ask him.  I told her he had created a hostile work environment and I was extremely uncomfortable asking him even what time of day it was.  I also told her I had filed a formal complaint with HR (2nd mistake but bigger than the first, tho I didn't know it then).  Here eyes got HUGE and she's was all "Oh I don't think that's necessary."  I told her it was too late, it was already done.

On November 21, I saw asshole going in and out of her office frequently, to the exclusion of getting his assigned work done.  My radar at that point went on high alert.  I knew something was up.

I came in to work on Monday, November 24, worked for 1.5 hours and was called down to HR where I was promptly fired.

As of that date, the company had not even started their investigation and had no intention of doing so.  I informed them I would be consulting an attorney because I felt I was being fired unjustly, for filing a workplace bullying complaint against their precious snowflake (I didn't use those words tho).  They assured me that wasn't the case, I was being fired because I had been on probation once (it was completely unrelated to the alleged reasons for terminating me but the company has a policy that once you are it on probation for *any* reason it gives carte blanche for them to fire you for any reason in the future, warning was not necessary cuz heel, you've already been on probation for *something*).

I felt then, and still do today, that my termination was a direct result of the complaint.  I feel it was inappropriate to ask my bullier to gather evidence against me I order to fire me...I couldn't even refute their evidence!  Some of it was wrong, but that didn't matter.  They had made their decision and I was gone.

I consulted an attorney and he said because workplace bullying was not illegal here in Florida, I didn't have a case.  The timing is just too suspect.  Four business days after the complaint was filed, and 1.5 working days after my acting supervisor became aware of it, I was fired.

Does this sound like a hostile workplace complaint that the EEOC might want to take a look at?  In an ideal world, I'd like my job back, but barring that, I'd at least like some form of compensation (my end of year bonus and 401 employer match which was fairly significant along with some severance) and I'd like the results of the investigation.  They promised to send me the results (I have that promise in writing).

I know the investigation took place because several of my former co-workers contacted me and told me they were called down and told everything they knew.  Shortly after the investigation was concluded, asshole was transferred to a satellite office in Orlando and I strongly suspect this was because three of my former co-workers told HR they also felt bullied by asshole.

There were many other things that happened that contributed to what I feel was a hostile work environment but these are the BIG ones.

Thanks for reading.  I know this is long but I didn't want to leave anything relevant out.

Answer: Nothing you described is a hostile work environment in the legal sense. Move on and look for a new job.


Title: Items stolen from the house I rent, I suspect maintenance people from rental company. Won't let me change the locks myself.

Question:
Hey! I'm not sure if anyone here can help me with this.

I live in Lexington, KY, and items (including a firearm) have been stolen over a period of time from the place I am renting. At first it was things easy to explain away, but the firearm and a couple of other items convinced me that there is someone with a key.

There is only one door into the place, the windows are well secured with screens that would need to be bent and torn up to even get to them.

I have a case number and am in the process of getting that police report.

My rental company is telling me that the have to change the locks and retain a copy of the key. My worry is that this will be fruitless if it is a member of their company. It's a large rental business with lots of properties and a lot of people with access to those keys for maintenance reasons.

The problem is it IS in the lease that I cannot change the locks myself, and that they need to retain a key. Is this enforceable? Is there anything I can do? Thanks in advance.

I've googled for rental law in Lexington KY but cannot find specifics.

Answer:
 > The problem is it IS in the lease that I cannot change the locks myself, and that they need to retain a key. Is this enforceable?

Yes, absolutely.  The landlord has various rights to entry, including for emergencies.  You can't permanently lock out your landlord.

You also have no specific evidence that the landlord or his maintenance people are responsible.  You have a guess; that's it.

Your smart move would be to allow the change, then install security cameras to see what's going on.


Title: My driver's license was scanned when I tried to vote and a different person's name showed up and I wasn't allowed to vote. What should I do? TX

Question: So this just happened, and I'm not really sure what to so next. I looked online and haven't found anything, I'm not sure if it's identity theft or just a weird mistake with DPS printing my license.

Answer:
 well the most important thing is to go back and get yourself a provisional ballot and vote.

You can see about rectifying your license later, but today you gotta vote.Answer #2: Call these numbers as soon as possible:

Election Protection Hotline - Call (866) OUR-VOTE or Text "Our Vote" to 97779

Justice Department Voting Rights Hotline - (800) 253-3931

Have you already left your polling place? If you have, please go back and ask for a provisional ballot. You have the right to vote. Don't let them tell you otherwise.Answer #3: Go back with another form of ID (passport), or ask for a provisional ballot

Then go to DPS and tell them your ID is not scanning correctly.Answer #4: https://www.votetexas.gov/your-rights/

Report a possible voting rights abuse to the Secretary of State (1.800.252.8683) or to your local election official.Answer #5: Ask for a provisional ballot and a receipt.  Answer #6: Just to repeat. Go back. Get a provisional ballot. Sort everything else out later but make sure you cast a provisional ballot today. https://www.votetexas.gov/your-rights/ Answer #7: If you have a passport go back with that.


Title: Texas resident: Can I file bad faith small claim in court against current tenants for with holding security deposit?

Question: Me and an old roommate are trying to get our deposit back from the house we left. Because one of the original tenant renewed the lease, our deposit remains with the house, and apparently the landlord has legal ground to keep it that way until the house is empty. To that effect, we may never get a deposit back from the land lord. In effect, we’d have to “work something out” with the current tenants about getting our deposit back, which the current tenants are unwilling to do because they’re dickheads. The tenant who’s orchestrating this whole fiasco got signed onto the lease by his brother, who basically went around our backs to get him signed, 3 days before our lease was up. The landlord didnt know and didn’t care. He just wants to be paid. So now, the new tenants can get new roommates using our security deposit for the house, which is wrong. I don’t want to be liable for the current tenants skipping rent or breaking stuff in the house. Do we have grounds for act of bad faith in small claims court? What are the chances we’d get our deposit back? Any other advice is appreciated. Thanks..

Answer:
 Good news: as long as your name was on the old lease and not on the new lease, you're entitled to your SD back. You might have to sue both your old roomie and the LL to get it, unfortunately.

If the lease with your name on it ended and you haven't signed a new lease, then the landlord owes you original tenants the old security deposit back. If the tenant who is staying over wants to apply his portion of the returned SD to his new lease, that's a separate issue.

The LL doesn't just get to roll over the security deposit. He must return it within 30 days of the previous lease ending, minus things like damage to the property. Relevant laws here: [http://texaspropertycode.org/chapter-92-texas-property-code.html#92-103](http://texaspropertycode.org/chapter-92-texas-property-code.html#92-103) If he fails to return it in bad faith, you can sue for triple damages.

If the tenant who is staying over tries to keep the entire returned SD then you have to sue him as well. You might reach out to your local tenant's rights organization for logistical help since there are multiple parties involved. (Edit: words)


Title: I am separated from my wife and she got pregnant by another man. What steps should I take?

Question:
Background:

So my wife and I have started the divorce process.  We have been separated for over 2 years and she moved to a different state.  We are really good friends and we co parent very well. Just not good as partners.  When we filed the divorce paperwork she didnt ask for any of my stuff, or money or military retirement. Basically just we go our own ways with our own stuff.  The only reason we havent finalized is due to busy work schedules and neither of us plan on getting remarried.  She still keeps my military health insurance as well.

So onto the baby:

She has been wanting another child for the last year or so by a man she has been dating and she found out today she is 18 weeks pregnant.  She is super excited and I guess I'm happy for her.  Until I started reading that she could put me as the child's father.  I dont think she would ever do it, but I still want to protect myself from a headache down the road.

Has anyone been in a similar situation, or have advice?

Answer:
 Depending on the state, she  may not have an option. The husband is the presumed father and automatically listed; and can only be changed by the husband or bio father petitioning to challenge the paternity after birth.

Tricare will still cover her prenatal care and the L&D; but they won't cover any of the care for the child once it is born; which can be significant if there is NICU time.Answer #2: If you already have a divorce attorney, call them first thing Monday morning. If not, you need one even more urgently now than before.Answer #3: This just got a whole lot more complicated. You're probably not getting a divorce before the child is born but that's something to confirm with your attorney.  Hopefully she will put the true father on the birth certificate.Answer #4: Paternity test will prove you’re not the child’s father. If she ends up putting you down on the birth certificate, you’ll need to request one to prove otherwise.


Title: [EU, NL]Buying laptop but installing Ubuntu, are they allowed to void my warranty?

Question:
Thinking about buying a HP laptop, I don't like windows so I'll be installing Ubuntu, I almost never use the standard OS on my devices.

My mom (I should mention I'm only 13) is worried about it voiding the warranty, I'm not worried since this only affects software and I know my shit about this, *I'm also not scared of staying on the line for hours reading law articles to the HP help desk and pressuring them and threathening to go to court.* ***/s***

I've read up about these things and came across this:

* If the manufacturer can not prove the defect was a flaw of the user they can't void the warranty.
* It is illegal to void warranty over bootloader unlocking unless they can prove doing this destroyed the phone.  (That's on Android, but I presume the same laws apply to phones as laptops.)

&#x200B;

Are these true, both need the manufacturer to prove it, which they can't do in my case? I've also read of there being a seperate warranty for Software and Hardware, if I'm installing Ubuntu it will void the Software warranty (Reasonable since the Help desk isn't trained for it and it never got tested).

&#x200B;

TLDR: Buying laptop, installing propiaritary OS, can they *legally* void my warrany?

Answer:
 No. HP is not required to support Ubuntu, but they can't void your hardware warranty for installing it.

Aside from that, I don't think HP cares what software you install on it in the first place. They don't have any real incentive to restrict the OS you use.


Title: Landlord/Tenant drug paraphernalia

Question: Hey guys I'm from Utah, and me and my roommate just moved out of an apartment complex a couple weeks ago.  Well our landlord showed up while we were gone to clean the carpets, but we were still in the process of moving so a lot of stuff was everywhere.  And we had a bong and pipe on the counter which he saw, so he said he will be taking money out of the security deposit for drug paraphernalia.  If there was no damage caused by them, can he legally keep some money from the deposit?

Answer:
 No he cannot, unless the lease specifically spells-out a fee for drug paraphernalia use/items on the property.

He can however report you to the police if owning drug paraphernalia is illegal in your jurisdiction.


Title: [IL] Responded to ad on craigslist to be someone's personal assistant. Looked the man up and he was convicted of fraud. He and his company do not have a website. Am I in danger?

Question:
Hi all,

The title summarizes the situation well. I'm 19 years old and a student home for the summer looking for college work. I responded to an ad on craigslist to be this guy's personal assistant. After talking to him through email, he mentioned I would be getting paid $600 a week. It's mostly running errands for him and occasionally talking to clients. I have yet to meet him as he is "out of town".

Now on to the fishy stuff (besides the pay). His email is just a bunch of random letters. He sent me a google form to fill out as my "application" which summarized what I would be doing. When I google his name and the company he "works" for, nothing comes up. When I google his company, a website pops up, but on the bottom it says they're a LLC, which is strange because on the application form it says they're an Inc. (not sure if that means anything). When I google the second group he has listed (____ associates) another google form pops up with a different name and a completely different body of text, but same pay and same general ideas. He has the same company and associates group.

Now for the really fishy stuff. I found a court document that  shows he was convicted of securities fraud. They have the same name and the age listed makes sense for how old he said he is currently. He also did something with municipal bonds and tricking investors.

Lastly, he just texted me and told me he has a check on the way to me (should be here today). My first "task" is to post an add on craigslist with the money.

Anyway, this dude is fishy as shit. I don't really care as long as I can't get in any trouble. But that's why I'm here. Could depositing checks he sent me and running errands for him (like delivering packages) get me in any trouble? He has no idea I am suspecting him of anything and our emails and texts don't show that at all. Would I be fine if anything went down? Please let me know. As a student, $600 a week is crazy for menial work. But of course, easy money is usually not easy.

Answer:
 It is a scam. Crazy common scam

No one makes 2400 a month mailing things for others.

And the check is a fake and will bounce.

Common sense is needed here. Easy money is not a real thing

I would bet if you googled Craig's list scams this would be at the top


Title: Roommate threatening to sue on racism grounds

Question: I let a guy stay in my spare room (without any agreement or lease with him) but he started being too loud and kept the whole place really bad. I politely asked him to leave citing some personal reasons, he started threatening me to sue me on grounds of racism since he's of different color. I am dumbfounded, I am the sole lessee of the place. Does he have a legal case here? What can I do to get him out?

Answer:
 Racism is irrelevant.

If your friend lived you for long enough, they are a tenant whether their name is on the lease or not, so you have to get them out legally by giving notice, etc.

If your friend moved in only a few days ago, no such niceties apply.

So, how long ago did your roommate move in, and what state do you guys live in?


Title: Girl has been stalking me I need to know if I should take her to court.

Question:
I was told to post this here to ask for advice.

This all started about three or four months ago, I started dating again after me and my ex of three years broke up from distance. I started seeing this girl lets call her Rachel. Things between us were ok at best, I was not crazy about her as she was for me. After a few weeks me and my ex (lets call her CJ) decided to get back together(we had been talking the entire time she knew about Rachel I knew about her fling)she decided to move to Texas to be with me and go to school.

So me and CJ got back together and I tried to break it off with Rachel. This is when I knew I was going to have many problems with Rachel. I met her at a local Mexican food restraint I told her I could not see her anymore. I was honest with her I told her about CJ how I love her and she moved across America to be with me. Calmly Rachel told me that if I end our relationship she would kill herself. At first I was taken off by this I tried to talk to her telling her that suicide isn't the answer for anything. Without missing a beat she told me I was everything to her, and leaving her would destroy her enough that she would kill herself. After hearing that I tried to tell her otherwise that there will be other guys but she didn't care so I paid and left.

The next day I called CJ told her what was going on, she told me just to text her tell her its over and she wont ever see me again. When CJ told me to do this in my head it sounded like a good idea, so I texted Rachel and said "sorry but its over I hope everything works out for you". I tried to be as nice as possible but sending the message that I don't want to see her anymore. She replied with a picture of her cutting herself. Ten or so minutes went by and i got another picture, she cut an "A" in her arm and said it was for me. I freaked out, I blocked her number as fast as i could.

A week or so went by I had not heard anything from Rachel. CJ had moved into her place and was settling in, I was over at her place all the time. I live with my mom because I'm a poor college student. Well I was over at CJ's and it was around midnight when i recived a text from my mom. She asked me to come home because she thought someone tried to break in. I thought it was strange but I love my mom so I came back, I didn't see anything or anyone and just went to bed.

When I woke up I asked my mom what had happened. She told me she heard someone creeping around tossing rocks at windows to get inside. Hearing that made my stomach sink I thought to myself there's no way Rachel is that crazy to come to my house. My mom ended up getting cameras outside her house, and if Rachel didn't creep you out before well this is it. Rachel had come to my house around 2am three times a week and just looked at my house. When I saw this I could not believe this was happening to me, or even in real life.

At this point I went to the police talked to them they told me that I could get a restraining order with what I had showed them. I decided to not get the restraining order, looking back I have no idea why I did not try and get one. I talked to CJ about it, I was more scared that Rachel would try something with her not with me. CJ thought I should have gotten the restraining order I explained I think she would back off because if she was actually stalking me she would know I went to the cops. I was wrong the next morning I saw her at school and she told me that I should come back to her that she is so much better than CJ. She said God wanted us to be together, I told her it wasn't happening IT WAS NEVER HAPPENING. She started to cry and walked away I thought it was over.

I had not heard from Rachel until today, I was coming home from school and she was there at my house waiting for me. She told me that she was going to say that I raped her. We had never had sex in the first place but she said she was telling people that I had raped her and I would go to jail for destroying her life.
I don't have a ton of proof that she has been stalking me, but this is were I need advice. Should I take Legal action on her she seems very troubled and I feel really bad for her back shes trying to bring me down and I can't deal with it.
TL;DR Had a stalker not sure if i should take legal action.

Answer:
 IANAL, but it seems to me that you're only course of action should be to go back to the police, and get that restraining order.

You can't really take her to court for anything, you can only report the stalking and threats to the police and let them handle it.


Title: Why is Los Angeles so violent?

Question: I love LA. But there's so many gangs, so many drugs, so many shootings,  so many stabbings, so many fights, so many robberies. Why?

Answer:
 ...because it's a large city?

And LA does not even rate in the top THIRTY cities by violent crime rate.  So I think I dispute your premise.


Title: School shady as fuck.

Question:
Aight so I've been going to alternative school for a year or so now, and this place is sketch as fuck. Alternative school is where they put all the kids that have behavior issues. I'm in alternative school, because I was sleeping in class, and not getting along with people.

Alt school is a repository for all the kids that the normal school system has given up on. Also everybody I go to class with lives at the school, because it doubles as a jail/juvenile detention center.

Anyways. I've been going there for a year or so, and I'm so goddamned done with this shit.

I got moved to a new classroom 2 weeks ago cause I got into a fight with another student, and now I'm in a room with the dudes that actually live there. Anyways theres 2 teachers in the new room, and I only know 1 of them. 1 of them is my old teacher, and 1 of them is an intern.

The intern is borderline mental. 27 year old fratboy dumbass who will fuck with you all day long, and when you get mad he goes "WOE BRO IM JUST MESSIN WITH YA CALM DOWN!". The other day I was sitting down doing my work, and Captain fedora walks up, and says "Hey Arv...Do you know what the capital of thailand is?" I said "Nah man I dont" He yells "BANGCOCK!", and then punches me in the balls as hard as he possibly could.

He does shit like this to everybody in the classroom, and most of the people in there just let it go, but every once in a while somebody gets pissed off at him. Today I was talking to my buddy outside while everybody else was playing basketball, and I swear a lot when I talk. Just in normal conversation, and not even on purpose its just how I talk. I'm talking to my buddy, and the intern tells me to stop cussing. I say alright, but a few minutes later I said fuck by accident, and he got up, got a football, and threw it at me as hard as he could. He picked up the football, sat across from me, and said everytime I cussed he was going to throw the damn ball at me.

Like I said. I don't cuss on purpose it's just how I talk, so I ended up slipping up a few more times, and he threw the ball at me a few more times trying to hit me in the dick, or head with it. On the way back to the classroom he asked me if I just said "fuck" to my friend in line. I said I did, and he walks over to me, and punches me in the fuckin balls as hard as he can. I kind of laugh it off with my friend, but this guy is seriously getting on my nerves at this point.

We get back into the classroom, and I sit down, and he tells the other teacher I was cussing. I told her he was punching me, and shit, but of course he was "just playing". He looked at me, and denied hitting me in the first place, and I just looked at him, and said "Are you for fuckin real man?". He says "I thought you learnt your lesson about cussin" I say "Apparently I fuckin didn't, because I still am" He starts gettin mad, and yelling at me saying he will "knock the shit out of me again" if I don't shut up. I ended up just walking out of the room, and sitting in the hall til my ride got there.

I know this is long as fuck, and probably missing a few pieces, so lets just recap.

TL:DR 27 Year old teacher aid threatens/punches/fucks with me (15yo guy), because I was cussing in class, and he regularly fucks with people in the classroom. Gets away with it, because he's "just playing" even though I made it pretty obvious I wasn't in the mood to deal with his shit. What are my legal options?

Edit: Oh yeah, and I forgot to mention all the shady/bizzare shit that goes down at this school besides the intern/manbaby.

1. They have put people in solitary confinement (Safespace) for weeks at a time before.

2. A friend of mine was sentenced to 6 months of jail there for TRUANCY!

3. The school has conducted random drug tests before. No warrant no probable cause no nothing, and if you refuse to take the drug test then it counts as a fail. Bye bye 4th/5th amendment rights.

4. Because the school is also a jail I'm in a room with guys who have commited real crimes, so between the violent criminals, and the intern I am always an inch within danger.

5. Cells in the jailhouse are the size of a broom closet. Theres a bunk bed, a dresser, a toilet, and thats it. Also theres plenty of petty offenders being forced into conditions like this, because something sketchy as hell is going on here. I mean they have a guy living there now for the next 6 months, for truancy...

Is this shit legal? What do I do?

Answer:
 I'm not going to even touch on your alternative school set up, but I will tell you that an adult has no right to lay their hands on you for any reason. What you have described is awful and shouldn't happen to any child, "lost cause" or not. Talk to your parents or a trusted adult. Are there school counselors? A favorite teacher? The administration needs to know about this. This adult needs to be taken out of the school system. Try not to let your anger get the best of you when you tell your parents or the school administration. You have a right to be angry because what you have described is child abuse. Whether or not you're labelled a delinquent you do not deserve to be treated this way.

I love cussing, but there is a time and place for it. School and work are not those places. Try to clean up your language. By no means do you deserve stuff thrown at you for saying fuck, but it's not appropriate in class.


Title: Left my company. 2 different people from HR told me I shouldn't buy my stock options because they would likely be worth nothing. 5 months later they're worth something.

Question:
I left my old company 5 months ago. I had ~5k vested stock options and before I left the office I was asking HR about how I could buy them. I was told they would likely be worthless and I shouldn't buy them. I thought it was strange HR would tell me that, so I followed up with an email to someone else at HR again asking how to buy my options. I ended up getting a response of "Here's how you can buy them (...) but I would recommend not because there's a good chance they'll be worthless".

I wasn't very familiar with how stock options work, so I trusted their advice and passed on buying them. Fast forward 5 months to now, and I got a text from one of my friends still at the company. The company was just bought out and that company is buying out everyone's stock. I would have made ~7k if I had bought my options.

I'm mostly just kicking myself for not buying them, but was it legal for someone operating on behalf of my old company to tell me that I shouldn't buy the stock? I always thought it felt kinda strange, but I have no idea if it was alright for them to do that. I live in Massachusetts.

Answer:
 Lesson learned: don't take investment advice from human resources.  Sorry that you missed out.Answer #2: Adulthood is an awesome and frightening time for a young person who is leaving the bosom and protection of their parents. You get to stay up as late as you want and eat whatever you want when you want. But you also need to pay rent and buy groceries. The trade offs are worth it though.

Sometimes when you are an adult you make choices that are the wrong choice. For example when your mummy gave you an ice cream cone and it fell over to the ground, chances are that mummy bought you a new one, kissed your forehead and everything was awesome. There difference as an adult is that mummy doesn't buy you a new cone, you go without the cone.

As an adult you had a chance to make a decision. Do I exercise the option to buy the stock or not. HR thought that was a bad move to buy it. You chose not to. But you worked for the company, you knew if it was good or bad. And you had the opportunity to speak to anyone else you chose. And you didn't. You made an adult decision. And it might have been the wrong one. Live with your decision. Don't blame it on the HR people it was completely your decision. Time to put on your big boy/girl pants and grow up.


Title: Boss bullied me for my adderall, have texts of him asking for it. had to transfer 150 miles away from my home to get away

Question:
I'm from Indiana.

So I hope I'm not breaking any rules here, as I'm a bit desperate and just looking for advice.

The boss in question got me this job about 1.5 years ago. Logistics desk job, nothing too crazy.  I did a good job, until about 4-5 months in my boss learned that I was prescribed to the (often abused) medication Adderall.

He took me in the conference room for a face-to-face meeting where he asked me for 'a few'.  I was scared and didn't want to lose my job, just wanted to keep everything on cruise control, so I foolishly said ok.

After that, he kept asking.  Almost EVERY DAY.  For 2 months he kept hounding me for adderall, and if I didn't give it to him he would treat me like total shit.  I have texts of him telling me to 'step the fuck up' etc. because I wasn't giving him adderall.

I got fed up and didn't want to ruin his and my career, so I put in for a transfer citing his extreme temper and fits of rage and constant yelling and name calling.  The company granted my transfer request.  I never mentioned the adderall.

I transferred 150 miles from home which was never the plan, leading me to have great personal stress and eventually losing my job 6 months later.  I applied for unemployment and was blocked by my previous employer.

I know I would have been fine had I been able to stay where I was originally employed, but I couldn't handle being berated or bullied out of the medication that helps me keep me life on track.

What are my options?

Answer:
 You took a transfer; you could have quit or reported his behavior to HR/his boss.

What options are you looking for? Nobody forced you to transfer anywhere.


Title: [MD / DE] Friend is asking for a loan, advice?

Question:
This will be my first ever submission on Reddit, so I apologize in advance for any formatting errors.

Okay, now I've watched enough daytime "Judge" shows to know this can be a terrible idea, but I would like /r/legaladvice's view on things, and to clear up a couple of questions:
The basic gist of it is that my friend is attempting to finance the down payment on a new house. Because whoever is handling his mortgage wants him debt free for this, he can't take out loans or cosign for anything. However, since my credit rating is miles above his, he wants me to take out a $7,000 loan in my name, but he'll make the payments on it.

I know it's super sketchy as it is, but my main question is: If I write up a contract stating that while I have taken out the loan, he is the one responsible for it, how enforceable is that? If he refuses to pay for it, can I sue him for the remainder of the balance, or am I stuck with it because the loan was in my name? I just don't want to be stuck with something that, while technically mine, shouldn't be my responsibility. Also, another concern of mine is that I'm going to be starting my own small business soon, and I'm hesitant to see if the SBA will nail me to a wall for having outstanding loans.

In return for taking out the loan in his name, he's giving me a TV and computer, and is allowing me to use the home-office for the aforementioned small business; incorporating is cheaper in DE than it is in MD, so that certainly sweetened the pot for me.

In case the location bot doesn't pick things up, I'm in MD and he's in DE.

Thank you very much for any advice you're willing to offer me, I find myself stuck in a crossroads.

EDIT 20Jun15, 1345EST: I want to thank everyone for the awesome advice I was given about this, I didn't expect such a quick turnaround to this question! As it stands, I'm not going to take the loan out for him, because it puts me in too much financial jeopardy and it's just way too much of a risky situation. Thanks again, I really appreciate it!
Topic:
Contracts

Answer:
 Sure, you can draw up a contract that specifies that you're loaning him $7,000 and that he agrees to pay you back.  It's enforcable, if properly written.  You could certainly sue him if he didn't pay, and you could probably win.

However, there are *many* problems here:

1.  Your friend is basically broke.  Broke to the point that his mortage company refuses to loan him another dime.  He's going to be significantly house-poor.  That makes the chances of him paying you back very small.

2.  Even if you sue and win, if he's broke, you can't get blood out of a stone.  If he's broke, his other creditors will sue him, and you'll go to the back of the pack.

3.  You will still owe money to the bank, regardless of any other agreements, and regardless of his payments.

4.  Every time I've gotten a mortgage, the mortgage company has wanted documentation of the source of my funds.  A sudden $7,000 windfall will need to be explained.  And unless you lie, which is really frigging stupid, it'll come out that he has a loan payable to you.  Which means he likely won't get the mortgage.

If you do this, plan to kiss that $7,000 goodbye.  Sign all the contracts you want, sue all you want, but it's very likely you'll be out this cash plus all of the interest on the loan.


Title: Dad got a "temperament tested" rescue dog. Dog was clearly abused & attacked my daughter. Rescue took dog back to rehome. (MD/WV)

Question:
UPDATE: within minutes of posting this, my daughter came in with a face swollen from eye down into neck, and in severe pain. She has been admitted to the local hospital for iv treatment of a fast-moving cellulitis infection. I saw someone below brought up the Dunbar bite scale, and my dad will be following up with his animal control in MD, the local animal control in wv, and the rescue itself with a copy of the Dunbar bite scale, and documentation of her bite. Thank you all for your advice. We are more concerned about her cute face right now than the dog, but do NOT want this to happen to another child. This mama is worried.

Bonus pic of the damage (fair warning, it's gnarly): http://i.imgur.com/PMU6aNZ.jpg

My Dad, MD, got a rescue dog from a private adoption society in WV. Adoption society said they knew little of his history, except he had been spirited from SC to WV for private adoption, as he was set for death at a shelter in SC. The dog was advertised on PetFinder and listed as temperament tested, and the rescue society stated during his interview that the dog was well-adjusted, had no behavioral issues, and was ok around people, dogs, and cats, and had obviously been a house dog because it was potty trained, and knew what the front/back doors are for. Listed as a bulldog/corgi mix.

Upon bringing the dog home two and a half weeks ago, he immediately began using a trainer, to help the dog with adjustment and teach basic commands. He had two training sessions to give basic training advice and last Saturday the trainer spent an hour and a half with the dog and me/Dad, stated he had clearly been used in some sort of dog fighting (which I could also see) as he had hairless scars on his face, inner thigh, and lots of rips in one ear. Trainer gave lots of detailed advice on what to work on, how to approach "recovery" since the dog is uncontrollable upon seeing other dogs - Dad figured that out as soon as he began trying to walk him, and the dog adopts a fighting stance and freezes whenever it can even smell another dog around the block.

Upon meeting my daughter (10yo) Wednesday evening, the dog was great, although Dad was very mindful as this was the first child he had been around, and went through the introduction steps trainer had taught. However, he did not take crazy precautions like a muzzle because as far as he knew, the dog had been temperament tested. The dog was friendly and outgoing, no anxiety like licking lips, yawning, shaking, staring straight ahead which would indicate it was overwhelmed and needed a break. Our kids have been raised around numerous dogs and know the basic rules of don't stare in the eye/don't approach face-to-face/don't grab food or pet while eating, etc. After half an hour, the dog suddenly leaped from a sitting position up into her face and bit. At the time, she was standing to the side of the dog, petting it on the head & praising it for having completed a "sit" command. She had a 2-in long severe laceration from beside her nose down to the bow of her top lip that completely penetrated her face so we could see her teeth through her lip, which required plastic surgery at Johns Hopkins. We will return in 2ish months for further cosmetic surgery depending on how the healing & scar progresses.

From the moment that happened, the dog's behavior completely changed. It immediately began pooping & peeing in its own cage, and unpredictably growling and snapping at any human other than my Dad (I say unpredictably because it really acted like cats do sometimes.. allowing you to pet, showing its belly, leaning against you for affection and then suddenly snapping with NO warning), and it also attacked a neighbor dog immediately upon being near it (neighbor had brought his dog over to meet it, since his dog is very submissive & he thought it would be a good "first friend" for the rescue dog).

Dad's contract states that if he cannot keep the dog, he is legally obligated to return it to the same rescue that he got it from. Is there anything he can do to protect himself? He is very concerned that this dog is going to be rehomed with no mention of its issues, as the aggression/fear it has towards other dogs was evident the moment it even saw another dog with him, as well as the aggression/fear it has towards humans. The rescue had five other dogs in the home, but now he realizes that when they had him interview & bond with his dog, it was in the back yard & an area of the house completely away from the other dogs. His/our worry is that he can be liable when (not if, WHEN) the dog harms another dog or person, because he returned the dog. He was very clear and showed the foster pictures of the damage it did to my daughter, and submitted a written statement documenting all the issues he noticed when the dog suddenly changed, to the director of the rescue. Director did not respond in any way. Can he be liable in any way for what the dog does next?

TL;DR because that got long: Dad got a rescue, adoption society did not disclose dog's temperament issues, dog attacked my daughter requiring surgery, and then attacked another dog (all within 12 hours), Dad is contractually obligated to return dog to the same rescue for rehoming. Could he be liable for the dog's next attack, or is there a way to protect himself?

Answer:
 Was the bite reported to animal control?

Answer #2: IANAL, I'm a vet. There is quite a bit of science regarding temperament testing in dogs. The results show that those tests don't do a very good job at predicting aggressive behavior towards humans in that the best of them are only about 50% sensitive. Hence, a passed temperament test is not exactly a guarantee that no aggressive behavior will occur and should definitely not be presented as such.Answer #3: I feel bad for everybody and animal in this situation.


Title: Could I face repercussions for making my coworkers aware of the National Labor Relations Act and their legal right to discuss their wages? (MO)

Question:
I've been working for a bank for about a year now and while I don't plan on staying much longer, there's one thing I feel obligated to do before I go.

When I received a $0.20 raise last December, one of the managers told me that I need to keep my wage to myself and that "discussing salary is a fireable offense" which immediately sent up red flags in my head. I knew for a fact that this was a blatant lie, employees cannot be terminated for discussing compensation because it's a bargaining power they were granted a long time ago and thats been protected by section 7 of the National Labor Relations Act (NRLA).

I know that if they've been telling me this, they've told my coworkers as well, and while I haven't been able to determine if this was a company wide rule that's been silently passed down through branches or if it's something my manager alone uses to keep her employees in place and give her more power with her department's budget, I want everyone else to know that this "rule" is bullshit and they are the only ones who lose out by not discussing their compensation amongst themselves.

This morning I've begun printing section 7 of the NLRA as well as an attorney web source that breaks it down into layman's terms and explicitly states that employees cannot be fired for discussing their salaries. My plan is to hang them with the state mandated "Workers Rights" posters that are hung in all of the break rooms. I just want to know, can I face repercussions if someone finds out that I'm the one doing this? I intend to do this anonymously but I want to make sure I wont face serious consequences if I am somehow caught. Thank you in advance.
Topic:
Business Law

Answer: Just for your employment. If they're smart about how they do it, it'll be difficult to prove illegal retaliation


Title: [Ireland] [Contract] My employer wants to deduct 35 hrs of “training” from me if I quit within 6 months.

Question:
I started full time work in a café in Dublin two weeks ago. Today my employer gave me a contract stating that if I quit within 6 months employment they will deduct 35 hrs worth of wages from me to cover training. (I let them know I was only going to work for the summer in my interview).

The problem is I was only “trained” for two hours, without pay, and began serving customers the next day just like any employee.

My questions are:

Does anyone know what legally constitutes employee training?

and

Is it legal for an employer to offer this as a condition of employment? (I imagine so) What happens if I refuse the contract?

Answer:
 Don't know much about EU law but that would be illegal as hell in the US.

There is an employment board/commission you can talk to.


Title: Work won't allow time off due to "under-staff"

Question:
In February, I'm trying to take some time off after working at my company for 3+ months. However, my manager said we can't take time off due to "being under staff" despite we have a near full staff. I plan on calling him tomorrow and making an excuse if my boss won't allow it.

However, a month back he allowed a coworker of ours take more than a week off, yet continues to say I'm not allowed to. I do believe company's allow employees to leave on what's called "bereavement leave", and in my culture, we spend a week mourning our losses and attend temple to pray.

Is he allowed to deny me of this even under my family and cultural beliefs, or do this or can I report this to HR?
Topic:
Employment Law

Answer:
 >  I do believe company's allow employees to leave on what's called "bereavement leave", and in my culture, we spend a week mourning our losses and attend temple to pray.

This sounds much like you're planning to lie and say you have a funeral in order to take pre-planned time off.  Don't do that.  That's going to get you fired, with cause.  Answer #2: Don't you think they'll be smart enough to know you didn't have a family member that conveniently died after you've been requesting time off?


Title: Got a speeding ticket while delivering pizza from a cop parked on a sidewalk in a residential area.

Question:
I live in Massachusetts (US) and was delivering pizza yesterday when I was caught on radar doing 42 in a 25 mph zone. This is my first ever speeding ticket in my 5 years of having my license (Im 20 years old). I did however, have an accident going about 10mph 3 months after I got my license. Was looking back while accelerating onto the highway and hit a woman from behind who was also trying to get on, stupid mistake on my part.
I have quite a but of driving experience though for only 5 years. I have driven back and forth from MA to New York about 4-5 times, driven a quarter of the way from MA to Montreal with friends, delivering pizza for 2 years like I said, and driving to and from school (school is an hour away) every weekend to deliver pizza on Sundays.
The cop caught me literally 2 minutes away from being back at the pizza place where I work. So I probably take that road on average 10+ times every shift I work. The cop was also parked on the very end of a sidewalk which Im pretty sure is illegal no?

I just want to know if I should appeal it or pay the $175 ticket. Any advice would be great. Let me know if I left out any important details.

Answer: You were caught speeding.  This is legal.Answer #2: Your first sentence is the only thing that is relevant here. Since this is your first ticket you can try to get a deal and lower the ticket. Otherwise you can just pay the ticket because 42 in a 25 is incredibly stupid and dangerous.


Title: Parents going through divorce, can they subpoena me?

Question:
I'm an adult, with a husband and young kids. My parents are going through a nasty divorce, and I was basically told today to expect a subpoena for when it goes to trial. I think that is completely unfair, and honestly, my stomach is in knots even thinking about it because I don't want to hurt either one of them. I have told them that I can't do it. I can't put myself through the stress, and I know that after it's all said and done, relationships will be damaged. If I am subpoena'd, I will have to find childcare, and drive over an hour to court, using gas that I really can't afford to spare. How can I prevent this happening?  The party bringing it up truly believes it's the only way to ensure they will be taken care of in the divorce, and I've told them that I don't want to be involved. I know the lawyer, can I talk to her and express my wishes?  I'm sorry for the novel, I'm just freaking out.

Edited to add that I am in Texas. Idk if that is relevant.

Answer:
 You cannot prevent this happening.  If your testimony is relevant, they'll issue the subpoena.  And the subpoena is a court order, not a court request.Answer #2: You're going to be asked mostly factual questions.  Just answer honestly.  If the truth hurts someone, that isn't on you.

Ask whichever attorney subpoenas you to put you on a 2-hour call, so hopefully you don't have to spend too much time waiting.  You may also be entitled to a small witness fee, maybe enough to cover gas and parking, or part of it -- you can ask.

Some courthouses, especially family law courthouses, have some kind of kids' room or child care.  Call the courthouse and ask, or check their web site.


Title: (Maryland) GF threw me out of house, has my dog

Question:
Background: I moved in with my (now) ex-gf and her parents in 2014. I bought a dog and came into the house with her. She kicked me out of the house about 2 - 3 weeks ago, and I was told by her mother, who is now the intermediary, that I'm not allowed back at the house and that I can go back May 7th for my things. I use one of the bedrooms for all my stuff and have a few things like medicine and glasses in the kitchen.

I also have the dog, who is now 3 years old. I purchased her from the pet store and paid for practically all vet appointments. Her parents covered dog food primarily. I have my bank statement with her purchase, as well as a statement with vet visits. What can I do to get my dog back?

My plan thus far is to bring the police to get my things on Sunday, and try to use my statements to get the dog back.

Answer: You've been illegally evicted, you should contact the police.Answer #2: This is an illegal eviction, contact the police.Answer #3: Who owns the house? If her parents own it, your GF doesn't have the authority to kick you out. But either way, it sounds like you've been illegally evicted. Call the police or sheriff and explain the situation to them.


Title: Unknowingly charged with forgery

Question: First time I’ve had any type of trouble with this but a friend introduced me to their friend who wrote me a fraudulent check for $1500.  I went to the bank it was written on to which banker informed me she was to inform police. I leave before then 4 months roll by and a detective shows up on my doorstep and asked me to go to the police station for an interview.  After I agree to go to the ps I get arrested and charged with forgery.  I don’t have any sort of criminal record and need solid advise and can’t afford the representation I need

Answer:
 Why did this person you’d just met write you a check for $1500?Answer #2: You've already been arrested, stop talking to the cops.

Beg, borrow, (don't) steal to get an attorney.Answer #3: Just curious? Why did you leave when she said she’s calling the cops?Answer #4: Because you walked away when the police were called, the bank and the police automatically assume that you knew it was fraudulent and avoided the police and further questioning. No innocent person would avoid the police for cashing a check at a bank.

The bank you went to (where the check was drawn off of) knew something was wrong because of notations on that account listed on the check. It’s likely the person who was the actual owner of the account had checks either stolen or checks printed using the account information. By walking into a branch and cashing a check written off a flagged account, you flagged yourself, no matter how innocent you are.

Did you ever speak to the person who wrote you the check? I’d assume that since it was an acquaintance you could follow up with them.


Title: HELP: Wife Pregnant with Another Mans Child. What Are the Options?

Question:
My friend is currently in this situation in NY state and constantly asks me for advice.

He’s on TRT (which makes him sterile), and he hasn’t slept with his wife in 6 months due to working in ND anyway. Well, she’s now 6 months pregnant (so she says but prob 4-5 months).

He’s afraid he will get stuck paying child support since it seems a married man is responsible for any children his wife births even if they are not his. He’s currently saving up for an attorney. They have only been married 2 years, no other kids, and they live in a home he purchased b4 the marriage.

Like I mentioned he doesn’t have the money for an attorney at the moment since all the money he earns goes in a joint account his wife uses to pay bills. He needs specific advice on what measures he should take in the meantime since he may not have the money available before the child is born, is refusing to sign the birth certificate enough??

Answer:
 He needs to start the divorce proceedings immediately.

I hate to say it, but he really needs a lawyer. It could end up costing him so much more in the long run.

He can't do anything about the child now, but he can request a paternity test when the child is born. If it comes out that he is the father, he's on the hook. If he is not the biological father, his lawyer (and he'll need one) will know the steps to take to make sure that he is not stuck paying for this child for the rest of his life.Answer #2: Wait for the child to be born and get a paternity test at the hospital. A divorce lawyer should be kept at hand.


Title: Can my friend be prosecuted over alcohol?

Question:
Jonesborough, TN

This is a legit "my friend" scenario. He's a waiter at a cafe that only serves beer and wine. He had 2 customers ask for beer samples, asked for their IDs, he mistakenly thought they both checked out so he brought the samples and turned out to be a sting.

What actually happened: the officer covered his finger over the birthdate, my friend caught it and kindly demanded he hand his card over, he checked out. The other guy, my friend thought it said 1994 but it actually said 1997 and claimed to have a dyslexic moment with it.. which I belive cause he's very smart, reliable, and by the book.

He's literally never had a run in with the law, not even a speeding ticket. TN is pretty strict with liquor laws. Does he have any defense?

PS I've pointed out one angle he may have but I want to hear some advice before I post my thought. Thank you all so much.

Answer:
 >my friend thought it said 1997 but it actually said 1994

I assume you have this backwards.

>claimed to have a dialectic moment with it

Dyslexic, which he shouldn't claim if he doesn't actually have dyslexia.

He sold liquor to someone with an ID that stated that they were 19. He can absolutely end up in legal trouble over that.


Title: (Florida) Divorce going against me, downside of going pro se?

Question:
I've already spent about $50,000 on my divorce in temporary support and lawyer fees. We haven't gone to mediation or trial yet, and I'm expecting another $30,000 in legal fees from both sides if I keep getting represented.

On top of that, my strongest legal defense is no longer usable, so my lawyer is now saying we need to try to minimize alimony payments. This freaks me out the most--with all the debt I've incurred, I can't afford alimony.

The marriage lasted 6 years. She filed, she has an attorney who keeps demanding arcane documents that are hard or impossible for me to get, and keeps filing motions to compel me to file more. I'm trying to comply but it's not easy.

Should I give up and just say I don't contest the divorce? What are the risks of doing this?

Answer: You getting rid of your attorney will not change her actions.  If you're having a difficult time of it *with* an attorney, just imagine how difficult of a time you'll have *without* one.


Title: [OH] School transportation unsafe but not illegal?

Question:
My child attends a special needs school that is outside of our district.  2 other students from the district attend, and all 3 are driven via a normal 5 passenger car.  The children are ages 5, 10, and 16.

My child is the 10 year old and is tiny, weighing only 45lbs.  Legally she must use a booster because of her height.

My child and the 5 year old have been getting handsy and pulling on each other's clothes during the morning ride.  The driver wants to move my child to the front seat.

There are no laws (that I can find) in Ohio barring a child from sitting in the front seat, as long as the booster is still used.  I absolutely do not what my child in the front seat of a car that is on the highway during rush hour.

What are my rights?  (Obviously there is an IEP with transportation accommodations that include the booster seat.)

Answer: None. You can modify the IEP to say that it must be in the rear of the car. But if there are no regulations in the state of OH barring a child in a booster seat sitting in the front, there’s nothing you can advocate for here without a modification.


Title: Corporate Harassment

Question:
What do you do when you believe a corporate media entity is harassing you online and defaming you in their programming without explicitly mentioning you by name, and that even more importantly they have information acquired from illegally monitoring your computer and various other devices to observe you and steal your information to further harass you with in a way intended to menace you so that others would not be able to pick up on it?

I don't know what protocol to follow; should I go to the police or speak with a criminal defense attorney or both? Do I attempt to file a restraining order and would I have grounds?

Answer:
 You start by speaking with a therapist. Answer #2: >defaming you in their programming without explicitly mentioning you by name

I want to hear more about this.


Title: Went to a T-Mobile store to service phone and they went through my FB and invited all my friends to like their store w/o consent.

Question:
As the title mentioned above, I was changing my Sim to get ready for international travel. In the meantime, as they were servicing it, my Facebook sent out an invite to all of my friends to like their local store.

They did the same thing with my mom's phone as well with her Facebook.

I'm afraid that they might have done other things with this invasion of my privacy. To say I'm upset is an understatement. Is there anything I can do to report this?

Answer: That's actually (likely) to be a serious crime. Unauthorized access (essentially hacking) is generally a felony. It's rarely prosecuted as such, but it can be. You can complain to the store, you could call the police, or you could get a lawyer. It all depends on what you're attempting to do.Answer #2: u/JonFreier would probably like to hear about this. He is the EVP of Consumer Markets at T-Mobile and an active Redditor.


Title: [CA] I've accidentally put in incorrect account and routing numbers for my direct deposit, and the money has been sent to another company.

Question: [deleted]

Answer: You need to reach out to the recipient to see about retrieving the money.  If they don't return it voluntarily, you'd need to sue them.


Title: Boarding facility accidentally poisoned my cat

Question:
I posted about this the other day but I think I was premature in doing so because I didn't have a diagnosis and hadn't talked to the facility, so I'm reposting with all the updated info:

I boarded my cat last week for 6 days while I was out of town. About halfway through her stay, the facility called me and said they needed to give her a flea bath (she's on flea drops but the facility said they saw flea dirt on her). No big deal.

When I picked her up, she was exhibiting signs of toxicity - tremors, paw licking, salivating, etc. I called the facility to ask what kind of flea shampoo they used and the brand they told me is not only discontinued but contains pyrethrin, a known toxin to cats.

I took her to my vet who confirmed mild toxicity. He said she was lucky because her symptoms were not severe (pyrethrin exposure can kill cats). He advised I should continue to watch her but that the symptoms should pass in a few days (this was Saturday and today, Tuesday, she's already feeling much better).

I contacted the boarding facility after my vet visit on Saturday and explained what happened and asked to speak to the owner or manager. Neither were in that day, so I left a message. The manager called me back first thing Monday and I explained to her what happened. She asked to see my vet bill (which I scanned and emailed to her after our call) and said she would need to clear reimbursement with the owner and would get back to me.

The vet bill was relatively small - $50. Really, I'm just glad my kitty is OK after all of this. The facility did not have me sign any paperwork when I boarded my cat. I didn't think about it at the time, but I'm realizing now that *not* having had to sign some kind of paperwork for boarding is pretty odd and I don't know if they just don't have paperwork or if it was an oversight on their part.

At any rate - I'm currently waiting to hear back from the owner. I'm optimistic that they'll reimburse me since it's such a small amount but I'd like to be prepared with the right response if they refuse. I really don't want to sue over such a small amount because that just seems silly - but I do think they need to be held responsible for what happened. Thoughts?

Answer: If you want to hold them responsible, have you looked into whether or not they are in compliance with local regulations on running a business for boarding and care of animals?


Title: My 7 month pregnant wife wants to separate and take our other kids with her out of state.

Question:
It's a complicated situation in which we moved in to my parents place to house sit. They haven't quite left yet though and it turns out that my wife and mother hate each other.

The tension is fierce and I can't convince my wife to persevere. Neither of us want a divorce,  but my wife insists on leaving.

She wants to take the kids with her. I am inclined to allow her to since I don't want her stress to increase and lead to complications with the pregnancy. I am hopeful that we will reconcile and be together again, once we figure out a new work/living arrangement.

If we do end up with a divorce, would I have to move to where my wife is in order to have custody?  Should I refuse to let her take the kids out of state?

I know it's a mess...  I just don't know what to do.  I want what is best for my kids, and that is definitely for me to be a main stay in their lives.

Answer:
 Why aren’t you just moving out of there *with* your wife and kids? Have her back on this or you’ll regret it forever. (My ex chose his mother). Answer #2: Not legal advice but you married your wife not your mother so why don't you and your wife move out together?That is what is best for your kids. Your parents can take care of themselves. This really doesn't need to be a legal matter if you don't want.

> I just don't know what to do.

Man up. Move out. Support your partner. If you decide to leave her at a later date then you pay child support.Answer #3: Tell her that if she takes the other kids out of state, you will file for an immediate order to return them.  Then call a lawyer.  Do NOT fail to take legal action if she takes the kids out of state.  Once she establishes residency, which is a matter of months, you will have to fight any custody battle in that state.  Do not let that happen.

Offer to find a new place if she stays.  Do not stay with your parents if it's causing so much trouble.  Make immediate arrangements to move.


Title: Personal trainer making threats

Question:
My husband's personal trainer from a well known chain gym stopped showing up for scheduled sessions. The gym made it up to him, and fired the trainer.

Early this morning, my husband received a series of texts that the trainer was going to have him taken care of at work (he does actually know where my husband works). He blamed my husband for making him lose his job, and so he made physical threats against him, and said some pretty nasty things about getting to me too.

Husband called the non-emergency police to make a report, but they didn't answer. He was planning on calling the gym to let them know also. Is there anything else we can do? We're both pretty shaken up.

Answer:
 You're on the right track -- make a police report (call back until someone does answer and takes the report; might be easier to physically show up at the police station and make a report there along with the texts).

If the guy no longer works at the gym, you're free to notify the gym, but I'm not sure there's much they can or will do about it.


Title: What would be the legal issues in creating a non for profit website that connects people who like to cosplay (dress up in costume) with hospitals that have sick children who would enjoy a visit. Think of it like a VolunteerMatch but with capes.

Answer:
 I honestly think this is a good idea, but you're going to have to be more specific than just 'legal issues' if you want a comprehensive answer. Do you mean in setting it up, or being sued while running in?

Of the top of my head, in setting it up your going to need insurance, and a system for background checks. If you put a hospital in touch with a theif, drug addict, or someone who has restrictions on being around children, you could be liable. Someone falls and hurts themselves, or catches something contagious on a visit, you booked the gig, so is it you covering the medical bills? Your best bet here might be to talk, or tie yourself to, an already existing nonprofit that sends volunteers to hospitals. See what coverage they have in place.

In running the business, you main concern is Copyright infringement. [There's a case](https://www.publicknowledge.org/news-blog/blogs/cosplay-goes-to-the-supreme-court) going g through the courts right now that could decide just creating the costume is IP infringement. You won't be profiting from it, but neither are you critiquing or educating on the subject, so you're in a grey area. You'll need a Legal Copyright specialist to weigh in on this one. Even if you are legally good to go, some of the more litigious IP owners may still send cease and desist letters.


Title: Auto accident, will my mom lose everything?

Question:
Sherry is my mom.
Renee is my brothers dirty whore baby momma who's a waste of space.

Sherry was driving my brother's girlfriend's (Renee) van. Sherry was in an accident and faulted for it. The victim received great injury, he was driving a fourwheeler- flipped over the van, his body wrapped around a tree, his leg had a compound break. Renee didn't carry insurance on her van. Sherry didn't know this (yes she should've ask). Sherry has auto insurance and they offered to pay for all bills as long as dirty whore Renee called and stated she did give permission to Sherry to drive her van. Well Renee called Sherrys insurance and stated she did not give permission, and didn't give my brother permission to give Sherry permission. Renee also stated she's never allowed Sherry to drive her van.

The auto insurance just sent Sherry a letter stating these facts and that they will further investigate the claim but they are not obligated to pay. Renee owns nothing. Sherry owns her home, her land, and some antique trucks. Can the victims lawyer go after Sherry now? Can they take her home and land? Advice/input welcome and appreciated. Questions for clarification welcome too.

Answer: I advise you to call her a whore some more. This will surely induce her to act reasonably.Answer #2: Yes. Next step is they sue Sherry. Depending on location they can possibly take property. Answer #3: Sherry needs a lawyer ASAP. Depending on state law, she could be totally on the hook for the loss, or not on the hook at all.


Title: [Los Angeles, CA] "Right to quiet enjoyment of property"

Question: [deleted]

Answer:
 The right to quiet enjoyment of the property is solely related to the landlord interfering with a tenant's ability to live on the property without disruption. Is not connected to actual noise from a neighbor.

Your landlord is not obligated to do anything. Since you've already decided there's no chance animal control will do anything, you don't have much else in the way of options.

Seems short sighted that you are writing off animal control's capabilities without actually having notified them.


Title: My GF's brother breaks up with his gf, gf blasts him on social media spreading hate speech, slander, and malicious intent. My Gf's mom wants to press charges. What sort of legal position do we have?

Question:
Title mostly.

My girlfriend's brother (let's say his name is T) ended his relationship with a girl (let's say her name is S) hes been dating for 5 years. We live in Oregon.

T has been working for S's Dad for a few years now at an auto-dealership. Their break up was ugly and her Dad fired T, and told him if he comes back to work he will have a restraining order on them.

On top this, S blasted T all over IG and FB saying spreading all sort of lies and hateful speech, as well as some vague threats. My gf and T's mom wants to press charges. What sort of legal position would we have on any sort of cyber bullying?

EDIT 1: T is 17 and S is 18, not sure if that matters

EDIT 2: She has been asked to take the posts down by multiple people, and she says: "I won't until everyone has seen it so they know what T is capable of"
Topic:
Other Civil Matters

Answer: You can't press charges. You can file a police report but unless there's some pretty direct threats, nothing will likely come of it


Title: IL First time filing for taxes while married.

Question: I wanted to know if my husband and I need to file for taxes together? I got married in July so I am unsure of this

Answer:
 You have a choice of filing "married filing separately" or "married filing jointly".

MFJ is almost always, but not always, better.


Title: Money stolen from a new father/veteran while on deployment.

Question:
From 2007 to current, my brother has been enlisted in the army reserves. In his savings account was 20k from a sign on bonus as well as a continuous incoming check from both basic training and AIT. From 2008 to 2009 he experienced a wonderful beach vacation in Iraq. Earning about an additional 40k from the year downrange.

Before leaving, he appointed our mother as his power of attorney. When he came home from deployment, there was only 5k in the bank. Our mother confessed that she did indeed take the money to pay off our childhood home and that he should be grateful for being a part of that.

I assume that there are limitations that have been reached, but is there now or could there have been any recourse when he found out that his mother robbed a veteran who became a father during deployment?

I'm only asking now because he's only recently told me about everything that happened.

Answer: The SOL has likely passed.  However, for that amount of money, I would speak to a lawyer to confirm.  If your brother wants to sue your mom, the house is an asset.Answer #2: Under some circumstances the statute of limitations is tolled for active duty military.  He may still have time.  This will involve suing his mother.   He should talk to a lawyer ASAP.


Title: Neighbor ran over family dog

Question:
About an hour or so ago, my mother in law’s dog got ran over by their neighbor. She has cameras pointing towards the area that it happened, so they’ve told me they know who did it, the license plate, and the car.

The dog is sadly dead. Is there anything we can do about it? Anything that the neighbor can be held accountable for?

Answer:
 Your mother in law can be held accountable for any damage to the car. Unless the dog was in a contained yard or on a leash when it was hit, the fault lies in your MIL's inability to contain the animal.Answer #2: NAL Im sorry for your loss but no. Actually your MIL can actually be held accountable, bc the responsibility lies on the dog owner to not let if off leash/keep inside to not be involved  into dangerous situations where it can get hit by a car or cause damage. The person who hit the dog is at no fault, but your MIL is legally for letting the incident happen.

Accidents happen it's terrible but nothing you can do. I've hit a dog before and it's terrible. And it was pretty devastating to me. I lost sleep cried for hours and hours, for weeks i felt so bad for what I did. After a few year and now having my own dog I hold the owners more responsible, they let their dog out during the day no lesh or fence by a busy ass road. About 200$ took off my bumper, which is nothing compared to the loss of a pet and I wouldn't go after I'm not an asshole them for money but legally I could of where I live. I knowthats probably not what you want to hear (I wouldn't IIWY) but important you asked bc If your MIL would of sent them a letter saying they want damages for the dog they could of actually sue you so I wouldn't want to upset them.


Title: Can golf courses refuse entrance to a handicapped player?

Question:
(In Wisconsin)  A friend of a friend was refused admittance to use a golf course *because* he is a wheelchair user.  I suspect they can refuse whoever on whatever basis because it's considered private property, but I'd thought I would check anyway.

Thanks!

Answer:
 Sometimes this is a "owner isn't educated" situation.

Link to resources from a random lawyer in WI.... because it's got a lot of links.[ PDF WARNING](http://www.christopherreeve.org/atf/cf/%7B173bca02-3665-49ab-9378-be009c58a5d3%7D/GOLF%20FOR%20PEOPLE%20WITH%20DISABILITIES%201-12%20JPW.PDF)

There aren't enough details to do anything but guess but I think the resources here could help any questions you have.Answer #2: Wouldn't a wheelchair wreck the greens and tee-boxes??  Why would legal recourse even be an option here??  Sometimes being handicapped means you just cannot partake in certain activities.  Sorry.Answer #3: This is not the golf handicap question I was expecting.Answer #4: I'm not sure if this has any relevance but here is a somewhat similar case : PGA Tour, Inc. v. Martin (2000)


Title: I was caught torrenting at work. Is there a way to avoid being sued / going to jail?

Question:
I'm in the United States.

I work graveyard shift at a telecommunications company. I answer phones, I'm completely disposable. I've torrent-ed movies and music before on the network, but through my own laptop over the last few years. I never use the work computer, and there has never been any issue.

Last week, I torrented a film from my laptop and played it on my work computer through windows media player. A third party company detected it and contacted my employer. My employer asked me to bring the flash drive in so they could "see me destroy the file". I brought it the flash drive (already wiped and reformatted), but explained I didn't have the file anymore. My employee is now asking me to sign a disclosure form stating "I illegally stole x, all blame is on me, company Y has no responsibility."  They also won't let me see the email from the third party company.
Here's the thing, my employer wasn't contacted by the movie studio, they were contacted by a "Copyright Collection Agency / Company contracted by the studio". To me, it sounds like my work is going to have me sign the disclosure and then fire me (opening me up to being sued / fined / jailed). If I refused to sign the form, I'll still probably get fired. I was planning on quiting this job and moving next summer. I'm ok with an early trip.

Dear Reddit, what are my options?

Thank you, and I love you.

Answer: You can't be jailed for copyright violation like this. If you want to end the matter, ask for the company's info, talk to them, work out a settlement price to drop the matter. Or, spend the same amount for a lawyer if they take you to court. Sounds like you've given up on that job, and a good reference, so refusing to sign is probably a good idea.


Title: my girlfriend and i run scams on internet dating sites for money. legal ramifications?

Question: [deleted]

Answer:
 >attempt to fool wealthy sugar daddies out of money using lies and manipulation, promising to meet up etc.

So you're committing fraud?

If money is being sent to you across state lines or via mail that's a federal crime and can carry a LOT of prison with it. Answer #2: Probably fraud. I'd be more worried about extra-legal responses however. I'd also be worried about how depraved your scheme is, but that's just me.