Title: [CA] Landlord wants me to pay back what was refunded of my security deposit, plus more. Do I have to pay?

Question:
Hello Reddit. We moved out of our rental which was crappy to begin with on May 25th (day we turned in the keys) I have a video walkthrough from before we moved in, showing the conditions of the house.

Our security deposit was $1,100.00 we received a refund of $262.00 in June 6th with a very vague list of charges.  "1. Cleaning - $200.  2. Carpet cleaning $350.  3. Repairs and screens.$200. Total charges: $621"

But today July 11th we received the same paper, copied, with new blue ink written in "4. Additional charges - $621" the old total is crossed out and written in new blue ink $1,371.   7-4-19"
They want us to now pay an additional $621!

There is a new itemized list of what the new charges are for and they're CRAP. Like relocating the smoke detectors, which were all in strange place to begin with but we didn't move them. Replacing all blinds and removing screws and brackets, all stuff that were there and already damaged when we moved in. (I have photos/video from before we moved in)

Should I fight the weird charges or the whole bullshit new $621 charge?? I pretty sure they can't go back and charge us AGAIN. We are good renters that cared for the crappy , falling apart house. Nothing done to the house could possibly be considered more then normal wear and tear.
And I'm just pissed. Please help, Reddit!  The new charges are all dated July 4th 2019.

*****Edit to add
These are the charges:

"Throughout House- Remove 7 window blinds and brackets (Damaged) and installed 7 new cordless blinds.

Ordered 3 new window screens to be rescreened and 1 new screen (Missing)

Relocated smoke detectors

Removed all brackets, nails, hooks, and screws.

Fill holes

Touch up paint"

"Living room area:

Purchase and install new hardwire smoke detector.

Relocate carbon monoxide Unit

Reinstall loose Thermostat

Purchased and installed new Ceiling fan light kit

Replaced 1 bulb in can light

Serviced closet door lock"

"Kitchen"

Replaced 2 bulbs, range leak propane. reported to rental company"

Answer: If anything I would be challenging the original deductions as many of those may be normal wear & tear and/or already compromised before move in. I would dispute everything with the landlord on both lists. Then you can decide if you want to come to an agreement with him to give up the half deposit he already has and you both walk away or if you want to get it all back. If he is a dick about it and wants to make a thing out of it, then DEFINITELY fight for it all back.


Title: My Boss is slandering me and telling people he fired me, I quit.

Question: My boss is a delusional psycho, I won't get in to the details but in 4 months of work he went from being someone I thought was a genuine, cool, nice guy, to an unbelievably hypocritical multi-personality psycho that i'm convinced has serious mental issues. So now that we got my little vent/rant out of the way that has nothing to do with the law...  Loooong story short, I fell and hurt my wrist at work and was forced to go to hospital and report my injury to Worksafe BC (I'm in Canada) I was gone for 3 weeks and that's when he decided to starting hating my guts. I've never had an enemy or problems with anyone before, but this guy had it out for me. While I was injured he brought me in for a one on one meeting, I drive all the way down there and he sits me down and tells me I cost the company 20,000$, says im going to cause all sorts of problems for him and others, basically just an incognito way of saying fuck you. I asked what I should have done differently and he told me to leave. He also would not text or call me back while I was injured, asking if there was anything I needed to do, and then he would tell people im not submitting paperwork and not co-operating. After a few months of awkwardness he lost his mind one day. He decided that I was no longer allowed to park in the parking lot because there wasn't enough room for everyone to park, even though I had high seniority and was one of the very small fraction of employees that was on hourly and had to punch in right at 8, so made sense that I and I alone would lose my lot privileges and had to gamble for street parking every day. One day when there was no spots on the street I had to park in the lot and was going to move the car when a spot opened up. He showed up and went ballistic, brought me upstairs and claimed I was cheating him and sneaking extra lunch time (Which I had done on 2 occasions when my single 30 minute lunch break wasn't long enough for me to even get the closest fast food and I had to sit down and finish it). I tried to ask him why I was targeted for the parking situation and he said to shutup and get out and that my hours were going to be cut in half from then on. The next week I called in sick monday to ponder what I was going to do and he sent me a text saying "Looks like you have abandoned your job and we are already sending you the paperwork" When I started asking questions he never replied again. I didn't show up after that and said I dont see how I can come back being treated as such. He never contacted me again, but now I hear he has been telling "stories" about me to new employees, as well as telling various people "he fired me". Just general slandering. What should I do in this situation?

Answer: You called in sick, you didn't quit. He told you that they were firing you. How is he slandering you? He did fire you.


Title: Legal Definition of Guest (HOA)

Question:
A little petty for /r/legaladvice but hey I thought I'd ask.

So we've lived in an HOA for the past few years and have had general good luck with them (and zero issues).  However the new HOA President has decided it is her god given duty to defend the sanctity of our guest parking spaces and has started a crusade.

Some background:  It's a small HOA of privately owned homes (about 15).  It's on a private street, and in lieu of street parking we have slotted guest parking.  Coincidentally, there are the same number of spots as there are number of houses.  I own the house. My girlfriend lives with me, but does not have equity in the house and is not on any lease.

The issue: Our president is trying to enforce that the guest parking "must be vacant of all non-guests at all times" and that the spots cannot be occupied by more than 72 hours.  My girlfriend tends to park in a spot because the driveway scrapes the underside of her car.  She drives every day, never leaving the car in a spot for over 24 hours.  We've tried to speak with the HOA president but she seems intent on enforcing this non-issue, citing that she is not a "guest" and threatening us with a fine.

My question:  In an HOA parking situation, what is the legal definition of a guest?  I understand the time limit to be enforceable, but is the stipulation that spots be only for "guests" enforceable as well?  There is no record of residents' licenses, there are no guest passes, etc.  Since my girlfriend is not technically on a lease in any way, and there are no records that constitute what a resident and a guest are, do you think I would have a case in disputing the fine?

Answer:
 > My girlfriend lives with me

Then she is not a guest.


Title: Why does diplomatic immunity exist? (sorry for stupid and vague question)

Question: It seems silly that anyone can be above the law, and to rely on some foreign country to investigate and press charges. (And I can honestly say I know my country is corrupt enough for that not to happen, we don't even send people to jail in our own country). I mean not to mention that embassies are redundant now thanks to the internet and the ease of which a politician can fly across the world.

Answer:
 It is necessary to avoid the fear of a country's diplomats being harassed.  Diplomats need to be free to represent their countries.

For example.  An Iranian diplomat breaks the law in the US, and is arrested for that.  In retaliation, Iran trumps up some phony charges and arrests OUR diplomat.  Now we can't get international business done.

They can be deported from the country any time, though.Answer #2: To avoid international incidents leading to war.


Title: Legal help needed in Portland. Friend was injured after getting in accident in Uber..Uber is trying to screw her over.

Question:
Hey amazing Portland individuals! Im writing on behalf of my friend who got into a car accident a few months ago while riding in a uber.

She now has crippling back pain and had to take medical leave from work/has been seeing doctors 5x a week for her back. It's been 3 months since she's been able to work.

Uber is trying to say they are not responsible for her medical leave. I'm pretty sure they are trying to squeeze her to take their claim.

She's overwhelmed and I'm not in the state. Can anyone suggest a good lawyer she can talk to? She needs all the help she can get. Any advice is much appreciated.

Answer: If she is getting that much medical attention she NEEDS to get a lawyer. Uber is not exactly a legit legal company, because it often ignores laws specifically made for these situations. Lawyer, lawyer, lawyer.


Title: Just found my daughter after she was given away.

Question:
30 years ago I got my GF pregnant and she had the baby but told me she aborted it. She gave it up for adoption.
Today I found out she had been telling everyone I raped her including my daughter.
What legal recourse do I have?
She also falsified the Father on the birth certificate.

I'm just so happy I have a daughter! But pissed about the rest.

Answer:
 The child is an adult. You can contact her and, if she chooses, talk to her. If she declines then you let it go.

Legally there is nothing to do.Answer #2: Is your ex saying your name is the one who raped her or the father? Because you say she is telling other people that someone else is the father like on the birth certificate.Answer #3: I'm really curious as to why you posted this same story 2 days ago but from the other point of view- that this is your current girlfriend and someone else is the father and you're now worried about the "flaky" daughter contacting the real father and him taking legal action against your girlfriend. Nobody can give you accurate advice if you're misrepresenting the facts.Answer #4: Was your girlfriend legally underage when she got pregnant? If you were older she may be legally correct and you have no actionable issue. If you were both adults, then see previous explanations.


Title: Being DDoS'd/Terrorized online

Question:
For about a year and a half now I have been terrorized by someone and I believe I know exactly who the person is. I live in MI they live in OR. We had some beef in the past. I reported this person for DDOSS'ing a website that we were apart of and they were then demoted as Admin from that site.

Now for over 1.5 years they have constantlly ddos'd my website. Not even Cloudflare helped. I've switched host providers about 5 times now. They have even ddos'd sites I am apart of for advertising purposes and i've been removed from that site because the owner couldn't stop the attacks. I have 100's of emails from my host providers saying i'm under attack etc.

It's been hard to do anything with my business because of this idiot. The most recent attack I noticed this person viewed my profile which made me even more suspicious. I know they use lots of Proxy's VPN's to hide behind. What is the best way to go about this whole situation? Without concrete proof but I know it is him doing it. They also sent me a Skype request recently which was using a proxy IP address that sent me a threatening letter to PAY UP to a bitcoin address and all this would go away.

Someone help? Thank you.

Answer:
 > What is the best way to go about this whole situation?

Hire a lawyer familiar with online businesses and sue.

> sent me a threatening letter to PAY UP to a bitcoin address and all this would go away.

That will qualify as extortion in most states. Take it to the police.Answer #2: Gather up all the hard evidence you have and submit to FBI?


Title: I think my stuff was stolen?

Question:
I work for a beverage company as a campus rep. I had out drinks and promo material on campus and take pictures. Or at least I should, but I never received my initial package containing my promo material. I checked my consent form and tax forms I filled out with the company and they have my current address listed, but I guess they must have used my address when I applied for the job, several months prior before I knew I was moving, as my shipping address.

I went by their house to ask if they had accidentally received a package, when I noticed some of the contents of the package in the living room. At first they denied it until I pointed out the object (a giant banner, rolled up is 5 feet tall and probably 30 lbs) and they gave it back. They told me to come back tomorrow and they'd get the rest of it together. It was a promotional package so I have no idea what was in there, but it has no doubt been distributed to at least the members of the house (4 people), possibly more. I've emailed the company I work for informing them I didn't receive a package and that they have the wrong address on file and I've contacted my landlord, who owns both my current residence and my former residence informing him of the issue. The package definitely had my name on it, and not "To the current resident of" or anything like that. I am located Missouri.

Answer:
 This is a fairly simple problem. You were sent a package, which arrived to the wrong address but in your name. The current occupants opened the package and kept the contents. A huge part of your proof is the big banner they gave back.

Contact the post office and police department. You will most likely have to write up a report/complaint with both of them.


Title: Uh stealing??

Question: So awhile back some dude that liked me gave his credit card for no reason and I didn’t use it really but earlier I put it on my amazon just to see if there anything still. Turns out there was at least 49 bucks and I’m not sure if it’s really legal to use the money or not because I don’t talk to him anymore.

Answer: Credit cards do not have money on them. Either you have a prepaid gift card or a debit card. If you have a debit card, then no, you may not use it. If you were given a gift card, then it would simply depend if the person actually *gave* it to you.


Title: Ex just told me he plans on killing himself and wants me in jail for man slaughter...

Question:
Basically... my ex is a dead beat. Barely paid child support... wasting money like no ones business while his kids have to go without because I can’t afford extra things without CS. He goes out partying, smoking up and all that every weekend... I’ve seen his money wastage and I know he can give me the full amount for CS but doesn’t want to sacrifice his lifestyle and uses the fact that he’s 21 and doesn’t know how to manage money as an excuse to him not paying CS. I went through private collection to cut him some slack as he was still paying for our old rental.

Hes told me today that “I will see what he’s scheming in March”... when I asked him further to see if he was taking me to court (which he wasn’t) he said going to jail for manslaughter... saying I pushed him into depression by taking his kids away without permission, he has never asked me to move back, never challenged my moving, helped me pack AND has visited us here several times. That I put him down by calling him a dead beat, selfish and a druggie (which is simply the truth but i haven’t said that to him in months). I’ve never told him he should kill him self... I’ve also said that if drugs stop him from doing that... do it BUT that he needs professional help because obviously this isn’t working.

He also said some pretty mean things about how I’m a neglectful mother (which I am most definitely NOT) how I’ll never get a full time job (despite being a nurse and a paramedic I’ll go back to work soon but I have to lose my baby weight and be able to afford to put my kids in daycare)...

So wtf do I do!? Seriously. Do I just take it as an empty threat or do I start preparing myself?

Answer:
 You won’t be charged with manslaughter for “making him depressed.” That is ridiculous.

You should contact the police to report his threats though. They will make sure he gets the help he clearly needs. Answer #2: Call 911, report the suicidal threat, and move on.Answer #3: This is straight up abuse. He's manipulating you and you're letting him. You're in a bad spot right now, get yourself into a better spot.

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STOP talking to him, talk these people instead.

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[https://au.reachout.com/articles/domestic-violence-support](https://au.reachout.com/articles/domestic-violence-support)

&#x200B;

[https://www.whiteribbon.org.au/find-help/](https://www.whiteribbon.org.au/find-help/)

&#x200B;

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&#x200B;Answer #4: Call the police, that is a threat


Title: Person I Dog and House Sat for Claims I Stole. Now Harassing Me, Family, and Friends

Question:
I live in Wisconsin. A woman from my mom's motorcycle days asked me to come house and dogsit for her, I have done so in the past with no issues. She called me at 12am asking me to come over ASAP, as her dad had become ill so she needed to go out of state to be with him. I drove over to her house with my sister immediately. The woman showed my sister and I around to refresh my memory and left. She ended up being gone for nearly two weeks. I am in college so I alternated staying at her house and my house, bringing the dog with me. She arrived home on Friday happy as a clam. Two days went by and she sent me an onslaught of texts. The first claim was that I threw a party at her house because she found a pair of men's gloves. I did not, nor would I ever, throw a party at someone else's house. She then claimed I stole all of her alcohol. I did have five beers total over the two weeks, as she said I was welcome to have the beer. The next claim was that I stole all of her Xanax. Once again, no. This was all Monday. She was also contacting my family, calling them at 12am, screaming at them. On Tuesday she said I stole a pair of $1250 glasses, ruined a $500 duvet, stole her sage (like the stuff you burn to "cleanse" your house?), ruined $2700 boots, and stole a blender bottle. I never touched any of these things. She at first said she had nanny cams in her house, which I wish was true as that would prove I didn't do any of this, but now we believe that was a bluff. She is continuing to contact me, my mom, dad, home phone, and now harassing my friends. She also keeps saying she has the police involved, which doesn't worry me, I would much rather work with the police than deal with her. She does have a history of drug abuse, non-violent arrests, and owes a lot of money. Obviously, I can't be certain of her motives, but it is increasingly seeming like she is hoping for monetary gain. She owns a lot of guns, is volatile, and her texts and calls have just been constant. My family and I are sick of it, and its scary to us that she is now harassing my friends. She finds them through facebook and messages them. Is there anything my family and I can do to stop the harassment? What do her claims mean for me? All of her claims are false. If you need any more info I will gladly provide it! Sorry if this post is a bit rambling, I am quite tired. Thanks for taking the time to read!

Edit: Forgot to mention this woman also neglected to pay me fully, not that it is of utmost importance, but I had to bend over backwards to care for the dog, check her mail daily, and keep up with my school work. Her house is about 20 minutes from campus so it was not easy. She paid me $80. We previously agreed to $35 a day. She is also demanding the money she did pay me back.

Answer:
 Collect all the evidence of her harassment and take it to the police, in person. In the meantime do not reply to anything she sends you and tell your friends/family to do the same. Answer #2: I would also consider suing her in small claims for what she owes you.Answer #3: Do you have anything in writing from her saying she would pay you at any point? Any record of her having paid you the $35?

It seems to me that having both of those gives you pretty solid evidence she intended to pay you and thought everything was kosher at first. It’s definitely sketchy to then later claim that all of these singular expensive things got messed up.

LPT: when I watch someone’s pets or home, I always send “proof of life” photos regularly. I don’t care if they don’t care. I like to show their animal healthy and happy. And I’m always sure to get lots of background in the photo to prove time, place, and condition.


Title: Can I get trouble for calling random government offices in Zimbabwe and ask to speak to Robert Mugabe and them tell them that he is a crook and then hang up?

Question: I live in Canada now can they get me into trouble from there?  I will not use any curse words I just want to tell them he is a crook.  I want to ask before I do it so I do not get into trouble from the Zimbabwe government here in Canada.

Answer:
 [Serious]

How old are you?Answer #2: I doubt it.  But, Yelling at some confused civil servant pushes your agenda how?Answer #3: Just because it's a little African country doesn't mean that they're going to connect some random caller with their president. Grow up. Answer #4: That'll show him.Answer #5: It don't think it's specifically illegal in Canada to be 13 years old, no. But given your age and gullibility, I feel I have to tell you that randomly calling strangers overseas is a great way to get herpes.


Title: How should someone respond to a police officer after being pulled over and asked “Do you know how fast you were going?”

Answer:
 "Officer, my eyes were focused on the road and the speed of traffic around me." This is the most efficient way to get let off with a warning.Answer #2: "I'm sorry" is what you should say.  Genuine repentance is what that officer wants from you.

In other words, you have to grovel.

I know this because I used to have to conversationally interview police officers to test their language skills.  I always asked about traffic tickets and I found that if you argue with an officer, you just "bought" the ticket.  On the other hand, if you act contrite and are "honestly" surprised by your speed, you might get off with a warning.  Police are expert at discerning this type of dishonesty, so make it real.

I have put this into practice and it has pretty much worked for me ever since I started doing it.

I passed the word on to my son, who is ethnically ambigous and lived in a rich white town, and although it did not prevent him from getting tickets, we feel happy he was not arrested or beaten up.

So, remember, grovel, and try to be honest about it.Answer #3: "Yes."

Well, how fast were you going?

"I'm not interested in having a conversation."


Title: HR asked for obituary for bereavement; none printed

Question:
I took the 3 days allowed to salaried staff off to mourn my grandmother and made I clear there would be no funeral service. My boss approved, I get back, and am immediately slammed by emails from HR asking for all her personal details (including the name of the funeral home) so they can verify her death.

My family has always been extremely private and do not always publish an obituary when someone dies. My concern is if they can't look her death up, I'm going to be labeled as a liar and/or terminated.

It's also apparently too soon to obtain a death certificate, but regardless, I just don't feel comfortable providing all those personal details about her just to prove a point.

Advice?

Answer: Tell them there is none, but you can provide a death certificate or a notarized letter from funeral home.


Title: FL - Can I sue my neighbor? If not, what else could I do?

Question:
My neighbors directly next to me have lived there for as long as I can remember. Their children were my childhood friends, now almost all of us are moved out/ready to be. I’m pretty sure their aunt owns the house, but they “rent” from her. But for the past 3 years, they’ve stopped maintaining their backyard. For months at a time, they won’t touch it. Not really sure why. They won’t cut the grass, they won’t weed whack, they won’t even fix their broken fence, so people can see how bad it is! The grass grows easily almost 3 to 4 feet tall, nearly reaching the top of the fence. They have an attached room that they rent out to a dad and his autistic daughter. It’s an eyesore, but thats not the main issue. We now have ticks. About a year ago, we started to find some on our dogs. It started out as a couple a week to a couple a day. It eventually grew to finding some crawling on the floor, on blankets, even crawling on us. If that doesn’t sound bad enough, my mom runs a daycare out of this house, and some parents have even found a few on their children!! My mom has done everything, she contacted a local app for non-emergency complaints. She took pictures of their yard from over the fence. She then got an email saying they had a week to cut their yard. They didn’t so my mom submitted again. They then cut their yard. But that causes their grass to fly everywhere and make the tick situation worse. And they dont keep up w/ it so after submitting a few more times, my mom no longer found a point. She’s also sprayed the yard with stuff from Home Depot, she’s used granular, she is now spending loads of money on having a bug company come and use their own spray once a week. (The only thing that has worked was the bug company and its only been for about 2 months and it slowed it down to maybe finding a small one on one of our dogs) We even got rid of out rug and dogs beds. Due to their broken fence, their dogs escape the back and run up and down the street. In other peoples front yards, in front of cars, etc. My mom complained to the app about the fence, local officials came to talk about it and noticed the yard, told them (and us) if the backyard can be noticed from the front, that’s an issue. They fixed the fence to only have it broken again and if they cut their grass, they only cut the side that can be seen (they still never cut it lol). Last month, the neighbor on the other side of them saw a lady (whom we assume is a social worker for the renters daughter) pouring white powder on the grass in between their yards. He asked why she was doing that, her response: “Her service dog is covered with ticks”. The other neighbor questioned how it’s okay for them to live somewhere w/ a backyard like that. The social worker had no idea!!!!! She went back to look, then went to question the main neighbors, their response??? “We’re renting but we’re moving soon anyways” LOL! They’re not moving, they’ve lived there for 10+ years and don’t need to pay since their aunt (who now lives in another state, unreachable) owns the property, why would they leave such an ideal situation? Oh and to top it all off: other people on the street have ticks too. A guy who lives a few houses down (who also lets their dog run around) told my dad he’s infested. Probably thanks to our neighbors letting their dogs hang out in other peoples yards.

Is there anything legally we could do? My mom has spent, and continues to spend, loads of money on stuff that only tries to fix *our* yard/issue but it doesn’t do anything about the source! If their yard isn't fixed, ours won't be.

I know this is long but I needed to include all info possible.

Answer:
 Report them to the local zoning office and the health department. Answer #2: The negligence of your neighbors is already an expense for you, and could get worse.

*You need to keep complaining to government agencies.  Keep after them until they deal with it*.

  It sounds like you could be defending yourself from all sorts of creatures - snakes, alligators, and bugs, if the situation isn't resolved.


Title: [MI] I don't want to make my employees pay for their uniform shirts, but want to hold them responsible if they don't return them upon resignation/termination. Is this possible and if so, how?

Question:
Title pretty much says it all. I'm a manager at a restaurant in Michigan and we give all employees shirts they are required to wear.

Each shirt costs around $15, chef coats are $20-$25, but I don't want to make them pay for it right out of pocket when they start. I just feel like that's skeezy and unfair. I would rather have them use the shirts for free and return the shirts after they resign or are terminated so we can reuse them. Being a restaurant, turnover is rather high. We've had some employees stick around for 4-5 months and some that were fired after 1-2 months.

Is it legal to have a policy to deduct from final paychecks should an employee not return their shirts after they resign/are terminated? I wouldn't plan on charging the full $15 per shirt, maybe a fraction of that cost. $7 is a number that I think is fair.

If it's possible I know I will have to keep track of how many shirts each employee has (style/size) which would not be a problem at all. If this whole thing is possible I may have this policy become void if an employee works there a year or longer.

Answer: You can't deduct anything from their paycheck unless it's agreed upon *beforehand*. Have your attorney come up with a valid contract.Answer #2: Can confirm. Not only is it in our employee handbook, we have our new employees sign something saying the received x amount of shirts and aprons and that to receive their last pay check they need to be returned or they will be deducted. If they are manager they sign one about their keys.


Title: Check fraud over $3000

Question:
Hi, at a time I was homeless. I stumbled upon people asking if I needed money. Asked me if I wanted a job I didn't realise what they meant by that. I got in a car with a guy.  I was taken in a car to a bank he had a gun to his side. He put a check in my bank. 3,500$ he took me to a hotel told me he knew the owners and they would call and he would hunt me down.   I pulled out the cash in the morning. He dropped me off at the hotel and told me to wait there.  I was stupid I get that.

This was in April. I called the cops they took me to a bus stop.  I am now working but it's been complex. What can I do to avoid a felony charge.

I talked with bank of America I paid them 50 and another 50 the next month.  After that I lost my job I was homeless.  I now am working again and I have not heard from bank of America what should I do.

I am accepting all forms of ideas. Lawyer or not. As long as there positive.

TLDR: i am an idiot got in a car with w stranger who forced me to cash a hot check. Paying it back has been difficult in the past.  Just got Job that's steady. What can I do to not get a felony. I can't afford a lump sum but I don't know how long before bank of America starts to take criminal action.  Thanks.

Answer: You need a lawyer. Felony charges are definitely, definitely something we cannot help you with here. That's big boy territory.


Title: [MN] Girlfriend's employer at a restaurant takes employees' tips, cuts a check once a week - the checks consistently bounce.

Question:
So, my girlfriend has been working as a waitress at this restaurant for about 4 weeks. The owner is also the head chef is also the primary manager of the business.

The problems and questions arise in how he pays his employees their earned tips from credit cards. Some of you have experience waiting tables, and know that most places pay you what they owe you for your credit card tips at the end of the night in cash. This place differs in that it supposedly saves your credit card tips and the owner cuts a check Tuesday of every week. The owner says that he doesn't want to keep large enough amounts of cash at the restaurant to tip out the waitstaff every night. A curious practice, but ostensibly, the employees get everything they're owed and it's all good. Ostensibly.

In practice, the employer cuts checks to his employees and if they deposit the check in their bank account, 5-7 business days later it's charged back due to insufficient funds. This has happened numerous times to each of their waiters and waitresses.

The concensus among them was that they would just cash their checks at his bank then. Unfortunately, my girlfriend has visited his bank twice to cash her checks, both times to have them tell her that the account has insufficient funds. Her employer has told her a number of times now "you'll be able to cash it tomorrow when we put funds in the account", only to have the checks charge back if she tries to deposit them, or to be told that there are insufficient funds at his bank.

She now has over a thousand dollars in checks that are, for all intents and purposes, unredeemable at any financial institution. She's yet to claim a single dollar of the credit card tips she's earned since she began working there. Bills are piling up, and her credit score has taken a hit because she's been unable to collect her earnings.

So my legal questions would be as follows:

- is this a form of fraud or an illegal act in and of itself by the employer?

- could this be a indicative of a larger crime, such as embezzlement or money laundering by the enployer?

If yes to either of the above, which agency could i contact to report such financial crimes?

- if the checks continue to bounce, can my girlfriend obtain a judgment in small claims court against her employer?

- is there a way to be remunerated for the monetary losses inflicted by the various chargebacks, overdraft fees, and credit score hits resulting from the series of bad checks?

We're both losing sleep over this, so thanks in advance /r/legaladvice!

Answer:
 Not legal advice.

The checks are bouncing because the owner is broke.  It's likely his restaurant will not be open for much longer.  She needs to start looking for another job ASAP.  Find another restaurant.


Title: My parents are holding the money I earned working hostage,what should I do?

Question: [deleted]

Answer:
 If it's a joint account, go withdraw the money at the bank.Answer #2: Take your ID to another bank and open a new account. Should be simple. Bring like $20 or so for a first deposit. Get the routing and account information off of a check, or ask the bank, and change your direct deposit information at your job so that money goes into the new account. Simple.

Now, where is your existing bank with the 10k in? If it's a credit union, pick another credit union for your new bank. You should then be able to transfer the 10k to the new account via shared branching or some similar arrangement. Otherwise, go in with your ID and withdraw the funds.

The key is that you are an adult and the account is in your name. That means the contents are yours as well. But be aware that doing this will probably piss him off - which is something to be prepared for. If you still live with him, it may get a bit exciting.


Title: Is it illegal to force someone to stand for the pledge of allegiance? Could I do something about it?

Question: This 4th of July reminded me about how my old elementary school and many of my friend's schools *required* the children to stand for the pledge or they'll face fairly extreme punishment such as humiliation from teachers in front of the school or all-day detention. Surely this is illegal since it's legal to *not* stand for the pledge.

Answer:
 Yes that practice would have been illegal. That’s generally been settled law since 1943.

No you have no way of making a claim against your school this long after the fact.Answer #2: No, you cannot take action against your elementary school.


Title: Missouri parole. I'm living in Pennsylvania but HAVE to move to Iowa next week...Will I get sent back to prison if I move before the paperwork is complete?

Question: I'm stuck in a situation where I have to move to Iowa next week or go homeless. My original charge was in Missouri (Possession of a controlled substance) I homeplanned to my moms house in pennsylvania from missouri prison. Now we are having to move to Iowa. As soon as I found out I contacted my Parole Officer. He is acting like I can't move yet. wut do?

Answer: You don't move until the court gives you permission.  If you do, they can revoke you and send you back to jail.


Title: Fell on my first week.

Question:
I don't even know if all the paperwork making me an official employee has even been submitted yet. I asked my boss if I will be wligible for workers comp. "not for a pre existing condition"
I fell and dislocated my knee...

Answer:
 File a claim with your employer.  You were injured while in the course and scope of employment and are entitled to workers compensation benefits.  If your employer refuses, contact the Louisiana Workforce Commission:
http://www.laworks.net/WorkersComp/OWC_WorkerMenu.aspAnswer #2: If you were at your workplace doing your job duties, you were an official employee. You can file for workers comp. Don't listen to your boss's advice on this.


Title: [NY] Furniture store is refusing to give me my couch

Question: 3 Years ago I bought a couch from a furniture store for $2700.  It was a normal transaction and I took delivery of the couch and everything was fine.  9 months ago I wanted to get it reupholstered so I contacted them and struck a deal with  for $900, and they would lend me a loaner couch while they were reupholstering it, and take care of pick up and delivery back.  They claimed it would take about 3 weeks, which I was fine with.  It has been 9 months now and they still have my couch. I'm sick of this gross loaner couch and I want mine back.  I've demanded my couch back several times, they claim they are still reupholstering it and stonewall me at every turn.  I've even asked them to refund me the $900 and give me the couch back and they still refuse.  What can I do here?

Answer:
 Take them to small claims court. Make sure you have something in writing where you and the furniture store agreed to the terms you state here.Answer #2: > It has been 9 months now and they still have my couch.

Nah, your couch is long gone.

If you paid them with a credit card, call the bank and have them do a chargeback.  If you paid cash, small claims court would be your best bet.

You are also entitled to the fair value of the couch, which depending on it's condition may not be much.

You should also contact the state Attorney General's office, they don't look kindly on businesses that pull this stuff.Answer #3: Do not speak with these people again. You need to sue them in Small Claims Court and bring all of the documentation that you can. You should be able to pull a record from your bank statement of the initial charge for the couch and then the subsequent charge for the re-upholstery.

I would also go further to say that if they are doing this to you it is very possible that they are doing this to other people as well.

I would also file a police report for theft/larceny. Another term would be theft by conversion. The initial transaction being legitimate in which it is converted into an unlawful one by taking the reupholstered couch and selling it to someone else.

The police report may or may not be helpful should you try to make a claim against their business insurance.


Title: [NC] Geico is refusing to pay medical after their driver hit me

Question: [deleted]

Answer: File a claim with YOUR insurance.  Let them duke it out with the other driver's insurance company.Answer #2: Is Geico your insurance carrier or theirs? You should be talking to your insurance.Answer #3: Don't sign any document or accept a check on the condition that it's full payment.


Title: Would a jury be sympathetic in a civil case where a person sued because they bought food in order to raise money for a child with cancer, and ended up getting food poisoning?

Question: With that depend on how severe the food poisoning case is, such as if it is resulted in a near death? Or if it resulted in financial issues like lost wages for medical expenses?

Answer:
 As a juror, I would be annoyed that someone was bringing such a frivolous lawsuit. Depending on the jurisdiction, it might be in small claims court, which might mean that there is no jury. If I were defending against the suit, I would argue that the reason why you bought the dinner is irrelevant and therefor inadmissible. It does nothing to make it more or less likely that you were sold tainted food. Backup evidentiary argument is prejudice I guess? Its sympathetic effect outweighs its probative value.

Just my two cents. This is a really basic analysis because I am not a *trial* lawyer.


Title: If someone cuts you off and you crash into your neighbor, then who's fault is it?

Question:
So this morning was another insane drive to Down Town LA for me. Majority of the folks in LA sahk at driving. (sometimes I get the feeling that a lot of folks in SoCal do too, hopefully this isn't true for the rest of our country.) Anyways, this driver turns on their Blinker and starts changing lanes right away. I think I was in their blind spot and they cut me off. I was honking my horn like a crazy beach but still had to quickly sway, dip in a bit into my neighboring lane. Thank chances and odds the other car wasn't there in the neighboring lane or had also swerved right to avoid me, not sure.

So say this sheet happens and the person who cut me off doesn't get hit because I swerve into my neighbors lane, and hit my neighbor. Now I know in LA the beach who cut me off would drive off quick and momentarily forget and forgive them selves. How about me who hit the neighbor, would I be financially responsible, even if both me and my neighbor had insurance? Who's fault would this be? Am i to stick in my lane and get hit even though I see it coming?

Answer:
 > How about me who hit the neighbor, would I be financially responsible, even if both me and my neighbor had insurance?

Being responsible and having insurance are not mutually exclusive. Your insurance pays because you are responsible or if you have policy that pays to protect yourself.

> Who's fault would this be?

Depends on alot of variables. If what you are saying that lane change was caused by someone else bad lane change they share some responsibility. BUT remember, cars are in motion. You can avoid accidents not only by swerving out of the way, but also by braking and allowing the other car to pass in front of you. And before you say "but if I hit brakes car behind me will hit me," you can just get off accelerator and allow your speed to reduce gradually and as long as car is not following too close they will have ample time to avoid collision.

> Am i to stick in my lane and get hit even though I see it coming?

You are to control your car safely and do so in a reasonable manner. Rarely is swerving into another car a reasonable solution (but yes sometimes it is). Everything else is fact specific.


Title: Is it illegal in BC, Canada, for me to help my boyfriend with his work?

Question:
I'm unpaid obviously, just helping out on the odd occasion.
The owner objected to my presence saying it was illegal. I know unpaid interns are illegal if you're not getting credit for it, but what about just volunteering my help?

Answer:
 Your boyfriend's employer has some very good reasons to refuse to allow this, and can fire your boyfriend if he continues to have you "help." You aren't breaking the law, but the employer might be - or at least, they might owe you wages for allowing it, and if you're injured or if you wander off with confidential information or something, the resulting legal wrangling might well be too expensive for the business to sustain.

On the upside, if you're good at the job, make them an offer to hire you!


Title: Marriage validity in US to young girls from another country

Question:
If I hypothetically went to a hypothetical country where the marriageable age is less than in the USA would that marriage be valid in the USA? If so what age would be the lowest age that is allowed? You see I got in an argument with a friend about if it will be valid so it's all very hypothetical you see.
Topic:
Immigration

Answer:
 The marriage would still be valid, but not all states exempt wives from statutory rape laws (although some do). So you could be married, as long as no sexual activity occurred. Also the UN has said child marriage is a violation of International Human Rights and has sought to raise the minimum marriage ages around the world as part of their millennium development goals; you can see a map [here](http://www.theatlantic.com/international/archive/2015/03/child-marriage-map/387214/)

Keep in mind, traveling internationally to have sexual activity with a minor is a violation of federal law.


Title: I want to put the man who molested me in jail

Question:
I posted this on r/advise and was suggested to go here.
I'm in the US. At the age of 12 I was molested by my mothers boyfriend at the time and it happened twice. I didn't do anything about it until I was possibly 15? I had a lot of counseling since I was 12 and never brought up me being molested until I was around 15 and was ready to do something about it. My counselor set up a meeting with CPS. I met with them told them all the details and mentioned he had a daughter who was a little older that told me she went through it too. After that day was done we received a phone call being told nothing could be done because there was little evidence. I'm 18 now I'm not satisfied that I had nothing done for my experience and still want justice. Is there anything I can do now to make that happen or is it to late?
Topic:
CPS and Dependency Law

Answer: You can report what happened to the police. If they decide not to do anything, you can complain about that decision to the local prosecutor and/or the people who supervise the police in your jurisdiction.


Title: Teacher accused my of smoking pot can I sue?

Question: Hello I had a question regarding slander. So the scenario is I walked into class after searching for my lost laptop, upon arriving the teacher called security and sent me to the office, as I attempted to explain why I took so long the teacher said " how do I know you were not smoking dope" does this count as slander. The entire class heard this a laughed at me.

Answer: They did not make any false statements of fact, so by your own description there was no slander.


Title: minor crossing state lines to visit me

Question:
I'm an SD in my 40s.

I 've been chatting with a potential SB who originally lied about her age. Turns out she's 17.

She lives in NJ and planning to visit me in CT this weekend.

There's no expectation of sex in the near future, but it may happen. There's been no discussion of money in any way.

So she's travelling from NJ via train to NYC then another train to CT.

Age of consent in NJ and CT is 16. NY is 17.

Any laws being broken?

Answer: So you're basically patronizing an underage prostitute who is traveling across state lines to visit you, and you want to know if any laws are being broken? Seriously? Yes, of course they are. Answer #2: Also, forgot to note in other posts, but it’s probably a scam, the lie about age thing is getting increasingly complex.  Girl will get in a crash on the way there and “dad” will call to extort money for car, phone, and therapy.  Heck there may even be a girl who shows up and convinces you to have sex.  Next week “dad” will call and extort money.  I feel like we have seen a cruise ship version of this a few months back and this wouldn’t shock me.


Title: My dad is forcing me to work with a concussion

Question:
[Chicago IL] On Monday I hit my head at work and was diagnosed with a concussion within an hour. I have had 2 concussions prior and both were before I turned 18. I was glad to finally be 18 this time around because both other times my dad interfered and forced me to believe I was being overdramatic and sent me back to school/ work early. This time I thought I would have full control. But I don't. As a former wrestling coach and high school PE teacher he thinks he knows more than doctors and can tell me what to do and it is becoming debilitating. He has been constantly lecturing me about how he has seen his wrestlers on the end of the bench throwing up and crying because they have no clue who they are, but that they were back at practice in three to five days doing full workouts. I've tried to tell him that he is an awful person if he let that happen but he won't listen. I am now out of work until next Monday and he is livid. Telling me I am an embarrassment to our family and that I disappoint him on a daily basis. The newest thing he has done is tell me that doctors have no clue how to deal with concussions and that all they do is cover their ass to ensure they can't be sued. He is telling me that if I don't go back to work tomorrow he will kick me out of the house whether I like it or not. And my biggest issue with it is that I work in a diesel mechanic shop as a shop help. So I do grunt work like lifting engine blocks and mounting and demounting tires. The doctors have told me there is no chance I would be remotely safe going back before Monday as my work is too strenuous and involves too much thought but once again he refuses to listen. Is there any way I can legally shut him up and let me heal?
Topic:
Personal Injury

Answer:
 >Is there any way I can legally shut him up and let me heal?

No. This isn't a legal issue, it's a relationship one. If you are 18 or older, you need to move out and get away from that dynamic.

You are technically a tenant, and are owed notice before he can kick you out, but the courts don't generally like to get involved with parent/child tenancy fights. Answer #2: Why don't you move out of your abusive situation. You're an adult.


Title: Sprint tried to charge my card even though I never had a contract with them, any advice?

Question: A bit of a backstory: My mom and I needed new phones a year ago so my mom signed a 12 month contract with them for two lines, I hooked my card up with them and paid my portion of the bill every month until 8 months into the contract, Sprint had added extra charges every month with no explanation and secretly turned our contract into a 16-month contract without ever notifying us. Long story short my Mom could no longer pay the bill due to the extra charges and longer contract so she just stopped paying the bill and it ended up going to collections. Fast forward 3 months later, yesterday, I was notified of an attempted charge to my account by Sprint for the amount of the phones we had with them and the extra late fees we accrue. I cancelled the charge and reported it as fraud to my bank as I had never signed any contract myself. I also never saw this debt on my credit report and I never received any notice that I am liable for it. Is there a solid case here to fight these charges Sprint is trying to charge us? Any advice is appreciated, thank you.

Answer:
 From [Sprint’s Terms and Conditions](https://www.sprint.com/en/legal/terms-and-conditions.html#paymybill):

>	If you provide your credit and debit card information to us at any time, you authorize us to charge your cards until successful for all delinquent amounts you owe us. Sprint may obtain updated information from card networks, issuers or other third-party sources.


Title: I was placed in a 72-hour hold and didn't receive necessary care.

Question:
Location: Colorado (facility is in Denver)

I was placed on a 72-hour psychiatric hold earlier this year.  I'm being charged $600 (of what insurance didn't cover), and am wondering what legal options I have.

The specifics all contribute to the underlying failure of a mental health facility to provide responsible and adequate care.  Without going into detail, there's a clear chain of events that led up to me leaving the facility.

I was discharged before the 72-hour window was up.  I asked to be discharged because I did not believe the facility was going to provide necessary medical care.  After a brief conversation with the staff psych, she agreed that the hospital was not going to be able to provide the care that I needed.  Up to this point, the hospital had not provided any psychiatric services for me in the 2.5 days that I was a patient.  I received meals, I was offered the opportunity to attend group therapy sessions for low-functioning adults (I'm not low-functioning), and I was provided necessary medication (only on the last morning I was in the facility).  There was never any individual or group therapy sessions offered that were appropriate for me.  There was never a communicated treatment plan.  My insurance covered most, but I'm still being charged about $600.

What are my legal options?

Answer:
 Options:

1. Pay the $600 or try to negotiate it to a lower amount.

2. Talk to a lawyer about a malpractice claim. From tour description. This will be a very short and fruitless conversation.

3.  That’s really about it.


Title: Landlord Illegally Entering Property (Golden, CO)

Question:
TD;DR: Our landlord is entering our house without warning and often without knocking. He says that it will not be possible to give us 24 hour notice before entering. We have told him to stop and that it is a violation of our lease and he says he can't give us notice every time. What should our next step be to get him to stop?

I live in a house with my roommates, and our landlord keeps entering the property in violation of our lease. In our lease, it states "Other than in cases of emergency, Landlord and/or Property Manager shall give 24 hour notice to the Tenant of a desire to inspect or improve the Premises."

Repeatedly, our landlord has shown up without giving any notice, often using his key to open our door and walking in without knocking first. Once, he walked in to my roommates bedroom at about 9:00 AM on a Saturday while he was still asleep. When we ask why he doesn't knock he says "He didn't think anybody was home."

Yesterday, when my roommate got home he was in our basement with a repair man working on our furnace.

That night when I heard about what happened I sent him a text (this is our only form of communication - I don't know his address or email address) that said the following.

"Hey 'Landlords Name', you came by earlier today check our furnace I believe. While I appreciate you checking to make sure the house is in good shape, you didn't tell anybody you were coming over before you did. Our lease requires that provide 24 hours notice before you come into the house for a nonemergency repair. In the future can you make sure you let us know at least 24 hours in advance before you come over?"

Today, our landlord came over to mow the lawn, as our lease requires. I noticed him pull up, so I opened the door, waved to him and went back inside. After he finished mowing the lawn he walked into our unlocked house without knocking and said he wanted to explain to me why he wasn't able to give notice. I had a rather long conversation with him about the topic and took pretty detailed notes. I can post these notes if they are useful, but essentially the conversation goes as follows

LL: Sometimes I hire repair people that aren't able to give me a reliable time table on when they will come. They might only provide an hours notice.

Me: I understand that, but you don't tell us when you hire the repair person or give us an hours notice. Also sometimes you come over without repair people and still don't give notice.

LL: It is unreasonable for me to give you 24 hours notice, I never go into your bedrooms or touch anything while I'm here. I'm responsible for damages to the house so I need to make sure everything is working.

Me: You can still come over and check on things, but you need to give us notice first. Also if 24 hours notice is unreasonable, why did you put it in the lease?

LL: My broker wrote the lease, I didn't even know that part was in there

Me: Why didn't you read the lease before you signed it?

LL: I've been using this lease for years and never had a problem. None of my other tenants are upset that I come quickly to fix their things and keep their houses in good condition

Me: I'm also not upset that you fix our things, I just want you to tell us first

LL: I can't give 24 hours notice every time before I come over, I don't always know that far ahead. Also the repair men don't give me that much notice. Why do you guys care that I come over?

Me: There is some point before you get here that you know you are coming. You don't even tell us then. And we don't mind you coming to fix things, you just have to give us notice.

LL: If I can't come in your house I won't be able to fix things and you guys will have to fix them yourself. Remember when your toilet broke and flooded your bathroom last month? If I had to wait 24 hours then your house would have been flooded

Me: That was an emergency, you're allowed to enter for that without notice. Also I called you and asked you to come over. You can still come into the house you just have to tell us first

LL: I'm a busy person, I don't just sit around and twiddle my thumbs all day. I'll give you guys notice when I can but it can't be a thing I'm required to do.

Me: It is a thing you're required to do. It's in the lease.

LL: I didn't write the lease, I'll give you guys notice when I can. This conversation isn't going anywhere. *leaves*

I don't really know what to do at this point. I don't feel like I have anything I can sue for - we don't really have any damages. But I also want him to stop coming into our house without notice. Even today when he walked in from the backyard without knocking irked me a bit. What should our next step be? He is aware of what the lease says and says that it is not possible for him to obey.

Answer:
 You can provide him written notice that his continued violation of his obligations related to entry of the premises is a breach of your right to quiet enjoyment of the premises.

Your option, ultimately, is to legally break the lease and leave. Answer #2: Is this the owner of the property?

My only suggestion is to document dates and times so you will have that in case you do decide to break the lease. Answer #3: > I didn't write the lease

Neither did OP.  Does that mean OP doesn't have to abide by the "paying the landlord money" clause in the lease either? :P

(snark, not advice.  This is definitely not an actual reason to not pay rent)


Title: [CA] My health insurance was provided through work by Cigna, I recently quit my job so I called Cigna to see how I could continue coverage and they told me that my plan was terminated in March. I quit on November 2nd and had been paying for it until then.

Question:
Like I said in the title, I have been paying for my health insurance through my company out of every paycheck up until the day that I quit on November 2nd. I called the provider last week and they told me that the plan was cancelled in March.

I've called my old company and they are telling me that their records show that I am still covered and from what I can tell, they have done nothing to contact Cigna to verify whether I am or not.

I have paid about $1200 dollars since March for health insurance that I have not been receiving.

How should I proceed?

Answer:
 You need to talk to your previous company's HR department and have them follow up.

If you have copies of your paystubs, you'll be able to prove you've been paying for the plan.


Title: Last night I was caught attempting to shoplift around $20 worth of alcohol and I am 16. Should I be panicking?

Question:
First of all, I know this was a stupid thing to do. I have been doing some stupid stuff lately and have been written a prescription for Prozac for anxiety and depression, but I can't get the prescription for a month. So I have been trying to do dumb stuff to keep my spirits up. I have no intentions on doing anything like this again.

I am in California.

Last night I snuck out of my house and attempted to steal some alcohol from Safeway. I have done it before at the same store and never been caught or approached, and I have bought items there since the last time I did it and they didn't say anything to me. So I don't think I had been previously spotted. But last night when I was taking the beer up to the front, people there started following me around and when I set the beer down near the front of the store, they picked it up and brought it back to the aisle it came from. I remember the guy who picked them up saying "I don't know, he just set them down"

I was with two of my friends, and we had been drinking. I am pretty sure I was blacked out, because I barely remember anything that happened. According to my friends, the guy said something like "Looks like you didnt get away with it this time" mockingly, but I never heard that. I ended up just buying some chips, but I entered my safeway club card that my parents and I use. When we were walking out, I'm almost certain a guy was writing down a description of me, because he was writing something and looking up at me and I heard him say "....6 feet....." as I walked by.

So I think this is the worst case scenario: They saw me take the beer last time, and they caught me trying to take it again, and they have my moms name (which is on the safeway club card), so they are going to fine me or my parents.

And I think this is the best case scenario: They didnt see me before, and they think this was my first and only failed attempt.

Does anyone know the laws regarding this or what Safeway in particular is going to do?

EDIT: Please don't downvote me, if you don't want to help me thats fine but don't prevent other people from helping me.

EDIT: Should I try to contact the manager and apologize or something? I have around $6000 that I got from music royalties so I think I could pay off any fine I might get.

Answer:
 > Does anyone know the laws regarding this or what Safeway in particular is going to do?

You're guilty of shoplifting. Safeway may or may not prosecute you. If they do, hire a lawyer. It is not in your best interest to continue confessing to crimes on the internet.Answer #2: Safeway has high definition cameras at all of their registers, entrances, and most aisles (definitely the alcohol one).  In law enforcement we absolutely love Safeway cameras because they are some of the best face shots we can get.  If you stole previously they almost certainly have it on tape and they can file a theft report with a police for up to a year.


Title: [CA]Landlord is taking FOREVER to fix our oven, what are our options?

Question:
Hello Reddit,
We recently moved into an apartment in Los Angeles and after a few days we finally had the time to make dinner. So I went to start the oven and realized that it was not hooked up whatsoever. We notified the landlord (who lives right next to us ) and it was fixed, but no one told us when it was hooked back up or anything, I still have no idea when they fixed it.

Well after they hooked it back up whenever we tried to use it we noticed an awful gas smell coming from the oven so we stopped using it and notified the landlord, after about a week of asking them to fix it they told us there is nothing they can do and we need to contact SoCal Gas.

Well SoCal Gas came out the same day we reported it and told us it is spitting out triple the amount of carbon monoxide that it is supposed to and he disconnected the oven and wrote up a letter stating it is unsafe and needs to be repaired ASAP. Also while the guy was checking out the oven (he had it on for a while) I was in the apartment and got violently ill with carbon monoxide poisoning.

Well we notified them of the issue and didn't hear back anything from our landlord and property management company. So my girlfriend decided to call a manager and threaten them with not paying rent until it is fixed and finally they said they will fix it.

3 days later they told us that they ordered a new oven and will let us know when they will be in to replace it. That was about 5 days ago and still haven't heard anything.

I need to know what our options are? We haven't had an oven in over 3 weeks and they are taking forever to get this resolved. Not only that but I got freaking carbon monoxide poisoning and could have died because of this.

Do we have any options to withhold rent until the day it is fixed? Is there anything we can do?? Any help is greatly appreciated!

Answer:
 5 days still seems without a reasonable amount of time for an order of an oven to be processed and delivered. I would ask them for the tracking number or order invoice, so you can check on the status the the delivery.

What a "reasonable" amount of time is isn't specifically defined, so you'd have to take them to court and have a judge decide whether they had exceeded that threshold. Most people would likely agree they haven't exceeded that yet.

As to the more important detail you didn't specifically ask about: Does your apartment have CO detectors? If so, what was their manufacture date? CA law requires they be installed and properly maintained in rentals.


Title: Update: My disability lawyer won't call me back (MA)

Question:
Original: https://www.reddit.com/r/legaladvice/comments/4d2vxh/ma_my_disability_lawyer_wont_call_me_back/

First of all I want to thank everyone who replied to my original post. It had not even occurred to me that my appeal had never been filed until it was brought up here.

It was a long wait over the weekend but last Monday I called the Appeals Council to see if my appeal had been received (I couldn't make it in to a physical office due to a snowstorm). The person I talked to there was very sympathetic and helpful, and confirmed your suspicions: my appeal had never been received. They asked for the fax number that it had been sent to (it was on my CCed copy of the letter my lawyer wrote) and when I gave it to them, they were shocked that it had been sent there - apparently it was a very outdated number that hadn't been used in five years. Still they said that if my lawyer had the fax confirmation, they would immediately reopen my case and expedite it through the Appeals Council.

I wrote my lawyer a letter explaining that I was appalled by the lack of communication and reiterating what I had been told by the Appeals Council, demanding that I receive some form of update within 14 days or I would be filing a complaint with the bar. I sent it by Certified Mail and waited.

It was delivered last Wednesday, and after not hearing anything I began to lose faith that I'd get a response. As a precaution I consulted with a lawyer who does legal malpractice suits and works on contingency. He said his caseload was full but gave me the contact info of another lawyer, and said to call them if I hadn't heard back within the 14 days.

Today I finally got a call from my lawyer. She apologized for everything and offered the excuse that there had been a lot of changes at the firm and I had gotten lost in the shuffle. That didn't explain why nobody had returned my calls in two years but I didn't press the issue. She gave me her direct number and told me that she found the fax confirmation and that SSA had reopened and expedited my case and it would be as if it had never been closed.

So I am relieved, especially since I currently depend on state disability, which is contingent on me having an open SSDI case. If my case hadn't been reopened I may have had to pay back almost three years worth of payments since I hadn't had an open case. The lawyer said if any issues arise with that then she will contact the state and get it fixed up.

I'm still wary but I will just have to wait and see if the promise of better communication is kept.

Thank you again for your advice. Without it I probably would not have gone against my lawyer's instructions and contacted the Appeals Council, and I would probably still be where I was two weeks ago.

Answer: Have you confirmed with the appeals council that the case has been opened as well, or are you taking your lawyer at her word? After what happened with your lawyer so far, I would definitely recommend verifying what she was telling you, at least with the case being reopened.


Title: Have property (home and land) in my name and my brother's...

Question:
In Kansas - I'm living on it, can he evict me or force me to let him/his kids move in the home? He's gotten really scary and started making demands now that our father has passed (he was living with me) to give him items. I don't feel safe.

Edit: Joint Tenancy deed was put in my and my brothers name over 7 years ago. Father had no assets when he passed, just bills and final expenses I'm dealing with

Answer:
 No he cannot evict you, but likewise you cannot prevent him from moving in.

You can buy him out, or vice versa, or sell the property and split the assets.


Title: My ex-boyfriend blackmailing me into sending more nude videos

Question:
I have never been this shaken all my life.

Back story: We met a year ago somewhere in Europe. He lives in Belgium and I,  Philippines. We totally clicked,  as in everything was working the way I wanted. And so I thought.

I have to admit, during the course of our relationship I did send him intimate photos and videos. But I was not that stupid to show my face, lest it could land in the wrong hands. I did it at first because I want to please him, but the months passed and he was demanding more and more. Way more than I'm comfortable with.

Now: We had a little spat before we broke up completely. He started calling me out things like weirdo,  bitch,  a fat ugly whore. I ignored them all, but he bacame worse.  He warned me that he'll send all my videos to my employer and that he'll make sure that it will destroy me. He also said that,  he'd only stop if I send him more daring videos.

I replied for the last time and said I would call the police and hand over all our messages. I tightened up my social media security settings ever since. I notified our HR about the incident and they will vigilantly keep me posted.

I'm still getting over this horrifying trauma.

If ever he did shared the videos without my consent,  what legal action should I take? I know it can be difficult since we live in two different continents.

Answer:
 It's good that you didn't give in. Remember, blackmail never ends, the blackmailer will continue as long as you comply.

If the photos comes out, it'll be embarassing, but it'll pass. They will soon be swept away in the flood of porn that's the internet. It'll blow over, and it won't be you who'll be the one considered an asshole.Answer #2: You write that he "was" based on belgium, where do you both live now?

You included a ton of info that is irrelevant.  The context of your relationship, how it started, was, or ended means nothing to your question.  Your post could easily be your locations, what he threatened, what your concerns/questions are and what you did in response.

You've done good though.  Do not talk to or respond to him, you already alerted some people (which is optional) who may receive the pictures.  If he is in a different country still it will negatively impact your options - which are limited because he has not actually sent any pictures of you out Answer #3: I would suggest contacting his local police department about the blackmail. If you are really concerned you could also pay a lawyer somewhere near him to send him a letter.


Title: More questions and an update about the friend that tried to ruin my side business.

Question:
https://www.reddit.com/r/legaladvice/comments/4xnxub/fl_a_friend_and_i_had_a_falling_out_hes_trying_to/

I managed to get enough friends to complain to Facebook and Craigslist that they took down the pages and ads.

Yesterday I had some friends over for drinks. Asshole decided to show up(tinder chick in tow)and try to intimidate me/fight me. I guess he though I'd be alone?

As I opened the door to tell him to go away he punched me in the stomach, luckily he's weak.  One of my friends helped me tackle him to the ground and we sat on him. My other friend called the cops and so did tinder-girl.

Obviously they lied about what happened and claimed that I attacked him but the cops smell that bullshit a mile away. It didn't help that he and tinder-girl had weed on them and she had been previously arrested for theft.

Would I be able to get a restraining order after all of this? That'd cost about the same as a cease and desist right?

Edit:I'm fine. It's just deep bruising.

Answer:
 Do whatever you have to in order to get this trashy drama out of your life.  Since now he's gotten physical, a restraining order isn't a terrible idea. Answer #2: 1. Yes, there's the possibility of a restraining order.

2. Criminal case: he could be arrested for assault or battery or various related misdemeanors.  If the DA decides to, he could be indicted and convicted, probably via a plea bargain.

3. Civil case:  you could sue him for all the money you had to spend because of the assault, like any medical bills; plus court costs and the cost to get him served.  Possibly pain and suffering as well.  You can hire a lawyer, or you can do this yourself in small claims court.  If insurance was involved they might want to get involved, too, because if they pay $2000 of medical bills for you while you pay a $200 copay, the guy really owes them $2000 and owes you $200.


Title: [Texas] My ex (29m) owes 20K+ in child support. I'm at my wits end with his refusal to accept any responsibility for this. Do I have any recourse?

Question:
So, about 5 years ago, I left my ex and filed for divorce. We had two young children at the time. He was unwilling to work with me in this process and I had him served. He never showed up in court, but I tried to make things fair. We didn't have any assets really, so I gave him all the electronics and I kept my bicycle. As for the kiddos, I went with the standard visitation order and brought in a copy of his tax return to establish financial support. He was ordered to pay $480 a month and to provide insurance. I did this all without a lawyer. I hoped to be amicable and fair. This order has never been modified.

In the past five years, he has never followed our custody arrangement (sees the kids maybe 3-7x a year), provided the kids health insurance, or paid child support on a consistent basis. He changes jobs with more frequency than most people and I've diligently called the child support agency to report his employment if I hear about it. I believe he leaves those jobs when this happens. This year he has paid some child support twice. $700 from his tax return and $1100 from a job he no longer works at. Last year he only paid $300 at the beginning of the year.

Anyway, I've contacted the child support agency many times. My case is in the "enforcement process", but I honestly don't even know what this entails. I think the only disadvantage he faces is having his license suspended, but then again he's been driving illegally most of his life.
I don't know his address, living arrangements, license plate, employment, or phone number.  Although, I do know he's employed.

I've since re-married and live with my husband and children. My husband works full time and provides all of us with insurance and I work part time and am a student. We're making it alright so I feel that my ex sees me as some kind of money hungry person when I ask about child support. But I am just so frustrated. I shouldn't have to explain to someone why they should be supporting their children. I want to be able to give my kiddos so much more. I want them to be able to explore their interests and to have money to take them places. Also, money to save for college. It's not a ridiculous concept.

So, other than just putting up with the lax government and my ex's bullcrap, is there anything else I can actually do?

Thank you so much for all the advice /r/legaladvice :)

Edit: We both live in Austin, Texas.
Topic:
Custody Divorce and Family

Answer:
 Unfortunately, if he's dead set on not fulfilling his obligations, there might not be much you can do yourself.

His failure to pay child support is a violation of Texas [(Penal code §25.05)](http://www.statutes.legis.state.tx.us/Docs/PE/htm/PE.25.htm) and, if he lives in a different state, federal [(18 USC § 228)](http://www.law.cornell.edu/uscode/text/18/228) law.

His driving with a suspended license is as well.

If he owns anything, you can [get liens against his property](https://www.texasattorneygeneral.gov/cs/attorneys/crimnonsup/crimnonsuphb_ch11.shtml#ch11_enforce). He's also accruing 6% simple (that is, not compounding) interest on the balance he owes.

If you're not getting anywhere, you can try [contacting the Attorney General](https://www.texasattorneygeneral.gov/alerts/alerts_view.php?id=106&type=3) for help. $20k is a lot of back support.


Title: I suspect my Fiancee's Ex-Husband of calling CPS on me, and he had no evidence. Can I retaliate against him legally? I'm tired of him wasting our time.

Question:
Edit: From Texas.

My fiancee's son recently got back from visiting his father for the summer.

Long-story short: we believe that he called CPS because he got angry that he agreed to bring his son back early, and he decided to break that promise and threaten to call the police on us if we contacted him before it was time for my fiancee's son to go home.

A CPS worker came to visit me, and after the interview was over she basically said there was no evidence of abuse whatsoever, and that I shouldn't be worried.

Her ex also lied and tried to pretend that he didn't know anything about the CPS interview/case, even though that the CPS worker that visited us said that he and his wife had been talked to before my fiancee even received a call from CPS.

The CPS worker couldn't say who called to make the allegations, but she strongly hinted towards this man's direction.

Is there anything I can do? This man is vindictive, and has been making my life with my fiancee difficult for the past couple of years.

Thanks for reading.

Answer:
 No. You have no proof he called and the information about who reported is confidential.

And even if you did, you would have to prove it was knowingly false information and the report was only for malicious purposes.


Title: Soon to be ex is sharing my medical diagnosis trying to get back at me

Question:
I (43F) will be serving my husband (44M)  with divorce papers soon, we have been unhappy for many years.  I recently discovered that my husband has told numerous friends that I have ADHD, which I have always kept very private to not impact my career.

The betrayal has destroyed me emotionally and I need advice on how to stop him asap.

Answer: Yes, he is allowed to tell people the truth about you.


Title: Falsely arrested for GTA??

Question:
Long story short, I was filming a prank at USC and took a school golf cart that was left on for a few hours \- and I was arrested for GTA.

Full video [here](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yHcsyf_n3dw)

To me, this seems super harsh for borrowing a golf cart, were the officers right here?

Answer:
 "It's just a prank" is a terrible legal defense.

You need a lawyer because you stole a golf cart.  There's nothing else really to say here.


Title: Terminating parental rights (TX-USA)

Question: [deleted]

Answer: Probably not. TPR is what is referred to as the family court's death penalty. If all dad is doing is dodging child support, the court isn't going to grant him TPR because that stops his child support obligations. The court wants him to pay child support. You have to give the a better alternative than just keeping dad on the hook like having someone else step into the role of the parent for the child.


Title: Power company turning off power for 4 hours

Question:
This is happening in a neighboring area, so I'm not directly affected thankfully. The power company for the neighboring town is planning on turning off all power from midnight to 4 AM for all customers. This is for them to do maintenance, which does need to be done. The recommendation is to use an extra blanket to stay warm. This is in southern Ohio, where it is getting to zero degrees.

Is there legally anything that could be done if something happens because of the outage? I'm thinking elderly people who may not handle the colder temps or others who have items on battery backup that won't last for 4 hours (medical or for work).

Answer: It would be surprising in the extreme if a state has outlawed routine maintenance of the electricity grid taking place with advance notice and at a time chosen to provide minimum inconvenience.Answer #2: Which is better: a planned outage with advanced warning so you can be prepared for it, or an unplanned surprise outage when things eventually break with no idea how long it'll take to fix it.


Title: Can you sue someone for legal fees incurred due to them sending a bogus cease and desist letter that has no merit, and was never pursued?

Question: I was sent a cease and desist letter for my startup by a family member, that had no merit and was never pursued. I had to retain a lawyer to respond. Can I sue for these fees?

Answer:
 > I had to retain a lawyer to respond

No you didn't.

And no, you can't.  You made the choice to retain a lawyer and that's on you.


Title: Small claims in the US: TV vs reality

Question:
I'm in a bit of an argument with the old man... my contention is that most small claims cases in the US aren't petty disputes between friends/family/neighbours like you see on Judge Judy. Or am I wrong, and it's common in the US to sue people for a couple hundred bucks?

I get suing over someone damaging your car, vet bills for injuring your pet, but how common is it for close friends to sue eachother over a $200 pair of pants?

Anecdotal evidence *will* be appreciated, as well as any statistical resources. Can you access courthouse arbitration records from Florida due to the sunshine laws?

Answer: Judge Judy gets their cases by combing through actual small claims cases in the country and picking the ones that would be good TV, and asks the litigants if they’d rather have their case decided by Judith. So that is a sampling of notable, yet real court cases. The real life court *process* however is not quite the same as on televisionAnswer #2: You're both right.  90% of the small claims cases are debt collection and auto accidents, including subrogation. With that said,  the judge Judy cases do happen too.  Every problem you can imagine comes through those doors.


Title: Can Native American reservations legally sell beer to people under 21?

Answer: Federal law requires reservations to follow state liquor laws.


Title: Gifting a *possibly* illegally harvested deer skull to someone else? (Nebraska/Pennsylvania)

Question:
I went deer hunting with my grandpa when I was 12-13 and legally shot a deer. He promised to clean the skull and mount it for me. About a year later he then gives me the mount and it’s not my deer. It’s smaller and I have a picture of the deer I shot versus the mount he gave me and it’s not the same deer. He chalked it up to “ we shot several deer that season, I must’ve mixed them up.” And that was that. I have been staring at this mount for 13 years now and I always get irritated looking at it. I have a friend who lives out of state who collects bones and skulls so I want to gift it to her. (It’s a nice mount, my grandpa made it himself and it’s quite nice)

The only dilemma I am having is my grandpa most likely poached this deer. He is not an ethical hunter and often times will hunt without a permit, fish way over his daily limit, and shoot whatever animal cross his path. I didn’t know if I send this skull through the mail if I could get in trouble for not having paperwork or a tag connected to the deer? I have never mailed bones in the mail before so I have no idea if it’s even an issue I could should consider. And also I don’t know if the deer was legally taken or not so I have no idea.

The deer was hunted in Nebraska and Would be sent to Pennsylvania, hence the states in the title.

Answer: Taxidermied animals are bought, sold, given, traded, or trashed all the time. You’re fine, all you know is your grandpa gave it to you, anything beyond that is just guessing.


Title: Child Support Waiver for One(or Two or Three)-Night(s) Stands

Question: Before having sex, if I have a woman sign a waiver stating that she will not come after me for child support in the event she becomes pregnant, will a court uphold that agreement? If so, does the waiver have to be signed before each coitus event, or just once? Massachusetts.

Answer:
 Hahahahahahahhahaha.

No.

EDIT: To your edit, it doesn't matter. She can lie to you about using birth control. No birth control method other than abstinence is 100% effective. The risk is present each and every time. To your child support question, as she is the mother, it is 100% her decision to pursue support. If she does not pursue support, and cannot support the child, she can lose custody of the child. Also, until the baby is born, nothing in this nature can be begun/completed.Answer #2: She cannot waive the rights of her unborn (or born) children.

On the other hand, that contract sounds like effective birth control.  Can't imagine you'd ever get laid if you start asking women to sign that contract.Answer #3: > will a court uphold that agreement?

Hah! No. Not a chance. Answer #4: > it's like a sex prenup.

OK.. Call it that.

You can't waive child support in a prenup, either.Answer #5: Such a waiver wouldn't be with worth the paper it's printed on.  Child support is ultimately an obligation to the **child**, and the yet-to-be-born child can't sign your waiver.

The courts have determined that a child is entitled to the support of both its parents. End of story.


Title: Recently inherited my childhood home and moving there. Want to keep it safe and secure so my children inherit it. Should I have my husband sign a rental agreement or something else?

Question: I know it’s better if I make sure it’s secured. From him. How should I proceed?

Answer:
 No.  A rental agreement doesnt change whether or not he may have an interest in the home.

Your best option is to talk to an attorney. You may want to put the home in a family trust


Title: My father's exgirlfriend won't allow his friend to pick up his things because she wants my dad to "face her"

Question: Long story short my dad left his verbally abusive girlfriend and had asked a mutual friend to go pick up the rest of his belongings. The friend contacted her to set up a date and she is refusing to release my dad's things until he "faces her". Should my dad ask the friend for a police escort? If so does he need to provide proof to the police his things are his? What tights does he have? We are in California.

Answer:
 Well, she doesn't get to keep your dad's belongings, but she doesn't have to allow someone else onto the property to get them, either.

If she's willing to ship them, then he could offer to cover the cost of, say, Fedex. If not, your dad's best option is probably to schedule a time with her, then ask the local police department for a civil standby while he collects his things. If he does his best to get in, get his stuff, and get out without reacting to her, then the presence of an officer usually acts as a steadying influence.Answer #2: I'm pretty sure he can get police escorts to pick his belongings up. I've read that a few times in relationships. It keeps the peace without the chance of false accusations that you took things of hers or acted out that could bite you later.


Title: Can I legally booby-trap my own car?

Question:
r/legaladvice - I need help.

Over the past two years I have been living in a nice condo building with an underground parking garage (in Denver, Colorado). There have been a lot of security issues since day one - within the garage specifically - and criminals have been breaking into cars and stealing property. I own a soft-top Jeep Wrangler so my vehicle is an easy target and has been "broken" into a dozen times now. I don't leave any valuables in it, they've still stolen random stuff from my car (jumper cables, phone chargers and they even ripped the state park pass off my windshield).

Honestly, I've stopped locking my doors because if I do they just unzip the soft-top and climb in. I've contacted Denver Police Dept (DPD) multiple times and filed multiple reports - with no obvious change over the past 2 years. The condo management company tells us to "hide our valuables" (freakin' duh!) and to watch for "suspicious" people sneaking into the garage behind our cars as we pull-in. Both are lame suggestions and not helpful when put into practice. There are like 120 units in my building, how am I supposed to know if the stranger walking by is a homeless dude or a person who lives 2 floors above me? The condo HOA keeps deferring the to management company and the management company keeps deferring to the HOA - and I'm stuck in the middle.

So - it's come to this. The HOA sucks, the management company sucks and the DPD "patrols" (if they even happen) do absolutely nothing. I want to take measures into my own hands - I'm tired of walking down to the inside of my Jeep being absolutely trashed. What can I do to legally booby trap my Jeep? I want to deter these  criminals from seeing my Jeep as an easy opportunity. I have almost no idea what to do. All my ideas are basically bad movie pranks like - a stink bomb or a mouse trap in the glovebox or something potentially very stupid.

I need some advice.

TL;DR - My Jeep keeps getting broken into. HOA, Condo Management Company and Police have done nothing over past 2 years. Can I booby trap my own car?

Answer: No.


Title: (PA)Potential CC Fraud criminal charges

Question: Me and a friend went to a concert. He said he would buy me a ticket so I let him use my ticketing account to make the purchase. The ticketing site used my facebook to register. Fast forward a month and I have received an email(no phone call??) (addressed using my first name but not last) from a police officer saying that they have me as a suspect for fraud because the card that was used apparently had the charges disputed at some point. The officer said to call the place and I can pay them back in stead of being charged with fraud, or to call him. I feel like this officer is trying to get me to incriminate myself. I want to get this figured out... but I am scared to call him or the place and somehow make this situation worse.

Answer:
 FFS, don't call whomever was allegedly ripped off, and don't call the "officer" either -- both are no win for you.

If it's a scam and you call them, you're double paying and giving up your payment information.

If it's actually the police, you WILL make an admission during the call that they can use against you, no matter how smart you are.

Doing anything other than sitting tight at this point is the wrong move.  If it's a scam, they'll piss off.  If it's the police and they have enough to come for you, then they will.  At that point you say nothing other than: I'm not speaking.  I want a lawyer.  You can talk to him.


Title: If a rape victim kills their attacker during the rape, does the affirmative self-defense defense hold up?

Question: Would it depend on if the assailant was armed? Also, what if the killing was done by a passerby who saw a violent rape occurring rather than the victim? When is it legally okay to kill a rapist is basically what I'm asking.

Answer:
 In my state, a person may use deadly force when in fear for their life or the life of someone else, or to prevent the crimes of rape or kidnapping.Answer #2: This will be highly dependent on location, but usually the defense applies against "threat to the life or grievous harm". The question would then be "is rape a threat of grievous harm?"Answer #3: In my state, you may only kill or do GBH in self defence if:

(1) you are acting in response to an *unprovoked* assault; and
(2) the nature of the assault causes a reasonable apprehension of death or GBH; and
(3) the defender believes, *on reasonable grounds*, they cannot otherwise be saved from death or GBH.


Title: I am looking to start a company but do not have much set aside for employees... [MO - USA]

Question:
Under employment law, can workers be compensated through a percentage of the revenue generated?

For example, if I started a business and generated XXXXX amount of dollars..... could I compensate workers through a percentile of the business revenue?

Or would they have to be paid a salary or hourly rate? Additionally, what rules would there be for independent contractors? Etc.

Answer: No.  You should not start a business if you know this little about running a business.  Get an attorney.


Title: I somehow rescheduled Jury Duty for the past, what do I do?

Question: So I was summoned for jury duty in August of 2018, and I rescheduled it for late April of what I thought was 2019. I just took a look at my new summons, and they are calling for me to report on April 25th of **2018**. What do I do? How could this even happen, and is there going to be some sort of retroactive warrant for my arrest? Is there a way I can check to see if I'm in trouble?

Answer:
 Call the court and tell them they oopsed your summons.

They'll either tell you to show up this year, or tell you to forget about it.


Title: Seasonal position termanation because of anxiety

Question:
My girlfriend and I live in southern Ontario along lake Ontario. She has been working at the local pet retail Store in town since the end of the summer, when she was hired the position and job description said seasonal part time. This is not a problem as it's normal for some companies to hire that way in order to make it easy to let go of someone for little to know reason. As she has been working she tells me that all of the managers say that the position is seasonal but they usually always keep people on after the 90 days. My GF has anxiety and depression that cause her to have panic attacks, she has been to a doctor and we are currently in the process of trying To find the best medication.

Since October she has called in 5 times and 3 of them have been panic attacks. She absolutely loves the job but she had not told anyone about her struggle with mental health as see is scared of the stigma and having people look at her different. I have checked the Ontario Human Rights Commission and according to that the employer had a duty to accommodate, and under my understanding that means they can not fire her for having anxiety or any other mental illness. She told me that they told her "this is not a place for healing" and "I sympathize with people who grow up in today's word but this is a business" and that they would be letting her go at the end of December.

The part that I am unsure about is that because it is a seasonal position are they able to slip it under the rug and pretend it has nothing to do with her mental illness?

Answer:
 I’m confused - your post says she has not told anyone at work about her struggles with mental health.  How could they fire her for it if they don’t know about it?

Your interpretation is also incorrect.  A duty to accommodate does not mean that she can call in sick whenever she wants without consequences.


Title: my friend and her child are being abused

Question:
I have a friend who lives in Florida. Let’s call her Anna. Anna is dating a guy named Josh*. Anna and Josh have a 5 month old baby together. Recently, it has come to my attention as well as another friends, that Josh has been aggressive and violent towards Anna and the baby. He threatened to beat on the child as well as break Anna’s jaw. He’s left bruises on both mother and child.

I fear my friend Anna is either brainwashed, or just really has herself believing that this guy loves her because she refuses to take ANY action. She continues to post pictures on social media of them together, making facade that everything is okay when it isn’t.

I’m terrified for my friend and her child. Josh has a long history of doing terrible things to Anna, as well as women before her.

What can I do legally to intervene? Should I contact local police and have them do a wellness check? Should I contact CPS? I don’t know what to do but I worry if I don’t take action that her and the baby will suffer dearly. Perhaps I should pass the buck to her parents, who are absolutely unaware of this issue.

Any and all advice is appreciated.

Answer:
 If you believe a five month old baby is being abused, you should absolutely contact CPS in her state. Your name can be kept confidential and it's important that you speak up for the welfare of the child. You can't control what your friend does, but this child is helpless and needs someone to protect it. Answer #2: >Florida. Let’s call her Anna. Anna is dating a guy named Josh*. Anna and Josh have a 5 month old baby together. Recently, it has come to my attention as well as another friends, that Josh has been aggressive and violent towards Anna and the baby.

I knew a guy from school who acted like Josh. He ended up killing their toddler a month before she'd have turned two. It would've been nice if someone who'd known about the abuse she'd suffered before then had called CPS.

You're in that position now, so you should totally call CPS. Passing it off to someone else raises the chance they won't report it to the authorities themselves, and most jurisdictions have protections for people who make reports in good faith.


Title: [NE] University failed to inform me that I was the victim of a crime

Question:
Hi, I was sexually assaulted 10+ years ago while I was a student living in Nebraska. At the time I thought that it wasn't a crime since there was no penetration and no physical injury. However I was recently looking at Nebraska state law and discovered that what happened to me is a misdemeanor third degree sexual assault, with no statute of limitations (this is the current law, and it was the law at the time the assault happened too).

Shortly after the assault happened, I filed a complaint with the school against my assailant for sexual harassment (they did an investigation and ultimately found that I had no cause of action). I'm pretty sure I told them about the assault, and at no time did they advise me that it was a crime and I could press charges if I wanted to. I have contacted the university asking for both a copy of my complaint and the school's decision, but they said that it's so long ago they don't think they have a record of it anymore.

Questions:

1. Is the university legally required to keep those records for a specified amount of time?
2. Assuming I described the assault to them and they understood me, were they legally obligated to advise me that a crime had taken place?
Topic:
School Related Issues

Answer: A university doesn’t determine if a crime was committed.