Title: Sexual Assault - Advice Very Much Needed

Question:
[New Jersey]

This is a throwaway, and I'm just really in need of some help.

A few weeks ago, my girlfriend came to me and told me about a situation in which she was sexually assaulted.  If the details of this situation are important, just ask.  I know you may say, " dude she just cheated on you and is feeling guilty," but to be honest I don't believe that at all.  She told her parents and many other close family members.  Shes been going to a therapist. As of right now, she has not decided to file a report for fear of the whole he said/she said argument that could end with no charges against him and then rumors being spread possibly putting her through a very torturous situation for a young adult.  Can you give any advice of how to go about this??  Any help is greatly appreciated!
Topic:
Douche

Answer:
 >Can you give any advice of how to go about this??

I'm not sure I understand your question?  She either decides to report or she doesn't.  If she decides to report, she calls the police in the location where the assault happened.

Your role is not to push her either way, but to support her in her decision, whatever it is.


Title: Getting divorced in MA. Questions about wife's business.

Question:
I'm currently in mediation for a divorce from my wife of six years. We have no children.

Most financial matters are settled. However, my wife is a very successful lawyer and a sole practitioner. I believe that as part of the settlement, I MAY be entitled to a portion of the business she's generated since we've been married. But I have no idea how much or how that would even work.

Where should I start in determining to what I am entitled?

Answer: You probably need to discuss that with your divorce lawyer.


Title: I can't attend Jury Duty because of summer classes for my university. I already postponed once. What do i do?

Question: I live in San Jose, California. I got summed for jury duty in january and postponed it to May 30th because that was the first week after my semester would be over. However, I realized mid-semester that I had to take a summer course if I wanted to graduate on-schedule. The summer session begins on June 1st and directly collides with my week of jury duty. Do I wait until the day before my jury duty week starts? Or do I have to do something now?

Answer: You should try to reschedule immediately.  Have a list of weeks that you can serve when you call.


Title: Georgia: Lady falls and breaks hip at neighborhood sponsored event at my house.

Question:
We have a very large HOA and neighborhood. We have our "club" meetings at the clubhouse every month, but since the clubhouse was booked for our January meeting I offered to have it at our house. Last night an elderly lady came in, missed a step and fell. After she laid there a few minutes a few of the other ladies got her on the couch.  She seemed OK; talking, eating, drinking tea.  At the end of the meeting (2 hours later) she couldn't get up off the couch.

She called her daughter who lives the next block over.  Daughter comes over with husband and grandson. Within the first 5 minutes, daughter tells me she's a lawyer. They then decide they need a wheelchair.  Someone goes to get one.  Meanwhile, Lawyer Daughter is again making comments that she is a lawyer.

For some reason son in law and grandson thinks it's a good idea to take the elderly lady in the wheelchair down our 2 front steps *facing forward*.  Son in law loses his grip or step, rolls over the wheelchair and railing in slow motion, and hits his face on our driveway. Face is bleeding, glasses broken. As they are getting the elderly lady in the car, lawyer daughter says, "I'm going to get a big inheritance!" (I looked her up.  She specializes in workmans comp and insurance company defense)

Also, I do not know this elderly lady very well, I see her MAYBE once a month and she probably doesn't even know my name.

Found out this afternoon elderly lady has broken hip. They are deciding whether to repair or replace. Son was also examined. Scraped up face and bruised shoulder.

I want this lady to get well. However, I felt very threatened by the Lawyer daughter repeatedly making comments about her being a lawyer. The other ladies in the club said later, "oh, she's only joking". yea. right.

Also, since this is a HOA sponsored event, can't they go after the HOA?  There was no negligence on our part. We are just middle class people.  We have basic homeowners insurance. Should we do anything at this point? I'm nervous.

TLDR: Elderly lady falls & breaks hip at our house during a neighborhood sponsored event. Are they going to sue us?

EDIT:  Thank you all for your comments.  I talked to Allstate Insurance this morning and they said since there is no negligence on my part, there is no basis to sue.

Answer:
 This is why you have homeowner's insurance.  You should call them now.Answer #2: This incident will come back to visit you about 1 week prior to the civil statute of limitations runs out for a personal injury.Answer #3: Make a note of what the daughter said, like a diary entry. Make a note of everything else that happened too.

That'd be useful for your insurance or yourself if this goes anywhere.Answer #4: Question:  doesn't there have to be some sort of negligence for the home owner to have to pay?  You trip and fall because you are old or a clutz doesn't show any negligence...Answer #5: And don't be afraid to dig into their pasts to see if they have a history of suing people.


Title: Prize Candles - How is this legal?

Question:
I recently learned about prize candles.  I watched two grown women tear apart a candle to get at the little container inside, which contained a ring and a code.  Then they went to the website and entered the code, which let them know that their prize was costume jewelry worth $10, not the jewelry worth $5000 that they were hoping for.  The candle cost $25.

Please, someone tell me, how is this not illegal gambling.

location - NH

Answer:
 I don't know the exact gambling laws in NH, but this is definitely not "illegal."

Googled prize candles, and they're just candles with a code or something inside.  People don't have to tear them apart to get the code, they can burn them down.  So you're getting a candle for $25.  Same shit as yankee candle and all that other stuff.  Just with a little sweepstakes added in.

This is literally identical to coke and other soda bottles having promo codes under the caps.


Title: US/UK Marriage looking for help moving to the US

Question:
Hi everyone!

We're a newly married couple, I (m 20) am a US citizen, and my wife (f 20) is a UK citizen. We met doing volunteer work abroad in Ecuador, and were married and are living there.

We're currently on honeymoon in the US and have decided to come back to live here. As I understand it, applying for my wife's green card from abroad can take up to a year or more before we get an interview, and we don't really want to wait that long. Is it possible for us to come back to the US in the Spring of 2018 (with my wife on a Tourist visa) and apply for a change of status for her? I'm a little confused about the requirements, so any help would be hugely appreciated!

We're planning on moving to Washington state, in the Vancouver area.

Answer: You need to consult with an immigration attorney in the US.  Entering the US on a fraudulent/incorrect visa is NOT something ICE looks favorably on and may very realistically create major issues that may prevent her from entering (or re-entering) the US for years.


Title: [CA] Accidentally Brought Weed to Military Base

Question:
My car was almost out of gas, so I looked for a gas station on Google Maps which directed my weed filled (1/4 OZ) car to a military base. By the time I saw the gate and realized where I was it was already too late to turn around.

I told the officers at the gate that I was looking for a gas station and requested to turn around, at which point the officer asked for my ID and said he smelled marijuana in the car. Next thing I knew I was was being searched and subject to a field sobriety test. I passed the test and the other officers that showed up took my weed and pipe and charged me with federal simple possession, a misdemeanor.

I contacted my public defender who told me the best case scenario is getting this thrown out before it goes to court by negotiating with the D.A. The second best case scenario is going to court and having the judge throw it out. The two worst case scenarios involve paying the several hundred dollar fine and having a misdemeanor on my record or being placed on probation for a year and having the charge thrown out after the duration of that year, so long as I don't smoke weed for the entirety of the year.

My public defender says he's waiting on a probable cause statement from the prosecutor so he can begin negotiating with the government, but I feel pretty uneasy about the situation and want to be as proactive as I possibly can.

I wasn't trying to sell weed to anyone on the base, have no connections to anyone on the base, and seriously came on to the base completely by accident looking for gas. I also have no prior arrests or any record related to drugs of any kind. I used to have a medicinal marijuana card but didn't renew it as California's weed legalization had  just gone into effect. And I don't mean the law was just passed, this was after dispensaries became open to the public.

This feels like the most ridiculous happenstance fuckup I could have possibly gotten myself into without purposely trying to break the law.

What can I do to get out of this other than wait for my public defender?

Answer:
 There's no magic way to get rid of this situation.  You and your public defender can certainly mount your defense on the charge, if any, but you can't just make this go away.  Answer #2: >What can I do to get out of this other than wait for my public defender?

Nothing.

You fucked up, you qualified for a PD, and the PD appears to be doing their job.

I suggest you brush up your navigation skills and landmark recognition so it doesn't happen again.Answer #3: >My public defender says he's waiting on a probable cause statement from the prosecutor

IANAL, but been on base a few times... pretty sure that when you enter any federal, especially military property, you're subject to search. They don't need probable cause, so that's probably going to be a moot point in this case.


Title: Someone sent mail from my mailbox.

Question:
I live in a suburban neighborhood on the east coast. My sister came home from work the other day and saw that the flag was up on our mailbox (indicating there was mail to be sent). Knowing that no one in the house was sending any mail, she investigated and found 3 letters in the mailbox. One was addressed to a P.O. box with a return address we did not recognize, one was addressed to an unrecognized address in my state with a return address we did not recognize either, and the third had an identical address and return address that we did not recognize. We left the mail in the mailbox and let it get taken by the mail carrier because 1) we weren’t really worried about it and 2) we didn’t want to accidentally do anything illegal by taking someone else’s mail (even though it was in our mailbox).

I read that it could be someone trying to commit some sort of fraud and they don’t want to be tracked, but are there any other reasons someone would want to send mail from someone else’s mailbox? If the person was trying to commit a crime, should we be worried that we could be implicated if the mail is traced to our mailbox? Is this serious enough that we talk to USPS or the police?

Thanks!

Answer:
 If it's a one-off occurrence (as in somebody couldn't be arsed to find a regular USPS box) I'd let it slide.

If it keeps happening, I'd ask about it at your local post office.

I doubt there's anything to worry about, to be honest.


Title: My father (50M) is somehow using my deceased grandfather's identity or credit?

Question:
Let me preface by saying my grandpa was NOT my dad's dad. He was my mother's dad and he passed away about 25 years ago. My father just so happens to have the same first and middle name as my grandpa. (again, not related at all except briefly by marriage)

My parents divorced shortly after and my father became an extreme money laundering thief. He's stolen thousands from all of siblings, including myself. He's committed various acts of theft in many different ways.

I am not in contact with him in any way, and I have chosen to let go most of the trauma he brought into my life.

HOWEVER. I was doing some googling, and my grandfather's name (remind you, he is my MOTHER's father) is showing up as living and ALL of his previous addresses and current, are ALL of my dad's addresses and current address. Even a home that my dad bought as a flip and never once actually moved in, is coming up as a previous address for my deceased grandpa. It's as if all of these houses and apartments were in my grandpa's name? I don't really understand it.

I don't know how this is possible but it's coming across as extremely fishy considering my dad's financial history.

How do I investigate this more, and what information do I need to prove that my dad is doing something illegal?

Answer: Did you find that info on any of those free reports from people search sites like spokeo/mylife/etc? They're regularly inaccurate and mix up family details all the time.


Title: Dentist performed work that I didn't need (Maryland)

Question:
Hi all,

I saw a dentist for an exam and x-rays, and was told I had some cavities. I had the fillings done and later saw on the statement from my insurance that I was billed for 9 cavities. I found this to be strange, but assumed that I just hadn't been to the dentist in awhile.

The filling process was awful. I had to return to the office a total of 3 times for adjustments and due to excessive pain. I was in pain for about a month, but I never had a cavity before so I assumed it was all normal.

I began to become suspicious when I realized they had been overcharging me more than what my insurance stated I should have paid for my copays. I brought this up with them and they acknowledged that they had been overcharging me on my co-pays. However, I was only offered a credit with their office as compensation and never did even receive that.

That was my first red flag. I did a little more research on the guy, and learned that he had previously lost his license for performing negligent dental work and excessive work that patients didn't need. I decided to get a second opinion on my x-rays. I provided my x-rays and my statements from my insurance that listed the fillings he did to another dentist for a consultation.

The other dentist told me that I only definitively needed 3 of those fillings. For 3 he was unable to say either way. He said I definitely did not need at least 3 of those fillings.

I am not sure whether or not this dentist actually performed the extra work or was just fraudulently billing for it. I have filed a complaint with the board of dentistry in our state.

Where do I go from here? I am also locked in a contract with their office because I am receiving orthodontic work from them (invisalign). Does this give me a good enough reason to get out of that and switch to another office? Obviously, I never want to visit there again for any sort of care. Do I have a case for a malpractice lawsuit?

Answer:
 Not a dentist, so cannot speak to any of the dental issues.  However, I do have 10+ years of insurance billing for doctor's offices.

Contact your insurance company right now.  Tell them how he is overcharging you and refuses to refund the difference, but wants to force you to accept an office credit.  This is completely unacceptable under any circumstances.  File a formal complaint with your insurance company.  There is a good chance they will cancel his contract.  If you really wanna be pissy, find out what other insurances he takes and notify them as well.

If you paid for any of your copays via credit card, you might think about a chargeback.Answer #2: Medical malpractice is very fact specific and it is unfortunately beyond the scope of this subreddit. It is highly recommended to speak with a medical malpractice attorney; your state's bar may be able to refer you to one. They typically work on contingency, meaning there is little up front cost to you. Similarly, consultations are typically free. It wouldn't hurt to meet with one, have them look over your info, and go from there.

*I am a bot, and this action was performed automatically. Please [contact the moderators of this subreddit](/message/compose/?to=/r/legaladvice) if you have any questions or concerns.*


Title: What Visa should my fiance get? (USA and Trinidad & Tobago)

Question:
USA and Trinidad are the locations. I know the obvious answer seems like just going with the fiance visa. My fiance and I met and have been dating for about a year while I go to college in Trinidad. This is my last semester there as I am transferring to an American college. We want to get married in America for several reasons. The thing is, after we get married, she needs to go back to Trinidad to finish her degree.

A K1 fiance visa is an immigration visa. It seems from my reading that people who use it, use it to get married and then have their fiance immediately go for resident status in America. Me and my fiance will eventually be living in America together but it will be about a year after we get married. So can I go with a fiance visa even though she won't be immigrating to America for a while? Or is there another visa i should go with? Thanks for the help

Answer: You really need to consult an actual immigration attorney. If you do this wrong your fiance could end up barred from the US for a period of years for a mistake.


Title: [Sun Valley, Idaho] Daughter [16f] pregnant by British man [16m]; can we legally get him to pay child support?

Question:
We lived in London for 4 years, moved back to Sun Valley a few weeks ago.

Our daughter is pregnant by this British dude who was her boyfriend for 2 years at the time.

Can we get child support from him?

Where does citizenship etc come in?

throwaway account need help.

Answer:
 Yes; he can be made to pay child support. You file when the child is born, in the state where the child lives. Because the UK is a reciprocation country; it's treated just as if he was living in another US state. The court in Idaho will send the support order to the UK, and the child support enforcement office over there will enforce it.

You'll first need to establish paternity; the Idaho court can issue an order compelling a DNA test, which will be forwarded to the UK, which they will also enforce.

There are only something like 11 reciprocating countries, so it's a lot harder elsewhere in the world. But other than taking a bit longer, legally this is pretty much the same as if he was just across the country.


Title: Marrying on tourist visa.

Question: My Sister who is an US citizen is getting married to a guy from a different country who is here on a tourist Visa. Is their anything that stops them from doing it.  Or is their anything that we should know and be aware of.

Answer: No there's no legal problem with them marrying. The issue is possibly going to be adjusting the foreign spouses immigration status, assuming that's what they intend to do.


Title: (TX) 30yrs for a marijuana charge

Question:
My step father was charged with conspiracy to deliver and intent to deliver over 100kg of marijuana.  Wednesday, he was sentenced to 30 years in federal prison.  The only evidence of the crime was multiple witness testimony.  The DA said he was shipping out marijuana from his automotive shop but the police did multiple searches during the time of the "conspiracy" and they never found anything.

Here is a local news article about it
http://www.ktxs.com/news/six-now-sentenced-in-abilene-marijuana-distribution-conspiracy/34827666

This all seems so insanely harsh and unfair to me.  We filed an appeal Friday but I don't know what else to do.

Answer:
 A jury of his peers looked at all the evidence and found that he was guilty beyond a reasonable doubt.

All you can do is appeal, if there are grounds to do so.  (Note that "I don't think he should go to prison for this" is not grounds to appeal.  There has to be a legal error made during the trial.)

Talk to the lawyer who represented him in the case- that's the best place to start.


Title: Found out my new wife is shady af and is trying to gain access to my funds/properties without my permission. I want to divorce her without her gaining access to any of my stuff, how to go by it?

Question:
[QLD, Australia]

We both make 6 figures a year so if we divorced she's self sufficient anyway, we live in a house I own, however before I met her I had inherited a sum of money I left in a bank account and a few properties. I found out she was trying to gain access to my bank account without my permission and reading up on the legal ownership on my properties. If we divorced would she gain access to stuff I owned before I met her?

To mention I already had a will made that if I died my child(ren) will get my inheritance funds/properties, yet if I don't have children the inheritance goes to my niece.

Answer:
 You need to get an attorney. Answer #2: In addition to lawyering up, do not make any major financial change without getting advice from said lawyer. One of the fastest ways to torpedo yourself in a divorce is to get caught hiding assets from your spouse. Play everything aboveboard.Answer #3: Did you have a prenuptial agreement? Answer #4: How new is new? We talking about marriage in the last months or a year or a few years?Answer #5: So Queensland courts will recognise existing assets brought into the relationship. If she helped pay out any of the debts on property then she might likely gain back her share of the capital+capital gains but not he whole amount.

NSW and VIC are both the same. If she is trying to access your bank accounts, inform the police. Call your bank and make them aware. Banks will usually accept a password for verbal discussions. I would also recommend deactivating netbanking until you get your shit sorted.

Also, get a lawyerAnswer #6: In a situation like this, lawyer up is the only advice anyone can rightly give you. That, and keep any evidence you have.Answer #7: Get an attorney. With the values involved, you need someone who can competently extricate your personal finances and belongings with the least amount of fuss.Answer #8: Obligatory pointer to /r/AusLegal - but also I agree, it's lawyer time.


Title: Update: My previous landlord is trying to say he evicted me even though I've been moved out for months. (x-post /r/needadvice)

Question: [deleted]

Answer:
 I think you need to provide a more detailed timeline here.

1. You gave notice in the first week of October. Did you send that certified or get a signed receipt?
2. You moved out Nov. 9. Did you get anything when you turned in the keys?
3. You discovered on Jan. 6 (?) that your landlord was evicting you.
4. By Jan. 20 there was already a judgment against you?

What proof have they offered that they put notification in the local paper?


Title: Mother forced me to change last name to her maiden name. Explanation in link.

Question:
My mother had my last name change from X to Y. I did not want it changed, but she convinced me to do it. We went to court on it, got it approved, but I did not send out my information that she told me I needed to send in (birth certificate, SS card, ect.) I am 18 and was when I had my last name changed, and not living with her anymore. I do not know if the paper that has the judge's approval on it is basically a waver to have my name changed on legal and federal accounts and papers, so they can change it. But if I do not want it changed, and I do not notify people that my name has been changed from X to Y, will my name legally be X or will it be Y and I will face legal charges for fraud? Sorry for the jumble, really stressed out. I'm getting married next month and we are worried that if we show up to the court house with the marriage license with my last name being X, they will say "sorry, can't help you, you'll need a new marriage licence to continue" or something like that.

I am not a smart man ._. please help.

Answer:
 If the judge signed it then your name is legally changed. It will effect jobs and taxes and everything that needs your legal name. Yes it could effect your marriage cert.

No one forced you to do it. You are an adult. Make your own choices


Title: [CA] Neighbour has set up cameras pointed at my driveway, bedroom, and front entrance. Is this legal?

Question:
We're currently doing some major remodelling and my neighbour (AR) is acting increasingly hostile towards us and the contractors. AR threatens us legally (has not done so yet) in attempts to stall our construction, as well as telling our contractor that he has been eavesdropping on the construction workers' conversations during this project. Now, AR has set up cameras facing my house (driveway, bedroom, front entrance).

We feel that AR is constantly harassing us and is now violating our privacy with the cameras and eavesdropping. Is there any legal recourse we can take to get him to remove the cameras, or is it within his power to record us? Our family attorney has suggested we act cordially to prevent any further aggression on AR's end.

Thanks for the help.

Answer:
 Unless AR puts cameras *inside* your house, he is not violating your privacy. Anything that AR can see from the street/sidewalk, his house, or anywhere that isn't your property is public. This is what fences and blinds and yards big enough to make neighbors very rare encounters were created for.

He can "eavesdrop" on conversations being held in any location where he can overhear them in public. I'm not sure why you would care if he's listening to some construction workers talk about whatever they're talking about.

As far as his legal threats -- until you get a letter from an actual attorney (you can verify by looking them up on the CA bar website) or an actual court, ignore him.

Your attorney has given you good advice. Ignore this person.

Make damn sure your contractor is licensed and insured. Make sure you got permits pulled. Make sure you're abiding by any HOA restrictions. Make sure your contractors are working only during appropriate hours as set by the city and that they are not interfering with or interacting with AR or his property in any way.

Ignore this person. Eventually he'll exhaust himself.


Title: Friday Shitpost: Lawyer Billboards and Ads

Answer:
 [This is a lawyer's ad from a while back in Baton Rouge](http://i.imgur.com/dCsPOi8.png). Yes, it's real.Answer #2: [This is a classic](https://ronfccc.files.wordpress.com/2015/01/just-because-you-did-it-doesnt-mean-youre-guilty-greensboro-nc-wilmingtoncraigslistorgrnr4827485121html.jpg)Answer #3: /u/zanctmao's [billboard](http://www.funnysigns.net/files/arrested.jpg)Answer #4: [Can't believe nobody beat me to this one](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HL3MxAH-kDI)Answer #5: http://i.imgur.com/gZml2PU.jpg

Local attorney doesn't really "get" it... but whatever, it seems like every Albuquerque lawyer with a billboard is doing this lately.

Answer #6: I've always been a fan of this video, I like to refer to it as the ["I'm a lawyer"](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tBLTW-KLdHA) video.

Then there is this [video from the 2014 superbowl.](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jr2gdPY-88w)  Played in Georgia.  He paid for 2 whole minutes of screen time.    The video is kinda metal, though the story he tells is sad and true, looked up the articles on it and the people were convicted.Answer #7: [Aliens have landed...](https://pbs.twimg.com/media/C54ihFyVAAAg5bb.jpg)Answer #8: I can't believe I have not seen [this one](https://imgur.com/gallery/enZhi) posted yet. He rocks!Answer #9: [Mike Slocumb, the Alabama Hammer](https://youtu.be/DqxC0zvHrwo)Answer #10: In Florida, Georgia, and Alabama, the sheer plethora and audacity of [Alexander Shunnarah's](https://articles.al.com/living/index.ssf/2016/05/alabamas_alexander_shunnarah_b.amp) billboards and commercials have become rather hilarious. In my opinion, the most hilarious part is that, in Florida and Georgia, the billboards and commercials have fine print assuring consumers that Mr Shunnarah is not, in fact, licensed to practice law in that state.

Apparently innundating consumers with his face is a reasonably effective marketing tactic, to be fair to the guy.Answer #11: This is from  7 years ago. I wrote about it a bit at the time.

http://farm5.static.flickr.com/4147/4980677080_4af018d71c.jpg
Answer #12: [At an Airport](http://imgur.com/VciiWaZ)Answer #13: Made an account just to post this one:http://imgur.com/LItXaYSAnswer #14: https://youtu.be/FcWNEGa8yzY
Do I win? Answer #15: https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=5KfACTAOPa0

Keeps your trap house open. Answer #16: [When what you WANT is to be represented by Guy Fieri or Dog the Bounty Hunter, but the judge wont allow it](http://marketinghy.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/05/bad-lawyer-billboard-1.jpg)


Title: Minnesota: Landlord allowed apartment resident to have a large black pitbull. It bit me and I have severe wounds. Can I sue the landlord?

Question:
Hello,

(Throwaway for legal reasons)

The landlord of my apartment building allowed somebody to have a very large black Pitbull.  The thing is very mean.  Today I was walking with some groceries from my car outside and the pitbull ran up to me and bit me, causing a bunch of lacerations on my arm and hand, and looks like it broke my finger too.  My friend cleaned my wounds and advised me to go to the hospital tomorrow, but I don't have much money and no health insurance.  I have some serious cuts and I am changing the wrappings every few hours, some of them look serious.

The person who owns the pitbull is some young guy who doesn't speak very well and he just leaves the dog tied to his door (which is outside).  The housing is very cheap and the dog owner probably has no money at all.

My question:  Can the landlord be held liable for the damage that was caused by the dog?  I feel as if the dog is obviously dangerous and shouldn't have been allowed in the first place.  If the landlord said no to the bit pitbull, I would never have gotten bitten in the first place.

I am a graphic artist/painter and I am afraid this might make my hands less steady, which would suck.  The resident has zero money, probably can't even pay the hospital bills.

The landlord owns several rental properties and has money.  It should be noted the landlord is very odd.  For example, he allowed drug use in units despite multiple complaints from residents, he even told a resident "just fucking move out" when one of them complained about pot and potential meth drug dealing going on (this is recorded, proof exists).  Also, the landlord has a history of committing fraud with the state (did a public record inquiry).

What are my options?

Thanks

EDIT:  Minnesota, north minneapolis

Answer:
 >What are my options?

Report the dog to animal control.  Sue the owner of the dog.  File a claim with your insurance.  Like thepatman said, unless the landlord did something specific, like they cut the dogs leash in front of you and said "sic-em boy" to the dog, the landlord is not liable for the actions of his tenants or their dogs.Answer #2: You would have to prove that the landlord knew that the dog was dangerous and/or was complicit in this specific attack.

Neither the dog being large, nor the dog being a pitbull, would count as him knowing the dog was dangerous.Answer #3: > What are my options?

1. Ask the dog's owner to reimburse you for your damages (medical bills). If he refuses, take him to small claims court for the costs. I would rather have a judgment that you cannot collect, than to stew in my own fury for not doing anything. File against your own insurance if he has no ability to pay.

2. Call the local animal control office and report both the dog and its owner. Maybe (hopefully) the dog will be registered as a ["dangerous dog"](https://www.revisor.mn.gov/statutes/?id=347.50) with appropriate legal penalties to follow.

3. Call the police (and animal control) each and every single time you feel unsafe by the presence of the dog.

4. Ask the LL if you can break your lease without penalty and move out.


Title: Can colleges kick out openly gay students?

Question: So I’m a fairly religious person, it’s a big part of my life and something I am open about. I will be attending a religious college this upcoming fall and am excited, but have been told from some friends that this specific college has kicked out openly gay students before and I should watch out, as I swing both ways openly. My first thought is, is that even legal? And should I stay on the downlow about myself if that’s the case? I didn’t think it was legal to kick out gay students and that has me a bit conflicted.

Answer: If you are going somewhere like Bob Jones or Liberty or similar you definitely have something to worry about. Not only could you be kicked out but you would be going somewhere where hostility towards LGBTQ people is a feature, not a big.


Title: Submitted two weeks notice before leaving my job, directly after receiving it the scheduling manager took me off the schedule and asked for my keys. Is that allowed? (North Carolina)

Question: I showed up for my scheduled shift and the Assistant manager told me she had taken me off the schedule for the next two weeks so that she could give the hours to "our managers who are staying". I have the emailed schedule before I was taken off, and a record of sending in my two weeks. Since NC is an at will employment state, I didn't have to put in the notice but I chose to in order to be professional. I really needed those hours. Sorry if this is a stupid question. I've started work at my new job, I won't starve but I'd still like to resolve.

Answer: Yep, perfectly legal.  You may be eligible for unemployment for those two weeks if you decide to pursue it.


Title: I 23m want to know what I need to do to get custody of my 8month old daughter from my ex of a 1.5 year relationship. Not married or anything

Question: I live in Arizona and am wondering what I need to do to get custody

Answer:
 Your odds of getting sole custody are very very low, unless there is something serious going on (the mother is mentally ill, severely drug addicted, abusive, or going to jail.)

Your odds of getting shared custody are really high.  You need to hire a lawyer, and ask for a custody order from a court.  Of course you can work out a custody arrangement informally as well.


Title: If someone writes me a cheque for $2500, a) is the money legally mine once I cash it, and b) will I get into trouble because of the amount?

Question:
Okay so basically I live in Ontario, Canada and I am under the age of 18. I have a job that pays bi monthly and ~$500 come pay day. It's pretty recent so I haven't saved up a ton of money from it yet.

Anyways, I was previously looking for a job and came across what seemed like a good opportunity. Basically it was a work from home job that would have me working with data and whatnot. I was then told that I would have to pay for all my equipment (such as a printer, laptop, etc.). I was unemployed so I said that I would need money from the company in order to pay for all that.

After some discussing, he agreed to send a cheque with money so that I could pay for all the equipment. The cheque is going to be for $2800.

Now here comes what I need help with. I'm just wondering, if I get that money and then I don't spend it on equipment, would I get into legal trouble? Or would the money be legally mine after they signed the cheque in my name?

And also would the cheque for $2800 be suspicious in my account? I've recently had $650 in my account but that was pretty much the most money I've ever had.

This is all just hypothetical really. The cheque might not even come because it's taken a while to get here already. I don't really care but I am still curious.
Topic:
Other Civil Matters

Answer: Ordinarily I would say that this is a scam and you should walk away right now because there is no chance this is not a scam, but seeing as how you think it's OK to steal the money on the impossible chance that it's not a scam, I encourage you to go ahead and pursue this wonderful opportunity. You and the scammer(s) deserve each other.Answer #2: Jesus yes you are young but unless you are a simpleton you should be able to understand scams. Most honest employers don't need you to pay upfront for equipment or have any involvement in cashing any type of checks from third parties, or suppliers or vendors. Except for specific telemarketing or IT work, most work at home bullshit is scams. Get a fucking job at McDonalds. Considering you have already been targeted for a scam at least once, and this probably is, an honest job with honest money is going to put you far ahead of where you are now, which is losing money you have and not being bright enough to protect yourself.


Title: [OR] I just was in a car accident. The driver that hit me is the son of the police chief.

Question:
My mother (driver) and I (passenger) were leaving a restaurant parking lot and waited quite some time before crossing the street for traffic to clear. As we were driving through, we were hit very hard out of nowhere on my side. We pulled over to nearby to exchange information and as my mother was calling my father (because our car is not drivable), the other driver told me his dad is the chief of police nearby. I don’t know if this matters but he is not injured (he said he bumped his knee but it doesn’t hurt), but I hit my head pretty hard on the roof (the impact was hard enough to lift our car slightly; the cars were stuck together before we could drive away) and my mom is experiencing back pain.

We have a witness who says she saw him come to a full stop further up the street, then “floored it” and hit us. While my mother was getting this woman’s information, I was talking to the kid and he mentioned he had just gotten out of his last class and was on his way to see his girlfriend. I’m pretty suspicious he was texting and that’s why he didn’t see us. His story has also changed to his dad a few times now; he was driving and we came out of nowhere; he had checked to make sure no one was coming out from the restaurant and made sure it was safe, said we just “flew out of nowhere!” (not true), and also that there was a really big car obstructing his view of us.

Right after he said that, his dad turned to me and asked if I saw the cars. I didn’t understand what he meant (they were talking further away from me and I was trying to get ahold of my husband) and said I saw the other cars waiting (as in driving **in** to the parking lot, but were at a stop because they have a stop sign), but that I didn’t remember what they looked like because it happened really fast and his son hit us so fast. I see now that I said the wrong thing and it’s going to be twisted in such a way that my mother’s at fault, and that we didn’t check for cars coming that way. What do I do now? I feel so stupid for what I said, but I was nervous and kind of scared because he’s literally the chief of police. He also asked my mom for the witness’s information and now I’m worried he’s going to intimidate her too.

If there’s anything else I need to add, please let me know. And if I’ve formatted wrong or posted in the wrong place, I’m very sorry and will do whatever I need to do to fix it.
Topic:
Traffic and Parking

Answer:
 For starters, it doesn't sound like you had the right of way. It would have been your mother responsibility to not pull out in front of other cars. Her defense would have to proof that the kid was driving negligently.

You can be suspicious all you want about his cell phone use, can you prove it?

Your mother should be calling her insurance provider to handle this.

I know you think this Chief might be "pulling strings" or "bending the law" but you should realize that this is the CHIEF OF POLICE. He didn't get there by being corrupt. And if he's caught intimidating a witness, he's lose his job, his career and be fucked for life. There is literally no one that stands to lose more by lying than this police officer. I know TV tells us different, but this guy didn't get there for no reason.

With that being said, let the insurance handle it. They aren't governed or controlled by the police.

But also consider that at a very fundamental level, if you pull out into traffic and get hit, that's almost always going to be your fault.


Title: Is it legal to use pennies for flooring?

Question:
I've seen pictures of this on design blogs and it looks so pretty, but no seems to know if it's legal or not. I don't want to end up being charged with defacing currency for the sake of an interesting powder room floor...

Edit: I'm in Ohio for Location Bot's peace of mind ;)

Answer: Whoa. I totally read this wrong.....


Title: Brother being forced out of sober living due to seizures

Question:
Hi Reddit,
My brother, living at sober living in Orange County California, is going to be forced out of the home due to his occasional seizures (he’s has his third one in 5 months), which I guess can be a side effect of the narcotic withdrawal. The house manager said he is a liability. Is this lawful?
Any advice is appreciated. Thank you!

Answer: As bad as it is, it seems lawful to me... They don't have the resources or expertise to deal with his medical condition.


Title: Issues with school administration and parent

Question: (East texas) I have separate religious beliefs from my mother and school is starting back up this week but the past 2 years when I have chosen to opt-out of the pledge of allegiance, the administration forces me to take part unless I have a letter signed by my mother saying I can do so. My mother is very stubborn in her beliefs and will not sign a letter. What can I do to continue to not partake but without my mothers signature? (side question: I heard from somewhere that children of a specific age have religious freedom separate from their guardians, is this true and if so can I use this as a loophole?)

Answer:
 You do not have to stand, and this is a right *not controlled* by your parents. Your parents can punish you for not standing, but you don't have to stand, regardless of whether your parents sign. The school *cannot* punish you. Your parents can.

Source: *West Virginia State Board of Education v. Barnette, 319 U.S. 624 (1943)*


Title: Who owns the content I create?

Question: I currently work for a company where I produce videos for marketing/training purposes.  I'm starting my own business and would like to use the videos i've created as examples on my website.  What issues do I run into here and who owns the property.

Answer:
 Review the agreements you signed when you were hired. You _very likely_ (to the point that it's nearly certain) agreed that the works you created in the course of your employment were works for hire, with the rights held by your employer.

Even without such an agreement, it's still possible for the rights to rest with your employer. You'd want to settle that before reusing the videos elsewhere.


Title: [discord] some users on my server are under 18 but aren't minors

Question:
My discord server is currently going through a bit of a fiasco over underaged users in the NSFW channels. I cracked down on it, making it a banable offence to use the NSFW channels under the age of eighteen.

The problem arised when we realized we have two members that, despite being under 18, are above the age of majority because of where they live.

We want to try to do our best to protect the over-18s from accusations of sexual interaction with minors, while also allowing everyone the rights they're entitled to.

Any suggestions on how to handle this?

Answer: You should probably stick to your policy of banning the under-18 members from the NSFW channels (at least, until they turn 18).  Just because they live in another country and are of the age of majority there doesn't mean you have to make exceptions.  Having a nice clean policy like that, and enforcing it, protects everyone.


Title: How to Consume Marijuana Legally in MA

Question:
I recently moved to Massachusetts, where it's legal for adults over 21 to possess up to an ounce of marijuana. However, I'm confused about where it is and isn't legal to consume it. The apartment I rent has a non-smoking policy on the lease, so I can't smoke in there. I'm pretty sure it's not OK to smoke weed in public areas either, like a park or sidewalk (and I don't want to be that guy, anyway.) My building has a roof deck, but for safety reasons residents are prohibited from smoking up there. That leaves a common back garden, but there's a tenant on the first floor whose windows face that garden. Last night, he confronted me while I was out there, complaining the smoke was blowing into his rooms. I'm sympathetic to the problem - he's got the same nonsmoking policy on his lease that I do, and the smell is clearly disturbing his enjoyment of his space.

I know that smoking marijuana is legal in Mass, but between these non-smoking policies, I'm not sure where I'm allowed to exercise this right. I want to be a courteous neighbor while still enjoying my freedom to smoke a bowl. Does anyone have any advice on how to proceed?

Thanks

Answer:
 >Consume

1) Ask your landlord if the nonsmoking policy applies to vaping;

2) Consume edibles instead of smoking.Answer #2: Yeah. You can't smoke it anywhere unless you have buddies who don't have said stipulations. Answer #3: I recommend a vaporizer, you could use that indoors, just ventilate to avoid smell. The vapor doesn't settle and stick to furniture like smoke does, also easier on your lungs. Answer #4: This has been a legal gray area in Colorado for a while. My lease says I can't smoke in the house, and the law says I can't smoke outdoors.

The best option we've found is to use a vaporizer, like a volcano, MFLB or PAX.

Otherwise, smoke indoors and exhale into a smoke buddy, then use ozium or incense to take care of the residual smell. Windows and fans help a lot too. Answer #5: Learn to make edibles. A bit more effort than smoking, but seems like it would solve your problem.


Title: Anonymously reporting individuals as one of their "parents"

Question: [Minnesota] I'm in high school, and my friend texted me a video (that other students also received) of some fellow classmates doing something illegal and highly against school rules. I normally wouldn't do anything, but these guys are jerks and think they can do whatever they want. If they were caught, they would lose their sports team captainships and positions as "role model" students. I am thinking about anonymously sending the video to the district activity director, but I don't want it to be traced back to me. If I send an anonymous email saying I'm a parent of one of the students who wishes to remain unidentified, could I get in legal trouble?

Answer: Why do you feel the need to lie in the anonymous email? Just send it *anonymously*.


Title: What can I do to get my child support payments as low as possible?

Question:
I'm currently making $55,000 a year before taxes. I currently pay $11,000 a year for the child I sired. After bills, taxes and loan repayments it doesn't leave a lot to live on. Is there anything I can do to have my payments lowered as much as possible?

Location is Texas.

Answer: So, you pay 20% for CS. That is the standard payment for one child. You are not going to get it any lower. That is determined by the courts and they will not reduce it just because you do not like it. That is the way the cookie crumbles.


Title: Stalker in my neighborhood / created website about me [CO]

Question: [deleted]

Answer:
 Ensure that you get a copy of whatever police report is generated from the call;

Have your friends appear at the court hearing for the restraining order.  If they can't appear, have them knock out some sworn affidavits indicating that they've been approached by him about you;

Have a practical means of self defense in your home. I know people lose their mind whenever it's suggested, but there is nothing wrong with keeping pepper spray on your person in most places and having a firearm in the house after you've sought out appropriate training.  If this guy has been stalking you for *years* and is moving to be physically closer to you, you need to be prepared to accept that he may violate your physical boundaries.Answer #2: Read "the gift of fear" by Gavin De becker. Id also listen to the audiobook ASAP. It may save you from injury or help you manage this person.


Title: [USA] Do you need to show the bike store your ID and credit card before testing out a bike?

Answer:
 If that's the store's policy, then yes.

You don't have to show them the ID.  They don't have to let you test-ride the bike.

I've purchased a few high-end racing bikes over the years and always had to show my ID.  They do this because people steal expensive bikes.Answer #2: If they require it, yes. If you don't, they don't have to let you ride a bike.


Title: (Tennessee) Legal inquiry: If a man gives a woman $500 for the specific purpose of having an abortion and she doesn't have the abortion but keeps the money can he take her to small claims court?

Question: What if a woman gets pregnant and the man (the father) gives her $500 specifically for the purpose of having an abortion but she keeps the money and doesn't have an abortion? Can the father legally get that money back then? The money was given to her at the end of December in 1999. This July the man sees a picture of the women and teenager. He finds out that she didn't have the abortion like he asked her to and when he looks into it his name is on the birth certificate. There's no other man in the picture that the woman married or that adopted the kid. He always thought she had the abortion because he never heard from her after that and he was never hit with child support by anyone. It would be petty for him to ask for the $500 back but I just want to know the legality of it. If someone gives someone else money for a specific purpose and they don't use it for that specific purpose, can the giver legally get it back? This is in Tennessee. That's my inquiry.

Answer: IMO "the man" should be exceedingly grateful he hasn't been paying child support since 1999, and not seek to rock the boat.Answer #2: If the woman has not come after child support yet, does the man really want to risk pissing off the woman and having her come after him for THOUSANDs in child support?


Title: Found my car with a dent, and neighbor shows up with a picture showing who did it.

Question:
I live in CA and, it's the first time this has happened. Can anyone give me some advice with what the first step would be?

The person who dented my car still doesn't know that I know. Should I talk to him and get his insurance? I just don't know what the process is.

Answer: First step IMO should be to buy your neighbour a beer or two.


Title: (TX) I (25M) want to request a court ordered paternity test for a child born 2yrs ago?

Question:
It's a long story but I'll keep it short and simple.

I broke up with my ex two years ago, but we kept seeing each other and slept with each other. She found a new BF within the same time frame and messaged me months later saying she was pregnant. Of course at the time I wanted to know if I was the father, so I pleaded with her to let me do a paternity test and I'd be out of her life for good if the child was not mine. She refused. After she gave birth, I messaged the BF. He sent me a photo of the results, claiming he got a DNA test done a day after the child was born. I accepted this at the time, and wished them the best as the results showed him as the father.

Fast forward to now. I've uncovered documents that lead me to believe he was not with her during the time of conception. My question is, what would I need in order to request a court order paternity test? If he showed me a falsified document, what type of legal punishment would they face?

I messaged him asking if we could talk, regarding the child's birth as I did not want to initially get the law involved and figured an adult conversation would be the easier, stress free option. Their response was to cease contact or else they'd file harassment. I did not respond.

What can I legally do?

Answer:
 Get a lawyer and file with the court. The court will force it, and they won't have a choice.  You can't force the kid to be tested with him, but you can force a test with you, assuming you can show the court the kid might be yours.Answer #2: > I've uncovered documents that lead me to believe he was not with her during the time of conception.

What sort of documents? If he's not the father he might want to know this and you could work with him, not against him.Answer #3: Your documents don't matter. Whether you meet with him doesn't matter.

You have standing to adjudicate your parentage.

Your ex's new BF will likely end up as a party to the action.

There are time limits and a lot of other, more subtle issues in play here.  Find an attorney in your area (or, if she lives in a distant county, possibly her area) who states that they practice family law.Answer #4: You can certainly easily file for paternity since you were in a relationship around the time of the birth. What the "father" thinks doesn't matter, I'm sure a court would still let you have the test done.

Just remember what happens when you are the actual father, they might be giving you a financial gift but of course that doesn't matter if you want to truly know if it is your kid. Just remember it is a long term thing.


Title: (BC CAN) Internet provider (Shaw) seduced me into a 2 year contract scheme knowing I was in an area their competitor just installed much better Fibre in.

Question: [deleted]

Answer:
 >Shaw's tactic was to lock down customers that had access to their competitors new shiny service that they couldn't match before we got wind of it

That sounds like an effective business strategy.

>BC law states that contacts can be cancelled 10 days after receiving the contract. I'm about 2 weeks over.

Then you are past 10 days anyways so that wouldn't make a difference even if telecoms were governed by provincial laws.

>I want to get out of this bullshit scam

It is not a scam, it is just a contract for services that you agreed to.


Title: First Nation/Native American Immigrating to the U.S.

Question:
I have a friend that was born in Canada.
She is first nation/Native American, with 50%+ bloodline.
She has her status, and can prove this information.

I know that there was (is?) a treaty called the Jay Treaty, that was put in place for natives to cross the border, and that they can not be deported.

What I want to know is if this is still in affect.

Here are some links/pages I have been reading that lead me to believe this may still be a viable option?

• http://canada.usembassy.gov/visas/information-for-canadians/first-nations-and-native-americans.html
• http://www.uscis.gov/iframe/ilink/docView/SLB/HTML/SLB/0-0-0-1/0-0-0-29/0-0-0-9585.html#0-0-0-361
• http://ptla.org/border-crossing-rights-jay-treaty
• http://www.uscis.gov/green-card/other-ways-get-green-card/green-card-american-indian-born-canada

Does anybody know/have any more information on this?
And maybe a process on where to even begin with this, if it is at all possible?

Answer:
 Is this Jay's Treaty from 1795? Between the US and Britain?

Edit: I remember learning about this in US history in high school. Answer #2: If she has more questions, she could always contact Aboriginal Affairs (Canada) or probably even the Bureau of Indian Affairs in the US, as she's Cree.


Title: Boston, MA. Octopus thrown on ice during hockey game, fan charged with trespassing.

Question: This took place during a Bruins' game against Detroit. A Detroit fan threw an octopus on the ice and was ejected from the game and charged with trespassing. Several people in the thread stated that that charge was not applicable and it got me curious. How exactly does this fall under a trespassing law?

Answer:
 What is your source that he was charged with trespassing?

I would guess that it's somehow fit into [this charge](https://malegislature.gov/Laws/GeneralLaws/PartIV/TitleI/Chapter266/Section118) for "Domestic Animals- Trespassing on Land."


Title: My two year old home is in jeopardy (TN)

Question:
Hey all,

My wife and I bought our home brand new in Tennessee in 2017. A few months ago, she was sweeping and noticed a sag in the floor. Did a little investigating and found out that the home was built improperly.. the main joist and piers for the home are 25" away from the main load bearing wall. We called the builder, had engineers come in, and everyone agrees it is wrong and needs to be fixed. We're all in agreement and everything is civil. NOW for the tricky part. In order to fix it, the builder needs to tear up all our floors, cut through the sub floors, reframe the bottom of our house, and put it all back together, HOPEFULLY not destroying anything else in the process. This is a *massive* inconvenience for us. We have two dogs and a baby, and now we have to find somewhere to live month-to-month (he said it will take up to 2 months to fix). Also a complete headache because this is the biggest investment of our life at 250k, and we feel it's going to be worth absolute nothing after this.

What are our rights here? Can we ask him to pay for our mortgage and utilities for the entire time work is being done? As well as an allowance for housing elsewhere? Obviously we would get everything in writing with a lawyer and do this legit. We just don't want to get taken advantage of here. We understand it was an honest mistake, and don't want to ruin the guy's life. Just want our house back how it was supposed to be built.

Thanks!

Answer: As a contractor he should have liability insurance that would pay for your expenses that are over and above what you normally pay.  This may include things like the rental and a storage unit, if needed for your belongings.


Title: [FL] Lent my girlfriend $1000 a while back, sensing an incoming breakup. No contract. If she admits to the debt over text or email, is that proof enough to seek civil action?

Question:
I can read the writing on the wall.

Without a contract, am I just up a creek if she doesn't feel like paying it back? It's not a huge deal, I can live without that money, but it'd be nice to get it back.

If I text her something like "You know you still owe me $1k" and she says "Yeah, I know, I'll get you back," is that any kind of actionable proof?
Topic:
Other Civil Matters

Answer: Do you reasonably foresee you able to collect $1000 from her?


Title: [FL] Can my boyfriends mom go to the police for harassment just because we see each other at school?

Question:
I’m still a minor and dating a boy in high school. His mother is mentally ill and insanely manipulative. She is now “forcing” us to break up because she found texts where I called her abusive. She is right now telling my parents that she is going to the school counselor and dean to get a “no contact contract” (a thing at our school to prevent fights not keep apart boyfriends and girlfriends) she is crazy and i doubt any normal adult will side with her. She said she will be sending all of me and my boyfriends email communications to the school. That isn’t my question, this is:
She then told my parents after this school contract, her next step is going to the police for harassment.

I have never once harassed her or her family. My boyfriend and I both love each other and do not want to break up, she’s just deciding that we are because she was personally offended. I know parents can make kids break up but does she actually have anything to go to the police for?? Should I be worried? There is nothing between my boyfriend and I that is an issue, we are both in a stable relationship. There is no harassment because I don’t reach out to her and her son would like to reach out to me, I’m not doing anything. What the hell can I do to deal with this insane woman and are her threats something to be scared of?

Answer:
 You haven't done anything illegal here, but you're both minors, and his mother has every right to restrict his contact with you and prevent you two from speaking. She can go to the school if she wants. The police aren't going to step in here almost assuredly.

Your best bet is to stop talking to this boy. Answer #2: I know this is very painful, but you should stop speaking to this boy until he's old enough to get away from his mother. She sounds just awful but you can't rescue your boyfriend from this situation.


Title: Cuban MIL Failed U.S. Citizenship test after getting some odd questions

Question:
Hi,

She is on her way home yet so I only got a partial explanation. We have been helping my mother in law study for the last few months and she was nailing all the questions. Doing decent enough on the writing part (she could answer but had some spelling mistakes, which I read was OK)

&#x200B;

The odd thing though is the test giver spoke spanish and started asking her about Cuba where she is from, her city population, things like that. Her english is pretty weak and he failed her not speaking enough english. I thought that all questions are around your personal information in the US, bday, husband, home, work, etc.. or american history. I am wondering if there is anything we can do here, or is this normal? Should we speak to an immigration lawyer? Thanks

Answer:
 I’m under impression that competency in English is requirement to be naturalized.Answer #2: Seems normal. The questions will be based on the questions found in the citizenship application.

Make sure you and your MIL review the [Test Components](https://www.uscis.gov/sites/default/files/USCIS/Office%20of%20Citizenship/Citizenship%20Resource%20Center%20Site/Publications/PDFs/test_components.pdf) and that your MIL is able to answer any questions found on the citizenship application.


Title: Tree in neighbor's yard is making my dog sick

Question:
So my dog randomly threw up the other day and didn't really eat the rest of the day. I didn't take her to the vet but I was watching her closely. She was fine this last weekend/ week then puked again today. We figured out that she is eating/chewing on these berries/fruit that keeps dropping into our yard. The neighbors have a tree that we have had to cut back multiple times because it keeps growing over. Now we have this problem where the fruits are getting my dog sick. Is there any legal basis to ask them to cut their tree short so that it doesn't come anywhere near the fence or over the fence? I don't want money from them or anything just want to know if sending a letter asking them to cut the tree down could actually have them cut it back or down. Let me know if I need to clarify anything!
Topic:
Other Civil Matters

Answer:
 Do you know what this tree is?

But while you can of course ask nicely, it really is your responsibility to ensure that your dog doesn't eat stuff in your yard. Do bear in might that whatever this is, fruit drop is fairly short lived so this won't be months.


Title: Help! Brother may have married his ex-wife to our elderly dementia father to avoid will/probate with siblings!

Question:
I am seeking legal guidance regarding how (or whether) to proceed with a probate situation in Arkansas where our eldest brother has transferred all of the assets of our widower deceased father into the brother’s ex-wife’s name, leaving us three siblings with nothing.  Our father had dementia and we believe he may have had between $400,000 to $600,000 in assets (including brokerages) upon his death along with retirement benefits from SSA, VA (retired military) and State retirement.  However, we do not have any confirmed knowledge or insight into his accounts and would like guidance on how to proceed and learn what the assets were/are and whether it is worth pursuing (e.g., Hire a probate lawyer?  Hire a private investigator first?).

Here are the data points:

* Eldest son is on disability (which may be a possible motivating factor to keep in mind)
* Father, eldest son and daughter-in-law all lived together at same address since 2014
* Father and eldest son became estranged from other 3 siblings during this time
* Father passed away in early March 2018; eldest Son did not notify other siblings
* Siblings learned of Father’s passing in August 2018 (5 months later) via online research
* Siblings spoke with eldest brother who confirmed Father’s passing, claimed he was the executor but that there was no Will (this is unlikely) and no assets
* Eldest son filed a Small Estate affidavit for assets less than $100,000 to avoid probate but did not list or notify siblings
* Siblings obtained copy of Death Certificate, and it shows the eldest Son’s wife as the Surviving Spouse (wtf!?).
* Additional online research discovered a final divorce decree dated mid-2015 where the eldest Son divorced his wife of 35 years, and granted via quitclaim his portion of the house title (which was co-signed with the Father) to the ex-wife as part of the divorce settlement.
* Additional online research discovered a Marriage Certificate between the Father (85) and the ex-daughter-in-law (55) dated a week after the divorce was finalized. (Wtf?!)
* Remember...the Father has dementia, and all three of them continued to live together at the same address until his passing
* Siblings do not have access to a copy of the Will (nor do we know where it may have been filed), and the eldest Son insists there is no Will nor assets

In summary, our concern is that the eldest Son and his ex-wife may have exploited the Father’s dementia to marry the ex-daughter-in-law, transfer assets into her name, take advantage of SSA/VA/State survivor spouse payments and avoid splitting the assets with the other 3 siblings via Will or probate.  Do we have any recourse here?  How can we discover if there was a Will filed somewhere or what the assets were at time of death?  Any recommendations on next steps?

Answer: Given the situation and the amount of money involved, I'd suggest you consult with an estates/probate attorney in your area. Answer #2: Hire a estate/probate attorney today.


Title: Child Support Fraud.

Question:
I pay an excessive amount of child support to my ex-girlfriend.We have 3 kids together ,only 2 kids live with her and the other lives with my ex's mom .My ex collects child support for the kid not living with her and also the mother lives in another county .on a side note she collects Food stamps for child not living with her.She does not take care of child not living with her at all.Went to file papers to go to court for child support reduction and they wont do it cause i have an unknown address for the mother.How can i fix this. Tampa Florida
Topic:
Other Civil Matters

Answer: The mother has made an arrangement with her mother to take one of the kids. Nothing at all illegal about that. She's still the child's mother and you owe her support. The food stamp issue may be something else though if she isn't feeding the kid. Answer #2: Get an address for her? Ask her for her address so you can send her child support?


Title: Is there a way to prove landlord discrimination? [MI]

Question:
My kids other parent and roommate need a place to live. They're getting a VA voucher.  My ex is technically a homeless vet. They have all their paperwork together and was going to submit it to a local apartment complex. The complex is ran by his mother's ex-friend. She looked at his name and told the leasing agent to just toss it because she wont rent to them because of the disagreement between his mom and her.

The issue is the landlord is also the president of the local landlord association so she can make hell for him anywhere. They've been trying to find a place for like over a year.

Thanks.

Southwest Michigan.

Answer: If the reason they don't want to rent is because of a personal dispute, that's not illegal.  It's discrimination, but no illegal discrimination.


Title: [CA] My employer is deducting my tips from my paycheck

Question:
I've been working at a small, family owned restaurant for about 8 months. During this time, I've always enjoyed working there. I get along with the owners and other employees. I started off making $9 an hour, now making $10.50. I work a lot, usually 45-55 hours a week. We get paid every two weeks.

However, we've always been paid our tips (usually $2-300 per pay period. One of the main attractions of this job for me) in cash, with our actual, official paycheck.

Looking at my most recent paycheck, I wondered why my deductions were, again, so high. Almost half of my entire paycheck. Looking at it closer, I decided to add up all the taxes(FICA, Fed, State, etc.) and subtract it from the total.

Not even half of the total deductions.

So I add my tips into the equation with the rest of my deductions, and it turns out that my employer has been deducting the total amount of tips that I receive every 2 weeks from my official paycheck. So basically, I don't make tips. They give them to us in cash, but they deduct them from our overall paycheck.

This can't be legal, can it? Tips are for employees. They can't use tips as income for the business, right?

I can't believe it's taken me this long to realize this. I'm not sure any of my co-workers know about this occurring. Should I tell them?

How do I proceed with this? Take it up with my employer and see if they will pay me they money they owe me, or go straight to a lawyer?

Answer:
 Your tips are likely being added to your wages for tax reporting purposes then deducted back out because they were already paid in cash to you.  This routine is the easiest way to get your cash tips reported on your W-2.

Check the gross pay and you'll likely see what I'm talking about.  If not, talk to them it's likely just due to human error.


Title: Wife got mauled by a neighbor's tonight while walking with our baby..

Question:
Any expert or personal advice would be great. Still shook up. 21 staples in the leg later, and we're home. Family says I need to lawyer up. Thoughts?

UPDATE: seeing a lawyer today. Uncovered dog owner does not have insurance and is living in Dads home. Need advice.

Answer:
 If it was a dog, you need to call the police and/or animal control to report your neighbor and the dog. You did not include your state (despite the prompts on on the sidebar and during the posting process to do so), but some states have more severe penalties to dogs and their owners for allowing this to happen.

As to getting reimbursed for your wife's damages, ask your neighbor to pay you for your medical deductible. Your insurance company will likely come after them for the remainder of the medical bill. If they refuse, sue them in small claims court for the amount of your deductible(s), other medical expenses (including  meds), and court filing fees.

You can consider going to a personal injury attorney, but unless you can show some real damages, it is unlikely that you will be able to attract one to your case. Answer #2: Mauled by the neighbour's wife?


Title: [CA, USA] Is it legal to require me to use PTO or make up missed working hours for my time spent serving jury duty?

Question:
I was recently summoned to jury duty, and selected. This week, I have been showing up to the workplace in the morning, and leaving for jury duty in the afternoons, during the hours that the court specifies.

However, today my HR department informed me that they will require me to either take PTO or make up the hours that I've been gone for jury duty. When I told them I didn't want to claim PTO, they informed me that I have to instead allocate my four days of annual unpaid time off, toward the time I've taken to serve on a jury.

Is this legal in California? Aren't my annual personal days (whether unpaid or paid) separate from jury duty leave that an employer should grant me? And if so, is there anything I can cite to substantiate my claim?

Answer: You do not have to be paid on days that you are on jury duty, if you are hourly.  If you are exempt, then partial days must be fully compensated.


Title: The Dreaded HOA!!

Question:
Ok please first let me say, EXPERTS ONLY! I'm not seeking for your advice or your opinion. If you can explain your point in the light of the law please don't bother. Stating your credentials would help as well. Thanks and Sorry.

I live in a private airport and my HOA is a cluster. Our bylaws are out of date and its a mess. Year and a half ago we voted to hit the members with a special assessment, to re-pave taxi-ways. $5K per member / 30 Members. Bylaws require 2/3's to pass assessment. Long story short we failed to pass the vote by 1. However, there was one member who did not cast a vote. We contacted him and he said he did not want to vote. I was on the board at this point and for the record was opposed to the assessment. The other 4 members supported it. Anyways, the board voted to interpret this members refusal to vote as him declaring himself ineligible rather than just a normal abstention.

The effect of this was one less eligible member, therefore reducing the threshold to pass the vote. Since we were one vote short before, we now had number of votes we needed. I objected but they passed the vote and the rest of the members were never told.

BUT WAIT THERE MORE!

I told you before that I was opposed to the assessment. The reason was that I had just at the time lost my job and thought the repair could wait. IMO My family and my house comes before my HOA. Fine whatever.

After this I was summarily fired from the board. We didn't follow the bylaws, they just started meeting in secret. Then one day told me I was out. No big deal for me. I wasn't keen on their ethics anyways so no harm done.

However, at this point I hadn't paid the assessment. The board announced they would be creating a payment plan. However the never sent out any details on said plan.

A few months later I got a job. Got my affairs straight and saved up some extra cash. Even thought I disagree with how they reached the opinion, I presented then a check for paid in full.

Now two weeks later they send a note asking for interest on the amount since I was past due.

Can they do this legally?

I never agreed to pay any extra.
I never took a loan from them so I dont get "interest"
They also never sent me any info to indicate interest would be charged.

  EDIT: In tX

Answer:
 I'm an attorney in Colorado who specializes in real estate law, and in particular I have two HOAs as clients.

But I'm not answering the question because I don't like your bossiness. Or your tone. Or your attitude.

Thems the breaks, I guess. Answer #2: Wants credentials and doesnt wants to provide a location well if they want something like that then there are probably lawyers in OP's area who will provide the credentials and the information for a fee.


Title: Lowes Gift Card Practices

Question:
Hi All,

Just curious if it's legal for Lowes to refuse to sell gift cards being purchased with a Lowes gift card? See here...

https://www.lowes.com/cd_Terms+and+Conditions+of+Gift+Cards_331583486_%22

Aren't gift cards supposed to be treated like legal tender by the issuer? I don't have a problem and just heard about this today. Like I said, just curious.

Answer:
 Yes.  It is legal.

It prevents fraudulent gift cards from being used to buy actual gift cards, which obfuscates the fraud.

Legal tender just means that once accepted, it is treated like money.  It doesn't mean that they are forced to accept it.


Title: Potentially being forced to live (in Massachusetts) with Christian Scientist. Concerned about religion's medical beliefs and my rights.

Question:
Long story short, a real-estate agent found a potential roommate for me who I said I did not want to live with for a number of reasons (we're basically polar opposites).  He decided to promise this kid a room and took his deposit and commission checks without telling me he was doing so.

When I said that I don't want to live with someone who is part of a religion (and works for that religion) that believes prayer should be used to heal all medical issues and has members who have been convicted of manslaughter for not providing timely medical treatment, he said there's nothing that can be done because rejecting him now on religious grounds would be seen as discrimination and would get him sued.

He told me to talk to this kid on the phone and find out if we get along, but told me that I'm not allowed to ask him any questions about his religious beliefs because of the discrimination thing.

I don't want to live with someone who has (in my opinion) very questionable morals.  It doesn't really matter to me how nice he might seem in a one-off phone conversation.  How do I know he would seek proper medical help if I need it?  I would not feel comfortable in this situation.

Unfortunately I have not been able to find another apartment so moving out is probably not an option for me.

Do I have any right to not live with this kid?  Is it really true that I can't ask him any questions about his religion on the phone?  I get that a real-estate agent can't say no to someone based on religion, but am I held to that as well?

Any thoughts on how I can handle this situation would be greatly appreciated!

TL,DR: Potentially being forced to live with person who believes in prayer over medical attention.  Is from a religion that has been taken to court for this.  How do I get out of this without being sued for religious discrimination?
Topic:
Real Estate law

Answer: You can do anything you want. Housing discrimination laws are for landlords. You can discriminate against him on any basis you want to and be completely open about it. The law does not force people to live with people they don't want to live with. You can ask him anything you want and say no if you don't like the answers.  Do not sign a lease to live with somebody you don't want to live with and then expect to get out of it later.


Title: My mom recieved 3 speeding tickets for a car she doesn’t drive anymore

Question:
A few months ago, my mom had abandoned an old Nissan X-terra on the side of an abandoned road, in a city we don’t live in anymore. Mostly due to something regarding the radiator burning out. Now, I’m not entirely sure if she never removed the license plate, but as of today, my mom had received three speeding tickets (474.00$ in speeding tickets) for a car she no longer drives, we have updated the license plate to her new car, a Hyundai Elantra Touring 2011, we have informed the local DMV numerous times that we have a new car, and the Nissan is no longer ours.

Now I’m not sure whether to fight the ticket in court or just pay the fines, please, I need help.
Topic:
Traffic and Parking

Answer:
 You not only need to pay the fines, you need to work out how to deal with the car that you abandoned but still in fact own. You can’t just leave a car by the side of the road and say “sorry, it’s not ours anymore”.Answer #2: >and the Nissan is no longer ours

I’d love to know how you’ve come to this conclusion. Abandoning your property somewhere doesn’t make it not yours, particularly a vehicle which even if it no longer has plates on it does have a vin. I’d actually be less concerned about the speeding tickets and the more concerned about the towing, storage and junking fees that are likely to be slowly wending their way through the system.Answer #3: >and the Nissan is no longer ours

Abandoning a car on the side of the road does not absolve of the tickets.


Title: I'm 19 years old and caused a car accident due to sleep deprivation

Question: I was on my way home from work (i work at a Florida hospital 30 minutes away)and completely blacked out and woke up in smoke with my car destroyed. I instantly checked to see if I hurt anyone (there were 4 cars involved including mine) there were no serious injuries per the police although some of them were stretchered off. I'm assuming I fell asleep with my foot on the accelerator and hit cars stopped at a stoplight. I could not stop crying because of the fact that I hit 2 families one of whom which was elderly and one who had a kid. My car got totaled but all the other cars have somewhat minor damages. I received a court date due to reckless driving (criminal offense). I'm afraid that I just screwed my job, school, and life over but I'm more so scared that I hurt any of those innocent people. The post-accident just replays in my head over and over again but I don't recall a single thing during the accident; one second I was listening to music, the next covered in smoke scrambling for my phone to call my mom. How screwed am I?

Answer:
 Get off reddit and get a lawyer. Thank god you weren’t DUI and no one was seriously injured. Go get a lawyer now. Answer #2: Assuming you haven’t already done so, call your insurance and put them on notice.  You will very likely be sued by the people who you hit, but your insurance should hire an attorney and defend those claims.

Also hire a criminal defense attorney who works on this sort of traffic case.  Stop talking to people about this and listen to your attorneys advice.

You made a major mistake by getting behind the wheel when you were so sleep deprived, but at this point there is nothing you can do about it.  It doesn’t sound like anyone is seriously hurt so be thankful for that.  Life is gonna get shitty for a while as you deal with the aftermath of this, but it will get better.  Consider talking to a therapist about this as it sounds like you are suffering from some PTSD or survivors guilt.


Title: [illinois] Age of consent and when can I report this to the police

Question: [deleted]

Answer: Do you know that they're having sex?


Title: Ex-BF has not forwarded his mail 3 months later. I refuse to forward it for him anymore. Scary IRS letters are coming in. [WA]

Question:
My ex moved out 3 months ago. I went no-contact about 1.5 months ago after limited contact where I was forwarding his mail and asked him repeatedly to forward his mail through USPS. He obviously never did so. Since then I have been bouncing his mail back to the system as "no longer at this address".

Recently though he has started to receive letters from the IRS. We may not be on good terms but I don't want him to face negative repercussions from this. I have his new address. Can I forward his mail since he has refused to do so? I couldn't find anything on the USPS site and am wary of violating postal code. Or can I call the IRS to report his change of address?

Answer:
 Why not say write no longer here, believe new address is ... (his new address)Answer #2: The easiest way to handle this is to take any mail you receive addressed to him, cross out your address with sharpie (just the numbered part of your address on the front of the envelope (the bottom 2 lines), not his name), write RETURN TO SENDER, ADDRESSEE MOVED on the envelope, and put it back in the mail.

I had a similar problem a few years ago, except I kept receiving mail for a random Mexican restaurant instead of an ex. It was a lot of mail and the only way I finally got it to stop way by writing RETURN TO SENDER on everything I received for them.Answer #3: Go in person to the USPS and ask them if it's ok to do a change of address for the person. (Or catch your mail carrier and ask.) That is a bulk function that will send all mail by their name to the new address.Answer #4: Your ex does not care about his mail- and you shouldn't either. You are under no legal obligation to help him out and if he cared about the negative repercussions he would have already done something. There is a chance he already knows he's in trouble and is avoiding it. Put his mail in the garbage and be done with it.

The people who lived in my apartment last get a ton of bills, letters from lawyers and bill collectors. For months I was writing "no longer at this address", "return to sender", ect. and they never stopped. Now they go straight to the trash.


Title: Can you take the fifth at school?

Question: If you are taken to the principal and being interrogated, would you be allowed to take the fifth in order to prevent yourself from disciplinary action? And would they be allowed to use that assume guilt? What if your taking the fifth to avoid "real" self-incrimination like a misdemeanor or felony? Can they still assume guilt for the silence? Fully hypothetical

Answer:
 School is not court, and they can assume guilt if they want to. There is no pleading the 5th.

Because it's not court, they cannot compel you to speak either, with the threat of criminal charges for your refusal, at least. But they can punish you within the confines of what they're allowed to do wrt. school


Title: UPDATE: Landlord replaced carpet in my bedroom, charged me for new carpet and is saying i also need to compensate for years lost on previous carpet.

Question:
ORIGINAL POST: ***I just moved out of my house, while moving i dropped a small container of acrylic paint on the carpet. It damaged about 2 square feet of carpet. My landlord decided she wanted to replace all the carpet and I obliged, though I thought it seemed a little unnecessary. Now, even though I paid for the carpet to be replaced, she is saying i also need to compensate on the years lost on the previous carpet. It was supposed to last 30 years and she only got 16 years out of it. I didn't pick the new carpet, she did and she went with a cheaper carpet than before. I don't really see how she can charge me for this. Is this legal? I am a California tenant, i lived in the residence for two years.***

FOLLOW UP: Discussed carpet being older than ten years with my landlord, she apologized and said she wasn't trying to scam us. Then she said she couldn't find any information to back up the ten year thing. She wanted me to send it to her. I can't actually find anything that states if a carpet in a rental is older than ten years I am not responsible for depreciation fees. I have done quite a few searches and nothing actually states the statute of limitations. Can any of you help me? Do you have a link I can send her that clearly states the age of the carpet? Thanks in advance.

Answer:
 It doesn't matter how long the carpet is supposed to last. You paid to replace it with new carpet.  She doesn't get new carpet paid by you AND money due to damage to the old carpet. Tell her you replaced the carpet and that's that. She would be laughed out of court if she tried to sue you.

You almost certainly didn't owe her the full cost of the new carpet anyway but what's done is done.


Title: Philadelphia PA, rear ended in traffic by an Uber driver.

Question:
What is the best course of action in this scenario...  I was rear ended in stop and go traffic by someone driving for Uber. He had "clients" in the car. He gave license, insurance and registration and I took photos.  He did not stay around for the police to arrive because he was worried about getting his clients somewhere on time. I can't understand how he doesn't get ticketed ... He gets away because he left the scene (that's one thing).

Called his insurance company, and after providing details and information on the Police incident record (not a full police report), the insurance company informed me that they will not cover the damage because he was driving fit a car service (that's the other thing).

What's the best thing to do here?  I'm not from Philly, was just driving thru. Any advice is very much appreciated. Thank you.

Answer: You should contact your own insurance policy.  Of course the other guy's insurance is going to haul out every excuse they can to not pay for damages.  Your insurance will sort it out.


Title: [OK] Our friend just left her husband and is staying at our house, paralegal divorce handler forcibly kissed her twice, asked if she was a screamer, etc. Next step?

Question:
Hi, just like the title says, our friend is staying with us because she left her husband, the divorce attorney (paralegal?) backed her into a wall and kissed her twice, and said a bunch of super inappropriate things as well, still took her money, offered her free services in exchange for sex, etc.  She just came home in tears over it.  I told her to immediately write everything down verbatim before we talk about any other subjects. What is our next step?  Lawsuit?  Press charges?  He was one of the signs stuck in the grass at an intersection reading "divorce, 250 with kids, 150 no kids."
Help, she's really freaked out.

Edit:  I know his name, is it possible to research his credentials? His card says "Armed private investigator" and "Process Server".
He's got a license number on his card which I'm assuming is investigator license.

Answer:
 She can go with someone to the guy's office, tell him he's fired, and pick up any file or get a copy.  If there's no file, she can fire him by letter.

She can [report him to the Oklahoma bar](http://www.okbar.org/public/Complaint.aspx).  If he's an attorney, they will deal with him; if he's a paralegal offering to illegally practice law, they can address that too.

If she feels the two kisses were an assault, she can make a police report.  It will be up to the prosecutor to decide if criminal charges are warranted.

And in the future, she should get personal recommendations for professional services instead of using lawn signs at intersections.Answer #2: I have a strong feeling this guy is not a member of the bar/licensed attorney. A paralegal would be working under the supervision of a licensed attorney.  This guy may be preying on vulnerable women.  So, if I were her friend, I would advise filing assault charges with the local police and help her find a reputable attorney to handle the divorce.  Answer #3: Your friend should call the police and tell them what happened to her. If this guy did that to her, he's done it to other women, too.

Also, based on a quick Google, it looks like just the filing fee for a divorce in Oklahoma is $183, which is obviously more than this guy "charges" for a divorce with no kids. This guy is a scam artist, not a lawyer or a paralegal.


Title: Friend left a girl. She is now missing and someone wants to talk to us. What do we do? (AL)

Question:
My friends and I went to a haunted house/activity thing. We are all 19-20. We met some girls there that we took to a friends halloween party. They claimed to all be over 18. One even showed my friend her ID. There might have been some drinking but me and my friend here don't drink.

The girls were getting tired so we paired up and got ready to drive everyone home. I took home two of the girl but there wasn't any room so my friend drove the other girl home.

He said that they started joking on the way there. Flirting. She made a joke about sex. He made a joke about her having to find her own way home if it didn't happen. At some point, he says she angry and started yelling at him because he didn't have anymore booze. He stopped the truck and she got out. He said he was scared and she was angry so he left. It wasn't really a deserted area and he thought she had her phone (and we were just a few miles behind them on the same road so he figured we might pick her up).

He drove home. Went to sleep and thought nothing of it. The next morning he goes out to his truck and sees her phone there and calls me to see if we picked her up. We didn't so I call one of her friends and her friend is freaking out because apparently the girl is 14.

This morning he gets a voicemail saying that a police person wants to talk to him but not a reason why.

Apparently the girl never made it home and is considered missing and my friend was possibly the last person to see her according to her friends.

He is freaking out. Her friends are saying there is a small chance she called her boyfriend and she is just hiding out there but her parents have no idea who or where that is.

My friend can not afford an attorney. He didn't touch that girl at all sexually. No one did to my knowledge.

Does he go in and talk to them without an attorney and just ask for one before he starts talking or does he wait for them to come to him and arrest him while he is at work or school and then ask for an attorney then?

   Edit: it was a suburban area. She just walked to her boyfriends house. My friend went in with his dad and uncle sorted it out. They really did just want to talk to him because she has a history of running away. She came home last night and told people what happened. My friend and I were sober, never gave her alcohol. No alcohol on her. No one but the 17 year old knew she was 14. My friend is fine. Alabama isn't cold at all right now. October in the south is actually sometimes warm. We have suburbs too.

My friend is fine. We are glad the girl came home. Ya'll love just adding stuff to the story that didn't actually happen.

Answer:
 Your friend's story is weird. The whole exchange where he kicks her out of the car for demanding more liquor is strange... just has a weird, implausible feeling to me, especially in light of his quid pro quo jokes about driving her home for sex (which were super creepy, and possibly even coercive). Answer #2: >At some point, he says she angry and started yelling at him because he didn't have **anymore** booze.

I think your friend definitely needs a lawyer.  From your story he furnished alcohol to a minor and left her alone a road.Answer #3: You should get a lawyer. You've given us a detailed account of what happened with the friend and the girl, even though you tell us that those events happened while you where somewhere else. That suggests that your friend gave you a detailed account. Maybe he gave other people detailed accounts. The police will be interested in whether everything your friend says matches every time.Answer #4: Another random question for the sub -

If anyone (generally, not just OP) drops a drunk person off on the road in the middle of the night, and the person dies (hit by a car, alcohol poisoning, exposure, etc), is the person who dropped them off liable at all?

Assuming the person can prove that he/she did not provide the alcohol, of course.Answer #5: What did he do with her phone? And does he have any strange scratches or bruises? If he was the last to be seen with her, seems like LE would have already paid him a visit.


Title: Being evicted without grounds

Question: We live in California in rural Madera County. My wife, son, and I rent a 2 bedroom 1 bath house from a property management company. We moved in on April 2nd, 2015. Every few months we get a friendly red notice on our fence claiming we havent paid rent. We always pay our rent and are constantly having to send them our receipts. About a week ago we got served with an eviction notice for the same reason. Something crawled up my you know what so now I am here. My house is only equipped with a wood stove for heat, no electric heat or gas heat are installed. My wood stove was purchased by me, installed by me, and inspected by me. My landlord knows I do not have heat, as they did TWO walkthroughs with me when we moved in and I made one complaint about it roughly 10 months after we moved in. My question is, do my landlords owe ME money? Do I need to continue paying rent? Where do we go from here?

Answer:
 You can't just withhold rent. From your story I can't tell, are you current on rent?Answer #2: If you're current on your rent and can prove it, then them trying to evict you for non-payment is going to be immediately shot down in court. That said, if you are on a month-to-month lease, they are able to end your tenancy with the correct amount of notice.

Withholding rent is hard to do correctly and easy to mess up, so you should speak with an attorney before you attempt that.


Title: New job, 1st time salary. Employer wants me to use my personal vehicle but will not pay mileage. Not a sub contractor

Question:
Hi Reddit and Legal Advice,

I just took a new marketing job at 40K salary. Like the title states I will be using my personal vehicle, but my employer said he will not pay mileage/gas/vehicle expenses. He told me I can claim them on my taxes... A coworker just told me I'd better check with the IRS since this may not be true.

This is my only vehicle. I estimate driving in excess of 20k miles for business purposes in a year, potentially much more. Lets say I drive 20k miles, at 53 cents a mile (what irs gave last year) we are talking about 10,000 dollars. Hypothetically does all that money plus whatever else just go right to me come tax season? Or will I potentially be denied any compensation?

I'd also be working from home 1-2 hours a day on average, and using my personal phone. Anything claimable here?

Sorry for the novice questions. It is my first salary job, and first job where I'm not reporting to the same retail store everyday.

I'm afraid I may shoot myself in the foot here.

Thanks, I appreciate all feedback and will answer questions ASAP

SameOldNewMe

Answer: Your mileage deduction isn't going to pass the standard deduction. The short of it is you're getting screwed out of that $10k. You should think of it as a $30k salary.Answer #2: Peer over your car insurance fine print with a comb; there could be a clause that would nullify your policy if you use your personal vehicle for business.Answer #3: The big tax cut package that passed last year eliminated the deduction for unreimbursed business expenses. Sorry.


Title: My 15 year old son stole a 4k golden bracelet when he was over his friends house, I've returned it but they're asking for more compensation?

Question: [deleted]

Answer: Are they saying they will go to the police if you don't pay? Because that's extortion and probably illegal. Answer #2: What are they claiming the damages are? They got the property returned to them in good condition right? They have no claim to other damages. Ignore them and wait for a summons if they file suit.Answer #3: You don't need to involve a lawyer unless they call the police and your son is invited to be questioned, or they sue you in court, or if they continue to demand money after you refuse, and especially if they demand money in exchange for not going to the police **which you should try to get in writing** or equivalent, either by email, text, voicemail, etc.


Title: Child's father is increasingly volatile - believe it's starting to negatively impact my daughter's life. (Colorado)

Question: [deleted]

Answer:
 > I know we have to get something in place with the court.

You're absolutely right. For the sake of your daughter, you need to get these concerns in front of a judge and get a proper custody and support order.