Title: Did I just run away from the police?

Question: Hey guys, this might sound incredibly stupid but I’m a little paranoid and can’t sleep over this.  I was driving and saw a pot hole so I swerved quite hard and for a moment ended up in the opposite lane. As it turns out, a police car was at the end of that lane, and by the time I returned to my lane and made a right turn on the next block, I saw the police car making a u turn, and a part of me believes it was to try and give me a ticket. The sirens never went off, and I parked after making the right turn to await the officer but he never came. I fear that maybe he didn’t see me make that turn and didn’t know where I went. Is it possible he took down my plate number and did something with it? Can you get a warrant for an arrest over something like this? Would it be stupid to go to a police station and tell them my story to see if I’m in trouble? I’m in New York City. I’d really appreciate an answer as I’m pretty worried and losing sleep over this.

Answer: If there were no lights then you are good. If he got close enough to get your plate then you wouldn’t have gotten awayAnswer #2: Unless you were being chased for a felony such as armed robbery, and evaded them by running several red lights, you should be OK. Don’t go to them without a lawyer. If they happen to show up at your home, don’t speak to them without a lawyer.Answer #3: Pretty sure you can't outrun them, they drive better, faster and have resources.


Title: My mom wants me to give me the house after she passes away and I need help on how to proceed. Family drama and politics are involved. Help?

Question:
This is the state of MA. So, let me make an extremely complicated and long story as short as possible:

My family (me, my mom, and my 2 brothers Mike and Jared both in their 30s) all live in a 2 story house. On the first floor, my mom pays the mortgage and her name is on the mortgage. On the second floor, my brother Mike pays the mortgage and owns that share of the house. Mike's name is also on the mortgage. Jared is another brother, he lives with me and my mom, and he is not on the mortage although he pays a share of rent every month.

So, basically: my mom told me that in the house deed, it says that in the event one of the owners dies, the other owner gets their share of the house. So for example, if my mom died tomorrow, Mike would get the first floor of the house. If Mike died, my mom would get his share.

But my mom has made it absolutely clear to me in private that she wants me to inherit her part of the property upon her death. However, saying so out in the open might lead to an uncomfortable situation with Mike. We simply have no idea how he'll react, so we want to do this quietly and legally transfer it into my name upon her passing. My mom says she's willing to write a will, but we don't know if that'll be enough.

The reason Mike might react negatively is because he basically saved the house from being sold off. The mortgage got to a point where it was so big that my family fell behind on payments; Mike agreed to put his name on the mortgage and take it from my financially ruined uncle. Obviously, that still doesn't give Mike a right, morally or legally, to the whole house, because my mom has been making half the payments. But he might feel like he's 'owed' something and he's always ranting about the family ripping him off. Also, just so you understand: Mike is basically rich. He has hundreds of thousands in the bank, so it's not like he's going to be financially affected if he doesn't get that portion of the home.

To complicate things even more: Jared, another brother, might react even worse. He has been living at the house and has in the past (5 years ago) asked to take the house from my mom and to put it in his name. She refused and would never, ever give the house to Jared.

Let me explain something further: if something did actually happen to my mom and the house went to Mike, I have no idea what would happen to me at the home. I have a gut feeling that, even though they're my brothers, they would start asking me to pay rent, or eventually pressuring me to leave the home. They look at you funny when you use their computer, so I don't even know what to imagine if the whole house were in Mike's name and I was living there. My mom 100% realizes this. She has developed a cold relationship with Jared for reasons completely unrelated to this, (because he's rude and ungrateful to her). However, Jared might also get upset and want a "share" and has made comments in the past about wanting my mom transfer the mortgage to him (she refused).

So let me recap everything: My mom and my brother Mike are on the mortgage of the house. My mom is 1st floor, Mike is 2nd floor. My mom told me the deed of the house means that my brother is legally entitled to the house when she passes away. My mom wants to 100% give me her share of the house when she passes away. But we want to do it silently so that a family storm doesn't explode in the living room. I'm not saying that one definitely would, but it's a possibility. Please advise us on possible options.

Answer: You are conflating a mortgage and a deed.  Deed determines ownership, mortgage is just a loan and has nothing to do with ownership. I can't tell if this is one property or two, like a condo, with separate deeds.  At any rate, the way to accomplish this is to have a will drawn up, which a lawyer can do for minimal cost.  If she dies without a will, then the property passes to heirs that are determined by statute (to a spouse, if no spouse, then to her kids equally, etc).  But she may hold title to the house jointly with her brother, and depending on how, he could automatically own all of it upon her death, not through inheritance but by means of how it is titled.  It is best to hire a lawyer as this is a simple task (drawing up a will) that only someone with all the facts about title and heirs can do.


Title: [CA] Help! EMT Fiancee badly injured in ambulance crash!

Question:
My Fiancee is an EMT and works for one of the largest national ambulance companies in the US.

She was at work, in the passenger seat and her partner was driving the ambulance. They had just dropped off a patient and were returning to the station via the highway. The ambulance hydroplaned (due to a near miss or other unknown reasons) at 70mph and hit the retaining wall on the right side of the highway. My Fiancee doesn't remember what happened, she was looking down doing paperwork.

The fire department was called to cut her out of the ambulance. 35 minutes later she was rushed to a trauma center with a huge list of injuries. I will be brief here. Her teeth went through her lip, broken jaw, basilar skull fracture, eyes swollen shut, blown eardrums, multiple fractured sinus bones, injured neck, ribs and back, and a bleed in her brain.

She spent days in the intensive care unit. A week later, she developed a very serious infection in her intestines due to the antibiotics from her first stay and was hospitalized again.

As of now, it has been 36 days since her injury and she has still not been able to see a doctor due to workers comp. Workers comp is not allowing her to continue care with the MDs from the original hospital. She has been denied treatment from every available doctor in the workers comp network in her area. Workers comp won't return her calls and assist her. The company she works for will not call her back and help aside from telling her to call workers comp. The workers comp nurse assigned to her has failed to find her a single doctor to help her.

Despite constant efforts, reaching out to all of these people, multiple times a week, she/we have gotten nowhere. She just wants to be helped. She needs medical attention from multiple specialists and she isn't getting it. She is in serious pain and can't do anything about it unless she goes to the ER.

My question is this: What can we do? Is there any legal action we take again the company, the workers comp company, or the state that supervises this? What do we need to do in order to get her the care she deserves from a billion dollar company that is doing nothing?

Please help!

TL;DR

EMT Fiancee badly injured in ambulance crash on the job. Needs medical care badly, workers comp and ambulance company giving her the runaround while she suffers. Over 1 month without even a doctor's appointment. What legal action can we take?
Topic:
Personal Injury

Answer: Go talk to a workers comp attorney ASAP.  And if she needs a doctor, go to the doctor.


Title: [FL] Defamation? Grandmother falsely Marchment Acted my Mother twice, made false drug claims to get her fired three times, made and convinced friends to make ~10-20 DCF claims over the past three years

Question:
Tl;dr: I believe my mother has a valid case for defamation, or at least some type of lawsuit, due to my grandmother going out of her way to wreak havoc in her life.

My Grandmother is a terrible human being. She gets bored easy and thinks life should be like a soap opera, so she constantly tries to create drama. Maybe she also is upset that my mother does decently well for herself.

The first big event was DCF being called.  Had cops come to my house and check everything out, claiming they had reports my mother was on drugs and abusing us. He saw everyone was happy and sober and went on his way. This happened regularly for the next year until the cops told us if my Grandmother made a false DCF report again she would be arrested.
So my grandmother convinced all of her friends in the area to rotate making DCF claims instead. This has been ongoing for years.

Twice, my grandmother and aunt, (the second oldest daughter and my grandmothers favorite kid) have filed Marchment Acts to have my mother institutionalized. Both times my mother was cleared and free to go after the mandatory minimum observation period.

My mother has been in & out of jobs over the past two years, all due to my grandmother constantly calling her employers to claim she is using drugs at work, is a prostitute, and is abusing her children. She has told my mother (in written letters signed by my grandmother) that she will never allow her to have a job.

My mother divorced ~8 months ago and cannot move more than one county away and retain custody of my brother. My exstepdad has now teamed up with my grandmother to screw mom over however possible.

She finally just got a job last week teaching an hour away without anyone knowing. Signed a lease and moved in to a new home and everything.

Two days ago she told my step dad she was going to teach at the school she was taking my brother to as it was a stipulation of the divorce agreement. My brother (6) told my mother my grandmother came over the next day. Today, my mother got a call from her to-be employer saying her offer letter was rescinded and when asked, responded she had not worked more than 90 days and they do not have to give a reason.

Now my mom has no job and just signed and moved into a brand new home. What can we possibly do to stop them from ruining her life?

Edit: Mother has no criminal history, no history of drug use.

Answer:
 Your mother isn't telling you the whole story. I think she's 100% right not to; this isn't something you should have to deal with. But it means there isn't much advice I can give, because I don't know all the facts.

It does seem plausible that she has a defamation case. She should talk to a lawyer about it.Answer #2: Quick question:  Why does your grandmother even know the places where your mother gets a job?

Why does she know where you live?


Title: General: Is it illegal to ceack a flimsy lock on a bike thats been obviously abandoned? [General]

Question:
Self Explanatory. Instead of only saying IANAL, please ID yourself as a LEO if you're one. Some of them give false info on drug legality so I'll be considering the source.

I'm pretty confident I wouldn't be charged but also if you're an employer would you axe someone for cracking a cheap lock on a bike you know is abandoned?

Answer:
 Different places across the USA (and world) have slightly differing laws on abandoned property and the process one is expected to adhere to in claiming that property.

Very few of them are, “eh, just take it.”


Title: (UT) old woman doesnt like me smoking

Question: Hello legal advice. I was sitting on the steps infront of my apartnent this morning having a smoke so i didnt violate my lease when an old woman who I assume was visiting someone came by and told me I needed to be 25 ft away from the building to smoke. While I know the law applys to public spaces such as resteraunts does it also apply to apartment complexes as well? I couldnt find anything in my lease about it and almost all of my neighbors do the same as me when they need to smoke. Is this legal and can I be fined for it if its not?

Answer: Looking at utah clean air act, and secondhand smoke amendments, it appears that mutli unit housing are also included, you may just want to ask yout complex manager. Even if it wasn't covered though, why not go out 25+ feet anyways to be considerate of units/windows that could be near the front steps to the building? I would be irritated too if I lived in a building and people were constantly smoking near the front steps and the littering that goes with it.


Title: Yet another glorious sovcit encounter brought to you by my state. Courtesy of my state; yet another glorious sovcit encounter.

Answer:
 The News-Times in Carteret County, North Carolina, reported last week that a 44-year-old man had been sentenced to at least five years in prison for a “slew” of drug and weapons charges. In August, Jerry Wayne Willis sold meth to an informant, police said, and a search warrant turned up more drugs and several firearms. Willis was arrested shortly thereafter, which is when the sovereign fun began:

Mr. Willis claimed not to be a person, but some sort of “agricultural product” and therefore not subject to the laws of North Carolina or the United States. He also told Judge Heath that his name was not Jerry Willis, but Willis Jerry.


Title: FAA requires all drones to be registered by February 19th

Question:
http://www.theverge.com/2015/12/14/10104996/faa-drone-registration-register-february-19th

Can someone explain this to me?

I do have a drone, but I'm not sure if it's a drone that beds to be registered... I would *guess* that my drone is under 2lb, but I'm not 100% sure.

Also, what are your thoughts on this registration requirement?

Edit¹: Did I use the correct flair?

Edit²: South Carolina is my location, but this change will affect everyone (who fly drones) in the USA (if I understand it correctly).

Edit³: Anyone else fly drones?
Topic:
Other Civil Matters

Answer:
 How heavy is your drone?

My understanding is that anything heavier than .55 pounds will need to be registered.


Title: (FL) How much trouble is my neighbor going to be in for destroying a state preserve/wildlife management area?

Question:
We live on a street that's between a large state preserve and a WMA. Last night something got into her trash, probably a raccoon maybe a bear, and it really pissed her off.

She's currently standing in the state preserve hacking at everything she can with a machete going about how much she hates nature.

I called the police and they connected me to the game wardens service they said that someone should be here soon but in the mean time it'd be really helpful if I took pictures.

So how much trouble is she going to be in?

Edit: They said what she was doing was a Level 4 violation so she's in an insane amount of trouble and I get a reward($350).

Answer:
 Wildlife biologist - not a lawyer - but it really depends on what she was hacking, what species are around, etc.  If it is a sensitive habitat, there are listed (e.g., endangered, threatened) species.  If not, I would guess a slap on the wrist.  Document the hell out of what she's doing - she might irk some warden enough that they go after her enough that someone will prosecute her.  It'd be interesting to see an update.Answer #2: > They said what she was doing was a Level 4 violation so she's in an insane amount of trouble and I get a reward($350).

Good for you!

> Level IV Violations - $350.00 Reward
> Taking/killing an endangered/threatened species
> Trap robbing (lobster, stone crab, etc)
> Boating under the influence (BUI)
> Unlawfully killing, injuring, possessing, or capturing of alligators or other crocodilians or their eggs
> Environmental Crimes – felony


Title: Our landlord is charging us parking but nobody else in the building.

Question:
I live in Oshawa, Ontario, Canada.

I have recently found out that we are the only tenants in the building who are being charged for/paying the $15 parking fee. It is written in the lease that the fee is to be paid, but nobody else is being charged this fee.

We stopped paying it for the past 2 months, but obviously still pay our rent on time. She just emailed me saying we owe her $30.

Is there any way I can argue this or am I SOL because it is written in the lease we signed?
Topic:
Landlord Tenant Housing

Answer:
 I'm not aware of any Canadian law stating that a landlord has to charge all tenants the same fee for parking.

Generally there is no legal duty to be fair.  You get what you negotiate.


Title: Teacher Dealing With Perceived Student Threats

Question:
Hello,

My Girlfriend is a high school teacher in LA County, CA.
She has a student that is making her (and I) fear for her safety and I want to believe there is something that can be done.

Last week, she had a student come into class high on a mixture of drugs (other students claimed Benzos along with something else). This student was trying to start a fist fight with almost literally everyone in the room. Long story short, he refused to calm down and teacher GF called security on him.
The result of this was he was held by security for the day and recommended to a counselor. That's it.

The admin at this school is lazy and incompetent to the point of insanity (there are other stories that would blow you away, but that's neither here nor there).
They refuse to allow the teachers to take ANY action against the students when they act up and pretty much refuse to do anything themselves because they are paranoid they are going to get sued by parents of the students.

After the incident, the student, taking offense to my GF's actions reported her to admin over some trivial matter (too long to explain here, but TLDR; nothing at all serious, but enough to be written up) as revenge.

Since then, the student has been doing things such as coming into her classroom in between periods and dumping trash on her desk WHILE SHE IS STANDING THERE.
Again, admin is only reffering him to a counselor and nothing else.

Today was what scared us.
He came up to her during the final period of the day and stated that he "wanted to talk to her alone after class got out" (read: while everyone is leaving campus including security)

What follows is my GF's official report to admin:

"Gabriel came to class, approached me and said "we needed to talk" because he "heard things" about me and we had some "business to take care of." I didn't like the tone he was using so I told him that if there's a problem we can talk about it right now. He continually refused and said we'd talk after school or tomorrow and I insisted that I wanted to talk now. He became argumentative when I insisted and made vague threats like "you're going to regret doing this right now." When I asked him if it was a threat he said "believe me you'd know if it was a threat." I told him I'd give him 5 minutes to calm down and then we would re-approach the subject. He then announced he was going to the bathroom and left class. His behavior, tone, and attitude with me is completely inappropriate and unacceptable."

This was filled out and submitted after admin left for the day, so we are waiting until tomorrow to see how they respond.

My fear here is that, once again, admin will do NOTHING.

She teaches in a high crime area with many students already having felonies (one of her students was convicted of killing a man at age 13 with a baseball bat).

I am honestly afraid that this kid will become violent towards my GF. Do to our situation, her just up and quitting is not an option.

If her administration refuses to take any action against this kid.
What is her legal recourse?

Answer:
 If your gf is part of a union, she should contact them about it.

She can go to the police and make a report. She can apply for a [civil harassment restraining order](http://www.courts.ca.gov/1044.htm), although I'm not sure if the kid's statements are enough to receive one, yet.Answer #2: LA county almost certainly means a union. Contact her union rep and raise hell over unsafe working conditions. Document every incident with the student, and all of the administration's efforts here (or lack thereof). Tell the administration that she will not return to school until her safety fears have been addressed.

You can also call the cops, but I sort of doubt they'll do much without a more concrete threat. But considering the climate nowadays, they may be more willing to act.


Title: Can I bring old, legally prescribed prescription narcotics with me when I go out of the country?

Question:
I'm going abroad to four countries in Europe in a few months. Spain, Netherlands, France, Italy.

I have a bottle of prescription anti-anxiety medication that I was prescribed four years ago. I never took all the pills. (The drug is clonazepam.) I'd like to bring a few along with me on my trip to help me sleep on the plane (and perhaps maybe if I stay in a noisy hostel). Is this legal?

The pills were prescribed to me legally, but I am concerned about the prescription being so old. Is there any way I could get in trouble for doing this? I'm afraid of getting detained abroad.

**Edit:** There's one more issue. I recently got married and my last name is now hyphenated. If the prescription bottle reads "Jane Doe," and my passport says "Jane Doe-Smith," could that present any problems?

For location bot: I am in Oregon, but that's sort of irrelevant.

Answer: The date on the bottle refers to the efficacy of the drug, not the validity of the prescription. You technically no longer have a "prescription" once the drug has been dispensed. As long as the pills are in the bottle they were dispensed in, you should be good to go. The law requires someone in possession to have been prescribed them. Technically, the prescription itself expires after one year. Does this mean if you wait the day before one year to fill the script that you're in trouble if you have the bottle next week? No. The date on the bottle is for your protection from expired medication. Keep in mind, one cannot put illicitly obtained pills into the old bottle. It doesn't work that way. As long as the identification on the bottle matches you, you're set.


Title: I resigned from my job and my final paycheck bounced. Advice? [xpost]

Question: I worked for a small company that isn't doing well (leaked private emails from the CEO indicate that the company will be filing for bankruptcy soon if they have not already). Luckily, I got out and have a great new job with a very stable company. However, when I got my final paycheck, I tried to deposit it and the bank said there were insufficient funds. I live and worked in Pierce County in Washington state and this check is written through First Republic Bank in California; I believe the company's accounts are based out of California. I just want to get paid for my work. Do you all have any advice or suggestions for what I can do?

Answer:
 Contact the Washington department of labor immediately.  They will get you paid and probably fine the business.

If the business does file for bankruptcy, some creditors will get paid and some will get paid a little and some will get paid nothing; as a former employee with unpaid wages due, you have a high priority in line.


Title: Sending nudes to my ex's BF?

Question: Hey so I was wondering what type of legal reprecussions I'd encounter if I sent a porno of my ex and I, to her current boyfriend. They live in Germany and I live in the states. Not looking for any ethical or moral advice. Strictly judicial and criminal adive. Would she be able to legally retaliate from Germany?

Answer: Here's some legal advice you are a flog.. move on


Title: Coin-operated laundry in an apartment building - who owes me my refund? (GA)

Question:
Okay, I know this is petty, but I've had trouble with my landlord and the coin laundry machine in my building for years and this morning the machine took most of my quarters, then the screen went black and the counter reset, causing me to lose any money I had put in for the wash.

From what I understand, my landlord leases these machines, which are owned and maintained by another company. The people who come out to maintain it are also the ones who collect the coins. The service company claims that due to their contract with my landlord, they can't provide me with a refund and I'll have to ask my landlord for one. From past experience, I think my landlord will say the service company is responsible (they've tried to avoid all involvement with these machines and want tenants to deal with the service company directly). My point of view is that I don't have a contract with the laundry company so I don't care what their relationship is with my landlord, they owe me my money and they know it, but they know they can pass the buck and no one will go to small claims over a few dollars.

So, at the very least for the sake of the argument, does anyone have an idea who owes me or what I can argue with the parties that are trying to pass responsibility?

Answer: Typically, since you have a contract with your landlord, and your landlord has a contract with the laundry company, your landlord is responsible to you for the refund. They can go after the company if they wish to reimburse themselves.


Title: Girlfriend's mom won't notarize her learner's permit paper's

Question: My girlfriend's mom refuses to notarize my girlfriend's learner's permit papers. She has been unable to get a license for over a year because of it. Is there any way my girlfriend can get around this problem being a minor or is she out of luck?

Answer: GF is shit outta luck, parents have no obligation to allow their kids to get a learners permit.


Title: I never received my deceased parent's life insurance money I was supposed to inherit. What can I do?

Question: [deleted]

Answer:
 You're father likely inherited all of her estate when she passed away. Unless your mother specifically designated you as the beneficiary of her life insurance policy it was never your money. If you were the beneficiary it could have been totally legal (and reasonable) for your father to spend the money raising you.

I'm assuming there's some kind of issue between you and your father but he's really the person to talk to.Answer #2: check that is was not taken by the State. This website checks All states for unclaimed funds, even from years or decades ago.
https://www.usa.gov/unclaimed-money#item-37222Answer #3: Your father probably took all the money. Bring it up again with your dad and see what you can find out. Answer #4: You call the bank/company that holds the policy.


Title: [FL] Roommate isn't paying. I've given 3 day notice and will be following up with eviction. Can I cut off his Internet access (I provide wifi), and cable TV? Also, I provide a key to the community pool/gym, can I remove that as well?

Question:
I understand I cannot change his locks, deny him access to bathroom and such.  But do I have to continue providing him other amenities?

1. Cable TV

2. Internet Access (wifi)

3. Access to community pool/gym.

These are things we told him he could have when he moved in and was paying, of course.

Answer:
 Nope. You can't do anything until a court allowed you to.

I Assume you are his landlord and not just his roommate Answer #2: Cutting off his internet will also make it harder for him to find another apartment, even aside from any legal issues. Answer #3: If these are services you have promised him and are in their lease, no you can't cut him off. That is constructive eviction and illegal.

If it is not in the lease and they are not considered requirements for a habitable dwelling in your jurisdiction, then you are probably safe in cutting them off.

That said, it would still be up to a judge so you are safer just leaving access until the eviction is complete.


Title: Me vs. Big Bad Hotel

Question:
Hello everyone! So, I'm in deep shit and need advice to at least be ankle deep in shit and not 20 ft deep in shit.

So here's my problem (keep in mind this is all happening in Mexico and would therefore need to be resolved under Mexican laws):

When I turned 18, my parents thought it would be a super great idea to buy a house in San Luis Potosí and put it in my name and under all my information to help me build my credit and maybe one day, I get to keep the house. So, everything is cool and going great, we paid off a little less than half the house in about three years and my credit is great. One day, my dad (the hotel manager) gets a promotion to go work at the best hotel this company has to offer at a significantly higher salary with tons of cool benefits with just one catch-
 the hotel owners ask my dad to sell him the house so the future hotel managers will have a house to stay at, the hotel will pay off the rest of the house as the payments are due and everything will be just peachy. My dad has been working for these people for over 25 years and they're a well known hotel line (meaning they can easily pay off the house) so he agrees and hands them the papers to the house ***with absolutely no written contract or proof of any kind of this agreement.***

Fast forward five years later:
My dad ended up getting a better offer at a rival hotel a few years later, and left the company. His leaving was something amicable he worked for these people almost all his life, they were friends practically family and there were no hard feelings. But as soon as my dad left, the hotel stopped paying off the house, letting payments build up and therefore making my credit crash and burn.

I'm about to turn 26 and I'm unable to buy a car, rent a house, take out any kind of card, virtually everything and anything needing my credit is unattainable to me. We've tried resolving this directly with them and have considered taking this to court, but they're a huge hotel company that has the money and time to waste while we battle it out in court. Is there any other legal way that I can get out of this situation or am I just royally screwed for the rest of my life?

Answer:
 You didn't sell them the house. You rented it to them for free.

> the hotel will pay off the rest of the house as the payments are due and everything will be just peachy

That's how how any of this works. You were still responsible for payment. Your credit is in the toilet because you didn't make the payments to the lender you agreed to make.Answer #2: Wait... he "hands them the papers to the house", but left the mortgage and title in YOUR name?

You are certainly not screwed for the rest of your life.

Sounds like the first thing you need to do is figure out how to get the mortgage back on track and then start evicting them.


Title: [WA] Coworker and I were roofied at a work event. Urine tested positive for GHB. Company and police are doing very little. What do I do?

Question:
My coworker and I each had two very weak drinks over a period of 2 hours after eating a ton and drinking water. We both went from not even tipsy to not remembering anything - I woke up in a random apartment building and her fiance took her home. We filed a police report and were tested for GHB (urine test) and they both came back positive.

Neither of us were sexually assaulted, but the crime is handled by the sexual assault unit of the police department, so it's taking a long time for them to do anything. The event space was in a hotel and they have told me they have great security cameras watching the bar area where they make drinks and throughout the space. I don't expect to see someone actually putting something in our drinks (unless a bartender did it) but I want to know who was there - it was a very secure event and it was 2 bartenders and 75ish colleagues.

I followed up with HR and legal at my company and they responded immediately, requesting that I contact the photographers to get all the photos from that night.....I work in engineering, not events, so I have no idea of knowing who my huge corporation hired to photograph the event.

What should my next steps be? Do I find an attorney? Could they realistically do anything? Do I just let it go? I know it's unrealistic but I hate that I have to work with the person that did this to us.

Answer:
 It's not your job to be contacting the photographer. It should be HR and Legal doing that.  When you say you contacted them, did you do it in writing or over the phone?  Please do it in writing.  In addition, if there's Ethics or something like that at your company, contact them also.

And do follow up with your HR AND Legal, writing to them that you request they initiate an investigation and assist you with all the facts from that investigation.
Answer #2: Let the police handle it. It's their job to investigate crimes. Answer #3: I'd say you need to contact HR and Legal again and push them into doing more, CCTV or whatever by basically explaining that the company has endangered your life but not putting in enough to protect you and your friend. This story could have ended very differently with maybe you being assaulted or overdosing. If HR and legal do not want to do much I'd say find an attorney.Answer #4: > I want to know who was there

Strictly speaking, you probably don't have any kind of right to that information.  The police could seek a warrant for that, assuming the venue/your company don't want to turn that over, and your attorney could likely subpoena that information or obtain it in discovery, but a simple "I demand to know everyone who was there that night" will likely not bear much fruit.

&#x200B;


Title: Dad got arrested for alleged sexual harassment. I know for a fact he didn't but I don't know what to do. Please help.

Question:
My dad was just arrested 10 minutes ago and I'm not sure what I should do. My mother is telling me it's from a false sexual harassment case. I'm from NC near Minthill and Charlotte.

Edit: Sorry for the title gore what I meant to say in the second sentence was that I know for a fact he didn't do it.

Answer:
 For one thing, you don't have the details and you have no clue whether he did it or not. For two, generally speaking, sexual harassment is not a criminal offense, so that's not what he was arrested for.Answer #2: > I meant to say in the second sentence was that I know for a fact he didn't do it.

How do you know what he did or didn't do it? Are you with him 27/7/365? I know you want to help him but don't start off by believing things you don't have enough information to believe one way or another. First if he really was arrested he needs an attorney who can find out what he was really arrested for because it wasn't sexual harassment.


Title: Child support help Colorado

Question: [deleted]

Answer:
 > To be honest I fell I am really getting screwed, almost 1/3 my pay is a benefit not actual pay.

It is pay.  How do you think everyone else pays for their housing expenses?  Hint: With the income from their job, and it's a huge percentage of it for most people.

You're not going to get the law changed and have this go unrecognized as pay for child support purposes.  It's a statutory requirement.  You may have other reasons that a lawyer would be helpful to your case, but this isn't one of them


Title: [IL] Reddit, how can I receive creative input from others for an idea without risking that idea being compromised/stolen?

Answer:
 You can ask them to sign a non-disclosure agreement.  But you have to give them something in return for that to hold up.  Otherwise, you take your chances.

And, to be blunt, "idea guys" are a dime a dozen.  Especially if you're the "I have a great idea for an app, I just need programmers to code it for me for equity" type


Title: [NC] A complicated situation

Question:
So I am a freshman in college and our fall break was this past week. My good friend on my floor flew back to New York for the break and he left his truck. His room mate which I am also good friends with asked if I wanted to take it out for a spin (yes this is stupid I know). All we did was drive around, we both drove with some friends of ours in it. No damage was caused to the truck at all. My friend that owns it flipped out and decided to go to the college campus police to check the cameras but decided not press charges against us. We are all cool now and everything is sorted out but my friend that owned the truck mentioned that the cop can still give us some kind of ticket even though he is not pressing charges? Is this still possible? Also in the room mate agreement their was no defined boundaries on what could and couldn’t be used. Lastly I have two charges (possession of mjna under half oz and paraphanilia) that are in the process of being expunged. What all should I expect any advice is welcome. Thanks
Topic:
Other Civil Matters

Answer:
 >  Also in the room mate agreement their was no defined boundaries on what could and couldn’t be used.

Which doesn't give anyone permission to take dude's car without his consent.

If your campus police are, like most, a division of the local police force they can investigate and charge parties involved for stealing a car.

You should shut up, get a lawyer if charged, and stop stealing the cars of your friends' roommates. Answer #2: Don't do anything questionable in the future, *esp* if you're trying to get two charges expunged.

The friend could report the unauthorized use of his vehicle to the police. I'm not certain what would become of it.


Title: Funeral Home Lies and Mistruths

Question:
My father passed away on March 14th and on the suggestion of our Hospice nurse, we called a local funeral home to handle the cremation.  Later that day we sat down and did the paperwork.  Well, it's the 23rd and it's been nonstop lies and mistruths from the funeral home.  Here is a list of what we've been through, a friend suggested maybe we'd have legal rights, and I have legal services through work.

First we were told that they had all the paperwork done, and my father was at the crematorium they outsource to, this was on the Friday after his death.  They claimed they had to wait for my mom's beneficiary status to be confirmed.

Monday we called and they told us the same thing.  Called the life insurance company and they had confirmed the information early the past Friday.

Yesterday they told us they would have the remains back but the crematorium only delivers on Monday, Wednesday and Friday.

Today I called the crematorium, they were really pleasant to work with, but informed me that they were waiting on the funeral home to get paperwork over to them.

Today at noon my wife called the funeral home, they indicated they'd be sending the paperwork shortly.

I called the crematorium in the afternoon, still no paperwork.  Called the funeral home and they said, "we are waiting on the clerk's office to get paperwork back to us".

I called the crematorium and arranged to pick the remains up directly, when and if, my father every gets processed...

We are waiting on the remains to be able to schedule his burial at the Veterans Memorial Cemetery.

Do you think contacting my legal services would be merited or am I being irrational?  I have no faith in the funeral home or anything they tell me at this point.   My mother is in distress from the whole situation.

Thanks!

*edit* Location: Michigan (MI)

Answer:
 OP- It *sounds* like to me you're having more of a customer service issue rather than a legal issue at the moment (Granted, it's a pretty sensitive area to have poor customer service in).

When you met with the funeral home, you should have signed some kind of agreement. Have you checked that agreement to see if it promises a certain level of turn-around time on the cremation process?


Title: Bought a Used Motorcycle on eBay from a Dealer. Issues not disclosed eBay won't take the case.

Question: I bought a used motorcycle 2 months ago from a Dealer that uses eBay to sell. At no point did I get any form of vehicle history report and the vehicle has many problems. Gas tank leak which has caused gasoline to be spilled all over my garage, gear box issue, back brakes didn't work and the battery is dead. I would go back to the motorcycle dealer but they are in some part of Los Angeles and I am just outside of San Francisco, CA. I was told by eBay to contact the BBB or USA.gov but don't know the proper course of action. The motorcycle that was delivered is also different than the one I purchased. Same model, make, and year but different VIN and millage. Please let me know what I can do, I can not take the financial loss just because I didn't follow through on proper course of action. It pains me to go into the garage and see what was supposed to be my dream motorcycle just picking up dust and dripping fuel.

Answer:
 > but different VIN and millage

I first read your post and was thinking 'what the motorcycle sold to OP in as-is condition? It almost certainly was'.

But then your comment above made my original thought moot. How much did you buy the bike for?Answer #2: Different VIN:

Is this a case for small claims court, a letter from an attorney, or a case in court?


Title: Do I have permission do deny police entry into my house as a minor?

Question: If I were to have a house party what rights do I have as a resident of the house if any despite being a minor? What can the police do when they're on my front doorstep? Am I in my rights just to ignore them?

Answer:
 Sure you can ignore the police during your house party.

Here's what we'd do:

Wait.

We'd just stay outside and start ticketing/arresting people as they left for peace disturbance, minor in possession of alcohol, etc.

Then we'd mail a summons to the homeowner later if we couldn't identify who was responsible.

This is a game you don't win in the long run.Answer #2: They could ticket you for loud music if it violates any laws.

Probable cause could apply if they see minors consuming alcohol.Answer #3: The answer is yes, as someone who lives in the house you can deny the police entry. At that point they can stand outside the house (in the street or on the sidewalk, not in your yard because that would be trespassing) and wait for your guests to leave. They can also try to get a warrant that will permit them access. However, if someone else who lives in the house does grant them access, for instance a parent, that will be enough for them to gain entry.


Title: Child custody in cali/nev

Question: Before i get into it,I'm looking for maybe some perspective or pointers in the situation, whichever is viable. My girlfriend and i have been together for a year and a half. She came with a little boy who is now 4 years old. The biological father hasn't been in the picture till very recently. My girlfriend signed up for cash aid from the state of nevada. They are going after the "father" who lives in california for child support because of it. When he got the notice, he decided he wanted to come along and be a part of the childs life. I've been dedicated to bonding and being a role model for the child for the last year and have been calling him my own. Supporting him and my girlfriend with finding whatever work i could till i found a steady and high paying job. Now that i can afford everything with my job alone, she doesn't need cash aid. That's the back story. So what i want to know is if there is anything that can be done legally to get the "father" back out of the picture? I don't want to share what i feel is MY son. My girlfriend doesn't really want to either but is afraid to lose more than she is willing to be compliant with. So she is being civil and trying to cooperate with the "father".

Answer:
 >So what i want to know is if there is anything that can be done legally to get the "father" back out of the picture?

You can ask him for consent to adopt. But it sounds like he won't consent to that. There's no way to force him out of the picture if he doesn't want to be forced out.

Your girlfriend is right to be civil and cooperate with him. He has a legal right to be a parent to your child, and trying to circumvent that will not help.Answer #2: >That's the back story. So what i want to know is if there is anything that can be done legally to get the "father" back out of the picture? I don't want to share what i feel is MY son. My girlfriend doesn't really want to either but is afraid to lose more than she is willing to be compliant with. So she is being civil and trying to cooperate with the "father".

Clearly, it upsets you that she picked this man to procreate with.

He is, however, the father of her child, not the "father".
You are a legal stranger unless he voluntarily terminates his rights specifically so you can adopt.

Unless he is abusive to their child, and she can prove it, if he wants to have parenting time, the court is unlikely to terminate his rights unless there is another parent to take their place. Boyfriends don't count.


Title: Recourse against insure Uber driver

Question:
My brother was in a car accident- sideswiped by an Uber driver who does not carry insurance.

It’s California, cop said that there is not requirement to carry auto insurance in CA. My brother has uninsured driver coverage in his policy.

Can he look to Uber to pay his car damages?

Answer:
 The cop was wrong. You must carry auto insurance in California.

Financial responsibility (commonly known as insurance) is required on all vehicles operated or parked on California roadways.
You must carry evidence of financial responsibility in your vehicle at all times and it must
be provided as specified below when:

* Requested by law enforcement.
* Renewing vehicle registration.
* The vehicle is involved in a traffic collision.

Insurance companies in California are required by law (*California Vehicle Code* (CVC) §16058) to electronically report private-use vehicle insurance information to the Department of Motor Vehicles (DMV). Insurance companies are exempt from electronically reporting insurance information for vehicles covered by commercial or business insurance policies.

Electronic reporting of insurance information and programming changes that took effect in 2006, allow DMV to monitor insurance coverage and take appropriate actions through vehicle suspension as required by law.

Law enforcement and court personnel have electronic access to insurance status on DMV records.


Title: Found a lost item and sent it to the owner in the mail. The item was lost in transit and now the owner is threatening to sue.

Question: The owner of said item was staying at my apartment then after she left told me that she couldn't find her earrings and believed she had left them at my apartment. I found one of the pair under my bed a few days later and gave it to a friend to return to the owner per their request. About a month later I found the second earring behind my desk and contacted the owner about how I should return the earring. They requested I mail it so I did. The earring was somehow removed from the packaging in transit and the owner received an empty parcel with a hole in it. Now the owner is threatening to sue me for the cost of the earring saying it is my fault that the earring was lost in transit. I never agreed to take care of her property, I was simply doing what I thought was right. Do they have any grounds to sue? This was in North Carolina.

Answer: I'm very confused. You said she received an empty envelope but that the letter was lost in transit. Which is it? Cannot be both.


Title: I think my Landlord wants Me to Help Him commit Tax Fraud (TX)

Question:
When I first moved in the condo I rent a couple months ago my landlord vaguely mentioned something about his mother in-law doing something for childcare and he insisted on leaving a bulletin board with said in-law's TX dept. Of Family and Protective Sevices info in my kitchen, but the documents are mostly in a foreign language  and date back to over a year ago.

Today I get a knock on the door from a TX official, from said agency I suppose.  He asked me what my name was and if I ran a child daycare and if he could inspect the inside.  I spoke honestly; I told him who I was and that I did not run a daycare center but I supposed his last tenant did.  The official asked me I "was new here" and I said yes.  He said okay and shook my hand and left.

10 minutes pass and my landlord calls me asking me if someone knocked on my door and I told him about the encounter.  He is ESL so it's difficult at times for me to interpret what he means but he asked if he could come over at 7 and "find a solution that works for the both of us."

- TL;DR - I think my landlord is going to try to either evict me or raise my rent because I didn't say the right thing to a state inspector.  What do I do?

Answer:
 If you find any evidence of tax fraud or anything else illegal, report him to the police. Also, are you able to move somewhere else?Answer #2: If he is committing fraud, this still does not release you from your obligations under the lease.

But if you believe he may be, you should contact the authorities.  If he starts to go down, you wouldn't want to authorities to perceive you as being "in on it".

&#x200B;


Title: Hit a dog with my car that ran into the street.

Question: Driving through my neighborhood (western Massachusetts) today I ended up hitting a dog with my car, now I'm not 100% certain but i believe that it wasn't on the leash as it ran right into the street. I tried stopping as quick as i could, but i hit it. After the fact the dog ended up running home, and the family took him to the vet. Turns out he is okay, but they are trying to have me pay a 700 dollar vet bill for them. Is this my fault, and am i liable? If i pay this bill does it open me up to further bills or lawsuits? On advice from my parents i talked to the police but they said this is a civil matter and can't help. Would it be best to just pay them, or to try and go through legal proceedings. Any help would be greatly appreciated.

Answer:
 Dog Law specialist here.

In most jurisdictions they have a duty to keep their dog the hell out of the street.Answer #2: Tell them no, and to control their dog.

I hit a dog with my car and felt like shit about it (I have dogs of my own), but you know what? *If the dog had been on a leash*, it would have been fine.

Don't pay a dime. Contact your local animal control officer and tell him/her you hit a dog that was loose in the street and hand over the contact info for the owners. Getting a ticket for animal-at-large will cool them right down and give you an affirmative defense in case of any kind of civil suit.


Title: [California] Trustee says my items belong in the trust.

Question:
As the title says. The trustee is trying to threaten me, saying the only property I can take from the home after eviction is a small clock and my bed. Nearly everything I have was given to me by my late grandmother as a gift. She was alive, she was sound of mind, and more often than not was with me when these items were purchased.

There was no written agreement between grandma and I. Just verbal. We co-inhabited for 7 years.

Is she [trustee] lying through her teeth to me?

Answer:
 Anything that was given to you personally as a gift belongs to you.  The trust doesn't touch it.  Anything that you both possessed, and she purchased, probably belongs to the trust (though it may be debatable.)

Assume that the trustee genuinely doesn't know what was a gift, and what was merely provided for your use and owned by your grandmother.  See if you can get some evidence of the nature of the gifts.  Almost certainly personal items would be considered gifts.


Title: [CA] Sex contract?

Question: [deleted]

Answer: LOL no that would never hold up because you couldn't prove who you got it from if you have multiple partners. Practice only safe sex all the time if you have multiple partners.


Title: Roomate Assault

Question:
I am a 21 year old male. I
Live in Austin, Tx. I live in a 3 bedroom apartment with 2 other males. One of them assaulted me earlier this week in a dispute over a cleaning issue. He then called the police saying that I was currently beating him and that I was drunk etc. (not true)

It then reoccurred tonight almost identically. Both instances I have left the scene of the crime and driven off because I choose to smoke a plant that is illegal in my state. I probably should have flushed it and stayed to speak to the police but I was in panic mode. If my roommate decides to press charges on me (for something that didn't happen), would he have a case? He held a knife to me and sprained my thumb and I have a witness for tonight's occurance.

I'm not really sure what to do other than file a complaint with my leasing office and try to figure things out as far as my future living situation. But legally, what should I do? I'm going to start filming him when he does things like this. Any other advice?

Answer:
 Running from the scene doesn't help your cause.

Your roommate can't *press charges*, he merely can report it to the police. It's up to the DA whether or not charges will be brought.


Title: Promised and signed sublet for an entire house but now others are moving in

Question:
My girlfriend and I were looking for a short term place for ourselves for the summer. We found a kijiji ad advertising one room in a fully empty 4 bedroom house. The landlord (a student that has the place on a multi year contract with his friends) gave us a very basic sublet contract saying that the premises at *address* (no mention about specific rooms or sharing the house) are being subleted to my name and I cover the utilities. I also confirmed on the phone and via text that we would be the only people in the house. Now a few weeks after moving in a random person walks into the house (with a key) and takes a look at one of the rooms upstairs (I was really confused while it was happening and didn't have time to respond properly). After he leaves I get a call from the landlord saying that he will be moving in upstairs. What legal protections do I have against this? Note that my landlord (the one I am subletting from) is not the owner of the house but I am currently getting in touch with the actual owner. However, my contract also has the name of the owner on it.
Location: Ontario, Canada
Topic:
Landlord Tenant Housing

Answer:
 > but I am currently getting in touch with the actual owner.

Why? YOu have absolutely zero legal relationship with the actual owner. Your only contract is with your own landlord: the original tenant.

You can tell your landlord that this is a breach of the lease as you have a lease exclusive occupancy. He may back down. If not, you have options. One of them, if you choose to stay, is to apply at the LTB for a major rent rebate. Another is to inform the landlord that you are treating this as him having repudiated the contract. You can then sue him in small claims court for damages (the rent you paid, any expenses you incur in finding a new place to live on short notice, etc)Answer #2: You may also try posting this to /r/legaladvicecanada.


Title: Bought beard oil on Amazon last week. Skin on chin irritated and look like a burn victim's skin

Question:
So basically what the title said. I bought this beard oil with 'all natural' ingredients got excited to start joining the new trendy beard culture. Only to wake up the next day with my chin irritated. I decided to leave it alone for a couple days but today I took a look at my skin and the area I applied the oil to looks raw. The skin is raised from the normal skin, red and peeling.

Now I'm not a sue happy kind of guy, I've fallen in supermarkets and sucked it up, eaten at places that gave me, mean food poisoning but none of them have physically scared me. What is the best course of action to get this done. I don't have the best insurance to get this looked at, and getting it fixed would render me broke.

Thank you /r/legaladvice

Edit: California, USA

Answer:
 you don't even know what it is - how on earth do you know it would render you broke to fix?

See a doctor. Go to a clinic and figure out what's going on - it's probably just an allergic reaction.

Why are you even thinking about suing when you haven't even taken action to fix the medical issue?


Title: I picked up uhall keys for my friend. Now they’re charging her $1,500 for damages.

Question: I was helping my roommate move in over this past weekend. She asked me to pick up some keys for her uhall as she wouldn’t make it in time. My boyfriend and I picked up the keys from the company, I provided my license, and signed a couple things. I never drove the uhall myself, left the keys on the table at the apartment, and went about my day since I had other plans. She and her friends used the uhall for a total 13 miles before returning it. She text me yesterday stating the company is looking to charge her for $1,500 in damages. I wasn’t there when she was using the truck, so I don’t know if damage was done or not. I highly suspect there wasn’t. I didn’t inspect the uhall when I picked up the keys. The company told me it was located on the side of the building and I glanced to see it was there on my way back to my boyfriend and our car. Am I liable for anything since I provided my license and signed on her behalf? I never drove or paid anything for her. The employee and my roommate had an agreement over the phone that I could pick the keys up for her. How liable is she for paying these “damages”. Anything helps!

Answer:
 You probably agreed to be responsible for any damage done to their truck.  They would not have handed over the keys otherwise.  Ad then, from their perspective, you let somebody not authorized drive their truck and then it was damaged while in their control.Answer #2: What, exactly, did you sign?  If you signed paperwork agreeing to be responsible for the truck or liable for damages, then... you are liable.  did you keep a copy of the paperwork?

You need to figure out what Uhaul is claiming is damaged, in writing.


Title: Bizarre Road Rage Car Accident. Need advice. [Northern California]

Question:
Hey guys, I’m a longtime lurker - but this is my first post as something strange happened to me this past Friday and I thought Reddit would be a great place to seek advice.

So this past Friday, I was involved in a small road rage incident in suburban Northern California (east bay area).  I was heading southbound on the freeway and needed to exit.  The exit on said freeway had two lanes - one that goes east and one that goes west.  I merged onto the east exit lane.  As I was moving forward at full speed (~65 mph), a Jeep Wrangler ahead of me on the west exit decided to merge into the east exit where there was a solid line (just before the exits fully split off) suddenly without signaling.  This caused me to brake relatively hard to not hit the Jeep, so I honked and flashed my lights.  In response, the Jeep pulled onto the right hand shoulder of the off-ramp and slowed down/came to a near stop.  I was confused at this point since that seemed like an overreaction to me honking/flashing.  I continued down the off-ramp, thinking the incident was over.  The off-ramp curves (has a shoulder on the right up until the end) and merges onto a surface street/overpass bridge.  At the point where the off-ramp meets the surface street/overpass bridge, the shoulder ends and becomes a very narrow bike lane with a wall on the right hand side.

So as I’m continuing down the off-ramp getting ready to merge onto the surface road, I see this Jeep rocketing up behind me out of nowhere.  He gets within inches of my tail, starts driving on the shoulder trying to pass me or something.  At the very end of the off-ramp where I start merging, the shoulder ends and the Jeep decides to rocket forward and ram the rear quarter panel of my car (I was in an Audi S4, so I stood no chance to his much taller Jeep).  I swerved a little to minimize impact, and the Jeep got ahead of me and started to pull over.  This whole incident lasted for a matter of seconds.

I immediately called 911, but also pulled over behind the driver.  As I was waiting for local police to arrive, the driver came up to me and started telling me to get out and exchange information and that he was a cop.  He also claimed that I rear-ended him (which made no sense since my car only had damage on the rear and he had clearly hit me...).  As I was waiting for the local police, he came up to my car and said he didn’t have time to wait and was going to leave if I didn't exchange information with him.  I told him I wasn't going to do anything until the police arrive.  He then said he was leaving, and proceeded to drive off.  His car was brand new, and had no license plates so I called 911 again and followed safely.  He eventually stopped in a neighborhood and 4 police cars caught up to us.  At this point the police separated us and took both out statements.  At the end, they said that both our stories were polar opposites.  The lead officer said that it was as if we were in different universes when the incident happened, that we were both probably embellishing, and that the truth was likely somewhere in between.  I honestly was not embellishing and I have no clue what the other driver said.  They also said that the other driver apparently wasn't trying to run away because he also called police and told them to meet him where was eventually stopped...which I find ridiculous since we ended up miles away from where the original incident occurred and where we initially stopped.  Police decided they were going to treat the incident as a normal traffic collision and just put together a regular police report so that we can use that to deal with our insurance companies.  My car was the only one with damage (right rear quarter panel).  It appeared that his tire did all the damage to my car, so his car didn’t even have a scratch.

At this point, is there any way for me to prove this guy hit me in a fit of road rage?  Also, am I SOL if the police say we're at equal fault or that I’m somehow at fault (I’m only worried about this because he claimed to be a cop and I can't tell if they'll be biased towards him).  I already spoke with my insurance company [Geico] and they agree that he seems to be at fault.  For the time being, I have to pay my $500 insurance deductible and deal with the huge hassle of dealing with body shops.  I really hate that I have to shell out cash for something like this.  Geico says they'll try to get the other drivers insurance to pay up (and reimburse my $500/depreciated value of car), but no guarantees.   Extremely frustrating because my car is only 2 months old.  Thanks in advance all!

tl;dr; road rager rammed me seemingly on purpose,  tried to run away.  When police arrived, we both had opposite stories so they decided to treat the incident as normal traffic collision.  My car was the only one with damage, so I’m stuck paying my insurance deductible and depreciation of my car.  Not sure how to proceed at this point or if there’s any way I can “win”.

Answer:
 Let your insurance company handle it.

If you want to pursue further, you can sue him for whatever else you're out.  However, it will become a he-said/she-said matter, and those can be difficult to win.


Title: Minor carpet damages leading to over $1000 in replacement charges. Is this legal? [WI]

Question:
My room mate and I live in Madison, WI, and are attending school there.  We recently moved out of our apartment which had 3 half inch (radius) burn holes in the carpet from a hookah coal.  One hole burned all the way through the carpet, but the other two did not.  The 3 burns all together took up about a 2 sq ft space. The company we rented the apartment from replaced the entire carpet and charged us over $1000 for it, draining our security deposit, and forcing us to collectively pay over $350.

My room mate and I don't think that they should have replaced the entire carpet, but that it would have been better to just replace the 2 sq ft space that the holes took up.  I do have my own pictures of the holes with my hand for scale, and I also plan to get the pictures they took that they are required to give to me, should I request them.

What are our options?

Answer:
 Replacing the whole carpet for damage like this is appropriate. It is very difficult to patch carpet without the patch being obvious.

However, it is not appropriate to charge you for the full replacement value of the carpet. The carpet depreciates in value over time. So if they put in new carpet for $1000, and the carpet was less than brand new when you moved in, they may be charging you too much.


Title: Office lights - do I have a case? Or I'm just stuck.

Question:
I have light sensitivity which makes me not be able to handle artificial bright lights for a long period of time (my ophthalmologist calls it photophobia).  I prefer dimly lit areas or indirect natural light at home.   Even on bright sunny days outside my eyes need a break.

We recently moved offices, and have LED lights above our desks.  They are SO bright that I have major dry eyes, get headaches, my eyes just feel so tired and I sometimes even feel nauseous.  I brought this up to them and they said there was nothing they could do.

I went to my ophthalmologist who wrote me a note about my issues but my job said they don't legally have to do anything since it's not a disability.

I asked if they could just take out the bulb or provide a film cover for the overhead light etc.  I even offered to pay for the film cover.  They said no.  Their main argument is the ripple effect it will have on my other coworkers and that everyone will ask for their lights to be dimmed essentially causing our workplace to be dark inside.

They asked if I could wear tinted glasses.  I don't want to do that because then I can't properly see my computer screen.

My ideal environment would be to either get some sort of film tint for the light or even just remove it and I can use a desk lamp.

They won't let me use anything physical in my cubicle to help block the light.

Is there anything I can do in this situation?  I seriously want to rip out my eyeballs everyday.

&#x200B;

Answer: It might be a disability.  Take your concern to HR directly and ask for an ADA accommodation of your light sensitivity.


Title: Discriminatory Hiring Practices -Global Company - What are my options?

Question:
I'm a recruiter at a global company and am asked repeatedly to provide very unethical information regarding candidate identities. I'm pushed to break EEO regulation and compliance standards to fulfill a questions diversity agenda. While the intentions are good, the practice is unethical and discriminatory. I have quite a number of emails from people in my business making such requests. I always push back and do not comply with these demands to identify a candidates age/race/gender/ethnicity. I get labeled as difficult to work with and my reputation suffers. I know what I'm legally obligated to provide and will am doing them a favor by not putting them in jeopardy by providing this information. However, after repeated and disrespectful requests, I'm fed up.

What are my legal options here?

Answer: Contact HR and/or the EEOC.


Title: Is this considered retaliation? (Phoenix AZ)

Question: On Tuesday I reported my boss to her supervisor for creating a very uncomfortable work environment. Not only was I unhappy working for her the previous staff had been unhappy working with her and the current staff is unhappy working for her. My Regional and HR had a long talk with her about it and her behavior and that she needed to create a more welcoming environment for her staff or this would be her final warning. I came in to work today (the day after this conversation went down) and at one point this morning could clearly hear her in her office talking to someone about how the prior girl who worked in my position had talked and how the previous girl was begging my boss to come and work for her new company, how much she loved having her as her boss and so on and so forth. Now the same person she had been on the phone with is here in our office (with the manager's door closed) and I know they are talking about me and the supervisor. I'm super uncomfortable and not sure what to do. I was urged to tell HR immediately if there was any form of retaliation but IDK If this counts. (AZ)

Answer: Discomfort in the workplace is not even remotely actionable and firing you for being a pain in the ass is legal.


Title: Holding onto guitar until I get mine back a bad idea?

Question:
I have (had) a friend that I lent a guitar too. He lent it out and it got broken. I never saw the guitar again. (I'm assuming he pawned it, as he has a history of pawning his things)

He has another guitar and he left it here last time he was here. I'm considering saying "I'll give you your guitar, when I get mine back." They are both roughly the same value - about 250 dollars.

Is there anything he can do legally? Would police get involved over something like this? I live in Ontario.

Answer:
 Not a clue if the police would get involved, but they could if they wanted to. That's stealing.

Your friend has the same options to recover his guitar that you did to recover yours.


Title: My ex wife and I have been arguing about custody. Last night, she threatened that I will get custody over her dead body. Today, I found out she has firearms. She has two convictions for domestic violence. I'm supposed to bring our daughter to her house tonight. What should I do?

Question:
We have a signed agreement, where our daughter is at her house during the week and mine on the weekends. We've been planning on switching it this year, with her coming to my house during the week. She just started a new job, requiring her to work weekends, so she tried to change that plan. We have been arguing.

Last night, it came to a head.

What can I do? She is not safe with firearms. Shes not legally allowed to own them.

Answer:
 Is the custody agreement court sanctionned or something you agreed between the 2 of you?

If she is not allowed to possess firearms, contact the police.Answer #2: Call the police and a request an officer accompany you to drop off your daughter, since you fear for your personal safety. Continue to respect and follow the agreed upon custody arrangements (with police escorts as needed) was while you work with a lawyer to change the custody plans.

I have no idea about the guns, as Virginia’s laws only prevent people convicted of DV from “*transporting or purchasing* firearms”. Not from possessing them. So that part is legal, I’m afraid.Answer #3: Request a "Civil Standby" (or whatever your state calls it" where the officer will show up and just hang out while the exchange happens.  If you explain why, then they make wish to make further inquiries with respect to the status of her possession of the guns.Answer #4: If she’s a convicted felon in possession of firearms, police, yesterdayAnswer #5: It is against federal law for someone convicted of domestic violence to be in the possession of a firearm. The Lautenberg Act alone she be enough to get her arrested. File a police complaint, and a complaint with protective services. Make sure they know she is armed, dangerous and illegally in possession of a gun.Answer #6: If she had a domestic violence conviction (felony or misdemeanour - it doesn't matter) she's not allowed to possess firearms.Answer #7: A misdemeanor crime of domestic violence (MCDV) makes her a prohibited person. She cannot possess firearms. Transporting them from mother's to father's house was a felony.

https://www.justice.gov/jm/criminal-resource-manual-1117-restrictions-possession-firearms-individuals-convictedAnswer #8: You start making exchanges at the police department, not each other's homes.


Title: Property Managers raised rent by $25 for no reason, are they allowed to do that?

Question:
I live at this crappy apartment with my fiancé, it's got a shitty "laundromat" with broken down washers & dryers. None of them even work & we've been here for almost 2 years & property managers  done NOTHING to anything. The pool is never up to regulations & when it is, tenants bring people who don't even live here to pool & it's always crowded. They also don't change the heater & AC when necessary  (freezing in the winter, boiled alive in the summer). And just a few months ago, around November, the managers said they were raising the rent from $850 to $875. When we asked why, they actually said "Because they wanted to".

By the way, our complex used to be owned by someone else & our current property owners bought it, yet act like the old manager has any say (won't fix the laundromat because it "belonged to the old manager"). Overall, this place is a mess & I want to know if it's either illegal or just immoral that they raise the rent to almost $900. We did sign a contract to agree to the upcharge, largely due to the fact that we had no other place to go.

Answer: Because you signed a contract agreeing to it, you’re up a creek. If you had a lease stating the rent for a specific amount of time, you could’ve stuck them to that until the lease ran out, but the new contract would invalidate the old lease terms.


Title: Signed a 1-year lease. Haven't moved in yet. Girlfriend and I broke up.

Question:
Throwaway because GF uses reddit.

I recently signed a one year lease on an apartment with my girlfriend and we're heading towards breaking up.

Our move-in date is in January so we haven't moved anything in. I can't really afford the place on my own and neither can she. I've paid the first months rent and the security deposit, myself.

What can I do here? Am i stuck with this lease?

Edit: I'm in the US

Answer:
 Relationship status doesn't change lease terms.

Check your lease for a grace period.  If there isn't one, you can *try* to work out a deal with your leaser on paying a fee to break the lease, but it would be totally up to them.


Title: Therapy office CC'd my ex in an email - can I do anything?

Question:
Hello -

There was an incident that took place last week over a balance at a medical office that I am taking my daughter to for therapy (court-ordered). Insurance came back and denied the last 3 months of appointments and applied it to the deductible. That's fine, I get that the insurance plan sucks. This office however, decided to seemingly pay off a portion of that balance by withdrawing $150 without letting me know. They just withdrew it using my card on file without waiting for a response from me regarding the balance. They didn't even give me 24hrs notice before they decided to just pay themselves.

The issue I'm having is that I called the office in regards to them just pulling money without so much as a warning. The lady tried talking over me when I was speaking (which I don't take well) and so I talked louder. Following this phone call, twenty minutes afterward, I receive an email from the provider that claims I "verbally harrassed and hung up" on her and that she would feel more comfortable having my ex-husband bring my daughter in for her appointments. She **copied my ex-husband in on these emails**.

I'm having an issue with this email. She had absolutely no right to include my ex in this email. We are in a VERY high-conflict custody battle at the moment and the email she sent to me claiming I was "verbally harrassing" her can be damaging to my case because my ex-husband uses *anything & everything* he can get his hands on. I've disclosed to this facility that he has a very serious history of abuse towards me when we were together. Not only that but she disclosed to him how much of my balance was left and kept asking what I was able to pay. My ex does not need to know anything about my finances! I don't think this violates HIPAA but

Is there anyway this can be fought? Was she in the wrong to include him or because it's 'our' daughter was she okay to copy him? I feel so handcuffed trying to escape my ex in the first place only to have providers offices putting him in the middle of my business.

I appreciate anyone who read this even if there is nothing that can be done.

Answer: Unless your current custody agreement says your ex is not permitted to know your child’s medical information, I’m not sure they violated anything. Especially if this office is now refusing to work with you, and your ex will need to bring her (since it’s court ordered). Answer #2: The only protected health information in that email is the fact that your daughter is a patient of this doctor. Since the recipient is someone who presumably also has the right to access your daughter’s medical information, there’s no violation there. Your options are to let your ex handle taking your daughter to these appointments or to apologize and hope they’ll rescind this decision.


Title: Brothers ex wife went to prison and her family hid it from him. He now wants custody of their 8yo daughter.

Question:
So basically my brother has not seen his daughter for about 5 years, due to his ex wife making difficult and them living in different states (he in NC, her in FL).

About a year ago he was informed that his child support for his daughter has stopped because the she was no longer in the care of his ex wife. After calling around to different friends and family of his ex, to try and find out where his daughter was and who's care she was now, he finally had the police go do a wellness check on the child. Police confirmed that the child was safe at the last know address for his ex wife and her family. Days later he finally gets in contact with the ex wife's current husband or brother (not sure which) and they informed him that she is on some type of mission trip out if the country. Since his ex wife is VERY religious he just accepts it and moved on.

Fast foward a year and my brother tries to get into contact with his daughter/ex for the holidays, but has no luck. He decides to Google her to find maybe some new contact information instead he finds her mugshot. She is doing 3 years (2 to go) for a fraud related crime. So he has been lied to the entire time and the exs  current husband has had custody of the child and no one bothered to tell him.

My brother and his current wife now want custody of his daughter:

The daughter has not had a relationship with him since she was around 3yo. I believe they have been to court for custody and the ex wife was awarded full custody (I could be wrong about this, could be some level of joint custody.) I read over the court case and the daughter was somewhat used in the ex wife's crime that sent her to prison.

My brother plans to fly down to FL soon to really get his head around the situation.

Does he have the right to take his daughter? (not forcefully or anything, but under police escort or something)
Does it need to go through courts? If so what is the process?

Answer: He cannot take her without a custody order. He can hire an attorney in FL to petition the courts to grant him custody.Answer #2: He needs to get a lawyer before he makes any attempt to retrieve the daughter. Regardless of what he technically may have a legal right to do a court may not appreciate him showing up and tearing a kid away from every family member they actually know after not seeing the child for five years.


Title: Can cough syrup throw off a breathalyzer? (PA)

Question: I know someone facing a dui, 2nd offense, high rate (.10-.15). Their defense is to say that while they did have 2 beers and 1 shot, they also had a dose of cough syrup for their cold and that skewed the results. I know this person is lying, but they think this will get them out of jail.

Answer: They're wrong.  The alcohol in cough syrup metabolizes the same way any other alcohol does.  So if he had enough cough syrup to blow a .10, he was too drunk to drive.  There's no "medical use" exception for DUIs.


Title: I need help defining what my landlord can and cannot do.

Question:
My landlord is renting me a 1 bedroom apartment.

This is my first apartment and my landlord is trying to set rules such as I cannot have a man over to sleep without their permission and I ESPECIALLY CANNOT have a FEMALE over to sleep at all, no exceptions. It doesn't matter if they are just a friend or my girlfriend.
They say a woman can only stay over if we are married.

She also says I can't stay at people's houses? I have to be spending the night at my own home unless I cannot get home (e.g. Too drunk)

This seriously feels like my mother trying to make rules on what I can and can't do. Is this even legal? Can she they actually evict me for breaking these rules? It's like communist North Korea over here.

Can anyone give me any legal documents as to what rules landlords can make in Utah?

EDIT: I HAVE NO LEASE. PLEASE KEEP THIS IN MIND.

Answer:
 You see this kind of behavior all the time in Utah, and you see these types of landlords advertising for tenants who will keep to "LDS standards."

Many of the usual housing rules do not apply when the house is occupied by the landlord. Specifically, the Fair Housing Act does not apply in most cases when the building is owner-occupied and has less than four units, which sounds like your situation.

Edit: This is not legal advice, but I recommend that you take advantage of the fact that you don't have a lease and move as soon as you can. You may find a way to continue to rent without having to follow their rules, but it will make for an unpleasant living environment. Life is too short.


Title: Texas - Apartment mailboxes broken into frequently, lots of mail stolen, nobody will do anything.

Question:
Mail boxes have apparently been broken since at least August and I don't think I'm getting much of my mail.  Right before Thanksgiving my individual mail door fell off, and the only way to keep it in place is to lock it, but you can still pull it off easily.  I have reported this to the apartment management and they claim they can't do anything about it until the post office contractor comes out and looks at it.  They have looked at it, but the earliest anything might be fixed is maybe next week. Maybe.

If it matters, we got a new management company in October.  The old company knew the mail was insecure but apparently just left it for the next management company to deal with.

Over thanksgiving I put our mail on hold until Dec 2, and went in to pick it up Dec 3.  I was told the carrier probably had it, so I asked the post office folks to just keep it at the post office until I could come back in and get it.  Today I called to make sure it was there before making the 20 minute drive to the post office and was told the carrier delivered it to my mailbox.

So of course all my mail is gone.

Is there anyone I can call who will actually do anything about this?

I've rented a PO box (because USPS basically told me it wasn't their responsibility to secure mail delivered to my home), but am really not happy about having to spend the extra money, especially since I'm only living here another month and a half.

I've called numerous different numbers with USPS but nobody will actually DO anything.  We even had to file a police report over a stolen gas card.

Do we have any recourse against the apartment complex or USPS?  What do we do now to ensure we don't get in trouble for late bills we didn't receive?

Answer:
 [Post Office regulations prohibit the delivery of mail to unsecured mailboxes, and the Post Office can suspend mail delivery until the mailboxes are repaired.](http://about.usps.com/notices/not11/not11.htm)  Keep the P.O. Box for now.  Ask to speak to the postmaster.  Tell them that the apartment mailboxes are all broken and unsecure, and that mail is being stolen.  Bring pictures/video of the broken mailboxes.

In addition, [report the theft of mail to the U.S. Postal Inspection Service](https://postalinspectors.uspis.gov/investigations/mailfraud/fraudschemes/mailtheft/ReportMailTheft.aspx).  Depending on where you live in Texas, and if there's a landlord-tenant agency or municipal code inspector, tell them about the problem.Answer #2: You can't sue the post office because someone stole your mail.  It's also unlikely you can sue your apartment complex unless "secure mail" is in the lease.  It's not their fault someone stole your mail.

Here's some non-legal advice:  You've got a month and a half left.  Get your mail forwarded to your Post Office box.  Yea, it costs money and you shouldn't have to pay that because some people are bastards, but in reality, you always have to pay extra for stuff because of bastards who have no respect for others.  $20 a month is a small price to pay for security compared to some of the security systems some people have to install because people are bastards and break into their homes and/or businesses.


Title: Mom's vehicle dealer was foreclosed, payments owed

Question:
Owensboro, KY

The dealership where my mom is buying a vehicle from was foreclosed on by a bank. She was told by the repo person that in 2 weeks her van will be repossessed. She asked him for the name of the bank and he told her nothing. The dealership has been emptied of their inventory. She has a payment that is due this coming week that the repo man said would be due irregardless.
What actions should she take?

I'd say f*** it and not pay if they're going to repo it anyways.

Answer: Unless theres  some funny buisness they can't and won't repo the car. She will just have to make payments to the now lienholder the bank.


Title: [Maryland labor laws] Can an apprenticeship program make you do unrelated work for 14 hours a day every day?

Question:
A few months ago I attended an apprenticeship program to to become an able seaman. It was a year long program set up into four three month parts with the first part being basic training and book learning at their main facility. After the first few weeks me and the other trainees in my class were told that we would have to work in the cafeteria kitchen for a month (two weeks then and two week a month later after the first time) doing cleaning and food prep. They would have us up and in the kitchen by five am, work four hours, have us go to the gym and work out for an hour, another four hours of work, an hour long break, then a final four hour plus inspection so we would be released around nine pm (this was a while ago so I don't have the exact times but I can figure them out if needed).

Is it legal for the program to have the trainees work these long hours every day doing work that's not related to our vocational training? The program was free including our room and board so I suppose you could argue that this was our way of paying for it, but the place was run by the Seafarers International Union and suppository paid with union dues which we would start paying after we finished.

Answer:
 I'm almost certain you are highlighting SHLSS. That apprenticeship is a free program where you get free room, board and tuition and you just have to pay for uniforms and a couple of certs.

So in exchange for training, room and board, the school expects you to contribute by performing galley duty. Know that this is also just like regular stuff for unrated crew on a real ship. You would be performing these same duties.

I'm not sure exactly how you missed this portion of the training since it's been on the website for years.

https://www.seafarers.org/jobs/ua.html

Wake-up is at 4, followed by room inspection, then breakfast, then galley duty. Really, this is how ships run. I'm not sure how you thought things worked in the merchant marine, but yes, this is perfectly legal.

Since you've referred to this in the past tense and the program is over a year long, it sounds like you didn't make it past phase I.

Move on, accept that you are absolutely not a good fit for anything vaguely requiring watches and find something more inline with your training and temperment.

I don't know you, but I'm willing to bet in a few years you are really going to regret making the choice to leave or allowing yourself to be put out. That school is one of the best deals going. I lost the vision in one eye in the military and no matter what could never get my AB with that vision loss. I desperately wanted to go, but couldn't make it work.


Title: Copyright notice from IP

Question:
in GA

I got a copyright notice in the email for downloading a TV show that aired in mid-Dec. The notice is what I assume to be an automated e-mail; the notice mentioned about file sharing copyrighted movies and music. I downloaded the TV episode through a torrent and left it seeding, which is what I guess caused the notice.

Just wanna know if this is something that can actually be taken action against; I wanna say this is just a "false-positive" that got accompanied by a automated e-mail.

Has anyone else read up on situations like this and how it was handled/looked into?

Answer: This sounds like a positive-positive to me. Answer #2: So you downloaded the tv show, and admitted to downloading the show. Why on earth would you think it's a false positive?


Title: [NY] Weird question about returns

Question: I just bought a nintendo switch through google express from fry's for 285. I like using homebrew on my devices and the one which I received is a revised model that fixes the method used for homebrew. I would like to buy a switch from a local store now, which isnt revised and I can use homebrew on. It will cost 300+ though. I was wondering if I could find a non revised model, buy it, switch out the consoles themselves, and return it again? The one I have right now is literally brand new, the only issue with it is that I cant play homebrew. I have heard of people returning rocks, i feel like this is way better as there is no real difference to the average customer, and saves me a lot of hassle with an online return. It also saves me some money. Should I do this or just pay the \~50 dollars extra, wait an extra week and buy one from the store.

Answer: No, committing fraud is illegal.


Title: Bought a lien sale from a tow yard, DMV won't let me register it

Question:
Hi r/legaladvice, I hope you can help me with some legal advice. On friday I responded to a vehicle ad on Craigslist for a local tow yard. They were doing a lien sale of a vehicle they had in their possession since June. I looked it over, they gave me a DMV printout stating fees for back registration, and I bought it from them.

Yesterday I went to the DMV to transfer the title to me, and pay for registration but was denied. According to the DMV there is a citation on record stopping them from doing anything until the citation is taken care of in court. They gave me the address of the court, which is in Sacramento if that helps. I called the court to get more info, and they said that the registered owner received a $1,000 citation which is locked onto the vehicle for expired tags and the owner needs to come into the court to pay the citation before the hold on the vehicle gets lifted.

I drove to the courthouse to speak to them in person. They were unable to locate anything regarding the vehicle and I had to provide them with the name, address and citation number for them to even look it up. They then told me the same thing, the registered owner needs to come in and pay for the citation in order for the hold to be lifted. There is nothing I can do.

I called the tow company, who got me in touch with their agent who handles everything. He says in 40 years he has never heard of such a thing and got me back with the tow company telling them to contact the local sheriff's department to find out why it is on there. Today I received word back from the tow company telling me the sheriff's department cannot find any record of the citation and that I have to go back to DMV.

I am tired of this run-around, is there anything I can do? Thank you for any advice you can provide.

Answer: Does this all take place in Sacramento?


Title: "Tell them to pound sand."

Question:
I know it's a phrase that most Americans will know the meaning of by hearing it, but is there a reason it is used so extremely commonly in /legaladvice? Do they use it in law school text books or something? Is it just a special /legaladvice meme that caught on? Do all lawyers just love this phrase?

> You keep using this word, "jabroni," ... and it's awesome.

Answer: As far as I can tell it's just an r/LA meme.


Title: Could I set up a remote controlled paintball turret to protect my house from vandals/thieves?

Question:
I live in an area with a highish crime rate and several of my neighbors have had break-ins lately.

Per the below Washington State RCW the use of force is lawful in preventing a malicious trespass. Does this mean that I could set up a remote control paintball gun so that if I saw via a security camera that someone was breaking into my house I could use a remote intercom to tell them to leave and if they keep trying to break in open fire with the paintball gun? The paint marks could then be used to help police identify the suspect afterwards.

Obviously this couldn't be completely automated as it would then be a boobytrap and could potentially hurt someone innocent, however if it was manually activated so I had to actually watch the security feed to verify they were in the process of committing a crime before opening fire would it be legal?

RCW 9A.16.020

Use of force—When lawful.

The use, attempt, or offer to use force upon or toward the person of another is not unlawful in the following cases:

(3) Whenever used by a party about to be injured, or by another lawfully aiding him or her, in preventing or attempting to prevent an offense against his or her person, or a malicious trespass, or other malicious interference with real or personal property lawfully in his or her possession, in case the force is not more than is necessary;

TLDR: Can I make a paint ball turret to shoot burgers in Washington State?

Answer:
 I suspect the first teenage vandal blinded by a frozen paintball to the eye will bring a swift end to this plan!Answer #2: *burglars

Although shooting burgers would be cool too.


Title: I bought a AT&T phone from Sam's that AT&T later claimed doesn't belong to them.

Question:
I bought an iPhone 6S from a Sam's Club in Texas in November of 2015, with the intention of sending it to Mexico for a cousin to use. We bought and added it to our AT&T account with no problem. We paid off the phone in installments by January of 2016 though AT&T. We then did an unlock request through AT&T's website.

The unlock request was granted, and we sent off the phone to my cousin. Well, the phone never worked with his SIM card, so he sent it back to us so we could check it out.

When I inserted my AT&T SIM card, the phone said that the SIM card is not supported under the current activation policy, which I found weird given that it was supposedly an AT&T phone to begin with.

My girlfriend has T-mobile, and when we tired using her SIM card, the phone worked. Perplexed, I called AT&T since I had paid off the phone and figured I'd give it to my sister (also in Texas under my AT&T plan).

I spent a long time with AT&T customer service. We also did a conference call with an Apple representative during that call. Apple claimed that the IMEI number on the phone matches that of a T-mobile phone. The AT&T rep also claims this. However, when I call T-mobile, they say the phone doesn't belong to any company.

I'm at a loss. Sam's doesn't want to take the phone back, claiming them don't sell T-mobile phones and that it was after the fourteen days alloted in their return policy. Both carriers say that they cannot do anything about it, and Apple says it cannot override the activation policy by either carrier.

I'm curious as to why I was even able to add the phone to my AT&T account to pay off in installments if they claim the phone didn't even belong to the company in the first place.

Any help is appreciated!

Answer: Just curious - do you have a receipt showing the original IMEI, and you're sure it matches the current phone? It's always possible it got swapped by a friend of your cousin without either of you knowing. Answer #2: You should post this in r/ATT - a lot of employees post in there and they can prob help you out


Title: I got scammed from the people I hired for academic help.

Question: [deleted]

Answer:
 All legal actions are public record, so yeah. You're going to have to chose between trying to get your money back and admitting in public that you cheated, which could prevent you from being accepted into university in the first place.

I believe there's an old phrase that goes something like: "You've made your bed, now lie in it."Answer #2: Unfortunately you hired them to do something illegal, namely to commit fraud for you.

The traditional "prelaw" level answer would be "a contract to perform an illegal activity is totally unenforceable and void, and there are no remedies for damages incurred under an illegal contract.

The law school student answer is the questions are complex there.  Johnson v Johnson lays out a framework where an illegal contract might possibly be enforced, but it's a long shot at best. It requires the court to find you didn't commit any moral turpitude, and that's not certain here, you sought to get benefit from material fraud.

It also requires the contract to have been completed.  Here your damages are for non-completion and/or defective performance.  Johnson didn't contemplate that.

And lastly the court would have to decide that it is in the greater public good.  That is a bar I'm not sure can be reached.

Tl:dr-- illegal contracts can't give rise to actions.