Title: My brother runs a housing website for students. This weekend, a local newspaper used an image of his website and logo for an article about discrimination towards international students. What can we do? Any insight or ideas are appreciated.

Question:
This is a (crappy- sorry) image of the published article:
https://i.imgur.com/vNxWapT.jpg

Translation of title and subtitle: ' 'Dutch only' is discrimination (and there's nothing we do to fight it)'

The image used in this article is basically a print-screen of his website. They used part of the layout and it clearly shows his logo in the middle. The actual ad is written by the person who offered a room. My brother has no say in what they write in their requirements.

His website (not sure if I can mention it here) is created from Facebook groups he started. He is not making money on it yet and is currently working on redesigning the website so it's more accessible to internationals (and will still be free to use).

Having your logo shown next to such a negative article is a very bad thing when you're just about to launch your new platform, especially since this newspaper has a reach of around 300.000 readers.

My brother called the newspaper as soon as I told him, and they've apologized and offered to publish a more positive article about his platform soon.

What do you guys suggest? Is this offer enough? Should he demand more compensation?

We live in the Netherlands which probably make things different, but I'd just like to hear your thoughts. Thanks!

(Repost because my last post got removed for showing names)

Answer: You might be better off in /r/legaladviceEU


Title: Cash register was short $100 tonight. (FL, USA)

Question:
Can my manager make all of us replace the missing money from our own pockets or face consequences? Someone either fucked up or stole $100 exactly. Either way, everyone who worked today needs to chip in to replace the money, or otherwise will receive a "final warning write up."

I'm not paying that fucking money.

I will:

1. Take responsibility for someone else's mistakes if I was responsible for teaching them how to do something and failed to do so.

Or

2. Take responsibility for someone else's mistakes if I feel morally obligated to do so.

I will not:

1. Cover for someone's mistake that I had nothing to do with and have no moral obligation to.

Nor

2. Take money out of MY pocket to cover a COMPANY loss that I had nothing to do with.

Edit: spacing

Answer: You're not required to replace the cash, but can be terminated for not doing so. Also, do **not** admit to a crime that you didn't commit unless you want a criminal record.Answer #2: Don't get why you all are down voting him for asking more questions. Not his fault he doesn't know the shit. Also, isnt that the whole reason people come to this Sub or am I missing something?Answer #3: My first question would be who was assigned to work on the register? Secondly, who has reviewed the register security tapes? there should be one, most places these days have one pointing right at the cash drawer, so they watch exactly how the person handles the money, and so they can see what is handed over by customers etc, in cases of being accused of giving back wrong change, etc. I would insist they review the video... then determine who is guilty of mishandling money.


Title: If someone refuses to remove an item of theirs from my property (e.g. car) can I damage it, destroy it, or otherwise dispose of it as I see fit?

Answer:
 Facts matter, as does location. It's why you're told in several different places to post a location.

If you destroy or intentionally damage someone else's property you're inviting chaos into your life and should expect a visit from the police (at a minimum).


Title: Former roommate came in at like 2am and had a little pity party

Question:
Adding housing flair because I don’t really know.

Long story short, my friend and I were living with her boyfriend. The three of us have a lease together until August, but he hasn’t been staying here the past few nights after they broke up.

He still has a key, though. Something I hadn’t thought of at all, unfortunately. He came over in the middle of the night and ripped a mirror off the wall, threw a coffee mug (denting the wall), nothing too insane, but still not great to wake up to.

Obviously going to be getting the key back, but is there anything I can do? He didn’t even technically break in, and he’s still on the lease.  If we had woken up while he was doing it, I would’ve called the cops. But after the fact???

For the record, we took a bunch of pictures and are now cleaning up.
Topic:
Landlord Tenant Housing

Answer:
 > Obviously going to be getting the key back

He's on the lease, you can't force him to give his key back.

> is there anything I can do?

You can sue him for any damage to your property.

> I would’ve called the cops.

There isn't much they would have done. Breaking a mirror and throwing a cup won't amount to much.


Title: [NY] Employer wants me to work extra hours for free, but hasn't made it mandatory. Just curious.

Question:
Not bothering with a throwaway but keeping details vague. I don't actually think there's anything illegal about this, I'm just annoyed by it and wanting to get more info before I respond.

I was recently "promoted" but am still making barely over minimum wage. Moreover, with the new job title, although my pay was raised slightly, my hours were cut. I am now strictly part-time. I am expected to complete all my work in 20 hours per week (which, due to the nature of the job, means 4 hours per day - there are time-specific duties involved so I can't work 6 hours one day and 2 the next, for instance).

I tried it for a week and then sent a very nice, professional email explaining that while I was excited about the promotion and happy to be doing it, I would be able to do a better, more thorough job and do more work with just one extra hour per day; so 25 hours per week instead of 20.

The company owner wrote back with a "there's no budget" excuse and suggested that if I were to stay the extra hour every day without expecting compensation, it would be "noticed and appreciated."

I'm very annoyed by this response and haven't answered yet. I've been working there over a year - not so long, I realize, but I've definitely put up with being at the bottom of the ladder, taken a lot of shit, and yes, done plenty of work off the clock, up until now. Obviously this feels like a kick in the proverbial balls - the "we're broke" excuse is well-known BS and I can point out a few unnecessary new hires to prove it. Plus, the company is a bit of a boys' club, and as the only woman and the only person under 30 in my department I have already learned that I have to basically do backward handsprings to be "noticed and appreciated" while male coworkers with the same amount of experience can put in half the effort and make twice the pay.

So I'm pissed, but since he didn't say "work for free or you're fired" I don't think I really have any legal recourse. But like the title says, just curious to hear some outside opinions.

Answer: Your boss is an idiot. Stop being a martyr - don't work for free, even if it means doing a less thorough job. Working for free is slavery...you might start looking for another job where you don't work for a neanderthal.Answer #2: NAL, but unless you're an exempt employee (based on your pay, you probably aren't), your boss is legally obligated to pay you for every hour you work. You can't waive your right to this, so the "voluntary" aspect of it is indeed BS.


Title: Caught having sex in a car on private property in Maryland

Question:
So my girlfriend and I were having sex in my mom's car in the parking lot of medical pavilion after closing hours. We were parked in the far corner and nobody was around. But later when I looked out the window I saw a guy taking down my license plate number. He yelled at us and said he was going to report us to the cops.

How fucked am I? We're both 21 and I don't think maryland considers this a sexual offense so I doubt we'll end up on a sex offender watch list, but that's what I'm most scared of. Will I just get a fine for trespassing? I live in Massachusetts and was just visiting for a few weeks.

Answer: He's probably just trying to scare you. But if you're contacted by the police, don't talk to them (tell them you won't answer any questions without an attorney), and get an attorney.


Title: [Illinois, US] Is it legal to torrent a digital copy of a movie or album that you have legitimately purchased?

Question: I have a bunch of CDs and DVDs that have gotten scratched beyond the point of functionality. Given that I already own the movies/records, is it still illegal for me to torrent/download a copy? I'm not sure how files work in terms of property; on one hand, just because I bought my bicycle doesn't mean I can steal a new copy from the bike shop if the one I bought gets wrecked; but on the other hand, since it is literally just a pattern of 1s and 0s, nothing is actually transferring ownership other than the digital information contained therein, which I totally already have a legitimate claim to (it's not illegal to rip the file from the disc to your computer, and the end result is indistinguishable). Can someone clarify for me?

Answer:
 * First of all - this is at best a very dangerous legal gray area which would require spending a lot more hiring an attorney to clear it up than just buying another copy of whatever you are downloading.

* Secondly - Torrenting typically requires connecting to a network in which your computer automatically shares the portions you have downloaded simultaneously with the ongoing download of the parts you are missing...which is 100% illegal distribution of the media to people who certainly don't own it - and makes it firmly illegal.

So basically...Don't do it.  Just buy new CDs/DvDs or find a **legal** online source.  And start making backup copies of your own media **before** you damage the disc it came on.


Title: How to get rid of sexual harasser/stalker?

Question:
This is a throwaway account, I go to a university in California which I fear naming due to my safety. About two weeks ago, I met a guy through Tinder at school (do not victim blame me, give lectures etc, I get I made mistakes, I just need help) and while we did not have sex, some consensual things happened. I expressed that I was no longer interested in him and he kept bothering me. Keep in mind that he is an international student so he doesn't understand social norms. He's looking for a serious relationship so that after graduating he can get married and obtain citizenship. Since I expressed no interest in dating him, he kept bothering me via text saying he won't leave me alone unless I find someone to date him.  I just transferred to this university so I have no friends here and even if I did I would not wish this abusing, controlling creep on anyone. I say controlling because another red flag appeared which was if he texted and I was doing something like showering etc and couldn't respond he would get angry and threaten to hurt me. I don't have read receipts on and I guess he thought "delivered" is the equivalent of read. I had enough and blocked him. I thought I was safe now.

Yesterday I got a text from another number from him. I told him to leave me alone and he threatened to find me and hurt me. Turns out somehow he found out my hometown and threatened to come to my house over break. My university doesn't release address information and there is nowhere on the Internet where you can my hometown address so he may be bluffing and there is a security gate where I live. He does know where I live on campus and because he has a friend who lives in my building, he may be able to get past certain locks. I'm scared when I return next week he may find me.

I am thinking I should go to the university police for a restraining order on Monday but I don't know how helpful they will be. I have evidence of his texts threatening to find me and hurt me. From my understanding they can arrest him even if he texts me. However, I am scared of any potential legal battles. I don't know if he can fight this and cannot get my family involved and cannot afford a lawyer.

Answer:
 > threaten to hurt me

[...]

> threatened to find me and hurt me

Why have you not already called the police? Print out copies of the texts. Call the police.

> cannot afford a lawyer

You don't need a lawyer to call the police and report that someone is threatening you.


Title: When is it illegal to say "Jury Nullification"?

Question:
I know there are situations where it is not legal to acknowledge, what are those situations?

US/WI is location

Answer: If you are in a courtroom and a judge tells you you can't talk about jury nullification, then he can jail you for contempt if you disobey his order.


Title: Should you ever sign for mail from UPS post man?

Question: I signed on the postman's handheld computer device for the delivery or a letter. I asked him if I refused to sign could I still receive the mail and he said no. So stupidly I signed. I open the mail and it is not mine, it is my dad's bill. We both have the same name different middle name but it didn't show that. Was this a stupid move? I thought it was for me. What are the repercussions now?

Answer:
 Huh? nothing. give the mail to your father and move on. All it says it that the mail was rcvd at the address. Nothing else. Dont be so paranoid. Answer #2: If you do not sign for it, the mail does not get delivered since a signature is required.

Your call.

And checking ahead of time if the mail is for you would have been a good idea, indeed.


Title: PA School District is claiming 'over-capacity' and claims our daughter may need to attend a different school for first grade to return in second grade. Any legal avenues to explore?

Question:
Location: Pennsylvania

My wife and I recently moved here and registered our daughter for first grade.  The clerk said they are over capacity and she might have to attend a different elementary school in the district for first grade and then return to the proper elementary school for second grade.  We are none to happy on this since the elementary school was a big part of why we bought a house here and we were hoping to keep major transitions for her to minimum (moved cross country to PA last year, rented for a bit then found a house).

Are there any legal avenues that could be explored to get her into the elementary school she should be in for first grade?

The next closest school is 25+ minutes away, and is rated quite a bit lower.  The other nagging worry is what if they pull this crap again for 2nd grade.

Answer:
 > Are there any legal avenues that could be explored to get her into the elementary school she should be in for first grade?

You can talk to the principal and school board.  Realistically, though, if they're over capacity, they're over capacity.  There's not much to be done there.


Title: I was referred for disturbing the peace for following someone in a car

Question:
To start off, I am a 17 year old boy, I go to a private school and get pretty good grades. I am a member of my schools academic decathlon team, an eagle scout, and I've never gotten in any trouble before. Personality wise, I'm super laidback and easy going, not very argumentative, and I'm known for always smiling/ being happy. Basically, not to sound douchey or pretentious or anything, but I'm a pretty good kid.

So a few weeks back, I bought a new car-- a '96 BMW 328iS.  I really enjoy driving it around and just driving in general. Okay so, I just finished up eating Raising Canes, and  I got some gas and I was on my way home. It was 5 o'clock rush hour traffic so there were a lot of cars and pretty busy. I was almost home and there was this car in front of me that made a pretty stupid lane change. They didn't cut me off or anything but it made them stand out to me over every other car around. To clarify early, I was not driving aggressively or breaking any traffic laws to follow them. Anyway, for no reason I just started following them. It was all for fun and I had no intention to scare them or do anything at all, I was just going to follow them for a bit then turn around and go home. I never really put myself in her shoes. But I guess I scared her enough for her to call the police, I didn't see her make the call or anything. I ended up following her for six-ish miles and then I turned around. Shortly after I turned around to go back, a police car came up behind me pretty quick, I DID NOT REALIZE I HAD DONE ANYTHING WRONG, so I figured I was just speeding or something. They talked to me for a bit, I followed all of their instructions and did my best to help them finish up quickly. They called my mom and then told me they were going to refer me to the county attorney for disturbing the peace.

Basically, my options are court and probation, diversion and community service, and possibly dismissal. How can I show the attorney that I'm a good kid and that I didn't mean any wrong and that I deserve dismissal. I'm talking to the country attorney tonight.

I really don't want probation because next month I'm going to nationals in Alaska for academic decathlon. I guess diversion would be most realistic, but obviously dismissal would be awesome.

Thanks for any advice!

Answer:
 Your "good kid" standing means nothing. They are not going to drop charges because you do well in school but choose to stalk people in your spare time

Your best option is to hire an attorney. You knowingly stalked someone.


Title: Parked in my visitor parking afterhours for a a bit, got ticket

Question:
1. It was the visitor parking to my own complex, I could've gotten a permit, but my landlord said it's a pain
2. It was only for half an hour

Can I contest this? I'm in Ontario, Canada.
Topic:
Traffic and Parking

Answer:
 1. If permits are required and you didn't get one, then you can be ticketed and/or towed.

2. Doesn't matter.


Title: (Texas) How much control does a parent have over their child?

Question: Can a parent forbid a below 18 child from having a relationship with another child physical or not? What laws say how much control a parent has over their child?

Answer: Yes they can. They have a lot of control over you. Answer #2: Parents have a right to protect their child from people and activities they deem inappropriate or harmful. Those children do not always agree, but that’s the hierarchy.


Title: Is it legal for an employer to take funds from your bank account if they overpaid you? (Ontario, Canada)

Question:
I made a thread earlier about UBER overpaying me by a lot. They said that on one trip, I traveled over 1000 km when it was really only about 5 km...

I didn't say anything and took the money, but thinking that they could take it back, I haven't spent any of it. This was 3 weeks ago.

Can Uber take back the money, or launch legal action if i refuse to pay? If my Ubet account goes negative, am I legally obligated to pay it back?

Answer: Yes, you have no legal claim to the money. Errors and mistakes are not legal grounds for holding onto something that does not belong to you. If a new car dealer dropped off a new car at your house by mistake would you be able to keep it?


Title: Dress code at apartment

Question:
So my apartment has a monthly new letter that comes out and today one came out for May and it says

“As warm weather approaches remember proper attire is to be worn. There have been complaints of some clothing attire being indecent. Shirts and shoes are always required to be worn when on the grounds and in common areas.”

Is this okay? I can kind of understand shirts and shoes to be worn but not them saying that some clothing attire is indecent. This makes me feel like I can’t wear short shorts or something.

Answer:
 Is it in your lease? If not then the only thing that would apply are indecent exposure laws.

I have a feeling this was just put in the newsletter to appease your nosy neighbors who complain about everything, and the complex doesn't give a shit IRL.


Title: Can I ask my tenants to get rid of their pit bull?

Question:
I recently inherited a rental property with tenants who also happen to be distant cousins. They have been renting this house for over 10 years with no lease and paid the rent in cash. I took over the property last month and I found out they bought a pit bull puppy last summer and have had it since then. I checked with the county and the dog does not have a license as it is not registered at the address of the house. I doubt it has gotten the rabies vaccine which is also required by the county.

The property is located in Miami-Dade county and owning a pit bull has been illegal there since 1989. I will likely lose my insurance if they find out there is a pit bull on the property. What is the best way to proceed? What are my legal options? Thanks in advance.

P.S. I don’t want to debate whether pit bulls are good dogs, the effectiveness of breed specific legislation, etc. Pit bulls are illegal in Miami Dade county and unfortunately I have to follow the law.

Answer:
 You are welcome to demand compliance with the law regarding pitbulls.  If they do not comply, you are welcome to terminate the month-to-month tenancy [by providing written notice not less than 15 days before the end of the month.](http://www.leg.state.fl.us/Statutes/index.cfm?App_mode=Display_Statute&Search_String=&URL=0000-0099/0083/Sections/0083.57.html)

After that notice period has expired, you may pursue an eviction if they do not leave.  [Florida's moratorium on evictions for non-payment of rent has been extended to July 1, 2020](https://www.flgov.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/06/EO-20-137.pdf), and while you wouldn't be evicting for nonpayment, you are unlikely to have an eviction proceeding heard in court for weeks, as the courts will be backed up.


Title: [Georgia]Extremely hefty speeding ticket(first offense)

Question:
My friend and I got pulled over on I-85 near Norcross and got tickets for doing 105 mph in a 65mph zone. We were returning to our home in Atlanta and are both riding motorcycles. My friend has a GPS installed and is therefore leading the way. I am a novice rider and my friend boasted all the time how experienced he is in motorcycle riding. Therefore, assuming he knows what he is doing, I just followed him at a close distance without checking my speedometer. I was starting to feel a little bit uncomfortable at the speed we were going right before we got pulled over; but I thought that's probably just me and I need to keep up with him so I don't get lost along the way. (I explained this to the officers, however they still issued tickets to both of us)

This ticket comes with a extremely heft fine which is probably somewhere around $1000. I was wondering are there anything I can do to alleviate the fine? Should I get a lawyer under such circumstances?

Answer:
 I'm not going to lie and say that I've never been [ton-up](http://www.urbandictionary.com/define.php?term=ton-up).  I was, after all, once a teenager.

That said, nothing you've mentioned is a valid defense.  The most you can hope for is that whoever is prosecuting is willing to make a deal and let you plead to a lesser charge but they definitely aren't required to do so.

I would recommend at least having a consultation with an attorney here since speeds that high have the potential to result in a license suspension if it's deemed to be reckless driving.

The remainder of this I say as someone who has been riding for nearly 20 years:

As for your friend...  No, he doesn't know what he's doing.  When riding with a new rider, you always put the newbie in front and let them set the speed.  Otherwise you run the very real risk of going too fast through corners (even when riding within the speed limit) and making the novice rider exceed his or her comfort zone.

If there are extenuating circumstances where you have to have the more experienced rider in front, the experienced rider should go **very** slow from his perspective.  Definitely never over the speed limit and probably half of normal speed through corners.  The experienced rider should be doing everything possible to make sure that he's not riding beyond the capabilities and comfort zone of the new rider.  Your friend was not doing this and, because he wasn't, he was making a bet using **your** life as the collateral.  Find a better rider to learn from.


Title: [MN, USA] Can a citizen perform a citizens arrest on a on-duty police officer?

Question: I'm tried googeling this question, but all I get are people yelling about beating cops w/ batons and shooting them...and not a single answer to the question.

Answer:
 Legally, [maybe.](https://www.revisor.mn.gov/statutes/?id=629.37&year=2011)

Practically, no.  You will be violently arrested and then charged with (and convicted of) assault on a police officer, obstruction of justice, or one of many other charges.  If you witnessed a truly flagrant violation of law and there was independent evidence of that violation you might, *might* get away with it, but probably not.  Don't do this.


Title: [Rhode Island] I'm being paid $10/hr to do a supervisor's $15/hr job without consenting to the work.

Question:
I work for a global company that is based in Georgia. Without getting in to too much detail, at one point I was trained to do much more than I do now and held a different title. I have since reverted to an entry level position, getting entry level pay. However, my training is still valid and the supervisor that runs my shift is out on medical leave. I have enough training to get everything done that needs to be done on these shifts, but I haven't done any of the leadership classes that would normally be considered "mandatory" for someone in that position.

I was not consulted or asked to do this supervisors work, and no coverage has been appointed for this supervisor on the days that I work. Instead, my manager just assumed that I would handle the shifts. I have asked for appropriate compensation, since I'm forced to do the work without the current pay grade, and my manager told me that they don't have a "step-up plan", and he will have to talk to his boss, but he's fairly certain she will say no.

What can I do about this if he says that I won't be compensated properly?

Answer:
 You have no legal remedy here. As long as your employer is clear/upfront with your hourly rate, they can change your job responsibilities as they see fit.

You should likely start looking for a new job.Answer #2: You consent to do whatever work they give you to do by showing up and doing it...that is how jobs work...

It would be a pretty chaotic system if they had to fill out a form for each task they requested that you perform.

You are always free to stop consenting to work (quit)


Title: Inheritance tax?

Question:
Hello!

My husband is supposed to get $15,000 from his Granddfathers estate.(Missouri). We live in Colorado. He spoke to his uncle, the executor of his estate, and he says that it will be $15,000 minus inheritance tax. I have looked all over and I have found that both states do not have inheritance taxes.  Is there a place I can check this indefinitely? He is adament there is but my research says otherwise. Thank you guys!!

Answer:
 Not a lawyer.

First off “estate”, not “inheritance”, tax only applies to very large estates. Was the person who field worth many millions?

Secondly it’s payable by the estate not the person who inherits. It is theoretically possible that after paying estate tax and other bequests, there isn’t the full 15K left to give but it would be extraordinarily unlikely. Odds are the executor is either misinformed or doing something shady.

Not a lawyer.


Title: performance improvement plan vs fight club

Question:
I signed a performance improvement plan at work. I know I'm headed for the door. One of the items in the PIP is I cant tell others at work about the contents of the PIP. I told a fellow employee I signed a PIP so I cant talk about my review. During the conversation I slipped and told him a part of what was in my review.
I know its a matter of time and I may have just given them another reason to let me go BUT the question is can they take any legal action against me?
In Ohio

Answer:
 If the plan acts as an NDA and you signed something stating you can be punished for violating the terms of the PIP then yes, but likely just work discipline will happen.

Also unless you are losing your first fight against a stranger and then leading them to a seedy bar basement to beat the shit out of each other just to eventually be given reporting instructions ranging from being crappy catering hosts to damaging big chain food services places while shaving your head, wearing black shirts, pants, 2 pair black socks, and boots, I think you are fine.

If this is the case however, best of luck space monkey.


Title: Coleaser added roommate against my wishes. What are my rights?

Question: In July, my friend asked me to sign a sublet agreement, since he was going to get a house with me and my other friend. I went ahead and signed it bc I was leaving the state late July. After I came back early August, he told me the 3rd roommate couldn’t do it, and it would just be us two. We called the landlord and tried to negotiate new terms (there was no lease signed at the time, and we couldn’t pay the original amount with just us two). She agreed to a new amount, and we signed the lease the next day. Now, In September, I get a text from my roommate to call him. This was the weekend, and I declined to, waiting until Monday (since I was out of town at the time). 13 hours later, I get a text saying he’s bringing in another roommate, a stranger to me, and that I would be  paying $75 less. I opposed, since I was in a better financial position, and the deduction didn’t equal the stress of another roommate, a stranger at that. Even after voicing my concerns, he stated he notified me, only as a courtesy, bc I was a subletter. This was new to me, bc I signed under a completely different understanding, and the new lease had a clause stating all understandings and agreements were terminated and nullified. In addition, only him an I were listed in the lease, and a clause stated any changes (i assumed both rent $ and tenants) had to be mutually agreed upon. I told him bringing in a new roommate and adjusting my rent broke the contract, and I would be leaving as soon as I lived out my last paid month, and 9 days into my last paid month, he served me a dispossessory notice, asking for the rent for that month. Currently, what are my rights to fight this? Do I have rights to fight that he isn’t my landlord? Can I fight the fact that I have a new roommate and get him removed? Please help.

Answer:
 If you signed a contract with the landlord and your name is on the rental agreement, the sublet agreement is void. A sublet would only work if your friend was the only one mentioned in the rental agreement. Also the general principle in law and agreements is that the most recent agreement is the one that's valid (as with laws - a new law contradicting an older law would be considered the correct one.)

And since your friend decides to give a few hours notice and not caring about your opinions the best deal for you would be to get out of Dodge...


Title: Can I sue my bank for negligence

Question: So my car was broken into and my driver's license, my business and personal debit cards were stolen. I immediately contacted the bank and informed them that those three items were stolen and asked them to hot card all of my debit cards. I hung up the phone with the understanding that this is what the person had done. A few days later, I noticed that money was taken out of one of my accounts. A few days after, there is a $1,980 retuned check that is being charged against my account.  Apparently, they tried to cash a hot check using my account as surety and the check bounced because the account had been closed. I could not understand how this had happened. I had asked the guy to hot card every single one of my debit cards. I had also informed him and the bank branch that my ID and debit cards had been stolen. Did I ask them to put a memo on my account? No. I did not. But I had assumed that they would have taken some measures to do something more than what they did. Besides that, I discovered that one of my debit cards was, in fact, still working. So, it was never hot carded. I come to find out that all of this happened at the drive-thru teller. There were two girls in a car, one in the passenger seat was wearing sunglasses and a hat and was pretending that she was me. She had the girl in the driver's seat present my ID and one of my debit cards at the Wells Fargo drive up. They cashed the hot check. Mind you, the account they cashed it off of did not have  enough money to cover the check should it bounce. In my mind. That check should have never been cashed in the first place if there wasn't money to cover it. Secondly, the girl was wearing a hat and sunglasses and they were at a branch that is 45 minutes away from the town that I live in. Looking at the ID, and knowing that they didn't even know me at that Branch, you would think that they'd want to be sure that the girl was really the person she's claiming to be. How could they ID someone who's wearing sunglasses and a hat??? After that, they asked to tell her how much money was in the other accounts. Mind you, these girls did not even know any of my account numbers, so the teller would have had to tell them things that they didn't already know. They then drove through the teller again a few minutes later and proceeded to take money out of another one of my accounts. The branch manager at the one that I bank at was saying that he couldn't understand how any of this happened. He claims none of this should have happened. The branch manager at the facility where did that happen is acting like there was no way it could have been avoided. She was trying to tell me how sophisticated these people are getting who are committing these crimes. I'm thinking, sophisticated?? What's so sophisticated about wearing sunglasses and a hat, driving through a drive-up teller with someone else's ID? That isn't sophisticated. That's basic criminal behavior. I feel like if they had done their jobs properly, that girl would be behind bars today and I wouldn't even be talking about this on Reddit.

Answer:
 Setting aside whether or not this is actually negligence, the shortest possible answer is "no". Wells Fargo has a mandatory binding arbitration clause, and [they love to use it](https://www.latimes.com/business/hiltzik/la-fi-hiltzik-wells-arbitration-20170407-story.html).Answer #2: Is the bank refusing to put the money back in your account?

It would seem you’re significantly overestimating what constitutes “negligence” by the bank.  It’s not clear they did anything terribly wrong.  If they credit the money back into your account you won’t have a loss to pursue.Answer #3: I just went through something similar with Wells Fargo.  If you haven't already, contact their fraud department.  They put the money back in my accounts and closed those accounts and opened new ones.  This happened in a span of maybe 10 minutes.Answer #4: IANAL if you haven’t already you need to put a stop payment on the checks that were stolen.


Title: I was terminated because my girlfriend works at competitor. Normal?

Question: I was terminated after 1 week of employment because my girlfriend works at a competitor in another state. I disclosed my relationship after the orientation to my manager and I signed all the non\-compete documents and never gave them reason to believe I would divulge information. It was never brought up in the interview. I could have continued working there had I not told them. Is this discrimination towards my relationship status or am I straight out of luck?

Answer:
 Your location is important.

If you're in one of the 49 at-will employment states and don't have a binding employment contract, yes, this was a perfectly legal firing.


Title: [IA] Coworker accused me of shoving him, video shows otherwise.

Question: Even though the video shows otherwise and I can't really afford a lawyer at this point, I cannot return to work until the court case is done which means im out of possibly months of wages, the pretrial date isn't until almost the middle of next month and I'm not really sure what to do. Can I get the case thrown out with the video evidence or what can I do?

Answer:
 is it a criminal case? ask for a public defender, file for unemployment, find a new jobAnswer #2: Don't just sit on your butt. File for unemployment immediately and look for a new job. As to the criminal matter, plead not guilty and ask for a public defender.Answer #3: Do you actually have a copy of the video?

&#x200B;

You need a lawyer ASAP to make sure that the video is properly preserved.


Title: Moved to new state, questions regarding out of state driver's license

Question:
I moved in with some people in Michigan a couple months ago. I'm originally from Ohio. Upon arriving here I had barely anything (was kicked out of old location by family members) so I had to leave most of my stuff behind and quit my job abruptly.

I'm trying to get my life started again here in Michigan. My main issue right now is getting a job. And so far I've been using my Ohio drivers license as ID on job apps, which is technically still valid.

Michigan DMV states I need to acquire a MI license within 30 days of moving here. I would have done that by now but I need two proofs of residency to do that, and currently I only have one which is my bank statement. No utility bills are in my name, i don't have a credit card, and I'm not yet on the lease. But if I get hired somewhere before I get added to the lease, I can use that as a second proof of residency.

My question is: is there any trouble I can get in for continuing to use my Ohio driver's license as form of ID on job apps? Will they somehow know how long I've been here and eventually consider it invalid if I keep using it? Is there any other trouble I can get in for doing this?

I don't own a car so currently the only thing I'm using my license for is applying for jobs to show my ID.

Answer:
 Call your DMV, and ask if a postmarked letter, addressed to you, is acceptable.

If so, go to the post office and mail yourself something.


Title: 13 and in trouble for prank calling

Question:
So my friends were calling this gun shop asking for pink bazookas and they did that for a couple of days, then a lot of people started calling them including me, a detective is coming at 8pm and I wanna know what I should say or what will happen. Please help
Note: I was using *67 so Idk how they got my number and I'm located in Virginia

Answer: Ask your parents.


Title: My state of North Dakota legalized medical marijuana in November of 2016 but still has zero programs or options for anyone living here. Is this legal?

Answer:
 Sounds like a business opportunity to me.Answer #2: The fact that something is legal doesn't mean that you can force someone to do it.

If no one wants to open an MMJ establishment then the state can't force them.  Nor must the state do so.  The only way you may have an argument is if the state is directly or indirectly *preventing* them from doing so.Answer #3: Unless the statute legalizing it prevents them from limiting who can open a dispensary, then yes, it's legal.


Title: General manager not paying me the hours I worked

Question: I work at Dunkin' Donuts as a shift leader I worked there for two years up until I quit because I was tired of the general manager treating me wrong. I figured I would give it another shot so recently (about a month and half ago) I applied and asked the GM for my position back she agreed and gave me my job back now when I told her about my hourly wage I told her I wanted 9 an hour instead of the  8.50 I use to have. She agreed and told me I would start out 9 an hour so I get my first check and it's obviously small because that's usually how new workers checks are so I payed no attention. So the next check comes and I needed a pay stub for an apartment application and I looked at the bottom of the paper to my surprise it was 8.50 I was shocked and upset. I was going to approach her the following week but she took me off the schedule all week until Saturday so I got to my third check and I worked 84 hours but guess what she has me down for 56 hours when I only took of two days and two days is only 18 hours deducted (8 hour shifts) I was suppose to make about 600 but instead I make 400 and I'm broke and can't pay rent and I need the money oh and she always takes my overtime hours and moves them to my next check which is highly illegal. Idk what to do please help I need my money

Answer: Submit a wage claim.


Title: My landlord is trying to take back furniture he said came with my apartment. I need advice on how to keep it.

Question:
I'm renting an apartment that upon moving in my landlord said a couch, a futon, and two desk came with.

He said the futon would be being picked up by the previous owner and asked if it could stay there. I said sure and the previous owner picked it up a week or two later.

2 months later the previous owner is saying that she is coming back for this couch. I say no, and then she contacts landlord who changes his entire story saying that we were also holding onto the couch for her. This is BS because we gave away our old couch when he told us we had a new one.

I'm upset about this situation and am looking for any help. I'm from Georgia US btw. No furniture is in my lease, and I can upload it blanked out if it will help.

Thanks for any comments

TL:DR - Couch came with my place, considered it mine and sold my old couch, now landlord is wanting it back 2 months later.

Answer: I wish you the best, I really do, but... It's a couch man... Go on Craigslist and get another one. Yeah, it's a dick move on his part, but... It's a couch man. If it were your whole apartment of furniture I'd say it's a different story, but you really need this stuff in writing. If there is other furniture in his house it seems like he's just using you as a storage facility. Get rid of it all and dump it via asking him to take it back.


Title: My fiance wants to legally adopt my son when we are married. [IL]

Question:
Title. My fiance wants to legally adopt my son when we are married, and legally become his step-father. However, there are some issues that can arise, and I want to be as prepared as I can for the potential outcomes. Here are the facts that I believe to be relevant:

* My son was conceived in TX, born in IL. I was unmarried at the time of conception. I am uncertain of this point's relevance, but wanted to include it anyway because of knowledge of certain laws in TX regarding unborn children. (And I could still be mistaken.)
* The biological father of my son has no knowledge of him. My son was conceived through a one-night stand. I had no contact with the biological father after this one night stand.
* During the same time frame, I was dating another man, who for reasons beyond our control, I was unable to regularly see. There was a gap in our relationship where we could not see each other at all; this is when my son was conceived.
* Despite all facts pointing to the truth, I believed my boyfriend at the time to be the father. I adamantly defended this until the day my son was born. I never corrected the facts.
* There is no father on my son's birth certificate, either the biological or claimed. However, my son has a hyphenated last name to reflect the believed parentage. (BF'slastname-mylastname) is his legal last name.
* Before my son was 2 years old, the claimed father left us, and moved back in with his parents in another state. He had been sporadically supporting us before this point.
* I have never filed for child support from any man. If at all possible, legally speaking, I would like to waive all child support payments, past and future. (I understand that this may not be possible; it is a desire I would like to happen, and so wanted to mention.)
* I no longer have contact with my ex. My ex's mom does try to stay in contact, however it is one-sided. She continues to send gifts to my son for holidays and birthdays, some of them pure monetary value.
* A year after my ex had left, I began dating another man. He has claimed my son in all ways, except legally adopting, as his.
* There have been 5 attempts by my ex to make contact with me again, since he left. I have declined him every single time. I have intent to continue to do so.
* My fiance is the only person who knows the truth of the situation. He understands that adopting my son may turn into a real shit-show.

I understand I need a lawyer in family law to go over the details of the issue. I am researching lawyers in my area. Here are the questions that I hope some of you may have insight into:

* I understand I need to make a good-faith attempt to contact the biological father. What constitutes this? Will it require nothing more than attempted contact on Facebook, or will I be expected to hire a PI (or similar) to attempt to find him, in order to send a certified letter?
* What happens if I cannot find him, after meeting or exceeding the requirements of a good-faith attempt to contact him? What happens if I *do* find him?
* My ex was sporadically supporting a child not his, via diapers, formula, food, and other basic necessities. If and when this issue comes to light, can he sue me for the monetary value he spent? (I would be willing to settle/pay out if this was the case, but I want to know if it's a possibility.) Do his mom's continued gifts constitute a factor in this?
* Alternatively, am I required to maintain contact with my ex, because of the support he provided? For all intents and purposes, he was father to my son for a little less than 2 years; does this give him rights I'm not aware of?

Hopefully, the lawyers and better informed of Reddit can give me some insight into these questions. I do not expect to receive any legal advice beyond "get a lawyer", which I am in the process of looking for.

I assume this is probably going to explode in a fiery discussion of men's rights and the terrible things I've done and the horrible future I've set up for my child, or things of this nature. Dear mods: I'm sorry if that happens.

Thank you for your time.

Answer:
 >  My fiance wants to legally adopt my son when we are married, and legally become his step-father

If he adopts your son, he's the father.  If he doesn't, he's the stepfather.

Don't do anything until you hire an attorney for the adoption.  Do what they tell you, and nothing else.  It's entirely possible that your fiancee can adopt this child without permission from the other potential fathers.  No need to muddy the waters until you know what you need to do.  Hire an attorney first, then make your decisions.


Title: My boss wants me to pay back the PPP check

Question: So basically I work in food service for a very small business and haven’t been working for the past couple weeks due to Covid19. My boss told me he was applying for the PPP when he closed the store. He called me the other day to explain that the money had come in and that he would start to pay me for the time I have been out. He then proceeded to say that I when we open back up and I am working again he will take the PPP money he gave me from my check, until it’s been “paid off”. On Friday, my usual payday when I’m working, he gave me a 25 hour check. Not even a full 40 hour check which is what I was working before. Like a lot of people during this pandemic, I am very tight on money and already behind on bills. This doesn’t sound right to me. Do I really need to pay back all this money when things open back up again??

Answer:
 No, he’s trying to scam you AND the government. If he abides by the terms of the PPP, where most of the loan is to be used for payroll, then the loan is forgiven.

One thing that isn’t clear though, did you actually work any time for the money he paid you?


Title: Update to my landlord harassment situation (Indiana, PA) (Help still needed!)

Question:
So yesterday I put up a post regarding some troubles that my roommates and I have been having with our landlord. Here's the link to that post:

https://www.reddit.com/r/legaladvice/comments/3sbhjs/landlord_harassment_or_just_annoyances_that_ill/

The harassment has continued to get worse overnight. Our landlord has now taken to pulling roommates aside as they enter the house and talking to them about the other people that live there.

In just the last 24-hours she has accused one of my roommates of stealing from her (the incident with the Christmas lights from the last post--the person she has accused was in class when this occurred) directly to another roommate.

She has also been made aware of one of my roommates' family's financial problems, because she's had to pay her rent in installments instead of all at once. I am aware of this because she and I have been best friends for a decade. Our other roommates, however, were not aware, and our landlord took it upon herself to discuss these financial issues with one of them. My friend, needless to say, is furious.

I think I am correct in saying that everything she is doing (from this post and yesterday's) is highly inappropriate. She abuses having our numbers and our parents' numbers by constantly sending us harassing messages.

I've suggested that we block her number if this continues. If she has anything important to say to us (like giving notice to enter our rooms--which she neglects to do anyway), she can do it in writing. My roommates wanted to do this through a group message, but I was concerned that our landlord could just delete it and claim she never received it if we ever need to use it as evidence. I told everyone that we should instead put our concerns in writing and keep a copy for ourselves.

Is this a good idea? If it is, how should we go about it? What should the letter/notice include? Should it be written by us or someone at student legal services? Should we involve student legal services at all at this point?

If it is not a good idea, what else can/should we do?

Thanks in advance for any help.

Answer:
 How much longer is your lease? My guess is that rent is particularly cheap at this place. If that's the case, you're getting the *crazy landlord* discount, and this is the cost of it. You need to get out, as this is only going to get worse.

You could discuss occupancy regulations with student legal services, if they are available to you. There may be regulations about how many people can live in one house in Pennsylvania, Indiana, and violations of these regulations often invalidate leases. This may not be the case in Indianapolis, Philadelphia, however.


Title: Suspect asks /AskLE what the appropriate attire is for an interview with detectives

Question:
https://np.reddit.com/r/AskLE/comments/4zxh86/how_should_i_dress_for_an_interview_suspect/

Turns out this is about something years ago and has to do with indecent contact with a minor!

Most of the police in there gave him the same advice he would have gotten from /r/legaladvice.  He posts an edit and say thanks for the advice but I decided to go!

I'm going to keep an eye on his account and see if he comes to legaladvice asking for help later!

EDIT:  Oh No!  I just looked at his history. I saw his dick and there is a post in the rape subreddit saying he is a reformed perpetrator.  He might as well print that out and bring it to his meeting.

Answer: If I was giving him advice, I'd have to tell him not to go, but given his history admitting he's harmed people, and having personal experience with childhood sexual abuse, I'm pretty glad he's ignoring advice and talking.


Title: I'm being accused of rape and I'm not sure what to do

Question:
This all went down earlier today and I don't know where I'm at or what to do. Any advice is very appreciated. Ive had time to think it all over and am looking to you all for your help. Thanks in advance

I am at a university in Idaho. 18 year old male

At about 12:30 PM today I recieved a call from my school resource officer stating that he needed to speak with me. I agreed , and walked the five minutes to his office while very nervously wondering what it was all about. When I got there we had small talk for a minute before he pulled out a photo from my Tinder. He said that he needed to identify a suspect and that I matched the description of him. I confirmed it was me in the photo but was still very confused. He then asked me what I had been doing the previous Thursday night/Early Friday Morning. He said an individual had called in and reported unconsensual sex perpetrated by me.

Last Thursday night I had hooked up with a girl I met on Tinder. Prior to meeting up with her she had said that she was very into bondage, spanking, domination, and "fifty shades of grey" types of things. Im into the same so I thought this would be a fun encounter. We meet up late Thursday night and we continue on with what we were doing. Ill spare the sex details, but during the entire encounter she was telling me I would have to hold her down to get what I wanted(she had asked me previous to this if I had any rope to tie her with. I said I dont so she asked me if i would hold her down and be rough with her) during the whole encounter I was holding her down and being rough just like she told me to be and she seemed to be enjoying it while fighting against me and saying no and that she could fight against me. This went on for about 45 minutes until we finished. We used protection during the whole encounter

I got off her, cleaned myself up while also helping her clean up. We had small talk about her experience and other things, and then she walked me out.  At no point during the encounter did she send of a signal that she wasnt enjoying it and never told me to stop. I have had multiple parterns in the past and this was the same feel.

I've had friends in the past who have had some bad experiences with girls so I like to take precautions and screenshot conversations of people I hookup with beforehand. So I screenshot all of the conversation leading up to us having sex.

The resource officer asked me to tell him what happened and I did but with much more detail. I still have a few key details I need to relay to him but I also showed him the screenshots of our conversation. Looking back this might not have been the best idea but In my mind I'm innocent and have done nothing wrong so why shouldnt I tell this officer what happened. Did I overshare and make a mistake in protecting myself?

The resource officer asked me to stop by their police station in my town to do a DNA swab tomorrow morning.  Do I have to do this and should I? Will that only hurt me? He also told me during our whole conversation that I have the right to leave at any time. Does this mean they dont really have a case against me and are just going through the formal motions? I'm really worried and probably wont sleep at all tonight because of the fear of consequences from these accusations.

What do I do from here?

Answer: Don’t meet with them anymore. Don’t speak with anyone about anything anymore. Don’t try to contact her. Save all conversations you have had with her and call a defense lawyer. Most will give you a free consultation. Make sure to read reviews online, and check their reviews out on their Facebook page. The cops/resource officers are not your friend and they will not try to help you. Every single request by them to you is a calculated step to build a case or try to do so. You are not required to speak with them, give them anything, or be nice to them. Don’t. They cannot bring up the fact that you did not speak with them at a trial. Don’t post about this on social media. In fact, posting here is probably not a great idea, but it should be fine. Don’t give them a dna sample. Call a lawyer instead. Have the lawyer inform them that you won’t be giving a sample. Be prepared to shell out some good money for a lawyer. Most lawyers take credit cards. You need a lawyer, so do what you have to do money wise. It might not be super expensive to get an attorney on retainer until/if you are formally charged, which could be instantly or could take months. Obviously, hopefully it never happens. Good luck.


Title: Divorce dilemma

Question:
I have currently filed for Divorce. We live in the marital home together with our kids and the marital home is under my husbands name. I am trying to get full custody of the kids.

Should I get the divorce and then move out with the kids or move out with kids before  divorce and risk losing the house?

Answer: These are questions you should talk to your attorney about. Property in a divorce can be tricky, and who paid for what when becomes important.


Title: Former live-in nanny, being thrown out the basement apartment by the family I nannied for. Possibly two conflicting contracts. Is there anything I can do?(WV)

Question:
For five years I worked as a live-in-nanny for a woman who’s job required her travel several times a year and work irregular hours. While I was her nanny, I rented out the basement apartment in her house. Recently, I accepted a much better job working for a family friend, and I gave my former employer a months notice that I would be quitting, like my employment contract said I had to.

This afternoon when I got home from my first day of work at my new job, I found most of my belongings in front of the house in big plastic bags with my name on them, and the locks to my apartment changed. I called my former boss and she said that because I am no longer her nanny I no longer have the right to live in her house. According to her, our contract states that the basement is the “nanny suite”, meaning only someone currently employed as her family’s nanny can live down there, and the contract does say that the basement apartment is my living quarters for the duration of my employment.

However, on my mother’s advice, when I first accepted the nanny job, I demanded that a lease be created, separate from my work contract, and that that lease run year to year and I just resign it every year that I want to continue living there. You can also see on my pay stubs (also something my mother told me to make sure I get) where she removed the rent from my pay each month, and it’s marked rent. I even have renters insurance out on the place. For the most part, other than the title of “nanny suite” and a line in my employment contract about the basement being my living quarters, the basement apartment has been a completely separate entity from my nanny job. My lease doesn’t even mention the nanny job or having to be employed by the family.

So, which contract holds more water? Do I still have the right to live in the basement apartment, or am I stuck being homeless for the next month? Is there anyway I can at least get the rest of my stuff out of the apartment? At the moment I’m crashing at a friends place, but I can’t stay here for more than a few nights, and I can’t move into my new apartment until June.
Topic:
Landlord Tenant Housing

Answer:
 You were illegally evicted, unless there is some exception in WV for live-in employees which I highly doubt. You can call the police, tell them you were illegally locked out of your home, and they should send an officer who can explain it to the homeowner. You can also tell the homeowner that she has to pay for your hotel stay until your new lease starts, and you can sue her if she does not.

http://www.nolo.com/legal-encyclopedia/illegal-eviction-procedures-west-virginia.html


Title: Dealing with husband’s ex

Question:
I will try to keep this as short as possible. My husband has a daughter with his ex girlfriend. They have a custody agreement that states 70/30 custody (70 to the mother) so my husband pays child support.

My husband basically bends over backwards to meet his ex’s demands. In the beginning of our relationship, she would ask him very personal questions about us to “make sure” this isn’t going to end up like his previous relationship that ended in a divorce. She doesn’t want their daughter getting attached to someone who isn’t going to be in her life anymore which I can understand as I have a son of my own who is 6 months younger than her daughter (they love each other, it’s awesome).

She’s pretty intrusive and vengeful so my husband walks on eggshells around her for the sake of their daughter. There have been two occasions where I wasn’t allowed to come to certain events to be with my step-daughter because my husband didn’t want to say ‘no’ to his ex about boundaries and didn’t want to rock the boat with her. His main fear is that she will try to take him to court for full custody. His fear is that since he has 2 DUI’s (he had a really rough time with his previous divorce from a separate woman and made some bad decisions, went to rehab and hasn’t drank since) and has been to jail because of that, that his ex might have some ammo for her threats.

This is all becoming really difficult for me because I keep telling him to stand up to her and tell her no, stick to their custody agreements and to avoid hanging out together with their daughter (while excluding me) because from my understanding, it’s just going to make her think her parents are bound to get back together and I’m the only thing standing in the way. If this were happening to me with my son’s father, where he was threatening to take full custody because of my past I’d say squinty eyes “bring it on” and fight to make sure he couldn’t just take advantage of me like that (I however have full custody and no visitation/no contact from him thankfully).

My husband and I are planning on getting pregnant next month and I’m kind of terrified of what that will do too but that’s a whole different situation. I’m just wondering, does she have some leverage in this situation? Will his past allow her to take full custody of their daughter if she feels like it one day? I’m hoping that understanding the legal side of this could help ease my husband’s mind a bit and keep him from doing her bidding all of the time, especially if we will be having a child of our own together soon.

Answer:
 As hard as this is from an interpersonal standpoint, it doesn't sound like she's breaking any agreements in custody. If you aren't invited to events that she is holding for her daughter and your husband chooses to go...that's on him. He can decide not to go if you aren't invited, but I don't really see a judge ordering her to host you for private events. If it's a soccer game, school event, etc those are generally public and you are free to attend, just like any other person. If your husband wants you along for parent teacher conferences, etc, he can have you there - his ex might fuss but he's not breaking any custody agreement by having you there. Though the teacher might appreciate a less tense conference, if it's important to him to have you there and he feels it's best for the child, he just has to stand his ground.

He doesn't have to answer her intrusive questions about your relationship.

If she's threatening legal action, obviously get a lawyer, but if you just have an uneasy feeling because she's difficult, that's something that you can learn to manage and it will help you navigate the challenges of a blended family.

I would also say that if you your comment about being terrified isn't hyperbole, maybe hold off a few months on the pregnancy until you can work on managing the interpersonal stuff, because adding a pregnancy into an already difficult situation is certainly not going to make it better.


Title: [PA] Person hit parked car, Insurance refuses to pay because the driver didn't have permission to drive

Question: I'm writing this on behalf of my father, and it took place in Pennsylvania. While he was out of town, someone hit his parked car and totaled it. The driver who hit it was not the owner of the car. The insurance company of the owner is refusing to pay for my father's totaled car because "the driver didn't have permission to drive it." That sounds like a ridiculous loop hole. Their story is that the driver was left in the car with the keys while the owner ran into the house, and he just took the car, but there is no report at all of a stolen vehicle. Is there any way to fight this?

Answer: Your father should start a claim with his own insurance, and let them worry about getting the money back from the guy who hit it


Title: Questions about re-structuring child support. Is it worth the risk?

Question:
Back in 2012 when my ex and I split, I was making 34,500 and she was jobless with a 9 month old in her care and custody during the week; I got him on weekends and have since we split. My lawyer drafted up an order that he thought was going to be accepted until her lawyer literally had her at $0 income. 0s were up and down her side of the order. This baffled my mind and it was accepted in court. She could have socked me for $500 a month at that point but settled for $400. My lawyer had it drafted at $365.

Fast forward to this year where she is working part-time at a doctor's office, lives with her boyfriend who doesn't pay child support for his son, and has refused to lower my payment. I now make 45,000 and my insurance company won't cover my son since he is out of the coverage area. I also have student loans coming up in a couple months.

Should I go ahead and request a review? Will my child support be lower, or should I just keep the course and continue with $400? I am mortified to take this to court, but I've paid for so much for my son in the past several years. Any help is greatly appreciated. Thank you.

LOCATION: I live in MI and my son and mother live in OH.

EDIT: Thanks for the comments. I was on the fence and I know that there are individuals who pay substantially more than me. It will be dropped; I just get annoyed sometimes with the teacher's salary and how much I pay. Such is the life of a single father.

Answer:
 $400 a month is really really low.  You won't get any lower, especially since you're not paying health insurance.  That would barely cover before/after school care.

The fact that your ex is living with someone has nothing to do with how much child support you should be paying.

Answer #2: 1) You pay less than (not quite) 10% of your income (many pay closer to 20% or more)

2) A 9 month child has wayyyyy less expenses than a 5 or 6 year old child

3) Even though she is now working PT, a court may find that $100 a week for a 5/6 yr old child that you only care for 2/7ths of the time might mean they bite you for more.

4) It might be worth it to crunch the numbers BUT I suspect you would end up paying more - - see if you can either chat up a lawyer for a free consultation or google for an online calculator. $100 a week/10% of an income is pretty low for many states for child support...

Answer #3: You pay very little child support, as other posters have noted. You do not have other expenses, like covering medical/dental/vision, factored into that. Child support rates by state are substantially higher, and MI or OH aren't likely to reduce you below 10%.

Your wife's income alone is factored on her side. Her boyfriend is not. It has nothing to do with what provides for your child. You and she both have an obligation to your kid, which forms the basis for the child support decree and the equations used.

Honestly, I would recommend dropping this and counting your blessings that you have a manageable payment.


Title: Can i sue my county jail, or at least get out of my probation over this?

Question:
So the original charge was theft over $50 under 500$. I am a combat veteran with PTSD in Texas. I saw several doctors for panic attacks, and was prescribed benzodiazepines which i took too many of before I committed the crime(i hardly remember doing it).  I received probation for it and was almost done but I had a drug test coming up.  By this point I was done with the benzos, and started using weed to deal with my anxiety. Dumb but it was better than my benzos. Well drug test time came around randomly and i had an almost fool proof method of using fake urine. It worked every time so far, but two months before I was done, I dropped my synthetic urine bottle and received another class b misdemeanor.

I went to see the judge who allowed me to stay on differed adjudication, but tacked on two years of probation and a 10 day jail sentence.

-My time in jail was rough, and i’m sure other people have had hard times but I am just looking to see if my treatment was legal. I went in as an indigenous inmate. I was given all the normal things for hygiene when I was moved to general population and was told if no one sent me money for 7 days to purchase more, i would receive an indigenous hygiene pack. I ran out of soap, toothpaste, toilet paper, and my cheap toothbrush became unusable as all the bristles fell out. I asked for more and they told me to wait until the hygiene pack came.  I went that night with out soap and such.  One day is fine. The next day, my hygiene materials did not arrive. I told the guards again and they kept telling me they would check. Still nothing. I went the last 4-5 days in there without these materials, meaning I had to use the bathroom and everything without soap risking the rest of the population getting sick because I can’t wash my hands after going to the bathroom, shower or anything.

We were also forces to listen to christian sermons which I believe is a violation of church and state.  Being an atheist, I don’t need to hear a pastor telling us about how bad he thinks we all are and condemning us to hell. I don’t believe in it and it sends my anxiety through the roof because my parents raised us Christian.  It went on for hours.

This place was essentially a torture chamber as guards would purposely slam the doors making them bang loudly and again, causing me to have panic attacks. They watch the cells as they did it to see if they were causing inmates to jump out of their sleep. To me, you would want everyone in there well rested. If you stick a bunch of tired people that don’t wanna be around eachother in a cell, fight are inevitably going to happen and they did. One day I had to leave gen pop to go see the nurse because my heart was going so fast, it felt like it was going to pop out of my chest. She checked my blood pressure, said it was abnormally high and sent me back to the cell saying she would check on me again later. She never did.

What grounds do I have to file a grievance against the jail?  I could imagine cases like this are difficult to prove evidence of in court.

Answer:
 You can file a "grievance" but none of this rises to the level that will convince an attorney to take it as a lawsuit (unless you want to pay by the hour).

And no, it will not get you out of your probation.  Stop faking your drug tests.


Title: Fired from job. (Florida)

Question:
My fiance worked at a staffing/recruiting company out of Orlando, FL. She was told that she had been fired on Friday the 21st for lack of motivation and seeming to not want to try and make the company more money. She is salary and commissioned based which means if she places a candidate for a client her company gets a percentage of that salary from the client and she gets a percentage of that as a bonus which gets paid out if their candidate lasts 90 days at the company. My fiance was up 188% for the first quarter alone and was due for $6000 in bonuses, and was never placed on any type of performance review leading up to her termination.

I am leaving for the Air Force in a month and her boss knows this and would mean that she would be quitting and moving with me in November when I am done with training. We believe he found out about our engagement and made a decision to let her go now, which means she loses that $6000 and he gets to keep it. Is there any legal action we can take against his company?

Answer:
 What does his compensation agreement say and does it contain any forfeiture clause regarding termination of the employee and what happens with associated commissions?

It appears that commissions are considered similar to wages in Florida and are due to the terminated employee if they have been earned and vested. An exception to this may be if the commission has not been fully earned yet, for example if there still remains work to be done for the sale/delivery/etc. However, if all that is left is for more time to pass, it could potentially be argued that the commission had in fact been earned already.

Here's a Florida attorney with some information on their website about this particular issue:

http://www.melbournelegalteam.com/can-i-get-my-unpaid-commissions-if-i-have-been-terminated.question

Does your fiance know how much he believes he is owed? It may also be worthwhile to send a written demand letter to the company outlining the amount he believes he is owed. Call an attorney though, see if they'll do a free consult about your options and whether it makes sense to retain them to assist.


Title: Working in a store with no heat -- Ontario Canada

Question: [deleted]

Answer:
 > It got really cold here overnight kind of out of the blue, from above zero to -9 Celsius.

Toronto?

Anyways, call bylaw and see what they have to say about the situation.


Title: Former employer threatening legal action.

Question: I left a job about a month and a half ago. They were very unprofessional and immature. About 2 weeks ago I get a call from the owner asking if I have been bad mouthing his business. I have not. Him and my former co workers then proceed to bash my cooking ability all over Facebook. He is now threatening legal action against me, saying I have been trying to damage his business, malicious intent and defamation of character. But to me it seems that is what he is doing to me. Should I call the BBB? I don't know what to do here.

Answer:
 BBB doesn't do anything except maintain records of complaints against businesses. They're not a government agency.

If you haven't been saying anything nasty, don't worry about it. If your cooking ability is part of your job, then eventually you may be the one who can sue them for defamation if they keep slamming your cooking.


Title: Misleading pricing at local grocery store (Yukon, Canada)

Question:
Hi there,

I was just out at my local grocery store and noticed they had crackers at 2 for $7.00 with no price listed for individual units. Out of curiosity I purchased one box of crackers which was sold to me for $3.50.
This seems unethical to me, but is it legal?

If you are unable to give advice on Canadian advertising law, I would still be interested to read about your own local laws so I can get a better grasp of the language and investigate further.

Thanks very much!

Answer:
 Why on earth would this be unethical? 2 for $7.00 comes out to $3.50 each. How is this misleading?

Do you think it should be free because there was no price listed for just one box?

IANAL, but I can't imagine this is even remotely illegal.


Title: [Canada, ON] Do I need to disclose I’m suing my condo board while selling my townhouse, as long as I sell before I serve it?

Question:
We have until September to serve the claim.  I’ve flooded 6 times in the past two years I’ve lived at my first ever home and townhouse purchase.  They were sewage floods that came up the basement laundry room drain.  In 3 of these incidents my neighbor flooded as well.  They got help for two instances where we had made insurance claims when we later found out that the HOA & property management were supposed to make claims and clean our basements up.  We paid a total of $2k for the deductibles they should’ve paid for as well. Each flood cause was determined to be a blockage by either grease, tampons, children’s clothes and always in the common elements. Our units close to where the sewage system converges and exits out to the city’s sewage.

The first flood they tried to pin on my own plumber we paid to come check my own line as they weren’t going to send a plumber for several hours.  He couldn’t clear the line and informed us it was a blockage at the main sewer on the property.  The board later tried to say we pushed tampons from our line into the main sewage system which makes no sense since our neighbor who has their own drain line flooded as well.  They always have some sort of excuse as to how each incident couldn’t be resolved. Plumbers on site are telling another story.

Either way, we’ve decided to sue since they refuse to address, investigate and fix the issue. They wouldn’t even pay for a backflow valve which arguably isn’t a solution and only prevention. My insurance wouldn’t pay for it either. I bought one so I could sell my house after struggling to put the money together for one.   We lost house insurance and had to go high risk with no sewage or flood coverage with the only two claims I made in regards to the flooding. We pay $900 a year more now at 1,300 for insurance.  My basement is a wreck since we don’t have coverage to repair it. I should state that the seller never disclosed to us about flooding, the neighbors said they’ve never heard of flood issues before us and they were somewhat close.  The HOAs lawyer claims they did everything based on professional opinion but they’ve not even tried to investigate and when we asked for reports they’d refuse. We had to involve the Condiminium authority of Ontario only to get partial records. They’re missing 4 floods worth of documents and in one report they omitted two of the 4 people who flooded in the 2nd incident.  They have no maintenance plan in place and still refuse to provide details if they’ve started to create one at all.  We have clay piping and they’ve admitted once that they’re aware of a sag.  They np longer communicate with us, only through the lawyers and are claiming no fault.  They’re also saying we should have got a backflow valve even though there was some progress made that they’d install one. Especially considering i don’t own my plumbing and anything below my basement concrete (outlined in the condos bylaws and as per their lawyer lol).  I should also mention we have a foundation leak that we finally had properly investigated in feb. We had flooded in late August too and they sent someone to investigate and we asked for the reports but because the water had evaporated before they arrived, they claimed there was nothing found.  Their lawyer laters states that they knew of a foundation issue in Sept and yet failed to notify us of this until their lawyers letter stated they knew.

Most homeowners here now of our issue and know we’re suing. We’re also kicking the board President off and we have the signatures but they’ve lawyered up and are dismissing signature off of baseless claims (they said mine doesn’t count because my wife didn’t sign too).

So my question is, because I’m going to sue my board and also sell my house, do I have to disclose this if the claim hasn’t been served yet? Our lawyer believes this is fine but I’d like other professional opinions.
I’m
Topic:
Real Estate law

Answer:
 It is best to avoid a costly and time consuming lawsuit by disclosing the impending lawsuit. You certainly need to disclose the history of flooding, the previous insurance claims. A buyer is unlikely to take issue with your disclosure of a potential future lawsuit for unreimbursed damages from the previous flooding, but not take issue with the reports of the previous flooding and repeated insurance claims.

What are you suing the HOA for, damage from the floods orr something else? Was the root cause of the sewer backups ever found or fixed?


Title: Is there any problem using a #hashtag (#companyname) to say I wasn't happy about something my company did? SLC UT

Question:
I put up an instagram post about something that my company did and hashtag'd the photo with the #companyname #fail.  I got a heads up that the VP of HR was looking to have conversation about it with me.  How far can I push it or can I be fired for it?

EDIT: had the discussion, I didn't push back on the management and I still have my job.  Thanks for all of your responses.  (note to self: don't bitch about the #companyname on the social media).

EDIT2: Thank you all for the Reddit sized facepalm for my stupid actions.

Answer:
 Yeah, you're probably getting fired. You already pushed it too far.Answer #2: You can be fired for pretty much anything.  They can fire you for stuff you post on instagram even if you don't hashtag it with your company.

Hashtagging it with your company only assures you that they'll find it and most likely fire you for it.


Title: A doctor denied me a referral for surgery that she was fully capable of writing because the surgery is related to gender transition. Is this discrimination in California?

Question:
Hi all I am a transgender woman who is seeking referral for insurance purposes for surgery. I was recently approved for surgery by the doctors that will be performing it and I have been referred by 2 doctors and 1 psychologist. I needed to get an additional referral from my psychiatrist so insurance could pre authorize the procedure and pay for it.

&#x200B;

I spoke to my psychiatrist who i've had a doctor patient relationship with for 3 years and is fully aware that I have been taking hormones for over a year over the phone today. I see my psychiatrist because I have bipolar disorder and need someone to prescribe me medication. I have had no symptoms of bipolar disorder for over 4 years now because of the treatment. I asked her to write a referral for surgery stating that I am mentally sound and stable enough to make the decision to have surgery. She said on the phone that she is refusing to write a referral for the surgery because it is related to my gender transition and disagrees with transgender women having surgery. I argued with her stating that I was already approved for the surgery and that this is simply for insurance authorization. I told her if she does not do this she will be placing an undue financial burden on me since I can get the surgery regardless and she did not budge stating "Nothing you can say will change my mind on this issue".

&#x200B;

I wish I recorded the conversation but I did not expect for this to happen. I hung up and realized that a social worker at my psychiatrist's clinic as well as another psychiatrist who works with her were both aware that I was seeking surgery and asking for a referral. Would 2 witnesses to me asking for a referral and me coming back empty handed count as proof that this had occurred?

&#x200B;

I would like to understand if there is any legitimate reason she could have denied it. Other professionals who are aware of my bipolar disorder have written me similar referrals and other psychs who work with her who I have met know that I am mentally sound. My now former psychiatrist is fully aware that I comply with treatment and have had no symptoms for over 4 years.

&#x200B;

Below is the clinic's discrimination policy:

**"<health clinic> prohibits unlawful discrimination on the basis of race, color, national or ethnic origin, sex, age, disability, religion, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, "**

&#x200B;

Am I right in seeking formal legal help from my lawyer?

In the meantime I am filing a formal complaint with her manager and seeking a different psychiatrist.

Answer:
 > I asked her to write a referral for surgery stating that I am mentally sound and stable enough to make the decision to have surgery.

Maybe she does not believe you to be mentally sound and stable enough to make this decision.


Title: FL Wife arrested for petit theft (shoplifted <$100), need to know typical punishment

Question:
Title. This happened right now and I'm still waiting on her to get home so I can go to work. I have no details on how she was caught and what she tried to take. All I know is what the officer said to me on the phone. She'll have a court date and is charged with petit theft in Florida.

We have two kids, I work and travel full time, she stays at home. If there's potential jail time or license suspension I need to plan for that because we don't have many childcare options. We're also very, very broke (though definitely not to the point of stealing, and in fact this turn of events has shocked me). Thank you.

Answer:
 What criminal history does she have?  That's going to be the defining factor.  Petit Theft below $100 is a second degree misdemeanor in FL.  Maximum penalty would be 60 days in jail or 6 months probation, along with any fines, restitution, community service, etc.  If she is a first time offender, she will almost certainly be offered a diversion program, which is like a period of probation.  She will have to pay restitution (if they didn't get the item back), take an anti-theft class (one day), do some community service hours, pay court costs (usually add up to something around $600), and most importantly, not commit any more crimes.  This will last for 6 months to a year, and if she does it all successfully, the charge will be dismissed.  At that point she can begin the process of getting it sealed and eventually off her record entirely.

Am attorney who practices criminal law in Florida.


Title: Someone took a photo from a friend's Facebook page and it using it for their business.

Question:
Minnesota, Unites States

The photo originated from my mother. She took a photo of my underage age niece looking out into the sunset on a lake.

My mother's  friend who was also there also posted it to her Facebook page. One of their old classmates from High School took the photo from the Facebook page and is using it for his philanthropy/life coach/religious counselor business. My mother and her friend are going to message him to not use the photo anymore but if he refuses is there something we can cite for a more official,legally binding request? Maybe a way to request a fee for using the photo?

Answer: [I believe a DMCA Takedown is what you are looking for](http://www.dmca.com/FAQ/What-is-a-DMCA-Takedown)


Title: Mosquito problem

Question: I moved into a house next to a tree nursery last October. Now that summer is here the mosquitos are unbearable due to all of the standing water next door. Do we have any legal recourse to have the company pay for mosquito treatments to be applied to my yard. It’s snot bad I can no longer do outside of my house. I live in Nashville TN

Answer: IANAL but I don't think that they have any liability here. You moved next to a nursery and a reasonable person would expect a nursery to have standing water.


Title: Toyota not sending lien release form (used to get title) after paying off my car

Question:
Location = California

Sup, Reddit.

I paid off my car \(woot\) on \~February 15 \(50 days ago\). About a week later, I received a check from Toyota Financial Services for like 2 $. \(Not quite sure why, but I didn't care enough to figure it out. Point is, they were aware that my account was paid off.\)

I gave Toyota a month after my car was paid off, but I still hadn't received the lien release form. \(This is not related to a tax lien, it's just the form that the loan agency sends the client, which the client takes to the DMV to exchange for their actual title. This is in CA; procedures may vary by states.\)

So I then contacted customer support by phone. They understood my issue and took steps that \(they thought\) would get my lien release form to me within 7\-10 days

However, a 2 weeks later, still no lien release form. So I call again and get someone different \(which is good because it eliminates the possibility that the one service rep messed up the same way twice.\) I explain my issue again, and again they understood my issue and said I'd receive my form within 2\-3 days. However, still no lien release.

I then contact their customer support by their online messaging form, explaining everything that I've explained here and asking for some clarification/updates. No response. This was on Monday of this week \(4 days ago\).

What should my next step be?

Answer:
 Are you contacting Toyota Financial directly, ot just the Toyota's customer service line?  And have you moved since purchasing the vehicle?

They could be getting sent to the wrong address, or customer service isn't contacting the finance department through the proper channels.

You could try going to the dealership where it was purchased and talk to their finance guys.  They might have a dealers-only line they could call.


Title: Coworker left his kid with my mom for the last 2yrs

Question:
My mom was helping out co worker(CW) by babysitting his 2 year old daughter he brought back from ol country (by shadiness) for extra cash. It started out as few hours a day to then turned to a few days which turned into weeks.

My family didn't mind keeping her for extended periods at first till they started noticing signs of neglect. My parents and siblings adore her and I admit they spoil her a bit with clothes and toys because she really didn't have much to begin with. Supposedly CW had relatives watching her on the off days but eventually those so called relatives moved out and the neglect started. When my family would send her home she'd come back a few days later wearing the same clothes and filthy. If she took the toys with home her they would be taken away and destroyed. I (I live out of state) went with my dad once to drop her off, I've worked with children most of my life, I've never seen a kid meltdown the way she did when we told her she was going home. When we got her to CW’ house, she was still hysterical, CW basically chewed her out and smacked her for crying, a 3yr old. What sealed the deal with my family when she started making weird sexual comments, they decided to keep her for as long as they could. It wasn't hard because CW started to only take her back when no one in my family was available to watch her because she annoyed him asking to come back to my parents house and would sit by the door waiting to go. My family just stopped calling him. My mom still works with him and asks him if he wants to see his daughter he says he's got better things to do. My mom even brought her to work after her Pre-K graduation and he couldn't be bothered. He never asks for her when the other co workers ask him about it he says he lies and makes up excuses like my mom is keeping her way. Everyone knows this is bullshit.

At first CW was paying my mom to babysit but then only when my mom asked. He gave my mom guardianship along with passport and birth certificate, so she take her to doctors and such, which my parents pay out of pocket for . CW didn't contribute till D started Pre-K and my mom asked him to help pay for it and after care. At first he gave my mom $200 a month but not consistently. D just started kindergarten he decided he was only going to give my mom $100 a month and has done it once. He hasn't seen his kid in almost 2 years, he's perfectly content as long as he can keep her as a tax deduction.

D is very much a part of my family now and is aware of bio parents, but she calls my parents mom and dad. D's mother is in the ol country and  speaks to her on the phone but her mother has made it clear she wants my mom to keep D. CW used to threaten to send D back to her mother especially when the sexual comments were made, but her mother said she'll send D(an American citizen) right back to my mom. My family have not tried to seek any legal action to keep D because they don't want CW taking her back. But my family isn't well off and taking care of D is taking its toll (My mom is nearly blind workaholic who's had multiple strokes and rheumatism) and my family is struggling.

My question is what are their options to getting legally have custody of D in the state of Florida so they can seek better assistance? Or be able to collect consistent child support?

Sending her back to her parents is not an option! Her mother lives in a very poor country and her father would just dump her on his 20 unmedicated schizophrenic son to watch her. If the current way things are is the best option so be it.

Topic:
Custody Divorce and Family

Answer:
 You need a family law lawyer TODAY.Answer #2: I know someone else's comment talked about a family lawyer, but is D a US citizen or green card holder? If not, I'd talk to an immigration lawyer well before I'd talk to a family lawyer.

Edit: never mind, it seems you did say D is a citizen. Assuming you're damn sure her passport isn't fraudulent, family lawyer to seek permanent guardianship with child support, or adoption. They should make sure mom will sign off on whatever direction they're going.Answer #3: First get a family lawyer. What you are seeking is basically full custody which can be done but there may be resistance when asking for child support. I don't know Florida Law but get a family lawyer so they can advise you on the steps for what you seek. Do not go to CPS just yet.Answer #4: Honestly I think your best bet for fully adopting D (without hiring a lawyer) is to go through CPS. This is made a little trickier by the fact that all this neglect is no longer actively happening, but it's worth at least talking to CPS about it. You can call anonymously and ask them what the process is for your situation, you don't have to pull the trigger right away.Answer #5: Family lawyer like yesterday.


Title: Girlfriends parents kicked her out and took all the money form her bank account that her and her mother each have access to

Question: Basically my gf got into a fight (verbal) with her adopted parents (she was adopted at 13) last Friday and they told her she should leave so she left. Now she is 18 years old and has been working since she was 15 at a supplement store as well as a hostess at a restaurant, her mother had been taking money out and “saving it” ever since she started working but now since she’s left the house they are ignoring her and will not give her any of her money to this point.  My question today is does she have any right to her money that she earned and if so how should she go about obtaining all or at least most of her money?!?!? Thank you

Answer:
 She can sue her mother for the money.  A judge will determine who's money it is. Based on the scant information given, I could make a case either way. But, if the money was taken out of a joint account, her mother had the right to do so, and do what she wanted to with the money.

It also sounds like she was illegally evicted. She can return to her home.  If she is denied entry she can call the police and tell them she was illegally evicted, and needs help returning home.

Her parents would then need to give her an official eviction notice.Answer #2: So, along with the other advice you've gotten, she needs to open an individual account.  Today.  And close the joint account.  All of her money should go in an individual account from now on.  And even if she gets her parents to let her back in the house temporarily, she should no longer consider that a long-term living situation and needs to start working on a plan to support herself.  She should not trust her parents with her money or to keep a roof over her head again.


Title: Is throwing Bologna at someone a crime?

Question: What kind of crime/penalties am I looking at? I am thinking cheap slices.  (WI)

Answer:
 Is it consensual? Reddit has taught me never to rule that out. If so, you do you.

If they don't consent to have lunch meat thrown at them, don't do it.Answer #2: Well you don't provide your location but yeah that would be battery and is a misdemeanor in most states. Answer #3: Assault and battery.

Were there olives in it?  If so, Assault and Battery - dirty.Answer #4: It's civil battery, which could open up a suit for damages.

If it's a pork product and the tossee is Muslim or Jewish, the damages could be enough of a reason not to do it.

Of course, in that scenario, it could also be a hate crime, depending on intent.

That said, in Berkeley, CA annual parade, a group called PETA ("People Eatin' Them Animals") used to have a flatbed truck, on which they would have gas BBQ grills, from which they would toss cooked beef patties and hot dogs.Answer #5: TL;DR: It's most likely a crime. A potentially *hilarious* crime, depending on your sense of humor, but a crime nonetheless.Answer #6: Possibly assault.  NAL
Was it the whole bologna, or just a slice? Answer #7: Yep.

All that depends on your location.


Title: [California] Animal Control left a fine on my gate for two dogs. Only options given are pay the fine, or show the dogs' records to prove I'm in compliance.

Question:
I received a citation from Animal Control in California. The citation alleges I have two dogs, that are not chipped, not vaccinated & not registered with the county. The citation was left on my front gate, a good 200+ feet from my house. They've been canvassing every house in the area & carpet bombing citations while people are at work.

When I contact the county, I'm told my options are pay the fine, or prove compliance. The back of the fine says if I wish to fight it, I must pay the fine upfront before I can appeal (over $800).

If I don't own a dog, I am given no recourse to defend myself, face my accuser or all the other steps associated with being accused of a crime - unless I pay over $800 up front?

I have been provided with absolutely no evidence, but the fine itself as justification. "Well, you have the fine, pay it."

This feels extortionate, and like I've been accused of a crime where evidence does not matter & it's on me to prove my innocence. I've tried contacting animal control multiple times and every time they forward me to a full voicemail.

Answer:
 So go be clear, you don’t own two dogs?Answer #2: “If I don’t own a dog”. Do you have two dogs out of compliance or not?Answer #3: I've noticed that you're very forthcoming with "I don't own two dogs," yet you're not responding to anybody asking if there are dogs on the property.

You can try to argue semantics and play word games to prove your innocence, but I'm assuming there's a reason you were cited and you probably know why, as well.