Title: [US/AZ]Broke off marriage with K-1 Visa fiancé. If they don't leave the US, am I responsible?

Question:
Hey all,

Recently brought my ex-fiancé from Europe to be married on a K-1 visa, but recently broke off the marriage. The K-1 visa only allows for entry in the US, and as far as I know, my ex-fiancé must leave the country immediately.

They're not explicitly stating that they won't leave, but they're currently visiting family, and I'm worried they will end up staying illegally. Will I be held responsible for not getting my ex-fiancé out of the country, or does that solely lay on them?

Thank you!

Answer:
 You're not legally responsible for a visa overstay but you should withdraw your I-864 affidavit of support to remove any financial obligations.

Your ex-fiance has 90 days to get married from the time of entry, so if it hasn't been that long yet they may just be running the clock out before leaving the country.


Title: (California) Janitorial Duties, Can I get fired for accidentally walking in on someone?

Question: Im a janitor for a retail company and was waiting to clean the women's restroom. A mom and her child walk out and she tells me its empty now and I can clean it. I yell into the restroom asking if anyone is there just in case. I look as I enter and all the doors are open and no one is answering. I go to the first stall and there is a woman there on the toilet. She gets angry and said I should have knocked when she had left the door halfway open and she apparently submitted a complaint where I need to talk to the human resources manager. Was anything illegal even with all the procedures I followed as well as precautions?

Answer:
 Like 48 other states, California is an at-will employment state. You can be fired for wearing ugly shoes. The one exception is protected classes, such as race or religion. Which wouldn't cover you in this case.

That said, you're not necessarily screwed either. You did reasonable checks - both verbally by calling out, and visually by checking that the doors were open. Maybe it can be argued that you could have checked for feet under the dividers, but realistically, who the hell leaves the door to their stall open?  I'm not saying you're totally in the clear, but I could also see HR figuring that your risk to the company is outweighed by the work it would take to hire a replacement.

If you do get fired, file for unemployment. If they fight it, appeal. I don't know your odds of getting it, but it doesn't hurt to try.


Title: My Dentist Removed All of my Teeth

Question: [deleted]

Answer:
 You need a medical malpractice attorney.

Your teeth are gone. Dentists don’t keep teeth.


Title: NJ, USA - Grandma signed a contract to purchase a car well above what its worth, need advice.

Question:
First of all, happy New Years to all of you; wish you all a joyous start to 2017.

So onto the problem: my grandma signed a contract to purchase a car above what its worth. She apparently did not understand the contents of what she signed, however, she signed it anyways (I know this is bad, I strongly advised her never to do such a thing). My grandma handed me all the documents given to her during the purchase of the car.

According to the Carfax report, the car she purchased is a 2006 Toyota Highlander with 149,466 miles. At the bottom of the document, the value of the car is $8,995.

Problem #1) My grandma signed an agreement (which says that she cannot retract, according to the contract which she signed off on) that says she'll pay $292 for the car for the next 36 months, totaling $10,512.

Problem #2) She traded in my grandpa's 2000 Isuzu Rodeo (it has 115,780 miles if anyone's wondering) to shave off $1,000 off the price, which still comes out to $10,530.

Problem #3) The dealer said the purchase would cost her $6,000 which the contract does not reflect. The total purchase of the vehicle came out to $11,530 which sucks a bag of dicks for a car of that quality.

My family is frustrated/angry at my grandma for doing this and not consulting any of us in a situation where she did not fully understand what was going on. She came to me for help, yet I am not well-versed in this area since I'm not a lawyer or an attorney of any sort.

This coming Monday we're going to the dealer to attempt to retract the purchase, however I'm unsure we'll be able to do such a thing since she's legally bound to this contract she signed.

So, Reddit... is there anything I can do to get my grandma out of this shitty-ass deal?

Thank you for reading.

TLDR: My sweet ol' grandma got bamboozled by car dealership, need help retracting purchase.

Answer: Has your grandmother been declared mentally incompetent in any way?Answer #2: Not a Lawyer...but I know NJ has a 3 day contract rule. Not sure how the running works for you, or even if it specifically applies in your case because there are exceptions for certain auto sales.


Title: (California) boyfriend was fired for telling coworkers girlfriend (me) is gay

Question:
So my boyfriend has been working at a bank call center for about a month and a half.  I know sexual orientation is a protected class in California, but this is a little backwards. Here's the story

He was talking with some women in the office.  They were talking about their relationships, one specifically about her bipolar boyfriend.  He brought up how love is blind and his girlfriend is gay.  They then asked him if we had an open relationship, and he said he didn't define it as such.

This somehow became and HR matter.  The women took this information, which is a very real, simple part of our lives, to mean he was coming on to them. HR took their side and fired him.

Would this be considered wrongful termination?

Answer:
 You might have gotten some distorted information from your boyfriend, either because he misunderstood what HR was saying or because he shaded the truth with you because he was embarrassed at getting fired.

It’s possible that he was wrongly terminated, but it’s more plausible that he crossed some kind of line when he was having a discussion at work (open relationships, sex, etc) and someone got offended. It doesn’t sound like it was sexual orientation discrimination, though he probably made it sound like that to you when he had to explain the story.

Did your boyfriend receive any kind of documentation when he was fired? Answer #2: Sexual orientation may be a protected class but having not-work-appropriate conversations certainly is not.Answer #3: Homosexuality being a protected doesn't protect him at all, because he wasn't fired for being gay. He was fired for having an inappropriate conversation at work, that the person he was talking to found offensive. (Plus he isn't gay). It's not generally a great idea to engage in conversation about how open your sexual relationship with your partner is, at work. Answer #4: >Would this be considered wrongful termination?

No.


Title: [SC]Can signing a receipt or purchase order in red pen really mean the customer doesn't have to pay?

Question:
This question is mostly out of curiosity, I'm taking the easy solution and not having red pens on the counter where customers can use them.

But in the event that they do sign a credit card slip or our receipt that tells what items where purchased, can a red pen signature really negate the need to pay for the material?

Wouldn't we have a really easy case for theft since there's a record of what was taken?

Answer:
 Do you really believe the world would operate in such a stupid manner?Answer #2: Only if the receipt has a gold fringe on it.

(Sorry, this is more of a joke for the regulars here.  There's no reason that red ink would negate their signature.  Seems to be an urban legend - a quick Googling gets [results as far back as 2002](http://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/archive/index.php/t-135474.html).)Answer #3: That is why I sign all documents with a red glittery pen. I then claim that it is merely a novelty signature and it has no legal weight to it.Answer #4: You could draw a squirrel in "burnt umber" Crayola crayon and it would be binding.

The act of making a permanent mark on the paper is the significant part.

Blue/black ink is better for archival copying and is easier to read than other colors.  Red has no legal significance of the kind you mention.

But "if they want me to sign in black, then red must have some secret meaning!" is how these people think.  From that, they extrapolate that red is the color of blood, and signing in blood means something.


Title: Should I fire my attorney? [USA]

Question:
I was in an accident and I got a large firm to take my personal injury case. I'll be the first to admit that this isn't the most cut and dry case as I'm not missing a limb or anything hugely obvious so the testimony of my dr (a highly regarded specialist) will be very influential. I spoke with my attorney recently and they don't yet have the records from the specialist so they're going off the earlier records (from before I found the specialist) which aren't very strong. The attorney sat me down and told me that I'm just depressed and I need to snap out of it (I've never actually been diagnosed as depressed.) but not to seek help for it because that would hurt my case somehow. It was also suggested that they don't expect to get a very big settlement. I was told that my chosen career path was not obtainable, and then chastised and told I needed to make plans and goals for my life (hello, I had them, you just shot them down...) and that even his wife had bigger problems than me.

Is this normal? It didn't seem very professional and I found it odd that he would diagnose me with depression. So now I'm worried that they've already decided the validity of my case without even seeing all the records. My concern is that even once they see the "good ones" they will still have a preconceived idea that it's not worth anything and I'll get stiffed. Should I be concerned?
Topic:
Personal Injury

Answer:
 >Is this normal? It didn't seem very professional and I found it odd that he would diagnose me with depression.

That is out of the ordinary.

> So now I'm worried that they've already decided the validity of my case without even seeing all the records.

Personal injury attorneys, especially experienced ones, are pretty good at determining a value for a case, even without all the necessary records.

>My concern is that even once they see the "good ones" they will still have a preconceived idea that it's not worth anything and I'll get stiffed. Should I be concerned?

A personal injury attorney only makes money if you make money.  The more you make the more they make.  There's no reason for them to sandbag a case that could make them money.


Title: Cheating husband threw friend and their kid out in the street, demands she pays for divorce (she's unemployed & disabled w/ no dis. income)

Question:
Asking on behalf of a friend. She caught her husband cheating on her. She's been jobless for the last year because he makes enough so that she could stay home. During that time she encountered some health problems that now are preventing her from working. (Applied for disability, but you probably know that takes forever.) They have a child and he came home and pretty much told her to get out of his house, he moved his gf in (that he met on a job while he was working out of state). He told her she has to pay for the divorce, even though he cheated on her and she has no income. She's not being vindictive, I know this girl, she just can't do things on her own right now. Will legal aid help her with a divorce? Can she sue him for spousal support or alimony? Like I said, she's not out to get him, she's more hurt and worried than anything.

Arkansas is the state-sorry I forgot to put that on here.

Edit: she said she did see a lawyer and the lawyer told her----"You have no grounds for divorce". Uhhhhhhhhhhhh? WTH? Is that even possible considering what he did?

Edit 2: She said the police went w/ her to their home and he told the police what she could have and what she couldn't. Is that legal? I thought everything is half and half? I  mean I figured she could cut everything in half and leave him the other and even that would be legal. I guess Idk much, or those police are idiots. "They told me if I csme back and got stuff without his permission they woukd arrest me"

Edit 3: The child is his step-daughter, not his blood related daughter. I didn't realize that because the girl is so young and they've been together for so long. But they've been together 7 years, her daughter is 9.

Answer:
 1. He can't throw her out of shit. She has as much right to live in the house as he does. If he refuses her entry she should call the police.

2. She should seek assistance from local women's support organizations. They can inform her of her legal rights and help her find an attorney.

3. She can most certainly make a solid case for alimony and child support.Answer #2: She needs to find a lawyer.  Depending on state law, the husband may be required to pay her attorney fees.

He had no right to force her out of the home.


Title: [NH] I wanted to switch to a different doctor in my current practice because I do not like my current provider. Office told me I could see someone new, but my old doctor would still be consulted.

Question:
My current primary care provider makes me incredibly anxious. Although I don't have definative proof of discrimination; I feel that because of my appearance and that I am on disability, she does not treat me the way I should be.

Here are just a few examples:

I told her I was feeling fatigued, anxious and unhappy. At the time I was working on getting into see a new pyschiatrist but needed to cover the gap in my care. She was afraid the medication I've taken for a long time and know that it works would increase my tiredness. Instead, she ordered very expensive tests to check for Lupus. Which is extremely rare, and I wasn't having any other symptoms besides fatigue and sore muscles. I tried to explain my tiredness was an affect of my depression. My soreness was because I didn't have the motivation and energy to stretch and move like I should; as well as a bad posture.
A week after this appointment, I checked into a psych ward because I was so desperate for help.

She wouldn't renew my handicapped placer despite other doctors approving it in the past. She even called my cardiologist, who gave her the go ahead and she decided last minute to not do it. (I was about to go on vacation and knew the walking would be tough on me due to a congenital heart defect. At the very least, having the car close to the exit and entrance).

There are a few others, but I won't bore you with them. Awhile ago, I called the office and inquired about switching providers. I told them that I was uncomfortable seeing my current doctor and that I felt like she didn't listen to me. I got a call back where I was told:

You can switch to x doctor. However your current doctor and this doctor are close friends. X doctor will be working closely with your current provider for your care.

Baffled, I just sort of said "thanks" and hung up. Is this a violation of HIPAA? A doctor is not allowed to share information about care to others. Does this law exclude other medical providers? Wouldn't I have to give them permission to talk to each other?
Topic:
Healthcare Law including HIPAA

Answer: Information can be shared within the practice. You are not entitled to any specific course of treatment. If you don’t like your doctor you are free to find a new practice.


Title: [Illinois] lost my wallet with license and Social Security card. How to replace both of these?

Question: [deleted]

Answer: Stop carrying around your social security card.  Unless you are filling out new paperwork for a new job, there is no reason to do so.  Learn the number and put the card in a safe place.


Title: 17 year old female in texas. i sent nudes to a 45 year old man and my parents found out. how screwed am i?

Question: im on my kindle voyager typing this. screw a throwaway. basically my mother found out a man was getting nudes from me/basically using me and i want to know wgat could happen if my parents press charges. the man is a teacher. could i get arrested for distribution of child pornography?

Answer: You should tell your mother to speak to a defense attorney before going to the police.  What you did was also illegal.  Even though the authorities will be much more interested in going after him, you need a lawyer to protect yourself.Answer #2: Yes. You created and distributed child porn. So you could get in legal trouble. Answer #3: Did he know you were 17?


Title: what to do about a possible squatter

Question:
Heres what happened,

I live in a house in college and a week before leaving for summer break, some kids broke one of our windows. This wasn't a huge worry as it was warm out, we weren't living there over the summer, and were cleaning paying tenents who ASSUMED our landlord would fix the window as we were told he would. As you can probably guess the window was not fixed, and last week we found out there is someone living in our house, who managed to get us moved off our gas and electric and has been living in our house. If we lose anything, are robbed, or damage is done are we entitled to compensation and how should we go about this?

Sorry its long, thank you

Answer:
 1. Did you report the break-in to your landlord?
2. How long have they been squatting?Answer #2: For now, you need to have the police arrest them for trespassing ASAP.  Work WITH your landlord to have the police do this.  If they manage to squat for 30 days, they establish tenancy in New York State and must go through a long eviction process.

Get them out of the house and arrested within the next few days, then worry about the other stuff.


Title: Trying to recover personal loan of over 100k in California

Question:
Situation: 2 years ago I loaned my son in law over 60k for his business and personal problems.  During the time he would tell me that he needed it for business and he would be able to pay me back in a few months.  Well a year went by and he kept stalling all the while telling me to promise him to not tell my daughter about his failed business or else she might divorce him.  At the time they had 3 young children so I kept my mouth shut for his sake.  He also promised to pay me back 100k in total with 40k as interest on the loan.  It's been two years and he still hasn't paid me anything back at all.  I found out he used some of the money on drugs (heroin) and he also fleeced other relatives for big sums of money with the same story.  He is a very charming charismatic guy who treats my daughter well and I really liked him before this incident.  Before I knew he didn't have the money so I didn't push too hard, but recently he just sold his house for 1.6 million and I know he has the cash to pay me back but now he has been ducking me and avoiding me at all costs.  I am planning to bring it up to my daughter at the cost of his marriage but I also would like to know what type of legal options I have.

Issues:  A lot of the transactions were in cash so the only time I wrote him a check was recently for a small amount that he said he needed in order to get his house sold.  I did have to withdraw money from the bank so I have the statements but they are 2 years old.  He always spoke to me in person or on the phone when talking about the debt or anything regarding the loan.  I live in California so I cannot record any of the conversations.

My support:  I have text conversations of him admitting to the loan and him agreeing to pay me 100k back once his house closes, which closed last week.  I also have a check that has a memo written about the loan.

Questions:  Do I have a case?  How much could I recover?  Would I be able to get the 100k he promised or just the 60k I loaned?  How much would the whole ordeal cost me to sue him?

Answer:
 You are well over the amount of small claims.  You'll want to consult  a lawyer, show them all relevant documents you have, and sue.

I do not suggest talking to him about it any further since you've asked to be paid back and he has become avoidant.  If you do, he'll come up with a defense or ghost you entirely.  I suggest speaking to a lawyer and filing with a court if they advise that.  Let the court summons be the first thing he hears about it.

A 60k loan cannot accrue 40k in interest over 2 years.  That's ursury.  A court will order him to return the amount he loaned and possibly some interest rate.Answer #2: So you're asking how to pursue repayment of a loan that had an illegal interest rate?

http://www.yourlegalcorner.com/articles.asp?cat=emp&id=97Answer #3: NAL, and this isn't legal advice-related, but you're not doing your daughter any favors by keeping her in the dark on all this.


Title: Is it legal for my employer to withhold pay for malfeasance?

Question:
I had a student worker position at my college last semester, and my last 2 paychecks didn’t come in. When I called payroll they told me my department head withheld my pay due to malfeasance. When I asked him what that malfeasance was, he claimed I was showing up to work high. I wasn’t, but I do smoke so when he told me if I pass a drug test I’ll get my paycheck. Is this legal? I’m owed about $400 after taxes and it’s money I could really use right now since I just bought a car and I’m struggling to have money for my insurance bill that’s coming up to the point that I’ve cut out every non-essential. I haven’t smoked weed or any form of nicotine for weeks (since missing my first check) and I’m eating nothing but ramen and I’m still cutting it close. I got a new job so after this one I’ll be fine, but my first pay check isn’t until the day after my insurance is do.

As a side note, if I call my insurance company or go into their local office would I be able to delay the payment day for a few days to make this less stressful?

I have to go into work in 20ish minutes so I apologize if I take a while to respond.

Answer:
 Your payroll department and department head are blithering idiots.

[Here](https://labor.ny.gov/workerprotection/laborstandards/workprot/payofwag.shtm) is NY state law on wages. Your pay cannot be withheld in this manner for hours worked. Nor can you be required to pass a drug test to receive pay for hours already worked.Answer #2: Likely not. You likely can file a wage claim with your state labor board otherwise look to Feds.Answer #3: No, they cannot do this. Payroll is telling you this? Contact the controller, if no then go to CFO.


Title: [CA] I lost 4 fingers. Can my employer fire me?

Question: For the record, this is not a work related accident. My life changed Friday evening when I had an off-roading accident that resulted in me losing 4 fingers from one of my hands. I am a car mechanic so I will no longer be able to work with only one hand. I have insurance through my employer so I am afraid of telling them what happened and i end up without health care. I did inform them that I am in the hospital due to a medical emergency, but I didn’t say anything too specific. My question is, can they fire me for this and would I lose my health care? If so, what advice can you give me to help me out during all of this mess? Thank you all so much

Answer:
 Short answer: yes, your employer can fire you for not being able to do your job.

Longer answer: losing your fingers would leave you disabled. For that reason, you could ask your employer for a *reasonable accommodation*. This means that you employer has to allow you certain concessions, as long as those concessions don't cause them undue hardship or take away your ability to do the main roles of your job.

In your situation, the ability to do your job requires you to have the use of your hands. It's unlikely that a decreased workload would be considered a reasonable accommodation.

You would need to demonstrate that you can continue to do your job, at basically the same level as before, or your employer could fire you.Answer #2: Can they fire you for not being able to work permanently? Yes, they can let you go for not being able to work.

Do you qualify for FMLA? That can buy you some time to figure everything out.Answer #3: Talk to the social worker in the hospital about options?
Do you have long term disability insurance from your job?
Contact a lawyer before going back to work as to options?


Title: I work for a mental health facility where I feel it does highly unethical things. The place is completely unsanitary. There have been cases where patients spread feces, urine, and period blood around their rooms. It was never disinfected. What can I do? I feel as if this is an hazardous environment.

Answer: You can report it to the licensing board. If you provide your location (state or country if not in the US), we can probably link you to the proper people to report this to. Answer #2: You should definitely have evidence in hand before you report something like this. Photographs are a good way to depict this.


Title: I have been hearing extremist discussion from Muslims at my mosque.

Question:
Sorry for my English. It is not my first language.

After Friday prayer some people stay to socialize and some leave. It is not uncommon to hear Muslims voicing their support for various terror groups, but it is always to be because of anger due to the way Muslims are treated by the west. Lately the support for them seems to be more real/genuine. I have known these people for many years and I don't believe they wish to cause harm but some people I do not know. No one has suggested hurting anyone only saying that they agree and it is only a small few. I want to inform the police because I don't want anyone to become hurt, but I am worried that the police will overreact and close our mosque or threaten our people. I am also worried that they might imprison me or my family.

Answer:
 You or your family are not going to prison. Your mosque will not be closed over a few individuals.

If these individuals act and you do nothing, then you have problems.

If you are serious, get off the internet and call the FBI now. Answer #2: Muslim here.

REPORT THIS TO THE FBI IMMEDIATELY.

Document dates, times, and names if you know them.

Once you have done this, see if you can find a different masjid.

Answer #3: Locked due to excessive off-topic posting.Answer #4: The police will not do anything negative to you, your people, or your mosque. Not reporting and having something happen will be far more negative for your community. Please contact the fbi Answer #5: where are you located?Answer #6: I think you should report to the FBI if you feel they are planning to take violent or illegal action.

A lot of people are telling you to share your own opinions within the group but I disagree with this. You can't change their minds and you would be putting yourself at unnecessary risk if they do have violent intentions.

They are in America which means they have a right to free speech until it becomes threatening.  Answer #7: It's hard to know what advice to give without knowing more about exactly what you're hearing. I think it would be appropriate to make sure the mosque leadership knows about this, but beyond that it's (in my opinion) pretty fact-specific.


Title: Got fired after 10 days of working, no real explanation. What should I do?

Question:
So, just recently I got a job that I fought super hard for, I got super excited that I was finally joining the A/V Industry. Well, after 10 days of working for them, I got let go due to “my skill set not being what they were looking for.” I cried the whole way home, they were super excited to add me to the team, I was doing my best to learn, but the people who were supposed to be training me weren’t exactly doing a top notch job.

Now, Iowa is obviously an At Will state, but in my contract it states that after 90 days, I will be evaluated and the higher ups will decide if I need more training or not. To me, that seems like that’s implied job security, but being an At Will state I don’t know if I can do anything about that. I was also supposed to be receiving an exit interview, but never received that as well.

Another side note, the week before they said I was doing an excellent job and shouldn’t worry, then this week, boom. Fire me.

What should I do? Is there anything I can do? I have no idea how to go about this, but it feels like they wrongfully terminated me, it feels like they breached our contract that I signed, but again, I have no idea.
Topic:
Contracts

Answer: File for unemployment and look for a new jobAnswer #2: It's not wrongful termination, and you weren't guaranteed job security.  That's almost unheard of these days unless you are a top level executive.


Title: CALIFORNIA | Went to a restaurant and was told I would need to leave my wheelchair outside

Question:
So a few days ago I went to a local restaurant I have gone to often and have always had a pleasant experience at. But this recent experience was ridiculous. I went with my cousin and asked the waitress how long for a table and she said 5 minutes to buss one off but that I would have to leave my wheelchair outside. I asked her why I would have to do that and she proceeded to say that the restaurant is very cluttered and busy inside. I assumed that because I am pretty young and (she looked to be in high school) that she automatically assumed I would be able to walk to a table. (I know stupid. ) anyways I was so stunned at her ignorance I didn't mention anything but asked for the next available table where I wouldn't need to get out of my chair and she said 30-45 minutes. She took down my number and said she would call me when it was ready but never did.

The next day I emailed the restaurant owner and explained to him what happened and he apologized but then went on to say that the hostesses were young and just blaming it on their age. I just want advice to see if there's anything I could do legally since this was discrimination and I felt that the owner did not take my complaint seriously.

Answer: You were told that a non-wheelchair accessible table would be ready in 5 minutes, and that a wheelchair accessible table would be ready in 30 - 45 minutes.  There is no violation of the ADA there.  The fact that she never called you to tell you that your wheelchair accessible table was ready is simply bad service - again, no ADA violation there.Answer #2: Sorry this happened to you. You can file an ADA Title 3 complaint with the Department of Justice. If it happens in the future, you might try asking for a manager to confirm the discriminatory policy. 16 year old hostesses probably aren't well versed in legal obligations.Answer #3: It sounds like the hostess just has poor communication skills and that they only had non-wheelchair-accessible tables available right away and that there would be a wait for a wheelchair-accessible table. Since you're familiar with this restaurant, do you know if it's the case that not all tables are wheelchair-accessible?


Title: Can I take legal action against Verizon for this?

Question:
I am absolutely disgusted by Verizon's poor service and inability to fix their billing issues.

Problem all started when my brother received a defective Google Pixel 2 XL.
Upon receiving it, we contacted Verizon and they sent another phone with us paying for the sales tax for the 2nd phone. The original sales tax paid for the defective was to be refunded when Verizon received the phone back. We received the phone and were told that a return packaging was to be sent to send the phone back.

A month passes and still no signs of a return package. So we contacted Verizon multiple times to provide the return package so we can return the phone. After multiple attempts, Verizon sent the return package so late that at the rate that it gets back to Verizon, it would've been charged to the account. Because we were worried that we would get charged, Verizon confirmed that even if it gets there late, our account would not be charged for the late return. Again, the ONLY reason that this return was so late was because Verizon failed to send the return packaging and ONLY sent it at the request of the CUSTOMER. Does this make any sense?

So my family member sent the defective phone and didn't really take note of the tracking number of package. But he did take a picture of it.

Now I checked my bill for March because I had a bad feeling that something might've gone wrong. My intuition was correct and of course the bill was over $1000. I was furious because we had to contact Verizon multiple times to SEND the return packaging and then we were charged AFTER being promised that it wasn't going to be.

I contacted Verizon on February 26th and they asked me for the tracking number that was sent back. Apparently, my brother had deleted the picture of the tracking since he confirmed it got there. The photo was still in the deleted folder of his phone and thankfully he was able to confirm that it got there to the Verizon representative.

So we came to terms and decided to suspend the autopay for the month of March.
I was to pay for the bill when it was amended back to the correct amount.

On March 13, 2018, my bill online was STILL over $1000. I contacted them again and they suggested that I pay for the bill without the phone charge. First of all, I still haven't even seen the "refund" of the sales tax for the Pixel 2 XL that was promised. There was no way in hell that I was going to send them any more money they are not entitled to. The rep told me to subtract the bill by $849.99 and then pay the rest. So he asked me to pay $218.70. Mind you my bill the month prior to that was $160ish.

So I asked him, "so I pay $64.47 in government taxes & fees?" while it was $8.16 on the bill prior. The guy goes "correct!" I wanted to explode but I tried very hard to keep my cool.

Then he gives me a completely different number of something around the $150's. At this point, I am not going to pay any amount that isn't on the bill. They just need to adjust the BILL and I WILL PAY THE CORRECT BILL. I asked how many times I need to contact Verizon for the same issues. Then the rep goes "If that is the case then what our Return Center has to determine is that the device has been received. With no physical damage." First of all, if there is a physical damage, then that's Verizon's duty to file a claim against the carrier. (I work in logistics). Also, this was a defect. Why would they need to determine if the phone is in good condition? It came in bad condition. I was so baffled by what he had to say.

In the end, I explained how I am not going to adjust the correct bill for Verizon and will hold the payment until the bill was corrected. The rep said the account has been put on hold. He made it sound like the problem will be handled soon.

I check again late March. Still not handled. Bill is still over $1000. The rep just wanted to handle it with a phone call. (Very smart on them as a chat would leave evidence for me). The rep confirmed that the credit was already in place and that it will be handled very soon.

I am writing this post AS I talk to the Verizon Rep.
Today is April 10th and my April bill now includes the bill for March, April, and the phone charge. The guy I'm talking to now is saying all the same thing and is now saying for me to just simply pay for the phone bill for the 2 months. Same argument. Same lack of logic.

I am absolutely disgusted.

The issue began with Verizon sending a defective phone, the Verizon sending the return package late, and Verizon's lack of action.

**I was wondering if this is something I can take legal action on?**
I've invested too many hours for this nonsense.

**TLDR: Verizon sent defective phone. Phone sent back late bc Verizon sent return package late. Phone charged on account after being promised it wouldn't be. Inquired that it be taken off on Late February. The charge still on account as of April 10th.**

Answer: Are you able to go to a Verizon store in person?Answer #2: Odds are you are bound by an arbitration agreement that you agreed to when signing up for Verizon service. Any legal action you take would have to be at arbitration, not court.


Title: Our property management company has made us wait 2 weeks to send someone out for AC. It's 110 degree's outside.

Question:
I lease a townhome with two other girls girls in Arizona. Our air conditioning runs constantly ($375.00 electric bills) and our house will not get below 98 degrees during the day. We put in a  maintenance request two weeks ago, still nothing has happened. When we first placed the request, no one contacted us. We had to call them. The property management company then told us that they would get in touch with the landlord because she has a particular "handy man" she likes to use.

 Days go by.

Not a word from anyone. I call three days ago and inform them that the tempature inside our house is dangerously high and it is vital they send someone out.  They make an appointment for 4 PM and we all scramble to take off work so we can be there when the repairs are being done. 3:45 PM we get a call from the property management company informing us that the handyman they were sending out was not approved by the landlord and we have to wait the next day at 4 pm to have some random guy come out and look at our ac. Phone arguments ensue that were VERY unprofessional on their end.

6:30 AM my roommate comes in my room crying. She can't keep water down. She has been puking all night and she doesn't know what's wrong. I take her the emergency room. Guess what? Heat stroke.

We have no idea what to do, this is inhumane, this unprofessional, and I'm pretty sure it's illegal. Can you guys help us?

Update: So Saturday was pretty much mass hysteria at my place, we called a couple of friends over who know a thing or two about the real estate world. I was so stressed out I couldn't really contribute the conversation. One of my room mates decided to have an outside company come repair the AC. What they essentially did was top off the frion. it was $400 dollars. I'm freaked out we're going to be living in 98 degree weather here in a couple of days.

Sergio, the handy man that was originally assigned to the job showed up, banged around on the ac, took the filter out and informed us that he didn't have any frion and he'd come back tomorrow. He didn't, and he turned his phone off so if we hadn't called an outside company this STILL wouldn't be fixed.

There was some talk about moving, there is mold in the house too but I don't have the funds or the time to move. Our lease is up at the end of this month but we don't have anywhere to go, literally. We thought we would still be living in this house so we didn't plan properly. I didn't realize how shitty this management company was until we started encountering problems and received NO help every time. We've had problems with the front door not opening because it's a huge steel door and there is some shotty tile work underneath it, they just keep coming to glue the door handle back on instead of actually fixing the problem. I don't know what the fuck to do.

Answer:
 Not a lawyer, and not in a position to google Arizona law, but...

This is an emergency situation. In most (all?) states you can and should call a repair company and deduct the cost of the repair from your rent. There is quite possibly some legal recourse for medical bills incurred as a direct result of their negligence, too.

Google around or wait for another response before taking action, but I'm pretty confident this is a standard solution to emergency situations like this.Answer #2: https://www.azag.gov/sites/default/files/sites/all/docs/civil-rights/fha/TenantRightsResponsibilities.pdf

Go to page 13, and follow the instructions listed there, and remember that notice must be in writing on paper.


Title: [OR] Lived at this condo for two weeks and still don't have the washer/dryer promised in the lease or the mailbox key.

Question: I live in Portland, OR.  I'm pretty sure having access to your mailbox is a basic tenant right, and I know that having an appliance stated in the lease has to be a thing.  I've lived at this property since 8/31/16 and don't have either of these things - my landlord sucks and keeps saying he'll take care of it.  At this point both my roommate and I are out of clean clothes.  I try to text my landlord and he doesn't respond.  I'm just wondering what my options are.  Thanks for reading.

Answer: Step 1 would be a laundromat. I guess you could sue in small claims for the cost of the laundry.


Title: Removal of memorial lanterns on grave

Question:
Hello,

My uncle recently passed from cancer and is buried nearby. My dad, who was very close with my uncle, has tried to place a lantern by his grave nearly every night since. The fiance of my late uncle admittedly keeps taking the lanterns (7 now), and disposes of them.
She reasons about the aesthetic of the grave site, but it seems as though she has a  grudge against my dad.
He went to the police and they said if she owns the lot, it would be between her and the owners of the cemetery.
Is there anything that can be done?

Ontario Canada
Topic:
Canada

Answer: Talk to the owners of the cemetery, they're used to dealing with people who steal things from graves.


Title: (Toronto, CA) Can I tell my doctor that I'm bisexual to get the HPV vaccine for free?

Question:
Throwaway for personal reasons.

&#x200B;

I'll start by saying I do think it's wrong to exploit other people's sexualities for personal gain, and also I'm straight and have a girlfriend.

&#x200B;

So I was wondering if it would be unwise, as I'm sure it's illegal, to tell my doctor I'm bisexual and may have intercourse with men in order to qualify for the free HPV vaccine.

&#x200B;

I'm getting it as recommended by my current girlfriend, and I'm a student/full time worker who's trying to save some money.

&#x200B;

Thanks.
Topic:
Canada

Answer: That would be fraud. Against the provincial government. I won't bother looking up the penalties, but I imagine they are quite severe.Answer #2: No you should not lie and also I think it might be illegal to lie in that context


Title: Under the control of a greedy, narcissistic grandparent, despite being over 18, and having disabilities. What should I do?

Question: I just got my social security cut from $721 to $346, and now my grandmother gets $316 of it. I always thought my disability went straight from the government to me, but my grandfather said I get it through his VA disability... I realize he did this not only because Mema wanted more of his money (even though he gets seven thousand a month, and could easily give her more than $200 for an "allowance"). I never consented for him to be the middleman, but rather told me when I was a bit younger he had to be. If I cut him, he could attempt to make me look like a fraud to get me hauled off, he could put me on the streets, he could let me keep my home, but deny me of food I need to survive. They know I depend on them for food. They know I have no food stamps anymore. He uses fearmongering, playing victim, and intimidation to control me, and he has made many lies and threats to keep me from running away to Colorado with my girlfriend. He has gotten worse than ever when he found out I wanted to move away, not only to be with her, but for a better job economy, more liberal state, and less impoverished place. I want to be able to legally break away from him, and get him in trouble for what he has done to me and other family members over the years. He has strangled me before, and gotten arrested, but then lied and said I would lose my disability if I didn't drop the charges, and many family members who relied on him would be dropped too. They even told me the same. Because of my disabilities (schizophrenia, high functioning autism, PTSD, anxiety, OCD, all clinically diagnosed), my name, my race, and my mannerisms, it is very tough for me to find a job where I live as well (Arkansas), so this makes it harder for me to get back on food stamps, and hopefully find a good enough job to get off disability.

Answer: Do they have guardianship over you? Through a court order. Absent that, you can leave. Call the agencies that send you money and change where it is sent.


Title: I would like to use someone's Facebook posts against them in court. How can I make sure that they remain usable in case the person gets enough sense to privatize their Facebook before the court date?

Question: I have taken screenshots of everything, but I am afraid they will pretend that I photoshopped the posts. I need to be certain that by the time the court date comes, *even if this person has made their FB private by then*, the FB posts will still be usable. How can this be achieved? Thank you

Answer:
 If you're a party, you can subpoena their entire account and make them produce it, regardless of whether it's private or not.

Note that Facebook itself won't supply the information via subpoena, but a party would probably be required to.Answer #2: Save all the screenshots. If you want to be anal, make a video of yourself walking into a public library, accessing one of their computers, logging into facebook and looking at the posts of interest. Even if things aren't terribly clear on the video, as long as you can read the text, it will prove that the other person deleted information or is lying about it which makes your screenshots more credible.


Title: My landlord updated/resigned my lease without my knowledge.

Question:
I know something is completely wrong about this, but I don’t know how to approach this situation.

Earlier this year in May I renewed my lease. Two months later the property transferred in a new property manager. Under her I was asked by her secretary to resign my lease with updated information. Apparently she had been auditing the files from the previous property manager and realized some things did not match up with many of the leases, i.e. the names and weight of my dogs were not listed. My husband and I both thought it was weird that we would have to resign our lease just because they missed the opportunity to input information they now deem pertinent to the lease with the new property manager. We ultimately disregarded their request and carried on abiding by the original lease we signed together in May.

Fast forward to today when I log in to the online tenant portal, I see that we now have two leases attached to the apartment where we currently live. The second one was dated two months after our original move in date. Mind you it NOW includes the information requested by the leasing office, but now it says that the lease was electronically signed by both of us. Since we denied signing the “updated” version at the property manager’s request we find this very peculiar. From my understanding, if anyone in the office updated and “signed” our names electronically that is potentially grounds for forgery and a breach of contract. I live in South Carolina and have reviewed the tenant/landlord codes, but I cannot find anything that pertains to this particular situation. Hiring an attorney is very expensive, and just a consultation is several hundred dollars. I know there is something wrong with all of this. What can I do? This is such a peculiar situation. Has anyone else been through this before?
Topic:
Landlord Tenant Housing

Answer:
 Leases survive the sale of property. They have to honor the lease you signed and cannot change it.

They can not enforce a lease you haven’t signed.

I recommend you find a lawyer to write them a letter.Answer #2: What has changed between the original lease you did sign and the new lease you didn't sign?

While what they did is illegal (forgery), it might not be worth making an issue of it if nothing material has changed. Are the lease terms are all the same and all they did was add in the dog information?

Personally, I would at the very least confront someone in the front office as it is sketchy behavior but that might not be the best move for you.


Title: Am I on the phone with the fbi

Question:
Someone called me and told me that my ssn was attached in a worldwide transaction of some kind. Currently on the phone with the fbi. He gave me an ID but they are telling me to get gift cards and such . Idk and I’m nervous
Topic:
Other Civil Matters

Answer: No it’s a scam


Title: SC- Update About Hotel Stay- Charged A Different Rate Than Agreed Upon- Now Says Forged Document Is My Signature

Question:
Okay, this is kinda getting out of hand.  Thank you for all the people who helped in the discussion.  I posted [here] (https://www.reddit.com/r/legaladvice/comments/2urwbj/sc_stayed_over_a_month_at_a_hotel_for_a_job/) a couple of days ago.

This particular incidence was already disputed through my credit card company, but just in the past day come to find out, they reversed my credit because the hotel produced a receipt with "MY" signature.

Basically a TL:DR, Booked a week at a hotel through Hotwire, employee says extend your stay you will be charged a total of X Amount, paid X Amount once a week for 5 weeks continuously, on the 6th week I was charged more, asked to pay (200.00+ MORE for the week) or GTFO days earlier than my checkout.  Also told several reasons why I was charged a different amount.  Decided to leave hotel for another, never authorized or signed a receipt for that amount over X Amount, now they told Visa I did and produced a fake document.

What should I do?  I am already speaking to the credit card company, but how does a business think they can forge my signature and I would be okay with that?  Plus, they did have a 5 earlier signatures to go off of, so is this going to make me look like a liar or have consequences to me?  It makes no sense if I signed them I would call when I noticed the charged an then dispute it.

I'm just stressed and have never had this happen.  Thank you ahead for any input you have to give (I'm open to ideas on other ways to deal with this than just my credit card company).

Answer: Just tell the credit card company what happened and have them ask for the previous 5 signatures.  Also volunteer to offer more signature samples.


Title: My [42F San Diego CA] Daughter [16F] doesn’t want to return home after visiting Non-custodial father [42M] in Houston Texas

Question:
My daughter [16F] who decided that she doesn't want to come back after a visit to her dad. I am a sole custodial parent @ 98%. Her father wasn't much around for her as much as I would like him to.
Once she turned 10, I would send her to Houston to visit her Dad. I always tell her that no matter what comes out of it he will always be her father and should love and respect him.

This year my daughter and I started having issues. She started to act out badly. She always talks back regardless of what I have to say. With no respect at all. At one unpleasant event I got so frustrated with her I said something mean which I wish I could take back. She recorded the argument when was expressing my anger and frustration and now she is using it against me. She showed Dad and said this is why I don’t want to go back.

I tried to talk to her father and ask if he can help talking with her. He said, " I don't want to help you. I honestly don't give a shit about you. I'm only going to help my daughter." Basically everything I say they twist them around. Both my daughter and her father talked to me like they have been coaching each other what to say. Now all she says to me, " I hate you and your entire family." Very unfortunate she said that about being my family. my family had helped me raise her while her father had neglected her. If it wasn’t for them I wouldn't be able to put a roof over both our heads.

I am expecting her return 7/16. I have a reference to a family attorney. What are all options?

tl;dr: Daughter doesn’t want to return home after visiting Non-custodial father in Texas. Father is not helping to improve the situation.

Crossposted from /r/relationships

Answer:
 If your daughter would like, she can address the court and attempt to have the custody arrangement modified. As she's over the age of 14, her wishes will be taken into consideration. If she has a video that paints you in a negative light, you're correct in assuming that it will likely be used against you.

You should reach out to your family attorney and plan on how to deal with an attempt at custody modification or how to handle the situation if she doesn't return as scheduled.


Title: I loaned a friend some money (totalling about $3,500) and they are now refusing to pay me back but without having them sign a contract before hand can I pursue this legally ? I have text messages proving where they said they would pay me back on a particular date in which they didn't. (Va)

Question: This person also has a legal history of breaking and entering as well as larcency after breaking and entering which I didn't think much of at the time because they were young and I had thought they learned their lesson. I am still in the process of researching some of the details but I may or may not be able to prove that they lied about some of the reasons in which they said they needed the money. One of which being lieing about a family member's death. What should I do because I know if I take the legal route with court costs, lawyers and such would it be worth it ? Or would I even stand a chance of it ending in my favor ?

Answer:
 The small claims ceiling in Virginia is $5,000, so assuming you're over the age of 18, you can sue this friend in small claims court to recover the $3,500. The absence of a formal written contract will not bar you from recovering the money you lent your friend.

You won't be allowed to have a lawyer represent you in court, so fees won't be an issue for that part of the case, but you might want to consider retaining one to assist you with the filing process and drafting the complaint. Costs associated with that representation will vary based on the lawyer you retain, so I can't speculate there.

Filing fees will be minimal (not more than a couple hundred dollars) as compared with what you stand to recover.

Whether it's worth pursuing is up to you. [Here's](http://www.courts.state.va.us/resources/small_claims_court_procedures.pdf) some information from the Virginia government about the state's small claims procedures, in case you'd like to learn more. Good luck!


Title: Is it legal to harm or injure an escaping thief who stole from your shop?

Question:
I am one of the employees of this grocery shop and there have been a couple of times where a person came in, took a soda or a drink, looked like he/she was about to go up to the cash register but instead ran of while hollering like an idiot. The only way I can catch up is by throwing an item that may cause them to fall over, with the chance that they will be injured in the process. Is this legal? (NSW Australia) Thx :)
PS. I don't actually want to harm the person or throw anything but I just need to know.

Answer: No that is not legal. You should just report it to the boss and/or police. Hopefully you have CCTV in your store.


Title: Threats during divorce

Question: My brother is divorcing his wife.  She has told him many via text and phone call that if he does not sign the separation agreement her lawyer drew up and if he gets his own lawyer to look over the papers  she will call the police and claim he has beaten her (which is not true as he is unwilling to even be in the same room with her without a 3rd party present) They have 2 children together so completely blocking her is impossible.  I feel this is extortion...what can be done to protect himself?

Answer: He hires his own attorney who can tell her to knock it off and fight for fair custody and divorce


Title: Tenant "forgot" to alert us to leaking pipe; house is now a disaster. x-post from r/landlord

Question:
To begin with, I am consulting my personal lawyer about this issue, so I've got that going for me. However I'm wondering if any other landlords have been confronted with a similar issue and how you handled it.

I'm in Massachusetts.

Our tenant moved in to the 2nd floor of our 2-family home in January 2014. My husband, toddler and I live on the first floor. Things ran pretty smoothly; she was late with the rent once of twice but always was very apologetic and I was lenient, didn't charge her a late fee or anything.

About 1.5 weeks ago my husband returned home after work to discover the house completely flooded. Our ceilings were caving in, the light fixtures were falling down, the basement had at least 5 inches of water. Determining that the water was coming from the second floor, I called our Tenant to alert her that we'd be entering her apartment to stop the flooding, to which she responded "Oh I'd meant to tell you a few days ago that I noticed a pipe leaking, so I put a bucket underneath it." Sure enough, the pipe that she neglected to tell us was leaking was the main hot water pipe for her unit, it had burst and was pumping gallons of water through her unit, our unit, and our basement. The house is unlivable.

The only proof I have of her bucket trying to catch the water is in photos/video I took while the flood was happening.

The stairwell and landing to her apartment need to be ripped out, dried out and replaced, as does the floor in her bedroom. Our kitchen, bathroom, foyer, and dining room are all gutted. Floors removed, walls removed, ceilings removed. We are staying in a hotel for at least 2 months and are currently waiting for insurance advance to come through.

She's asking for a refund on her last month's rent now, and I'm wondering if we do, in fact, owe her anything as she neglected to alert us to the leaking pipe, which could have let us avoid this whole mess. Our insurance should give us $700 to refund her (her monthly rental payment was $1100- she moved in with first month's rent plus $500 security)...but does she have any responsibility here? Her belongings are still in the house while she looks for other housing, so we can't move forward with demo until she is out. We have given her notice that she must vacate asap, or within 30 days.

Interested to hear your thoughts.

Answer: In Massachusetts, the last month's rent you collect can only be used for the rent for the last month a tenant lives in the apartment. It's rent money, not a deposit. You owe her the money. You may be able to sue her for any damage that is her fault, but the rent is money that is earmarked only for rent.


Title: [FL]Someone tried to kidnap my dog

Question: [removed]

Answer:
 >I don't use collars because he's a show dog and I don't want to destroy the contours

Sounds like irresponsible dog owning to me.  Have you checked with your town by-laws to see if the dog is required to display identification on his collar?  Be registered with the town?  Just because its a "show dog" does not mean you have the ability to skirt the law.  Does this "show dog" have a chip implanted in him?

**edit:  Out of curiosity- how are in the world are you properly training a German Shepard of show quality without using (at minimum) some kind of collar?  I am guessing you are not since it has already broken free from the yard you left it in.  Just an FYI, this is incredibly stupid and risky on your part.  Those are a large and aggressive breed if not trained properly.  What would happen if it bit someone the next time it escapes?  How are you controlling it's behavior if you have no way to control the animal itself?


Title: Fiance Bought A "Garage Kept" Car

Question:
My fiance's Scion TC went kaputt, and we were in desperate need of a new car. We found a 2007 Mitsubishi Eclipse with under 90,000 miles that the dealer agreed seemed "garage kept" with how pristine it appeared (no rust at all, tires looked great, etc) for just under $5,000. We test drove it, and bought it that. Again, we were really hurting for a new car because our schedules do not line up at all and we both work/attend school in completely different parts of the state. There was no warranty, but it seemed like a decent bet and we both felt good about the car.

First issue with the car occured less than a week after having it. It would overheat so bad it couldn't be driven for more than 5 minutes at a time. Figured out it was the head gasket, and after 2 weeks in the garage and $2,116 later we thought we were in the clear. Now, the AC/heat/radio/entire center unit has stopped working. The transmission is failing to the point it is unsafe to drive as it lurches forward dangerously when you apply the gas.

We have nooo money. I'm a college student and intern, he works as a manager at a sandwich restaurant. We can't buy another because we still have the loan on this car that we haven't even had for a month and can no longer be driven. We can't just get it fixed because we have noooo money, all of it went into buying this car and fixing the head gasket.

I know we are basically screwed because there was no warranty - sold As Is, but we are so desperate I am looking anywhere for advice. Is it possible to sue the dealer for financial damage compensation, or even just emotional damage compensation? Or is there anything legally that can send a few bucks our way?

Answer: Unfortunately, you're pretty much out of luck. You bought the car as-is and without a warranty in a state with no "buyer's remorse" law. Maybe if you could conclusively prove the car had major mechanical problems that the seller didn't disclose you could have grounds to sue. But that's a tough thing to prove on a vehicle with 90K miles on it, even if it's clean. And it's likely the cost of bringing the suit would be more than you could recover.


Title: (CA) What evidence do I need to report a doctor for fake medical exemption vaccine waivers?

Question:
My boss has gone full wootard and has decided to stop vaccinating her son because "fear mongering will not stop this mama bear from protecting her baby" and there was a bunch of "MONKEY AND COW DNA AND AUTISM" sprinkled on top for flavor. I've been following the comments section in fascination and disgust and she complains that she pays out of pocket monthly for some membership to a doctor's office that gives out medical waivers like candy (I might be embellishing with that, but it's what she implied.)

I want to report this doctor's office because I'm pretty fucking sure that's illegal, but what kind of evidence do I need to file a report, and who to? Or am I completely wrong and a doctor can do this indiscriminately? I plan on asking her the name of the doctor and saying it's for my sister who doesn't want to vaccinate but doesn't want to home school, but I don't know what to do with that information from there.

I'm not really concerned about her finding out it was me if everything turns out the way I've idealized it in my head, it's just a minimum wage job at a bullshit organic food place and honestly I'm toying with the idea of putting in my 2 weeks and citing "loss of confidence in leadership" as my reasoning (I'm sure that sounds cooler in my head) I just don't want a fucking doctor to get away with this shit.

Thanks for reading.

Answer:
 > it's what she implied

You have absolutely nothing to go on but the word of someone you describe as having "gone full wootard." (Could you not? Like, could you pick a term for this that doesn't denigrate mental illness in the bargain?) Even if you knew the identity of the doctor involved, a complaint to the state medical board likely wouldn't go far.


Title: My Brother tricked my dad into signing guardianship of both of them now Mom is in assisted living and dad wants her back home (Alabama)

Question: My dad signed over guardianship of my mother and his estate to my brother. My brother immediately had my mother admitted to long term care. My father had no idea what he wS signing. I was helping my dad care for my mom before he had her admitted.now my brother has control over everything and won’t let my dad bring her back home. I am really afraid he will sell my dad’s house and try to admit him in an assisted living out of town. Yes, my parents have money which my brother now controls. I want to bring my mom back home so they can be together for whatever time they have left. I need some advice fast.

Answer:
 The only guidance I can offer is talk to an elder law attorney.

The [Alabama state bar](https://www.alabar.org/for-the-public/need-legal-help/) has an attorney referral service.  Good luck.Answer #2: Just curious, what does your brother say he is trying to do?

Your dad and mom need a lawyer so either your parents cancel the guardianship or give it to you since you say you are actually taking care of them.  Answer #3: Contact the [Adult Protective Services](http://www.dhr.alabama.gov/services/Adult_Protective_Services/Adult_Protective_Services.aspx) and see if they can help.Answer #4: You can not sign over the guardianship of another party to a 3rd party. If your dad was the huardian then that's not transferable.


Title: Got pulled over for speeding, cop searched my car for smelling weed, then got arrested over a fake ID.(Illinois)

Question:
[deleted]
Topic:
Drug Possession

Answer: Tell your lawyer the truthAnswer #2: Speeding with weed and a fake ID in the car. I sense bright things for your future. Talk to your attorney and nobody else.  What kind of a deal you are offered depends on the prosecutor.


Title: If somebody calls the cops on you for something you didn't do, is it considered running from police to just ignore it and mosey on?

Question:
On the top of /r/TookTooMuch right now, there's a video of some woman being attacked by an invisible dog, to which she yells and claims it's this random guy's dog, who is on video not anywhere near her when she freaks out.

She starts yelling for cops and the video ends with "this is weird, I'm just gonna go"

Can you legally do that even if you did nothing wrong or should one wait for the cops to clear themselves first?

I imagine the one-sided story they'll hear won't help, but if you have proof of innocence when they come knocking, is it okay to have left the scene?

Answer:
 Unless you're actually being detained by the police, and in this situation unless I'm misunderstanding something the police aren't even present, you're free to walk away.

If the police come knocking, best not to answer any questions at all, as the time and the place to prove your lack of guilt (and the only place that it really matters) is in court, on your court date, with your attorney, in front of the judge (and possibly jury).  If you never get arrested and never charged with a crime and therefore never have to appear in court, all the better.  Usually in most scenarios where the police suspect you of a crime, the best way to begin to realize that outcome is by refusing to answer police questions.Answer #2: It doesn't matter if they call the cops or not, you are free to leave the area. You only have to stop if you are detained by the police.  I saw that video you are talking about, I would have hung around and gave the police the video so they have ticketed her for a false report, nuisance call or what ever it is the police would do to people who make up B/S and waste their time.


Title: Is it morally wrong to sue for financial gain?

Question:
I asked the legal advice forum for advice regarding suing a business owner for injuries sustained on his property. It can be argued that the injury was not the owners fault but the injured parties fault. However, legally, my understanding is that injuries on someone’s property can be sued for and covered by insurance. I worked in real estate and we had a tenant that sprained his ankle while walking in his yard because there was a mole hole. Doesn’t seem fair but it seems like that’s how the law goes.

So what are your thoughts on these situations? If I slip and fall from my own incompetence in some store and a lawyer tells me we can sue, why wouldn’t I? I probably wouldn’t do it if it meant putting someone out of business or really hurting the owner, but if they have insurance, isn’t that what it’s for?

Check my post history for more info on the situation I’m asking about, but I’m really confused why instead of getting actual advice, I’m being downvoted for the situation a family member is in. My sister almost died and while it’s true that part of the reason to sue is for financial gain, I also feel like maybe this will prevent someone else from being hurt in the future.

I keep thinking back to that case of the robber that fell through the skylight of the house he was robbing and successfully sued the owner. Fucked up and unfair but if that’s how the world/insurance works.... well why not take advantage?

I don’t know. I’m just rambling and trying to get others’ opinions is all. I’m open minded and would like to be educated and change my mind if that’s where it leads. Happy holidays all!!

Answer:
 >Fucked up and unfair but if that’s how the world/insurance works...well why not take advantage?

I think you answered your own question. Taking advantage of a flawed system so somebody else can pay for your own bad luck is unethical.


Title: Live in Indiana, am a 20 year old male, almost 18 year old female friend has stated a desire to enter a sexual relationship with me, what do I need to worry about?

Question: I turned 20 in February , she turns 18 in July. She's a senior in high school about to graduate and wishes to have a friends with benefit relationship, involving everything outside of actual sexual intercourse. The age of consent is 16 in Indiana, but I'm not very well educated in matters such as this, so if her parents were to find out that her and I are partaking in sexual acts, can they take any sort of action against me? What is the worst they can do if they don't like what we're up to?

Answer:
 She's over the age of consent, and you're within the Romeo and Juliet boundaries in Indiana anyways. This is legal. Don't share any nude or pornographic images though.

>What is the worst they can do if they don't like what we're up to?

They can't do anything legally. However, if she is still in their home or receiving their aid, all of that can be cut off. She could face repercussions from her parents.


Title: Is it illegal to sell a product if it was made using copyrighted parts?

Question: Ex: You make an RC car using motors from some other company. Is that infringment? Ive tried searching but i cant seem to get an answer. I live in Texas btw.

Answer:
 First, copyright protects creative expression, not functional stuff.  For the most part.

Second, what you are looking for is "patent infringement".

Third, it depends on what the patent covers.  If it's the motor itself, then the "first sale doctrine" or "exhaustion doctrine" mean you get rights to use the motor for whatever once you buy it.  If the patent covers making an R/C car using that type of motor, then assembling the car with that type of motor IS infringement, because the patent doesn't cover the motor, it covers "car with motor", and you've just "made, used, sold, imported, etc." a patented item.

So, it depends.


Title: Getting really expensive medication (five figures per box) shipped to an iffy neighborhood

Question:
MD.

I'm starting an extremely expensive long-term medication regimen.  This med is only available via mail order, but I live in a slightly sketchy area and packages have been stolen off of my porch before.  I work full time and can't take a day off every month to sign for it.  I can't get packages shipped to my workplace, and my SO's is reluctant to deal with liability issues from something so expensive.  I'd also hate to ask a neighbor to take such a risk.

How do I safely get my medication?  Preferably in a way that isn't inconvenient or requires people other than the delivery company to be legally responsible for it?

Answer:
 Get a post office box/box at a UPS store?Answer #2: Get a post office or UPS store box?

E: or could it be shipped to a chain pharmacy and held for you to pick up? Answer #3: If you sign up for the free UPS my choice service, you can redirect shipments to be delivered to the closest UPS store and pick them up there at no additional charge. FedEx has something similar.Answer #4: UPS Stores have mailboxes you can rent, and so do US Post Offices.


Title: Husband arrested and charged with strangulation. (Pennsylvania)

Question:
So, truly asking for a friend. Husband and wife arguing, neighbors call police and when the cops turn up they arrest the husband as the wife has red marks around her neck from where he grabbed her. I have seen the photos and there is no bruising or other injuries. Husband removed from the home and there is a no contact order in place. He just graduated law school and was about to sit the bar exam - I am under the impression that if he is convicted of a felony he can't be admitted to the bar, is this correct?
My other questions pertain to the wife - she is not pursuing charges, the police are. The husband's family has been supporting the two of them while he was at law school, (rent etc.), since this has happened she has been cut off from the husband and his family. The rent hasn't been paid and the father in law has said he will not contribute another cent to the marriage. The wife doesn't work and has no financial resources. There are no divorce papers filed as yet, she doesn't want a divorce and the husband is holed up with his family so who knows what he wants to do. What are her options for financial support? I don't see how she can file for spousal support if they are not getting a divorce...

Answer: Please advocate to your friends to get away for him. Strangulation is the most important sign that a man is thinking of killing his spouse. More than beating. Please get her out of there.


Title: Prescription being withheld

Question: So I got orthopedic surgery yesterday to fix a problem with my Ulnar nerve. I'm 19 years old and I'm living at home in Delaware. I was prescribed Percocets for the pain but my mother refuses to fill my prescription claiming that its "too addictive". What is the legality of this and how best should I go about getting my prescription?

Answer:
 You're legally an adult. Your mom can't legally *withhold* your prescription. That doesn't mean she *has* to fill that prescription or pay for it, however. It also doesn't mean she has to keep supporting you at *all*. So, it's going to be a question of whether or not it's a battle you really want wage with your mother.Answer #2: You're legally an adult. Either get your mother to fork over the prescription, or see if the Dr can cancel the old one and write you personally a new one. Answer #3: Your mother does not have to fill your prescription as you are a legal adult.

She may not keep it from you, though. She needs to allow you to get it filled if you have a way to get there and money. However, u/Internet_Ghost is absolutely correct, and she does not have to continue supporting you in any other way.

The other problem is your remedy if she refuses to give it to you is to call the police. On your mother. Who is concerned you might get addicted to a highly addictive drug, not just being mean to you so you suffer. Your surgeon may be willing to replace the prescription, but not usually for this type of medication, especially not without a police report.

So it is negotiate with mom or use advil.


Title: Malpractice lawsuit abandoned, plaintiff committee think surgeon can do no wrong. Need advice

Question:
Hello! I apologize for the wall of text, but this has been such a frustrating and defeating experience. Thanks for any advice in advance. TL;DR at the bottom.

I'm a 23 year old girl who has a condition called Fibrous Dysplasia. I had a surgery in Oct 2016 to remove a tumor from my right humerus (I am right-handed). I woke up from the surgery and let my nerve block wear off, only to realize that my wrist, hand, and fingers were completely non-functional. I had no sensation from the back of my hand all the way up my right arm. I went to the ER a week after the procedure where they did an MRI. The results of the MRI were that my radial nerve was entrapped (something I did not know until we requested the records a year later). The ER doctor told me that I had little to no chance of ever gaining use back if my doctor did not intervene.

I went to my post-op appointment with my surgeon a week later and he told me that it must be attributed to swelling and that I would see improvements in 3 to 4 weeks. My mother and I asked my surgeon to go over the ER MRI with us as per request from the ER doctor, and he said he already looked it over and that it was just swelling.

We went to see a neurologist mid-Novemeber 2016 to get an EMG done. The results said that my radial nerve was completely out and that I had a severe radial nerve palsy. My neurologist put in his notes that my surgeon needed to intervene and that it could be a year before I would see even slight improvement.

Meanwhile, my mom and I also asked my surgeon if he had any recommendations for physical or occupational therapists as I was only 21 at the time, right handed, working full-time, and going to school full-time. He said he had no-one and to just pick someone and he would provide a script. On the script, all he put was to focus on getting my elbow and shoulder un-stiff from the immobilization after the surgery. When my physical therapist called him to confirm that that was all he wanted (as my right hand and wrist were not working) he said to ignore my nerve and focus just on my elbow and shoulder.

We saw my surgeon again for 3 months post-op and it was about a 5 minute appointment where he told me it was still just swelling, even though I was losing more feeling and my other nerves were getting weaker making my right arm completely useless. My mom and I asked him if we could do an exploratory surgery to try and find out what was wrong. He said no, it's "too messy in there" and it wouldn't help. He told me to get another EMG and he would see me again in 2 months. We got the second EMG and the results were the same, except this time my neurologist told me that it was going to be a much longer recovery process than he originally thought as there were no improvements.

We saw my surgeon again in March of 2017 where he called another surgeon during my appointment. He told the surgeon that I had surgery 5 months ago and have a severe radial nerve palsy and my mom and I could hear the other surgeon and his exact words were "she should have seen me months ago." My surgeon told me to get one more EMG and if the results were the same, he would refer me to another surgeon to do a tendon transfer surgery.  We got the third EMG and results were the same, except the results were looking more permanent. My neurologist told me I would most likely never have use of my arm again without surgical intervention.

My surgeon got the results, referred me to the new surgeon, and then left his practice. My new surgeon referred me to an awesome occupational hand therapist where I started intensive physical therapy to prepare for a tendon transfer surgery. A month and a half went by and my new surgeon didn't understand why/how my arm was still so weak and non-functional if my other surgeon had not done anything wrong. So, in September of 2017, my new surgeon did an exploratory surgery where we found that my radial nerve had been entrapped in a fracture in my humerus and almost completely severed. He had to scrape out a chunk of my radial nerve and reattach the ends of the nerve using a nerve tube.

This is when we started looking for a lawyer, but we faced extreme difficulty finding someone who did not have a conflict of interest as all of them work closely with my first surgeon. We finally found a lawyer who did not have a conflict of interest and she started working on my case. They finally found an expert who did not have a conflict of interest either who was willing to certify the case. They took the case to their case committee one last time before filing, only to be told that they were no longer going to pursue my case. Their reason being that my surgeon was "too good of a surgeon and person" and that they would never find anyone willing/able to go against him.

I had the tendon transfer surgery in May of this year, but the results are very slow going and not looking extraordinarily promising right now.

I am an expecting mother and I'm at a loss as to what to do. I am aware that the statute of limitations says that I only have two years from the time of injury to file a case and that leaves me with only two months from now to file. We just found out today after a year of working with this lawyer that they cant pursue it any longer.

I can provide additional details upon request.

TL;DR -

Right-handed, now expecting mother had a surgery back in 2016 where right arm function was cut off. Found out it was due to radial nerve being entrapped in a fracture. Surgeon ignored advisement from ER doctors and neurologists and did not want to go in to find cause. Referred to another surgeon 8 months later by original surgeon who found out injury was due to entrapped radial nerve in humerus fracture. Original surgeon left practice after referral. Lawyer worked on case for a year, but case committee thinks surgeon is too good to have made a mistake and will no longer pursue case two months before statute of limitations expires.

Answer: You can search for an alternative attorney to represent you. Before you do so you may wish to contact your previous lawyer and see if they can clarify for you why they withdrew representation.


Title: Neighbor is slandering me because of my girlfriend's appearance

Question: Hi legaladvice. My girlfriend has a medical condition called panhypopituitarism that stunted her development and as a result she maintains the size and appearance of a 13 year old girl, despite being 24 years old. My next door neighbor is a stay at home mom with a teenage daughter, and every time I see them out together she clutches her daughter close and gives me a dirty look. She acts like a teenager despite being in her 40s. Recently I found out that she's been telling the neighbors I'm a pedophile and to keep their kids away from me. This is especially bad because I'm a middle school teacher, these kinds of rumors could cost me my job. Or worse. I also suspect she's the neighbor who called the cops and CPS on me not long after I moved in. I'd like to sue her, but really I'd love to make sure she can't spread these rumors anymore without facing some kind of legal repercussion. We live in California.

Answer: She does look 13 and you are attracted to her though... correct? And you are a middle school teacher who teaches children around 13 years old.. correct? Not judging as Im sure it is legal but you can probably see how on the outside it appears a little strange.


Title: Does anyone know what the laws are of tinting the tail lights of your vehicle?

Question: I have my tail lights tinted on my car and have a third brake light along the back window that isn't tinted. I was pulled over and told my tail lights are illegal and wasn't told what the law is behind it. I live in Minnesota so it may vary from state to state. Can someone please help me? Id rather not have to remove $50 in tint if it's not illegal.

Answer:
 IANAL but why tint your tail lights in the first place? All you are doing is reducing visability to the rear of your vehicle. Answer #2: Vehicle lighting is regulated by federal standards that states have incorporated into their own laws.  These standards include certain brightness requirements for brake lights and tail lights that tinted brake and tail lights cannot meet with standard bulbs.  Remove the stupid tint and pay the ticket.

Just FYI, if you have tinted brake lights and someone rear ends you, you can be found partially or completely at fault due to your intentional reduction of your car's visibility.  Either way you create an absolute mess for yourself when dealing with insurance if that happens.


Title: I got a ticket for going 82 on the freeway. Can I contest it?

Question:
State is California. Speed limit was 65.

The cop was a total dick, EVERYONE goes 80 on the freeway. Everyone else was doing about 75-80 when the cop pulled me over.

Answer: The law is the law, regardless of if anyone else follows it. You knew the limit was 65 and you sped regardless. Using the other drivers speed will not be a successful defence for your ticket.


Title: Minnesota-Is this possible animal neglect?

Question:
My wife and I live in a town home complex and our neighbors a few doors down have adopted a very cute, sweet, and obedient Chihuahua puppy who is now about 4 months old. She has a habit of escaping the house, often without her collar, and is at the point she recognizes us and comes to either of us when called, to which we play with/pet/spoil her before returning her home.

Here's where my potential question comes in: Often times when we return her home, the owners seem relatively indifferent that she's gotten out nor have I even seen them looking for her when she has gotten out and her conditions outside are a bit concerning (One day she had gotten loose from her tie out chain on a 93 degree day and I didn't see a water dish in sight for her). She seems well fed, but is that the end all be all for neglecting an animal? I'm concerned for the day she does get out and neither my wife nor I nor her owners see her and she meets an unfortunate end.

TL;DR: Does indifference constitute neglect?

Answer:
 It's unlikely to constitute "neglect" but I'm willing to bet your county has some sort of ordinances in place about letting dogs wander freely

Next time it's loose don't return it to the owners either call Animal Control or take the dog to the nearest pound yourself. Usually it only takes one or two times having to pay the release fee for people to either realise they shouldn't let their dogs wander or that dog ownership isn't for them


Title: If I work for cash under the table, does my boss actually have to pay me?

Question:
Hey y’all, first time poster here.

So basically, I work at this bar. Myself and the other employees here work for tips, and we make cash under the table as our “paycheck”.
Normally, we would get paid every week for our “paycheck”.
But it’s very dependent on business.
Recently business has been slow and we haven’t been getting our regular pay. We are currently about 4 weeks behind, so the backpay is building up. Any questions to ownership about it is met with either no answers, or just “we’re working on it, gotta get busy.”

So my question is: Do they legally have to pay us? Should we just cut our losses and find other jobs? I’m tired of working here and not getting paid but at the same time, I don’t wanna exactly walk away from all the money I’m owed.

Thank y’all!
Topic:
Employment Law

Answer:
 Yes, he must pay you, and you may file a wage claim.

Be aware that just because he is paying you "under the table", which means he's not reporting your income, and probably making mandated deductions, that you are still responsible for reporting and paying your own income tax.

Just because he may be violating the law doesn't mean that you should.


Title: Her boyfriend denies that she’s pregnant with his kid.

Question:
So, my friend is in a very complicated situation right now. She caught her boyfriend cheating a little over a month ago, and about a week after that she finds out she’s close to 3 months pregnant with his baby. She has no doubt that he’s the dad because she hasn’t slept with anyone besides him.

He’s currently living with another girl, she’s 21 and he’s only 19. She knows that he smokes pot, drinks, and is just making overall bad decisions and she’s come to the conclusion that she doesn’t want him in the baby’s life. He has made absolutely no effort to contact her, and when she reaches out to him he completely ignores her. Her friends also sent some ultrasound pictures to him and the new girlfriend because he didn’t believe she was pregnant at all, and he threatened to find out where this friend lived and curb stomp her teeth out (has text messages as evidence).

What are some legal actions she can take once the baby is born to either make him have absolutely no custody, to very little? (We live in Nebraska.)
Topic:
Custody Divorce and Family

Answer:
 > she’s come to the conclusion that she doesn’t want him in the baby’s life.

That isn't necessarily her choice.

> What are some legal actions she can take once the baby is born to either make him have absolutely no custody, to very little?

She can file for custody. That is it.

It is unlikely that anything you've stated will stop him from getting custody if he wants custody.

He doesn't have to have anything to do with your friend. He owes her nothing. He does not need to say another single word to her until court if he doesn't want to.


Title: My sister left the family two years ago but her name is on the house, can we sell it?

Question:
So two years ago my little sister decided that she wanted to move away and cut off contact with all of her friends and family to go live with her boyfriend. This is not out of character and we all expected it to happen one day.

The issue is when my mom bought the house she put 7 or 10 percent under my sisters name because that’s who was living with her at the time. When my sister left I moved in to help pay my moms bills (I couldn’t afford to pay for two separate sets of bills). Now my mom and I are thinking of selling the house and moving but we’re not sure if we can because of the part that is in my sisters name.

We’re in Florida, have tried to contact her via email and phone and have tried to contact the numbers of the people we know she moved up there with with no result.

Thank you for your help!

Answer: If your sister's name is on the deed, you can't sell the house without her permission or an order of the court. Answer #2: Hire a lawyer.  The lawyer will know either how to locate her or how (if she truly can not be located) you can get a court order to sell the house legally.    Your sister’s portion of the proceeds would be probably be held in trust for some time after the sale, as well.  You can ask the court for some costs of looking for her and hiring an attorney to be deducted from your sister’s portion, too.


Title: [CO]Company Threatened Claims against me if I do not settle

Question:
I have a pending wage complaint against my former employer. It has been over 2 years in the works but I have been ruled in favor of during the initial claim, plus the first appeal that they made. Now it is being appealed in the CO court of appeals.

 I recently received a settlement offer from the attorney representing my former employer. It was pretty predatory in nature (ie I owe them $5k for each instance of breaching their non-disclosure agreement), and it was only for 75% of what they have already been found to owe me. In the email from the attorney it also stated "As part of the settlement, Xxxxxx Company is also willing to release all claims against you arising from your employment.  While I will not get into detail here, Xxxxxx Company believes that it has several claims against you arising from overpayment of commissions and your failure to follow pricing and other sales procedures during your employment."

 A few questions arise from this proposed settlement. The first is whether it is legal to threaten to essentially sue me if I do not accept the predatory offer? The second is whether there is a statute of limitations on monetary claims vs former employees? It has been over two years, but I cannot seem to find any details through searches on that one.

 I have sought the aid of legal representation but have not yet been able to have a meeting about my case. I fear that if things progress the way my former company intends to take it I will be tied up in court and legal fees defending myself for who knows how long. Any info greatly appreciated. Thanks!

Answer:
 > The first is whether it is legal to threaten to essentially sue me if I do not accept the predatory offer?

Yes.  This is a negotiation.  They are offering to waive all claims in exchange for a settlement.  This is extremely common.

The SoL here would be between three and six years.


Title: [Stockton, CA] School selling Adventure Time "merchandise" for charity, is this even legal?

Question:
A local high school near me was doing a swapmeet/fleamarket/etc. on its premises, with the money going to charity for deaf/blind people, and one stall was selling Adventure Time merchandise, claiming it was official, with Finn and Jake-branded T-shirts, a Lemongrab-printed t-shirts, and a swimsuit in white with Finn and Jake printed onto it. There was a stall selling "OFFICIAL PRINTED ADVENTURE TIME SWIMWEAR. PRINTED HERE IN <HIGH SCHOOL>. 100% ENDORSED BY CARTOON NETWORK."

There were even vibrators, a PVC bikini and PVC clothing with the Adventure Time logo on, not sure if this was even legal.

I've seen enough photos of this event on Facebook and some of the stall, the stall itself was popular, but expectation-of-privacy laws don't apply in school car park do they? or at least the school grounds.

The stallholder, a woman in her 30s, said she ran an Etsy store as the main business, but this was a side thing.

Googling for "official Adventure time swimwear" didn't find too much, apart from a brand called Milk doing it, so how does a high school like this get away with it?

Me and my wife are wondering if this is even legal, and what grounds would Adventure Time's producers have to sue the school?

I posted this here rather than /r/adventuretime since it relates to a legal question.

AFAIK, the items are still on sale, seen them in flea markets, would Cartoon Network do anything about this or it go unenforced, or could there be action done for fraud etc.?

I'm no legal eagle so seeking advice on this.

Answer: Is there nothing happening outside your kitchen window that you can stick your nose in Mrs. Kravitz? Do you really have this much free time that you can afford to give a shit about this?Answer #2: I don't understand.  What is your role in this?  Why do you care?


Title: NE Landlord Threatening to Tow My Car from My Own Driveway

Question:
I live in a house that shares our driveway with our neighbors, both houses owned by same landlord. We normallu share the driveway equally, 3 cars from each house on each side. Property line extends past our half of driveway but other tenants dont complain. Landlord is now, without prior notice, threatening to tow our cars from the driveway if more than 1 car is there. We have used the driveway for 2 years, no stipulations for its use in the lease. Can my landlord legally have my car towed from my own driveway, despite the fact that its not in violation of any law or lease provisions?

To clarify; there is no mention of parking or the driveway in our lease, and it's been used by our house for about 2 years without issue. This is the second time he's brought it up within the last 9 months, but first time was in march and we thought we resolved it.

If any additional info is needed let me know, I appreciate any and all input!

Thanks in advance

Answer:
 "It depends".  Your using it for two years, while not harming your claim, does not defeat the lease.

A lot will hinge on how your lease defines what exactly it is you are leasing.  Does it say "the entire property"?  Or something like "the premises located at 123 Mulberry St."?  Or "the first floor of my sex dungeon"?

Does the driveway lead anywhere (backyard?  garage?) Answer #2: Your lease terms will be important here, though many/most leases cover the use of the entire "four corners" of the leased property, so property lines will become a deciding factor. If the neighboring unit/property legally owns part of your normal parking space, LL may have some room to do as he threatens if your vehicles are overreaching. This needs a real world solution and not legal action (because it's not worth the trouble for anyone). Suggest he either mark out acceptable parking areas for each unit, modify the leases with that information, or let his tenants work it out themselves like adults.

**edit**
He may be getting cited by the city/HOA which is why it's suddenly become an issue. You are still bound by those rules as much as he, so try to find a mutually agreeable solution.


Title: Hypothetical question about Dexter

Question:
Hey, all. So I was watching the TV show Dexter when I came to the episode where the barrel girls are discovered. For those who don't watch the show, the barrel girls were girls who were kidnapped, tortured, and raped for weeks by a group of serial rapists before being murdered and placed in a barrel. The barrels were dumped in a swamp and there were 12 dead victims. After one girl escaped, the rapists decided to move the barrels. So far, the police have no idea about any of this. One of the rapists was moving a few barrels when he was hit by a drunk driver. Car flipped, barrels all over the road. The rapist runs away.  The police are now aware of the barrel girls.

Question: what would happen to the drunk driver in this case? If it wasn't for his decision to drive drunk, the case would never have been discovered. For all the police knew, the men would still be kidnapping and raping girls. Also, there were DVDs discovered of the men raping and torturing the girls. Would the drunk driver's lawyer have been able to use that in his defense?

Answer:
 There isn't a [defense of necessity](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Necessity) here; the driver wasn't intervening for the greater good.  The DA can decide to charge him with a DUI if they want to.  The driver's attorney could try to appeal to the DA's sense of gratitude, but I think it's unlikely for a DA to essentially pat the driver on the back and say "good job drunk driving that day".

Edit: My advice here is to skip the last season, or the last couple of seasons.

Answer #2: The drunk driver would be arrested and charged with drunk driving. "Accidentally discovered a serial killer" is not a recognized defense for drunk driving.Answer #3: There is something called prosecutorial discretion. As you can guess, that means prosecutors have discretion in which cases they prosecute. For example, someone trespassing on private property but finds someone injured, calls police and tries to help. The DA might say "we can let this one slide since you did a good deed." It isn't a defense, but as a defense attorney, you could try and negotiate using that fact as a bargaining chip.

In the Dexter scenario, you have an extremely drunk driver who was so intoxicated, he got in to an accident. He was committing a crime and could have easily hurt/killed someone. I don't see the DA dropping that DUI charge. Compare that to someone who decides to drive drunk to take someone to the hospital. There, you can see why a DA might say they won't prosecute the DUI.
Answer #4: No. "Maybe I solve a crime by breaking the law" is not a defense to breaking the law.