Title: Refused prenup, fiancé wont marry me and now I'm fighting for custody of my unborn child

Question:
My now EX fiancée makes a lot more money than me and comes from a good amount of family money. I'm 23, hes 29 and his parents wanted me to sign a prenup before our wedding in 3 months. His parents have bought us a house, car and are offering to pay off all my student loans once we are married so it doesn't weigh on their son. I have had lawyers look over the prenup and they basically said that its not the most fair thing ever but its fine. Basically it says that in the event of a divorce initiated by my fiancée he gets whatever he made, I get whatever money I made and I get spousal support from him in the amount of 25&#37; of my salary at the time (great ). However, in a divorce initiated by me NO MATTER THE CIRCUMSTANCE (ex my fiancée could cheat etc and I could divorce him but id be at fault in the prenup)  I do not get spousal support and I do not get custody AT ALL of the child we are adopting through a surrogate. normally prenups cant cover future kids BUT since we have started the process and are waiting just on the childs birth, my lawyers say its fair game.

He is completely controlled by his parents. I forgot to add that I asked them to take the custody out and they said theyre willing to take the custody portion out if they can add the following instead: if I initiate divorce I ALSO OWE HIS PARENTS FOR HALF OF EVRYTHING THEYVE BOUGHT US, that means I owe them 2-3 million dollars. WTF. if I don't sign, I basically enter a legal battle for the kids custody with my fiancé and his parents which I cant win as they have more money and the parents run a legal firm. I feel stuck, in the past hour since ive posted my fiancé has made clear he will not marry me without the prenup. so my options are to sign, not sign and fight for custody or literally just give up.

I FORGOT TO MENTION THE CHILD IS BIOLOGICALLY HIS. we agreed the first kid would use his sperm and the second would use mine.

So this is my situation. I refused the prenup in its current form. his parents cancelled our wedding. they are currently taking me to family court to take me off the childs custody papers claiming that the kid is his (true biologically). I was petitioning to adopt the child as I cant do that before birth, he is due to be born in the next 3 months and I don't know what to do. My lawyers are telling me we can fight this but is there a point? They have more money and we don't have anything in writing other than me petitioning to adopt the child that is his.

Answer:
 The child is not biologically yours, and you have not acted as the role of its parent.  You have no legal claims to it.

Remove yourself from this situation as soon as possible.Answer #2: It sounds like these people expect you to just be a face and never really a part of the family. I'd take this chance to just leave, you have no biological ties to the unborn child and aren't married to the father, so I believe you'd have no recourse. If your husband doesn't care enough to stand up for you with his parents I'm not sure he's a very good person. Answer #3: Unless you have a strong contract stating otherwise, that unborn child is not yours :( Get a surrogacy lawyer to check into it for you to be sure, but I think you're fighting a losing battle.

And these people sound ruthless. Accepting the prenup & getting married will be no guarantee of happiness, stability, or even a second child using your sperm. Frankly I wouldn't be surprised if they prevented you from adopting the child, but that's just guesswork on my part.Answer #4: And if you do walk away, make sure to have *your* lawyer carefully read over anything related to the surrogacy. It seems as though they are trying to have you fully excluded, but you want to make sure they don't somehow have you responsible for child support.


Title: Was a victim of gay bashing, am now a victim of character assassination. (New York State)

Question: [deleted]

Answer:
 It sounds like you were the victim of a [hate crime](http://ypdcrime.com/penal.law/article485.htm).  Go back to the police and tell them that you want to file a new complaint because you were targeted for an assault based on your sexual orientation.

You can also sue your attacker for any damages you sustained.  Although civil suits are made much easier if there's a guilty verdict in a criminal matter stemming from the same incident.

[This page](http://manhattanda.org/resources-victims-or-witnesses-hate-crimes) appears to have the contact information to get in touch with the various hate crimes task forces in the state as well as some specific liasons for LGBT-related issues.  They can probably help you with your various options.

If you haven't done so already, document your injuries as best possible.  Photographs and medical reports will help immensely.


Title: Can someone do a review of an employee handbook I'm working on, or guide me to a service that will do it for relatively cheap?

Answer:
 You'll want to find an employment law attorney in your state and ask them.

Your state bar will have a recommendation service for attorneys who do that kind of work.

But it's beyond the scope of this sub.


Title: Hostile Work Environment: The Ballad of ASS and Witch-Hair

Question:
I work in a bar, and I recently had an issue with my boss. We'll call him Abominable Spineless Slimeball, or ASS for short. After I described my situation to a friend, he said it sounds like my boss has created a hostile work environment for me and that I could take legal action. I don't have any idea how to proceed, but I'd love some advice!

Here's a little background:

So, ASS texted me on Monday telling me that he would be taking my New Year's Eve shift and giving it to another bartender, whom we'll call Witch-Hair, even though I've worked the Monday shift for months. He then told me that since Witch-Hair will be taking that Monday shift, I will need to cover one of her other shifts so she doesn't get burnt out. I found this incredibly unfair. Witch-Hair gets every Fri&Sat shift and takes home significantly more money than any other employee, not to mention how distasteful it is to give away my work hours. I have been looking forward to the tips for that night since I took over Mondays back in July.

Over several days I tried texting him back, tried calling, tried leaving a voicemail, left him a note in the bank bag, and tried going in during my off-hours to catch him while he was working. He managed to dodge me completely for three days. He told one of the other staff there that he was leaving early to avoid me. He even told some of the regular customers about the situation.

When I reached out to Witch-Hair to figure out what was going on, I got the exact opposite treatment. Witch-Hair immediately responded and proceeded to berate me over text for several hours, and basically told me to go suck an egg. She even told me to cancel my holiday plans so I could cover one of her nights.

This is not the first time this kind of thing has happened. ASS has ignorned me before, hoping that some problem I bring to him will just go away. Witch-Hair has sent me bitchy texts over something as simple as me asking her to do her closing duties. In the past I've just dealt with it and found a solution on my own, but this problem has gotten to be too much for me to fix.

My friend said that my boss had created a hostile work environment by dodging me and sharing protected information with customers. I'm not sure what that actually means for me, or if that is even accurate. I've never worked a job that had an HR department, and I don't know how to address this problem with a boss who ignores me and a coworker who sends me nasty texts.

So I guess my question is, what legal recourse, if any, can be taken in this situation? Any advice on this situation specifically, or advice on how to deal with these sorts of issues in the future would be greatly appreciated.

Answer: Your friend is incorrect. That's not a hostile work environment and I don't see anything even remotely actionable in this story.


Title: I think my employer is harassing, discriminating against and singling me out. Is there any way to prove it? And if I can, who do I bring it to?

Question:
Here are some basic notes..

Work starts at 8am, so in other words everyone pulls into the parking lot at 8am. Sometimes people will pull in early, sometimes people will pull in late. There is one guy who has been 10 minutes late every sngle day since I've started. I was late 2 days over 2 weeks and was given a verbal warning (which somehow later changed to write up)

They have a strict keep your shirt tucked in policy which I follow. But in our line of work, we actually work so sometimes our uniforms come undone. On extremely rare occasions I go to the shop that way. Meanwhile, 2 other employees... have literally never tucked their shirts in. I was disciplined for this.

Boss says good morning to everyone but me.

Constantly hearing the word "Yankee" thrown around.

His wife, I kid you not, made gay jokes directed at me and I'm not even gay. Something about me wearing makeup.

My company truck was burgarlized and I was forced to pay for the stiolen goods. When it happened to another employee... you guessed it. On top of that I was only supposed to pay half but I ended up paying for all of it.

Any time anything goes wrong (even when it is one of the other technicians) I will be blamed for it.

The boss frequently (but still semi rarely) shows up with a gun tucked into the back of his pants.

Some history about me, I'm a quiet 30 year old man who keeps to himelf, and I enjoy the quieter things in life. I'm not a party person, I basically go to work, come home, and do what I enjoy. I am polite to every single person I ever met (Except for online of course /s) I constantly went out of my way to help these people and my fellow employees, but now I fear I am going to be fired from my job for a fake reason, and in addition to that there are so many more things I can list that would get him ruined with the EPA NCDEQ but as much as I now detest the guy, I don't want to leave him bankrupt and possibly in jail.

Anyway, is there an organization I can contact? I can easily document proof of all my claims if it will actually go anywhere.

Thanks guys, sorta getting a rant out as I ask my questions... I'm still flabbergasted by this.

Answer: Nothing you say is actionable. Bosses are allowed to treat employees differently


Title: [SW Missouri, Joplin Area] 20yo Girlfriend Overdosed, I believe her to be being mistreated

Question: [deleted]

Answer:
 Unfortunately your own post demonstrates why these facilities treat patients like liabilities rather than people.

Quality mental health and drug rehabilitation costs a lot of money. No offense to your girlfriend or you, but it doesn't sound like she's been taken to one of those expensive facilities.

They are likely doing everything their protocol calls for in order to stabilize her, but being non-cooperative and argumentative aren't going to help matters.

This isn't a spa. It's not even a drug rehab clinic dressed up as a spa. It's a mental health clinic in an economically depressed city.


Title: My ex is smoking marijuana around my 5 year old daughter, in Massachusetts is this illegal?

Question:
Every time I walk into the house there is weed and paraphernalia out in the open and the air is often clouded with smoke. This is in a house occupied by 4 people including my 5 year old daughter. Is my ex breaking any laws by potentially intoxicating my child or even just having drugs around her even though it’s legalized in this state?
Topic:
Custody Divorce and Family

Answer: Something doesn’t have to be illegal for those actions to be relevant to CPS or a judge deciding custody if that’s what you’re asking.


Title: friend 20 [m] getting ddos'ed every single day, cannot stop the person doing it

Question:
[Rhode Island]
Long story short this guy hates my friend and will DDOS his IP whenever he tries to do something on the computer.  He has been having this for 2+ weeks and cannot stop this.  We know where this person lives and his first and last name.  What can we do to stop and punish the man doing this?

Also he is harassing him and his girlfriend with death threats, saying he will commit suicide if they don't talk to him, just non stop harassment and it needs to stop this man is a psychopath.

Edit: Have proof in texts of the person texting my friend telling him he is DDOSing him.
Topic:
Computer and Internet

Answer:
 >Long story short this guy hates my friend and will DDOS his IP whenever he tries to do something on the computer.

Renew the IP. Might have to login to the ISPs account admin or call them up.

> We know where this person lives and his first and last name. What can we do to stop and punish the man doing this?

Report it to the relevant cybercrime unit for your police force.

>Also he is harassing him and his girlfriend with death threats, saying he will commit suicide if they don't talk to him

Oh that is even easier. Call non-emergency police/ambulance number and report him for a health and welfare check. He might even get involuntarily committed.


Title: People are accusing me of damaging their car door, what to do now? (NJ)

Question:
I was going to Walmart with my daughter when a car had just pulled up next to her, and she opened the door at that moment, and tapped the door to the other car. The driver was very aggressive about that, and screamed at us over it. He claims we damaged the door. I swear when I say this, that there was nothing done to the door, not even a scratch.

He forced us to stay in the parking lot (ie blocked our path) then called the police. The police inspected the car, saw no damage, shrugged, and recommended to the driver of the other car to not file a report. He argued with the police over it and demanded I exchange insurance info. I did it and felt confident nothing would come of it since there was nothing wrong with the door. I wanted to take pictures of the door but the driver didn't let me and the police told me I couldn't photograph it without his permission.

A few days later, I was informed that there was $143 dollars of damage to the car, and it had a huge dent. I have a feeling he damaged his own door to commit fraud. I called the PD for the area of that Walmart but no report was filed for the incident. I forgot the names of the officers who went that day.

My insurance premium is already through the roof over an accident I had in 2013 that I was found to be at fault for, this might make the insurance unaffordable for me. What can I do now?

Edit: I forgot to mention that the driver's wife was there, though she didn't really do anything except sit in their car and text.
Topic:
Traffic and Parking

Answer:
 Who informed you of the $143? The driver? Have you talked to your insurance at all yet? It sounds like you're trying to do what you pay them to do. If you contact them, they will investigate the incident on your behalf. Ultimately, if found at fault, you don't have to go through them to pay the driver the $143, thus your rates won't change.  That was the case when my twin backed into my truck and left a dent. At any rate, there are complications with up and giving people money without involving insurance, like the driver later asking for more money or denying they've been given any money at all. There are ways to navigate the decision to pay out of pocket, which you'd want to research. You should cross post to r/insurance for insurance-centric advice.Answer #2: > He forced us to stay in the parking lot (ie blocked our path) then called the police.

If someone does this to you again, be sure to call the police yourself and report false imprisonment, assuming you don't want to risk violence by marching past them anyway and forcing them to get out of your way or face battery charges.

Someone can typically use force on you legally if they witness you committing a felony or certain serious misdemeanors, but causing minor damage to physical property is not one of those things. Obviously he could still have followed you and pointed you out to police, but not stop you from leaving.

The comment about not being able to photograph the other car in a public space also seems odd. I'd check local law on that and complain about mis-education to your PD if it should in fact be legal.


Title: Is the idea of "55+ housing" even legal? Isn't that discriminating age?

Answer:
 Usually age discrimination only goes one way, but amazingly actually talked to a fair housing expert bout this exact question. Basically, a private landlord can’t just start discriminating against the young but there are various govt programs where you can do set asides for elderly population. So basically if you see elderly housing the state has already proffered a substantial govt interest and devised a means to meet this interest without violating fair housingAnswer #2: Discrimination isn’t illegal. Discrimination against specific protected classes is, depending on your location’s statutes.

< 55 often isn’t one of those. Answer #3: Age discrimination is ~~only~~ (Some states have their own laws ex. [CA](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Unruh_Civil_Rights_Act)) made illegal by the Age Discrimination in Employment Act ([ADEA](https://www.eeoc.gov/laws/types/age.cfm)), so it doesn't apply to things like retirement communities. As an aside, it's only illegal to discriminate against people over 40 according to the ADEA. So a company could say "no one under 35" but they couldn't say "must be above 55"

Private entities can go further in their discrimination. For example golf club memberships are private and therefore can discriminate on the basis of sex, race, religion, etc. This is why the Cypress Point golf club has been able to continue to bar black people from becoming members. They even gave up being part of the PGA tour in order to keep their discriminatory membership policies ([Article](https://www.nytimes.com/1990/09/18/sports/cypress-point-drops-pga-tour-event-instead-of-changing-its-rules.html)).

For housing specifically there's the [Housing for Older Persons Act of 1995 (HOPA)](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Housing_for_Older_Persons_Act#Summary) which allows for 55+ communities.Answer #4: The FHA allows for senior housing that is exclusively for seniors. In other words 55+ communities are not discriminatory because the FHA (the act that says what housing discrimination is) says they aren't discriminatory. This is a statutory construction issue...


Title: Illegal Subtenant Won't Leave. I don't know what to do at this point..

Question:
I am a tenant and live in a 4 bed/2 bath apartment in a small college town. Our lease started July 2017 and ends July '18.

At the beginning we only had 3 tenants on the lease and needed one more roommate to sign the lease so one of my roommates (Naomi) found a girl from facebook (aliyah). In desperation in preventing to pay an extra unused room, she decided to let aliyah move in THEN apply for the tenant and co-signer application. Naomi never informed us about her moving in and that her application got denied.

Aliyah has been unwilling to do anything except pay rent. She will NOT clean anything and is willing to live in disgusting place for as long as she is under a roof.

She has been living here since August and everyone wants her out. She will not cooperate with cleaning, has admitted to making edibles and drug related stuff so she'll sometimes have customers over, and she has assaulted me (long story short: 2:30 am on a sunday night I was playing games and accidentally got loud at some point, she broke into my room, had an argument with her as we never agreed to quiet hours and grabbed my shoulders rigorously, I was going to call the cops but there would be no evidence as proof as she didn't bruise me)

I have looked into filing a detainer, but doing so will put all tenants at risk of being evicted since the lease doesn't allow subleasing, which violates our contract and we still needed aliyah to pay rent.

Everyone will be moving out in May as finals are coming in 5 weeks and we don't want her living here when everyone is gone. Around September there have been attempted break ins so we had to change the deadbolt of the lock so everyone has a copy of the original deadbolt and the new deadbolt, this includes the illegal subtenant. We never found out who tried breaking in and only had it documented to local police.

So if we illegally evict her by throwing her stuff and change the deadbolt, she has both keys and can still come in. She can even call the property management in letting her into the apartment by saying she is "locked out of her apartment" and can let her in with no verification..

I tried persuading her to give the key by saying the resident manager is collecting the original keys as they are replacing them with new deadbolts. Aliyah lied to my face said she was never given the key and I saw it in her room. When I called her out on it and told her to give it right now, she said she'll "find it" without looking back..

She will not negotiate or sign anything related for as long as she still lives here. She doesn't seem smart as she tries to be deceptive to us by lying, thinking she can get away with everything.

A possible solution atm is getting into contact with tenants that will live in this unit next year and rekey the changed deadbolt so aliyah can't come in.

That or give her a 30 day eviction notice and if she hasn't moved out by then I will force her stuff out of the apartment, throw it in a public trash (or shred everything she owns then throw it out) and call the cops saying she is trespassing.

Any advice legal or not, please let me know. As a college student I really don't want to pay over $500 for damages that's not even my problem, especially since I'm NOT the one that let her move in..

I really don't know what to do.. I'm trying to fix something my roommate F'd up on and isn't doing anything about it.

Answer:
 > but there would be no evidence as proof as she didn't bruise me

Um... your testimony is evidence.

> A possible solution atm is getting into contact with tenants that will live in this unit next year and rekey the changed deadbolt so aliyah can't come in.

Wow that is a bad idea, and illegal, and won't work, and YOU will end up having to pay HER.

> That or give her a 30 day eviction notice and if she hasn't moved out by then I will force her stuff out of the apartment, throw it in a public trash (or shred everything she owns then throw it out) and call the cops saying she is trespassing.

Wow that is ALSO a bad idea, several bad ideas, and illegal, and won't work, and YOU will end up having to pay HER.

You are making this too complicated and coming up with bad, dangerous plans. ***There is a VERY straightforward way of handling this***, but it depends entirely on your state or province, and maybe it's because I'm tired but I don't see that anywhere in your post.Answer #2: >  She will not cooperate with cleaning, has admitted to making edibles and drug related stuff so she'll sometimes have customers over,

NAL, but it seems to me that there is a very easy solution right here. She is selling drugs from the apartment.

Call the police.Answer #3: Give her notice. Start looking for a new roommate. Take pictures after she moves out and get an estimate from the leasing company. Sue in small claims for damages.


Title: Unknowingly made three doctor's visits without referral, am I totally at fault?

Question: A year ago I went to a dermatologist to treat my acne. I found their office online and made sure that they accepted my insurance. I made two more visits over the next month and ended up discontinuing their services as their prescribed medications were not working. A few months later I was mailed a bill for $400, upon inquiry I was told that this was because their office had not received a referral from my primary care physician. I did visit the dermatologist on behalf of a recommendation from my PCP but I do not remember my doctor ever mentioning a referral. This was my first time scheduling an appointment by myself so I'm not completely surprised that I didn't have a referral. However, I am surprised that for each of my three visits to the dermatology office I was never asked if I had a referral nor was the price of the visit mentioned should I not have one. Had this been the case I would have discontinued my visits until I had the proper documentation. I've spoken to their billing department multiple times and they've told me that it is not the  responsibility of the dermatologist's office to inform me of the cost of the visits but that if I paid today then they would cut my bill total by 20%. Is there anything else I can do to diminish these charges or am I totally responsible for my oversight. I will definitely not be making this mistake again but I'm curious to know what my options may be, thank you.

Answer:
 The dermatologist doesn't know what your plan requires for their services to be covered. They don't know if you need a referral, if you know you need one and are electing to see them anyway, etc. They can't tell you what your insurance will or will not cover and frankly, it's not their job to make sure you understand your insurance coverage. There's thousands of plans out there with lots of differences, all they can really do is say yes, we accept Blahblah insurance.

It's the patient's responsibility to contact their insurance and find out what is covered and how to make sure that happens before getting any treatment. So unfortunately this isn't the fault of the dermatologist office. It likely took a month before your insurance kicked it back to them, because it's not exactly an instant process.

Call your insurance, see if there's anything they can do.  You might end up on the hook for the bill, though. You likely signed a patient responsibility form to that effect.


Title: Expulsion? Jail time? I live in Ontario. URGENT

Question:
Firstly, I understand that what I did was wrong. I feel horrible about it. So please, do NOT put me down.

I am 16 years old (grade 11), living in Ontario.

When I was in grade 8, I threatened to kill a classmate on Facebook. I got caught, and suspended for 2 weeks.

In grade 9, someone called me gay then I beat him up. 3 day suspension.

Also in grade 9, I threatened to burn down a classmates house. 5 day suspension.

In grade 10, I got into 2 fist fights over little things. Totaling another 2 weeks suspension.

In first semester of grade 11 I had absolutely no problems.

In second semester of grade 11, I had a problem with a girl. Lets call her "X female".

I'm male.

She spread rumors about me that I am gay.

I got very mad. Normally, I would fight. However, she is female and I'm male. I wouldn't punch a girl.

Then, I anonymously contacted police and said that "X female" was going to kill herself instead of punching her. This was false police report. Police went to her house.

I did this to get revenge. This is called swatting.

The next day, I was called down to my school office. A police officer said "did you do this? if you say yes, i will let you off with a warning" I said yes. The school principal was listening.

Now here's the problem.

The principal said that he received a threatening email saying that someone will kill "X female" at school. I was interrogated by police about the email.

The day he received this email, MANY MANY police and helicopters showed up to the school.

I was blamed for this email, however; I did not do it.

I told the police and principal to trace the ip address of the email, they did not.

I NEVER EVER admitted to the email, but I did admit about the false suicide report.

I have been expelled.

In order to appeal the expulsion, you must be 18. I am 16. So I filed paper work to appeal it, and forged my mothers signature.

My mother found out, then cancelled the appeal. Do not ask me why.

The school says that it is very likely that I sent the threatening email.
They said that it is enough evidence to expel me.

Here's there evidence against me ( i think ):

  - i have sent a threatening email before, in grade 8

  - i have threatened before

  - i have already made a false police report about the same girl mentioned in the threatening email

  - they said that the threatening email and false police reports were very similar, and they must have been done by the same person.

Lastly, do not tell me what I did was wrong, I know. I was stupid. I did a stupid mistake. I know what I did was wrong, so don't tell me.

Here is what I want from you

 - If I get convicted of this threatening email, will I go to jail? I have a clean criminal record.

    This happened 2 months ago, so if I would get arrested; it would've already happened by now

- What should I do?

- I want your advice

- What other evidence do you think they have?

 - What should I do?

Nobody believes me. I didn't send a threatening email about X female to the principal.

Also, I cannot afford a lawyer.

I didn't get arrested or anything. But, I'm scared.

I want your comments and opinions.

Answer:
 > I did a stupid mistake

No you didn't. Your life is a series of deliberate criminal activities, not "stupid mistakes".

Yes, you can be expelled and possibly arrested for the assaults, threats, forging, and a continuance of behaviors against policy.

Sounds like the expulsion is not contestable because your mother cancelled the appeal. Rightly so.

Look up the local laws against filing a false report, harassment, and forging to decide whether you need an attorney if you get charged.

What should you do? Count your blessings that you haven't been arrested yet, move on and straighten out your life. Answer #2: The best advice I can give you is seek counseling ASAP. Answer #3: >If I get convicted of this threatening email, will I go to jail?

Maybe. There's no way to tell. You're right that, if you were going to get dragged into court over this, it *probably* would have happened already. But that's not a guarantee.

>What should I do?

Don't talk about the incident. Remember how you feel right now the next time you're tempted to make a bad decision.

>Nobody believes me.

And it's unlikely anyone will. Sorry.


Title: Friend accused of sexual assault, what should he do?

Question:
[deleted]
Topic:
Criminal Law

Answer:
 NOOOOO.

Don't go to the police and don't tell his side of the story.

He should get a lawyer.  That is it.  He should not talk to the police.Answer #2: >I told him the best he can do is tell his side of the events and be honest,

That may be the case if this was /r/moraladvice, but it's one of the worst things he can do from a legal standpoint.

Assuming this is in the US he should absolutely NOT do what you suggest unless he has a criminal defense attorney familiar with sexual assault cases sitting right next to him.


Title: Employer paid me under minimum wage for over a year without letting me access paystubs

Question: Hi! My employer recently (today) admitted to me she's been paying me $9.50 since I started working for her over a year ago. Minimum wage in Connecticut is $10.10. She's telling me she'll pay me back for $10/hour and not $10.10 and I want to make sure I get the money I rightfully earned. What can I do?

Answer: You can contact CT's Department of Labor.


Title: [Texas] I'm going to be a character witness. What are they expecting from me?

Question: Tomorrow, I'll be called as a character witness in a friend's trial. I'm curious as to what they're going to ask me? Should I have a statement prepared? I've never done anything like this and I have no idea what to expect. Any words of advice would be much appreciated!

Answer: You will take the stand and must answer their questions honestly. Whatever the hell you do don't lie about anything you are asked about. That is a crime called perjury.


Title: Called primary care and told them I was in an emergency due to severe pain caused by a procedure they did--no response. Mind boggling considering the non-existent problems that other parts of the healthcare system are obsessed with because of liability. How bad is that from a legal perspective?

Question:
I need to make a decision whether I should consider working with them. This lapse makes me worried there may be significant issues with this office, either they are not that competent or don't take my health problems seriously.

New Hampshire

Answer: I don't know what "primary care" means to you, but when you're having a medical "emergency", you call 911 or the ER, depending on your situation.


Title: Can I go back to the U.S using my tourist visa instead of my lost green card?

Question: So a few days ago, I decided to travel to Colombia and while taking a taxi I lost my phone and green card. I found out that instead of using a green card I can get a transportation letter, but my flight is in 5 days and the transportation letter takes around 2 weeks to get. I have a valid tourist visa, a picture of my green card, and a picture of my social security number. Can I use that to reenter the U.S?

Answer:
 >	I have a valid tourist visa...

No, you don't. Your B1/B2 visa was automatically cancelled the moment you received your green card. They were supposed to stamp a "cancelled" seal on it, but sometimes they don't.

Your visa will show up as cancelled on the CBP computer system. Most major airlines are able to scan your Visa at the check-in desk and see that is cancelled.

You'll need to obtain the travel document you're referring to from US embassy in Colombia  and adjust your travel arrangements to wait for it.Answer #2: They are not going to accept photos of your documents.


Title: Sexual harassment by a disabled person

Question: My friend works at a fast food place. She and other female co workers are sexually harassed by a male co worker who has a mental disability. She told me that the company could have a huge lawsuit if they fire him. Is that true? Wouldnt sexual harassment trump disability as a protected class? Ive told her to call hr, but she said they have already tried that, is there any way they can get him fired for creating a unsafe workplace?

Answer:
 No, having a disability doesn't allow someone to act however they want. Your friend would have more of a case, possibly, if she reports the harassment and nothing is done about it. Answer #2: It's not against the law to fire someone who is a member of a protected class. It's against the law to fire someone *because* of their membership in a protected class.

Continue to contact HR. Notify your management each and every time it occurs. Document it each and every time it occurs (as in write it down at the time that it occurs with details, time, and place) preferably in a little notebook. Give HR and management all those details. If they continue to ignore the issue, then they will have another issue on their hands.


Title: Landlord requesting extended stay (CA)

Question:
Long time lurker, first time poster. Please let me know if I'm missing any details that could help provide me advice.

I gave my landlord 30 day notice to move out in writing. All seemed well. She requested to show the apartment to interested renters, to which I agreed. For example, I have already agreed to have her show the apartment to two different tonight.

I am having surgery this Thursday which should put me out on bed rest until at least Sunday (maybe longer depending on how long my body takes to heal).  I notified my landlord via text stating that  I will keep her "updated on my condition and availability to show the apartment." She responded stating "In respect for both you and me let's please extend our move out date."

In essence, she is requesting that I extend my move out date by 4 days since she cannot show the apartment during that time. All of the CA fair housing websites are down, so I'm not sure what my rights are. I cannot afford to pay for 4 extra days of rent. Do I have the right to decline her to show the apartment for 4 days due to my health? Do I need to allow her to show the apartment, even if I am heavily medicated while inside it? What should I say?

Answer: They can show the apartment with 24hrs notice (“reasonable notice”) during 8am-5pm (“business hours”). If you do not receive reasonable notice or the showing is not during business hours (be a bit flexible there) then you can deny entry. Otherwise you should allow access and let it be awkward.


Title: Wife(Vic) involved in hit and run, our insurance wants a recorded statement

Question:
So, my wife was in a hit and run vehicle accident, completely not at fault. Our insurance wants a recorded statement from her, and that gives us the heebeegeebees. Should we contact a lawyer for something like this or just have a prepared statement ready?

Edit: This is for Texas and it was because we've had issues in the past with insurance companies trying to screw us over for stuff. It was just something that made us question what we should do so I thought it best to ask. Thanks so much for the advice, we both feel much better about it.

Answer:
 It would be unwise to withhold a recorded statement from your *own* insurer. It might be a breach of the cooperation requirement of your policy, which could result in a loss of coverage.

If you want them to pay, then you gotta play.


Title: Is it legal for my school to make me sign a contract?

Question:
I was arrested by university police for public intoxication. For that, I got fined and had to do this program about alcohol use. Then after that, I had to meet with a social worker. The social worker thought I was on drugs, but I wasn't, but I didn't want drugs I had taken the week before to show up in the test, so I refused to take the tests even though now I know I could have passed.

Then they said I had to sign a contract to not do drugs or drink on campus and meet with the social worker like once a week. I would have been okay with that, but then they said that they would do tests to check these conditions, which I would fail because I drink. And so basically, if I fail, then I'm suspended. And if I don't sign then I'm taking a leave of absence anyway. Is this legal?

Answer: A college generally is not obligated to accept or keep you in their institution.


Title: [OK, CA]Step-Son being abused by biological father. What can I do about this?

Question:
My step-son, who is eight, has visitations with his biological father in California, but normally lives in Oklahoma. The custody agreement between my sons bio-dad and my wife was established in California. I've raised him since he was two.

My son recently came home from another visitation acting angry and started to get in fights at school. After a long talking to, he broke down and told me and my wife, who is his biological mother, that his dad was abusive to him while he was visiting his bio-dad in California. My step-son stated that he didn't tell us earlier because his biological dad told him that telling us would make us angry at him for taddling. We've taken these claims to court before when we where in California, and his lawyer made it appear as if my wife is brainwashing my step-son and causing him to say these untrue things.

When I met my wife, she was currently in an abusive relationship and she failed to file any police reports about the abuse. The actions that my step-son said his biological dad did where the same things that she had to deal with when they where together.

What kind of legal actions can we do to help protect our son from any further harm? Will it matter, considering it's only my sons word without any actual solid evidence?

Answer:
 You could contact Child Protective Services about the allegations that your step-son has brought up.  You can let them know about his history, and how he was acting out at school since his return, and what he told you.  They will be able to guide you best as to what you should do.

If they choose to investigate it further, they will likely interview you, your wife, her ex, and your step-son.


Title: Never received health insurance, can I sue? How do I calculate?

Question:
Full story:

I worked for a small company (6ppl) for 10mo. When I was interviewed and hired the CEO made clear that health insurance would be part of the compensation package. Over time, he pushed it aside repeatedly and then picked the wrong plan and had to start over (too few employees for the plan he picked), and none of us ever received health insurance.

When I decided it was time to move on I gave three weeks notice, and, after he begged me, agreed to stay on as a part-time contractor for a few months to help with the transition and finish bringing in a few deals.

At the outset of employment, I also purchased a computer on my credit card, which they reimbursed me for.

Now, 4 months later, I am having trouble being paid for the hours I worked as a contractor. His response was "We'll take a look." and he is demanding the computer be returned.

I mentioned that the computer seemed like fair trade for the lack of insurance and I just want to be paid for the hours I worked and move on.

At this point I am thinking I will be getting taken to the cleaners by having to return the computer and possibly get swindled on the hours.

I was thinking of suing for the health care costs to make up for it.

Is this possible? How do I calculate it?

Thanks to anyone who reads this and has any input or experience to lend.

Edit: I worked in California and the company is founded in Seattle, Washington if that makes a difference

Answer:
 What 'health care costs' are you out? If they did not charge you for the healthcare, I am going to guess you are SOL, but IANAL.

If they paid for the computer, you have to give it back. If they are not paying you, you need to sue.


Title: [GA] IT salary employee with billable rate, employer has quarterly reviews that can essentially take 100% of our billable rate for the quarter.

Question:
Pretty much the title. I work for an IT company, salary, and we also have a billable rate which we receive ~40% of after the company takes their percentage. We don't get paid out billable each month, rather it's collected over a quarter, and we have a performance review with several criteria that will take a percentage out of the 40% I've earned if not met. If you don't meet all the criteria they will take 100% of your billable and we won't see a dime. No one has ever met all criteria to receive the full 40% of our billable, in fact the management recognizes that no one will ever get the full amount because there is always room for improvement.

This system is not working in favor of anyone, we may work 300 billable hours in one month, get our base salary, and then less than the percentage of our billable that we have earned.

Is this legal? It doesn't seem fair at the very least, if they take 100% of our billable we have essentially worked for less than minimum wage.

Advice please.

Answer:
 Salary employees are exempt from minimum wage requirements in addition to overtime requirements; providing they meet the salary basis test (at least $455 a week) and the job duties test (which you presumably do; although computer work can be tricky sometimes).

Essentially you're getting a low salary and a a bad bonus structure.

You need to forget about your billable rate. There isn't a single job where someone gets to take home the full billable rate they charge their customers.

If you don't think your total compensation is in line with the market rate for your services you have two options; attempt to renditions for a higher salary, a better bonus, or both.

Or you quit and take a job at another position that pays you what you think you're worth. Often in IT the only way to advance your career and increase your pay is to move around. It's not seen as a negative, and is pretty much expected.


Title: 3 Tickets in 6 Weeks — Suspension Soon, What Can I Do?

Question: [deleted]

Answer:
 Pay a lawyer.

If you're too pathetic to keep your bike below the limit then drive something else because even if you do hire a lawyer, you might not get a "buffer."


Title: [Canada-BC] Sister bought tickets on Stubhub (or some other resale site) and did not expect the hidden fees.

Question: [deleted]

Answer:
 I can't see that much based on what you said. It's mostly her fault if she bought tickets without checking these things. Answer #2: StubHub shows the total price that includes all fees before you click the check out button. It also lists the currency. I just now checked on some random event and it has the total and USD right next to it.

She can try and resell them maybe? But her mistake is unfortunately no one's fault but her own.


Title: Biological unfit mother trying to take back 3.5 not-yet-adopted boy

Question:
(Tennessee) We are a foster family. We fostered a baby a couple years ago, we loved him, mother got him back. She was in rough shape. Depressed, anxious, some physical illness, but she could take him back. Then she had a set of twins. Then all three came into care. We once visited her house, I believe to pick up all three children, and the cribs had days-old poop all over them, maggot-filled bottles in the reach of the kids, roaches(alive and dead) EVERYWHERE. She eventually got them back. Then they went into care again, but we couldn't take them, so the went to a different house. Then she got them back. That was a few months ago.

3 months ago she texts us (long story short) she has debilitating physical illness and can't take care of the children. The twins are with their dad, do we want to adopt the boy? We ask if she's serious, she says yes, so we take him. But she doesn't sign over rights or anything. Our caseworker says that she has good chances of being able to terminate if she doesn't sign over.

She texts us this morning saying she can't handle it, she wants him back. At 4 months it would've been considered abandonment and we could've kept him no problem. But now it's entirely up to the judge who, in our area, is very pro- keeping-the-family-together. We're printing off all texts to and from her currently. He flinches and cowers if you raise your arm to quickly, can't handle being yelled at, is terrified of running water in the bathtub, high likelihood of being autistic.

Is there anything we can do to improve our chances of keeping him? She can't take care of him properly.

Answer: Your best chance is to get an attorney and fight like hell for this kid. You may be able to find reduced cost or even pro-bono for this. Contact the bar association or legal aid where you live.  I'd also stop talking to the mother. Does your caseworker say you have to return him?Answer #2: You need to consult with an attorney. In Tennessee a 4 month period without visitation or payment of support is grounds for termination of the parents rights. But that is not a definite rule, it still defaults to a judge. The department attorney works for the state and if mom asks for an attorney she will be appointed one. You need an attorney to advocate for you.


Title: (CA) Tax refund seized, i have a child and was told i my refund cant be seized if i claimed my child, which i did. is there any truth to this?

Question:
like the title says....
i was under the assumption that my student loan debt was completely paid off since i "consolidated" my loans witha debt collector.
the reason consolidated is in quotations is because it turns out i have only one loan paid off and a balance from a fedaral loan that has gone into default and an outstanding debt for consolidating in the first place apparently.

ive spoken to a couple family friends about the situation and have been told that even with a student load in defualt my tax refund cant be taken if i have claimed my son. is this true at all?
thanks in advance

Answer: No... tax refunds are intercepted all the time from people who claim children. A friend of mine just got her ex's tax refund BECAUSE he tried to claim their daughter (owed back child support). Having a child doesn't keep you from having to pay your debt obligations.


Title: [OR] I think I was fired? Collecting final paycheck questions.

Question:
So I called out last Wednesday because they had scheduled me for a day I had requested off since I started working there (6 months).

 The new schedule came out today for 2 weeks from now and I'm not on it. I wasn't taken off next week's schedule and my boss hasn't said anything about it.

 Additionally, there are 4 people scheduled for my next shift date when only 3 ever work a shift together. They were added to it Wednesday.

Is it safe to assume I'm fired from that? I'm trying to contact my boss to get some actual answers. If I was fired: does that mean my last paycheck is owed today (after next business day since Wed.)

Answer: Doesn't seem as though you were fired yet, but you need to get clarification from your manager.


Title: If my GF trashes me on social media after we break up, can I sue her for libel?

Question:
This hasn't happened yet but due to threats she's made, I suspect she may accuse me of physical abuse, which there would be no record of since it's untrue.

I would think this kind of thing happens a lot these days with social media so wondering what the legal precedent is. I think the burden of proof is on the person being defamed to show actual damages, but I mean if she says for instance that I hit her, that would certainly defame me, but how would you show actual damages?

Thanks very much.

Answer:
 Certain accusations can be defamatory per se, meaning that you don't have to show actual damages to win. I believe that an accusation of a criminal activity would be such an accusation. Of course you'd have to demonstrate that the statement was defamatory.

Here are [the relevant jury instructions](https://www.justia.com/trials-litigation/docs/caci/1700/1704/).

Edit: [Here's some random law firm's take on this](http://vondranlegal.com/california-defamation-checklist-elements-of-proof/).


Title: Doctors not respecting lack of consent for disabled person.

Question:
I live in Washington State.

My husband suffered a moderate traumatic brain injury from an automobile accident.

He is lucid, but is easily overwhelmed in many situations, this is well documented with reports from Neuro specialists.

His doctors repeatedly pressure him to take  several classes of drugs that are not considered "on label" for his condition and are not approved by our insurance.

He has made it extremely clear that he does not consent to taking these medications, stating; " I do not consent to taking these medications." He has outlined very specific reasons for his choice, yet they continue to insist he not only take them, but pay for them out of pocket (some are very expensive, like $1,600 a month).

The problem is that due to his disability if they pressure him enough he will relent and take medication he does not want. Last time this happened there were terrible side effects.

We have considered a power of attorney or something so that my permission would be required to approve anything, but the doctors have said they are very hostile to the concept and would tell the insurance that he was trying to "stay sick".

Once he has denied consent, are they allowed to bully?

Isn't this abusing his disability?

Answer:
 You can choose not to have prescriptions filled and to visit other doctors if he is not happy with the course of treatment being given to him. They can't force the pills down his throat. The doctors can't just "tell the insurance" he was trying to hinder his own treatment all because you got PoA.

You need to vie for Power of Attorney if you think he's not of sound mind to make his own medical decisions. He needs to see new doctors who respect his wishes.


Title: Found a Mexican bankcard in Norway. What do I do?

Question: The bank doesn't speak English and the number on the card doesn't work. The name of the bank is BBVA bancomer

Answer: Cut it up and throw it away.


Title: [AZ] Immediately notified landlord of leaking roof (w pictures). She dragged her feet. Pictures now much worse...her latest response "I wish I would have known the leak earlier"

Question:
Pictures here: http://imgur.com/a/EOf6w

Her response is a bit maddening. I have a child and will not risk having her exposed to mold.

1. What is this text conversation (with pictures) worth in terms of negotiation if this thing gets out of hand? What are my tenants rights in terms of living space while the repairs get done?

2. If mold containment becomes an issue (probably will since I know how cheaply and slowly she likes to do repairs), what are my rights then?

I appreciate your expertise and attention.

Answer:
 FWIW, i think she meant she wishes she knew weeks or days ago, not hours.Answer #2: Not addressing your legal question....

I think you can relax about the mold "problem".  It's only been a day or so.

However, mold can definitely be a serious issue.  If your landlord will reimburse you, go to a home improvement store and get a dehumidifier.  It will help pull all the moisture out of the bathroom and help dry out he sheet rock.


Title: Is it illegal to live out of my car with my child?

Question: I’m currently being kicked out of my home. I have nowhere to go and all the shelters around here are awful. I want to camp out with my daughter at a nearby lake for a while, but someone is telling me that CPS will take her if I were to do that. Is this true?

Answer:
 It will depend a lot on local policy, the caseworker you get, and what you have as a long term plan.

Camping, during the summer, so long as you have the appropriate equipment, can probably get you into the early fall. Once temperatures start dropping, it's going to be a lot harder to justify.

I would suggest reaching out to services to help you get housing - if you can show CPS that you are actively working to secure housing, that will go a long way.


Title: Wedding venue won't refund money after cancelling wedding.

Question: [deleted]

Answer:
 > There is no contract

So you've never signed anything at any point outlining your agreement to use the space for your wedding?


Title: [CA] How can I get my neighbors to get rid of their noisy chickens?

Question: I live in a big, urban city in California. For some reason my neighbors thought it would be a great fucking idea to build a chicken coop and have five chickens in their backyard. These chickens are the NOISIEST creatures I have ever heard. They only have chickens, not roosters, but they squawk loudly all day and as all the houses are literally right next to each other (again, big urban city), it's basically like having a farm in my backyard from 6am-10pm every day. I think the law in our city allows them to have up to 5 small farm animals, but is there any way around this considering all the noise and disruption they're making?? It literally makes it impossible to sleep in my house when the chickens are awake, and all the other neighbors on our block hate them as well. I'm also open to less-legal ways of removing the chickens (chicken pot pie, anyone?), but figured I might as well start above-board.

Answer:
 Report them to your city for possible code violation.Answer #2: California is a big state, and what you are asking about will largely depend on local ordinances.

Nevertheless, here are a couple of suggestions:

(1) Check to see if the chickens are legal in the first place. You can find local ordinance information here: http://www.backyardchickens.com/atype/3/Laws/tag/california-ordinances/

(2) If the chickens are conforming to the ordinance, then cross-reference your local noise ordinances and make complaints that way. You will want to check out the "chicken laws" first because many of those ordinances address noise as well, and you want to reference those as well.

Good luck!


Title: I was told that the head of HR at my new job is married to the woman who runs the temp agency they use to hire me and other people; could this be a conflict of interest?

Question: Human Resources is in charge of hiring new employees. They could be forwarding people to the temp agency just so his wife gets a cut because the temp agency hires you but takes a cut of your check. Is this legal? (US, OH)

Answer: Legal. It may violate company policy, but not the law


Title: [CAN] Person sleeping over in my house invited by roommate's brother without anyone's knowledge and is unwilling to leave

Question:
Hello,

I own the tenancy contract to a house with 4 bedrooms. One room is occupied by myself, and the other 2 my friends who go to the same university. The 4th room we posted an ad for renting out and found someone to rent to let's call this person "M".

M brought over his brother to stay with him since he too was looking for a place to stay. We all agreed with that. His brother is a bit strange who doesn't follow social norms like keeps everything unclean and plays very loud music at the odd hour, despite everyone's complaints.

But recently, his brother invited someone over to stay at our place without anyone's knowledge. The first time we knew about it is because we saw someone sleeping on our couch at night. We thought someone just visited him and crashed over for the night. But no, he stays over and keeps returning every single day. This person is disruptive to people since he'd come and knock on our door at 3 in the morning to let him in. And if no one opens the door, then M's brother would to let him in. Besides that, this person also enters our rooms without our knowledge and takes stuff to use. He also gets super high on weed and drunk.

When we confronted him about the matter, he keeps giving one excuses which doesn't line up with his other excuses, "I have a place of my own, I come here to record music with my friend since my mom doesn't like loud music at her place", "Bro I don't stay over, it's just that it becomes late by the time we're done and so I just crash here", "I am just visiting my friend. He pays rent and I can visit him. This is discrimination that you're asking me to leave.".

Recently we got really firm on our stance to get him to leave. We gave him a notice (verbal) that either he leaves or we call the cops. To which he either repeats "I'm just here to visit my friend. He pays rent and I can visit him." always or "Stop bothering me. I'm leaving I'm leaving". But then doesn't leave and got aggressive towards myself and the other roomate. So we called the cops but instead of coming they tried to resolve this over the phone. They wanted to speak with M's brother who refused. The cops were skeptical of this but M's brother said "Okay I'll tell him to leave don't call them here". So the cops just told us "Okay if he's willing to leave then it's okay. Call us back if he doesn't leave". After this incident the dude left after an hour (Friday).

Fast forward to yesterday where M's brother told us that the dude left some of his stuff at our place and would come to pick them up. We said that he's not welcome on the property and so he should just hand over the stuff at the door and that's it. Yet at 1AM when he came banging on the door, the brother let him in and he straight up went to his room and again, refuses to leave. When confronted, he comes up with the same excuse "I'm here to visit my friend, I haven't seen him in 2 days" and "I'll leave I'll leave". Later he passed out.

Therefore, I called the cops regarding the matter. But the cops were not helpful since they asked if the person was being violent. Then they asked if the rent was being paid for the room, and we said yes. They answered "Since they pay rent, they have a right to bring anyone in so we can't come and remove him unless he gets violent in which case we can come and intervene.". And that's it.

We called M to intervene in this since it's his brother who's allowing all this (very hard to communicate with the brother: he just stares without replying). And the dude keeps lying to M saying we told him it was okay to stay or stuff like "I'll leave in the morning". M spoke to him for a bit and told me that the dude said he actually doesn't have a place to stay but would leave in the morning. I told him that it is not our responsibility to deal with all this dilemma. It's 9:21AM now and he still hasn't left.

So what can I do regarding this matter? The lease of the house is owned by me and one of my friends. We have not given any written contract to M or his brother regarding the length or terms of stay. M pays rent monthly and I have transaction records for this. M's brother doesn't pay rent.

Thanks!

Answer:
 Your rent paying tenants can have guests. What you should do is give this person not on the lease written notice to vacate and warm them you will go to court to evict them if this does not stop. Maybe then they will realize you are serious and it has to stop.Answer #2: So your issue is really with M. The solution is for him to vacate and for you to get a new roommate

With or without a lease, M is a tenant there.  Google for a local landlord-tenant association, and ask them for next steps to get them to move out.

Depending on how long M’s brother and friend have stayed, they might also be de facto tenants.

In the meantime, take video of the common areas and put locks on yor bedroom door so they can’t steal stuff when they move out Answer #3: Give M their 30 day (or however long a notice is locally required) notice that their lease is not being renewed. Answer #4: What is the timeline on this?  A week, a month, three months?  Some places let you establish tenancy much more quickly than others, so the timeline matters.Answer #5: M and brother are tenants, regardless of them not being on the lease. As long as one of them allows this person over, that is allowed. I would start with evicting M and brother.


Title: Received notice of foreclosure, but not for me

Question:
In Maryland. We just bought a house in May that had been foreclosed upon, and was sold by Freddie Mac. We financed the house through our local credit union and have been making payments on time since closing. Today we received a "Notice of Intent to Foreclose"(one addressed to me, one to my wife), but it was from Chase Bank (we don't have any loans with Chase, other than a credit card). The details show our loan as 2548 days past due (almost 7 years) and lists the borrower as the previous owner who was foreclosed upon (I assume). The "name of record owner" lists myself, and my wife, as well as the previous owner and his wife.

We purchased title insurance when we closed, but I'm not sure the procedure at this point. Should I reach out to my bank, Chase bank, my title company, or the title insurance company first? I want to make sure we deal with this as efficiently as possible and don't stir up unnecessary trouble. Thanks!

Answer:
 Title insurance.  Ermagad, this sounds like a mess.Answer #2: Sounds like a second mortgage that didn't get paid.  Call your title insurance asap!  Answer #3: Former Chase loss mitigation employee here. First, you need to figure out if the document you have refers to the first or second mortgage. Is there a dollar amount on the letter? If it's the first mortgage that's in play, it's likely a county records issue, where the previous lien wasn't released/satisfied properly. The transfer from the previous owner to Chase/Freddie Mac at the time of foreclosure was either not recorded properly by the county, or, not updated in Chase's system(s). When issued like this came up, the most helpful people were paralegals working at the attorney's office that handled the foreclosure. If you can find out who that was, you will be in great shape. You can call chase and explain the situation, but the knowledge and helpfulness of the employee can vary greatly, to put it nicely. If you call and a dumbass answers, hang up and call again.

Good luck!Answer #4: > We purchased title insurance when we closed

Just to clarify, this is additional title insurance you purchased for yourself, not just what you were required to buy on behalf of your lender?

If so, that's absolutely the place to start.


Title: Author currently working on a new book, and someone wants to steal my plot [PA]

Question:
Backstory: I'm an author with about half a dozen books currently out. In May 2017 I pitched a book to a publisher at a conference, and then followed-up via email with a brief plot outline. The publisher seemed interested, and asked for a detailed pitch and the first three chapters. Unfortunately I got very ill soon after and was hospitalized, putting my writing career on hold.

While I was sick, a friend came over to stay with me, saw my writing notes, and asked about them. I told her about the novel I'd been working on in detail. The friend and I had a falling out months later for unrelated reasons, and no longer speak.

I was finally cleared medically this past May, and have started working again on the novel I pitched last year. However, I've just been informed by a mutual friend that my ex-friend is working on a book of her own... with a plot that resembles my own to some very specific details! This isn't just a "oh, similar idea" thing... it's literally the *exact* same story that I've started.

At what point is this copyright infringement? Is it the first person who publishes the book? Or do my interactions from 2017 with the publisher prove that this is my idea even if she finishes her story first?

(Bonus: is there anything I can do legally to make her stop now, or at least make her change her story enough that it no longer rips mine off?)

Answer: It's almost impossible to protect plots; a lot of category romance would collapse otherwise. You may want to speak with your agent, in case they know more, but novel-length execution of a plot outline with the names changed is unlikely to infringe on your copyright.


Title: Tenants and fleas

Question: I live in a pet friendly condo like complex in Pennsylvania. About a month and a half ago, my dog started scratching. Checked her and bathed her and she had a few fleas, despite frontline. Found out from a neighbor that all grassy areas were becoming infested with fleas. I called our leasing office quite a few times. I was ignored twice and finally told they would not spray the grass. Now, my apartments and many others, pets or no pets,  are flea infected. They finally called Erlich, which proved there is an infestation. I got a call that each apartment will owe 250 for extermination. There is nothing in the lease regarding pest control. They told me they pay for mice, spiders, practically anything but not fleas. This doesn't seem right to me. It was virtually impossible to avoid getting them, because they wouldn't take care of the outside. Now we are all expected to pay for extermination. Should I call a lawyer? Is this normal. Everything i can find says the landlord should be paying in this case. Thanks for any advice!

Answer: If it's not specifically mentioned in the lease then it falls to state law. Check your local landlord/tenant guides which should spell it out. Typically for multi-family dwellings, if multiple units are infested, it's the landlord's responsibility to pay for extermination.


Title: [CA] Is it legal to take photos of peope in oublic without their consent?

Question: Hello, I'm a college student (19) who's wondering whether it's legal to take photos of someone who's in a public space. Can how you take the photo get you in trouble, or like what context you're taking it in? Like say you're taking photos from far way as oppossed to close up, does that matter? Also does the person have to be old enough to consent or something for you to take the photos? Speaking of consent, if you take say a selfie with the person age doesn't matter if try consent right? I don't think the photos would  used in a commercial manner, just for personal use. Anyway, replies are  greatly appreciated!

Answer: It's not illegal to take people's photos in public places. Having said that, it doesn't mean they will like it or not question you as to why you're doing it. Answer #2: Generally speaking, someone in public does not have an expectation of privacy and you can take photos of them without their consent.


Title: Insurance overpaid me after an accident, and are now looking for the difference to be reimbursed to them. Do I have any options?

Question: I was in an accident in September, and the other driver did not have enough coverage. I had to go through my insurance, and use my deductible.it's all said and done now, but I received a call this morning that the insurance overpaid me because one of the adjusters made a mistake on how much my deductible is, and they are looking to be reimbursed the difference. it's a small amount, only $200, but I'm not really in a financial position to to pay them that money at the moment. Since they made a mistake, am I still liable?

Answer:
 > Since they made a mistake, am I still liable?

If they made a mistake and *under*paid you, would you feel like things needed to be made right?

An *over*payment is the same thing, just in reverse.Answer #2: > Since they made a mistake, am I still liable?

Yes.


Title: I want to follow-up on a police report I made 2 days ago (credit card theft) regarding 2 individuals who have come forward blaming each other for the theft of my wallet and subsequent fraudulent spending. How can I follow-up on this report and get my money back? (HNL, HI)

Question:
I'll start at the beginning:

2 days ago (Tuesday the 27th) at approximately 5pm, I lost my wallet. Just before 5, I had visited a 7-11 to buy cigarettes, for which I used my debit card, so I know I had it with me at that time. Immediately afterward, I returned to my quad (on a college campus), and sat outside to smoke. An individual who I'll call "Aaron" approached me and sat with me while I smoked, we chatted, he gave me his number, everything was fine. He remained in the quad after I left, and about an hour later I noticed my wallet's disappearance. I looked around my room, my friend's rooms, anywhere I could think. At about 7:15pm, after failing to find anything, checked my online-banking app to be sure nobody had used it, but somebody had. A purchase was made on my debit card around 7pm at a footlocker for $359.62 (my entire checking account plus a $30 overdraft).
I immediately cancelled my card. I called footlocker and they told me my card had been used in Waikiki (I live in Honolulu), so I called the footlocker location there and they confirmed that my card had been charged as credit, and cash had been paid on top of the credit charge (are they allowed to do this without an ID check?)
I called the police and filed a report with them, told them about my last use of my card, about my conversation with the Waikiki footlocker manager, and provided them with an FUCC report of the fraudulent charge from my bank. (I did not mention "Aaron" or anyone else)
The next day (Wednesday the 28th), I returned to the quad with some friends and told them about my situation, when another individual approaches, we'll call him "Brandon", a friend of "Aaron".
Later in conversation, I asked "Brandon" if he knew whether "Aaron" had my wallet, to which he replied "he mentioned he scored a wallet yesterday." I immediately left the quad and contacted "Aaron", confronting him about the charges to my card. "Aaron" told me that it was in fact "Brandon" who had my wallet, as they had met in the quad after I had left the previous day, and he had taken it then.

So my question is this:
How do I follow-up on this police report and get my money back from these dirtballs? I know that footlocker has cameras, I know that I could identify either one of these guys on camera, I have texts from "Aaron" blaming "Brandon", and I know that I have no money to feed myself until I get back what was stolen from me.

(I would prefer not to cause these guys serious legal trouble, at least one of them is a father and at least one of them is already on probation, I don't wanna wreck families or send anyone to jail, I just want my money back)

Thx Guise

Answer: You've reported your lost card to your bank? Then your bank should be refunding your money.


Title: Can my employer withhold tips as punishment?

Question:
So I work at what is basically at specialty meat/fish market that also serves food.
I work in the kitchen.
Tips are split evenly between the FOH and BOH for the week every Saturday.
A new rule has been put into place where if you get a write up, you lose your tipout for a week.
I make above minimum wage, and the tips aren't a ton, but come out to ~$1/hr.
I have no contract saying tips are part of my wage, but I have a years worth of pay stubs showing I receive a tipout every week.
This punishment has already been handed out to one FOH staff member.
Is this legal?

Answer:
 Completely illegal. An employer cannot *unilaterally* withhold wages for any reason.

You can file an online wage complaint here: https://w2.lara.state.mi.us/WageComplaint/Home/BeforeFilingAWageClaim


Title: (CA)My Lawyer Just Can't Say No To Spending All My Money On Experts

Question:
I was at work (employee had no comp) and some outside stairs broke free and dropped me about 12ft. Destroyed my knee, won't be able work that $100,000 blue collar job ever again. Lifetime of pain and limitations.

The case seems to be worth about $400,000, but might only win 100k, maybe a million, maybe nothing. You never know.

The problem is, my lawyer has spent 100k on experts before trial, and 200k+ by the time trial is over. He wanted to spend closer to $300k. This is the slimmed down plan!

It seems entirely likely that I will be upside down after this trial, no matter how many times I have told him no. It is also likely that I will get an award against my former employer for legal costs (the whole not having insurance thing), but they will then file for bankruptcy.

What can I do?

Answer:
 How on earth did your lawyer spend 100k on expert fees?  How many experts do you have?

If your lawyer isn't listening to you - for example, you say "do not hire any more experts" and your lawyer goes and incurs the cost regardless, you can try reporting him or her to the state bar association.


Title: (NY)I feel my parents are being scammed.

Question:
Forgive me for speaking kind of vaguely as I've only just learned about this. Basically, my mom and dad put their name on a contract for a company that provides rented campsites to people for a fee (this is my basic understanding of it). Long story short, they never went camping, they never even gave these people money, and the signed the papers 5 years ago. Now today, after new owners took over the company, these people are coming after my parents for 8,000 dollars.

According to my mother, there was a court summons (which my mom was not aware of) and the county court ruled in the favor of the company, and now the company is threatening to have them prosecuted if they don't offer up 10% of their monthly income towards paying off this 8k fee. The companies even asking for bank routing numbers/license plate numbers/where the cars are located, etc.. To make sure, my mom even called the court and they confirmed that it was legit.

Maybe it's just me, but this just doesn't seem legit at all, from what they told me, they were basically conned/charmed into signing it. According to the guy who gave them the summons they're not the only ones, this company has been targeting a lot of people.

Can they actually do this? I mean, if no goods/services/finances was ever exchanged and all my parents did was put their name on a document, how can this company have the right? And what can my parents do to fight this? They don't exactly have a lot of money.

Answer:
 Sounds like your parents bought a time share at a campsite and then didn't pay dues or something.

They signed a legally binding contract-you need to get a copy of it and take it to a lawyer.

Also sounds like they were sued and ignored it so a default judgement got entered against them.  If its been 30 days or less they may be able to vacate it if they act fast. my guess is its been longer since it sounds like the court has been involved in collection proceedings.

Regardless you need a copy of the court order too.

If the situation is as I described there is not much your parents can do-they signed a contract (put their names on a document) and it can be enforced.

They need a lawyer-that will cost money but not $8000 and he might be able to settle for less that the $8000. Otherwise they are going to war up one morning and both their cars will be gone and their bank account will be empty.


Title: marlboro wants my domain...can i keep it?

Question:
Phillip Morris USA says i'm infringing on their trademark...according to the letter i got from their lawyers...and yea i can see that godaddy parked the domain with cig ads etc...okay i understand...my question is... *"if i parked the site with a blank page, would i be able to keep my domain?"* according to the letter, i have two weeks before i must relinquish and transfer to PM USA ownership of the domain.
* http://imgur.com/1sVC7
* http://imgur.com/OxUll
* http://imgur.com/Ew93l
* http://imgur.com/t8TjF
* http://imgur.com/PvSbQ
: is a deleted convo in /askreddit...was recommended to repost here

Answer:
 If a trademark exists prior to the first registration of the domain name then  legally they as the US copyrigth/trademark holder have the right to ask for it.

If you did register it before they registered the trademark Marlboro Green which is a product of theirs then it may be worthwhile talking to a lawyer as you may be able to sell them the domain rather than just hand it over to them.


Title: Can I refuse to rent to Anti-Vaxxers?

Question:
I am getting ready to close on a Duplex of 2x3 bedroom homes next Thursday. My family will be living in one unit & renting out the other for the foreseeable future (at least 5-10yrs). We also have an 18mo old daughter, and are trying for another child...Given the close proximity and likelihood of children playing together I would prefer not to rent to people with unvaccinated children.

I understand HIPAA rights can be waived (I work in healthcare). But my question is can I exclude prospective tenants who refuse to waive those rights and provide vaccination records for their children? The property is in Virginia.

Answer: As long as you live in the duplex and don't own a bunch of other properties you don't fall under the FHA and can refuse to rent for whatever reason you want.


Title: Heating oil company (Ariba Oil, NJ) fucking me over!

Question:
So in December, I order 150 gal of oil, I pay for it, and they come and fill it. The NEXT day, they come back and put in 50 MORE gallons of oil (which I did not ask for). Then two weeks ago (late Feb), we get a mysterious charge of $174 that goes out of our bank account and we call the oil company and they say, "oh yeah, we put in 50 extra gallons and we're charging you".

Obviously furious, I call them and talk to the manager and we agree that he will refund us that amount ($174) and he does. We get that money back. A few days after that, we get an invoice from them saying that we have a balance of $174 (which I thought was taken care of by the refund).

I call them back he goes "yeah, we refunded you that amount, but you used the oil, so we have to charge you."

I was just on the phone with him for thirty minutes (which I recorded) and he refuses to acknowledge that the refund shoudl leave us w/ NO balance, and just goes in circles and tries to manipulate what I thought was taken care of when we agreed on the refund.

We don't have a lawyer, we can't afford it, who do I call, what do I do?

Answer: Btw, we did not know they came the following day until we called them after we were charged TWO MONTHS LATER.


Title: Our landlord won't let us move in because he contracted COVID-19

Question:
obligatory long-time lurker, short-term poster.

My boyfriend (28M) and myself (26F) signed a lease for a 1 bed/1 bath apartment starting on June 1 in MA, back in late March. We signed a standard lease. I've moved 7 times in 7 years between undergrad/post-grad living so I'm reasonably familiar with tenant rights/laws and am usually the one on the lease that deals with the landlord, utilities, etc.

We got a call this morning from the realtor that we won't be allowed inside the unit on June 1 because the owner contracted COVID-19 (positive test yesterday) and apparently decided to quarantine himself our unit, and he won't be ok until he tests negative twice for COVID-19.

The unit is within a two-story house. We signed the lease for the bottom unit, and the owners currently live upstairs. After we signed the lease for the bottom unit, the broker let us know that the owners had bought a property elsewhere that they intended to move to and they sold the upstairs unit. The closing date for that unit is also June 1, so currently they cannot move out on June 1 bc the owner is sick with COVID-19, the folks that they sold it to can't move in because his wife and daughter are upstairs, and we can't move in.

This is the only section of the lease that deals with delays:

*5. DELAYS: It is possible that the Landlord may not be able to let the Tenant move into the Apartment when scheduled. If this happens, and if the Landlord is not to blame, the Tenant will not owe any rent for the period up to the time when the Landlord lets the Tenant move in, and the Tenant will have no claim against the Landlord. If delay continues for more than thirty (30) days, either party may terminate the lease by notifying the other party seven (7) days in advance. If the reason for the delay is the fact that the Apartment is still occupied by someone else, the Landlord may try to evict the occupant on behalf of the Tenant.*

What are our legal options?

Answer:
 your landlord elected to move into your unit - while having contracted a virulent infection - and has refused to leave or surrender the premises to you as per the contract.  From where i sit, that's a material breach of the contract.  Now, because it's May 27, we call that an "anticipatory breach" which means you've been told in advance a breach WILL occur.

The Delay clause is not on point - it speaks to delays where the landlord is NOT at fault (e.g. a holdover tenant.)  Here, the landlord IS at fault so the clause is not applicable.

If you cannot stay where you are, you need to rent somewhere else, if you can.  at that point, you should cancel this lease and let the landlord know in writing why you're cancelling will expect any deposits back within MA's statutory period.   You may be buying yourself a fight, but i don't suspect any court would enforce your obligation to pay rent under these circumstances.


Title: Posted this yesterday but need last minute advice (going to court alone tomorrow, 19 yo Female in IL). Advice would be extremely helpful!

Question: [deleted]

Answer: The advice is the same as the last time you posted the question.


Title: My mother accidentally killed a man on a motorcycle while driving.

Question:
Im going to try and keep everyone updated because official charges haven’t even been filed yet but she is currently in a county jail waiting to hear her charges and bond.

Yesterday my mom and little brother ( Age 12 ) were driving to Walmart and my mother was driving at the speed limit (she’s always been a cautious driver). She sees a yellow light and tries to make a turn but it turned red mid way and then a motorcycle popped up randomly on her and then they just collided and she had a panic attack trying to control her car and hit a bridge. Her injuries were just some pain on her knees so she got out of the car and saw the man on the motorcycle on the ground badly injured so she ran towards him to check his pulse. The man was still alive so she yelled out for anyone who could perform some sort of medical procedure to help him and someone stepped forward and started performing CPR while everyone is watching and calling the police. The police shortly arrive and they pronounce that he is dead and my mother just has a full on mental breakdown and can’t stop crying.

They then take her in and start questioning her and my little brother about the whole incident and if they ran a red light. Most of the witnesses claim that she did run a red light so when they asked my mother, out of pure fear she says she did as well. I strongly feel as if my mother wasn’t in the mental state to be answering any kind of questions like that as she had just been right next to a bruised up man who was at the verge of death moments earlier so her mind wasn’t right. She is going to hear her charges sometime this morning.

Things you should know.
• My mother has never been in a accident before this one as her car insurance was pretty low
• She doesn’t own a drivers license
•  She wasn’t DUI as she hasn’t really had any kind of alcohol in weeks
• We live in the state of Florida
• She just recently moved here as she lived in NY for 18 years and came down to Tampa a month ago
• Mother of 3 children
• Man who passed was a white male late 40s early 50s
• My mom is Central American
If there is any questions or any advice Me or my family can be given then I would be highly grateful. Thank you for taking time off to read this.

Answer: Your mother really really really needs a lawyer.


Title: [IL] Criminal Neighbor

Question:
I'm asking this on behalf of a friend who's resigned to just let this escalate. I'll try to be as to-the-point as possible:

Friend lives in a condo divided by floors. His old (shitty) landlady lived on the first floor, but has since moved out and rented her former space to a man.

The man appears to be a Neo-Nazi. There are hints that he's got guns, which is illegal if he's a felon (we know he's an ex-convict). He recently bought two pitbulls, who my friend reported are kept chained to a wall. From a few visits to the man's front door, it is apparent that they've been injured either by each other or by the man. Here's the kicker: We're pretty sure he's a relative of the landlady.

My friend lives with his dad in this condo. His dad has anger management issues and keeps starting verbal fights with the guy. My friend's fear is that the neighbor will eventually seek revenge by stealing his stuff or killing his cat.

This question is more about tact than an immediate solution. That is, how would you deal with a neighbor like this? How would you get him out of your hair without incurring retaliation?

Any input is appreciated. Thanks.

Answer:
 > That is, how would you deal with a neighbor like this?

I'd tell my father to be an adult and to stop picking fights with the guy.  Right now, your father is the only one at issue here.

**If** he retaliates, you can report that to the police.  If you believe he's abusing the dogs, or committing another crime, you can report that.  Until then, just leave him alone.  Picking fights exacerbates the exact situation you claim to be avoiding.


Title: [IL] Selling a bookshelf on Craigslist. Should I help the buyer load it into their car?

Question: [deleted]

Answer:
 Ikea doesn't want to tie down because there are a lot of ways that can go badly (especially since it is usually a bunch of high school students with no training).

You can only lose a lawsuit if you do something negligent. So if you are negligent and that results in a problem then yes, you could be sued. Realistically helping someone throw a bookcase into a truck bed is probably not something you need to be concerned about.


Question:
Hi /legaladvice!

This question is going through my head for quite some time.
I have a german passport and live in switzerland.

My passport was in very bad shape (pages falling out etc) and at the airport the swiss customs official threatened to confiscate my passport, would he have that right?

He let me slip and now I got a new passport but I still wonder if he could have taken my passport and left me at the airport without papers. Thanks for your replies!
Topic:
Searches and Seizures

Answer:
 Not sure about Switzerland, but officials can seize official documents which are damaged  or mutated beyond a certain point. In the USA, it happens with drivers licenses.

Damaged documents are easy to alter or problems with fraudulent documents can be covered up.


Title: I [20m] got a message from my ex[19f]'s mother that if I didn't leave the Ex alone, I'd be hit with a restraining order.

Question:
So me and the Ex go to the same college and are in the Student Government together, so we see each other virtually every day and can't avoid it, the rest of our cabinet understands my situation and are working to help me.

The ex has given no indication to anyone or me about her wanting to be away from me, so I don't know if this is her family or herself who wants a restraining order, but if they file it on me while I haven't done anything close to stalking or harassment, can they do anything to me?

Ask any questions about anything I was unclear about, please. I live in San Antonio, TX.
Topic:
Other Civil Matters

Answer:
 Whatever the circumstances, there's crazy involved, so you're best off staying away from the ex. However, as far as the courts are concerned, her mother can't decide who her daughter can and can not speak with. Only the daughter can do that.

Treat it as a "never contact me again" letter and move on.Answer #2: Ignore her until you're actually served with an order.

And realize your school may have a separate "no contact" process as well which we won't be able to help with.


Title: (Belgium) Cops talked about my file to his daughter, who goes at the same school as me. She talked about me with her friends..

Question:
I've been having some fights with my parents (i'm still a minor) because of my weed usage. My parents went to the police with my grinder, tobacco and rolling papers to say that I use drugs etc. I was never interrogated about those 'allegations'. But now it appears that one of the girls at my school is the daughter of an officer. This officer always talks about his cases and he also talked about my case with his daughter. His daughter goes at the same school as I do and she started talking to her friends about this, which led to rumours..

Is this something the officer can 'legally' do? I never confessed anything, but is that really necessary in this case or not? I'm wondering because as it happens, I also work at the daycare of the municipality my parents went to.

Also, for those who will tell me that I just need to stop using it: Even if I stopped it wouldn't benefit me now since the rumours already started.

Answer:
 IANAL. But there is definitely Beroepsgeheim/Le secret professionnel (Don't know if you're french or dutch speaking.) [Dutch Source](http://www.belgium.be/nl/justitie/privacy/beroepsgeheim) [French source.](http://www.belgium.be/fr/justice/respect_de_la_vie_privee/secret_professionnel)

File a complaint to his superiors, if you can with evidence like text messages/ e-mails/ Facebook-screenshots.Answer #2: Is it really a good idea to "rock the boat" so to speak? Is it legal in your country to use weed? If it's not legal I would keep my mouth shut in case you piss off the cop and his cop friends.


Title: Getting back custody of my cat? Louisiana

Question:
Last year I returned to college and to save money I decided to move in with my dad. About maybe 4 days before I had planned to move in, my dad said he had gotten some allergy tests results back and that I couldn’t take my cat with me because he was now very allergic to cats instead of having a mild allergy like before.  My cat is very important to me but I didn’t have enough time or money to find a new place to live before school started.

I was, however, able to find someone on Facebook who agreed to take care of him for a year and return him to me when I was able to move into a pet friendly apartment. She is my aunt’s ex fiancé’s sister so not a complete stranger but someone I had never met. She said I could visit him as often as I’d like and that I could text her to ask about him.  When I dropped him off, she repeated reassured me that I could have him back when I was ready.

As I would text her, she would give me shorter and shorter replies no longer including pictures so I backed off so as to not annoy her. I visited him once (an hour long drive both ways) and noticed he was gaining weight but mostly seemed well otherwise. I asked her about his weight gain and she said that he was eating the amount I had told her to feed him, but wasn’t playing with his toys anymore because the dogs took his toys and they probably smelled like dogs now. I thought maybe she wasn’t including pictures anymore so she could hide the weight gain from me but after the visit she still only sent short responses when I asked about him and never included pictures like she did at first. But I had also never directly asked for pictures so I was fine with it, I just didn’t want to bother her by asking about him too much.

It’s almost the next school year and I found a pet friendly apartment. I texted her about 2 weeks ago to ask how he was again and to ask for pictures. She said he was well and that she would send pictures. A few days went by and I never heard from her again so I messaged her to talk about my apartment. I told her the move in date is aug 16 but I thought it might be best to pick him up on the 1st of September so I could pay some other one time fees when I moved in and worry about the pet deposit later. (The apartment is completely fine with that). I asked how that would work for her and she never responded it’s been about 4 days.

I know this is a little premature and she never told me that she now intends to keep him but I’m still stressed out about this situation. I know she really had bonded with my cat. She once said he sleeps on her pillow every night.  But we had agreed that I would ultimately take him back but I’m worried that she won’t return him and I don’t know what to do. There was never anything official, it was mostly verbal, texts, and Facebook messages, posts and comments. I’m also just worried about how he is because she sends very quick dismissive responses when I ask. I want to take him to an apartment with me so he can have toys to play with without any dogs or other cats taking them because I think he’ll be happier. This is literally everything I was worried about happening when I was looking for a foster home for him. Im a poor college student and I want to involve third parties (lawyers, courts, police, etc.) as little as possible. I’m also upset because I’m going to be spending money on rent that I wouldn’t have had to if I could say with my dad so it’s literally so I can be with my cat and I’ve already signed the lease and now I don’t know how to get him back!

Do I have the right to show up at her house on sept 1st and get him back? What if she won’t let me in?

TLDR when I went back to college I had to scramble to find a foster home for my cat because I didn’t have a place for him to stay for the first year. I found a lady who was willing to look after him for just until the next school year when I would get a pet friendly apartment, but now that I’m about to move to this apartment, I haven’t been able to contact my cats foster mom.

Answer: There is no "custody" of pets. They are property. Sue her


Title: My girlfriend is being bullied and forced to work for free at her new job

Question:
\[New Jersey\]

&#x200B;

She recently got a new job in retail at a big company based in England. The store is a small section within a larger department store so it is only her and this other girl working there. From the very start it was sketchy. She was promised a manager job and on her first day some other girl just started and was a manager and she was basically just a store employee. She was given no paperwork and started a month ago and still has not been paid. She was told by this new manager that she was going to be hard on her and bully her and if she told her to do something she had to do it even if she already clocked out (all this is in text messages that she has saved).

&#x200B;

This girl has been horrible to her and my girlfriend has spend every day crying dreading going in but left her old job based on the promises that this company gave her. On the company's website they have an entire section on the "Modern Day Slavery Act" and everything outlined in that section describes exactly what she is going through.

&#x200B;

She has written proof in the form of text messages of everything that has been going on and has reached out to the District Manager who has done nothing to help. I know how illegal this is and wanted to come on here to figure out the best way to handle this situation. So far the options are:

&#x200B;

1.Send the manager bullying her the link to the page for the Modern Slavery Act so she knows she can't treat anyone like this.

&#x200B;

2. Contact corporate and tell them what's going on (On the website they talk about a whistleblowing policy)

&#x200B;

3. Lawyer up and sue

&#x200B;

Any advice would be greatly appreciated. I can't stand to see her this miserable anymore and know there are a lot of avenues we can go down in this situation, just wanted to get some thoughts on here before pursuing one of them.

&#x200B;

Thanks.

&#x200B;

&#x200B;

Answer:
 If she is working and not being paid, she should contact the local labor board.

Nothing else you’ve mentioned is illegal.


Title: Soon to be divorcee. Wife doesn't want anything?

Question: [deleted]

Answer:
 Get a lawyer immediately, if I were you. You want the papers drawn up asap while she's agreeing to this. It's worth the money to have it done right.

Dogs are property. If y'all want to agree to a visitation schedule, that's up to you, but a court won't order it if y'all don't agree.