Title: What would be the best option (CAN-USA) to apply for asylum as a transgender?

Question:
A little short background, I'm 22, from South America. Do not want to specify country hope it doesn't bother anyone. Pre-Hormones.
Basically I live in a very homophobic household and I have told my mom about this before. She got very hostile and threatened to kick me if I kept up with this. This was a year ago and she has just ignored completely. Been assaulted once for dressing with female clothes on the street (no one in my house know about this) and I am very afraid of this happening again.
Also getting hormones here is close to impossible.
Have been working for a while, have gathered some money and I wanted to apply for asylum either in CAN (would like Ontario) or USA (would like NY or MA) but I was wondering:

(USA Questions):
-Is the USA even a good country to ask for asylum for trans people anymore? With Trump in the office and all. It is more convenient because I already have a VISA and the flight cost are cheaper but I do believe my chances are lower

(CAN Questions):
-Should I contact a support group before I apply for a VISA?

(Questions for both):
-How long does it usually take for them to give a result?
-Do I contact some sort of website or support group before travelling into one of these countries?
-Do they have a shelter where I could stay in while the request is in process? Since I don't think I have enough money for stance and travelling costs... maybe I could gather more money for it but my paycheck is not good and it would take me way too long and I am racing against the clock since I don't want my structure to get more masculine.

Thanks in advance.
(I do believe this is the right place to ask but if it isn't please let me know of a better one)

Answer:
 Asylum claims are not going to be easy in either Canada or the US.

To be clear: do not try to illegally cross the border and claim asylum.

The USA is a safe place to immigrate, regardless of the Trump administration's current policies. By and large the US is a welcoming, friendly place and there's a very large LGBTQ+ community active in political and social events. You may be able to make outreach with the organizations in your state of interest and see whether they can provide legal resources or suggestions.

Canada is generally more socially liberal and tolerant than the US, especially in the current climate. Be aware, too, it's a /lot/ smaller (1/10th the population) and your experiences may differ accordingly. You definitely want to apply to a LGTBQ+ support group. Toronto at the very least has quite a few. They'll be the best resources for lawyers, legal help, and overall help.

See if you can get their help to connect you with a legal representative *before* you come. If you can, get yourself to a safe place in your home country before you apply for a visa or hop on a plane.


Title: Contracted Salmonella from Whole Foods - curious if I can pursue litigation?

Question: On 7/23 I spent 12 hours in the hospital and had severe diarrhea, extreme fatigue, tachycardia, horrific headache, and extreme dehydration without a known source. I was discharged from the hospital although the doctor wanted to keep me I felt confident I could manage my illness at home. I provided a stool sample and 2 days later had a positive salmonella result.  I’m curious is it possible to sue for lost time and pain and suffering? I was extremely ill, and according to the doctor had I come in 6 hours later I could have been septic and much more sick.

Answer:
 Your main problem would be establishing that the salmonella originated from Whole Foods. Was that the only place you ate for a few days prior to getting sick?

Answer #2: *IF* you can prove that Whole Foods was the source of the *Salmonella* poisoning -- and that is a big IF -- then you can sue them only for what damages you can show actually occurred. Basically, your medical expenses. You cannot sue for what might have happened.


Title: Will a large corporation come after me for $235?

Question:
I worked for a large corporation in Texas (oil and gas, 10k+ employees) for 3 years before quitting back in June of 2017.  After quitting I got two letters and an email stating that they had overpaid me by $235 and if I didn’t immediately repay it, it might get sent to their legal department. I wasn’t worried about it cause I figured it was way to low to be actioned on for them.

It’s been eating at me lately and wanted to get some feedback.

If I don’t pay it do you think they will take legal action?

If they do take legal action what would they do and what would be the outcome?

If my flair is incorrect, let me know and I’ll change it if I can.

Resolved: Will pay it back! Not worth the risk for my credit or future employment. Thanks everyone.
Topic:
Employment Law

Answer: Maybe, is $235 really worth the risk to you?


Title: [VA] how much punishment could my sister face for molesting my brother?

Question: [removed]

Answer:
 >  she is so well liked by the community and has no prior convictions?

If she really has been abusing your brother, the fact that she is well liked and has no priors just means she does a good job hiding what she does from other people.

You're looking at felony child abuse. Years if not decades in prison. A lifetime on the sex offender list. Treatment/classes for a long time. Never being able to get a job working with children. Basically being a pariah for the rest of her life if convicted. But you did the right thing by telling your parents, child molesters are despicable and deserve neither sympathy nor mercy.

> if my parents do decide charges

If they go to the police it's out of their hands. They don't get to decide if charges are filed.


Title: Interstate custody questions (removed from other parents home)

Question: [deleted]

Answer: If you aren't going to explain the situation, no one's going to be able to give you much advice.


Title: MIL Stole Husband’s Money (NY)

Question:
Throwaway account with typo in username. Oops

Location: NY, SC

My MIL (I will call her Lisa) stole money from my husband. Lisa has been married 5 times. During her third marriage, the new husband (I will call him John) legally adopted my husband. Within a year, their marriage dissolved. During divorce proceedings, John left money for my husband in the divorce decree. He was supposed to get x amount upon marriage to purchase a new home and pay for school. This happened in NY.

Fast forward 20+ years later and 1  year after we got married. Lisa was onboard with us moving from NY to make the house money go further. We packed up and moved to AZ. Lisa told us to look for houses and verified x amount was ready to go in husband’s account. We got wrapped up with multiple realtors. We found a beautiful and affordable home within 1 month. We were living in a Motel 8 while we searched.

We conference call with realtor and Lisa. Lisa plays along but 10 minutes into the conversation admits to husband she lied and the money is long gone, claims he should have known it got wrapped up in the family business, etc. He was mortified. Lisa currently lives in a $2 million dollar home in SC, just bought a farm and BMW to match. Lisa is separated from her 5th husband and has her current boyfriend living in the house while husband 5 pays for it all of it. We think Lisa has dirt on husband 5 who feeds her poor behavior. Lisa also ruined our wedding by showing up with her boyfriend while husband 5 was there. Husband 5 took my husband under his wing the longest; he never formally adopted my husband but they got close. I digress.

My husband found adoptive father John and was able to verify he left x amount of money for him to buy a house and go to school. John looked for the divorce decree but couldn’t find it as he has “moved 3 times and didn’t know where it ended up”. John no longer lives in NY and doesn’t want to get involved with Lisa again so he will not get another copy of the divorce decree. Of course we can’t get one from Lisa. Husband and Lisa are no longer talking since she left us high and dry after moving away from family and we are now renting a basement apartment with baby #1 on the way.

We spoke to two lawyers who said we needed a copy of the divorce decree if we want to try and fight this. Since we have no way of getting a copy, is there anything else we can do?

Answer:
 There is probably a copy in the county it was filed.  Your father is not a party to the agreement so his adoptive father will likely have to enforce it via a post judgement divorce action.

Good luckAnswer #2: They will only give the records out to the parties in the divorce or to somebody with a court order.

So, you will need to obtain a court order. My \*totally uniformed\* guess is that since your husband is mentioned in the divorce agreement, he has a good chance of getting such a court order.


Title: Partner's ex threatening to call CPS on me [NM]

Question:
I am the single mom of a beautiful 2-year-old boy. I'll spare you most of the surrounding details, but I believe that my \[24/f\] partner's \[25/f\]  ex \[29/f\] will spitefully call CYFD (child protective service) on me or already has. Have done absolutely nothing wrong raising my son but there are things about my personal life (polyamorous, queer, bipolar/medicated for it) that look bad if investigated. Worth noting that I've already had CYFD visit last year because the neighbor heard my son crying too loud.

&#x200B;

How do I prepare for the inevitable CYFD visit?

Answer: The most important thing is making sure your home is clean and safe for a child. You’ll want plenty of food in the fridge and pantry, a surplus of diapers, covers in all your outlets, a gate if there are stairs, a locked cabinet for things like bleach and detergent and sprays, any medications secured and well out of reach.


Title: Ongoing battle with HOA, about vehicles and running business from home Summerville SC

Question: [deleted]

Answer:
 Get up with the people who are also in violation. Go to a HOA meeting and see if you can get them to amend those sections. If that doesn't get you anywhere, hire a lawyer. A cheap alternative would be to rent an office space for your business. Answer #2: IANAL, but from what you pasted. You said your truck as a decal. "There are only decals on the truck which is a Ford F450 Super-Duty"

The HOA rules clearly restrict: "commercial vehicle shall be brought upon or habitually"   The decal makes it a commercial vehicle, and not a personal. I will assume the other vehicles in question do not have company decals.


Title: Oklahoma. Covid-19 and employment question.

Question:
So I believe I live in a “right to work” state, meaning a person can be fired for any reason. Would I be wrong in assuming my employer will fire me if I self quarantine? I have symptoms but they want me to come in any ways. There are no tests here and the local health department says to self quarantine and started asking for my info so they can come to me to test. I hung up for fear of losing my job if I do wind up having covid-19 and am forced to quarantine and can’t leave at all.

I’m stuck between a rock and hard place. I am showing symptoms, but at the same time I will be homeless if I lose my job. Even the two week quarantine will insure that.

My manager was told by the district manager that “if they can walk then they can work. If anyone takes off for quarantine, then replace them.”

What should I do and am I stupid for bringing this up?

Answer: You’re confusing “right to work” with “at will employment”, but otherwise yes, you’re correct- the company has the right to terminate your employment for Good/Bad/No reason.


Title: Neighbor dog keeps pooping/peeing on lawn when an owner suspects no one is watching, what can I do?

Question: [deleted]

Answer: Pick up the poop, but it in a bag, set it on their front step with a note saying 'Your dog forgot this on my lawn. Stop letting it go there.'


Title: Cash for keys?

Question: Without going into a lot of detail, our landlord wants us to move out but hasn't given us an eviction notice... Is there any way that we can get "cash for keys"? (we live in California)

Answer: Without going into a lot of detail, maybe.


Title: Can You still press charges for plagiarism after five years?

Question:
So in 2012, my father and his business partner at the time wanted to open a business. They had all the paper work up and ready to go. The only thing stopping them was finance, so they put their plans on hold. About two years ago, My father made friends with a co worker. Amongst conversation he talked to this man about his dream to open said business and how he had come so close but inevitably given up due to a lack of resources, however the business plan was still his and he could resume his plans any time.

The friend of my father seemed interested and wanted to look over the the business plans. Trusting the guy, and seeing his has wholesome and interested. My father got out his old files and showed the man. At this point he asked if he could take the files home to show his wife. My father didn't think twice.

The man returned the files the next day and thanked my father. For some reason they never spoke after that. My father was didn't think about it, he just assumed they grew apart, but the man was hiding something.

We found out that when the man had taken home the files to show his wife, his real intentions were to photocopy and keep the entire business plan, which he did.

About two years ago, the man opened up the exact business my father had put all the time and money into dreaming up. Everything down to the name and logo and the location of the business is the same as it is on my fathers business plans.

My father still has the original copy of his business plans and is fully capable of proving that this man is guilty of plagiarism. However his lawyer told him that this was a case not to bother going through with. I think that's bullshit.

The man who stole my fathers life's work owes him everything and my family has nothing. Is the lawyer right? Is there nothing I can do or should I punch my father to finally push charges. Or is it too late.

Keep in mind, the business is still open and running and the man still makes money off my fathers idea without asking permission or crediting him or every paying any kind of royalties.

Answer: Plagiarism isn't a thing once you get out of school. If your father wanted to keep a business idea a secret, he should not have shown it to anyone.


Title: [MI] I stopped paying my ISP bill and the ISP forgot about me

Question:
So back late last year I lost my job. As such I wasn't able to continue paying my bills. This past January I got a new job and paid off the outstanding debts that had incurred except for my internet bill. I had simply forgotten about it. For reference the ISP's name rhymes with "pompast". Maybe around April I remembered that I hadn't paid that off but also, curiously, noticed that they hadn't sent any bills in the mail nor had they called me asking for my money. In the end I decided to ignore this bill as I figured, "They should be calling me, right? That's what the other bill collectors had been doing. Maybe they'll call me eventually"

To this date they still have not called or sent any letters. When I try to look up my account info on their website it says the account doesn't exist. In fact, maybe 2 weeks ago, they **sent me** a check, presumably for overpaying at some point. I've not cashed it

My question comes down to what should my course of action be. The way I see it I have 2 options: call them and pay the balance or ignore them. The 2nd option is very enticing because who doesn't love sticking it to "the man" but I'm worried if they find out that they'll come after me, legally. I still have hardware from them too (router & basic cable box). I'm worried if I drop off the hardware this will trigger bells saying, "uhh...this guy hasn't paid his bill in 6+ months." I've received absolutely no interruption in internet service. I've not checked the cable box as it was part of a special that we never ended up using anyway.

So what might be my best course of action against such a large company?

Answer:
 Comcast employee here.

In all likelihood, your account has not been billing for the entire duration; occasionally we will see an account disconnect for nonpayment but the modem will stay provisioned.  Physical disconnects are rare today so as long as it is provisioned and on an active line, it will work.

Sooner or later, it will stop.  You likely have some equipment charges on the account but these would be reversed upon the equipment being returned or the account being reactivated with the same equipment.

In all likelihood, you are probably only on the hook for ~90 days or so of bill at most.  Don't bother asking for the late fees as they would not be waived.

My advice? Call, ask what your balance is minus equipment charges, pay it. I wouldn't mention the service working for this time period.  The company can and will assess charges for unbilled time, but very unlikely that would come up on its own.Answer #2: You did not cancel the service, so you are responsible for the monthly fees. Even if they forget to bill you for the next year, they can charge you for past services when they do detect the error and can (and with that company probability will) turn you over to collections.

Contact the company and tell them there is an error on your account. Make arrangements to pay the past balance in installments. Waiting for them to find it will just make it a larger bill and them less friendly on you catching up.


Title: Service Dog in Training (Ohio)

Question:
I am a college student and would like to work with an organization that trains service dogs. The organization requires that the landlord signs a paper acknowledging that service dogs in training will be in the house. I contacted my landlord and they said they will not sign the paper and will not work with the organization. I have been told by others that have worked with the organization that service dogs in training have the same rights as service dogs. The landlord allows pets as long as they are up to date on their vaccinations/other typical requirements.

Is my landlord allowed to deny my request to have a service dog in training in the house?
Topic:
Landlord Tenant Housing

Answer:
 I don't think this falls under ADA as you yourself are not disable nor will need use of the dog. You are simply training it for a person that will need the dog's aid.

To be clear here your landlord does have the right not to work with this training organization, even if they allow pets it doesn't mean they are forced to work with a different company just because you want to work for this training organization. Answer #2: The Americans with Disabilities Act does not cover service dogs in training. However, state law - [Ohio Revised Code Section 955.42](http://codes.ohio.gov/orc/955.43) \- extends the same rights to service dogs in training in all places of "pubic accommodation", if you meet several requirements (dog must be leashed, covered by liability insurance, etc.).

&#x200B;

However, apartments/homes are not places of public accommodation and thus not covered by this law. Ohio law covering housing only protects service dogs and emotional support animals - not service dogs in training. Additionally, the dog is not YOUR service dog in training (it is not in training to perform tasks for your disability) and therefore the coverage would not extend to this dog anyway.

&#x200B;

If that landlord allows pets, why isn't he allowing this service dog in training? Does he require a pet fee? If so, I recommend paying the pet fee if you can, or discussing the possibility of a reduced fee with him. He is not legally required to house the dog as a service dog in training, but if you meet the requirements that he has for housing regular pets, I don't see why he wouldn't let you live with the dog.


Title: Developer put a basketball court backed up to the rear of my property, I know this is a recipe for kids/teenagers hopping my fence to retrieve lost balls. Possibly hurting themselves or being bitten by my dogs. We are pretty upset about this, our rights and options?

Question:
Townhomes (which have now sold but are not occupied) went up behind my home recently and the original plans showed a pool and some planters backing up to my fence, which we already were not thrilled about, but for whatever reason they erected a basketball court instead.

No one is living there yet and already every afternoon, teenagers are coming to play ball. No problems yet (its been a week) but I know there there is eventually going to be people jumping into my yard to retrieve things or to bother my livestock (I have birds in a very large aviary at the rear of my property)

The existing wall is block,  6 ft high. This is as high as zoning allows. I can't go higher.

I have planted shrubs at the fenceline, but it will be years before that is effective.

&#x200B;

If I catch someone in my yard my only recourse is to tell them to leave and/or call the police correct? What happens if they fall/ get bitten/fall on a sharp plant etc (I have cactus not far from the wall.)

Any sort of moat/barbwire/electrified fence etc will still get me sued if a kid ignores proper signage correct?

&#x200B;

Also any anecdotal advice on deterents is welcome if allowed in this sub.

&#x200B;

Thanks all

&#x200B;

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Answer: Put up appropriate signs, no trespassing, beware of dog stuff like that. They won’t alleviate all concerns but it’s a good start Answer #2: You can always ask for a zoning variance, since it would actually serve a purpose and help make the court more usable, you might get one. Much easier than building a moat.Answer #3: If I were you I’d consider seeking a zoning variance (may not be the right language) to build a higher fence.


Title: blackmailed over a private photo

Question:
Not really sure what to say here.

A  few months ago i talked with a guy (im male) over e-mail after a  craigslist post. We had a brief conversation of a sexual nature but he  wasnt sending any photos so i ended up bailing out. I had sent him a  photo of me, naked, but with a bar over my eyes and part of my face. You  cant really see my face but its showing enough that if you knew me well  it would obviously be me. Three months later i suddenly got multiple  threatening phone calls from an unknown number telling me to check my  e-mail (i stopped using that address). Upon checking it is the same guy  who has used my e-mail to find my facebook and phone number (i have  since changed my privacy settings and disable my facebook) because he  said we had a friend in common which allowed him to see my friends list  and basic info. He is now demanding that i meet up with him in real life  (he wants to come to my house or meet in my car) originally demanding  sex but now just saying he wants to "meet up and talk".  If i dont meet  him this week he said he will send our conversation and that photo to  all my friends and family. By no means do i plan on meeting up with him  as i fear for my safety.

Can the police  do anything significant? I worry that he is unhinged and if i involve  the police or piss him off further he will take things even further. The  number he called me from was unknown (i suspect perhaps he could have  used an online service as he sounded delayed) and the e-mail i have been  getting from him is masked by a craigslist domain. Im also thinking of  leaving my FB disabled or changing my privacy settings to FRIENDS only  and taking the risk.

Does anyone have any device? Im quite stressed.

Answer: Seriously, when someone threatens you like that, call the police.


Title: I was in a car accident a month ago. The other driver is now hiring an attorney to sue for injuries. What's going to happen to me?

Question:
I'm here in the lovely rainy state of Oregon.

About a month ago I was in my first ever accident. I had stopped at a stop sign, where my view of oncoming traffic was obstructed by parked cars, and I hit someone as I went to go straight.

I was going 10mph at most when I ran into him on the side; he overcorrected and ran into a tree. Before the cops arrived on the scene, I immediately checked on him to make sure he was okay. During the hour we were at the scene, he assured me multiple times he was fine.

I was at fault for the accident, however the cops did not give me a ticket because apparently similar accidents happen at that intersection frequently because of the obstructed view. I was able to provide my insurance (progressive) but he was driving with a suspended license (medical reasons) and no proof of insurance.

Well just moments ago I got a message from Progressive letting me know that he is making a claim for injuries and has now hired an attorney.

I guess I just want to know what I am on the hook for with this financially. Also, will this affect me in any way in the future?

I just started "adulting" a few months ago, so this is just a fantastic start to it all. I just don't really know much when it comes to insurance and all of that.

Thanks for any info you all can provide!

Answer: Your insurance will handle this. They'll work to settle, and if you are sued, they will provide legal representation for you in court.


Title: My brother stole my tiny house (roughly 5k of materials) what do I do?

Question:
Hello this is in [WA]-[CA],

Here is a little backstory.

I had previously built a tiny house in 2015 and have the materials listed in my bank statement.
My brother moved out to my property 4 months ago to build a tiny house for himself out of my timber and to get away from the city. The disagreement started when he demanded that I give him a free acre, and I said "no". I work in the city and the property is 5 hours away. So I haven't heard from him in 4 weeks and a neighbor tells me he trashed my property and took my tiny house. He has probably driven to Northern California by now to stay at his girlfriends dads property.

What can / should I do?

Thank you in advance for your time and input.

Edit: for clarification: I either want to be compensated for the materials I have put into the tiny house or be given the tiny house back. I do not mind charging him with theft if he is to stubborn to do either of those.

Answer: Call the police.


Title: Got summoned to court for a car I financed and turned out to be a lemon

Question: I bought a car from a dealership and turned out to be bad they gave me the run around on getting it fixed and I decided they can have it back  now I'm being summoned to court over the contract that's less than $25,000 maybe $12,000 at the most but I dont have the money at the moment to do contracts or payments. Can I be arrested for not showing up or what would be the best way to handle this?

Answer:
 >Can I be arrested for not showing up

No, but they will win by default.

>what would be the best way to handle this?

Pay the money that you owe them.

>and I decided they can have it back

Did they agree to this? Did the car come with a warranty?


Title: A prank got out of hands and I would like advice

Question:
I created a fake email impersonating a well known casting director and sent emails to influencers in my city just to mess with them and have them act ridiculous scripts and share them with my friends (I’m an idiot)

The real casting director emailed me and told me their lawyers are working on the case, I’m really worried what should I do? It was just a stupid prank but now I’m worried I’m gonna get arrested

I’m from Spain

Answer:
 For starters dont discuss a possible case against you on the internet.Answer #2: Take this as a learning experience.

Hopefully he doesn't actually sue you, like one of the other posters has said.

I want to clarify what you did here.

"I pretended to be someone and sent emails to a group of people presenting them with what might be their lifelong dream in order to humiliate and demean them"

Stop doing pranks, they are almost universally bad and shitty behavior.


Title: My sister's ex has a video of her smoking weed back in college and is threatening to use it as blackmail.

Question: My sister is trying to get hired as a nurse in the ER and her ex is saying he's going to send the video of her smoking weed to the hospital she's trying to get hired at. Is there anything she can do? Does she have anything to be worried about? (IL)

Answer:
 1.) It's not "blackmail" unless he is demanding something in return.  If he's just doing it to be a dick, that's not illegal.

2.) He has a video of her smoking SOMETHING.  Proving it's marijuana may not be so easy.

3.) Did the hospital ask about her drug use?  Was she honest?


Title: Divorce Agreement States Specific County for School Attendance - Florida

Question:
My wife's divorce agreement with her ex-husband states that their child (now aged 14) must attend a specific county for schooling here in Florida. This effectively forces us to have to live in this county (same County he lives in).

We want to buy a house but home costs in this area are significantly more expensive than costs in neighboring counties. My wife has spoken to him about us moving there and he informed her tonight that he will not allow it under any circumstances due to her being further from him(50 minute drive from his home, 30 minutes from his work).

This is despite him talking to the child and being informed that they want to move as well. Also, the school we want her to attend is rated significantly higher than the one we are currently zoned for.

Our lease is up in a few months and now we are needing to know what we can expect when involving a lawyer. Is there anything else that would help here?
Topic:
Custody Divorce and Family

Answer: A petition to amend a divorce decree can be filed for modifying any of the rights and obligations specified in the divorce decree.


Title: School said my son can't sell candy at school

Question: So my son sells candy for a profit at school. He doubles his money and for a kid, is doing fairly well. Except the principal listed many reasons (some spurious) he had to stop with the big reasons being the school is nonprofit and that the kids have a strict nutrition diet. I understand that it's basically their premises so they can say what they want. Does he as a student have to conform to their requests?

Answer:
 > Does he as a student have to conform to their requests?

Yes.Answer #2: School isn't some free-enterprise zone, and administrators have wide latitude to enforce various limitations on student dress, speech, and conduct.

I ran the donut cart in high school;  we made out like bandits.   But the ASB got a cut, and the band got a cut, and the Dean of Discipline got one maple bar every day.

It's a family tradition;  at ten, Dad was sneaking into the shipyard and undercutting the commissary's cigarette prices.


Title: Bad fall in 2011. No documentation. No luck?

Question:
(Keep in mind, I'm just being honest) Had a bad fall back in 2011, got drunk at one of our local American legion bars with a newish boyfriend who wasn't around when I fell outside running with some strangers, but I fell, badly hurt my face breaking almost every facial bone among bad abrasions.  Don't know who's hand I was holding as I ran in the parking lot but these are just short cliff notes to see if I have a chance of any compensation all these years later. It was 8 years ago then.

Long story short, I didn't document anything then and am having all my teeth pulled now due to the damage and need implant supported snap in dentures to preserve my bone and it's quite expensive but I'm already in the process. I know I can deduct it in taxes but it was a bad fall that has emotionally and physically impacted me for so long now. Just seems like there should be more I can do. Would appreciate any advice, thanks.

Answer: Who exactly are you trying to hold responsible for your fall? From your description, it sounds like it's 100% your own fault.


Title: Legality of armature pornography in california

Question: I am starting a armature porn company and was wondering what legal hoops i would have to jump through in order to avoid be arrested for something like soliciting prostitution.

Answer:
 Well, California recognizes a difference between prostitution and legal pornography production (it is one of only two states that do), so you're in luck there.

The hoops you're going to have to jump through, however, are the various regulations, health codes, condom laws, federal record keeping requirements, and agencies you will need to deal with.

Your best bet is to hire a lawyer with adult entertainment experience (and a good reputation) who can guide you through all of this.


Title: My SO is an authorized user on one of his deceased mother's credit cards. We hired a lawyer and he is handling probate. He told us not to pay any of her bills but my SO's credit score just dropped 50 points. She passed on 2/20/17 in Warrenton, Mo. Should we be concerned?

Answer:
 Assuming this is because the account has gone delinquent, he simply needs to call the credit bureaus and report the account as an authorized user, and request removal.
Answer #2: He can call and remove himself from the card.  He should do that.


Title: I left an old fridge in my building that had tomato juice leaking out and the management involved authorities .

Question:
We have an area in my building that  people set out free things and I needed to get rid of this fridge. Apparently one of the senile old hags in my building thought it was blood. What should I expect when they figure out who did this?

  I would explain it to them myself but these old ladies   want me out of the building .They already know who put the fridge out and they are trying to cause problems

Portland , OR

Answer: Just let it ride. The cops will know immediately it isn’t blood.


Title: [Legal Counsel Advice] - Bitcoin and Cryptocurrency

Question:
Helllo,

Some of you may not know on this subbredidit, but there is a cryptocurrency exchange called Bittrex that stole about $30,000 dollars from my account and refuse to acknowledge that this is the fact. I am prepared to lawyer up to take them on. Does anyone know any good legal counsel that can help in this matter? Or what kind of lawyer to hire? They apparently have a cryptocurrency lawyer, and I'm almost certain he has done some shady, illegal things in his lifetime I don't want that kind of lawyer, a standup lawyer who can deal with this case would be preferable. Any recommendations would be appreciated, thank you. I am from California.

Answer:
 Why do you believe a litigation partner at one of the premier law firms in the country is a criminal?  /u/grasshoppa1 is a big fan of fake money and might be able to helpAnswer #2: >Does anyone know any good legal counsel that can help in this matter?

We don't do referals but the bar association in the applicable jurisdiction might.

> Or what kind of lawyer to hire?

The bar association will probably be more specific but probably one that has gone up against banks in the past.

also: delete the link to their counsel.Answer #3: > They apparently have a cryptocurrency lawyer, and I'm almost certain he has done some shady, illegal things in his lifetime

No. Don't even go there.

>  there is a cryptocurrency exchange called Bittrex that stole about $30,000 dollars from my account

What is the backstory here? They didn't just steal money from you. How do you know someone didn't just hack into your account and take it? Why do you think it's Bittrex's fault?

Have you tried to contact Bill? /u/Bittrex-bill (not sure if he even checks Reddit anymore, but he's active on Skype)


Title: Title Transfer with Someone Else's Name on the Back of the Title

Question: Hi, I am located in California and am looking to purchase a vehicle off someone who has started the registration process but had not completed it due to the lack of a smog check. The person is able to drive the car legally somehow, I believe the DMV did not finalize the registration or title transfer due to the lack of a smog check. He does not have the bill of sale between him and the last owner, however, the title is signed off and his information written on the back of the title. Will I be able to transfer the title to my name if I purchase the car with his name on the back of the title and without a bill of sale between him and the previous owner, or will a bill of sale between him and I be sufficient? Thank you in advance!

Answer: That is jumping title and illegal. Also you cannot sell a car that cannot pass smog.


Title: Abusive Grandparents trying to get custody of me.

Question: [deleted]

Answer:
 Very sorry for your loss.
Speak to a social worker-ASAP. Tell them about the abuse. Since you are old enough, you should have some input about where you are going to live.Answer #2: I'm very sorry.

It's unlikely you can be emancipated, but guardianship could potentially be awarded to your cousin. Some information [here](https://www.childwelfare.gov/pubPDFs/placement.pdf) and [here](http://children-laws.laws.com/legal-guardianship/arkansas-guardianship-law). It appears that you're old enough that consideration will be given to your wishes, that relatives are preferred over non-relatives, and that the determining factor for the court in awarding guardianship is *your* best interests.


Title: [California] - Does an employee have to be sick (or sick related) to get paid sick leave? Example inside

Question:
If an employee quit on May 25, pay day is June 8, and she emails on May 31 saying "hey can I use the rest of my sick pay on this pay cheque" even if she didn't miss any work?

Related question just in case...do they have to actually miss work to use the sick pay/leave?

Answer:
 CA doesn't require paying out unused sick leave.  Contract or company policy may allow or require it.

http://www.nolo.com/legal-encyclopedia/california-passes-paid-sick-leave-law.html


Title: [Florida] Registering to vote with secondary home address.

Question:
Bit of a minor question here, but I want to verify what I'm doing is legally okay before I get convicted of voter fraud or something.

Some background: I'm 18, still living with my parents. My dad never gives his real home address in official forms and such, since he's worried the government will sell his address to companies that will "send [him] mass spam mail and try to sell [him] stuff," his words; to protect his privacy, he instead puts down our P.O. box address, and tells the rest of the family to do the same. So, when I registered to vote, I put down our P.O. box address instead of our home address.

Fast forward to today, when I called my county election office and was informed that my registration was not fully processed because the address I gave was not in a residential area.

I still want to register to vote, but I'm not able to put my real home address for the aforementioned family reasons. My dad suggested I put down my grandfather's home address instead, since we live in the same House/Senate districts (my grandfather and I are close, so he would be okay with it.)

My question is: would it be legal to put down my grandfather's address instead of my own in the voter registration form? Or, considering the current political climate in the US, would it be considered voter fraud and could I be prosecuted?

Thanks!

Answer:
 > would it be legal to put down my grandfather's address instead of my own

No.  That's voter fraud.


Title: (NYC) I'm receiving daily calls from a debt collector that refuses to give me any info

Question:
A little over two weeks ago, I received a call on my cell phone from an unfamiliar number, and when I picked up a person asked for me by name. They didn't identify themselves, and asked me to verify my birthdate and address. When I asked who they were, they said they were "IC Systems" and were "calling about a personal business matter". I said that I would not be divulging any personal information until they explained why they were calling, and after their continued refusal, I hung up.

I googled the number and the company name, and found that they were a debt collection agency, which made my stress level go through the roof because I have good credit.

The thing is, I can't imagine what the debt could be. I have student loans, but am in constant contact with the loan holder and am on a payment plan with them. There was an incident last fall where I went to a doctor's office to set up a new primary care physician after making sure that doctor took my insurance, but it turned out they weren't in-network; I followed my insurer's instructions about filing an Out of Network Surprise Medical Bill form with New York State, and the balance on that account is now zero.

The calls have occurred once daily since that first call, including on weekends, and including after 8 PM.

I'm not giving anyone my personal info, but they refuse to divulge what specifically they're calling about until I do.

This is incredibly stressful, and I don't know what to do.
Topic:
Credit Debt Bankruptcy

Answer:
 /r/personalfinance

They'll give you the step by step on how to request verification of debt and dispute anything that is incorrect. There's a pretty short time frame for this, so it's something you'll probably want to do as soon as possible.


Title: 34 Yrs Old - Absconded from Halfway House while serving on a felony conviction in Colorado - HELP!

Question:
Time to become legitimate. Off grid too long. (Friends Account for obvious reasons)

Need to know if it's possible to get a Social Security Card, Birth Certificate and Drivers License in another state. Will I be denied or arrested/extradited in this process? I understand Statute of Limitations will not apply in regard to "escape" due to the conviction.

What's the best way to handle this? Can I be a legit part of society and just avoid Colorado or will I be flagged and stuffed back in the system?

Felony was non-violent. Please help.

EDIT: Are the DMV, SS Office etc. going to be flagged when I try to get documentation?
EDIT: It's been just over five years since the "escape".

**Thank you all for the tough love.
Topic:
Criminal Law

Answer:
 The DMV and driving are your principal exposures to identity checks.   Some DMVs, like Texas DPS, take a ten-print card.    Almost all take a thumbprint.   And because your prints are in AFIS, you're certain to be discovered.    Driving without a license and inability to identify yourself can also result in getting your prints run.

Every State will extradite you to Colorado if you are identified by law enforcement.

The right thing to do is to negotiate a surrender, represented by a criminal defense attorney.   You don't just have to walk into the local precinct and say "it's over.  You caught the Tater."

Wouldn't you rather do this on your own schedule having secured your belongings and affairs ?

Walking around like a desperado must be so stressful, and being taken into custody when you don't expect it is going to be dangerous and abrupt for you and whatever LEO you encounter.


Title: If an armed man walks into a store or bank, takes a customer and says he will kill her if the clerk doesn't empty the cash register, if the clerk refuses and h woman is killed, can the clerk be held liable?

Answer:
 No. Usually, the murderer is the one responsible for committing the murder.

There's no law that forces you to cave in to the demands of armed assailants.Answer #2: Not in the United States or in any other country I can think of.Answer #3: No, but I can't imagine why anyone would do that. It's not like there's millions of dollars in a cash register or a bank teller window. They're going to get a couple thousand at most in a bank, and only a few hundred in a store. Training is always "give the robber the money, we have insurance for that". The clerk won't face any charges, but literally everyone around them is going to consider them a monster for choosing a few hundred dollars over someone's life.


Title: (OR) About to quit job, worried my employer will try and get out of paying me ~200hrs of PTO

Question:
I am planning to quit my job of over 8 years soon and I have around 200 hours of vacation time/PTO that I have earned over the years and never used. The time was all earned a few years ago when the company had a rollover policy, but they have since changed to a "use-it-or-lose-it" policy. However when the policy change was made we were all assured that any time we had earned up to that point would not go away.

&#x200B;

Due to the way the company has handled other situations, I am worried that when I quit they will try and find a way not to pay me my accrued time.

&#x200B;

My question is basically how to prepare for this and if there is anything I should do before I quit to help myself in case this happens. The time currently shows up in my employee payroll account, which I will take screenshots of, but I'm worried I may lose access to it once I quit.

Answer: How tragic OP that you were just diagnosed with erythema solare, you'll need the next 5 weeks off to recover from this very sudden ailment.  I wish you a fast and speedy recovery and I hope you can pull through.


Title: [NV] Grandma arrested for trespassing

Question: [deleted]

Answer:
 You missed the part that said "or commit unlawful act." going through trash on private property is illegal since it is someone elses property.

You need an attorney.


Title: Can someone help me know what to expect in small claims court?

Question: [deleted]

Answer:
 > What do I need in order to not look like an idiot?

First off all, have all your evidence with you (and order it so that you can easilly find every bit of evidence). (I preffer to have a copy of everything for both the judge and the opposing party)

Secondly wear nice clothes (a judge might not expect you to wear a suit but look at what you have at home and think: would that be appropriate to wear in a professional enviorement like a court room).

Lastly: small claims court is  often public, check with your local court to see if you can observe a couple of cases (if your case is planned a little bit later on the day then you could come early to observe or you could go a couple of days beforehand when you've got some time). Observing some cases will give you an idea about how the process works and how you should act, but one of the best things about it is the fact that you see that court isn't as scary as you might think so it can give you some confidence about the fact that you are ready and you don't have to be scared (the judge doesn't bite you).


Title: My wife's old employer posted a lot of files on a google share drive. It had my wifes personal folder that had information that was PERSONAL in nature. We live in Texas.

Question:
My wife worked for a small non-profit for close to 11 years and she quit and moved on to another job years ago. The place she used to work for found her old computer and copied all of the files and sheets that she made and posted this online in a Google doc.

My wife got a phone call today from one of her friends that there was a folder online that had all of my wife's personal and private emails, letters ect that she had written for the 11 years she worked there. My wife went and looked and sure enough there was the file and it has all kinds of things that people should not be able to look at. Including some letters we wrote to our mortgage when we were having money issues a long time ago.
These letters had both mine and my wife's SS# and bank account information on them.

Now the person that posted the files will not remove them and people are starting to see this.
I want to know if there is anything I can do lawyer wise to make this stop and then sue the crap out of this person.

Answer: Your wife screwed up not her employer. Why the hell was she storing personal documents on her work PC? The employer made a reasonable assumption that only work related files were stored there.


Title: Wrongful Termination?

Question:
In early April 2017 I was formally offered a department management (meat & seafood) position via email which I accepted at Fred Meyer, a Kroger company in the Northwest. I began the pre employment background screening which I was not concerned about because I've been in recovery from addiction for 6 and a half years and on a prescription called suboxone under a doctors care which I have to drug test monthly to be allowed to stay on and be remain substance free. I have 6 and a half years of clean drug tests. Not all have been sent to the lab but plenty have. I have no criminal history whatsoever.

I was diagnosis with strep throat two days before my Fred Meyer drug test. I was on 2 different prescriptions plus anything OTC that would help the sore throat plus my Suboxone. The test was a cheek swab administered by an untrained Fred Meyer employee, the assistant manager. She DROPPED the sample on the floor after taking it! I had already signed the paperwork but asked her "don't you think that could be contaminated since it fell on the floor?". She replied "It will be fine". I know a lot about drugs and drug test and that's not fine which I expressed but it was sent out anyway. Three weeks later I received a call from the lab saying I tested positive for Meth... I've never done Meth, I'm in recovery from opiates.. The lab person asked if I was talking any medications which was not asked until this point. I said yes, quite a few but I'll start with Suboxone. She say's "that wouldn't make you test positive for this" and hangs up on me. I call back immediately and say I have a list of 7 OTC meds I was taking and 2 prescriptions for strep throat. I get through two and get hung up on again.

At this point the lab hadn't contacted Fred Meyer with my "positive" result. I called Fred Meyer to be proactive and inform them that there was a mistake made. I told them that I've been on a medication and drug tested regularly for the last 6 years when this was going on, longer now and offered to release my medical records or bring in copies AND take another test that I'd pay for to prove my innocence. They said they will wait to hear from the lab and we can go from there.

In the meantime I take in copies of all my drug test history to show them and they say I must wait. A week later I get a call saying I failed my criminal background and they cannot hire me and that I can reapply in 6 months. I had just gotten the copy in the mail that said I had no criminal history so I took that in and showed HR. She seemed confused and told me that she would call me and needed to make some phone calls. I had to call her and she just told me that they can't hire me because I failed my drug test and I could reapply in 6 months.

I was out of work for over a month a result because I'd already put in my 2 weeks with current employer and fell behind on all bills which forced me to have to sell my home back in October.

I also know that in lab drug test there is GC/MS and GS/MS "confirmatory" test of positive results. One takes the chemicals down to illegal or legal substances, the other just shows positive weather it was a legal or illegal substance. I had taken vick's inhaler while having strep throat which is know to test positive for meth and I'm certain Kroger's lab does not split the chemicals to tell if it an illegal or legal substance since that is far more expensive process than just generally categorizing it.

I got a lawyer and told her I wanted lost wages. She said we have something here and filed a poorly and fact lacking demand letter which I gave her scientific and medical facts with citations that would create a persuasive demand letter having the drug background and knowledge I do but she only included my drug test results. She cited break of contract and promissory estoppel in the demand letter and asked for $100,000 and this was prior to me having to sell my home. Kroger replied  by saying "even if the test was contaminated, we stand by our findings and reject your demand". My lawyer and I talked and she decided to make contact by phone and use the facts and citations I'd provided her. She left the country for two weeks before making that phone call and when she returned was uninterested and told me you can but down a $10,000 deposit and we can take them to court or I cannot help you anymore in this matter. I felt screwed over and she was just too busy for me. I didn't have the money at the time because I was unemployed to file a lawsuit but since selling my home do now and am willing to if I have a strong case.

Looking for advice if this is something I have grounds to pursue before finding a real lawyer to take the next step or if I'm just overreacting and just got screwed by a corporate company. I know the statue of limitations is shorter on employment disputes so I need make my mind up soon or let it go. To my understanding under ADA guidelines recovering addicts like myself are a protected class but active users are not since addiction is classified as a disease by the CDC.

Any advice is much appreciated, I apologize for the poor grammar and overly long post just wanted to include as much as I could so that I can get the most honest answers. Thanks for your time and hoping to get some clarification on my next step!

Answer:
 A lot of job offers do have contingencies attached.

Plus if you are in a “At will” State (I don’t see any location mentioned) you have no legal grounds that I can see [IANAL].

Edit:  you mentioned “Northwest” so I take it Washington State or Oregon and either are “At Will” States so even if you can successfully argue that you were an employee (though you haven’t started work yet from your OP), you could be let go for any reason ( other than specific exceptions)...


Title: Was told to take 10 Vitamin D's a day

Question: I was told I had low Vitamin D by a doctor. I  went to a chemist and was told to take 10 Vitamin D's a day. that I should take 10,000 units a day by a worker who stood and collected scripts from me where the pharmacists stand. This is in Australia, Victoria. 4 hospital trips later and now finding out I have Vitamin D poisoning. What should I do? I had to pull out of uni that I was doing well at. I was and am so sick from it.

Answer: 10,000 IU isn’t an uncommon amount to take if you’re deficient. Depending on the severity some people even get prescribed 50,000-70,000 IU pills.Answer #2: When the actual doctor told you that you had low vitamin d did he recommend a dosage to improve that logic?


Title: Glass Smashed Over My Head at a Bar and they Let the Woman Leave, Do I Have a Case? (Chicago)

Question:
Hi Reddit - Seeking out your help with a legal question...Do I have any legal recourse with the bar here?

I was at a bar in Chicago with a large group of friends this past Saturday, the timeline below will show approximate times for the events as they unfolded. I think the bar was at fault for letting my assailant leave the bar and for over serving but I would like your advice

~12:50am
 - I was having a face to face conversation with a friend and a VERY intoxicated woman shoved her way through us almost knocking us over
 - I said something to her along the lines of "Excuse us" (in a very sarcastic way)

~12:51:am
 - Displeased with my snarky comment, the 'perp' (let's call her "Karen") winds up and throws contents of her drink at my face
 - She missed and I found that hilarious, so I started laughing at the situation that was unfolding

~12:52am
 - I learn Karen doesn't have a very good sense of humor as she takes her now empty beer glass and smashes me in the head with it
 - I stood there in shock at what just happened and then feel the blood rolling down my face as bystanders look on and notice the situation
 - Karen runs to another part of the bar, presumably to make her escape before the police show up

~12:53am
 - The bouncers see a commotion and my bloody face and go track down my assailant and proceed to push her out of the bar
 - Not wanting her to get away, I followed the bouncers and informed them that she was the person that did this to my face
 - *AS they push her out of the bar, the bouncers say that they are "following her and won't let her get away"*
 - I am pulled away into the back office to receive medical attention from a nurse at the bar
 - The bar calls the police

~12:59am
 - The police arrive as I am receiving treatment and ask a little bit about Karen (At this point I am very skeptical about them ever finding her since the bar did not take any information or detain her until the police arrived)
 - Bouncer is still "tailing Karen"
 - They leave for a quick search of the area

~1:05am
 - The police came back and informed me that they were unable to find Karen and gave me my police report

~1:20am
 - My face is bandaged up, clothes are bloody, and all I have are a group of scared friends and an empty promise of a police report that will allow me to call the police if I were to track her down that night...

After I received first aid and it was determined that I didn't need further medical attention, I turned to the bar employees and began asking for a little more information to see if I had a case to pursue at a later date. During this questioning process, I learned that Karen had been a problem for bar patrons all night and even managed to push down one of the bouncers earlier in the night. She was allowed to stay and continue drinking until she was escorted out after the incident with the glass and my face.

The bouncer I was talking to noted that "he would have kept her on site until the police arrived if he were the manager" but unfortunately for me, he was not the one in charge that night.

The bar manager then came into the room and noted that there is a "GRAY AREA" in dealing with situations like this, but this one seems pretty black and white to me...Woman smashes guy in face with glass, woman needs to answer to the police.

For an analogy...if I were to get in a car accident, both parties need to share their information before anyone leaves the scene. Imagine a car accident caused by another and you suffer injuries to your face. Then imagine a stranger comes out of nowhere and instructs the faulty party to leave the premises (without collecting any information!) while you get medical treatment from another bystander.

It seems to me that the bar needed to collect the woman's information or make sure she didn't leave the premises until the cops arrived.

Do I have a case against the bar? I don't think that the woman will ever be found, but I want to get closure and make sure that this doesn't happen again because next time it could be far worse.

I appreciate any and all feedback and also will be happy to provide some additional information if you need anything.

Answer:
 The bar is not the police.  Call the police.Answer #2: >It seems to me that the bar needed to collect the woman's information or make sure she didn't leave the premises until the cops arrived.

That is not the bar's responsibility.  The bar is not law enforcement.  They open themselves up to legal issues if they restrain people against their will, particularly when it is not clear what happened in a crowded bar situation.


Title: Quoting someone's Yelp review to print on merchandise - legally doable?

Question: Nevada.  Someone left a ridiculously bad (yet hilarious) Yelp review for my business. I'd like to print a portion of said Yelp review onto a run of T-shirts, to sell in our merch store.  Am I legally able to do this? Or would I need permission from the author of the post to use their quote?

Answer: Absolutely you can, especially if you put it in quotesAnswer #2: This would fall under fair use doctrine.  Answer #3: As a screen printer, I'd do it. I'd also attribute it to the individual's name or user name who left it as it was placed on a public forum and not meant for private conversation. I look at it as it is no different than quoting historical figures with proper attributions or a freedom of speech movement. Answer #4: Doesn't the Alamo Drafthouse do this before every movie?


Title: What does a human rights lawyer's desk name plate look like?

Question:
Sorry if this is the wrong subreddit to ask this, but my girl best friend's 18th birthday is comin up. She's currently studying political science, and dreams to be a human rights lawyer. I just wanna give her a desk name plate that she can put on her study desk to give her that extra boost of motivation.

All I can see on google are name plates with a scale of justice on the side, a name in the middle, and "Attorney at Law" below the name. I just wanna make sure if this is the same layout for human rights lawyers. :D

Answer: She's 18, odds are she'll have multiple career ideas as an undergraduate. That can end up being a cursed gift if she never makes it into law school. Save the lawyer themed gifts for the bar exam celebration.


Title: Labor law related: Can an employer require an employee to take unpaid time off so that they don't exceed 40 hrs/week?

Question:
This is in Arizona, which by my understanding falls under the FLSA for OT laws due to no specific AZ statutes for OT.

The basics of the context:  Non-exempt position. Regular work hours are from 8a-4:30p, within which is a 1/2hr unpaid lunch. Pay is by hourly wage.

On some occasions, due to the variability of the work (which involves field work with clients), an employee may work till 5:30p or 6:00p, for example. Were they to continue their regular schedule, they would end up with > 40 hrs for the workweek, and thus would be paid OT for the excess hours.

However, the employer states that if the employees go long on certain days, they must "flex" that overage time on subsequent days within the workweek, so that they end with 40 hrs/week. So for example, come into work 1 hr late, or leave an hour early, if they ran long by an hour the day before.

What is the legality of this?  It doesn't appear in the employee handbook that it explicitly states the 8a-4:30p work schedule - and if it did, would that even matter either way?  Any information or leads on investigating it further would be greatly appreciated. Thanks!

Answer:
 generally speaking (absent an employment contract, which you don't have), as long as it's within the same workweek, yes, this is legal.

what is *not* permitted is for them to make you take hours off the following week, or to have you work hours one week and pay them another, to dodge overtime. but these guys are doing it within the same week, so it's kosher.


Title: [SD,CA] When is the time to contact HR or should I ever? very long

Question:
**Backstory**:
I work in a well known brand name hotel and have recently been promoted from the front desk. The person whose position I received had been fired before I received any training and 1 day into my position corporate fired my General manager"GM" ( the only other person on site that could teach me) and 3 hours later we had a new manager. Important to note that the first day of my orientation I had to watch a 7 hour video on our brand in relation to my new position. The next day my manager was fired.

Now during my time at the front desk, the front desk manager and I became unspoken enemies. He came in and decided to make policies that made no sense and seemed to hurt the company more than help it. ( Ex: Deciding to automatically block people in rooms, not giving them options such as 1st floor 2nd floor but telling them their room) Since I had been there the longest many of my coworkers asked me to approach him and explain why this was hurting us. When I did his response was " well I'm the manager and were going to do things my way, thanks". From that moment forward he didn't like me because I questioned him.

During my orientation video the restaurant manager ( who is also the front desk managers best friend) peeked in and said hi to me and started a small chat then left. I learned the next day that after my manager was fired she pulled the corporate people aside and claimed that on my first day I watched "youtube" videos all day and that I wasn't right for the position.

I have been in this position for 2 weeks. I have had zero training, and there has been no one to help me learn the new system. I have asked for help but there is no one on site that knows the position and I have been winging it for the last 2 weeks.

**The Story**: During these 2 weeks Iv been locked in my office trying to learn a computer system by myself and honestly struggling. I have had about 3 sentences with the new manager, other than that nothing. The front desk manager and restaurant manager have been in the new GM's office everyday for hours "giving him the low down" on the employees. The front desk employees have told me they spent days gossiping about me and frankly making things up. I have had a feeling that the new manager didn't like me because of their influence but to day I feel like it's been confirmed.

During my lunch break I asked some coworkers if they wanted coffee since I was heading that way and they did. As I was coming back I stopped by their stations to deliver the food and had about 2 minutes left of break so I decided to stop and chat since the computer to clock in was next to their station. The manager came out at this time ( first conversation, more than a sentence) and started questioning why I was there and why certain things were not done. I replied honestly and told him I wasn't aware that was my job and I could learn to do it now, he stared at me saying nothing then walked away.
When I got to my office there was an email to all the managers,supervisors from the GM basically saying we need to do our jobs correctly because its hindering other employees. He discreetly called me out.

(Another side note, I have yet to get a printer in my office so I have to go to the front desk to print things) I go to the front desk and I notice my coworker acting nervous and glancing at the camera. I ask her why and she says" as soon as you left the GM came out and said that if any of us see you we need to ignore you or shoo you away because you don't do any work".

I am at my limit. Everyday iv'e known that they were gossiping about me and chose to ignore it and be professional and concentrate on learning my system so they cant say anything about my work ethic. However they are blatantly spreading lies, hindering my work,and making me physically ill. Everyday on my way to work my stomach is in knots because I don't know how I will be treated. Every time I inevitably make a mistake it's like I am validating their gossip. This is very petty behavior, and I'm sure it has to do with my age. I am 20 years old and these coworkers are in their late 30's. I don't want to go to HR because I know most of the time it backfires and the bullying could get worst but what are my legal options?

Answer: Your legal option is to find a new job. You can go to HR if you want to, but nothing you've laid out is legally actionable.


Title: [MO] Should I reach out to County prosecutor about father of my child?

Question: I have been divorced from my son's father for 3 years, since I left him in 2013 he has done nothing but go down hill. My ex has drug, alcohol, and mental health issues. He has not carried out any visitation since the divorce in 2014. He is currently facing 2 probation violations for drug charges and now has a domestic assault and property damage charges after he attacked his mother and 12 year old sister. His mother informed me the county prosecutor called her about the charge and wanted to know if she would be willing to prosecute to have him on a mental health hold and placed in a hospital for a year ( She is not the most reliable source of information, so I cannot verify if that is true or not). She told them "No" because he needs to pay child support. Here is the issue, I spoke with my SO and him and I agree we do not need the child support money and it would be more beneficial for my EX to go get the help he so clearly needs ( he had a suicide attempt during the domestic violence attack with his mother, plus many more in the past during our marriage and after.) I am not sure if the county would even want to hear from me or not. I figured I would write a testimony and call either one to see if they would like to read it.  Any advise? Thanks in advance!

Answer: Won't matter. Either State has enough to commit him involuntarily or they won't. Its possible the mother has a some adult guardianship over son and thats why state asked her. You can just tell the mom you don't need child support but she may try to use that against you later to end all support and keep his money herself.


Title: Need Legal Advice on IP (Bar being sued for not having license for karaoke and for live bands)

Question:
I am just going to start off by saying thank you for any help that anyone gives.

My parents own a bar and their biggest problem is the karaoke license.  My brother had the idea that if the songs were not the exact originals and were played off youtube that we wouldn't have any legal problems but we are in fact currently being sued.  The live bands are not a problem because they only played original music.  I was wondering if anyone could help me help my parents out so they don't take too much damage from anything that happens from this point forward.  The bar is a nice little hole in the wall, nothing big.

Edit: This is in Texas

Answer:
 >*My brother had the idea that if the songs were not the exact originals and were played off youtube*

This is entirely incorrect. It's time to secure a lawyer who specializes in copyright infringement defense.

&nbsp;

^(*EDIT - Also, it's a bit surprising to me that a copyright owner would file a lawsuit without attempting to contact your parents. Have they been served with papers saying they're being sued, or have they merely received a letter from an attorney threatening a lawsuit?*)


Title: (CA) I don't feel comfortable performing a catheter!

Question:
I am a teacher in a special education classroom.  One of my students needs to have a catheter changed daily.  They said they would send the school nurse to train me on how to do it.  I have no medical experience or training, can they force me to do it?  How do I tell them no without upsetting my boss?  I found one website that might support me, but it isn't clear.

http://www.mbc.ca.gov/Licensees/Physicians_and_Surgeons/Medical_Assistants/Medical_Assistants_FAQ.aspx

Answer:
 I would speak to your union. Answer #2: Speak to your union for sure. But just want to double check...do they mean actually change the catheter as in using the sterile technique to insert a new catheter into the urethra?  Or do they mean just change the bag and/or empty it?

If they mean actually inserting a catheter into the urethra, I would absolutely decline. It's completely inappropriate to ask someone who isn't trained (unless the nurse is going to do in depth training, simply showing you once isn't adequate) to do this daily.  Doing it wrong can cause a UTI.  You should absolutely decline and be on the lookout for a new job where your boss is more supportive

Hell I'm an RN and even I get nervous doing them.


Title: My car was towed from in front of my own House

Question:
I rent a house through a real estate company in my area.   I have been renting the house for about 8 months now and had no problems. The development has an HOA that is all included in my rent.  About a month ago, I was talking to a neighbor who told me that his car was towed and he had to pay $145 to get it back because he didn't have a parking pass and that he was parked the wrong way on the street.  (Before, everyone was parking on the left side of the street, with the drivers side door on the left.  The opposite side of the street is no-parking. According to my neighbor, we all had to park on the same side of the street, but with our passengers side door on the right... that made sense to me, as that's the more natural way to park a car)

I had never received a parking pass and so the first thing I did (after changing the way that I parked) was contact my property manager (we're not allowed to contact the owners of the house).  I let our manager know what I had heard and asked if they could investigate and see if we did need a pass to park there or not.

Later, she told me that she contacted the HOA and that she was told that I did not need a parking pass, but that I needed to make sure I followed local laws and parked on the correct side of the street the correct way.  I was.

Fast forward to this past weekend (thank god it was a weekend) I took my sick dog out at 5am (we have to give him medicine every 4 hours, so I just take him out to pee since I'm already awake) and I notice that my car isn't parked out front like I left it.  I remember taking my dog out at 1am and seeing my car was there ... I specifically remember that because I remember my dog trying to pee on my car tire.

I thought my car had been stolen, then I remembered that my neighbor's car has been towed.  I called the tow company's number from the sign out front and they confirmed that my car was in their lot.  It'd cost me $145 to get the car back and I needed to schedule a time to get it.  I scheduled a time, went and paid the $145 with my credit card, and then got my car back.  On the towing receipt, it shows that it was towed because I was lacking a parking pass/decal.

Another note: After this happened, my fiancée and I walked around the neighborhood and noticed that almost all of the other cars in the neighborhood DID have parking passes.

I was pretty angry, and I sent my property manager (from the real estate company) an e-mail and a text explaining the situation and saying that I expect to be reimbursed for the $145 that I had to spend.  She told me that they wouldn't be the ones to reimburse me since they did what they were supposed to do and contacted the HOA who issues the passes.  So she contacted the HOA and I did separately saying the same things and saying what happened.

However, the HOA has not responded and it's been almost an entire week.  I fear that they're going to either not respond to my request, or deny that they're responsible for the $145.  I could take them to small-claims court, but I would end up losing money if I hired a lawyer (assuming they'd come to court with some sort of attorney or someone that knows more than me) and I'd have to take a day off of work to do that.

After contacting them a couple more times, or if they reject my request for reimbursement, is small claims court my best course of action?  What else can I do?

&#x200B;

Answer:
 Small claims court sounds reasonable.  Before doing that, however, I'd send them a demand letter via registered mail and state your demand and that you are preparing to file suit if they don't pay within a week. Don't mention small claims court, just that you're filing a lawsuit - maybe they'll think you're consulting with a lawyer. Give them a bit, then file in small claims.  If you need a template just google "demand letter" and find one that suits your purpose. State the amount you are demanding, sign, and date. Good luck.Answer #2: What do the by laws of your HOA say regarding parking and permits?

You should have received a copy when you moved in. Your property management company should have a copy. You can obtain the latest by laws separately. I think they're registered with city Hall and are a matter of public record. Your HOA should also provide you with a copy if you request it.

If the by laws explicitly state that a permit is required, then suing the HOA isn't going to be on the hook for your towing. Your property management company should be the ones who should reimburse you for providing false information. Similarly, you might be on the hook since knowing the by laws are your responsibility. If the only way to obtain a permit was through the property management company, then they failed to provide you with the necessary registration.

Look through the bylaws. What do they say?


Title: [KS] Contractor I never hired has sent me an invoice for work he allegedly did 5 months ago. The charges are don't make any sense, and he has had a law office threaten a mechanical lien on my business if I don't pay.

Question:
(apologies for the typo in the title--on mobile and didn't spot it, and can't correct it now)

A friend of mine (now former) who is a general commercial contractor asked in May of this year to bid the buildout for my new business. There were some worrying issues with the space and the landlord at the time that he said he wanted to help me navigate, expressing that, as my friend, he wanted to help with the problems any way he could.

When offered the job, he declined it as it was more than he could handle at the time, and he made a recommendation for a different contractor, whom I decided to hire.

I haven't heard from him in a couple of months, and then 2 weeks ago he sent me an invoice for all the "consultative" work he did on the job, totaling around $500. I wrote him an email asking for some clarity. He left me an angry voicemail accusing me of insulting him and his wife by not inviting them to our grand opening, and for not offering myself to pay them, forcing him to send me an invoice.

I called and spoke with him, and he said I was crooked like everyone else in our town, and he "knew" I would try to get out of paying. He said the charges are valid.

I mentioned how our relationship, plus the way he spoke about how he was helping me came across as a favor from a friend, such as him calling me at night to discuss the issues related to the project, mixed with personal conversations about our family, etc. He said those conversations were done as a friend.

When I asked him how he distinguished between what was done on the clock, and what was done as a friend, he just said he could bill me for all the hours we ever spoke if it would make me feel better.

This week I received a letter from his attorney saying he was collecting the debt, and I have 15 days to pay before a lien is placed on my business.

Something seems amiss here. I'm hoping I can get some input from the community here to help me understand better, especially if this is just a straight-forward deal and I need to pay.

Thanks!

Answer:
 I'm a lawyer but not in your state.  That being said mechanics lien law is a creature of statute/code; meaning because it didn't exist in common law, it's only available through statutory law, and is strictly construed.

Said differently, it's usually complex and very important that the rules are followed to a tee.

Again, I'm not a lawyer in KS., but here are some red flags:
1.The fact that your agreement is not in writing is a huge issue;
2. The fact you weren't provided some type of notice of intent to lien;
3.The fact that there wasn't some type of contractors affidavit...

I could keep going and going, but you see where I'm headed...

Hire a construction law attorney, now.  Liens are no joke, and this is not the type of thing you want to slow play. Answer #2: Good advice above. A few additional points: Now that he has an attorney, don't correspond with him. Keep a paper trail, and reply to his attorney that you dispute the claim. Or dispute whatever accusations are in the attorney's letter. Don't offer more information than is necessary; don't get into details.

If ever there was a collection agency, you can simply ask for written proof of what is owed, and they'll likely go away really fast.

My guess is the attorney is a cousin or nephew.


Title: My boss has had the fire alarm turned off for months.

Question: I work at a very small family business in SC. One day about a year ago, I turned on the heat in an old, formerly unused room and it set off the smoke alarm, presumably from dust in the ducts. Apparently my boss "solved" this by disabling the entire alarm system. I know this because I was using a space heater and he came by to ask me to make sure it was unplugged when I left because the fire alarm is disabled. He then attempted to reassure me (I'm sure I looked shocked) by saying that he would get someone to clean out the ducts so that we can turn on both the heat and the smoke alarm. Several weeks later, nothing has been done. I am now quite uncomfortable working there and am wondering if there is a way to approach the situation so that I can keep my job and not be working in a fire hazard. Is there a way to anonymously get someone to come out for a "surprise" fire inspection? Or should I take a different approach?

Answer:
 Well, you shouldn't need heat soon, so that's something. :)

Seriously, though, you can absolutely call the fire department about your concerns and ask to be anonymous. No guarantees in life, though.


Title: [PA] Ex saying they will call the cops if I don’t tell them exactly where our family is staying

Question: Took a road trip with the wife and kids. My wife’s ex has made the rare effort utilizing their parental rights regarding my stepchild over the entire trip and has seemingly been trying to work out our transportation plans and what hotels we’re staying at from what my stepchild has said. Now ex is saying it’s a breach of the custody order if my wife doesn’t tell him exactly where we’re staying and what town we’re staying in. He’s insinuating we kidnapped their child and he will call the police and take her to court when we get home. He already knows the state we’re in. And the storm prevented travel back immediately. All other pertinent info has been communicated. She’s had a restraining order against this man in the past and he has a history of stalking. Does she really have to divulge the city and where we’re staying? His questions seem pretty demanding and we don’t want him to try and pull any ish while we’re here either.

Answer: If it's not in the orders that he is entitled to a travel plan, then he's not entitled to any information.  My daughter's orders do include a travel plan such as dates and location but I don't believe it is as specific as exactly what hotel, etc.  Her is ex an absolute a$$ though and he regularly ignores his obligations, has taken them out of state on a trip without notifying her.


Title: (California) Can somebody give me a checklist to prevent getting my shit fucked up incase I get married and wife turns evil?

Question:
(other than a pre-post nuptial agreement incase wife is evil)

Something smart like:
Lets say I have money in the bank acquiring interest. Lets say before I get married, I give it to a blind trust and then have the interest from money come to me as a "gift". Instead of the interest from the money turning into community property.

Or

Always keep your receipts so you can prove that you acquired something of value before marriage.

Answer:
 If only there was some sort of document you could create that would cover this. Maybe it could be prepared by a lawyer, and signed by both spouses. Maybe we could even give it a special name, like "before marriage contract".

That's not quit right. Needs to be snappier. Oh well. If only such a thing existed!


Title: [CA] My Dad who lives out of state wants me to lie about my income for medical insurance coverage.

Question:
I live in CA. My Dad, who lives in WA, wants me to lie on my Covered California report so that I get bette coverage, but not in the way that you think.

With my current income, I would qualify for MediCal (basically medicare) under Covered California. He wants me to lie and say that I make more so that I qualify for better assisted coverage. He's doing this because the medical insurance covered through his work recently increased its costs, making this a more sensible option financially.

I don't know if this puts me liable for anything. He would be paying me monthly for my insurance bill, and I would be reporting those payments as income, however even with them I wouldn't qualify with my income for the insurance I'm paying for. Can I be held liable for anything if I do this?

Answer:
 That is fraud.

Say no.Answer #2: Well commiting fraud is never a good idea is it?


Title: Suspended for wearing a yarmulke.

Question: Long story short my friend brought in a yarmulke to school. I asked to wear it. Other friend made an insensitive joke. No administration is saying me wearing it is offensive and I might get suspended. Is this legal and does this make sense?

Answer:
 Are you Jewish or part of another religion that has a tenant regarding the wearing of a yarmulke? If not, they're within their rights to suspend you for a potentially offensive action - whether or not you offended anyone.

Location and public/private school status matter.


Title: Our landlord is selling our two-flat and the real estate showings are becoming more bothersome than anticipated.

Question:
My wife and I are renting a two-flat near Chicago, IL, and our landlord is selling it. We're already being constantly bombarded with requests for showings by the real estate agents, via text and email. They sometimes write emails, but everything else seems to be coming through an app which makes the number of requests greater. This is becoming a greater inconvenience than anticipated. I'm wondering if there are any general limits to what they can ask of us for showings.

We've set some days where we asked to not have any showings. The real estate agent replied they'd mark it, but we will still get requests through an app and that we can decline. In addition to that, they may still ask us on occasion to show on those blackout dates.

I understand they need to show people around, but I definitely want there to be some balance. If this becomes too much, is it grounds for breaking a lease?

Also, our cat has been having bladder issues that our vet accounted to stress. There have been people coming in to do repairs and she doesn't like strangers. Now I'm concerned that all the people coming in will make it worse. The contractors also came one day without permission while my wife was working from home.

Thank you in advance for those who take the time to answer.

Answer:
 If you can decline showings, they're already going above and beyond on what they need to be doing as landlords.  They don't need your permission for showings, just notice.

As for the repairs, if they're repairs you've requested, they don't need to give notice.


Title: Got my car towed by 'chasers', charged absurd fee.[Ontario]

Question:
I don't really think I have much of a case and this actually happened a little less than 4 weeks ago. I made this post in light of a news article I [found](http://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/hamilton/news/hamilton-police-urge-cap-on-tow-truck-fees-1.1154146) (tl;dr **for article** police-called towing is capped at $160). Btw, this happened in Hamilton, ON.
When I was on an off-ramp between two freeways I had a spin-out that resulted in bumper damage, similar to [this](http://www.crashdataservices.net/sitebuilder/images/Photo_Torn_Bumper-600x450.jpg) but with a larger piece of bumper on the ground. Only my car was involved and the car was off of the lane and on a curb.

Not a minute goes by and a tow truck comes by and pulls over. The guy doesn't say a word to me, he is on the phone reporting the accident to the police. After he finishes we talk and I ask for the price of towing. He says that I couldn't drive with the vehicle in this condition and the minimum charge was $350 plus HST (13%, so $395.50). I was still in shock from the crash, wasn't familiar with tow rates and also assumed that I had to accept service because I was on the highway-N-stuff.

Shortly after, a police officer pulls over, writes a report and lets us off. I pay the towing fee at the towing yard and later that day get the car towed home from the tow yard by a friend (I hadn't originally have the vehicle towed home since the towing company charges $3 for every km towed and I lived 90 kilometers away).

Is it possible for me to recover some of the towing fee?

**TL:DR** I learned police-contracted towing is $160 max., can I recover some of my towing fee ($395.50) from a tow truck that came before I could call police?

Edit: I wrote this post with little intention, I am now genuinely concerned that I was wronged.

Answer: Where I live him pulling over and soliciting  like that is illegal and the fine is pretty large. It's considered predatory. Maybe call your local highway authorities and see if there's a similar rule?


Title: Can my wife legally have alcohol at her hair salon in Illinois?

Question:
My wife wants to have alcohol at her hair salon only for the girls that work there. She is definitely not going to sell to clients.

We are also wondering if it is possible to give away alcohol to clients. We've seen upscale hair salons offer alcoholic beverages for free.

Would appreciate any help with this.

Answer:
 Your wife should strongly consider the potential legal implications of her employees drinking at work, especially considering all scissors and chemicals and hot surfaces they use.Answer #2: A give away is likely fine as part of an event.  Selling it or including it as part of a service is not.

If someone discovers she is giving alcohol to employees at work, during or after work hours, she will become completely uninsurable.

Do not do this.Answer #3: Giving alcohol to your employees while they’re working is a disaster waiting to happen. If they get hurt, or if a customer gets hurt, her insurance won’t cover it as it’s negligent. This is a ridiculous idea.


Title: Splitting farm lease income with brother but he takes more than his share. NC

Question: My brother and I own a farm. We lease the fields to a farmer who pays us annually. I have no use of the farm and never go there but my brother operates his business there and maintains the property for his hunting and business purposes. The money paid is solely for the field lease. My brother seems to think I am responsible equally for maintenance of the cabins on the farm and a "property management" fee. I never agreed to pay him as a property manager and the cabins are only used by his family and business use. The field lease money is completely unrelated to the cabins and if they all burned down would not effect the field lease payments. Can I take this to small claims? My part of those fees was around $1,350. Is this a winnable argument? NC, USA

Answer:
 You and your brother co-own the property, you rent to a farmer some of the fields. Your brother uses the rest of the land for his business(do you get money from this?). He now wants you to cover half of the maintenance of the land. Is all that correct?

If yes my advice would be stop letting him use the land for free. Charge his business rent as you do the farmer. You are both responsible for maintenance fees as you are the landlord so to speak but he is effectively using part of the land for his sole use and profit. Charge him rent. His company can pay you both(split it 50/50) just like the farmer, then you can both pay for maintenance and mange it yourself or hire a management company to do it for you. If the land is worth what you say you are being shafted out of a lot of money. Get a lawyer, if you are going to rent charge everyone you rent to else you are giving it away for free. Or as others have said sell it or tell your brother buy you out.

edit: a wordAnswer #2: Rather than go through this all the time, why not tell him that you're not interested in co-owning property and would like to be bought out? That way he keeps the entire lease sum, you get a lump sum, and he can play on the land without you subsidizing it.


Title: [Florida] My dad's divorce has taken over 3 years so far, and I'm caught up in it

Question:
I'm omitting quite a few details for brevity's sake, but just know that the current situation is a bit worse than what I'm writing here. I'm willing to provide more info if it'll help with the advice, but this is long enough as is.

_________________

My parents transferred several properties over to my brother and me several years ago. It was to help us pay off our student loans, and to allow us to own our house, debt-free. It's also what my dad's parents did for him, so it wasn't a sudden or unanticipated gift.

Fast forward a few years. We find out my mother's been cheating on my dad for their entire marriage. My dad wants to try and work things out for the sake of the family, but he won't put up with any further cheating. My mother then initiates the divorce.

Now that they're getting divorced, my mother suddenly changed her mind about letting us keep the properties. She sued my brother and I for them. The trial lasted all of 5 minutes, with the judge saying "Did you sign them over? Yes? Okay, then you're SOL." to my mother.

Since that didn't work, she's been trying to somehow get the properties in the divorce with my father. This divorce has lasted over 3 years, and my brother and I have been sitting with about $240k debt from student / home loans. The sale of one of our (gifted) properties would eliminate this debt, but we're unsure about how to proceed with this.

Throughout the 3 years (so far) of the divorce, my mom's attorney (let's just call him Mr. X) has just been wasting time. They don't have a case. Nothing they submit has evidence to back it up--it's all hearsay, and mostly irrelevant.

We finally got a trial set just recently. Mr. X called in witnesses that had nothing to do with anything, and turned a 4 hour trial into an 8 hour trial. The judge asked, quite explicitly, "How long do you need in order to sort this out," to which Mr. X and our lawyer both replied "4 hours should suffice."

Come the _next_ trial, Mr. X wastes time again. This time, even more blatantly before. He just had a conversation with my mother on the stand for **3 hours**. Our attorney was throwing out objections left and right, saying "this has nothing to do with the case" and "Mr. X isn't allowed to legally go back and argue for something he was against earlier" (bit fuzzy on that something else, sorry). The judge simply got pissed and called it a mistrial. Now we have to start all over again, and I have no idea what to do. I have no idea how that _could even happen_.

My parents currently have 3 properties in their name being contested. My dad offered 2 to my mom (of course he needs his own house), along with $400/m alimony, and it was refused. Now, 1 of the properties has to go into foreclosure since he doesn't have the means to pay it anymore. The attorney fees have gotten to the point that my brother and I have to help pay for it (over $50k so far), and _we're_ still in debt ourselves.

Sorry if this was a bit of rambling, but I really don't know how to condense this further. I'll try a tl;dr

_________________

TL;DR: Parents getting divorced. Mother is trying to get assets from children, in addition to the father's assets. Divorce has lasted over 3 years, all contested assets are tied up, and we're losing all our money basically to legal fees. Mom's side of the family are millionaires and are funding her. What can we even do?

Answer:
 Wow, your mother sounds lovely.

I am confused as to why your mother has been able to bring the properties into the divorce proceedings. You said they were signed over to you several years ago. If that's the case, they should be totally in your names and not tied to your parents or their assets at all. What exactly is she claiming that is keeping you tied up?

Regardless, you and your brother need your own lawyer. Your father's lawyer is fighting for your father, not for either of you.Answer #2: Is your legal question about selling the house that you were given?  Yes, you can sell it, since it's yours.


Title: Family flew in from all over the world to a vacation rental I rented. The company acted like they never heard of me

Question:
Rented house in Georgia, USA first week in August for an October trip. Paid in full through HomeAway. This was my only communication with HomeAway. In mid September I had an online chat and a few emails with the rental company referencing the name of the rental and the date of my booking about some concerns I had from a review written after I had booked. They assured me my concerns were already taken care of.  Next I called them twice two days prior to arrival date confirming key arrangements and parking. I was assured parking was not an issue as the house was last on a deadend road (no question they didn't know what place I had rented). The morning of arrival I emailed them and received a response. But no key code. So while  driving I called. They said they had never heard of me (I have an unusual last name). They said it was a glitch in the system between them and HomeAway and now the house is double booked.  Was offered two choices, take my money back or take the only place they had left. Not bad but totally unacceptable in what we needed. I called HomeAway and they were great. Did get me in a somewhat acceptable place.  Unfortunately the sleeping arrangements sucked- adults on air mattress near the kitchen table and on the couch and a fifty stair obstacle course to the dock. The "bad" company refunded my money.

So can I take the company to small claims for breach of contract? I'm not out any money but I would not have gone to the place we ended up. Can I get lost wages and travel? Three of 8 flew in specifically for the rental house.

Answer: You have absolutely *nothing* to sue for.  In small claims you can only recover *actual* damages.  You have ZERO.