Title: [OR] - Submitted a tip to FBI in Washington, DC about an acquaintance from San Francisco. FBI Agents wants to do a follow up at my house in Portland, OR?

Question: Hi, Everyone. This is a little bit of a cluster - apologies for the wall of text and grammatical errors. I have an old acquaintance on Facebook who was mutual friends with a group I used to hang out with. We are still "friends" on Facebook but haven't communicated or seen each other since 2011. I do see his Facebook posts occasionally and they are usually depressed rants, political posts, or drunk updates, however, yesterday he posted that he was going on a "killing spree" and "didn't care anymore" and "wouldn't stop until 'they' stopped him". I was concerned because from what I know of him through friends and his public Facebook posts is that he has some mental health issues. I wasn't sure if he was going to seriously act on his threats, but didn't feel comfortable not reporting it. He lives in San Francisco, but recently traveled by train to DC to protest Trump's inauguration and is currently there so I called DC's anonymous tip line and reported the threat. I was then transferred to a police dispatcher (I think?) who then transferred me to a FBI person (I think just someone that takes the information, not an agent). I know I should have asked and written down exactly who I was speaking with but I didn't think of it at the time. The lady from FBI told me that an agent would contact me within the hour.  I was contacted by an officer and he asked me more questions and asked that I text him screen caps of the post, which I did. After that he called and asked if he could go into my Facebook account to research. I kind of froze and just said sure, changed my Facebook password to a temporary one and gave him access. He called me when he was finished and I changed my password again. Today I get a call from another officer who knows the officer I spoke with last night, and knew I talked to him but asked me to email him the screen caps (that I already sent to the other officer) and asked me a lot of the same questions I already answered. As we were finishing the call he mentioned that an agent would like to stop by my house to do a follow up and I told him that I am in Oregon, no where near where the threat was made. He said he would have someone from the Oregon Division stop by and asked me what times I am usually home. I told him that I don't have a set schedule because the industry I work is has varied hours. I then replied to his thank you email he sent me after I sent him the screen shots saying that I prefer that an agent not come to my home. This is where I am freaking out. Is this normal?  Is a follow up from an agent with a home-visit the usual practice? Here I am, trying to do a good thing but now wishing I hadn't! Please let me know if there is anything I should/can do. Thank you!

Answer:
 Yeah, it is fairly normal that the FBI follow up with a potential threat against the president's life.  They want to assess the threat as much as they can before they potentially confront the guy.

The agent might just ask you some questions about how you know him and his history of violence and such.  You can ask that he meet you somewhere besides your house if you're uncomfortable, like a coffee shop.Answer #2: I can't get over you giving him temp access to your FB. He wouldn't have come across evidence of any crimes you are culpable for in your messages, would he?Answer #3: Offer to meet him at a Starbucks or local equivalent maybe.

Or if you want to "Beverly Hills Cop" the whole thing, meet him at Mary's downtown.


Title: Child visitation rights in the US between mainland and Hawaii.

Question: [deleted]

Answer:
  Not a lawyer and just general advice. Sadly there are a lot of guys who seek out their children at the behest of a new girlfriend. They may not actually want custody but want to impress their new partner. He could have seen his child if he really wanted to but chose not to. Don't push this unless you're 100% sure he wants to parent before he rocks this child's world. Answer #2: He needs to go to court and request a formal visitation schedule.  He needs a family law lawyer.

Realistically, he is looking at only seeing the child during the summer, extended holidays and winter breaks due to the cost of travel and length from the mainland to the islands.

edit: Want to add that u/fuego_pants brings up an excellent point.Answer #3: First, what you would love is not relevant here. Let your boyfriend decide.

Second, if he wants to get visitation going, he needs a lawyer where the child lives. He's looking at awhile of some get to know you visits.  Then he will have extended visits over summers and similar. Answer #4: Just FYI - Hawaii is just a much of a part of "the states" as any of the 49 states.  If you want to differentiate, it's usually best to use "the mainland".  It may not seem like a big deal, but it could be helpful for you when talking to those who live in Hawaii, who can be understandably defensive about their status in the US.


Title: Interfering with a peace officer

Question:
Alright, I’ll try to make this quick. Basically me and my friends kicked down this sign from a university and stole it. Eventually, we got pulled over for an “illegal left turn”. They grilled us for a bit because they my got a tip from someone that one of my friends who was wearing a camo jacket kicked down the sign. I said if they wanted to search my trunk they could go and get a warrant. They tried to interrogate us separately but we all had the same story of course. In the end, my friends thought it was best if I just consented to opening my trunk and giving the sign back to which we did. They said if we did that they’d let us go, however they gave me a citation for interfering with a peace officer (although I did eventually comply) and my friend who actually kicked the sign got criminal mischief two. I’m wondering if I have a good shot at getting my charge dismissed since I complied?

TLDR: me and my friends stole a sign, got pulled over much later, I didn’t consent to them searching my car at first (didn’t think they had probably cause) eventually I complied, gave them the sign back, but still got a citation for interfering with a police officer.

Answer:
 You need a lawyer.  Just because you stopped interfering does not mean that you did not interfere in the first place.

And fun fact, the cops don't need a warrant to search your trunk if they have probable cause.

And if they did need a warrant, they could just seize your whole car and hold it until they get the warrant.


Title: IQ discriminatiom

Question:
Hello,

Throwaway account. I'm in the state of Missouri so it's a no cause state.

I haven't been let go, but I wanted to know if IQ discrimination was a thing. I have been placed on leave until further notice. They asked me to email them some requests to improve the work place for myself and they stated they will respond within 24 hours if they can accommodate me.

If I take it literally, it has been 24 hours since I sent the response. I'm not sure what to do now other then look for legal advice.

I want to prepare myself for what comes next, but I got a text from a former employee stating that I have left so I don't know what that means.

Small company 25 ppl, no real HR.

Thanks in advance

Answer:
 IQ scores aren't a protected class, so you can be discriminated against based on your IQ scores.

Now, if you have a severely low IQ such that it counts as a disability, then that can change things, and if you have a disability then they are required to provide you *reasonable* accomodations. Of course, the issue is what is "reasonable."

You said they asked you to email them requests to improve the workplace for you. First, why did they ask you to do that? Second, what kind of requests did you make and were those requests based on a documented disability? Answer #2: "Sent back May 3rd at 11:42 AM 1. One on one with manager over 46 questions to fall in love"

Well I'd guess your manager is pushing pretty hard to have nothing to do with you. Seriously, that sounds pretty freaking nuts.Answer #3: Can you clarify what you mean when you say you request the one on one with your manager over 46 questions to fall in love?Answer #4: Describe the IQ test.

Was this a proctored exam by an official that took several hours?Answer #5: What sort of accommodations did you ask for? Do you have a disability?Answer #6: It is not illegal to discriminate against someone because of their IQ.

It is, however, illegal to discriminate against someone because of a disability.  If you have a disability of some sort (such as performance anxiety, Aspergers, or another physical trait causing you to not perform well) you may be afforded some protections.Answer #7: Clinical psychologist here. What iq test did you take?


Title: NH: Building For Apartment Rental Sold, New Company Serves Falsified Eviction Letter

Question:
I live in southern NH, and my property management company, through whom I was paying rent, sold the building in which I reside as an investment property. Today, while I was at home, the entire building was "served" (no knocking) with two letters taped to our doors (no notification of their delivery) that, on the 25th (today is the 27th) at 3:10pm, I was served by hand that I have until April 24th to move out.

They have offered our deposits back as well as a month of rent to help move, but I called them to discuss the fraudulent document. I partially video recorded this. He said on film "yes we will send a form with the correct date" when I told him that I could not have a document with a false date on it.

I'm not sure if I should just move out by the 24th and take the money and shut up about it or pursue it because I was defrauded.

Advice please.

Answer:
 You should probably destroy the recording because you broke the law by doing it without their consent. New Hampshire has a two party consent law. Answer #2: You should shut up and take the money. One months rent above what you're owed is a sweet deal. And it's likely that they're making the offer because you're not getting a full 30 days. If you wanted to push the issue I'm sure you can get your full 30 days, but say goodbye to that cash offer.

You're not being defrauded because they fixed the date. It would be extremely difficult to prove that the date was done maliciously and not by accident. That video isn't admissible unless he agreed to be filmed. Also agreeing to send a corrected form is hardly admission of malicious intent.

Be smart. Take the money and run.


Title: Co-op apartment contract states that “up to two cats” are allowed but during the interview a board member said “no pets”.

Question: Hi! My boyfriend and I own a co-op apartment. He (a shareholder) signed a contract when we were first purchasing the place and it explicitly stated that up to two cats were allowed (and ferrets up to a certain length...? fucking co-ops). During the interview process for me (I’m not a shareholder) however, the interviewing board member told us that no pets were allowed. My boyfriend told me that they told him the same thing (and neglected to tell me) but he didn’t think anything of it because he then signed the contract that had the “up to two cats” clause. I just placed a deposit on a beautiful Siberian kitten and I’m thoroughly confused. What do I follow? The legally binding contract we signed or what the board member said? Why would the board member tell me one thing while the contract says another?

Answer: A lot of contracts mention things like "only this written contract holds true, and anything verbal doesn't matter." Does your lease say anything like that? If so, it's even more clear cut that the lease takes precedence over what the person said. Of course, be prepared to be asked to move at the end of your lease.Answer #2: It sounds like the contract say "*up to* two cats" and not just "two cats". Does the contract also say something about approval being needed?Answer #3: It doesn’t matter what was said orally , if that contract is a complete representation of your agreement then oral evidence to the contrary cannot come in. Parol evidence rule.


Title: So a friend of mine, unknowingly had sex with a minor and her parents are pressing charges

Question: my friend is 21 and we dont know how old the girl is? What should we do? This was in the state of virginia. Alcohol was involved.

Answer:
 *He* should hire a lawyer. *You* should stay out of it.Answer #2: If he is being charged with statutory rape, he should know it is usually a strict liability crime. Meaning it doesn't matter what the circumstances were. If he had sex with her, he is guilty. If he is found guilty he may be facing some prison time, and will have to register as a sex offender.

Get a GOOD criminal attorney ASAP.

Definition of strict liability:
In both tort and criminal law, strict liability exists when a defendant is in legal jeopardy by virtue of an wrongful act, without any accompanying intent or mental state. In criminal law, possession crimes and statutory rape are both examples of strict liability offences.Answer #3: Alcohol doesn't matter.  Actually, alcohol will probably make it worse, especially if he provided it to her.Answer #4: > What should we do?

He should get a lawyer.Answer #5: >So a friend of mine, unknowingly had sex with a minor

I don't understand.  Did he trip?Answer #6: Not only are possible statutory rape charges involved but serving alcohol to a minor. Eek. Does your friend's parents know yet? Before your friend is arrested I would advise the parents to start shopping for a very established criminal defense attorney.


Title: CA: Unauthorized driver at fault for accident in rental car; everybody wants to move forward responsibly, so far, but could use guidance on what that realistically looks like

Question:
Sigh… California.

So, my 20 year-old daughter rented a Zip-Car (a car share service, which differs somewhat from a traditional rental car company) to use for an outing with four friends. Under the terms of the rental agreement, additional drivers are not permitted, unless they are also Zip-Car members. In spite of that, my daughter did allow one of her friends, a non Zip-Car member, to drive. And, of course, that friend was responsible for an accident that essentially totaled the Zip-Car and caused major damage to the other car. Fortunately, no-one was injured.

At the time of the accident, in their panic to try to handle the immediate situation, someone suggested lying about who was actually driving at the time of the accident. As tempting as that sounded in the heat of the moment, we and the parents of the other driver insisted on the truth, so as to avoid making a bad situation worse with insurance fraud. At that time, the other girl’s parents said that they would ultimately take financial responsibility, reimbursing my daughter/us for the damage caused by their daughter. Because our daughters are both legally adults, however, I am aware that neither of us sets of parents legally bear any financial obligation. And, to be clear, I have not spoken to either the other girl or her parents. I’m getting this information through my daughter, who truly is trying to move forward with all integrity. It’s certainly becoming a valuable learning experience in both judgement and taking responsibility…

Important details:

My daughter did purchase supplemental insurance at the time of the rental, but that insurance is void in this case, due to the accident being caused by an unauthorized driver;

She did use a major credit card to pay for the rental, but the accident protection does not extend to car-share rentals (and, likely, would have been denied for the unauthorized driver anyway);

Because she lives away from home and does not have a car at school, she is not covered on the auto insurance policies we carry on our cars; and

As a 20-year old college student, my daughter has no assets and no reasonable ability to pay out of pocket herself.

Edited to add: The other driver did have insurance; California mandates Uninsured Motorist protection. So, at least the other driver, hopefully, won't have to personally suffer financially.

While my daughter was, obviously, responsible for the car, it is my understanding that the driver who caused the accident also bears some kind of responsibility. In an ideal world, where everyone just takes responsibility for their part, how should we/my daughter best move forward with this unfortunate situation?

Answer:
 >In an ideal world, where everyone just takes responsibility for their part, how should we/my daughter best move forward with this unfortunate situation?

 By paying what's owed. I don't really think you're asking for legal advice, but legal-based 'morality' advice. WRT that, your daughter had a contractual obligation not to allow anyone else to drive the vehicle. IMO (and in the eyes of the law), your daughter is responsible for the debt, even though she wasn't the one who crashed the vehicle. To talk of integrity would be for your daughter to admit this was entirely her fault and pay for her mistake herself.


Title: Can a school punish me for something I did outside of school?

Question: I'm in high school (California) and wondering about a specific issue. So around a week ago my friend (let's call him F) and I decided to troll a girl (she attends the same school as F) online through twitter dm's. In it I was being extremely sarcastic (One instance is me saying we hated her because she's black even though her skin is actually paper white) and that we were gonna ruin her chances of becoming president in the upcoming school election. The girl's parents contacted the principal of her school saying she felt threatened by it and soon got F and I in trouble. They contacted my school's principal which read all the dm's and understood I was joking around (I also have a clean record and never got in trouble before) so I was just assigned two detentions. I had already moved on but today my English teacher told me that what the schools did was illegal because if the girl actually felt threatened they had to contact the Police to investigate and couldn't punish F and I themselves because this was done outside of campus. My teacher also encouraged me to talk about this with my mom and to consider suing my school. I'm not trying to argue if what I did was morally right but can the schools actually not legally punish us in this situation considering I only contacted the girl through Twitter direct message and the "threats" did not take place on school campus?

Answer: Im not totally sure if the CA specific laws, but I believe that the school can give out punishments for cyberbullying, which is essentially what you did. I think your best bet is to just take the detentions and not do anything about it


Title: Charged close to $600 to get my car from towing company after less than 2 days in CA

Question:
I had my car towed after being pulled over by cops very early on a sunday morning (3 AM) as I was coming home from a late night at work because my license happened to be suspended due to not paying a ticket. Anyway, I tried to get my car on Sunday but the towing company was closed. I ended up getting the car on Monday around 2:30 PM. They charged me $50 x2 for two days of storage, $310 for 1.5 hours between the time of dispatch to the time of getting my car back to the lot (I had been less than 15 min away from the lot when it was towed) on top of that they charged me a "police impound fee" of $150 which they said was not their charge but had to do with the police. There was nothing posted about a police impound fee in their shop. Originally the officers told me they thought it would cost around 100 to get my car back.

I am really suspicious about this so called police impound fee, the fact that I was charged for two days and the fact that they claim it took them 1.5 hrs to get the car when I was only 15 min away.

Are there laws capping the amount a towing company can charge? Are towing companies allowed to charge a fee based on why the car was towed (police impound)? Can they charge me for two days of storage when they were closed on Sunday and since they picked it up early Sunday morning wouldn't Monday be 1 day?

Answer: You'll likely be on the hook here, it sounds like. Towing companies are often scummy but their scumbaggary has been legalized. Let this be a lesson to keep your licence unsuspended.


Title: [Las Vegas] Towing company damaged my brand new car

Question:
One late night I was out driving, I got 2 flat tires. I called roadside assistance to tow my car to the dealership at about 11pm. They said the tow truck would arrive around 1:30am, I waited until then and when they didn't arrive, I called my friend to drive me home and left my keys in the car. They ended up arriving around 2:30am and told me they will tow my car to the dealership. Then they called again at around 3am and said they will tow it to their yard and will tow it to the dealership in the morning. I called them many times in the morning and noon to get an update, to which I was answered with "in 45 minutes" everytime. They finally get around to towing it around 5pm when I called again and they told me that the tow truck that was towing my car also got some problems on the way. It finally reached the dealership at 6pm with damage that was not there before.

I filed a claim with roadside assistance, but they denied my claim. What else can I do to get them to recognize my claim?

My windshield was damaged from the inside.
http://imgur.com/a/S8i7w

Answer:
 This was absolutely done by the tow truck driver.  They didn't put it on a carrier, they towed it.  To do that, they'll get inside.  What they do is put this air pocket thing in the door jam, pump it up to make room, then put a long stick in and poke your door unlock button if it's available or they'll pull the door handle to open the door.

That's how they poked your armrest and put that scratch on the door.... it was with that long metal stick they use.

You should call up your insurance company and see what they suggest.  Often times they'll just pay for the repair then go after the tow truck driver, themselves.


Title: Property Management sends out warning letter after break-ins occur in our garages. Advices us to get renters insurance and have told management that they will not increase security (Los Angeles CA)

Question:
So we have shared two car garages in the back of our apartment building and we have had some break-ins in two of the garages.

Instead of increasing security they sent out notices to each apartment stating that we should never keep anything of value in our cars or garages. Also, we should obtain renters insurance immediately.

Our maintenance guy is a very friendly and open guy and he told us that the Property Management had told him that they will NOT install cameras/increase security because it is a liability to them. The reason he knows about this is because one of the garages is his workshop and he wanted to make sure it wasnt going to get broken into.

I'm feeling uncomfortable over the fact that management is putting this on us, and that they are pretty much allowing who ever is breaking in to keep doing so.
I have the letter in case anyone wants to see it.

Answer: What makes you feel that it's your landlord's responsibility to provide security? They're not "allowing" criminals to do anything -- that's nonsense. That's like me saying the cops are allowing crimes to potentially occur in my house if they don't park an officer outside my unit 24/7.


Title: Girlfriend's Car Hit by Plow - Her Insurance Won't Pay

Question:
Hello r/LegalAdvice, here on behalf of my girlfriend in Massachusetts.

* Her stationary car was hit by a government plow on a government property.
* Her car is no longer drivable (transmission) and has body damage.
* The government police wrote a report... She was determined not at-fault.
* Almost two months after accident, and still no resolve...

Currently seeing an adjuster from her own insurance agency, who says

* Transmission was already broken... leaking.
* To inspect further, she will need to pay $800 to open transmission.

What can she do? She has collision insurance, unsure why they are not being helpful.

Answer: You might have to file suit against the city who controls the plow.


Title: (CA/WI) Coinbase witholding my funds

Question:
Hi r/legaladvice! Long time listener, first time caller. I'm hoping you can help me with an issue I've been having with Coinbase:

On April 30, I received an email that my Coinbase account had been shut down due to an unspecified TOS violation. Coinbase was unwilling to provide further information as to the nature of this supposed violation.

When I logged into my account, I was presented with an account closure page, in order for me me to transfer all my crypto and fiat funds off the exchange. I was able to transfer my crypto without issue. However, when it came time to transfer the cash in my USD account \(\>$30k\), I received an error stating I would need to proceed with additional verification checks in order to withdraw such a large amount. When I clicked the link to complete the verification, I was looped back to the account closure page, making it impossible to withdraw my funds.

Since then, I have taken the following steps:

* Lodged a ticket and called their support countless times, only to be told they are working on it. Invariably they have no additional information for me.
* Lodged a complaint with CFPB May 9 and received the following response May 21:

>Thank you for contacting Coinbase. We understand that you are unable to withdraw your funds without first completing ID verification, but that you currently are unable to do so. We have escalated your case to our Compliance team. They will be reaching out shortly with options on how to remove the restriction to allow you to withdraw the funds in your USD wallet. Thank you for your continued patience and understanding.

*  Sent a demand letter to Coinbase HQ in San Francisco via Certified Mail, which nobody there signed for \(!\)

A few things I am considering:

* Trying again with a certified letter to their address for service of process
* Contacting state licensing authorities, but conveniently Coinbase is licensed neither in its home state of CA or in WI, where I am domiciled, so I'm not sure who I would call.
* Initiating formal legal proceedings in California. Is there any way I could do this myself, or would I for sure need a lawyer?

I would appreciate any other advice you may have. Thanks a lot!

Answer:
 So you have a lot of money in a not-bank and can’t get it out. You have two options:

1. Just keep waiting for customer service to fix it. Pros: free. Cons: uncertain success, uncertain timeframe.

2. Lawsuit. Pros: Maybe can force them to return your money. Cons: uncertain success, LONG timeframe (years for a civil suit in CA), EXPENSIVE - many thousands of dollars, minimum, paid up front, regardless of success.


Title: Would lining the inside of a building with copper mesh (to create a Faraday cage) be illegal?

Question: Would it be considered something like a signal jammer? Just asking our of curiosity. Inspired by this article: https://www.npr.org/sections/thetwo-way/2017/11/27/566764082/foiled-this-faraday-cage-made-from-snack-bag-couldnt-save-electrician-s-job

Answer:
 In a public place, yes.  It interferes with emergency services radio.  Some movie theaters considered it.  They are still working on it, using repeaters for police and fire radios, hut I think it is still more trouble that it is worth.

At home, probably not.


Title: The "pet policy" has changed in an apartment, right after my gf signed the lease, now she can't bring her dog.

Question:
My girlfriend was looking for a place to live next year with her dog, and signed a lease on a "pet friendly" place yesterday. Today they e-mailed her to let her know their policy on pets has changed, and she can no longer bring her dog. This is obviously a disaster for her, is this legal? If not what's the recommended course of action? If it is what the fuck is she supposed to do now?

This is taking place in Seattle WA if that helps.
Topic:
Contracts

Answer:
 If the signed lease says she can have a dog, she can have a dog. If they're trying to change a signed lease, she should be able to get out. Answer #2: Ok, this has been resolved, thanks for all the help, basically the Lease didn't address pets, but after talking with the landlord, they reached an agreement, based on what had been originally discussed.

I appreciate all the feedback. Thanks guys. Answer #3: As others have said, if ~~she~~ both parties signed the lease and it specifies that she can have a dog, that's it, she can have a dog.  They cannot change the terms of a signed contract.  If they want the property to be pet free they can ask her to agree, if she doesn't she should be able to leave the contract with no repercussions to her.

Whether she has any actions against them for breaking the lease would be specified in either the lease itself or WA law, you should ask a qualified local attorney for assistance if you believe this to be the case.

Answer #4: Does the signed lease say that the dog is allowed?


Title: Discriminating people for weight: when does race come in?

Question: [deleted]

Answer:
 You can always be sued.  The chances of it being successful depend on the overall circumstances.

For one, *why* are you "preferring" slim employees?  What criteria are you using for slim?  Are you enforcing that across the board for all races?

Anytime you take race into account you run the risk of losing a discrimination lawsuit.  Not a given, but certainly a distinct possibility.Answer #2: Many employers have fitness standards - police, fire department, military, etc. "Must be able to run a mile in x time, and dead lift x pounds.)  Even private employers that consist of hard labor - freight warehouses, unloading cargo planes state that employees have to be able to meet certain standards.

In order to be fair, the fitness standards would have to be applied across the board regardless of ethnicity. " BMI must be between 18 and 30." No racial variations. How are you going to decide what race someone belongs to? If you have different standards for different ethnic groups, you open yourself up to increased risk of lawsuits.

Race and ethnicity are not a clear cut line - better to have the same fitness standards across the board.


Title: Did this violate HIPAA?

Question:
So I have been having a lot of health issues and had brought in doctors notes. They all came from the same office but depending on what part of the office it was printed, some had my doctor’s signature on the document, the others did not and had her signature stamp on them.

My employer thought they were phony and called my doctors office and they told him I hadn’t been seen since March, which was not true I had seen her the week of the call outs, and they also told him how I obtained the call out slips (one I got at an appointment, the other two were called in but since she had just seen me she knew what was going on and allowed them) They told him that all I have to do is call and they will give anyone one which also isn’t obviously true.

From what I understand, they can’t even confirm I am a patient there unless I give authorization to release information to people and I only have one person listed and that is my mom.

I have been nothing but honest with my employer and I have proof of my appointment and printed it up and keeping it in a file with copies of all the excuses and everything because I feel very angry that I had to be “investigated” when if they asked I could have shown proof, and also that my doctor’s office violated my privacy. Am I in the right here?

I live in Indiana.

Answer: Yeah, it could be a HIPAA violation. I’m not sure what outcome you want here, but there is no private right of action for HIPAA violations. That said, you can file a complaint with OHS.


Title: Extorted by wealthy CEO in International Case

Question: [deleted]

Answer:
 Get a Lawyer. Now. If you got a court appearance letter, you need to go to court. Get a lawyer.

Save and screenscrape all potential evidence. Give it to the Lawyer.
Answer #2: > Just yesterday, I received a notice of court appearance for the case - about 3 months after the extortion letter.

check with the court records to see if this is a real notice, the whole situation smells like a scam, and I have heard of fake court filings before

> She's reached out to me without wanting him to know and is telling me "please find a solution with my dad so he's not mad. He wants his money back, but I just want both of you to be happy."

very suspiciousAnswer #3: 30k is enough money to need to talk to a local attorney. Nothing we can do. Answer #4: I don't want to be the one to say this, but here goes: you sound shady as fuck. You get in a relationship with a recovering drug addict whom you're also life-coaching? You yell at and belitte her? And you've somehow convinced yourself that it's all in her best interest, that you're her savior? You've positioned her to be continually dependent upon you. I don't know, dude. You sound pretty controlling and manipulative to me. But I'm also pretty cynical.


Title: Music Fest at my house

Question:
I live in Jacksonville, FL and I am trying to throw a small music festival in the backyard at my house (5-6 bands). According to the City of Jacksonville, a special event is an event on public property with the expectation of 500 people or more, so I do not qualify to get a special event permit to try to subdue any legal problems that could arise from doing this.

I just want to make sure that I do everything I can to avoid having legal repercussions from trying to have music at my house. Any advice would be greatly appreciated.

Answer:
 This is going to end badly. There is no such thing as a "music festival" at a private residence. There is only a gigantic party that will get you cited for violating noise ordinances. In my city such a thing would get you "red tagged" which is a $500-$2000 fine. Many landlords in my city have lease provisions that getting a red tag is an automatic eviction.

If you serve alcohol that is another huge liability.


Title: Elderly grandfather sold a couple hundred dollars worth of meat by door to door meat salesman for $2,000. Any legal recourse options?

Question: [Nebraska] My elderly grandfather was victimized (IMO) by a door to door meat salesman working for a company that has an F rating by the BBB. I can give details about the company, but not sure of all the rules for this sub.

Answer:
 there is a 3 day cooling off period for unsolicited door to door sales.  so if he's within this period, your grandfather can return the goods.  if they won't honor the refund, then you can pursue legal action.

http://www.usa.gov/topics/consumer/smart-shopping/home-shopping/3day-rule.shtmlAnswer #2: I would try to make sure he hasn't somehow signed himself into a monthly delivery contract either. I'm not sure if door-to-door meat companies sell those, but the last thing you want is another $2000 bill accompanying another $200 of meat at his house next month.Answer #3: The question is whether he received what he contracted for not what you think is fair.


Title: My girlfriend was raped at a hostel in Bangkok, Thailand.

Question:
My girlfriend and I are from Reno, Nevada. She left on August 7th by herself on a trip to Thailand. She was raped in her room by three men after she returned home from a night at the bars. They men were apparently arrested and the hostel has switched her to an all female room.

What are her options at this point. Is she able to leave the country and come home? What would a trial look like? I just want to know what we can do because I honestly feel helpless.

Answer: I'm really sorry this has happened. She should talk to the US embassy in Thailand. They should be able to assist her and offer advice. Answer #2: Look up RAINN for her, for advice and support. She can also contact the US Embassy. I’m very sorry this happened to her.


Title: Got attacked by a dog while volunteering. Could the shelter be liable even if I signed a waiver?

Question: I'm in Indiana. Yesterday I was petting a dog and he attacked my face unprovoked. I did sign a waiver before volunteering, but I'm wondering if they could still be held liable for expenses. I signed the waiver through my college. I don't have a copy of the signed waiver but I do have a blank copy.

Answer: You clearly had a warning that you could be attacked by an animal if you participated in this activity. Kind of crappy for you to try and take money from a shelter to cover the medical bill. Hopefully they have an insurance policy but otherwise this sucks.


Title: [Maine] Local police officer admitted that he falsified the speeding ticket.

Question:
This afternoon my wife, baby, dog and I were driving down a winding two lane country road. No hurry, beautiful day, nice drive. The posted speed limit was 40mph. We were behind another vehicle and letting them set the pace. I've driven this stretch of road thousands of times over the past 20 years with no issues. Our speed felt in no way excessive. A police officer passes us heading the other direction. Again, nbd. Half a mile later I see blue lights in my rear view. I slowed and gave him room to pass thinking he would go around and be on his way. Nope. So the officer comes to the window and claims that I was doing 58 in a 40. There's simply no way I was going that fast. I was polite and professional. He goes to the cruiser and comes back with a ticket. Says, "Because of your excellent driving record, I did you a favor and knocked it down to 49 in a 40 because 58 would have been a bigger fine." So here are the questions:

1) Do I bite the bullet, mail in the $120 fine and be done with it?

2) Do the radar guns in police cars retain a timestamped log of speed measurement as evidence?

3) Do I file a FOIA for the dash audio (if it exists) and go to court, questioning the officer's veracity in pulling me over for one thing and writing a ticket for another in hopes of getting it thrown out?

TL;DR: Officer pulled me over for 18 over (a lie), then wrote the ticket for 9 over because he was "doing me a favor".
Topic:
Traffic and Parking

Answer:
 Uh, he actually did do you  favor. Cops write tickets for lower speed all the time.

You should plead not guilty and if you have a clean record you may be able to get traffic school or similar. You're not going to have hopes of getting the officers testimony from the car audio dash camera, which also may not exist.


Title: [Northern California] Ex-Girlfriend eviction.

Question:
My girlfriend of 6 years and I recently ended our relationship, and she moved in with her parents while I saved up to move into a new place. She found out that I was going on dates and has decided she wants me out of the house by the 21'st.

The house is something that she used her inheritance to pay the down payment, and it's in her parents name. I've been paying most of the mortgage these last 3 years due to her not having any income, except the roommate we have which she counts as her income.

Is there anything I can do from a legal stand-point? I don't know if I'll be able to prove I've been paying the mortgage because I recently closed that bank account to switch to something else.

Edit for clarity: I don't want the house, I just want to not be homeless or couch surfing until I can afford a move.
Topic:
Landlord Tenant Housing

Answer:
 You have been paying rent. You have no legal stake in that house. You legally get a 60 day notice to vacate and that's it.

[Link regarding notice](http://www.dca.ca.gov/publications/landlordbook/moving-out.shtml#notices)


Title: subpoena records request for an app I made (NJ, USA)

Question:
I have a mobile app that I developed in my spare time. I've published it on the Apple app store and the Google play store under an LLC I own (in the U.S). The app lets users contact other people via sms.

I received an email from a police detective (from a different state) asking for "physical address and contact information in order to send a subpoena records request".

I don't have TOS or privacy policy but I do state in the app that I will provide whatever information I have to the authorities upon request.

My questions are:

- Do I even have any options? How can I verify that the request is authentic?

- Can I get sued if I provide information? How can I protect myself?

- Do I need a lawyer? Where can I find one? I can find many on google but have no idea who I can trust.

- I was recommended a lawyer that said he can handle it for me but wants around ~$400 per hour which sounds unreasonable to me. Is that a reasonable rate?

Thank you
Topic:
Computer and Internet

Answer:
 > How can I verify that the request is authentic?

You could call the non-emergency number for that police department (look it up online) and verify with them.

> Do I need a lawyer?

That would be a good idea.

> I was recommended a lawyer that said he can handle it for me but wants around ~$400 which sounds unreasonable to me. Is that a reasonable rate?

That sounds quite reasonable. Lawyers I've paid for have been between $200 and $400 per hour.Answer #2: What will he do for $400? $400 does not buy a whole lot of service for any reputable attorney. Ask him specifically how he would respond to the situation and what he will do for you. Depending on what he says, $400 could be a bargain.

IANAL, but you are not required to respond to questioning by any police officer. If he needs to track you down to serve a subpoena, the detective is free to ask a prosecutor to seek a court order for your personal information from Apple or Google. Answer #3: It might be absolutely nothing.  You aren't placing yourself in any legal jeopardy by giving him an address to mail a subpoena.  There isn't anything the lawyer can really do to help you until you get the subpoena.  If someone wants to serve you with a subpoena or any other legal papers, it normally doesn't help you to try to dodge it.  I'd just email him back with your address, and then figure out how to respond when you find out what you are going to respond to.


Title: Is a parent able to withhold medication from a minor who is old enough to decide for themselves if they want it?

Question: I have axillary hyperhidrosis, which means that I sweat extreme amounts in my armpits. As a high school student, it’s really starting to take a toll on my self-esteem and I want to seek treatment. There are several options, my top two being Botox and a prescription deodorant. However, my mom is refusing to help me look into this because she thinks the chemicals in the treatments are bad. This is very uninformed, as I’ve done research of my own and concluded that the treatments are both perfectly safe. She’s refusing to make a doctor’s appointment so that I can ask for an actual professional’s advice, because she is just so sure that her opinion is correct.  Is there anything I can do to seek medical treatment for myself?

Answer:
 There's some treatments that don't require prescriptions. SweatBlock is what I use for side effects from my meds. It's like $20 on Amazon for 8 packettes - each one works for up to a week so it can be 2months worth depending on how often you need to reapply. If you need to sneak around see if you can order it to a friends house.

My warning though, when you put it on DONT do it right after youve shaved and don't scratch or it will burn.Answer #2: It depends on your age and your location. In the US, this varies by state. Answer #3: Go to Walmart or amazon or any drugstore and buy a deodorant called CertainDri. It used to be prescription but is now available in the deodorant aisle with the other brands. It’s amazing and will fix your problem. You may sweat more at first. Don’t use after shaving or it will burn like fire. I had the same problem as a teenager and this stuff worked wonders for me. Good luck!


Title: Girl I’m hooking up with likes me to be forceful

Question: This girl I have been on and off with relationship wise for the past two years has always liked it when I was forceful when initiating sex. Even when she says she doesn’t want to she will also say she likes it because I’m “taking what I want” and that turns her on. It is almost 50/50 on whether she actually doesn’t want to and whether she is taunting me. I’m very open talking to her and have told her before that I don’t want to cross the line. But at what point is it crossing the line? I don’t want anything to come back to me in a negative way.

Answer:
 If you don't trust and know her well enough to not be asking us, you shouldn't be engaging in this kind of play.

It's "crossing the line" the moment she says no on whatever occasion she meant "no" literally.

If you guys want to keep this up, you need to agree to a safeword that means "absolutely, unequivocally stop" -- meaning when it's used, you're done until the next day. Frankly, "no" and "stop" should be safewords in addition to whatever other word you choose. That's one word you do not want to fuck with -- you never, ever want to be in a position where someone can point at you and say "he kept going even after I told him 'no, stop'." If she likes the game, she can roleplay other ways of playing it that don't involve those two words.


Title: My father has been verbally abusive all my life, threatening to kill me and to commit suicide, could he have been sued?

Question:
(Belgium)

Hi all,

I'm going to give a short summerary of shit my dad did.

- Scolded me for bying ugly and a slop cause I had curly hair (age 8 till 15)

- frequently told me he was going to kill himself or would tell me he was standing on a bridge ready to jump and dissapeard only to turn up completely fine a day later (Age 7 till 14)

- Threatend to kill me: 'l will drive against a tree and kill us both (age 7) and told me 'tomorrow you are on the news ' age 16

- Frequently left me alone as a little kid

- Took all the money from my savings account

- Defended my abuser when there was some case of sexual abuse (age 7-10), abuser (13-16). According to my dad it was nothing

- His family made me apologize at age 13 for my dad 'trying to kill himself'

- he threatend my step-brother and sister

- Threatend to beat step-mom and threw a knife at step-brother

- he told me a few months ago that I deserved all that happend

My mom never did anything and my step-mom thinks I exaggerate and am an ungratefull child.

This people are my adoptive parents, my bio parents are death. I'M 20 now and wondering If my father could have been/can be sued?

Answer:
 There is nothing to sue here for.

Taking the money from the savings account probably wasn't illegal because his name was probably on the account.


Title: I am being threatened to get sued because of a picture I posted on Instagram. Someone please help!

Question:
Hi, I have a kinda large Instagram page (19k followers) and I pictures of outdoor activities. Sometimes we post pictures that we took ourselves sometimes we repost other peoples pictures crediting the picture to them. We recently posted a picture of an artist and he contacted us asking us to remove his photo, which we did promptly. I got a message from the photographer saying that he will send me the invoice of payment to me because I used and his picture without permission. He said that if I don't respond or cooperate he will contact collections and further action would take place. Since then, I have not responded to him. Can someone please help me! Thanks! I honestly didn't mean any harm or anything. Please help, I'm in school and I literally don't have money.

Location: Tennessee
Topic:
Intellectual Property

Answer:
 >Since then, I have not responded to him

Good move. Keep doing that.

To win a lawsuit he'd have to prove that he suffered some kind of damages; I don't like the odds on that one.

An email with a threat to sue you isn't worth the electrons it's printed on. Until he actually sues you, say nothing, offer him nothing, and keep on doing your thing.Answer #2: Where did you get the photo? Did you repost it and it was already on Instagram or take it from another website? How do you know he is the actual photographer?


Title: My deadbolt broke and now I can't lock it. Landlord trying to charge me $360.00 [California 93427]

Question:
I'm not sure what caused it, but my wife and I found ourselves unable to lock our deadbolt last night and when I emailed my landlord, she told me it would be a $360.00 tenant charge to replace it on Monday. I don't see how this could possibly be a tenant charge when we did not willfully cause damage to the property. Please correct me if I'm mistaken. We have had some email correspondence and she has asked me to submit a formal maitenance request. I am getting ready to post this:

" We went to lock our front door before bed last and found we couldn't lock it and could barely get the handle to turn. The door can open normally from the outside but we cannot lock it or open it from the inside. All landlords in California are legally required to offer livable or habitable premises when they originally rent a unit in California, and to maintain it in that condition throughout the rental term. According to state laws (Civil Code § 1941.1 and Health and Safety Code §17920.3.), at minimum every rental must have deadbolt locks on certain doors and windows, which at this time our front door does not have. Exterior doors are required to have the ability to close securely, working deadbolts, and keys that work well. Further, landlords are not permitted to collect rent for a property which they have failed to maintain on a substantial level (CA Civil Code § 1942.4)"

&#x200B;

Am I correct in my research? Should I be financially reponsible for the repairs or should that responsibility fall upon the landlord?

Answer:
 Check your lease, but I believe they are responsible.Answer #2: I am a property manager and a property owner. I would never charge a tenant for a deadbolt replacement that wasn't clearly tenant damage. From what you have described I can't imagine why the landlord wants to charge you.Answer #3: I would argue that it falls under normal wear and tear and is the responsibility of the landlord to repair or replace - just as if a major appliance were to break.

However, is this the hill you want to die on? You might ask the landlord if you can replace the deadbolt lock yourself. You can get them for less than $50 and give a copy of the key to the landlord.Answer #4: Geez for that price I’d run to the hardware store and replace it myself.  A lockset runs about $40, as I recall.  It’s not hard to do.  Just a few bolts.  Or call out a locksmith yourself, my last visit was $50 to repair a deadbolt.

But normal wear and tear is the landlords responsibility.  Unless you were breaking down the door or being otherwise negligent, it’s on them.


Title: (state of California) Relative tried to protect her fiance when the police tried to arrest him for hitting her.

Question:
I just want to be apprised of what it is best to do here before my relative meets and speaks to her public defending lawyer. Her fiance told me on the phone that an officer came to her house while they were arguing. Her fiance had struck her and when the officer was trying to arrest him she pulled a replica gun on the officer, pointed it into his back and told her fiance to run away. She took his gun from his hand. I don't think she planned it out because she just held him there after her fiance left and another officer came in and she had her gun drawn and my relative was arrested.

The gun was some kind of replica or BB that looked really but an unregistered gun was found in her purse. From what the police at the station told my relative's mother their story was the same as her fiance. We aren't allowed to see her, she goes to court tomorrow and will get a piblic defending lawyer at that time. Her fiance told the police everything. He was charged with assault but her charges will be more serious.

Her mother is distraught. I want to be there for her in court. What will happen now? I'm completely scrambled and so is the family. She's never been arrested before and we had no idea her fiance would strike her at all.

EDIT: The location is the state of California

Answer: She is in some serious, serious shit.  No other way to say it.  Get all the money you can and get her the best criminal defense attorney you all can afford.  Also, delete this post and don't talk to anyone about it - especially on social media.


Title: (CT) Urban exploring (a.k.a trespassing) and found a whole filing cabinet of former employees personal info (SS # ex...)

Question:
So it's pretty much all there in the title. There's an abandoned restaurant right next to a river around where I live. Apparently it flooded three times and perminitly closed about 5/6 yrs ago. Anyhow it's a beautiful place. I go there often however who ever owned the restaurant neglects the property. Recently one of the glass doors were broken and it's now possible to go inside the building, which I did cause just, being curious/having fun but yeah still legally it's trespassing.
So when I was looking around I found a filing cabinet with employees personal info. It has their names address SS # ex. My question is how can I properly get rid of this stuff for them cause obviously nobody who owned the place is gonna do anything about it. Should I just burn it all or....???? put it on the step of the police department with a note. I don't know what to do since I wasn't supposed to be in there but I don't wanna just leave those ppls info there like that.

Answer:
 You have two legal avenues, do nothing, or report it to the police/building owner. Option A has the least consequences for you, if anything ever happens to those documents, it is incredibly unlikely you could be held accountable for them. Option B can obviously leave you able to be charged for trespassing.

Doing anything to the documents is not an option anyone here can recommend, because that's illegal, and you would just be opening yourself up for worse potential consequences than you would if you just reported the issue.
Answer #2: We aren’t going to give you advice on how to break the law.

Stop breaking the law. Answer #3: Not your building.

Not your personal info.

Not your problem.

Don't do anything.


Title: [FL]General Contractor saying it has no money to do the work he was paid for and now he's telling me this.

Question:
So the story is that i was doing an addition to the master bedroom/bathroom so i hired a company i found through thumbnack, fast forward to them being paid an advance money so they can start the work, the project is sitting there with wall being half demo, because they can't take them down all the way without putting the concrete/block for the new addition.

They are telling me now after almost 3 months after i signed the contract, that they don't have the money to pay the workers to do the job, and that if i want the job finished i would have to pay for everything else on the contract directly to the workers/suppliers so they can finish the job, which makes me wonder what stops them from claiming i breached the contract and them getting me into court claiming i didn't pay them for the completed work.
Topic:
Contracts

Answer: Is the contractor bonded or insured? If so, start contacting their insurer or bond issuer.


Title: [Indiana, USA] Friend's employer wrote bad paycheck, now her bank account is frozen. It's causing a cascade of major financial trouble.

Question:
I'm posting for a friend, because she's busy trying to do damage control.

Her employer wrote a bad paycheck. She's not sure if it bounced or was completely fake. So far, they have not given her a good check, but it's only been a couple days.
When she went to cash it at her bank, they confiscated the check, froze her account, and flagged it for potential fraud. The bank wouldn't give her any documentation. She should be able to withdraw the money that was already in her account for cash, but that could take a couple days to be authorized.
Her rent is due today, and of course she can't pay it. She would've just barely had the money in her account without the paycheck, but with a frozen account, that's not a possibility. Even with being able to get her money out of the bank in cash, the landlord only takes checks. Her landlord has a pretty strict late policy, and she could be facing late fees of up to $100 a day.
This leaves her needing answers to a series of legal questions.
1) How does she get her boss to pay her?
2) Can she remove the freeze on her account and the potential fraud charge? Is the bank required to give her documentation on the reason for the freeze?
3) Can she appeal to her landlord to suspend late fees?
4) can she sue her employer to cover the bank fees, late rent fees, and any other costs incurred as a direct result of the bounced check?
5) Am I correct that what the business did is illegal? Can a fraud complaint be filed against the business? If so, does she go to the police, or is there a specific government agency for fraud charges?

Answer:
 So has your friend met this employer? Been working for them long? This sounds like a fake check scam that pops up on Craigslist all the time.

To answer some of  your questions: 1\-\-if the boss is real, go talk to them. Find out what the issue is and when it can be expected to be corrected 2\-\-She can't do any of that. She can ask the bank to do that but they may choose not to if they believe she was involved in knowingly trying to deposit a fake check. 3\-\-Again, she can appeal but has no legal standing to get late fees removed.


Title: If a store has long lines can I just go up to an employee and hand them the right amount of cash and leave?

Question:
Would it be considered stealing if I didn't make an official transaction with the store but left enough money to pay for my item?

United States

Answer: Yes that is stealing.


Title: Boss has been spying on me with cameras placed in my office. Is this illegal? What can I do to protect myself?

Question:
Hi everyone,

I've found evidence that my boss has been recording me with at least three different cameras in the office.  This is not a workplace where any customer interaction happens or money is handled, so I don't see why he would need to monitor me.  I was able to copy some of the files for proof (and to protect myself in case I get fired for no reason), but I was wondering if what he's doing is illegal in any way.  If so, what are the next steps I should take?  He is obviously much more important than me in the company and I'm afraid to say anything because it will probably be more detrimental to me than to him.

Answer:
 Huh ? Serious question ? All workplaces have cameras, many times for security, many times for liability, and as you guess sometimes for catching people stealing money. I work in a super duper huge firm and we have cameras covering every nook and cranny of buildings (except restrooms :) )

I am in WA though, and out entrance doors have a warning that parts of building may be under surveillance.


Title: Evicted with 3-day notice, rent all paid. (Oregon, U.S.)

Question:
For the past 8 months, I've lived with an unstable landlord (renting a room in his house, no lease, month-to-month) who has a tendency to fly off the handle and evict people with very short notice for very minor things. I've seen people kicked out for forgetting to lower the toilet seat, for disliking the raccoons the landlord feeds in the backyard, etc.

Today (3/7) he gave me three day notice to get out. Rent is due every month on the 8th, so tomorrow would be my usual rent day. His reasoning was "a culmination of minor things," but the "last straw" was the fact that I put a box of taquitos back in the freezer without first putting them inside a ziploc bag.

I have the 18 minute conversation wherein he explains this to me recorded on my iPhone. He didn't know I was recording, so I don't know where this stands legally. I knew it was going to be important to record because A) he's done this to several people before and B) he told me we needed to have a serious talk when I got home.

I had already been planning to move out soon, mostly because of his unstable nature, but I'd still like to know what my rights are in a situation like this. He also said that he has the right to keep all of my final month's rent, which I paid around the time I moved in, because my room was messy the other day. He's retroactively calling it a "health hazard," not that it was, and it was cleaned up a few days before he gave me this notice.

Any advice? This guy's a psychopath, so I can't do much until I get out of here, but once I do, I'm curious what my options are.

Answer: You must be given a 30 day notice to vacate. Pay this month's rent and start looking for a new place to live. Stop talking to this guy. You have no obligation to entertain his little chats. If he tries to evict because you didn't put something in a bag in the freezer he will be laughed out of court.


Title: Why are there so many game emulators and ROM sites if they're illegal in the US?

Answer: Not everything illegal gets investigated, not everything investigated gets prosecuted.


Title: Human Smuggling CA HELP

Question: Got arrested last night around 20 minutes after I picked up some hitchhiking 3 women who looked really bad and in dire condition.. I was pulled over by border patrol and arrested and detained in a immigrant facility in absolute horrible condition I was threatened of being a “alien smuggler “ but what the fuck man how am I supposed to know they’re fucking illegal when they’re already in the country? I was detained for 14 hours so I slept the night in that shit hole & trust me it’s a shit hole... my car got seized as asset forfeiture but they dropped my charges and decided not to prosecute me, the car is owned by my mother and my record is still dirtied by a alien smuggling arrest? What should I do reddit? This is the first time I have ever gotten arrested in my life, haven’t ever gotten a ticket either this has me very upset. Help me!!

Answer: The best and only advice you're gonna get is to find a good defense lawyer who has experience with these issues. There is no other option; you don't want to DIY this.


Title: Is the me too era still technically going on? or has covid ended that?

Question: Is covid making it difficult to arrest people for sexual assault or other sex crimes? or is it still a priority?

Answer:
 What do you mean with 'technically' and 'era'?

As far as I know, it's not as if there has been a formal judicial definition of a 'me too era'. It's 100% informal.


Title: PA name change of minor child, 3yr old, father petitioning to change last name

Question:
Hi r/legaladvice!

My son turned 3 this winter and I am constantly in and out of court by my ex for custody, which is another story entirely. We were never married and together a short time before we became pregnant, and our relationship ended about 4 months into my pregnancy because of his other issues. Initially we were working together about how we would raise our son, but then he completely disengaged and would not respond to messages or calls or requests to discuss anything related to the child. All of this is still documented.

He did not come to the birth even when notified because he was "too hurt" per his words to show, even though I was there 5 days due to complications. He never came into my son's life until he was 7 months old after demanding paternity testing because I filed for support, which was never questionable but I get it. He pays support on occasion and he has regular visitations but I have primary custody.

His newest stint is taking me to court to be put on the birth certificate, which I have no problem with because he is a biofather, but he wants to change my some last name to hyphenated mine-his. Our last names together are truly awful. I mean, without a doubt socially debilitating  bullying esteem material. My last name is commonly mispronounced on it's own, but paired with his it's something out of a porno. That bad.

Do the courts have the right to rename my child? Isn't there a clause about the name being socially debilitating or something? It isn't uncommon for a child from an unwed relationship to have the mother's last name, and I was never sure he would be in the picture after we split based on his actions. If my son wants to change his last name when he's older, it's hard but I would support that. He knows his name, he can almost spell it in its entirety.

I'm engaged to a man who is wonderful to us, and when we get married I will be keeping my last name or hyphenating it (haven't decided) specifically for my son and I to keep the same name.

What can the courts decide?

Answer: He has the legal right to ASK the court to change the name. THe judge is allowed to consider whether the change is in the best interests of the child, and to reject the change if it is not. You'll have the opportunity to express your feelings on the matter to the judge, but ultimately His/Her Honor makes the call. A local attorney may have insight on how the judge handling your case is likely to rule, and what evidence you might present as to why this change is not in your child's best interest.


Title: Reimbursement for not being able to use flight ticket because of police investigation? [ID, USA]

Question:
A friend of mine is a suspect of a shooting because the vehicle he drives is described as the vehicle seen at the crime scene. And apparently he looks like him even though the actual suspect is described as a whole foot shorter. He offers his full cooperation but..

He's asked not to leave the state (which is understandable). But he bought a plane ticket roughly a month ago for a holiday trip to Amsterdam, he won't be reimbursed for his flight nor other expenses made even if proven innocent. Is this.. legal?

His trip isn't until the end of May, so there's a still chance the actual perpetrator gets found. But what if he doesn't. Is he SOL?

**Edit:**
Thanks for all the advice. mcx9099 pretty much nailed it.
The thing we didn't realize was, that it was a request and not an 'order' which really answers most of my questions.

Answer: He can still go on his vacation. It is just a request and he can ignore it. If he is arrested then bonds out he can have his ability to travel restricted by the court. Answer #2: Trip insurance: 10/10.Answer #3: He needs to get a lawyer.  The police consider him a suspect.  Also, he should just go on the trip.


Title: Being scammed by mariott hotels. Can you help?

Question:
So I stayed in a hotel last week in Montreal (flew in from Chicago) and after I checked out they charged my card for a $400 safe they are accusing me of stealing. They have zero police report, or even photos of the safe missing. I have contacted Mariott customer service and they can't help on a franchised sites billing. The GM of the hotel will no longer speak to me after I asked him questions regarding the events for 1 hr.

Can they legally even charge me with no proof like that?? And yes I have dispute the charge on my credit card.

Thank you!

Answer: Did you steal the safe? You're using lots of weasel words here.


Title: Took a wet floor sign from my friends work, returned it the next day wit a ransom note

Question: My friend is a manager at a snow cone place. We took a wet floor sign, took a picture of it, left a ransom note and put it back the next day. The owner found out it was us and called the cops. Are we screwed for this prank on our friend? TX

Answer:
 >Are we screwed for this prank on our friend?

As much as you think it's a prank, and even as menial as it sounds, that is still theft. If the police want to charge you with that or not is their decision and the owner's.

EDIT: Thanks for providing your location. I'll assume the sign is worth less than $50. If you're charged with petty theft, that is a Class C Misdemeanor. No jail time but up to a $500 fine. Do you know if you were charged or not?


Title: Can anyone tell me if dueling is legal in California, and also if Trial By Combat can still be invoked in the United States, and if there have been any cases where it was requested by the defendant?

Question:
I got to talking to a co-worker about this and we found that here in California we had a dueling law on the books up until 1994, but it was deemed obsolete. From what I can gather, there are no specific laws in California explicitly regarding dueling.

Secondly, I also read that there are no specific laws in the United States regarding Trial By Combat; hand to hand, no weapons. Can this ~~still~~ be requested by the defendant, and if so how would one request it?

I don't watch Game of Thrones, so no, I didn't get the idea of this from that show.

Edit: Expanded on Trial by Combat question

Answer: Trial by combat hasn't been a thing since like the 16th century, long before the United States was founded.


Title: Is it legal to let another kid hit my own kid?

Question:
This didn't belong in r/legaladvice  so hopefully I'm in the right place.

Hypothetically, if my kid were bullying another kid at school and they were confronted, would it be legal to give this other kid the 'okay' to sock my kid in the face?

This is assuming no one holds any child down/in place and they initiated it themselves.

*IMO bullying is disgusting and in my experience the only cure is a taste of their own medicine unfortunately. If I were to have kids I'd like to know what I am supposed to do as the parent of a bully but this would be my first instinct lol.

Answer:
 I think everyone around you would be asking why you aren't parenting your own child if they're the one bullying others. Encouraging someone else to hit your child might be considered abuse.

Your experience is with bullies you don't have control over. "A taste of their own medicine" is a silly thing to say when you literally have absolute control over the bully's life and are the one raising them and teaching them how to interact socially.


Title: Taking pictures of people on the beach, is it illegal?

Question: [deleted]

Answer: Its creepy as hell but there is no expectation of privacy when your laying at the public beach


Title: There a restraining order against me...

Question: My husbands ex girlfriend has a retraining order against me ( I didnt fight it, so it was granted with no findings of fact, was just easier). She keeps screenshotting my social media, which i have her clocked from, and sending these to my husband telling him she will have me arrested because she knows the memes are about her. Or she will message him and tell him I am a terrible person and I am cheating on him. Or she messages him telling him she hates me, etc. He has blocked her cell phone but cannot block her email,  because they have children. This is the only way they communicate. How can I get her to stop stalking me? I do not have any contact with her whatsoever. I have blocked her from all my social media. This is causing a strain on my marriage. I need real help to get her to leave me alone.

Answer:
 You and your husband should both block her and set up your social media to Friends/Followers only.

Or you can report her to the police where the restraining order is valid. She may breaking it by contact your husband about you.

You could also file your own restraining order, but your husband would need to specifically tell her not to contact him again.


Title: [US Military] What kind of lawyer should I speak to? Can one advise me in this situation?

Question:
My boyfriend entered the military and recently admitted to me that he forged paperwork to get in to avoid a DQ due to a depression diagnosis that he felt was wrongly given to him. But that's a discussion for another day.

Now he's worried that at some point they may pull his medical records, the ones he forged, and find that he changed them before submitting them. But as far as we know, the HIPAA law applies to his old civilian records, so they can't pull them without his consent.

But we are not sure and he wants me to talk to a lawyer on his behalf since he can't right now overseas, and see what his options are, be it see if he's okay where he is now or admitting it his command to not get in (as much) trouble. Would a lawyer even advise us on the former?

Please don't respond if you're looking to just tell me my BF is an idiot and will get caught. I need actual helpful responses that will help our situation. He knows it wasn't the smartest decision but it was his dream to join the military.

Answer: HIPAA does not apply to the military in some cases. He almost certainly signed this right away.  They can pull with out his permission. Fraudulent enlistment is a felony. He might get lucky and get "only" a BCD. Or he might spend time in the brig. This is a big deal.


Title: FBI served me a subpoena to attend a grand jury trial 800mi away. I complied, but the DoJ is refusing to compensate for travel expenses.

Question:
tldr: I comply with an out-of-state subpoena, but don't call in advance to coordinate travel arrangements. When I show up, I'm told I'll be compensated for what the DoJ would've spent, not more. Fine by me. But a few days later I'm told I won't receive any reimbursement at all (including what they would have paid) because I was "expected to call".

Here's the situation. FBI agent knocked on my door (Michigan), asking about an old client I had who's in big legal trouble. I wanted to help, but since I saw the "Don't talk to cops!" video, I politely declined to answer his questions without a lawyer. Next day he serves me with a subpoena to attend a grand jury trial in New Haven, CT (800mi away). The subpoena said travel expenses will be paid for and gave me a victim-witness coordinator number to call. Stupid me just drove to a hotel near the courthouse and called the coordinator the day before the trial. When I did, the witness coordinator explained that I should have called in advance so she could book the hotel, flight, etc, but assured me I would be compensated for at least what the DoJ would have spent. After I interview with the Prosecutor for ~2hrs, he tells me I'm not needed at the grand jury. So I leave for home.

A few days later, the victim witness coordinator tells me my reimbursement is rejected, stating "an out-of-state witness is expected to make contact with the Victim-Witness staff". Granted the compensation they offered initially (then rejected) was above my expenses since they used the IRS milage rate, I'm nonetheless out several hundred dollars for the hotel, gas, and meals I paid for. Not to mention the time involved. This strikes me as unethical. Is there anything I can do?

Answer:
 No. The government gave you an option for reimbursement and you chose to go a different way. They're offering you reimbursement on some but not all of your expenses, which is exactly what they told you they'd do. Its not unethical for the government to have a limit on how much they will compensate you for expenses you incurred without their input or advice (picking a more expensive hotel, eating more expensive dinners, etc.). Answer #2: > Is there anything I can do?

They probably can't even legally put you in for the compensation, at this point. Federal rules about disbursement of funds aren't the kind of thing you can waive just because someone meant well.Answer #3: I think your only option is really to keep trying. Just ask to speak to a superior, ask to talk to whoever you can. Be calm, polite, and nice. I bet there's someone at that office who can approve their already-budgeted travel expenses.


Title: How is this type of traffic supposed to flow at an intersection like this one? (Overhead diagram in text.)

Question:
[Overhead of intersection in question.](http://imgur.com/UwuFrYq)

No accidents, no court, just trying to figure out how to approach this intersection in the future. Full disclosure, I had another driver almost slam into the back of me this afternoon when he blew through the yield sign that is posted for the northbound right-turn lane. He then proceeded to follow me, cut in front of me on a different road and slam on his brakes in an attempt to cause an accident, met me at a traffic light yelling and making obscene gestures, and then followed me around the city until I headed for the police station. (No, I didn't get his plate.) Not looking for sympathy or validation, I'm trying to figure out what to do the next time I have to make this maneuver (basically every day.)

Here's the scenario.

Driver one, green, proceeds through the light under the overpass, west to east (left to right) with right turn indicator on, in preparation to move into the right lane. Driver two proceeds south to north (bottom to top), following the blue line. There is a yield sign at the intersection facing driver two. Is driver two not supposed to yield to all oncoming traffic? If not, then why is there a yield sign for driver two?

Thanks in advance! Location is Madison County, Alabama.
Topic:
Traffic and Parking

Answer: I have to say, I have an intersection very similar to this near me, and my feeling is that that green should not move into the right lane unless the right lane is clear.


Title: (WI) Girl lied about father in birth certificate with the intention of cutting ou the real father from the children's lives.

Question:
A girl 'Ashley' (21) that I'm friends with was dating a guy 'Thomas' (21) early last year. They dated for about a month and then broke up. She found out she was pregnant shortly after the break-up with Thomas' twin babies. Thomas clearly indicates right away that he wants to be the father and be very involved in the children's lives.

During her pregnancy, Ashley begins dating another man 'James' (36) and decides she no longer wants Thomas involved in the future. She began ignoring all his attempts at communication about the pregnancy, due date, and planned c-section.

Just last week, Ashley gave birth to the two children and had her new boyfriend James sign both birth certificates as the father. Meanwhile, she refuses to even tell Thomas that their children have been born.

What legal steps can Thomas take with respect to his children?

Answer: He needs a lawyer to help him file a petition to establish paternity.  Once paternity is established, custody/visitation and child support can be addressed.


Title: [TX] Who is liable for kids in street?

Question:
I live in a neighborhood where parents let their kids play outside without supervision. They play in the streets running around like kids. All of the kids are 8 and under. Some as young as 3. I think it's great they are spending time outside, but I have some concerns. My wife and I bring our kids outside and we watch them directly. There is one family that lets their kids run rampant. This family lives 600-700 yards down a side street. Most of the time they are in front of my house as the houses next and across from me have the highest concentration of kids.

My question is what is my liability if I'm outside and they due something reckless or get hurt by a car driving down the street? There is no arraignment or expectation I am suppose to be watching these kids, but I wonder if I assume responsibility since I am the only adult outside. It would be these kids are outside when I happen to be outside.

Answer: You are not liable just because you walk outside when something happens.


Title: [Ohio] Apartment ceiling collapsed from water damage yesterday. Am being asked to move out of the current apartment temporarily to another building across the street until the apartment is fixed. My current apartment is getting a new owner tomorrow and I dont want to get screwed.

Question:
As the title says, my apartment ceiling collapsed yesterday and I am being asked to move to another apartment temporarily while the damage is fixed. Meanwhile, the ownership of the current building is being transferred from Owner A to Owner B (they Co-own the building now) tomorrow, after I have my stuff moved out.

I have a dozen questions in regards to the situation.

1) I am being asked to pay a higher rate in the new temporary apartment (it is a bit larger) and to put utilities in my name (They were included in the old one). Is this allowed?

2) Am I entitled to the new place for any set amount of time? I talked to owner B about the repairs and they claimed they probably wouldnt happen for awhile/

3) What do I need to do to protect myself so I am not screwed on paying more/double and so I dont end up on the street? Is owner A legally obligated to provide a new living space for me? I just dont know what I should do. My options are continue living in the apartment I am in with a collapsed moldy wet ceiling or risk moving to a new one and end up paying a ton more  in rent and utils, with no guarantee if and when I could move back into the original place.

Time is sensitive, I have to make the choice today. Thanks.

Answer:
 A) since you said you have a dozen questions, I strongly urge you to consult an attorney, or a local law clinic or low income groups, if needed;

1) the apartment that has you out should be paying for the difference, or your insurance;

2) until repairs are done, or the lease is terminated;

3) talk to an attorny, get the lease modified if willing (not needed but better proof), talk with your rental insurance.

( /u/anotherguyinohio/ any other ideas?)


Title: Can a man be held liable for child support if a woman gets pregnant by him because she obtained his semen, and it wasn't from vaginal intercourse, and she inseminated herself?

Question:
Several years ago I heard of a case where a man in Louisiana sued in order to avoid being held liable for child support. His story was that he had oral sex with a woman. The woman performed oral sex on him while she wore a condom. He then alleges that sometime afterwards she took his semen from the condom and inseminated herself and became pregnant. She denies that she did that and claims that she got pregnant the old-fashioned way, from penis-in-vagina intercourse. The Court ruled that even if she did take the semen from the used condom and got pregnant, he is still liable for child support. The rationale is that the best interest of a child is to be supported by both their mother and their father regardless of the circumstances of their conception.

But what if a woman gets pregnant against a man's will, using his sperm, and she never even had sexual contact with him? I heard of an alleged story, that I haven't been able to verify, about a escort and Madame who has engaged in sexual intercourse with several popular NBA players. She would obtain their semen from condoms, store them, and then sell them to women who thin sued the NBA players for child support, Juan because because regardless of the circumstances of conception, he was still the father of the kids, and receive six-figure amounts of child support each month.

So what I'm wondering is that let's say for example I mean has sex with a woman, and the woman takes the used condom and gives the semen to another woman who used to get pregnant. Would that woman be able to successfully sue for child support, or would he be able to claim that since the woman stole his semen, and he never even had engaged in a sex act with her, that he shouldn't be held responsible for the child?

Answer:
 Yes.Answer #2: That child is as entitled to the benefit of two parents as any other child, and there is no other obvious candidate to step up and fulfil that responsibility.

That said, that story sounds a lot like an urban legend. I can't find any citations for it either, and many - in my part of the world, most - condoms come pre-treated with spermicides as an extra layer of pregnancy prevention for both partners.


Title: Named on inheritance but family not giving me money, any help?

Question:
My grandfather passed away lost month and left behind a will. My sister and I were named at 5% each, but my father and aunt won’t tell us anything about how we can get the money. Is there any way to look up the legal documentation? They won’t give me any attorney information or anything. Do you guys have any guidance?

Thank you

Answer:
 Wills are posted in probate courts in the county in which the person died (in most states, so your location is j.portant here). Simply Google the county and state name and "probate court." You should be able to download any wills, though there might be a fee.

You will also be able to find out who the named executor of your grandfather's estate is, and who the attorney is.

Just a point of note: if you are named in the will, you will almost certainly get the money, but it might not be until you turn 18 if you are currently a minor. The likeliest obstacle, if there is one, is if your grandfather's debts are greater than his assets.

NAL


Title: (UK) I found a firearm in my house.

Question:
Clarification: I am 15 years old, I live with my Mum, younger and older sisters (13 and 30) as well as my older brother (28).

I found this firearm (yesterday) in me and my brother's room and I don't know whether I should confront my brother and tell him to go to the police, call the police or tell my mother and let her handle it.

I've held the gun with disposable gloves just so they can't trace it back to me if my brother somehow does get caught. My brother has cerebral palsy and is slightly deaf, he isn't somebody who would break the law but does associate himself with the wrong kind of people.

Since I've held the weapon, does this mean I could also be charged with possession of a firearm or maybe a lesser charge?

Thanks for reading.
Topic:
Non-US

Answer:
 Go to your mom.

Right now.

Don't respond to this first.  Don't close the browser window.  Just set the device down or stand up from the keyboard, walk to where Mom is, and tell her.

Right now.


Title: Power of Attorney

Question:
My husband and I moved my FIL to our area, MS, over a year ago from MO to a VA nursing home. SIL was still living in MO and was suppose to handle getting his bank information sent here and dealing with the house, that sort of thing. Well, instead she just decided to not answer any of our calls. We had our first child in October and have had alot of things going on, so this had been put off longer than it should. She hadn't spoken to us or sent any of FILs money since before our daughter was born, FIL gets roughly 5000 a month into his account.  We have tried to get power of attorney by filling out paperwork ourselves so we can have the account transferred here, but because of MO laws we will need a lawyer we can't afford. We are 98% sure she is living off of FILs money which is why she will not get back to us. We can not financially support him and he needs basic things, clothes, entertainment, etc. He is in no shape to travel to deal with the bank directly there, he had to be brought down by the nursing home. The bank will give us no information or held until we  get power of attorney.  We really don't know what can be done about it at this point.  I know this is a bunch or rambling, it might make more sense if I wasn't writing it in anger, but if anyone can offer any helpful suggestions that would be wonderful.
Topic:
Douche

Answer: Looks like namespace collision - by "VA" do you mean Virginia, or Veteran's Administration? If the latter, they would be a good contact point - someone "leeching" off a vet enough to deny that get enough of their own resources to pay for their care.


Title: [CAN, ON] I was accused of stealing out of an open house, what can I do to protect myself?

Question:
Hi all,

Thanks for taking the time to read/help.

I went to an open house last Saturday with my dad. Today, my dad received a call from the agent (contact info was recorded in a registry) that the owner had lost a wallet from a drawer. There were four groups of people in total that viewed the open house on Saturday. The owner thinks that someone from these groups stole the wallet. I am their prime suspect because I was alone for a minute while viewing one bedroom while my dad was talking to the agent. The only information I know (and have been told) is that the wallet was taken from a drawer. I do not know the contents of the wallet, or which room it was taken out of.

On the call, I encouraged them to contact the police instead of contacting the groups directly (what will they gain from that?), and that I will fully cooperate with the police during their investigation.

I have never dealt with the police, or any legal issues before.

Are there things I should be aware of, and things I should do to protect myself?

Thank you

Answer:
 In general, the police aren’t interested in helping you, so don’t talk with them beyond ‘I didn’t take the wallet and don’t know who did’. Anything further and it’s probably them trying to trip you into contradicting yourself and then using that to ‘prove’ you took the wallet.

Otherwise, ignore the people making the claims.


Title: HUD opened their “sealed bids” 48 hours before the bidding deadline and an offer was accepted. We didn’t get to put an offer on an excellent house... can anything be done? Is this even legal?!?

Question:
Okay, so apparently the way that bidding on a foreclosure owned by a bank works is that HUD has a window (10 days in our case) where people who don’t plan to flip the house and plan to live in it have the opportunity to place a bid. Last year we bid on a house this way but we didn’t get it. Anyways, once this window is over, HUD opens the “sealed” bids and the bank/whoever decides which bid (if any) they accept.

This morning we got with our real estate agent to fill out the paperwork and WHILE WE WERE FILLING IT OUT the house went into contingency. Our REA made some calls and found out that HUD opened the sealed bidding last night (48 hours BEFORE the bidding period ended) and an offer was accepted today. And before anyone asks, YES, we are sure about the dates. It even said the dates for the last bids on the same screen that showed the house in contingency.

We were devastated and astonished. Hours later (all of which have been spent on the phone with HUD and waiting for callbacks from anyone who can answer this) our REA is still in complete shock. Neither he nor anyone at his agency has EVER encountered anything like this.

I guess my questions are:

a) is this legal? If so is this common practice?!?

b) if it’s NOT legal, can we expect HUD to have a new bidding window to allow everyone who planned on bidding to do so once their mistake has been caught?

c) what would be the motivation for HUD to do this?

Right now we are still waiting on HUD to call us back yet again... but I was just wondering if anyone can give me any sort of information on this.

Answer:
 a) This sounds like a mistake.  It is hard to imagine why a government agency would purposefully ignore the date.

b) It isn't necessarily clear how HUD might remedy this situation.  That's probably up to HUD.

c) That's not an answerable question.  But the "nothing" that seems like the answer pushes toward a government clerk simply made an error.Answer #2: I would call HUD's report abuse hotline and lodge a complaint. While I've never had to do so with HUD, I have with Fannie Mae ( it was a Homepath property) when a listing agent tried to get me to participate her attempt to inflate the contract price by **\~**20k.

&#x200B;

....Her brokerage hasn't listed another Fannie property again.


Title: [Boston] Married an immigrant - parents STRONGLY disapprove. The i-30 form so he can remain in the US has sections requiring parents' info. Could they play-dumb and make it seem like we're not really married?

Question:
I have plenty of photos with my now-husband and family members but it just struck me now that none really exist of him and them.

Will the government contact my parents and, if-so, is it possible that they could protest the marriage by playing dumb and sabotaging his adjustment of status? My mother made this threat in a joking context months ago during a discussion about them not approving of this, but could they actually do it?

**disclaimer** - they dislike him only due to the fact that he's working-class (solaris sysadmin) and believe I am marrying-down, not for any reason that would otherwise disqualify him as a candidate for citizenship.

Answer: Lying on the form would be illegal because I'm nearly certain the statements are made under threat of perjury. But they can certainly just refuse to do anything at all.


Title: I just Inherited a WW2 luger in a different state from where I live and I am moving in a month.

Question:
As the post said, my grandfather passed away a few years ago now and my grandmother gave my dad the gun [NJ] and he transported it back home [MA] for me to take when I graduate from college in and move to Austin [TX] in about a month.

I'm not sure if the gun was ever registered when he brought it back from the war.  So i have no idea on how to register it or if I need to.  What is my best course of action?

Answer:
 Technically you're supposed to register it in MA but holy crap what a hassle.

https://mircs.chs.state.ma.us/fa10/action/home?app_context=home&app_action=presentHome

The real world non-legal advice I would give is keep it locked in a case until you get to Texas. Once you're in Texas you're fine, there is no registration in Texas.Answer #2: Keep it put away until you get to Texas. You won't have to register it there. Pack it in a box you'll be taking and forget about it until you get settled in. You'll be opening a door of headache you do not want trying to deal with all this in a month. This is not legal advice, but really it is not worth the hassle if you'll be moving in a month or less.


Title: Is the postal service legally obligated to deliver packages to your door under reasonable conditions? What is considered reasonable?

Question:
Location is DeKalb County, Georgia.

We moved into a new house a little over a year ago. The house is at the bottom of a hill. The hill is relatively steep, but I've seen lots of houses with significantly steeper hills. It's not a long hill -- it takes one minute to get from the door to the street. I walk up and down it three times a day, my 2-year-old daughter walks up and down it once a day.

Since we moved in, our USPS delivery person has refused to walk down the hill to leave packages at our door. Instead, she has tried:

* Leave packages at the base of the mailbox at the street. We called to complain, and that stopped. Instead, she started...
* Driving into our driveway and attempting to turn around in the parking space in front. In doing so, she has repeatedly run into the wall on the other side of the driveway, damaging it -- that wall belongs to our neighbor, who (understandably) has called to complain. So, she stopped. Instead, she started...
* Driving all the way around to the back of our house to try to turn around in our small two-car driveway. In doing so, she has nicked the support beam of the back deck, driven through the grass, and come extremely close to hitting one of our cars. So, we called to complain. So, she stopped. Instead, she started...
* Leaving "No Access" slips when we have packages to deliver, forcing us to pick them up in person from the post office. Naturally, my wife and I work during the hours the post office is open. Picking up one package isn't a big deal, but picking up every package we receive in person isn't a sustainable solution.

UPS and FedEx both walk down our driveway just fine and leave packages at our door. It's not difficult.

Needless to say, though, USPS isn't a business we can choose whether or not to patronize. Do we have any legal recourse?

Answer:
 Have you asked why the postman refuses to leave the package at the door?  They might have good reason, such as a bum leg or something that makes the hill a bigger issue for them than yourself.

That said, you can get a package box for your mailbox, a PO box at the mail center (PO box areas are usually accessible after-hours), or work it out with USPS by calling them up and starting a diablog.Answer #2: If the box is at the road, you would fall under section 2.3 Highway Contract Delivery Service. Based on that, they are not supposed to leave any package that does not fit into your mailbox.

> 2.3.2 Parcel Delivery - An ordinary parcel too large to fit into a customer’s mailbox is not left unless the customer has filed a written order with the postmaster relieving the USPS and carriers of all responsibility in case of loss or depredation of any such parcel left outside the box.

Based on that, your mail person should be leaving you a ticket for each parcel to have you go pick it up at the post office.Answer #3: Call the #800 and open a complaint, give them all the details you have written here. They will give you a case #. Somebody from your local post office is required to call you back in 24 hours. If it happens again call the #800 back and tell them you need to reopen the case #. If the local post office doesn't call you back call the #800 and somebody will be in deep shit.

I'm over in Kennesaw and had similar issues with the sub on my route and doing the above got it sorted.


Title: Is nude artwork based off of underage girls considered child pornography?

Question: What if they look 18+ or even if one simply claims that the art wasn't based off a minor's body? Don't get the wrong idea; I've been practicing the human form, and a couple of friends have agreed to help me out. We're all the same age, that age just isn't quite 18 yet.

Answer:
 Sexually explicit images made involving minors are CP.

Not all nude art is sexually explicit, but its not an area of law I'd want to put to the test.