Title: FL - HOA threatening to sue over possibly the wrong house.

Question:
Here's a little back story, as this is a continuation of my previous post since the call recording can't be used as she never gave proper consent (which will be partially re-outlined here).

We moved into this community, which is a friendly community here in Florida, back in 1998.  We have lived here for almost 20 years now, and generally never had a problem.  When our HOA had a board change, we started getting some nastygrams from them regarding little things, like dirt on the mailbox, and a weed here and there at the side of the house.  While it caught us off guard, we did take action and didn't complain.  Cue a few more years, my fathers back has started to go out and he needed spinal surgery.  He can't maintain the yard as often as he once could, and I stay with him to help him out and take care of him so he can stay here.  I try to do the yard work as much as I can, and he does try to help anyway.  We do this weekly, so if it rains sure things can get a little out of hand, but it's taken care of on a weekly basis.  We were doing good, and no complaints.  2 years ago, my fathers pickup truck was smashed into, and we had to cover the window with a tarp while we saved up for a new window.  This caused a nastygram requesting that we remove the "eye sore" from the driveway.  Ironically this letter came 2 weeks after the accident, just before my paycheck to get a new window.  They sent a code enforcement officer, which luckily was a friend of my father, and he told the HOA it is being handled appropriately and no rules were actually broken as per the city (they sent a city code enforcement officer if it matters).  From here, things were fine, till a year ago.

1 year ago I suffered a heart attack in September '15, and was unable to help my father do the yard work for a while.  As my father now lives on disability, and I was out of work, we had no money to afford a lawn crew for the time being.  He's no longer able to work on the yard as the back problems have progressed, and lost his job, hence being on disability.  So you can imagine that for the time I was out, the yard wasn't getting better and we couldn't afford lawn care.  It wasn't going to stay this way obviously as once I was better, I would be right back to doing it for him.  This didn't matter, and he got a nastygram stating he would be sued and a lien placed against his home if it's not fixed.  We tried to reach out, and her response was literally "You can move out if you can't afford the lawn work".  I was astonished at the absolute bitterness of her response, and it made my father feel depressed, as this is his home and wants to stay here.  We like our neighbors, and as per the HOA, it's only a "private investigator" that is complaining, which she admitted is not a resident nor even a board member.  To tell my disabled father to go move was pretty downright wrong.  We kept those emails for obvious reasons, which I will get to in a bit.

About a few months later we got yet another one, claiming that the mailbox was crooked.  Now here's where things are going to start getting important.  I had purchased a dash cam a few weeks prior, and it keeps taking snapshots every minute when the car is off.  That morning she claimed the inspector was there at the house, the mailbox was not crooked, it was straight..  But, 1 minute later in a snapshot, it's crooked.  We don't know who pushed the mailbox, but the inspector time stamped his visit, and well, I hate to say this, it matches with the camera's time stamp within 5 minutes.

Cue now, like yesterday now.  We got a nastygram again, but this time we are more than confused.  They are claiming we have trash bins in our driveway, weeds all over the side of the house, and grass on the driveway.  We are confused, because there's literally no weeds on the house, no grass in the driveway, and my dash cam shows no trash bins having ever been in the driveway.  In fact, the last time we even had bins on the driveway was a year ago and that was a short time as I was working on my car and throwing away cardboard boxes in the recycle container while I worked..  It was there maybe for a week, and that was it.  But they haven't returned in a year.

We called her immediately as we felt it was the wrong house possibly, but as soon as she knew what address it was, she immediately started getting rude on the phone, and talking over me and my father.  (Here's where the previous post in legal advice comes in)  I tried to explain I was going to start recording the call, but she talked over me so much she never heard me and thus didn't give explicit consent, so that recording is ruined.  I don't want to say what was on the phone as everything I've said prior to here is in email conversations and is on record, and anything that happened in this call would be thus, hearsay, so I won't go over it.  But what I can say, is that as personal feelings go, it ruined our day.

I went out of the house and grabbed the dash cam, took pictures immediately, and we put it in writing to her showing that this is entirely false, and can't even be the same house.  She wouldn't apologize, and her rudeness continued in email (so we have it on record now luckily), but she will not acknowledge whether the investigator is wrong, and as of now, all she will leave it as is "We have put it in the file", which doesn't give us confident.

Last night we went on Facebook for our communities own group, which consists of residents.  We asked about everyone elses' experience with the HOA in our community and explained ours, and immediately they knew the exact name of the person we were talking about, and explained their equal displeasure.  This morning we get an odd response to our post saying we should volunteer and join the board and quit whining.  Turns out this person is the president of our HOA board, and not one person in the group liked her response.  Being it's in text, it's all in hard writing at this point, but it seems so childish for the HOA to be acting like this.  We weren't even whining when we brought up concerns that they may have inspected the wrong house, we only had complaints in the way my father was treated.

My legal question here I guess would be, what can we do from here?  We don't want to move as we've lived here for such a long time.  It seems that no one in this community likes this person based on the response, and I feel that there might be some legal course of action we can do without needing to move.  Being the most recent violation isn't even true at all, and she refuses to show us the investigators pictures (we'd easily tell if it's our house or not), we are left to wonder if they are purposely doing this now.

Answer:
 I don't see any legal issue here.  You should talk to the community about HOA elections and try to get this obnoxious person off.

And maybe you should try having an actual security camera so the next time an "inspector" comes and damages your mailbox you can make a complaint to the police about it.


Title: Insurance Claims My Fault

Question:
A couple weeks ago my car broke down at an intersection. Location: Georgia, USA
My car was slightly between the middle lane and the fast lane when it had broken down. It was night time, in front of a big store and fast food chain. It is a "dark area" but you can still see fairly well, and with the traffic lights you can see too.
 My car broke down and I tried restarting it and it didn't start. I enabled my hazard lights, and then tried starting my car again. The last time I tried starting it, it was as if my battery was dead (lights surged when trying to start).
Moments after this a big 2016 dodge ram rear ended me. This totalled my car. We both had the same insurance company and they had found my at fault because my lights surged as well as my car being between the middle (turning) lane and fast lane in the police report.
What do I do to fight this? I believe the driver was honestly distracted and didn't see me until he couldn't stop, but that's a clear violation of the ACDA law. The insurance found me at fault also because the driver said they tried to "swerve right out of the way of my car, which is why the truck flipped onto its side (top heavy)." The thing is that IF the truck did swerve to the right, then the truck would had flipped onto its left side. But it was flipped onto its right side, proving he hit the back right corner of my car (it's a lower sporty car), I believe the truck drove over the whole back right side of my car and making it flip to its right side (it's smashed pretty badly).
I honestly believe the other driver was distracted or using his cell phone. I have even found his public Facebook page where he has uploaded a handful of pictures obviously taken whilst driving at night. I have screenshotted them all, I think it'd be worth it to pull his records.

My insurance called me today and informed me I was faulted and I didn't really know what to say and didn't think of how this didn't add up until afterwards. What do I do? Is there anything I can do?
Honestly Reddit, I am an 18 year old who has grown up without a lot. I'm trying to make something of myself -- I am basically financially independent (I paid for my car, insurance, and gas) parents never just give me money as we are all broke. I'm not trying to play a pity card, I just really need help and have no one else who could help me. I spent $4,000 on the car that was totalled. It was all I had, and I haven't had time to save any money. I have worked full time alongside high school in fast food for the past two years (I work hard, too, I make $9/hr in fast food which is minimum wage here -- $7.25). I graduate tomorrow and for now I am borrowing my grandmother's van, but it is only a temporary solution. I'm very upset and stressed over so many things going on and trying to figure myself and my life out.
Please help, reddit. Pm for additional info as well as pictures if it would help. Thank you all very much.

Answer:
 First, calm down.  In life shit happens and this is just one of the shit things that will occasionally happen during your adult life which hopefully will be long and mostly happy.  You are young and just starting your adult life.  Congratulations on graduating, go celebrate the occasion with your family and friends.

Now to the accident.  If indeed you were stationary in the road with your hazard lights flashing, I find it extremely unlikely that you would be found 100% at fault.  Even if your car had no lights whatsoever on a completely dark area of the road, the other driver would at the very least share responsibility because generally if a driver hits a stationary object even at night that driver is responsible (you should never "overdrive your lights").

If your insurance company is stating that you are 100% at fault I would appeal the decision.  Post this over at /r/insurance and some actual auto insurance adjusters should be able to help you with the appeal process and perhaps give better insight into this issue.


Title: Dad passed away and his ghosting landlord eventually turns up saying we owe a ton in damages.

Question:
First, thank you to anyone that reads this and replies. My dad unexpectedly passed away recently. He was renting an apartment and left a couple month's rent for the deposit. The landlord was ghosting me for over a month on the deposit/any communication.

&#x200B;

Finally checks in saying we owe thousands of dollars in damages. Just provides his own list, no documents. I know this is subjective, but I honestly think for being there for a few years, that place was in great condition. My dad never even put a nail in the wall, just lived very simply. There's definitely a lot of things he's asking for that I consider ridiculous (and these items are news to me), but light bulbs and a string that came off the light in the closet.

Anything that has regular wear for it's age, he's charging me the full replacement cost. One such thing is the thermostat whose cover came off because the plastic deteriorated, although it still worked. This thing is easily from the 70s. Wish I had a photo but regretfully didn't take it.

Anyway, so not only is he saying he's keeping the full deposit, but saying we owe him almost $2k for other items.

I'm not sure it's worth it to hire a lawyer to get any of the deposit back. My dad didn't create a will and has nothing left after we paid for his funeral. But now that this guy is saying we owe him money, I'm not sure if I need an attorney just to protect us from this. The lease (which expired over three months ago; the landlord never resigned but we kept paying) is only in my dad's name. So I believe he can only try to sue his estate, but he doesn't have one as far as I understand.

I'd appreciate anyone's input. Also, when my dad was alive, the previous tenant used to come by and say she never received her deposit. She seemed a bit erratic and maybe unstable so didn't think much of it, but even if she wasn't well, she may not have been wrong. Thanks again.

Answer:
 You don't owe anything, your father's estate does. You have two options - you can open a probate case by filing the death certificate with the probate court local to your father and force the landlord to assert a claim/prove the debt/possibly be sued over the deposit or you can flat out ignore it and tell him you're not paying anything personally and make him sue the estate.Answer #2: Location?

Sounds like a slumlord trying to get the estate to cover what may be legal wear and tear. Preying on the grieving is effing despicable.


Title: (Bloomington, IN, USA) Is this a slander/libel issue?

Question: Someone has been harassing me on social media, threatening to kill me and rape my girlfriend. I checked his facebook and found out that he is an elementary school teacher. Seeing the problem with a man who threatens to rape a younger woman teaching children, I messaged the school with my concerns, screencapping the messages. He is now claiming that it is libel/slander to do that and he's going to sue me. I have the strangest feeling he'd lose, but I don't know how slander laws work so I can't say for sure. I couldn't tell for sure where he's from either, but I felt like it was outside the United States. Would that change the lawsuit? Could he even do that? I know it's probably just empty threats on social media, but I like to be extra-safe.

Answer:
 You can't ever sue someone for slander/libel if the statement in question is 100% true. It's only for damages caused by untrue or misleading allegations. You are safe.

It might be to your advantage to get out in front of this though and take his threats to the police. At the very least, you can start a paper trail in case he tries anything else.


Title: 4th Amendment - Warrant question

Question:
Have a question - over time has it become easier for officers to obtain a warrant to search a residence?  With laptops in the cars, redundancy of requests (meeting set criteria a warrant is preapproved).

My assumption is developments in technology and automation have made the highest frequency requests for warrants easier to obtain (clicking oaths, etc.) for expediency.

Any law enforcement/attorneys care to help me iron this out?  I'm a teacher and the 4th Amendment raises intense questions in the classroom and trying to see if there is anything with this hunch.   Thanks.

Answer:
 > Have a question - over time has it become easier for officers to obtain a warrant to search a residence?

You mean *logistically* easier?  Somewhat, in that it's easier to draft an affidavit with technology.  And it's quicker to get it to the judge and get their read on whether it's appropriate.

If you're asking if it's *legally* easier, I would say no.  Judges are asking for more now than they did before, in many cases.


Title: Unlawful termination?(UT)

Question:
I'm the manager of a small pretzel store in Utah.  My district manager is in charge of four stores, and altogether the franchise owner has about a dozen.

In the last month or so, I've noticed my employees start to go over my head to my DM over stuff.  Some small, like complaints about their coworkers, some just asking questions about running the store in general(which was starting to get quite frustrating, as their *actual* manager).

So today I come into work, and M(my seventeen year old employee) says "I'm really sorry, I don't want to make you upset but, remember how there was $100 missing from the bank deposit the other day?  Well DM and FO(franchise owner) think that you stole it."

>Backstory:  Twice this month, I've mildly fucked up the nightly deposit by miss counting it and then realizing my mistake the next day.  So one night we're thirty dollars short, the next day we're thirty dollars over.  The next time it happened I counted everything correctly, except I accidentally put two hundred something into the deposit instead of 3 something, but the next day I found it in the till and put the extra hundred in that night's deposit. Annoying of me, but all accounted for.  And I'm certainly not the only one to do this, as I'm always fixing my employees' messed up deposits- they just don't hear about it because it's not their job.  I also refrain as much as possible from telling DM about this stuff because, again, it's my job and not hers.

So anyway, what. The. Fuck.  (Remember the pilot episode of The Office when Michael fake fires Pam for stealing?  That's how I felt.)  I stormed to the back, started sobbing and yelled-not at M, but to her-about how I've literally never stolen anything and that the money was documented and accounted for and how insulted I was that anyone would think I was desperate enough to steal petty cash from a pretzel store.  I call my husband sobbing, M says she'll let DM know that I found the money, and when I'm off the phone with my husband, I ask M what happened.

"Did you tell DM that the money's not missing?"

"Yes."

"Did you tell her that I know that she thinks I'm a thief?"

"Yes."

"Awesome.  What did she say?"

"She wants me to fire you."

Apparently it's "common" for managers to swipe money, spend it, and then pay it back after their next paycheck.  For the record,(and I literally have the paperwork to prove it) these incidents both took place and were fixed within 24 hours, which isn't enough time for me to spend money and pay it back. But whatever.

***OKAY BUT LITERALLY WHAT. THE FUCK.*** I start crying again, call my husband *again,* he comes to pick me up because we need to discuss the best course of action between letting M fire me, quitting, or any other options we have.(Let me be clear: M seemed to be on my side the entire time, she was pretty grossed out by how my managers were handling the situation.)

One thing she told me, that I unfortunately didn't record, was the following:  "They will find another reason to say that they fired you for.  Employee 2 complained about you being incompetent and employee 3 complained about you being bitchy."  E2 is very sweet and funny, and we get along great. I really have no clue whether she actually said that or it was passed around a half dozen times before coming back to me.  As for E1's complaint, she complained about me, *to* me one other time about a specific issue, to which I promptly started paying specific attention and I'm fairly sure that it hasn't been a problem in weeks.(Judging yourself objectively is difficult, I realize, but I really don't think I've passed into the "incompetence" territory.)

As for things that me and my husband both got on tape:

M: "So the deal is... FO is closing the store at the end of the lease.  We're stripping it, and opening in a new location in (other city.)  So DM didn't plan on not letting dailyqt transfer, and then she was just going to take her off the schedule.  But I wanted dailyqt to know this because if she had the possibility of walking out, I needed to get those shifts covered."

...

dailyqt: "So your dad was fired [from the same pretzel franchise under the same FO?]  Why was he fired, did he "steal" too?"

M:  "No, so DM was an assistant manager under my parents, went over their head to talk to FO, and was like "I'd be a better manager, fire these two" and he did.  After Christmas he was like "don't bother coming back.""

...

M: (in regards to the store closing) "Amber was like "we need to keep everything a secret from dailyqt" so dailyqt didn't know, she literally just found out today."

In the end we decided I should just clock out and not sign anything.  Reddit, thank you so much for your patience, is there anything I have on these guys?  Or do I just need to take it up the ass?

***Really quick note: we have security cameras, but M says they don't work.  I have no clue one way or the other.

Answer:
 So you made multiple errors on cash out and then when confronted started yelling, sobbing and called your husband to cry while at work? You getting fired after that is both justified and predictable.

Edit: Also, did you decide to clock out or were you actually fired and told to leave?


Title: Renter stole my daughters jewels and clothes.

Question:
While I was on a trip, my daughter came to my house to look for missing jewelry and clothes that had gone missing and found some of the missing items in a room  that a woman rents from me. The woman would have had to have gone through storage boxes that my daughter was keeping in my garage. It's obvious the renter had stolen them. We are hesitant to call the police as my daughter went into her room and went through her stuff to find the missing items.  The renter is also a months behind in rent and has a questionable boyfriend.  I am asking if we should call the cops? Or is there a potential that my daughter could be arrested? Or should we confront the renter ourselves? We live in Southern California.

*Resolved: Thanks everyone for the input, we are going to go with cld8's suggestion. Thanks again, this is a fast responding and well managed subreddit.
Topic:
Criminal Law

Answer:
 Both the renter and your daughter did something illegal. The renter's crime (theft) was much worse than your daughter's (entering without permission).

I suggest you confront the renter, and tell her that if she returns everything she took, you will not call the cops.  Then kick her out.Answer #2: So, your daughters stuff went missing, your daughter didn't find it, you think you know who did it, there is a plausible motive, and you aren't calling the police because...they may arrest your daughter?

So...what illegal activities are your daughter involved in that you are clearly not telling us?

Edit: OK when you said went into 'her' room, you meant the renters room, not your own daughter. Yeah, that probably was illegal. Next time let the police handle it, which is what you should have done from the start.


Title: I am 17 and got a speeding ticket for 98 in a 65. What do I do?

Question:
I'm in Ohio, and I got clocked at 98 in a 65, i am pretty sure I wasnt doing that, I was doing closer to 75, but i dont know how the radar would read 98 if I wasn't doing that. Anyways, I would appreciate any advice on what to do. My only other offense is a verbal warning from more than a year ago. What are the consequences I am facing, and what can I do to minimize them?

The situation that occured was that there was a van with a trailer weaving back and forth in its lane, and it was occasionally entering the other lane, so I felt the need to pass it, which in hindsight I prolly should have stayed behind it, but too late now. So I passed it and the cop was driving in the other lane, and he turned around and pulled me over.

Answer:
 When you're a minor and accused of going over 30 mph over the speed limit, it's time to get parents and lawyers involved.Answer #2: Your record is fairly clean because you have no record. You have like 0 driving experience.

Over 30 can be reckless driving. You should inform your parents and hire an attorney to mitigate damages. Also expect your insurance to go from high to stupid high.Answer #3: For a traffic offense of this severity you retain an attorney.


Title: What's the most effective way to find a Criminal attorney in Texas that would be willing to do pro-bono work?

Question: I am in Texas, and I have a family member who is potentially facing serious criminal charges and has little to no financial means. I am trying to find an attorney in the Austin (and surrounding) area. I have no idea where or how to begin looking for someone that might be willing to take the case pro-bono, so any advice would be appreciated. Thanks.

Answer: I am a criminal defense attorney in Texas and I am happy to contact your friend free of charge and tell him to shut up until he is charged and can get a public defender.


Title: Daughters Vacation With Her Mom

Question: [deleted]

Answer:
 Would either of these notaries be ethically able to sign off on the form? I'd think they'd both be too close to the situation to hear an oath, but that's me up here in Ontario.

>Is there a way she could go around me signing the papers?

Humongous balls and a lax customs agent?


Title: (New York) Contacted via certified mail by former employer with a request to cease the engagement of employees regarding employment opportunities

Question:
Most of my referrals reached out to me, but I've attempted to poach two of them, neither of which were successful hires.

I refused to sign a non-solicitation agreement on my last day, and as far as I know I've never signed anything indicating that I couldn't do this.

"Dear BenjaminSkanklin:  It has been brought to our attention that you have contacted and engaged in conversations with (Company) employees regarded employment opportunities outside of (Company).  Please refrain from contacting our staff for this purpose.  Thank you for your anticipated cooperation, sincerely (VP of HR)"

Do I stand any chance of actual trouble here?  The place is a joke and people are leaving by the droves, so I think this is out of desperation more than anything.

Answer:
 IANAL but, absent any agreement that you signed, I fail to see how this is anything beyond a request on the former employer's part. At-will employment benefits from the ability of labor (i.e. your former coworkers) to move to other jobs - presumably for better total compensation.

They can ask all you want but as long as you're not violating any laws such as trespassing then I think you're fine.Answer #2: They didn't mention any sort of obligation.  All they said was "please refrain from contacting our staff for this purpose."

The letter isn't even from a lawyer. It's from the VP of HR. If they anticipated legal trouble, they would have had a lawyer write the letter.

If they wanted to give you legal trouble, this is an odd way to go about it.Answer #3: Copying /u/ComicBookDad comment:

>IANAL but, absent any agreement that you signed, I fail to see how this is anything beyond a request on the former employer's part.

I was asked to sign a multi-page over-the-top legalese agreement on my way out in return for a pitifully small severance pay.  I declined since I didn't need the tiny severance pay and I wasn't going to hire an attorney to decipher the agreement.

Every now and then I come across the agreement and have a good laugh at it.  I should post it here and redact the names.

At-will works both ways.

Edit:  Added hyphens to 'over-the-top'


Title: Can I kick my cheating husband out?

Question: I recently discovered my husband cheating.  We have only been married a year.  We are both on a lease that ended in April and have been living month to month while because we were preparing to buy a house.  Can I force him to leave?

Answer:
 nope, you both have an equal right to ne there.Answer #2: Ok, you didn't list your location but I'll assume it's some place without bizarre laws.

No, you can't force him to leave.  You can certainly ask him to leave and he might willingly do so.  But if he doesn't want to leave your best way out is to simply terminate the tenancy and move somewhere else without him.  Write a letter to the landlord saying that you are not willing to further extend the lease and that you will be moving out at the end of October, and that your husband does not speak for you on this and he may or may not want to stay.

Of course you don't have to wait until the lease is up to leave, you can go stay in a hotel right now if you want.


Title: Roommate told me to sign her name on lease and is now trying to charge me with forgery.

Question: My roommate was super hung over when the landlord came over and asked me to sign the lease for her. We lived together for several months and she has decided that she wants out of the lease. Cool, no problem. Except that she told the landlord that I forged her signature on the lease and that she is planning on suing me. I cant get a hold of her and she has already moved. Any advice is greatly appreciated! (California)

Answer:
 How'd she ask you to sign? If it was via text, is there any way you'd still have the text?

It's not forgery if she asked you to sign. I think the fact that she lived there for months is some evidence she asked you, because it would pretty bizarre otherwise. I assume she also interacted with the landlord in a way that would also suggest she considered herself party to the lease?


Title: Kentucky - Fired from work for wanting to go home because i was throwing up.

Question: I worked at a restaurant cooking and putting orders together. While i was there i started feeling bad and started throwing up. I told my manager that i was throwing up and needed to go home. She told me that i couldn't go home, and if i did it was me quitting my job. Im pretty sure though not against the law to make a sick employee work, it is against FDA and health dept policies, and probably OSHA too as i could have been contagious and spread my sickness to other employees or customers. I brought it up again and she said go home you're fired. I thought that was a little extreme, but whatever it is what it is. I worked there for 4 years. I know in my state you can be fired for whatever.  I filed unemployment and was denied. The reason given was that i failed to follow reasonable instructions.  I have my appeal hearing coming up next week, and I'm extremely nervous about.  I feel like that i should get unemployment because i was sick at work and staying there put other employees and customers at risk.  Hence chipolte  I can't afford  a lawyer to help me put my evidence and case together. Does my case sound like i might have a chance at winning? I can turn in evidence. Would using FDA guidelines help me here, or am i screwed? Is there anything else i should use? I guess it's worded sort of bad, but i really need help. Any ideas on what i can say to clearly get my ideas through to the hearing officers?

Answer:
 Go to the hearing and describe what happened. If you have texts or emails that you sent to anyone, bring them.

Also, you work at Chipolte and you were throwing up and your manager wouldn't let you go home? Call the GM or corporate offices and explain that you were trying to keep MORE customers from getting sick.


Title: What happens if I skip jury duty?

Question:
Got summoned, have plans that day. What happens if I just blow it off?

This is in colorado.

Secondary question, is it illegal to be very drunk when you show up to jury duty? Or high? Thanks for everyone that has answered so far.

Answer:
 > What happens if I just blow it off?

Worst case is a sheriff could haul you before a judge.  You'd get to explain to them why you skipped.  In some states, skipping jury duty could be a misdemeanor, though I am not sure  if any are.  I do know there are plenty of fines on the books for skipping.


Title: WTF! Subpoena for paternity...kid turns 18 next month....was never told existed

Question:
I have a friend who received a subpoena today for a kid who turns 18 next month...which is a full month before the scheduled date of the legal proceeding no less.  My friend was never told the child existed, he's shocked.  Mother did not tell him...despite having numerous obvious ways to find and notify him.  The subpoena wants to establish child support rights as well as paternity and asks for all expenses related to legal proceeding be paid by him. (state in question, Mississippi allows child support until 21 and children aren't emancipated until 21).  They were not in that state when they had a relationship... and he does not live in that state now nor has he ever.  So is venue even proper?

My question is if a woman blatantly and maliciously deprives both a child and a father of knowledge of each other's existence.... and then tries to establish paternity one month before the legal deadline for lord knows what nefarious reason... is she entitled to support and back support?  Can he counter sue her for intentional deprivation of parental rights and enjoyment of his child for 17 11/12th's years??  Fact is if the kid turns out to be his, he's really upset right now that he missed out on the kids entire childhood--- because of her deceit--- and also pretty ticked off that now she's looking to be paid for being deceitful.  Any advice?

Answer:
 >So is venue even proper?

If the kid is a resident of Mississippi then it certainly might be the propper vennue.

>is she entitled to support and back support?

If he is his and the kid isn't of the age that child support is out of the picture yet then yeah she might have a succefull claim to recieve child support. Back support might be a different story.

>Can he counter sue her for intentional deprivation of parental rights and enjoyment of his child for 17 and 11/12th's years?

I wouldn't do that without asking a lawyer first.

>Any advice?

He should get a family law attorney.


Title: Little Brother Charged with Terroristic Threats Georgia

Question:
My brother has been diagnosed on the Autism Spectrum. He is in 7th grade  and 12 years old in Georgia. He suffer from speach problem, has few friends in school, and does not understand what he says sometimes can be misinterpreted or is just plain  wrong. He is also a straight A, Honor Roll, school loving child. Well he suffers from bullying at school but for the most part stays positive. Well during lunch the other day he was being picked on, which none of the teachers witnessed and no student has come forward and admitted to doing (like a student would). Do to the bullying he got upset and said in the lunch room in front of alot of people "I wish I could blow up the school with the bullies in it." He is harmless as a fly, he couldn't  hurt an animal, a purson, or anything. He cry if he sees someone else uoset. This was reported to the principle, who by law had to report it to the police. My brother is now charged with a misdameanor, that could change to a felony. My mother is scared he will be taken away. He has been suspended for 10 days and must go to alternative school if he wants to keep up school this year. Any advice would be helpful. We are already contacting doctor for all of his autism documentation, and contacted cyperacademy for online schooling so he does not have to go somewhere he will be picked on worse.

Edit: what should we expect?

Answer:
 lawyer now, Criminal defense specializing in juvenile. No more talking to school administrators. Answer #2: IANAL

I respectfully disagree with the redditors who have said that this has nothing to do with your brother's education. Does your brother have an IEP? If so, your mom needs to invoke the stay put provision immediately. This will keep him in school during any legal proceedings against him. The best thing your family can do is contact a special education rights advocate/lawyer because this situation is nuanced and IDEA comes into play.

If he doesn't have an IEP, contact Autism Support Groups for help.


Title: Nursing Home refusing to transfer.

Question:
Hello! My mother is currently in a nursing home in Colorado. Our family has since moved to Texas and we want to move her down to be with us. She has Parkinson's and is essentially a quadriplegic. My father drove up to get her, and they told him they could not release her because the drive was too long. We have spoken with a commercial airline and have things set up, however they are now saying they cannot release her(doctor won't sign a release) unless she is taken by medical ambulance or a medical flight. They claim if we simply take her, they will not give us medicine for the trip and will also have to call Adult Protective Services. Our main concern is the medicine, if we decide to discharge her against their wishes, are they allowed to deny her medicine? How can we work with them if we cannot afford a medical flight at the moment?

Any help, clarity or advice is welcome. Thanks!

Answer:
 I was a nursing home administrator in California.  The rules are a little different state by state but mostly they all follow the CMS guidelines.

Do you have DPOA or are the primary decision maker?  Is your mom alert/oriented and have capacity?  Is her medical condition that bad?  There's often a lot of diagnosis that can make things complicated.

When you take her Against Medical Advice (AMA) they can deny her medications.

However, you can work with them with this.  The doctor does not have to sign a release.  If he does he is liable for anything that happens.  However, you can talk to the doctor and try to convince him into giving an order to have her medication given to you if you decide to take your mom AMA.

You can also have an IDT meeting with the facility regarding the discharge.  They should explain to you the bad things that can happen if you discharge her and try to convince them of all the things you've done to ensure your mom's safety.

If they still won't discharge.  Get a copy of her Physician's Orders and MAR.  Take her right after her med pass usually 8am-10am.  Get her to her new facility and the new facility will immediately order the medication after reviewing it with the physician overseeing her at the new facility.


Title: Landlord wants us to pay for electricity even though it's included on our lease

Question: My fiance and I are currently paying 900$ a month for a one bedroom apartment in Maine. Heat, hotwater, and electricity are included on our lease. Our landlord called today and said we need to start paying for our electricity, and our rent is due tomorrow. Is this legal? What are our options? Is it time to lawyer up? Anything would be much appreciated!

Answer: I would ask your landlord to have him/her show you *where* in your lease it says that you're expected to cover the electricity (essentially give the LL the opportunity to correct themselves).Answer #2: In our lease it specifically states our electricity is included


Title: road rage incident: Florida

Question: So I'm driving on I-95 in the left lane at about 77 mph. I was coming up on a car that was doing about 65. I gave him 1 quick flash of my high beams and he slowed down more. I went to pass him on the right and then he got behind me in the middle lane with his brights on. He then came up on my right side hooting and hollering... Now I was yelling back at him, I do admit that... He then got behind me and followed me for about 3 miles. We weren't speeding or driving erratically. But he was staying behind me even through lane changes. He followed me off the exit and into the first gas station I pulled into. I stopped and he got out of his car and came at me. I never got out... Just pulled forward a bit so he couldn't get me. More words were exchanged, he did pull race into the situation. I pulled around to get his license plate to call the cops with and he reached into his trunk and pulled something out and started approaching the car holding it behind his back. At that point I was in fear for my life and floored it outta there. I thought he had a gun. This is Florida, btw. He then threw whatever it was at the back of my car and I'm left with a big dent. License plate was gotten, cops were called. I filled out the report and I'm waiting to hear back from the officer. I'm a little nervous about being in court with this guy. Would I be held at fault as well for yelling at the guy? Thank you for reading and helping.

Answer: Bet you won't be *that* guy again eh?


Title: [AR] Fastest Way To Get Custody of My Kids?

Question:
Okay, so I'm going to try to explain the situation as best as possible.

Husband and I have been married 5 years. We have 2 kids together, I had 1 child prior to the marriage. My husband has been disabled and staying home with the kids while I work the entire 5 years. He is my childcare.

Husband is extremely mentally and emotionally abusive and I am ready to leave. I have left once before, but ended up going back because I did not plan enough before leaving and had no one to care for my children except for my parents. He would have just gone over there and taken them. This time I need a solid plan before ever going anywhere.

Ideally what I want to do is be able to go to the courthouse and file maybe separate maintenance along with an emergency custody and visitation arrangement. This way I can then go right behind the sheriff who serves him and get my things and my kids without him having any kind of argument to stop me.

Is something like this possible? I absolutely will not leave without having a custody arrangement. I'm not opposed to letting him see the kids, but if there is not a court order telling him when exactly to give them back, he will not. Also, if he knows that I am working on doing this before I do it I'm afraid he will try to flee with my kids or hurt me. This has to be a quick

Answer:
 You need a lawyer.  His providing childcare may mean that you owe him alimony among other things.

If he is abusing the kids you need to get CPS involved.


Title: I am sued for debts of my father in China, is that mean I can't go back to China anymore

Question:
I moved here with my boyfriend (he's American) 3 years ago, got married, got the greencard, have a baby.

My dad bought a house under my name in China back in 2011, I never seen it, never really own it. He said its for investment for his business. You know, first time home buyer benefit stuff.

Lately his business been really bad, but my mother says he's been paying for the house and my father, like always, kept everything from us.

Two days ago thanks to an app I have, I received a notice said I had a bad credit record. I went online and checked, found out I was sued for a 500,000 dollar debt! The court determined that I "Have the ability to pay but didn't act" (something like that).

I was on this bad credit list in China. That list is for people that owe big amount of money but don't pay back. New rules nowadays in China said that people on that list are not allowed to leave the country, take high speed train, all kinds of stuff.

I confronted my father and he said its the house debt.

How can I even able to go back to China without worrying I will be banned to leave? But if I don't go back, how can I deal with the lawsuit?

My father's business almost bankrupt now so I have no idea what am I going to do with that huge debt.
Topic:
Non-US

Answer:
 > But if I don't go back, how can I deal with the lawsuit?

I would probably hire a lawyer in China, nobody in this sub really knows Chinese law so that is your best move to take.


Title: [Hypothetical] Compensation for Disease Quarantine

Question:
Let's say that living in the United States, I house a foreign family member who comes down with Ebola, I am perfectly healthy but the CDC quarantines me for the duration of 3 weeks to quell the spread of the disease.

Would I be able to collect compensation for any lost wages or experiences (ex: A trip I paid $2000 to set up that fell under the quarantine date) and who would be paying the compensation, if any?

Answer: Nope.  You are quarantined for your own safety and the safety of others.  You don't get compensated for that.


Title: I paid my former roommate's home down payment and signed a gift letter, and later moved out because he didn't want me to adopt a dog in addition to his dog

Question: [deleted]

Answer:
 Here's the sticky bit: you conspired to commit fraud by voluntarily lying to the lender about whether you expected repayment. You expected repayment in the form of credit against your rent, but you told the lender you expected no repayment.

It's unlikely, but not impossible, that this could end with criminal charges against you.

With that in mind, I think you might be wisest to walk away from this and consider it a lesson in lending money to friends. It's not nice of your friend to do this, and you could conceivably sue your friend in small claims for the remainder of the rent credit back, but that gift letter is going to be very difficult to explain to the courts without incriminating yourself.


Title: Question regarding signing over parental rights

Question:
I live in Virginia.

Background: a friend of mine had a baby, and it was mutually agreed that the father would have absolutely nothing to do with the child. When the baby was born, the father was not present and the only guardian on the birth certificate is the mother's. There was also no paternity test ever done. When the baby was six months old, they decided to coparent the child before regressing back to the original agreement of no contact after a month. The child is now three years old and there has been no involvement from the biological father since.

Current: the mother has recently married and the husband wants to adopt the child. From her understanding, the father must sign over his rights to the child before any adoption can take place. However upon contacting the biological father, he refuses to sign over his rights and even denies being the father. He will not sign the papers because that would mean acknowledging he his the father. He will not take a paternity test.

So my question is: what actions can be done moving forward that can allow her new husband to adopt her son? Thank you.

Answer:
 They will have to determine paternity In order to force the involuntary termination.  This will be a longer and more expensive process than bio dad signing willingly.

not legally speaking, the quickest way to get a bio dad to sign over rights is generally to file for child support.


Title: [Arkansas] Girlfriend and I having to move for medical reasons. What happens next? Can we get out of our lease early? What is the best course of action if the apartment complex doesn't let us go?

Question:
When my girlfriend and I first moved into our place in LR, we thought the small space would work out okay. Over the past year of our lease though, it hasn't been that way. My girlfriend suffers from severe depression and anxiety, and is wheelchair bound. The problems became a serious issue months ago with anxiety attacks for her becoming more frequent due to being in confined spaces. This is also in addition to her not being able to even get into the bathroom because the doorway is half the width of her wheelchair, so she has to switch to a different chair, just to get into the bathroom. As such, she's contracted a UTI every month like clockwork and is physically unable to shower without my supervision because of a fear of falling.

Today was the first day we actually had time to get the letter from her physician because I've been working 12 hour days five days a week at my job. We only have about three more months on our lease and no current complex in Little Rock is accepting applications until about May or so. Also, I fear the complex may fight us getting out of our lease early. What can we do legally that allows us to get a new place to live quickly and also get out of our current place ASAP? We're going to ask around for lawyers when I get home today, but I need some background information to work with first.

Answer:
 Why would you think the complex is responsible for your girlfriend's medical issues?

Unless your lease contains a termination clause that lays out the penalty for terminating the lease, you will likely end up having to pay rent throughout the remainder of the lease.


Title: IRS recently put a hold on father's accounts, now to get allowance, I have to transfer money from one bank account to the other.

Question:
My father lives in a different part of the country than I do, so to help support me financially during school he usually deposits money into a joint checking account we have and I use a debit card to spend it. The IRS recently put a hold on his accounts (I'm not sure why) and so I have been taking the money he deposits into our joint account and transferring it to my own private account. This doesn't strike me as illegal, but a little shady perhaps. Any thoughts? To clarify, all the money I am transferring is for my own personal use. He never uses or gets any of it back.

EDIT: I am based in Indiana

Answer:
 >This doesn't strike me as illegal...

It strikes me as illegal. You are circumventing a freeze placed by the IRS. You are not going to have a good time when they notice.


Title: Sexual Battery + Felony

Question:
Long story short the perpetrator is currently under charges of sexual battery and a G class felony, with both charges tied to the same incident (in NC). I recently got a call from someone from the persecution side of the court telling me I have two options: to either let him plead to a lesser charge of "Sexual Aggression towards a Female" so they can "focus" on the felony charge, or stick with the Sexual Battery charge and go to court. If I stick with the original sexual battery charge, he will be registered as a sex offender, but more than likely he will just serve little time and will be on probation. If I go with the first option and let him plea to a lesser charge, then they can "focus" on the felony case in which case he can serve for as long as over two years.

My question is why does there have to be a "choice" in the first place? If I'm under the right impression, I have to choose one or the other. There is nothing "in between" or anything that "combines" these options. I also don't know long-term which is the best option. Part of me thinks about sticking to the original charge because it would make life harder for him in the long run, but I'm aware this registration only lasts 30 years and he could appeal to remove it after 10 years. By then, I guess his name would have been around long enough that even if it did get removed it wouldn't matter?

I don't know his past history or record, so I don't know what all his potential sentences could be.

Answer: Are you the victim in this case and what is the felony charge? Sounds like the prosecution is determining what plea deal to offer, and is nicely letting you have a say. If you're confused or want to talk it over, the DA's office usually has a victim advocate you can call.


Title: Forced unpaid vacation

Question:
Hey all,

I’m a full-time, salaried employee in Georgia (US), and my boss has decided to close the business for two weeks during the holidays. Last year she paid us for this time off, but this year she is not (but didn’t tell us this ahead of time). Is this legal?

Answer: Yes, it's legal. If you are doing no work at all during those weeks you do not have to be paid.


Title: 19 year old living with parents threatened with eviction

Question: I'm a 19 year old in NY and my mom has threatened to call the cops to have them remove me from her house because I haven't found a second job to work over the summer. I've never been violent or anything, she just doesn't want me free-loading my way over the summer, and has already stated I can't live at home next summer. My question is, can she call the cops and have me kicked out of the house whenever she wants, or is here some kind of eviction process it has to go through?

Answer:
 Technically she needs to terminate your tenancy the proper and legal way.

Realistically though you should probably make nice with mom because if she throws your ass out you won't really have any recourse.Answer #2: I'm not a lawyer, but I'm a landlord.  Technically she'd have to go to court and get you evicted before law enforcement would physically remove you from the property.

Here is some practical advice.  You are an adult.  Go get your own place.

You want to force your mother to get a court order to kick you out?  There are several problems with this.  First you'll ruin your relationship with your mom because you want to live in her house for free. Second landlords check eviction records.  Good luck finding someone to rent to you at 19 with an eviction on your record.

Get a job or 2 or 3, get your own place and make your own rules.


Title: [LA] Can I park a truck without plates in the street?

Question: I live with my boyfriend and a roommate in Louisiana. We have covered parking that fits 2 cars at our house. My boyfriend has a truck that is from Canada. He is currently in Canada but will scrap the truck when he gets back in 2 months. He took the plates off his truck before leaving because he dropped the insurance because he bought a new truck. If I moved the truck into the street so my roommate and I could use the covered parking can my boyfriend or I get in trouble for parking the truck in the street without plates?

Answer: No. most towns will ticket and tow an unregistered vehicle.  Just sitting on the street can have the same liability as driving on the street.


Title: Glassdoor wants me to verify my company review -- does this mean a lawsuit is very likely?

Question:
I reviewed my former employer on Glassdoor and the company also responded (negatively) to my review. I few days later, I got a message from Glassdoor saying:

>Your Review includes strong allegations, language or opinions that could  be damaging to a company or individual. While it meets our guidelines,  we want to be sure you stand behind what you wrote as a truthful account  of your experience with your current or former employer. Remember that  you are legally responsible for what you write in accordance with [Glassdoor's Terms of Use](https://www.glassdoor.com/about/terms.htm).

Since my post was already reviewed by the Glassdoor team when I originally submitted it, why are they asking again to stand by my words? Is it because they are highly concerned that it could lead to a lawsuit?
Topic:
Computer and Internet

Answer: NAL. From my understanding, this is their standard procedure when dealing with reviews that contain, as they put it, “strong allegations, language, or opinions that could be damaging to a company or individual”. You’re not receiving this message because a lawsuit is imminent or because your former employer has taken any kind of action. They’re merely reminding you that *if* your review contains any *false* allegations or information, and because you are legally responsible for what you have written on their website, you could be vulnerable to a defamation suit.Answer #2: What do you mean by "verify"? You don't expand on that nor does the response from GD touch on it...


Title: Found tobacco beetle larvae in cigarettes, is there anything I can do?

Question:
I'm posting on my friends behalf, she has noticed little holes in her newly opened cigarettes for a while, and have just opened one up out of curiosity. She found small larvae in the cigarettes which I have googled and found that they are tobacco beetle larva. She is trying to contact the brand, but is waiting for her account to be accepted before she can email them. (this was all earlier today)

I'm just wondering if there is maybe a possible lawsuit or anything she could possibly do legally because of this disgusting situation.

Thanks in advance

Answer: Get a refund? You're not going to get some big payout. If you're disgusted by larvae in your cigarettes, you'll be shocked to know there are plenty of worse things in them than that. Answer #2: Sure it’s gross but you have no damages.  Ask for a refund maybe, your out the cost of a pack of cigarettes.


Title: Is it legal to refund gift card however I paid with bitcoin?

Question:
The experience is frustrating, I bought couple GPUs on Newegg and paid with Bitcoin. Later they cancelled my order as it's out of stock, and now they refuse to refund me with Bitcoin or same amount USD, but they want to refund me with their gift card instead. They do have this article: https://kb.newegg.com/Article/Index/12/3?id=1681

Just add the image here, as someone pointed it out there is such note when checkout, but it's kind easy to miss:https://i.imgur.com/kdG3eun.png

But is it lefal to do so?
Location: Philadelphia

Answer:
 Since this is a cancelled order and not a return, this seems like a violation of their policy, but I don't think it's clear-cut enough to amount to a legal question.

I would call back and push them to refund you in USD equivalent at least. You're not getting BTC back.Answer #2: Demand a refund or [file a complaint with the FTC](https://www.ftccomplaintassistant.gov/).

> If you cannot ship any of the merchandise ordered by the customer, you must refund the entire amount the customer "tendered," including any shipping, handling, insurance, or other costs.

Nothing was returned. The language is very specific and clear.


Title: Job offer rescinded due to negative employer recommendation - can/should I sue?

Question:
Hello everyone.  I had a very very good job offer from a huge company - something I've been working on for a long time.  Finally got the offer after 6 months of aptitude tests, interviews, drug tests, etc.  Got a call last week that my former employer for 3 years told them I had been fired.  As such, it is against the new company's policy to offer jobs to people who were terminated.  More specifically, people who lied about resigning who were terminated, which they assume is my case.

Some background - the former employer that gave the negative review is a small business.  No benefits, no HR department, just a manager/owner and a few staff members.  I was the main staff member when I was there for 3 years, basically ran the place.  When I resigned, my boss took this very personal and was upset with me.  Rude texts weeks later, etc... these texts have been deleted unfortunately.  I have since learned that he told everyone at the business that I was fired, in order to keep everyone in line.  "I fired my best guy of 3 years, so I'll fire you at any time," kind of thing.  So when new job calls to verify employment, he picks up, tells them a story that I was fired, fucks me up.

Do I have any legal recourse?  I have no resignation documents, or texts, or anything in writing.  Can I take the company to court for libel or defamation or something?  I realize I made mistakes not getting things in writing, but I can't change this now.  Any help is appreciated.

edit - I am in Virginia.

Answer:
Cell phone company may still have texts

I'm not a lawyer but doesn't the no proof cut two ways.  If you subpoenaed the texts, all emails about the matter, etc.

Any professional reviews you had (no PIP, warnings) ask him to commit perjur under oath?

This lost job is worth some money I'd talk to a lawyer


Title: Buzzfeed stealing content from /r/penmanshipporn

Question:
So in this article by buzzfeed they just rip the top posts from /r/penmanshipporn and that’s it. They credit the users who posted the pictures but never asked for permission or anything. If they are making revenue off of views to the page, is stealing our content without permission ethical? Or is this a non-issue?

https://www.buzzfeed.com/mjkiebus/handwriting-porn

Answer:
 The owner of the image can request that the images be removed under copyright law.

Lots of ^shitty websites do this. There is a site call BoredPanda that steals every single top post (and comments!) from choosingbeggars.


Title: Mother of my child denying visitation, what can I do? NYC

Question:
Backstory - Child’s Mother & I got into a disagreement about money. I advised her to get a job. I have always provided above and beyond financially for my child. She has not let me see my child for 3 weeks, doesn’t respond to text messages, won’t open the door to her house. Multiple people have tried to reach her she refuses to open the door. I left a note which was gone indicating someone is home.

We have never had any custody agreements, child splits time between both of us ie: I’ll drop him off at school; his mom would pick him up. I’m very active in my child’s life but have not seen my child in over 3 weeks.

Child’s Mother 30’s (who doesn’t work and basically lives off of her parents money) hasn’t had a job in over 9 years. She also might have a bench warrant for reckless driving which I’m not sure I can use against her if I end up going the family court way?

I just want to see my child, I’m pretty upset that she has taken this course and is not opening the door. I just want to protect myself and not get into any kind of argument in front of my child. I just want to be able to see my child and spend time as I always have.

Can I use her bench warrant against her in family court to potentially gain full custody ? Should I involve the police to let me see my child? I literally do not know where to begin. I’m just very upset I haven’t heard from my child.

Please help!?! Any advice would be helpful.

Answer:
 Absent a court order she can deny custody

You need to hire an attorney. They are the one who can decide what is the best approach to getting a fair custody agreementAnswer #2: > Can I use her bench warrant against her in family court to potentially gain full custody ?

Family court isn't going to care about that.  For one, if you've known about it for years and are only bringing it up now, it's clear it doesn't actually bother you.  For two, such a thing makes you look like a petty weasel and is more likely to get *her* more custody.

Hire an attorney, file a custody/visitation suit.  The court will find a reasonable middle ground, based upon the totality of all the circumstance.


Title: Father going to court for selling minor cigarettes.

Question:
My dad owns a corner store in Canada, and sold a pack of cigarettes to a 16 year old girl who was an undercover. His arguments is he confused her with someone he just asked for ID the day before. Is there a point to fight against this or just plead guilty and accept the fines?
Thanks!

Answer: His excuse is weak. He should check everyone's id no matter how many times they come in. Get a lawyer


Question:
Has anyone ever attempted to compile a list of all the privileges a felon loses?

Of course there are some that are well known, but others that are not so well known, such as getting a HAM radio license, apparently.

Answer: Think its hard cause it just varies by state. I've heard of felons getting trained as barbers then those same states ban them from becoming barbers. This is an exact reason why felon disenfranchisement is such a big deal. They can't vote for legislators who care about those issues.


Title: Getting an amicable divorce. Do we need lawyers, arbitration, etc.? There is a child involved. How is child support determined?

Question: New Hampshire resident here. My wife and I have been married seven years and we've decided to go our separate ways. We're still friends and we want to do this in the most peaceful way possible. We have a six-year-old daughter and my wife is taking custody. How would we handle things like child support? Do we *need* to hire lawyers? We're trying to do this on the cheap. No one is contesting custody, property, or anything.

Answer:
 You come up with a plan together on alimony, child support, and custody, and you write them up in your filings with the court.  It is the court order that makes them enforceable.  Do make sure there is a court order for all of this.  We get about a post a day where one parent asks how to get the amount of time with their kid that the spouses agreed to a year ago, but then one spouse changes their mind, and there's no way to enforce the previously-agreed-upon terms because they never got a court order regarding custody.

Are you in Iowa?  I'm going to guess you're in Iowa.  [Here's a link.](http://www.iowacourts.gov/For_the_Public/Representing_Yourself_in_Court/DivorceFamily_Law/Forms/index.asp)


Title: What does at will employment really mean?

Question:
I am leaving a job in New York State. I was under the impression at will employment means I can leave when I want and they can fire men when they want. However, my offer letter stated "employment at will provided 30 days notice given before leaving."

Is this something they can pursue?

Answer:
 Is it an offer letter or an employment contract?

If the former, it is not legally binding and you can leave.  They likely want 30 days as a courtesy.


Title: [Ontario] might be charged with assault for throwing banana during Road Rage inccident

Question: My dad was driving slow yesterday, it was raining. Some lady behind us didn't like the way he was driving so she decided to pull up close to him and cuss him off. My brother (20 yearold) threw a banana into the lady's car. She called the police, they called my brother they said something about a possible charge for assault. He's now requested to come to the police station later today. What should he do?

Answer:
 Get a lawyer. Dont speak to the cops.

Oh, and this isn't Mario kart.Answer #2: > He's now requested to come to the police station later today. What should he do?

Get a lawyer. Don't talk to the cops without said lawyer. Don't throw any more bananas.
Answer #3: It is sincerely possible that he'll catch a summary conviction for assault if he threw a banana peel at someone. The bar for assault is any application of force, and people have been convicted for something as (subjectively) minor as spitting on people. With that in mind, your brother needs to speak to an attorney _before_ he speaks to the police.Answer #4: Slow as in.. below the speed limit?


Title: I was evicted on the same month I was breaking the lease because of invasion of privacy. Can I still get my deposit back?

Question:
I'll try to be as succinct as possible. I'm in New York, not the city. TL;DR at the bottom.

At the end of March, I was terminated from one of my jobs. As soon as this happened, I notified my ex\-landlord \(via e\-mail\) about my situation and told him that I won't have the rent by April first. I told him I would have the money by the 6 or the 16th \(when I was getting paid from my other jobs\).

In the e\-mail I mentioned earlier, I also said that I was going to be moving out, and terminating my tenancy, because of privacy concerns. I was renting the apartment above his house and he, his lady, and workers would come into my apartment unannounced. I expressed this concern to him on multiple occasions. I have emails and text messages to prove that they, indeed, came into my house unannounced.

Fast forward, April 16th comes around and I don't have the rent money. By then, he had already filed papers with the court to evict me from the apartment. He leaves the papers taped to my door. Cue in anxiety. I grabbed the papers and never read them. Anxiety intensifies.

I came to know, after the court date, that he got an eviction order from the judge but the judge only order me to pay him 1 month's rent plus court costs instead of the amount he was asking, which included the rent I would have paid for the 3 months left on the lease.

Yada, yada, yada. I got out on the 22nd of April \(even though after all the shit show I paid him what I owed him\) and I am still waiting to hear from him to see if he plans to withhold some of the deposit money. I took a video of the apartment the day I left showing that there was no damage done to the property.

So, my question is, am I still entitled to get my deposit back even if I was evicted when I was planning to move out anyways?

TL;DR: I lost my job, told landlord I will pay him and that I will be moving out at the end of the month because they are nosey. Landlord takes me to court, default judgement. I paid him monies, left apartment, took video showing no damage. Can I get my deposit back?

Answer: Before we dive in here, have you asked him to return your deposit?


Title: [NE] Malicious leaking of hospital test result to social media

Question: [deleted]

Answer:
 Did they get a copy of her records from the hospital or did they take it from her without her knowledge (like she kept it in her desk or something)?Answer #2: If they stole it from her and not the hospital, the hospital likely won't face any liability. That'd fall under a tort for releasing private info and she'd want to contact the police and/or a lawyer.

If they got it from the hospital, they need to be notified because it's a HIPAA violation. HIPAA violations don't have a private cause of action though.Answer #3: Do you know the name of the person who oroginally posted? Do they work for a doctor or in the medical field?

Report it to [the DHHS](http://dhhs.ne.gov/Pages/hipaa_1b-2-complaint.aspx).  Its not really your job to prove whether or not an actual HIPPA violation happened, the DHHS will do that for you.

Answer #4: Do you know who did it or how that person got the records?  Kind of important.


Title: [US][TX] I want to sell a house but i still owe money on it.

Question:
I bought a lot and built a small house with a 10 year payment agreement. I am 6 years in and want to sell my property to a family member. He is willing to pay me what I have paid and what the house i built is worth. He wants to continue making payments on it.

Problem is the mortgage company wont accept me to transfer the mortgage to him. I explained to him that we might have to make a contract through a lawyer and keep everything under my name until he finishes paying it off then we can change everything to his name. He is fine with that as well.

Is there a way to do this? I have only gone to one lawyer but he was not very clear on everything. I think he wanted to make us a warranty deed or something.

Thanks your help in advanced :)

Answer:
 Your family member will need to get their own mortgage. You will settle your mortgage, normally using the sale proceeds to do so. You can't force your mortgagee to transfer the loan - they _can_, but they've said they won't.

Do not sign an agreement purporting to oblige your family member to pay your mortgage for you. You are not a lender. You have not done appropriate risk management, and recovering your money if your family member defaults on you is an incredible pain in the ass - and you'll still be liable to the mortgagee, regardless.

You _could_ have a real estate lawyer draft up a rent-to-own sale contract, if you're confident you can enforce it. They are not simple contracts - I would be tempted to boost the price of the property a few percent to cover your additional risks and costs if you were willing to entertain it at all.

If your family member can't get a loan to finance the purchase, there's probably a reason for that.


Title: [Tennessee] Deciding to report an old coach who physically and sexually abused me to DCS. Couple questions.

Question:
I live/have lived in TN. This happened around 6 years ago. I was 16 when he started touching me and shot his hand down my pants. I was 17 when he tied me to a chair, tortured and beat the shit out of me.

He is still teaching to this day, including children's classes. I want to report him anonymously to avoid the further trauma of a trial but to hopefully protect other minors from the possibility of also being abused. My therapist told me that in TN you have 10 years to report this kind of abuse.

I met this abusive coach through my high school coach (who is a good man who I respect) who recommended me to this psycho. I didn't tell my high school coach the extent of what psycho coach did to me. I made it clear that he was inappropriate and asked him to never recommend another student to psycho again. He was shocked and appalled but agreed. He cut ties with psycho.

Here are my questions:

I still have an inappropriate voicemail from him. I deleted the text of him asking for private photos. Is there a way to recover that text?

I had welts all over my arms from the thrashing around in the chair underneath the ropes. I took a picture of my arms on my iPad the next day. Then I got really scared someone would see them and deleted them. I still have the iPad- is there a way to recover the photo I deleted years ago? I've read somewhere that police/FBI can recover deleted photos. Is this true? If i can recover the photos, will it help in the report? The CPS website is saying to include details about the abuse.

If i report him, I am worried he will know it was me and try to contact me/find me. He is very violent and I'm worried about my safety if he finds out where I am. I dont know what to do about this. This has been one of the main reasons stopping me from reporting him.

Another thing that I'm worried about if I report him, is that he will go to my old high school coach for support. Should I tell high school coach (who I've remained in touch with since graduating, and who i consider a friend) the extent of what psycho coach did? I would really prefer not to because I still struggle with shame about it (even though I know is silly but I'm working on it).

Another question is that I know another girl who was coached by him. She always seemed very... unstable. Ive often suspected he did something to her too. Do I risk asking her to find out if im right for the chance of an ally or is that inappropriate/silly?

I'm talking about this with my therapist. She's being very helpful. What are some other resources I can check out?

Answer:
 The text message is quite likely still on the device depending on the make and model of the phone.

The photo is also quite possibly still on the ipad.

Make the report, take any relevant electronics with you and turn them in for analysis.Answer #2: Call the police. Not CPS. You are no longer a child. CPS investigated current abuse. Answer #3: u/cypher_blue, can the police do anything with OP's electronics?Answer #4: First, this should go to the police.  In addition, if this is an Olympic sport (Track & Field, etc. Swimming, Soccer, etc.), you can report it anonymously to safesport.org -- in fact I would encourage you to do both.

A black mark from safesport.org will prevent him from working in all Olympic sports, from teaching swimming at the local Y during the summer, to being a instructor at a sailing camp, to working as a coach, etc. anywhere in the country.Answer #5: Nationally, the [Rape Abuse, Incest National Network](https://www.rainn.org) deals with cases like yours on a daily basis. Call them and ask to speak to a victim advocate. The number is (800) 656-4673.


Title: [IN] My sibling failed to show up to court (for a class 6 felony charge) and now has a warrant out for their arrest. Am I, or my family, under any obligation to report their whereabouts if known? If we let them stay over on a couch does that open us up to criminal liability?

Question:
Topic:
Criminal Law

Answer: No to your first question, yes to your second. Answer #2: Or instead of harboring him and potentially setting yourself up for criminal liability, have him turn himself in ASAP so he can start dealing with his responsibilities like the adult he is. Walking into the court to be arraigned on the Warrant looks hell of a lot better than getting arrested, not to mention due to his status with a felony warrant and traffic stop that you may be involved in will be a "felony stop" that guns will be drawn on.Answer #3: Even if you don't have any explicit criminal liability, the police might not be in a great mood if they learn this person is staying with you and have to make a house call.  Encourage the said person to turn themselves in and don't let them stay with you anymore.  Your doorframe will thank you, and you'll save on therapy for your kids.


Title: About to make a video criticising Scientology. How worried should I be about legal action taken against me?

Question:
I run a small YouTube channel, in the 80,000 subscriber area. I currently make humorous videos about science and nature, with a fairly active fan base.

I've been working for some time on a script about L. Ron Hubbard and the madness of Scientology. I intend to source everything in the video, though I will obviously be painting the organisation in a negative light.

They're a fairly litigious bunch, as we all know, and this is a bit alarming. I would be extremely grateful for some advice to keep in mind about avoiding certain accusations or mentions in the video, so as to keep the whole affair watertight and free of possible litigation on the grounds of slander.

For context, if it helps, I'm a British citizen permanently residing in Eastern Europe. My channel is anonymous, but I suspect that anyone with enough time on their hands could at least find my name online.

So, in the event of an accusation of slander, I would be very curious to know:

A - How does law work internationally, if, say, the church itself is trying to take legal action against a European citizen?

and B: Given their previous attempts to silence critics, how likely is it that if the video reaches, say, a million views, that I will have anything to worry about?

Any advice would be extremely appreciated.

Many thanks in advance.

[Sofia, Bulgaria]

Answer:
 Not only should you seriously worry about being dragged through a long drawn out legal battle, but you should also be concerned about the lengths they will go to harass, stalk, intimidate, embarrass, and create hell for their detractors.

You're picking a fight with a bully who is way bigger than you. Good luck.


Title: private pre-k school school prayer, is it allowed?

Question: Is it allowed in Tennessee for a private held school to do prayer every morning? I just found out my daughter recites the prayer there, and no documentation or anything written has stated this is to happen. This is not christian academy or something along those lines, but just a plain pre-k and daycare setup.

Answer: Yes. It is a private school. You can talk to school admin if you want to see if it is against policy


Title: Am I legally supposed to take care of my parents? (Ga)

Question:
Hello! I am not sure if this goes here, but I do not know where else to go. My father will be put into a nursing home soon if he makes it through his next surgery. This is not much of an issue financially, because he has a good insurance plan that will cover everything. The issue is my mother. She is still fairly young but is considered disabled due to a car accident a few years ago that caused her to have a hip replacement. She cannot work and is currently relying on my father's pension to survive. Her landlord also raised the rent significantly, and she will no longer be able to pay it. After this month, she will have to move. We do not have the space or money to take care of her, nor will we any time soon. I guess my question is do we have to take care of her even if we cannot support her without losing everything we have?

&#x200B;

Just for reference, we live in Georgia and have two children that can't work yet.

Answer: If she hasn't already she should apply for Social Security Disability.


Title: Got a letter saying I have a capias out for my arrest? How do I proceed next?

Question:
Background: Three months ago I got pulled over for rolling through a stop sign with a cop behind me (I'm stupid, and I get stupider). The cop ran my tags and realized my licence wasn't in date**. Then he asked for proof of insurance, which I didn't have on me. Nor did I have registration on me. Or the title of the car. Luckily the officer verified on his end that I do in fact own the car and did not steal it, but he wrote me a ticket and told me I had to go to the courthouse to fix the registration and prove I have insurance.

I literally go the next day and do that to fix everything right up. They then give me a court date for having driving an unregistered car. For some reason in my head, I thought since it was now registered and I had completed the steps, that I was done. So I didn't go to the court date the next month (told I got stupider), and just on Friday I received that capias for arrest.

Coming tomorrow I want to fix this problem, but if I show up to the courthouse, am I just going to get arrested? That doesn't seem ideal. Should I get a lawyer for something as dumb as this?

This is in the county of Duval, FL if that helps.

Answer: If you actually do have a warrant for your arrest, you need an attorney to resolve this for you. Call one tomorrow morning before you do anything else.


Title: [NY] If landlord provides notice for inspection/maintenance, do they have an absolute right of entry without regard to tenant schedule?

Question:
I know that a LL or their agents cannot be denied entry to an apartment for purposes of reasonable maintenance, inspection, showing, etc, as long as they give proper notice. But, if my schedule conflicts with entry during a specified window within the proposed entry period, can I advise the LL accordingly and deny entry during that window?

For example, LL provided notice tonight that contractors may enter tomorrow to seal up some windows. I have an important video conference scheduled from 2pm to 4pm, and advised LL that I would appreciate it if the contractors would not come during that time period (it is a studio apartment, so any entry would be highly disruptive). If the contractors do arrive during my meeting, am I required to allow them in at that moment?

Answer:
 You kinda answered your own question, didn't you?

> I know that a LL or their agents cannot be denied entry to an apartment for purposes of reasonable maintenance, inspection, showing, etc, as long as they give proper notice.

You should simply ask the landlord if he can reschedule for a time after your conference, but he likely isn't required to.


Title: Former cleaning lady inheriting half million from my step gran

Question:
My step gran (SG)was married to my grandpa for about 10 years. He died a few years ago, and my contact with her since then has been pleasant but minimal, she withdrew from the family a lot when my grandpa died.  I think she's 82.  She has no living bio family that I'm aware of.

SG was in and out of the hospital over the last few months due to stroke, and her best friend/carer decided it was time to move her out of her apartment and into a care home. SG has been diagnosed with vascular dimentia, but to me seems only a little scattered, and mostly ok.
My aunt was visiting SG as the new home, and SG sent my aunt back to her apartment to pick up her important papers.  Among the papers was a will from 2013 which states that the bulk of SG's estate (around $500 000) is to go to her former cleaning lady.  Ok, weird, but fine.  Except that when my aunt asked SG about it, SG got very agitated, and said that the former cleaning lady's husband and son threatened her and made her change the will!

This is messed up, right?  If she was of sound mind when the will was made, and isn't of completely sound mind now, is there any chance that she'll be able to get these people out of her will?

To be clear, I have no stake in this.  I've never expected to be in SG's will, I don't want or need this money.  I just want to advocate for her the best I can.
Thanks legaladvice!

Answer: Best thing you can do right now is get a lawyer over to SG immediately and make a new will.  The lawyer can also document SG's statement that the previous will was coerced.  In the meantime make notes for yourself of everything she has said about this and when she said it.Answer #2: What does her best friend think about the situation? Delusions are very, very common in dementia patients, and I would hate to see someone who became enough like family to her get cut out because of one. On the other hand, I wouldn't want her to get taken advantage of if that's true. I feel like the best friend would have an idea about it though.Answer #3: Contact a probate attorney immediately and have them document her statement that the will was involuntary and have them draft a new will.


Title: Fired over discussing wages?

Question:
[deleted]
Topic:
Employment Law

Answer:
 https://www.dol.gov/wb/media/pay_secrecy.pdf

http://www.illinoislegalaid.org/index.cfm?fuseaction=home.dsp_content&contentID=3917


Title: Is she doing this eviction correctly/legally?

Question: I live in Texas and have lived in this house for 2 weeks. We just paid rent on the 2nd for the month. Our landlord called us the 1st, but we didn't answer as we were out and we didn't have our phones on us. So she took it upon herself to let herself into the house. In her lease she does put that she doesn't need notice. My brothers cats got dumped on me to stay until today, she found them of course. She showed back up pounding on the door that night. I answered and she told me she was coming in. Told me the cats are unacceptable. And also that the house was a mess,we are still unpacking so yes there are boxes still in the dining room and things aren't organized yet. She told us she would sleep on thinking about evicting us, but that she would stop by at our job the next day to pick up rent. She did and everything seemed fine, she said she was going to stop by Friday to make sure the cats were gone. We come home today and she's typed out an eviction notice saying we need to be out in 7 days. Now she won't answer her phone. I'm not positive it was legal for her to put in her lease that she could enter without notification. Also in the lease and by Texas law she needs to have on every exterior door a dead bolt that doesn't open from the outside and has either a window or peep hole. The front door has neither and the back has only a window, so I know she broke that part of the lease. Also I wanted to know if we have a right to our deposit back as well as any of this months rent as it seems now like she pretended like she wouldn't evict just to get the rent and keep it. This landlord is also the homeowner who I never gave my social security number or credit information so will this hurt my credit or renters history? We've paid just about $4,000 to move into this place and in rent to live in this place for 2 weeks and we can't even get in contact with this woman. Also something I noticed is that on the eviction notice she has the date next to her signature as 1/1/18, when though on the second she collected rent and told us everything was fine and she would stop by Friday to make sure the cats were gone.

Answer:
 If the lease (or any addendum) does not forbid pets, the landlord cannot evict you for having pets, even if she doesn't like them.  Landlords also generally can't evict for a house being "messy" (there are exceptions).  You may want to send a certified letter stating that you not be leaving and will fight the eviction to the fullest extent of the lease and Texas law.  She doesn't have much to stand on here.  Though you will have to deal with her for a year.  You may want to offer a "cash for keys" where she refunds you (and possibly pays you) to break the lease early and leave.

You also should file a police report for illegal entry just to get it on paper.  And let her know what the Texas law is for landlord entry.

Also, it might be a good idea to talk to a lawyer so you don't mess this process up either way.Answer #2: Does the lease forbid pets? If so, you screwed up. You don't know how to tenant, and from everything else you wrote, she sure as hell doesn't know how to landlord.

> she's typed out an eviction notice saying we need to be out in 7 days

Evictions happen in court. What is this exactly? A notice to vacate? Demand for possession? Cure or quit?


Title: [PA] Legality of combined consent for treatment and patient financial responsibility

Question:
I hold medical insurance. I visited a provider that is participating with my plan. By virtue of participating, they agree to a contract. Similarly, by being a member under the insurance, I also agree to a contract in terms of covered and non covered services.

I was advised by this provider to sign the below agreement or they were to refuse service altogether. I was not offered a separate consent for treatment form to sign. I was not offered the charges for the lab procedures I was ordered to have in the event they were not covered. The language of the form seems to suggest that any incidental or contractual exclusions would fall on the member even though the EOB would instruct the provider to write that off.

My argument is that both patient and provider are under the same agreement, in a way. If I choose to go for a test that my insurance doesn't cover, the insurance company will put that test to the patient responsibility. The EOB is the basis for billing. There should not be a separate form that needs to be signed which might circumvent any agreement with an insurance company.

Questions:

1. Is a combined consent for treatment and financial responsibility form legal?

2. Is refusal of service appropriate if that form is not signed?

3. In your opinion, do you believe the language of the agreement indicates that the provider has free reign to balance bill commercial insurance members if that provider does not agree with insurance payment?

> I, [patient's name], with the date of birth, [date of birth], who is covered under insurance company [name of insurance company] agree to the following:

>Your insurance company will only pay for services that meet their payment determination criteria as set forth in your health plan. If your insurance company determines that a particular service, test or test methodology does not meet their payment determination criteria, they will not pay for that service or test.

> If my insurance company denies payment, I agree to be responsible for the payment of the services or the laboratory tests that [Name of Lab] is not being paid for by my health plan.

>[Name of Lab] may not balance bill Medicaid patients; however, there are instances when Medicaid will deny payment and direct [Name of Lab] to bill the patient. I agree to pay [Name of Lab] in full for each service or test when [Name of Lab] has been directed to bill me by Medicaid.

>By signing below I request that the services or tests ordered by my doctor be rendered. If my insurance company denies payment for the service or test, I agree to pay [Name of Lab] in full for each service or test.

Answer: You're right that a provider cannot balance bill... Meaning if the service is a covered service, the provider has to accept the amount the insurance allows and you pay any associated copay, deductible, and/or coinsurance. However, if you receive a service that is not covered by your insurance, you are responsible for paying in full for that service. Source: Healthcare provider and insurance is the bane of my existence.


Title: Help. Landlady charging us for “cat dander” and mold. (VT USA)

Question:
Hey reddit could use some advice. In the process of moving out of my place and Landlady is all of a sudden claiming that she needs to pay $700 for “cat dander” and mold clean up and it needs to come out of our deposit. There was nothing in the lease that said anything about such thing and below is the email she sent. I’m having trouble keeping a level rational head and am unsure how to even respond to her.

“Hi -

I re-read the lease to make sure.

You rented the house without any cat dander in it - it must be returned to us that way (has nothing to do with us allowing cats on the property, has to do with cleanliness …like you would not leave a pile of garbage in the middle of the living room because you did not move in with garbage there)

So if you need the deposit returned then you (all 3 of you) need to hire a company that does that kind of guaranteed work.

I hired Robert Brown at Green Home Solutions… 888-506-9819. He is coming on Thursday to do the work. of eliminating the cat dander and all mold associated with having animals.

You may take over the oversight of this and pay the bill if you need to be in control… once you pay the bill to them I will be happy to return your deposit provided that the inspection of the rest of the home is okay.

Let me know how you want to proceed.”

Answer:
 If you paid a pet deposit, then the cleaning of the carpet (normal wear and tear for a pet) should be covered unless there is a stipulation  in the lease saying you need a professional cleaner to do the carpets before you leave. Otherwise I see no reason why you are responsible. Answer #2: I don't even understand what she's describing. Did you damage the property beyond normal wear and tear? Like, can you describe the conditions she's claiming your cat ownership created?

 This is a description of "[normal wear and tear](https://www.burlingtonvt.gov/sites/default/files/LeadProgram/RENTINGinVERMONT.pdf)" from  Vermont Tenants, "a program of the
Coordinated Statewide Housing Services division of the Champlain Valley
Office of Economic Opportunity":

> What is “Normal wear and tear”?
>>Normal wear and tear is the deterioration which occurs normally with
occupancy of a rental unit and which is not the result of negligence,
carelessness, accident or abuse of the premises by tenants or their guests.
>>>[Definition from Vermont state law: “ ‘Normal wear and tear’ means the
deterioration which occurs, based upon the reasonable use for which the rental
unit is intended, without negligence, carelessness, accident or abuse of the
premises or equipment or chattels by the tenant or members of his or her
household or their invitees or guests.”]

>>> A landlord cannot deduct from a security deposit the costs of ANY of the
following things except to correct or repair damage caused by the tenant or
their guests through negligence, carelessness, accident or abuse:

>>> Routine maintenance,

>>> Painting (unless careless, negligent, accidental or destructive tenant activity
or actions make repainting necessary when it normally would not be),

>>> Re-advertising the apartment (except in some circumstances when the tenant
has broken the lease) (See, “Breaking a Lease”)

>>> Renovation of the unit.


Title: Texas Landlord Renting to Construction Company

Question: [deleted]

Answer: Do you think you could be any more bigoted? It might help you troll better.


Title: Pizza Delivery and Arbitration risk?

Question:
I work for a pizza franchise as a delivery driver in Clark County, Washington State.
I've been there about 3 years, we pay our own gas, drive our own vehicles and pay our own basic drivers insurance. If we get in an accident on the job we are immediately fired- and other (former) drivers have had to sue the company to get the damages paid for (or lie to their own insurance company and say they were not working at the time of the accident, assuming no one mentioned they were.)
The way I understand it the company is required to have insurance covering us while we are driving on the job but I'm not sure they actually do, I think they just have lawyers instead.

Now they are pressuring us to sign an Arbitration Agreement with non-disclosure as part of an employee handbook update.
I'm worried that means that if I ever get in an accident driving on the job I will be fired, possibly driving without insurance and not be able to sue for damages?

 Is there anything I can do besides refuse to sign and almost certainly be fired for refusing? When I asked about it all management told me is that I HAVE to sign it, they want it by my next work day.

I'm not even completely sure what arbitration actually means but the contract mentions harrassment, discrimination and workers comp disputes would also be under arbitration?

Thank you for you time and help!

Answer:
 If your insurance doesn't cover your while you're working, and the store doesn't have insurance that covers you, then you're already driving without insurance, aren't you?Answer #2: "I will consider signing your arbitration agreement if you provide me a certificate of insurance."

And then think carefully about whether this job is really worth it.


Title: [WV] Landlord is not allowing us to gain access to personal property.

Question:
I am in WV, and the landlord is telling us that we cannot gather the rest of our property. We have moved out on May 14th, and we tried to inform her about the move on May 1st and April 25th. She loves to block us on Facebook Messenger, and it's the only way of contacting her. Other than mailing her but she wants only the rent sent.

What can my family do to get the rest of our property?

Details about not allowing us to gather the rest of our property:

- She wants us to pay $600 upfront for the rent of May.
- She tells us that we have no assets in the house.
- She is informing us that if anyone is caught on the property that she will have us arrested.
- She is also telling us that a lawyer said that we have no legal rights to gather any of our property and that we need to return the property that we did take.

She was renting to us and wanted us to pay the taxes and any repairs on the house. We told her that if we were going to do that we wanted a contract stating that was in our terms. She said she would and send us the paperwork. That was January and no paperwork. Only agreement we have is the agreement stating that we can live there with a $600 rent.

Now, she is trying to say we had no such agreement. We have texts of her stating such agreements.

---

I am trying to find out what rights and legal actions I may need to take to get my belongings.

Answer: You might want to start with the police, since this is pretty much straight up theft. And she's lying about the lawyer, since if she had one, you'd be taking to said lawyer and not her.