Title: My neighbor shot a gun and the police took him away. (NC)

Question:
(NC)
I live on the bottom ground level of a three story apartment building. The property is older but well maintained and doesn't cost me much to rent while I go to school. Most of my neighbors are Hispanic, lots of illegals that work construction but they don't bother me. There are probably 200 people living in the entire complex and it’s 80% or more Hispanic with the rest a mix of black and white.

The apartment complex management regularly hires city police officers to patrol the property during the night. The police don't let anyone drink in the parking lot and I would see the same ones often enough that I know some of them by name. The police generally won't bother you unless you’re doing something wrong and are polite.
 I'm a white female living alone going to college and I keep to myself. I'm mostly concerned with having a cheap place to live while finishing school.

I know my upstairs neighbor who is a Hispanic guy in his 40s who was having a parking dispute with another neighbor who lives somewhere else in the complex.

We don't have assigned parking and because of all of the subletting there might be two or three Hispanic families in a single apartment that brings lots of extra cars with them. The parking lot will fill up quickly and then we have to park farther out and walk.

A few days ago I heard my upstairs neighbor (Pedro?) yelling and screaming out back of my apartment so I went and looked out the window. I saw Pedro pushing on and screaming at my other Hispanic neighbor. It looked like they were arguing over a parking spot. I don't speak spanish but they were both yelling at each other and looked like they were going to fight.

The other neighbor walked into his building and Pedro went into his apartment. Then Pedro came out of the back of the building and walked right past my window holding a big shotgun. Pedro went over to the cars and shot the gun in the air while still yelling in spanish. I'm pretty sure it was about parking because Pedro was standing next to a car that wasn't his in the spot where he normally parks.

Then I watched Pedro walk back into the building holding the shotgun and I heard him go upstairs above me and slam the door shut.

I know I should have called the cops then but I keep to myself and I didn't want to be involved. I hung out and never heard sirens or anything happen that day.

The next morning a police officer knocked on my door and asked me if I had seen Pedro shoot a gun. I told the officer what I had seen happen and he took down my information. The police officer was very polite and told me that I should have called 911 when this happened.
Later in the afternoon the same day I was sitting at my computer and I heard all kinds of commotion upstairs from Pedro’s apartment. Turns out it was the police and it was a ton of them probably six police cars in the parking lot. I watched the police take Pedro out of the apartment in handcuffs and then they took some guns out of the apartment. They left after about an hour.

I went to the apartment complex office and talked to the lady at the desk and she told me that the police had arrested Pedro for shooting a gun and they had taken out a search warrant on his apartment. The lady hinted to me that they would be evicting Pedro but she wouldn't give me all the details about when this was going to happen. She did say that the police had been talking to several people in the apartment complex and not just me.

I just got home from class and Pedro is back sitting on his balcony drinking upstairs. I tried to walk into my apartment quickly but he was definitely staring at me. It has only been a day since he was taken away by the police and he is already back. I think he knows that I was the one to talking to the police.

I guess my question is how I can find out if he knows it was me?

I called the police station but the lady told me she couldn’t release information over the phone. I don’t have the name of the police officer that talked to me but I know what he looked like. He is not one of the ones that walk the complex on Friday and Saturday nights.

Answer: Yes eventually Pedro will get a copy of the police report which will name you as a witness.


Title: Virginia legality of weapons on an Air Force base?

Question:
I have already asked this on the Air Force subreddit but received some mixed answers. I am not referring to firearms in this instance, I don't personally believe in them. But I am referring to things like tactical knives, swords, axes, collapsible batons, OC spray, throwing stars, etc. What am I legally allowed to possess on an Air Force base in my room? I can't find a military law on the subject, but from what I understand these are all legal in the state of Virginia so I'm not sure why it would be a problem to at least keep them in my car. Please help, thank you.

Edit: Also if it matters, I am highly trained in the use of all of these weapons as well as other martial arts, not sure if training allows me to have some sort of permit or qualifies me to possess these weapons.

Answer: I'm not sure if being a weaboo qualifies as being highly trained.


Title: Spooked over porn research for screenplay. Help?

Question:
Location: New Jersey

Okay, this is weird and I'm probably being paranoid, but I need some advice as to whether or not I'm about to get royally screwed.

I'm doing research for a feature-film script about some truly dark shit: child sexual abuse. Specifically, about an adult victim of abuse as a child turning vigilante. To be honest, I don't even think I'm going to write it. I don't think I'm spiritually, emotionally, or mentally capable of going that dark.

Anyway, I started doing some research on the topic. Browsing reddit, google, and yahoo answers with queries like "is it illegal to search not watch cp." Trying to get the details right (basically, vigilante attempts to find pornographers via internet. I needed to make sure that the cops wouldn't come after him for trying).

This is when I came across info about what constitutes possession of CP. Granted, this come from fucking Yahoo Answers, so I'm tempted to take it with a grain of salt, but I want to make sure. Keep in mind that I know basically nothing about how computers work, so excuse any technical mislabeling:

Apparently, scrolling past an image on Google Images creates a cached file on your system. Simply having viewed (not downloaded) that cached file counts as possession.

I won't lie: I watch porn. Not a lot, and nothing out-there, but I do watch porn. I have never attempted to view CP and never will. However, I know nothing about the people in the porn I see. I have no idea of how old they are. I don't know anything about the people that I've viewed, and though they may appear to be of legal age, I have no way of knowing for sure.

(clarification: I confine myself to mainstream sites, reddit, and Google/Bing)

Cue the realizations that a) I may have unknowingly seen CP on Google Images, b) if I've seen it, it may count as possession, and c) for the past few hours, I've been researching CP. Not googling CP itself, but looking for info on it (e.g. laws, prior convictions).

Since then, I've gotten lock-yourself-in, watch-out-for-black-helicopters levels of paranoid. I'm on the verge of tears right now and regret having ever attempted to write about this shit.

Do I need to be worried? Will the police bust down my door? AM I SCREWED???

Please don't mistake this for a troll post--I am very sincere and very very worried. I am also very naive and know little about how the law operates. I would never harm a child or try to find CP, but I wouldn't expect a court of law to take my word for it.

Thank you in advance for any advice you can give.

EDIT: Also, will gladly provide more info if anything needs clarification.
Topic:
Computer and Internet

Answer: You may want to schedule an appointment with a therapist. Your paranoia isn't normal.


Title: Airbnb fraud...PayPal took $1700 out of my bank account

Question: Need some help. Last month I got an email from AirBnb that two trips were booked, I never booked them so I had reported the fraud to them and PayPal. My PayPal was linked to Airbnb so the funds of $1600 and $760 were taken out of a bank account that I was in the process of closing due to moving out of state. The person committing fraud canceled both reservations. $1600 was put back into bank account twice and $760 was never put back in, bank told me that they had to close account due to PayPal hack since hacker would now have bank account. I spent about 10 hours on the phone with PayPal trying to resolve this, they sent me to PayPal collections. I tried working with Airbnb, they said that they called PayPal who said the matter was closed in my favor. My PayPal account has been -$1600, I checked the other day and the account balance was neutral. I check my new bank account and PayPal took out $1700 from me. I just don’t know what to do, but it was fraud and neither Airbnb or PayPal will help. Does anyone have any insight?

Answer: Keep calling pal at different hours. You might find someone who will help. Took me a few weeks of calling to get something similar sorted. Finally found a guy who realized how serious it was


Title: US vendor selling digital goods (me) received chargeback totaling over $30,000. Questions on how to move forward inside. (Crosspost from r/personalfinance)

Question:
I live in Arizona, buyer lives in California.

I'll leave the whole post here for some history and mark the specifically legal part in bold. Thanks for reading

I'll try to write this whole thing out as clearly as I possibly can. Feel free to ask any questions for clarification. I truly appreciate anyone who takes the time to read and comment.

I have been selling digital goods (online game currency) for about 10 months. I have many different customers and have only received a chargeback from one customer. Unfortunately, this customer spent a very large amount of money.

In middle to late February, I met the customer who filed the chargebacks, we will call him X. Between February 15th and March 15th, X spent $17,000. X then stopped buying from me for about a month and resumed with a $4,000 spending spree in early April. Business halted for a bit and then resumed in May, he then spent $26,000 between May 1st and July 15th. Then the chargebacks rolled in.

We were doing business through paypal but he was sending to me with an attached credit card. The first chargeback that came in was a charge on may 10th. When I called paypal about it they specified that the May 10th charge was from a different credit card than all of the other charges. To be clear, they also said that all of the other charges were on the same credit card, the May 10th charge was the single outlier. Paypal said it could be an accident and I should contact X to see what was going on. When I contacted X, he acted surprised about it.

I went to the resolution center and provided whatever information I could to dispute his claim and the case was (apparently) closed in his favor. That's when more chargebacks rolled in. Within the next three or four days, all charges from May-July had been charged back and consequently, my paypal account was severely negative.

Between late July and August I spent many hours on the phone with paypal. They actually refunded all of my chargeback fees, suggested I fill out a claim with the FBI (ic3.gov) which I did and suggested I had a decent chance of winning. They told me they knew it was felony level fraud and that they were disputing it with the credit card company.

By August 5th, every charge made by X from May 1st and later had been charged back. May 8th rolls around, I wake up and check my phone to see four new emails. New chargebacks from the charges in April. At this point, none of the disputes are actually resolved, paypal has just closed them between paypal and myself while they dispute it with the credit card company.

It has now been approximately two months since I received the most recent charge backs and I'm finally getting answers about my cases with paypal. It appears I'm on track to lose every dispute.

Here are my questions: At the beginning of this post I stated that he had charges totaling around $17,000 in late February and early March. It's been two months since I received a chargeback from him and those were from charges in April. Did he run out the clock on being able to charge back for the $17,000 spent before the charges in April?

After doing a little research on his e-mail addresses that were provided to me for our paypal transactions, coupled with a picture that was on his skype account when we first started chatting, it appears that he may actually be in highschool. If this is true, then I think there's a good chance he may have used his parent's credit card inappropriately. My question is, do I have any recourse if I can prove that he abused a family member's credit card? When the chargebacks came in, they had two codes 83 and 37.

**I know that I should post in r/legaladvice for legal questions but I want to tie a legal question onto this. Hopefully, it's appropriate. Paypal has told me more than once that I should be pursuing this in court. My feelings are that at this point it might just cost me more to pursue this and given that it's digital goods and he won something this large with the credit card company that my chances for a positive outcome are pretty slim in court. Any thoughts on that?**

My last question. I have a negative balance in my paypal account. Paypal has repeatedly told me that this balance will not be reported to any credit agencies. As of right now the account is still accessible but after 120 days of having a negative balance it will no longer be accessible to me and it's safe to assume the debt owed will then be moved to collections. However, paypal has also informed me that when it is moved to collections, the collections "agency" is actually run by paypal as well and they will also not report this debt to a credit bureau. (To be clear, I'm not saying paypal doesn't report to credit bureaus, they have indicated to me that if I have paypal credit, they may report that). I'm not certain if it's something about this circumstance that essentially forbids them from reporting it or what but they have repeatedly assured me that it does not get reported. Following this assurance, I asked them hypothetically what my incentive would be to bring my negative balance back to zero and the only real incentive they offered was to stop the phone calls and the ability to use my paypal account in the future. To add to this, when the chargebacks first came in, I set up a verbal agreement with paypal to upload $1,000 on the first of every month as a sort of payment plan. They were happy with this at the time, and two months have passed where I have done that. They have now indicated to me that regardless of the agreement I made, after a certain period of time the account will go into their separate collections department and my account locked unless I pay in full. My question is, since I'm going to lose the ability to use my account anyway (there's no way I can pay in full in the next month and a half) should I just stop paying and wait until it moves to collections to settle? Should I pay the debt off at all if it isn't ever going to be reported on my credit? Lastly, in this circumstance where I am ultimately the victim what is the ethical thing to do? If I am actually able to abandon the debt, should I?

Once again, I really appreciate the time anyone takes to read this. It's my first post here and I hope I followed all of the guidelines. I'm happy to correct anything about it, I'm just desperate for a little help.

To any readers, if I can clarify anything about the story let me know please. I tried to be as concise as possible to avoid a massive wall of text. There's plenty of nuanced things I might have forgotten about. I can also provide proof if this seems too big to believe.

Thanks again

Answer: We win judgements all the time over people who won chargebacks against us. Answer #2: Not a lawyer but I know PayPal doesn't really bother siding with the seller, especially when digital goods are involved. IIRC seller protection doesn't apply to digital goods at all. I would go straight into getting a lawyer and suing, assuming you have evidence that the digital goods were transferred.


Title: Can I be charged with attempted murder if I tried to kill myself?

Question:
In 2009, 2011 and 2014 I tried to kill myself but made significant efforts not to harm anyone else in the process. I sustained minor yet permanent (or at least long term, it’s only been 3-8 years so hopefully it’ll get better) injuries, including a TBI from hanging myself in 2011. I believe that I should include it on my medical record but I was told by family members that I would go to prison for attempted murder. They are abusive and I’m afraid that they will use a legal loophole to get me charged with it.

I live in California, USA and I am seventeen years old. I plan to update my medical records once I am 18 so my parents can’t interfere with them. I was 9 (may have been 8 but close to my birthday), 11 and 14 at the time of the attempts.

Will I lose any legal rights or be charged with any crimes because of what I did?

It goes without saying that I will not do it again regardless of legal penalty.

Answer: No. Also, California teen suicide prevention hotline: 1-800-852-8336. Good luck op.Answer #2: No.Answer #3: No crime, but please seek help if you ever have those thoughts again. NALAnswer #4: no, thats not attempted murder.


Title: In 2006, I gave my child up for adoption to a family member (NY). I was talked out of any form of contract for visitation rights. I have visited, but been denied after flying from CA. Do I have any legal recourse?

Question:
I am a woman living in California since 2011, who gave up her child for adoption in 2006. I had asked the adoptive mother's lawyer to include a contract stating that I could regularly visit the child, and have photos, however, her lawyer informed that "no judge would uphold such a document." I do regret not persisting in it, anyway, but I deeply trusted the mother at the time, because she was manipulative and knew exactly what to say (I hadn't known at the time, but she has history with my mother (our family is not open, not close, and not communicative)).

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I saw the child a few times after I signed the papers, but I feel she thought we were getting too close, and she immediately halted any visits, saying she didn't agree with my lifestyle (the child definitely recognised and was very affectionate with me). Because I was young, scared, and emotionally malleable, I stepped back in hopes of gaining her trust, accepting purposely out-of-focus photos of the child and stories from other family members (my mother is allowed to see the child, and the child really likes her, but I was not allowed to attend/invited to the events, and cannot acknowledge my mother is my mother in the child's presence), and excuses as to why I could not attend any of the family events they attended. Eventually, when I moved to California, she began allowing me to see the child after flying in. I guess the distance made her more comfortable. I would call her, ask her when was best for her, and fly in on the promise that I could see them. Two years in a row, she organised a meeting trip, and I flew out on her promise, only to have her completely ignore my calls once I got into town. I had to leave without seeing the child. The last time this happened, I was advised to involve her religious leader, which I did, and it caused her quite a bit of anger. It also made her take notice, and this past fall, I did see the child again.

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I took the opportunity to try to level with her, and laid out how much I've grown, how this can be completely on her terms, that it could be a reasonable, mature arrangement that benefits the child by allowing the child access to its birth mother later, and introducing me more into its life now so that it isn't a shock. I offered skype and even flying in at my expense more often. No pressure, and on her terms.

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She told me she doesn't think the child is ready to know about me yet, even though the child figured out it was adopted at age eight, and has been asking who its birth mother is. Even up to recently, the child has been asking. This, I respect. I was even told by her not to tell the child that my mother is my mother. The child calls her aunt, spends a lot of time with her, and likes her very much. I can only assume this is another way to keep me from getting close to the child. And, I have respected it so far, and will continue to.

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The only issue is that she has all the power, right now, to make me disappear until the child is 18 years old. While I would accept this if I must, I'd like to know: do I have any rights? Could I obtain the right to talk out some sort of guaranteed visitation?  There is some historical vindictiveness to her actions as she informed me once "now that the papers are signed, we could dip (the child) in blue paint, for all you could do"

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Again, I'm not looking to uproot her family, or even force her to tell the child who I am, I just want to know what rights I have to be in its life, if any.

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Answer:
 Legally, you are a stranger to the child and have no rights.Answer #2: You cannot force a family to give you visitation.Answer #3: You have no legal recourse and you have no legal rights.

You do have the connection of your mother who apparently does have this woman's trust.

It may be better for now to simply get your photos and stories about the child from your mother, and rely on her guidance as to when - *after the child is legally an adult* - it might be advisable to attempt contact.


Title: VA Wreckless Driving ticket?

Question:
I was going 76 in a 55 on I-66 in Fairfax county, VA. I didn't notice the speed limit dropped from 70 to 55 at some point in time.

Ticket says VA law 46.2.862. I looked it up and it says I'm facing a misdemeanor.

Whats my next steps? I have only gotten one other ticket in my life. Im 20 and in college...no other legal troubles. I'm hoping this wont go on my record and screw me..

Answer: Get a lawyer.  Virginia is harsh on reckless drivers.  You probably couldn't have picked a worse place to get that ticket.


Title: [Hypothetical] Me and someone else sign a contract where if I pull a caper or heist on him there won't be any legal repercussions. I pull a heist on him. The police arrives. Am I free to go?

Question:
This goes for all the United States.

Just saw the contract that dickless peon signed with the Wu Tang Clan over that million dollar album, where it says Wu Tang Clan or Bill Murray may attempt to take back the album through a heist or a caper, and if done thus there will be no legal repercussions.

Does such a contract exonerate Bill Murray or the Wu Tang Clan in a court of law?

I've been told that even if there are no pressed charges by the robbed party the state has the right to bring the culprit to court. Is that true with such a contract present?

Answer:
 You cannot make a contract to allow someone to break the law. The police and state can still take legal action.

It might hold up for civil court but not criminal.


Title: Friend had been unknowingly exceeding her bandwidth limit for the last 5 months but the ISP only sent her an email just now. Can she safely chargeback the extra bills?

Question:
The ISP is Bell in Canada and it amounts to around $200.

It turns out she thought she had set uploading limits on her torrent app but they were lost when she reinstalled it, and she never got a notice from the ISP about going over the limit until now and had been automatically paying the extra charges all along.

Can she get her bank to reverse the payments based on Bell failing to notify her and find another ISP, or will Bell [be able to] pursue this?
Topic:
Computer and Internet

Answer: She is responsible for ensuring that she is staying within her bandwidth each month and she is also responsible for ensuring that the correct amount is being deducted from her bank each month - if she had been responsible in the latter, she would have noticed the disparity at the first billing and could have called to find out why she was charged and how she could afford it. She can't take back part of her own payment because she was being careless.


Title: [US-NY] how to respond to "Document Demand" and to "First Set of INterrogatories".

Question:
So, something happened to me and I filed civil suit against 2 companies in NYC Civil Court System (not Small Claims).

Now the attorney for one of the companies has sent me:

* A Document Demand
* A First Set of Interrogatories.

I can put together the documentation asked and respond to what's asked.  These are my 2 questions for this sub:

1. Is there a certain format I need to follow, or just a letter narrative?
2. Do I send the documentation to the lawyer asking for it or do I ALSO have to file the same stuff with the court?

Answer: You're in big boy court. You need an attorney. They will rip you to shreds without one.


Title: (Ca) Child custody help

Question:
I'm trying to help my fiance regain his parental rights, and things have snowballed to the point where we are both lost, baffled, and disillusioned. Any advice would be extremely helpful.

I'll be as brief as I can while conveying the details. We know the son is in an unsafe environment. There are multiple CPS cases against mom and her new boyfriend for beating the child. These cases come from school teachers, the daycare, and the hospital. There are multiple sheriff reports of the same. We have both heard the son say that he is given "owies" my moms boyfriend. When my fiance asked, she replied that the son was overacting and that her boyfriend "didn't leave that many marks this time." The moment the situation came to light, we immediately went to CPS and the sheriffs. This is when we found out about the multiple cases against her already. Dad filed for emergency protection and was denied. This all because the mom had filed a stay away order, preventing the dad from having any unsupervised visits or any contact with his son unless she agrees upon it. Having never been served the papers, he had no idea what was going on. He brought up the fact that he was never served to both the court and sheriff, and they both claim there's nothing they can do.

So now the mom is recanting on everything she's said, and refuses to agree to any terms in mediation. She is going so far as to couch the son, and tells him that he "can't see daddy because [he] talked to people at school". So now he is afraid to say anything.

The commissioner overseeing the case has said that if they can't agree, he will make a ruling. The problem is that mom is saying up and down that the son isn't safe with dad, but she has so many abuse cases against her the commissioner has threatened to pull the son into foster care.

We are so lost about navigating the legal system. The commissioner is not listening to anything we try to say. We've waiting weeks for CPS report copies, and nothing. We can't get any sheriff report copies without court approval because it involves a child, so we've been waiting on that too.

I don't know if there's a way we could contest and possibly have revoked the stay away order so that dad can see his son again, and then maybe start the process of regaining his parental rights.

We can't afford a lawyer, despite our best efforts to raise money.

If anyone has any advice that could help, please.

Answer:
 >We can't afford a lawyer, despite our best efforts to raise money.

That's what you need. Get a second job. Sell a car. Get a loan. Many attorneys will allow a payment plan.Answer #2: Get a lawyer. Now. Loans. Credit cards. Beg. Second jobs. Whatever. Now is the time for these things. Now. Talk to lawyers. Many offer payment plans.


Title: [Ontario] Landlord has decided we are legally responsible for an ongoing plumbing issue. Are we?

Question:
This has been ongoing since about January, our toilet has been backing up and flooding the place multiple times. It is fixed now, after multiple plumber visits, multiple snakings, and 2 cameras going down the pipe. It was discovered that there were paper towels caught on the pipe as we use small pieces when we run out of toilet paper, but not whole chunks. The blockage was out near the entrance to the city lines, about 100ft. out. However, it was also discovered that the conditions of the pipes have contributed to the problem, including a past tenant flushing cat litter and that catching paper towels, and there being an odd dip in the pipe that also caught them.

 The plumbers said that if it weren't for those problems, the paper towels most likely would not have been an issue. We have already paid a $380 bill for the first snake we had done that was assumed to have solved the problem, but now he wants us to pay for every subsequent visit because it did not solve the problem, totalling to $1200.

We understand that we should not have flushed paper towels, but it was literal "We just ran out of tp and nothing is open" kind of situations. I believe that since we have already paid for a plumber to come in who did not solve the problem, who by the way is buddies with the landlord, we should not have to continue paying because they could not solve the problem. But I may also be wrong, and if so we will try to pay him.

Another thing, not sure if it's even relevant, he never gave us a signed copy of the lease, so the rules we have are from an unsigned copy of the lease. Does that mean anything??

Tl;Dr: Landlord made us pay his buddy $380 to not fix a plumbing issue we caused. Now wants us to pay $1200 in subsequent visits because his buddy didn't fix the issue properly and he still thinks it's our fault. Is it?

Answer: He is right, you shouldn't have flushed paper towels. If you are grown adults there is really no excuse for on multiple occasions not having toilet paper, just buy a jumbo pack if you repeatedly run out of toilet paper and have no other option but to flush things you aren't supposed to. You are right, there is something abnormal about the pipes outside of your control contributing to the problem. It would be reasonable to split the costs. If you want to go to war about this you can see what a judge thinks, but be prepared to pay.


Title: Criminal vs Noncriminal Negligence (Lifeguard allows Drowning for 4-5 minutes) The Venitian LV,NV

Question:
Summary of what happened:

Mom is swimming laps at pool while dad is upstairs in room. On exit of pool mom collapses from exhaustion/dehydration and ends up drowning in the pool for 4-5 minutes. Footage of event is still with the Venitian so we don't know how long exactly she was at the bottom of the pool, but the cops said it was 4-5 minutes. Meanwhile, the hotel had acted like the lifeguard had acted promptly. She was taken to the hospital and was on life support with a ventilator  until today and is now making a full recovery. There was nothing on toxicology report and from what it seems like she will be out in 2 days.

Questions:

1) Is this considered criminal negligence? If it is/not clear he let her stay down for 5 minutes does that constitute the charges?

2) What legal responsibility does a lifeguard actually have?

3) How do I go about obtaining the footage from the venetian?

4) Is there a certain amount of time we have in order to retain council?

Thank you for letting me know what's up I will check back every 30 mins to see what you all come up with for me.

Answer: In a situation like this, your first step should be to secure legal representation. A lawyer can answer all of your questions. Many attorneys offer free or low-cost consultations.


Title: My boss is refusing to pay back money that I loaned him, 3 weeks of pay, and attempted to pressure me into committing tax fraud.

Question:
I am in El Paso county, Colorado in the United States. I apologize if this post is too long. There are alot of details that must be included.

I met this guy in jail. I was incarcerated for 10 days. He told me in the ward that he would have his friend help bond me out if I invested into his roofing company. He initially claimed that he was being released mid-march. After I was let out on bail, My boss would call me from jail everyday, asking me too look for an apartment so we could move in together and he could teach me the business. By this point, I was understandably sketched out. His job offer seemed too good to be true. I decided too lie to him and tell him that I was staying with my aunt in Denver. He called me the next day asking to loan him money for bail, and a week later he asked me for more so that he could pay a security deposit for an apartment.

I should have just hung up on him. I loaned him $4300, which he said he would pay back on march 24th. Almost a month later he has yet to pay me back. Once he was released, he got his company started up through the assistance of a friend. He hired me at a flat rate of $3000 a month as a canvasser, an office assistant, graphic designer, and field supervisor in training. I have worked over 40 hours a week for the last 3 weeks, and twice he has had excuses too not give me my first paycheck. The first time was negligence on his part for not submitting paperwork on time for payroll. The 2nd time, he told me that he was upset that I didn't go out and canvass for him the other day. The reason that I didn't go out was because he ignored 2 requests I made for a refill on business cards to hand out. I was supposed to get a paycheck two days ago. I am homeless, living in a hotel, running out of money, and need an income and proof in the form of a paycheck stub to get into an apartment. I need to be compensated for my time, and my money paid back. I quit because I have no tolerance for having money that I earned fucked with, and no longer want to waste time chasing a golden goose that doesn't exist. I am certain that this was a scam from the start.

He also pressured me for about a week too commit tax fraud for him through turbo tax. I made an account, put in his relatives info, but didn't actually submit anything (thank god). Afterwards, he called H&R block from my phone and impersonated me to make an appointment to do taxes. I told him I wasn't doing it, and that was that.

I have evidence for all of these things. I am just uncertain what the best course of action to take is. He claims that he is dangerous, and according to MyLife.com, he has committed many crimes, including burglary. I fear that taking legal action may make my situation worse.

Answer:
 Well legal action is your only option because it's clear this guy isn't playing by the rules. And the first thing he decides you're no longer useful he's not going to have a problem making up whatever BS to withhold what he owes you and just string you along so long as you play his games. Which is what has been happening.

1. So you can sue him in small claims court for the loan.

2. You can file a wage complaint with the Colorado Dept of Labor for unpaid wages.

3. Stop working for him immediately, he cannot be trusted.

4. File for unemployment, him not paying you certainly qualifies.

I expect he'll go out of business or be shut down since I hardly believe that he's fucking with you, but doing everything else by the book.
Answer #2: Unfortunately for you, I would be surprised if he has any money for you to go after, especially not money in a bank account where it can be taken from.


Title: Doctor didn’t charge me for a visit - now wants payment

Question:
Received a call recently that a doctor I was seeing is seeking payment for a visit which occurred 4 months ago (7/16/2018). I visited this office for 1.5 years, with my card on file & they always charged the card. Never had any hiccups or issues other than them overcharging me a couple times.

But they’ve just now contacted me, asking me for payment which, they claim, they never received.

Every visit at this office, I signed a receipt stating I agreed to the treatment and had received the treatment; thus, authorizing payment and agreeing to payment.

Am I responsible for rectifying this? Or is this their issue?

Answer:
 If you received the services but haven't paid for them, whether the fact they haven't collected payment is your fault or theirs, they should be paid.

If they're trying to charge you a late fee but had agreed to charge your card on file you might object to that late fee.  But certainly if they haven't been paid they should be.


Title: Help! My aunt sold my dad’s house and he never saw the money...

Question:
Hey guys- throwaway here.

Here’s the story:

In 2004 my father went through a brief psychiatric episode, for lack of a better term. He ended up quitting his job and spending more money than we had.

With few options to pay his debts, my dad quitclaimed our house to my aunt under an oral agreement that she would sell the house, pay the loans against it, put the profits in a bank account for him and pay him out over the course of around ten years.

The house sold in California for $545,000 and there were two loans against it to pay in the neighborhoods of $100,000 and $165,000.

She sent checks to him monthly for around a year before cutting off all communication with him and stopping payments altogether.

She walked away with somewhere close to $300,000 and it’s not the first time she’s screwed family members financially. I know it’s been close to 15 years so my options are most likely limited but is there anything I can do about this?

Answer:
 Your options time wise might not be messed up. When she stopped the annual payments is when she breached the contract. That ks when the stature kf limitations start. But for 3000000 obviously get an attorney. Os a no brainer. Answer #2: There is nothing you can do. Your dad can sue your aunt for the money he is owed. Proving she owes him 10 years later and with nothing written down will be challenging.

Be aware that you may not be getting the straight story from your family about how all of this went down.


Title: Does the ER have Doctor Patient confidentiality if people call about the patient

Question: [deleted]

Answer:
 They know you are lying, as I can't imagine that doctor will give you a note for a friend's injury/accident.

They can't confirm anything about the patient, but the doctor can confirm if they signed the note. Doing this is likely criminal/grounds for being fired.


Title: Wrongful Termination after sickness in Oregon

Question:
Greetings,

I am looking for advice on if I have a case for wrongful termination by a Hillsboro company. I was employed for less than 90 days.  Early on, I had trouble focusing during meetings and nearly dosing off. That sounds terrible, and it was, but we did not understand why until later when I had a pulmonary embolism and lupus was also discovered during the blood test.

Please view the below link for a video we watched during a company-wide meeting within my first few weeks there.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7ZoIGz1Jes8

 This video was on the second morning we arrived. It was the same week I was having my pulmonary embolism. In the video, the guy says, you gotta want success more than you want to breathe. And I thought to myself, 'Yeah, that's right. I'm having trouble breathing, but I showed up. I'm here.'

And then I found out why upon visiting the emergency room at the end of that week, but I continued to give it my best. I continued to show up, because the company made me feel like if I took short time disability, I wouldn't be living up to their standards. So I felt guilty and ran myself ragged to pull out all the stops and got nothing but positive feedback for how well I was doing everything. Everyone told me to my face that I was such a perfect fit. I said the only accommodations I wanted was support and communication, of which I received none of. The company preached vulnerable trust and then threw it in my face.

The termination came extremely suddenly and without warning. Earlier that day, I had taken a break in an empty (literally empty, devoid of any furniture or supplies) conference room to get away from the noise. Within ten minutes, I was told to get out and that I couldn't use that room for that. I said okay and left and really didn't think any more of it. I was just trying to get some time to myself in the only empty room in the office as the current seating arrangement I had was rather loud. Not a few hours later in the middle of my lunch, I was called into a conference room where my remote boss read me the riot act and said I was effectively terminated as of that minute. They had already gotten my final check together and there was no opportunity at all to voice my side of things. It was already done, they said. I was then left with another supervisor on the premise while my desk was gathered up, humiliatingly having to sit in an open-windowed conference room while in tears until I was escorted out.

I emailed HR later and was told while they understand I had some health issues, I did not use any reasonable accommodations like short-term disability and had already been warned. There were no written warnings at all and only a phone call happened to discuss what was going on. I didn't take disability because, as a new employee, I felt as though I would be failing the company and as you might tell from the video, they seemed to put work before personal health. I wanted to fit in. My work performance was superb despite the illness and I got kudos/good feedback regularly. At no point was there any indication of what was to come.

Long story short is, I was terminated very suddenly upon taking a personal break in an empty conference room due to illness my employers were aware of.

Do I have a case?

Answer: No. File for unemployment. You didn't work there long enough to qualify for FMLA. If you have a disability you have to ask for accommodation and it doesn't appear you did.


Title: Can I sue my building for towing my car?

Question:
I bought a new(used) car, so i took the plates off my old car for the newer car. I then parked the old car on the visitors parking spot; which is always free to anyone, and I made sure i left the parking permit sticker for my apartment on it. A month and some weeks go by and my old car is gone from the spot; i later found out its been towed off, so i spoke with the tow company and they said it would cost me about $340 plus $21 for every night it spends on their shop, so it turns out it was towed a week before i found out. I feel they should have tried to contact me before or immediately after it was towed; I know it had no plates, but the parking sticker on it should be a sign that the owner lives there.I called the building management, and he told me "the cops towed it because it had no plates" I knew he was BS'ing.
i've been in America for a few years so i'm not well versed in legal matters, So is there a chance or am i screwed here. This is in Hamden Connecticut.
It's really late, I have work in the morning, so I will be seeing replies then if any.

Answer:
 >which is always free to anyone

Without even seeing their policy on visitor parking, I am absolutely certain this is not the case. Visitor parking is for, wait for it...visitors. It's not for tenants who have abandoned their vehicle that they parked there.

Because after *a month and some weeks* (seriously?) of being parked there, that car was abandoned property. Answer #2: This is why we can't have nice things. Answer #3: A car without tags is not being parked... it is either abandoned or being stored.  Visitor parking spots aren't for storage, and invariably that is what your lease says... and it really doesn't help if it's silent on parking


Title: Friends husband fired after missing work do to child birth GA

Question: My friend had a baby last month, it was an emergency C-section. Her husband was there for birth and called out three other times because baby was in NICU, all seemed well until a higher up manager came in today and fired him on the spot. Looking for any advice that may help him get unemployment or get his job back. He was fired for unexcused absences.

Answer:
 How long did he work for the company?  Is the company large enough to qualify for FMLA protection?

At what point did he notify HR and apply for FMLA to cover absences related to the birth?


Title: Rear Ended at a stop light, spill on the inside [MI]

Question:
Hey guys, today was my day off and I was on my way to my buddy's house. I was in a bit of a rush, so I decided to have breakfast on the way. I was eating a bowl of cereal (trust me, i was being careful) someone rear ended me while I was stopped at a red light.

There isn't really any damage to the car, but I spilled cereal all over my leather interior. The other driver refuses to pay for the damages (clean up and possibly repairs), and I was wondering what my chances would be in court to get what I feel I'm owed.

Answer: Are you sure you don't live in Philadelphia and that your name isn't Dennis?


Title: Is this illegal? (tasering annoying ppl's feet out of their car window)

Question: [I hate seeing this](http://previews.123rf.com/images/orelphoto/orelphoto1402/orelphoto140200076/26149595-Woman-s-legs-dangling-out-a-car-window-Stock-Photo.jpg).  Especially in traffic jams, so is it illegal if you slap them or use a fly swatter taser against it?

Answer: IANAL, but I'm going to go ahead and say, yeah it's illegal to assault people for "annoying" you.


Title: Is whats happening at my Subway legal?

Question:
For specification purposes: I am a 17 year old in California.

I work at a Subway, which is my second job ever. I'm not very familiar with legal stuff, but many of my friends who work at a different Subway have told me whats happening is.

Though I am 17, I am well liked by managers and the owner, and I'm the only person hired at my time to be getting decent hours. This would be great, but these longer shifts (4-8 hours, depending) do not have breaks as we work one person in the shop. I've been told by another shop's owner that its illegal for me to be working alone in the first place, much less without a break.

I'm not the only person not getting a break, my coworkers also cannot if there is no one else there (which is 99% of the time, unless they're training a new hire). It has also never been explicitly said we cannot by the owner or manager, but it is heavily implied that we cannot take bathroom breaks (for example, when i was training, I walked in to my flustered coworker thanking god I was here and running to use the bathroom. There was no line, or anyone in the shop). It's understandable, but is going without a break legal? For how long? I have never had a break before.

If it is illegal, what do I do? I'm scared my boss will give me less hours or take me off the schedule if I talk to her. My friends say to contact HR or somewhere else that can deal with it, but I feel like that may be extreme? Any advice is appreciated.

Thank you for taking time to read!!

tl;dr: Is it legal for my boss to work me, a 17 year old, alone for 4-8 hours without a break?
Topic:
Employment Law

Answer:
 You’re in California, so your Rest/Meal Break Laws are more generous than typical federal law. In CA, you’re entitled to an unpaid, 30 minute meal break if you’re working in excess of 5 hours. You can agree to waive it (voluntarily, your employer should not require/encourage you to) as long as you’re not working more than 6 hours, and if your employer requires you to still be on the property during this  break, they HAVE to pay you. If they fail to give you this break, you’re entitled to an extra hour’s pay at your regular rate. You’re also entitled to a paid, 10 minute rest period during the middle of each 4 hour work period. If they fail to give you this break, you’re entitled to an extra hour of pay. You’re not entitled to any rest breaks if you work less than 3 1/2 hours.
As a note, all of this means nothing if you meet the requirements of an exempt employee. However, considering you’re a minor working at a sandwich shop, they should absolutely be providing you with these breaks, and definitely shouldn’t be leaving you to run a shop by yourself. Big companies like this take advantage of kids that don’t know their workers rights. Talk to your manager about this.


Title: Neighbor has camera pointed directly at house in view of bedroom window.

Question:
My neighbor has put a camera (possibly fake just to fuck with us.\* It looks like an old as dirt camera from the 90's but the fact is she has put it there to make me uncomfortable.) in her window pointed directly at my house, the camera has full view of my bedroom window. Our houses are about 12 ft apart with my driveway and her fence  in between. The camera has none of her own property in its field of view, and does not have a public vantage point of my bedroom window.

What can I do about this?

We can't contact her in person because she will call the police immediately and she won't answer her phone.

\*The reason i say possibly fake just to fuck with us is because she is constantly trying to get my family in trouble.
\-She called the fire and police dept saying we were burning ''rubbish'' when we were smoking our roast on our grill.
\-When we purchased gravel for our driveway and had a friend use his equipment to spread it out, she went to the town council saying we stole the rock from the town and used the towns equipment to spread it out. My brother, who works for the towns public works, got questioned about it.

\- We constantly find tiny nails in our driveway. (cannot prove this is her doing but it's suspicious)

Answer: Nails in your driveway? Time for some cameras of your own.


Title: [CA] Three tenants on lease, one leaving. Who is liable for the rent?

Question:
Located in San Francisco, CA

I am one of three tenants on a lease that ran for 12 months and then converted to month-to-month back in July.  One roommate has moved out and gave the landlord and us 30 days written notice.

We've been advertising the room everywhere but haven't found a replacement yet. I'm panicking about paying rent on February 1st. My remaining roommate says departing roommate is liable until someone else moves in. Departing roommate says he gave 30 days notice and that's all that was necessary.

All three of our names are on the lease agreement. Can one roommate give 30 days notice and release himself from his portion of the liability, even though all three names are on the lease? I've reached out to the landlord but would like to hear from this group as well.

Answer:
 Unless you each have a separate lease, all you will be evicted if the entire rent is not paid. Put another way, each of you is responsible for making sure the entire rent is paid. If your former roommate doesn’t pay the remaining roommates have to pay the entire rent until you can find a new roommate. If you don’t pay the entire rent and you all get evicted, the landlord can pursue any one of you for the damages for the broken lease. If you are thinking this is a shitty situation that leaves the most responsible roommates at the mercy of the least responsible, that is not inaccurate. Put another way, this is why it is imperative to pick roommates who you can count on. I get that that is not easy to do.

You can sue the former roommate for any excess rent you actually pay. Answer #2: This is off topic, but how are you failing to find a replacement tenant in SF? The last time I looked for shared housing in SF there were always 10+ potential applicants ahead of me.


Title: Can I call the police for somebody for threatening to send somebody to come to my house and murder me? [PA]

Question:
I had a DM from Instagram about an ex girlfriend and it escalated into a major problem. My used to be friend gave him my house address, my name, and other personal info and he threatened to come over with his "boys" and murder me. Can I call the police and press charges?
Topic:
Computer and Internet

Answer:
 Most definitely.  You have proof as well. Answer #2: Yes, that is a death threat and is against the law.Answer #3: Definitely call the copsAnswer #4: Yes, you have proof that your life is being threatened. Answer #5: Take screenshots right this second. Instagram allows you to unsend messages, idk if they’re deleted on both ends or just one, but you need to do it now.

Then take them to the police.


Title: My mom got into a scam and they’re telling her to pay 600$ again for a waist trainer or they’ll take her to court. Do they actually have a case?

Question: My mom (from vegas) got into this scam when she bought a waist trainer (located in Miami) through the tv  back in 2016-2017.  Originally she paid 150$ for the waist trainer and then they called her a year later saying she never paid for it, they told her to pay 650$ for interest and she did pay it through a money order.  Another year goes by and now they’re trying to do the same scam but now they’re threatening to take her to court if she doesn’t pay, saying that she wont win and ICE will take her away (even tho she’s legal). Can they actually send us to court? What will happen?

Answer: Remember these guys will say ANYTHING to scare people into paying them. Literally anything. Don’t fall for it and really think, when have you heard of ICE getting involved in debt collections even legitimate cases.


Title: Legality of trying to repel snakes on public lands (Florida) without mothballs.

Question:
If you see my recent history, you'll see that I have admitted on occasion to throwing mothballs in public areas to repel snakes so I can walk my dogs.

I've tried to call the city public works department, they're on a tight schedule so they can't always mow where I want them too.  I do (begrudgingly) understand it.

I also realize that it is a serious violation of the law to distribute moth balls, so I've done more research and found out that cinnamon works as a snake repellant as well.  So my question is, would I be more in the clear if I poured a bunch of cinnamon out?  Is there a law on the books that says it's illegal to use cinnamon?

I hate snakes with a passion, and I need to walk my dogs.  I don't want to get in trouble for  mothballs, yet at the same time I don't want my dogs to get bit either.  Would cinnamon be a legal, safer, alternative?

Thanks for any insight.

Answer:
 I doubt any unauthorized dumping on public parks is legal, not matter how innocuous and interfering with wildlife is prickly as well - even if you find them a nuisance.

Your best option is to find somewhere else to walk your dog. You are the one invading the snakes’ habitat after all.

Another tip is to carry Benadryl or some other antihistamine that you can give to your dog if they do get bit. This will delay the action of the venom and give you more time to get veterinary attention.


Title: Cognitively impaired neighbor physically assaulted me, sometimes violently freaks out in the communal hallway...

Question:
I'll post *the facts* here for ease of reading, and provide the dramatic description of the incident below that, for the curious:

1. He struck me very hard repeatedly on the arm; there are no longer any marks

2. He is in his 30s, is non-verbal, and lives with his mother who cares for him full-time, aside from daily respite care.

I don't want this person to go to jail or be harmed by police overreaction, but he's very strong and was extremely violent towards his mother, and to a much lesser degree, me. Who do you call? What do you do?

The *dramatic, long ass story*:

I heard screaming in the hallway, accompanied by what I knew to be "Brad's" vocalizations, so I shouted out my door and asked if I should call the police.

I looked down the stairwell and saw Brad in his underwear, lunging at his mom. The mom said, please don't call police (We live in Chicago. Have you read the news?).

It got quiet and I heard the door slam. Minutes later the vocalizations resumed and I hear "Jenny", Brad's mom yelling for Brad to let her in. I came downstairs so I could let her in, because maybe I'm stupid, but she is the only one that knows how to deal with him, and what the fuck, she was locked outside ok.

He looks at me insanely and slaps the shit out of my arm once I opened the door. Now he's wrestling with his mom and yanking her hair. She's yelling "Please don't call the police!" She finally gets him up the stairs into her apartment and locks him inside.

Hours later, I need to take my laundry to the communal laundry room that is in another building, so I grab my kids (4 and 2) and we head down the stairs. Guess who comes blasting out the fucking door grappling his mom completely naked?

I shout at my kids to go upstairs and don't move. The mom gets loose and makes her way past me and my Ikea bag of laundry. Naked, very muscly Brad comes at me, so I block him and push him down the stairs (he didn't fall).

He retreats into the apartment, and Jenny gives me her keys to lock the door, since I'm stronger and have the laundry, and she's just had her ass kicked.

I give her my keys and she gets my kids into my apartment.

What the fuck do I even do?
Topic:
Disability Issues

Answer: Call the police. Brad is clearly a danger to others. The distinction between calling adult protective services and calling the police is the fact that he assaulted both you and his mother.Answer #2: Call adult protective services and they can decide if any action is needed.


Title: My partner and I want to set up a voice recorder in our home and auto record our conversations, as a kind of "automatic journal" to one day share highlights from with our kids. I shared w a friend and they pointed out liability issues if we ever discuss illegal things. What's the risk here?

Question:
Location: CA.

We would not record guests (it's easy to turn off).

Answer:
 You're overthinking this.  Don't commit crimes and you have nothing to worry about.

Also, be prepared to quickly learn how agonizingly boring the both of you are.Answer #2: It's legal as long as you both consent.

You have no obligation to maintain the tape.  But if the tape exists it can be subpoenaed (required for disclosure by a court). Figure out how you'll handle that.

You'll never listen to it, and your kids will think that their parents are dreadfully boring anyway.


Title: (KY)Previously long term unemployed male(27) being divorced by working wife(26)

Question:
I've been unemployed for 6 years \(and able to work\). We've been married for 5 years \(no kids\). She was fine with my unemployment for most of our marriage. Last year she started discussing the aspect of me getting a job and my driver's license. After discussing the logistics we'd end up at an undecided conclusion. Last December she asked me to do more around the house, get a driver's license and get a job because our relationship was in danger. I had already been doing chores like dishes, vacuuming, sweeping, mowing, taking care of our 4 cats and other random things she'd ask me to do \(like installing light fixtures, cat doors, helping to tile a shower and other misc cleaning/task\). I started doing chores more often and spending a lot more time and effort on it. I learned to drive and own a car now \(although it's old and has a good chance of shutting off suddenly after driving it for more that 10 minutes\). I just got a job \(close by because of the car\) about 2\-3 weeks ago. She asked for a divorce about a week ago \(says she doesn't love me\). She doesn't seem to want to change her mind.

We're trying to settle our separation of property out of court, but I don't know what I should expect or ask for. At first she wanted the house and the car she drives \(our two most valuable assets by far\). I was getting my computer and a couple game systems. I assume if we valued it, I'd be getting less than 10&#37;. She's moved up to giving me 20&#37;, but she's been trying to scare me with going to court and guilt me into settling. I've done some research and I've been asking for 40&#37; \(which I think/hope is fair\). She's also been draining our bank account over the past 6 months \(spending it on a guy\). For the past 6 months she's been hanging out with this guy at his house for about 5\-6 hours a day, 4\-5 days a week. It's really messed me up mentally and seems super shady \(don't know if this is relevant or not, but the money spending is\). She's been completely gone for over a week now and I've been taking care of the house and yard. We have 2 roommates \(friends\) upstairs that help pay bills and mortgage. My brother also lives with us and helps pay the bills and mortgage.

What I want to know is based off this information \(feel free to ask for more information if needed\) about what percentage could I expect to get in court? I know it's dependent on the judge, but any sort of idea or estimate is welcome. Also the house is in her parent's names as well as hers and mine. We purchased it while married, but needed them because our credit wasn't good enough. We've always lived here and her parents have rarely been here \(they live in their own house of course\). I think it would be impossible for them to contest the fact that it's our marital home. As our marital home I'd assume that it would be split between me and her in a divorce? I would also prefer to continue living in the house \(my work is 7 minutes away and my car is not good\), but my credit is non\-existent. Is there anyway for me to get the house or am I stuck getting the buyout? I have almost no experience with the US legal system. Should I get a lawyer \(or an attorney\)? Any advice or general information is welcome.

Answer:
 Is your name on the mortgage loans? You say it is in her parents names, but then also you and her are on it?

Doesn’t matter if they don’t live there. If the house is in their name, then they partly own it. It couldn’t be split by just the two of you if there are other parties involved.

Ethically, I think you need to get over it. You didn’t work for years. You didn’t contribute financially. She is spending HER money she EARNED on a new boyfriend. Get over it and quite trying drain her dry.

You only got a job 2 weeks ago. Could you even keep that house up if you kept it? Like insurance, maintenance, mortgage, emergency repairs, and taxes?


Title: We walked away from our condo 2008. Today 2017 now the HOA is coming after me with their lawyers and filed a lawsuit , suing me for the HOA fees? My question is am I responsible for any of the HOA fees??

Answer: We need way more information. Not just a title. You left out a whole lot. Please start by stating your location. Thanks.


Title: Is it still considered "harassment" if someone tells you to stop messaging them, but they won't stop sending you messages expecting replies?

Question:
There was a man who raped my partner nearly 5 years ago, and he blackmailed her that he would get her fired from her career, and despite having texts of him admitting to raping her from back then (I have also seen these texts) she still never pressed the case and it was dropped because she couldn't afford to lose her job over whatever slander he could make up. He was cheating on his wife with her (my girlfriend had no idea) and once she found out about this she went berserk on her and actually tried to use RCMP resources, due to working for them, to stalk her. She found her parents personal phone number, and even where she lived. Since then either her ex or his ex wife has been sending her messages doing things like pretending to be other victims to try to get her to give more information about herself.

After the last message I was sick of it. Her ex knew what he did and has been lying about it for years. I wanted him to know that I knew. I sent him a message on FB from a burner account telling him "I know what you did in _____ of ____." From there he actually told his current girlfriend and she messaged my burner account losing her mind, accusing me of being his ex wife he had cheated on with numerous women. It became very clear she was in denial about what her boyfriend had done and straight up didn't care who he hurt. I never said anything vaguely threatening. I just said "I hope he remembers the faces of the women he hurt." He and her both then told me to "stop messaging them or they'd call the police" and told me "there's already an active report out for me" because they still think I'm his ex wife.

**Here's where the question begins.** Despite both of them telling me that my messages are "harassment" and to not send anymore, they have both been continuously messaging me asking me questions to respond to. I never bombard them with replies or keep goading them. Is sending a reply to their questions still considered "harassment"?

Answer: Wrong sub but the guy rapes her, blackmails her, harasses her, and then his wife comes in and doubles down on it all? Bruh there are felonies in hereAnswer #2: this is a post for the normal legal advice sub, not here. This sub is for hypotheticalsAnswer #3: The pronoun confusion I had reading this…Answer #4: Any kind of harassment case loses alot of its credibility if they seek out contact with you.


Title: How to deal with the DA's office on reopening an assault case?

Question:
Hello everyone.

A little back story, I was assaulted recently and lost my sight in one of my eyes and was cut up on both arms with a broken bottle. This was outside my place of residence and I know the assailant. I laid in a pool of my own blood until the ambulance picked me up. There were no reliable witnesses present and he gave a bullshit story of self defense to the investigator. I gave my story, but the DA's office later dropped my case after "lack of evidence". I don't see how that's possible considering I almost bled out and was in the hospital for 3 days and he had no injury's.

My family members and I have called the DA's office multiple times and are bounced back from their to crime victim advocate with no help. I am currently typing up a letter to send to the DA's office and trying to bug them as much as possible to reopen the case. The investigators have also been no help..

Does anyone know what else I can do to have them reopen the case? Should I hire an attorney? Any help would be greatly appreciated. I don't think this man should be wandering the streets and needs to pay for what he has done.

Answer:
 Opening a criminal case is something you can't force.

You can, however, hire an attorney to sue him civilly for your medical expenses and related monetary and quality of life losses, like becoming blinded in one eye.

Personal Injury attorneys will usually work for a percentage of the settlement. However most people who go about beating people to a pulp do not have a lot of money or assets, so you may win, as the bar is lower than criminal court as for proof. It may take a very long time and be very difficult to collect, but you can do things like garnish wages and bank accounts. You also usually have 10 or 20 years to do so, and the judgement can be renewed. So if he has no money now, but 15 years from now is in a good financial position. You would still be able to get an order to seize (a portion of) what money and assets he has... until the amount of a judgement is paid.

Speak with a personal I jury attorney. They nearly always have free consults, so speak with a few. Avoid the ones on TV and billboards.


Title: Had a disciplinary at work today, another "decision" meeting has been arranged for next week.

Question:
Background information: I work for a multi-national IT company as a service desk analyst. My location is Birmingham, England which is where my office is based. I've never had any disciplinary in my current job too (verbal or written).

So a few days ago I posted a status on Facebook about applying for a new job. A few colleagues/ex colleagues commented on this. Someone commented and said that CompanyY we support are s***. I replied saying that "CompanyX are the problem". Basically my company outsource IT support to others which explains what was said.

So fast track to today and I had a disciplinary for breaching their "Social Networking Policy". I took a colleague in for support and defended myself.

Some points I used to defend myself were;

- The policy was only created in August and I've never signed anything for it, let alone seen it. (The creation date was on the policy)

- My comment wasn't a direct insult about the company, it was more of a "I'm unhappy where I'm working" comment

- I used the companies abbreviated title in my comment "XXX". I said this means that external people won't necessarily know what those letters mean.

- My Facebook profile is private so external people won't be able to see the comment anyway.

Then after a lengthy discussion back and forth, I went outside as HR discussed my outcome. When going back into the room they wanted to reconvene the following week.

They also said towards then end of the meeting that they can't dispute my work rate on the desk and their problem with me was my "passion" for the job.

....Wait a minute, I thought the disciplinary was for breaching a social networking policy?!

So because they didn't make their decision there and then, this has got me wondering whether this is a good or a bad thing.

Sorry about the length of this, but I figured having detail is better.

TL;DR - A disciplinary hearing I have had has been reconvened to next week for the result. Is this good or bad in people's experience?
Topic:
Business Law

Answer:
 Were I you, I'd start actually applying to that new job. And if I didn't have anything good to say about my employer (current or past), then I'd keep my mouth shut.

And no, you shouldn't expect any real privacy in a forum designed to be _social_.


Title: Can my landlord bar guests from my unit? location: CT

Question: I live in a guest house on a large property.  My landlord is going away next week and has told me that I am not allowed to have guests while she is gone.  The guest house is clearly my separate living space.  Can she do this?

Answer: Is your landlord your mother?


Title: Single mom (28) with 2 kids (3) & (2), Father of my kids keep saying he will take my kids from me.

Question:
I'm writing here because I don't know what to do at this point in my life, and would like some good advice.

I'm 28, I live in Bellevue WA. I really dislike talking about the father of my kids, specially now.

**My Story.**

Here is the story, I met the father of my kids 4 years ago (never married), I now have 2 daughter with him (3) & (2). I endured a lot of abusive behavior from him, we completely separated after our second daughter was born which was 2 years ago. I take responsibility for not doing anything about it at the time (I'm still questioning myself why I didn't). I did call the cops on 3 occasions in 2017. 1 of those times was outside of his father home, he asked to come to over to his father home to talk about the girls and wanted full custody of the girls and I didn't want to give it to him and I wanted to talk to his dad instead, when I went to look for his dad, he proceeded to grabbed me and pushed to the ground and choked me. I ran out and called the cops, I didn't press charges when the cops arrived, I froze and he lied his way out. I didn't want him to go to jail, because I thought that would ruin the chances of his future and the girls as well (very stupid)
The fights became so bad between us both, that one time he grabbed me by the arm and push me hard, I fell and hit a coffee table went unconscious on a pile of of my own blood. His words were exactly this " I thought I killed you" my nose broke, he help me clean up and blame me for it, saying "look at what you did to your nose" cops weren't involved.

He has also hit both of my daughters so hard he has left bruises on their butt from spanking them, he didn't tell me about it until I saw the marks and questioned him, he proceeded with it was an accident and didn't know his own strength.
I really believed I was the perpetrator to all of this for a while, and thought something was seriously wrong with me. I thought about suicide, I didn't deserve to be a mother. I was a terrible person. I have been going to therapy for a year now, been dealing with my anxiety and depression from all of this and I have an amazing relationship with someone, we live together now and he is so respectful. I'm feeling and doing a lot better after years of being sad. He has been patient with me and convinced to seek help, since I was still on defensive mode even with him.

It was has been a rough journey, we have a system now with my daughters, we do family things. We have dinner together every night, we go to YMCA on weekends lol we watch kids movies, put them to sleep together every night. I don't want him involved, the girls are actually happy, we are happy, and he has only cause problems when he comes randomly to see the girls, he always has a negative comments, or talks about the past, and is always saying the girls eventually will live with him (which scares me so much)

We are all healing from all of this, but this is where things got dark, October 2018, I received a call from my father and my mother, and also a detective. The father of my kids is being investigated for sexually abusing my now 16 year old sister at the age of 12, 13, and 14. When I found out it, I wasn't shocked which my reaction shocks me now.
I was angry, I was so blind by my own depression and abuse I didn't realize he also molested my little sister. She didn't want to tell me either because she felt like she betrayed me and felt disgusted. I can't believe I let that happen to her.

I believe my sister 100%, no doubt and I'm here to support her in any way I can, I love her and I would do anything for her. I made sure she knows that.

I wrote 15 pages about my timeline with him, and all the abusive situation I remember with him clearly and send it to the detectives.

I understand some people are going to think I'm stupid for not doing anything at the time. I really am, I don't know what I was thinking, I wanted to walk away from it all, all the time. I took picture of when my nose was broken or when he hit my daughter I wanted to do something but never could. I always froze.

&#x200B;

**Legal advice**

I decided to completely cut off contacts with him, and haven't talked to him since finding out about my sister. He put a restraining order on me, because I didn't want to talk to him since October of 2018, he had no idea I knew about my sister, he said I abuse him mentally and I was a danger to the girls because I'm suicidal etc.
I fallowed up to the court case and he never showed up. he actually called me that same day asking me not to show up, I did of course and the restraining order was dropped. I'm very ignorant to all of this. After he got interview by the detective, he has come multiple times to my home recently demanding to see the girls, that is his right and trying to justify his actions saying my sister is liar and he hopes she really does get rape etc, I have that on video since I have cameras outside my home now. He is also trying to establish parental rights. Recently received a letter from the child support services to interview me. Since I'm the custodial parent of the girls, they want me to do a DNA test etc, since he is not on the legal birth certificates.

he doesn't help me at all financially, the girls have been solely living with me for more than a year, he tried to convinced me to lie to government about the girls living with him and me giving him 800 monthly last summer, so he can get some benefits and that's how he would help. I immediately said no, when they called me. He ended up calling me a bunch of names and screaming at me.
He also filed his taxes with one of my girls SSN this year, when the girls don't even live with him and he doesn't help at all, I got denied online and had to submit my taxes through paper, and now have to wait for my tax returns because of him.
I work full time, I pay for all of my girls expensive with out any helps besides my boyfriend at times. I don't have the money to get a lawyer, I would like to know what is the best way to approached this legally, I don't want him around us, he is not going to change and I can't risk our lives being impacted by his poor actions.

Answer:
 You *absolutely need* to sit down with a "victim's advocate" or whatever your police department calls it and work out the criminal elements of this. There's often a 3-7 year window to charge someone with a crime, so if the abuse is still recent-ish then it might not be too late.

You need to *absolutely* file for formal custody. Get a lawyer. The lawyer can insulate you from having to deal directly with him. Go for full custody and child support with the help of a lawyer. It sounds that he is (in a very incompetent way) trying to establish that he is one with custody which might result in him actually being able to keep the kids from you.

Even if you don't have money now, the court can compel him to pay child support in the future. So borrowing from extended family or getting a personal loan to cover legal fees might actually be a good idea here, especially since he's going to continue to pull stuff like this forever but your ability to make and enforce things like child support payments will only diminish over time.

You don't have to do this alone. You shouldn't try to do this alone. Reach out to your extended family to scrape together extra resources and pay what you need to get this done *properly*. The only way to 'resolve' the situation is to make sure it's done properly by professionals.


Title: Hypothetically, does the First Amendment protect the speech of a parrot imitating a human?

Answer:
 No. For the same reason that sick pets can be put down without due process and 18-year-old cats can't vote.

I'd imagine soldiers can also be quartered in doghouses but I don't think it would be tested.


Title: Employer is trying to "prepay" my wage to force me to come to work for my last 2 weeks

Question:
I work at a minimum wage service job and put in my two weeks on Monday last week. As the usual two-week courtesy notice would have it, I would typically work until my last usual shift which is this Saturday. However, I told him in writing on my two-week notice that I only want to work til this Thursday (two days from today), which is kinda like a one and a half week notice. To get me to work the last couple shifts, he claimed two things (in person)

1) I need to show up to work because "I already paid you for those hours, so you need to show up for them". and

2) "I need to give you your last paycheck on your last day" in exchange for my uniform.

...now for the record I think I know the real reason as to why he's doing this. A number people are leaving for vacation during this time (which is why I couldn't request time off myself in the first place) so he kinda maybe needs me. I also know that I have a direct deposit with the company, so the "hand me my paycheck thing" seems pretty bullshit. At the very least, I know he's heavily bending the truth, either too proud to tell ask me straight "Hey I know you wrote you wanted to give me one and a half weeks, but I really need you this weekend." or just hoping I'm gullible enough to believe whatever he claims.

Or is he? That's what I want to ask you guys.

Is he legally able to indebt me with "wage prepayment" and as a side question, how bullshit is his need to "hand me my check on the last day" when I have a direct deposit with him?

Thanks for your time.

PS i work in california

Answer:
 I assume you're somewhere in the modern world, where slavery and indenture are illegal. If so, nothing your boss can do can compel you to work _at all_. Prepaying wages without an agreement with you won't even entitle him to any additional damages if you were to quit in violation of a contract or in violation of local labor laws requiring notice. (If you're in the US, then you're likely at-will, and notice is a politeness, not a legal requirement.)

You will have to return any wages paid beyond what you earn, but you can do that by mailing him a check by certified/registered mail. Get a return receipt so that you can prove he received payment.

Laws covering your final paycheck are highly jurisdiction-dependantAnswer #2: Are you paid in advance? That would be highly unusual for a minimum wage job.

As to your last check you have to be paid no later than the next scheduled pay date.


Title: Repeated claims of dog barking, notices slapped on door, need response advice for possible suit

Question:
COLORADO SPRINGS

Beginning about 7 months ago, my downstairs neighbor and I met when he stated my dog was barking all morning at the window, keeping him awake. He works nights, so I was sympathetic and adjusted some furniture so the dog could no longer reach it. He offered to show me a recording, but I believed him as I had known the dog to be a window watcher.

About a week later, we met again and he told me the barking persisted, although now not at the window. I said I would handle it, and bought him a citronella collar.

I then went on a vacation and left the dog with a sitter. After receiving the noise complaint from the leasing office, I bought over-night sitter services to stay with him and keep him company.

A few months went by, and we spoke one more time. He was still complaining, so I got drastic and bought a shock collar, consulted a vet and got two types of sedatives-- a slow acting, gradual change one, and a knockout bottle.

Next, I informed him about the new process I was going to have the dog go through and to let me know if there are any further issues. I also again purchased the overnight babysitter services.

I return from vacation, and about a week later I come home to my second/final noise complaint. I attempted to knock on his door, but to no avail. I gave up on speaking with him directly at this point.

Another week later, I receive an email at work from the leasing office detailing he had sent in another piece of footage, only the dog was nearly inaudible and would grumble occasionally every couple of minutes.

So now I'm curious. I come home, to silence outside my apartment like always, and walk the dog. To my annoyance, I see him walking into the office again with his phone in hand. The staff instinctively separates us and informs me in private that his recent claim is basically nonsense and completely exaggerated. I'm informed he was given the choice to either terminate his lease early, or transfer units.

**Now I'm wondering: how long and how many times has this guy lied? Or is he just annoying the office too much? How did he completely lose their sympathies?**

We cover that I've been there for years with pets and only since he's moved in has there been complaints. I am told by the office not to worry over it, and to not deal with him any further.

Guess who's now knocking on my door? Admittedly, my refusal to communicate at this point was based in spite and the fact he only wants face to face now that the tattle strategy has failed-- but of course I documented it, and sent it to the leasing office via email.

Next I get a warning from the police about noises, but they tell me that it's only a warning and no recording was supplied. Hm.

Now, most recently, a letter has been posted to my door from the below tenant. In it, he states my dog has been keeping he and his room mate up for 11 months straight and is causing him migraines and decreased work performance, basically "you're about to owe me big time" and asks yet again to talk.

At this point I'm more than skeptical of any direct communication and don't see it as helpful. I've been told by an acquaintance in law school the letter is posturing legally, and I need to respond to it ASAP to cover my ass.

My question to you guys, with all of this information in mind, is how do I handle this best?

Answer: It’d probably be cheaper than overnight sitters to just install an audio/video camera in your house now that you’re pretty sure he’s exaggerating and the dog isn’t a problem. Start building your evidence in case he attempts to sue you.


Title: [IN]HELP! Custodial parent went to jail, how do I ensure my child stays with me?

Question:
Throwaway for obvious reasons.

This is Indiana.

We have joint legal custody and we were never married. I am the noncustodial parent and an order is already in place. The custodial parent was arrested today for battering her current husband. She was charged with felony domestic battery as it happened in front of my child, as well as the child they have together. She is currently in the county jail on a $5,000 cash bond. She is unemployed and shouldn't be able to bond out at this high amount. She will await to see a judge, most likely on Tuesday according to the jail. An automatic no contact order is in place between her and the husband, so she can not go home to her house if/when she is released. He also advised that she has been abusing drugs recently, going out drinking all night, and she was recently diagnosed with bi-polar disorder as well as schizophrenia which are both going untreated. I picked up my child today after she was taken to jail.

How do I ensure that my child won't have to go back to this environment? I plan to go to the courthouse on Monday morning to file for "temporary emergency custody" after a friend advised this was my best course of action. Is this what I should be doing? After that do I contact an attorney to ensure I can keep custody? We live about an hour apart, so should I be getting him registered in my school district?

Any help would be greatly appreciated.

TL;DR Child's mother in jail on felony domestic

Answer:
 Not legal advice, but how old is the kid? You SHOULD register him in your school district but is there anyway you can adjust your schedule to keep him in place at his current school for this year?

In our school district  (also in indiana) there is like 7 weeks of school left. Which includes the ISTEP if he of that age. If you move schools he might not transition well this late in the school year and bomb that stupid test.

It's easier for kids to transition at the start of the year as well because there won't be a ton of attention on his new face.


Title: Are you a US Citizen if you were 'created' in the US?

Question:
Ladies and gentlemen, the weirdest question you'll be asked all day.

I'm concepting an animation, and I want the writing/humor to be as legally accurate as possible, and I wanted to know: if one is 'created', such as a clone or a "Frankenstein's Monster", are they deemed a US citizen if they are living and sentient? I already know that if one is born in the US, they have citizenship, but what about this turn of events?

Answer:
 The law simply does not address that. One would need to consider whether or not that sentient being was human (probably, at some point) and when that person was "born".  So it would primarily depend on the definition of "born".

One might consider that such a person is "born" at the point they are significantly, independently free of the "curing" device.  But then what if such a clone is never truly free of such a device, or it's a progressive method and the device is moved from one country to another during the "uncuring phase"?

An arbitrary definition would have to be determined in order to define nationality.  It's possible that such a person would need to apply for nationality at some point, and such an application could be denied, rendering that person to not belong to any nation at all.
Answer #2: The only correct legal answer is "we don't know."

Technology moves faster than the law does.

So if this happened, there would be some sort of executive action first, followed by legislative action, and then some number of years later, a series of court decisions which will interpret the law and the idea of sentience.  Until then, it's quite possibly a legal free-for all.


Title: CALIFORNIA Can I sue for emotional distress?

Question: I was a victim of battery last night after being touched in a sexual/flirtatious manner by an unknown man. I am NOT a minor and because the man didn't touch my "private parts" the crime is simple battery. Following the police report and hopefully a conviction, will I be able to sue for the infliction of emotional distress?

Answer:
 Instead of saying what didn't happen, why don't you say what did happen?

And your wannabe sugar baby lifestyle (see post history) will kill your credibility in court.  Everyone will see you as after nothing more than moneyAnswer #2: If you're looking for a pay day, you won't find it.


Title: (MN) Squirrel in apartment walls

Question: [deleted]

Answer:
 A squirrel in the wall doesn't make the apartment unlivable. The LL does not need to put her in a hotel.

And of course they are punching a hole in the wall. How else would they get the squirrel out? Your friend should keep the cat in another room until the hole is repaired.


Title: (WI) Ex Fiancé is going to prison, is his things mine?

Question: As posted my ex fiancé is going to prison, he owes me a lot of money.. I have already given his clothes and such back to his mom.. but as far as other items is it considered abandonment of property is it mine now?

Answer: No it is not yours and it is not abandoned merely because he is incarcerated. You can't take his stuff. That is theft. You can return all of it to his mother then sue him for the money he owes you. Most prisons don't let inmates out for civil matters so I'd say your chances are pretty good. Collecting is another matter.


Title: Grandmother thrown onto floor of bus

Question:
Today my grandmother was riding a public bus which braked hard on a downhill slope. As she was sitting on the front seat she was thrown onto the floor on her hands and knees. She had a hip replacement two years ago, has arthritic condition and mentioned the fall today really hurt. Somebody helped her up and onto her seat and she was able to go about her day, but I want to know in what sort of situation would a bus driver slam the brakes on a downhill slope so as to throw a frail passenger out of their chair and onto the floor.

&#x200B;

Can anyone tell me whether there was a misdemeanor or something else? Are bus companies liable for the health and safety of their passengers and if so are the safeguards/warnings enough to avoid culpability if in case of injury/harm?

Answer:
 Is slamming on the breaks in a moving vehicle a misdemeanor? Obviously not. Buses are vehicles. And they sometimes have to stop in order to not get into accidents. They are required by law.

Liability is on a case by case basis.

What warnings should they give? It is assumed when you get on a bus you know it is a moving vehicle that may have to stop without notice.A reasonable person knows that. Answer #2: > but I want to know in what sort of situation would a bus driver slam the brakes on a downhill slope

Runaway pram with a screaming mother chasing after it?

Old man with a walker slowly crossing the street?

Police chase on a cross street?

The carrier presumably has some form of liability insurance. If she sees a physician and her conditions are exacerbated by this situation to the point of requiring treatment, she should file a claim with the bus operators insurance.


Title: Can I press charges for someone not paying me back $20,000?

Question:
I never had them sign a document but I have a lot of emails saying that they were borrowing the money.  I also have emails saying they would pay me back.

Edit: Correction--sue instead of press charges.  A lawyer would look at that even though I didn't have them sign a document?

Edit 2: the people that owe me money are in PA.

Answer:
 You don't need a written contract to recover a loan. If the emails are as you describe, that together with your testimony should be plenty. Consult a lawyer.Answer #2: No, you can't. You _could_ make a police report, but loans are civil matters, not criminal matters: you generally file a lawsuit, instead of a police report.

Speak to an attorney. In many jurisdictions, $20,000 is well beyond small claims.Answer #3: You can't press charges.  Only police can.

You can sue them.  For $20,000 you'd most likely need a lawyer, since that's probably more than the small claims amount in your mystical location.


Title: My cousin was being aggressive and hostile

Question:
Obligatory I don’t know if this is the right subreddit to post this on;

So last night My aunt wanted to talk to me about stuff, I was really dreading it and having anxiety about doing it and was taking a little longer than I should’ve to leave my room and go talk to her. So she sends Cousin A up to get me. I have an anxiety attack when she’s knocking on my door because I’m feeling super overwhelmed and don’t know what to do, and because of that a freeze up and literally can’t even talk. So after what felt like forever (but was only really a minute of Cousin A knocking), Cousin B came running up the stairs for the basement yelling and screaming stuff like “if he won’t come out I’ll make him” in a really aggressive way.
I fucking slammed my door which was a crack open, locked it, grabbed my phone and hid in the closet ready to call the police. My aunt yelled at him to stop before he actually got to my room and he did.
Fast forward 10 minutes and I finally calmed down enough to stop hiding in my closet but all chances of me even considering leaving my room are gone. I sat on my bed just shaking and after another 5-10 Cousin B runs up the stairs AGAIN with seemingly no provocation but again my aunt yelled at him before he did anything. I grabbed a knife and did end up using a feature on iPhones that calls the police but cancelled it before it actually started dialling. The situation terrified me and I regret not letting the call go through.

I guess my question is what could the police have actually done if I did end up calling them, and what can I do to make sure nothing like this happens again?
Topic:
Canada

Answer:
 So your cousin yelled in the house and you pulled a knife?

I don't think the police are going to side with you on that one.

>  and what can I do to make sure nothing like this happens again?

You need to see someone about your anxiety and stop pulling knives on people.


Title: [TX] Landlord does not want to return pet deposit

Question:
My wife and I just moved out of a rental we lived in for two years. We thought we had a good relationship with our landlord and that getting our security deposit and pet deposit back would be no problem. Our rental agreement ended April 7, 2018 and we gave appropriate notice we'd be moving out.

We got a dog in January. Our rental agreement said no pets, but our landlord made an exception for us and set up the following contract to allow us to have a dog in the house:

"dinosaurrollerblades will have a Black dog in the house [address]

The deposit will be $400.00 at the end of the contract

The 400.00 will be given back to dinosaurrollerblades on the condition that there is no damge to the house.

The contract for the dog will be from Feb 9 - 2018 to Feb 9 - 2019.

[landlord signature]

[my signature]"

We assumed we would get this money back when we moved out, minus any potential damages. Now my landlord is saying we broke the contract by moving out before Feb 2019. He implied that signing a separate pet contract extended our residential lease till Feb 2019 and we broke the contract by moving out too soon. He says he is not liable for returning the deposit.

Is he right about us breaking any part of the contract? Or does he owes us money and what action should I take? (Our should I wait till Feb next year and show up asking for the deposit? Our dog certainly won't do any damages while we're not moving there.)

Answer:
 If you did not expressly agree to an extension of the lease in the pet addendum, there is no extension.

Demand it back now and remind him that wrongfully withholding a deposit can see him held liable for 3X the amount of the deposit, plus attorney's fees and court costs.


Title: Notice to vacate for renovations given with 3 days notice

Question:
Received a notice on my door saying that I had three days to vacate and that they would be renovating my apartment for five days. I am a student with heavy furniture (on the third floor, too) and nowhere to stay or store my furniture. My lease is up in 3 weeks, this is ridiculous. Do they have the right to keep me out of my apartment? Do they have the right to renovate against my will? I thought that the covenant of quiet enjoyment protected tenants from these scenarios..
(San Marcos, Texas)

Answer:
 >It only states that they are not LIABLE for any inconveniences due to renovations, etc.

There are "inconveniences" and then there is forcing you to leave early. You have a right to possession until your lease is over. If they want to do the renovations while you are still legally in possession, they can compensate you for it by prorating rent and returning money. Otherwise, they have to wait.


Title: NH (but also nationwide) Is this a pyramid scheme or multi-level marketing?

Question: My sister and brother in law recently purchased a pure bred puppy that came with a 1 year health guarantee, contingent upon the use of a specific supplement, called NuVet Plus.  It seemed suspicious to me so I did some searching, and sure enough there's no scientific proof that they're helpful at all, and unsurprisingly the breeders are receiving a kick back to push them on their customers. Customers have to order it by phone and give a breeder specific number as "proof" that they're purchasing it.  Additionally, publications and corporations that are used by breeders can receive a commission for signing breeders up.  It seems really shady, but not necessarily illegal and I wondered what the legality of this is?

Answer:
 It sounds like neither.

Your siblings are not legally required to buy this stuff, but that 1 year health guarantee goes out the window. Nor are they motivated to get other people to buy this stuff. Shady business practice? Maybe. Illegal? Probably not.

My guess is: They're using the money they're making of this stuff to cover the expenses of the puppies that do get sick and the rest is profit.

EDIT: It's a scam, but a legal one. They're looking to part gullible pet owners from even more money.