Title: My rent was late and now my landlord won't accept payment. Am I being evicted?

Question:
 I'm in California, I mailed in my payment for May this past Monday, and just now had the resident manager knock on my door and hand me an envelope. My money order for May's rent was in there, along with a letter saying "we are not able to accept the payment due to the fact that your account has been turned over to our attorney"

I'm a bit confused, as they sent a letter to pay rent or quit. I tried to be proactive by calling the management company and explain to them I've been out of work. I was even dumb enough to explain that I have depression and have trouble keeping a job for more than 2 months since it's difficult for me to get out of bed some days.

My question: is this what the eviction process is like? If there is an attorney involved, why have I not been contacted by these people? What should I do now -- I'd really like to avoid the black mark on my record that will come from an eviction

Answer: When the attorney contacts you ask if they will accept payment and an agreement to pay rent on time from here on out. If they won't, then ask if you can terminate your tenancy and move out voluntarily to avoid the eviction process.


Title: [NC]Homeowner's Insurance and Dog Breed

Question:
So we are shopping around homeowner's insurance and working with an agent that works for the insurance arm of a mortgage broker.  He found us a good policy then asked if we had any dogs.

I described our two, one of which is a basset/stafforshire terrier mix. Of course, that threw up flags because their normal carriers won't have anything to do with staffies/pitbulls. He asked for a picture of our dog and I sent it. He said, oh, that won't be a problem and sent us the policy to sign. She is a legit mix. She's got the head characteristics of a staffie but a goofy body with short little legs.

I have 0 worries that our dog will ever bite anyone or anything. My concern is, can our entire policy be voided, say, if we make a completely dog unrelated claim say for fire/burst pipe/wind damage, etc, and an adjuster comes out and sees our dog and reports it back to the company?

Answer: Short answer: no. Long answer: not for a non dog issue and if they do try to deny a dog related one you might have recourse against the agent.


Title: Alberta / Canada - Client wants me to transfer website I built for them, even though he didn't fully pay his invoice for the labour that was rendered.

Question: As the title suggest, I have a client that wants me to transfer a website so that they have full control over the data, etc. However, they haven't paid for it in full. There is a dispute between my client and me, and they are also threatening to sue me. He had asked me to stop working on the website one day and removed me as admin on the site, as I had given them admin access so that they can upload content. When the site was complete, I asked for payment, and their narrative started to change. They started complaining about the site (mind you there is a warranty period so that we can fix bugs on the site), they wanted me to make changes that were out of scope and kept of threating legal action.  One day after a dispute, they removed me as site admin. I haven't been on the website since. I am a partner of the CMS that they use on the site, and the site is still listed under my partner sites, and I also have grandfather admin access if I wanted to go back into the site, but I decided I wasn't going to do anything until they make their next move. They sent me a message via Facebook, saying that they want me to transfer the site over to them, and to delete them my partner account since they built a new website with another person, using the branding that I created for them. I don't want to touch the site, as it is clear that they wanted to hijack the website from me, without paying, and I would use that as evidence, and i am suspecting they couldn't work with the site, so they went and built a new one. My terms and conditions on my website state that I am not liable for any damages, loss of revenue, etc, so I am not worried too much. However, they seem like they are going to cause a lot of problems for me, which I don't want to deal with. What would be the best strategy dealing with them? How can I resolve this without too much interaction with them?

Answer:
 Why is there no contract? Anyways, negotiate an agreement with them and try to get pay in full or at least partial payment. Answer #2: Take down the site, if you still have that ability, and tell them they can get it when they pay.  If you're sued, file a counter suit for the amount you're owed.

Going forward, have a contract in place to lay out your entire agreement in words.  This should include delivery mechanism, access levels, payment options, and what happens to the website should they not pay (including damages and late fees).  Most importantly, it would include the scope of work.Answer #3: I assume what they want is for you to transfer the domain name to them, not the website (since they already have full control of the website).  Tell them to pay you what they owe you, and then you will transfer ownership of the domain name to them.  If they don't pay you what they owe you, then you can take them to court for that, or you can let them take you to court for whatever they think that they want from you and then you can countersue them for your pay at that point.


Title: Flipped house fiasco (Texas)

Question:
We bought a house that was flipped while living out of state. There are some things we should’ve noticed, however, when looking at 25 houses in 2 days it’s pretty easy to glance over bad grouting in tile...

That being said, less than a month after living in our house our main sewer line needed to be replaced. The pipes had crumbled and sewage was backing into our house. Cost about 5k. All of the pipes directly underneath the house had been replaced; the failed pipe was right outside the house.

Second, more minor, issue. Tile in our master shower began coming up. Husband and I removed it since we were plucking it up with our hands-they hadn’t properly placed the shower pan and, rather than leveling where appropriate, had globbed on thinset in such thick amounts that it never actually cured. I’m sure we’ll find more surprises when everything is replaced next week. This is a little over 2k. There have been a bunch of other things but these are the most expensive issues.

Met our neighbors last night when they invited us over for a drink. Turns out they told the guy that flipped the house KNEW that all the pipes needed to be replaced. The workers were getting in trouble for using a neighbors port a potty (they were doing construction too) since the flipper didn’t rent one for this house and they couldn’t use the toilet due to the plumbing. Our neighbor had let the flipper know that the previous owners were unable to use the restroom in the house and had to go elsewhere. There were drainage issues on the inspection which appeared fixed when our realtor did our walkthrough so not quite sure what stopgap he used to fix that.

I’ve attempted to reach out to the flipper via our realtors but haven’t received a response. Left his business page a bad review, he subsequently took all reviews down. Filed a complaint with the BBB yesterday (prior to finding out he knew about plumbing). Is there any recourse for him not disclosing this information during the transaction?
Topic:
Real Estate law

Answer: If the house was sold with one, you need to get a copy of the seller's disclosure from when you made the offer. You realtor should have it if you don't.


Title: (random thought) Is it legal to drive without a license in the U.S.?

Question:
Ok so i have been doing alot of research on this subject and it all seems to be fifty fifty on weather you can or not drive without a license legally here in the united states.

I see many people claiming that you have the right to travel as a starting point and requiring a license would limit this freedom of movement, 2nd i see people stating that getting a drivers license is like getting a contract with the state and then it snowballs into even worse stuff from there.

However there seem to be a growing number of court cases where people refuse to get a drivers license and register their vehicles and actually win in court, so whats going on with this? why is no one talking about it?
Topic:
Constitution

Answer:
 > Ok so i have been doing alot of research on this subject and it all seems to be fifty fifty on weather you can or not drive without a license legally here in the united states.

No.  It is literally 100/0.  You cannot legally drive without a license.

Full Stop.

Answer #2: >However there seem to be a growing number of court cases where people refuse to get a drivers license and register their vehicles and actually win

Could you please cite a few?  I would be interested in reading them.Answer #3: No. It is not legal to drive without a license in the US.

> I see many people claiming that you have the right to travel as a starting point and requiring a license would limit this freedom of movement

Those people are lunatics, of the sovereign citizen type. Do a google search if you are unaware of these loonies.

> 2nd i see people stating that getting a drivers license is like getting a contract with the state and then it snowballs into even worse stuff from there.

Same lunacy from the same lunatics.

> However there seem to be a growing number of court cases where people refuse to get a drivers license and register their vehicles and actually win in court, so whats going on with this?

No, there isn't.

> why is no one talking about it?

Because it's not happening.


Title: [California] Going to file a commercial lawsuit pro se. Any advice would be appreciated.

Question: [deleted]

Answer: You really need an attorney. They *will* get one. Can you run a business AND deal with a case at the same time? It would be easier to borrow the money to be able to pay for the attorney to take the case than gamble on beating professionals at their own game.


Title: USA-NH: Fired for insubordination. But that's not my question ...

Question:
TLDR:

A person has made a serious false accusation,  a statement quite injurious to my character, and caused me to lose my job.

In your opinion, can the court offer any remedy to this injury?

The full story :

Yesterday I was fired from my job as a medical debt collector.  I was fired for insubordination.  I told a (brand new) supervisor, no, I'm not aware of that policy, I will not stop doing this.
No, I don't think my employer did anything illegal.  They don't even need a reason to fire me.  I am in NH, USA.

My question concerns the person who was my supervisor.

This ( brand new ) supervisor lied to me about there being a policy not to access the internet, and demanded I stop.   She then lied to my employers.  She told them that I "got in her face".  This is the keyphrase that kept coming up, that I categorically denied.  When I was fired, I asked to speak with a company owner.  This owner repeated the "you got in her face" lie and added that the supervisor felt "physically threatened".  The entire incident occured in under a minute, and so quietly that no one else in my office could have possibly heard it.  I said "I'm not aware of that policy", "no" and "no".  I was in no way physically menacing, I said these words quietly,  calmly, in a neutral tone.  I have used my voice to make a living for over six years, and I am good at it.  I am positive that I did not use a tone which could have had the slightest insinuation of an aggressive or threatening nature.

There are exactly no other marks against me in my three plus years with the company.  In fact, recently I was awarded a bonus by an owner when their newest client raved about me in a personal meeting.  A debtor I'd spoken with with contacted the director of the hospital to tell them what a polite and professional encounter she had.  During my three years at this company, I was told hundreds of time by debtors that they have never spoken with a more polite and professional person at a collection agency ... and often I was told that I was much more pleaseant to deal with than the provider's own billing office.  I've received thank you cards.  My ethic is my most valued possession.

There is an ongoing issue of insubordination in my workplace involving a collector who will not stop breaking the law, yet I was fired for a single instance of refusing to obey a command, a command to obey a company rule ... a rule that was made up on the spot.  The attitude presented by the owner leads me to believe that the nature of the false accusation - "got in her face", "physically threatened" - was the the deciding factor in my termination.

And here is my question :

A person has made a serious false accusation,  a statement quite injurious to my character, and caused me to lose my job.

**In your opinion, can the court offer any remedy to this injury?**

Postcript :

I am asking more out of curiosity than anything else.  I'm particularly curious if the loss of my job is even considered an injury  - or would I have to have a more quantifiable loss to have grounds to file suit?  My attention and energy must now focus on a new source of income, on improving my life, not dwelling on the past.  I don't want that job back.  However I am very interested in the law, and incredibly curious to find out if I have reasonable legal recourse.   I'm a frequent flier here at /legaladvice, under my now defunct moniker, Mini_Miranda.  This new account is necessary because I cannot recall the password I set on the work computer.  Yes, the nature of my insubordination was to say, no, I'm not turning off Reddit.  The company allowed it, it was not furtive, and frankly, there's no way I would have stayed as long as I did without something to occupy my mind while I'm listening to the phone ring ... and ring ... and ring ... for most of the day.

Answer:
 So the company did not have a policy prohibiting this but your supervisor said not to do it and you don't think that's insubordination?  As to the lies about you getting in her face, you may have a very slim shot at a defamation case against her, but unless there was a recording or witnesses there is no way to prove either way what happened. And whether or not somebody feels "threatened" is a matter of opinion.

You should file for unemployment if you have not done so already.


Title: Barbecuing on a balcony

Question:
This is in Phoenix, AZ.

I live in a mid-rise apartment building. My neighbor below me barbeques from time to time. I mostly ignore it, but the problem is that gigantic plumes of smoke float up towards my balcony when he does. I honestly thought the building was on fire just now until I leaned over my balcony to look. The smell also leaks into my apartment, as well.

Obviously, I have no desire to pursue legal action. I'm just curious if this is legal behavior, because I'm considering knocking on his door or talking to the front office, if it isn't.

Answer: Illegal, fire code violation https://www.phoenix.gov/firesite/Documents/070696.pdf  you really should call the Fire Marshall unless dying in a fire is the last thing on your bucket list.


Title: How illegal is it "exaggerate" your resume

Question:
I was selected by my professor for a job at the tutoring center, but to apply I need a year of experiance.i considered exaggerating my work at the william schmidt center at which i was only there for 3 or so days a yeat for 2 years and I didnt teach a damn thing. I also considered straight up lying and saying I was in the biology club and had experiance there. What chance do I have of getting away with this, and how screwed am I if i get caught?
Topic:
Employment Law

Answer: It's likely that your University has some kind of ethics clause. So lying to get a job would violate that which could end up with you on probation or kicked out.


Title: Make my own insurance estimate and do the repair myself

Question: Hi I'm from Philippines, just want to make sure, if I ever got into a car accident, can I make my own estimate and do the repair myself? And all of the money spent will be charged back from the company I am currently insured?

Answer:
 You can make your own estimate.

They aren't required to accept it without further research or just because you say so.


Title: Pepper spray

Question:
Hi Reddit

I [28yo F] live in Houston Tx and recently got a corgi puppy, I have been walking him several times a day everyday because of his potty schedule, today around 9:00AM 6 boys 11-15 year olds tried to steal my puppy, 4 of them crossed the street and then ran at me one of them (he was probably 15 years old 5'6" and around to 200 lbs) he was closest and lean down while running with the clear intention to grab my puppy away I instinctively carried my pup and ran back to my place they followed me and now they know were I live.
I feel scared, I live in a apartment complex and I think this kids live close by, I am afraid they might try to steal my puppy again so I just purchase a pepper spray online just in case they attack me or my pup again I did some research and apparently you can only defend yourself when you are in danger or your life is in danger but what about thieves? How can I defend myself and my pet? If I use the pepper spray will I get in trouble? Do I have to report the incident in case I use the pepper spray?

TLDR: some kids tried to steal my pet, In case they try again can I defend myself using pepper spray?

Sorry for the bad English/grammar I am dyslexic and an immigrant.

Answer:
 Call the police if this happens.  Do not pepper spray children, who's parents will almost assuredly say their child reached down to pet your dog, and you pepper sprayed him.Answer #2: Go to the police and file a report. Give the best descriptions you can.

This won't guarantee you don't face trouble for any future use of pepper spray.  It may help.Answer #3: It might be worth calling a non-emergency police line (not 911) and reporting that this happened. If you choose to get pepper spray to defend yourself, which you are entitled to do in the abstract, and if you end up using that spray in a situation like this, there would be some substantiation that the kids had harassed you before.

HOWEVER please be aware that sometimes groups of kids do stupid shit and the incident you went through today does not necessarily indicate there's a gang of kids who want to steal your puppy. Also, if your puppy is leashed, it's unlikely the kids would be able to do much. A kid acting somewhat aggressively but not actually posing a realistic threat to you should not get a face full of pepper spray.  Answer #4: Might I also suggest you get your pup a harness for his walks. Collars slip off easy, a harness won't. A good leash attached to a harness, wrapped around your hand.


Title: Received packaged addressed to me that I didn't order (California)

Question:
I received a package last week addressed to me (both name and address) but I didn't order it. It seems there was some kind of error on UPS' end because it has the exact same tracking number as something I *did* order and receive that same day.

I contacted UPS and let them know and they said they'd call me within 2 days to arrange a pick up for the package, but it's been a week and I haven't heard anything. Do I have any legal obligation to return the package? I'm not really interested in pestering them to come fix their mistake, but I don't want to get in any trouble if they come looking for it a month or two down the line and I don't have it anymore.

Answer:
 You may want to contact the seller. I recently had a $500+ bike shipped to me that I did not order. Someone used my name to set up a fake eBay account and ordered it. They then did a chargeback to the seller.

I did a police report and reported to PayPal and eBay who cancels the fraudulent account.

The seller emailed me a return shipping label.


Title: Is it legal to make you pay for a high school grade? [MI]

Question:
I’ve already graduated from high school but the practice I’m about to describe still continues. There’s a bowling alley that’s right at the end of our student parking lot, and EVERY gym class (whether it’s team sports, weight lifting, power training class, etc) has to go bowling on their designated day. You also have to pay $35 (that could be off by a little bit but it’s a good estimate) to go bowling for the whole trimester and if you don’t bowl, you get a 0/10 grade for the day. I always thought that was sketchy, but I’m not sure if it’s illegal. The guy who runs the alley has got to be raking money in from all the gym classes we have, 3x a year since we go by semesters. You also have to take two gym classes to graduate, so a total of $70 per student— not much, I know, but still, not right.

Finally, I do think they have a sort of workaround— you can “choose” not to bowl, but you have to write an essay instead every bowling day and still go to the bowling alley. So technically you don’t “have” to pay for your grade, but I don’t know if that completely absolves the school of any legal wrongdoings. Let me know if they actually are in the wrong in any way and if so, what I can do to stop this.
Topic:
School Related Issues

Answer: Since you have the option to write an essay instead, which is a "reasonable alternative" to paying for bowling, it's unlikely that any wrongdoing will be found.Answer #2: I’m pretty sure that the fee could go to paying for transportation to the bowling alley itself as well as lane & shoe rental. I would get in contact with your school’s superintendent and express your concerns as the effect other students.Answer #3: If you have an option not to pay for it then I think the school is acting legally.Answer #4: That's a bizarre practice. Is this a public school?


Title: Contract ended, am I still obligated to work?

Question:
I was a contracted for a year at a Design Agency, and my contract has expired last June. There were no efforts made to extend the contract because I was moving on to a full time position at a different company. Regardless, I tried my best to finish up as much work as I could before I left. Albeit there are still outstanding items, all of which were out of my control (waiting on content for 2 projects from clients).

I recently got contacted to do some work for them because content finally came in. But my contract has expired and I do not wish to extend or work at-will because I was treated with disrespect by the CEO. I'm wondering if I can just say "no" without any retaliation?

Also, I was already paid for that Project but I have already went over in hours for that project. I do have extra hours from another project that still hasn't launched yet but my part is done. So technically the agency is holding it over my head that I somehow owe them my time because I have extra hours which was not because I gave them those hours...the PM overcalculated my hours and I agreed to invoice them that amount because I expected more workload but they delegated those duties elsewhere.

Are companies able to chase independent contractors for money back from extra hours? Or is it normal as a business to expect some losses by hiring contractors?

Answer:
 Depends on what your contract says.

If it's a project contract where you're paid an amount to complete the project, then that's what you have to do to be in compliance with the contract.

But it sounds like yours was an hourly contract where you're paid for hours actually worked regardless of the completion of the project(s) and that you've already put in the required hours for that specific contract.

Bust out the contract, see what your responsibilities are.  If it's just "work X hours" or "work x hours/wk until Y date" then you're golden, and if they still want you to come in and complete the project, counter with a new contract which includes very generous compensation for yourself (assuming that such work would not interfere with or violate any agreement you have with your current employer)


Title: Arrested and charged for OUI. I am physically incapable of balance test so they arrested me I blew nothing but 0's.

Question: [deleted]

Answer:
 > I passed all the tests

You *think* you passed the tests.  Everyone thinks they passed all the tests.  And you failed the balance test definitively - and "being top heavy" isn't really an excuse.

Here's why you got arrested: you admitted to being on multiple medications, you failed at least one(probably more) FSTs, and you drove poorly.  That's **more** than enough PC for an OUI charge.  Your lack of alcohol intoxication only means that you weren't drunk.  OUI is for more than just being drunk.  OUI is for *any* substance that impairs your ability to drive, including legally prescribed medication or OTC medication.


Title: [FL] Roommate Problems - any way to get out of lease? LONG

Question:
I'm sure this is a wash, but I thought that asking you fine folks wouldn't hurt.

I have lived in a home with two other women for a little over a year. I rented the master bedroom and since my payments are ACH, I've always paid on time, etc. I also have a 4 pound chihuahua on the lease and I've paid the pet fee for her as well. In December 2015, one of the girls moved and my friend took her spot on the lease. We renewed our lease and added her to it, everything was going swimmingly.

In early February 2016, the new tenant fostered a dog. The dog began to chew up things in the home and mainly my personal belongings because a) my door was left cracked for my dog, b) when I did shut the door, it was a little off on the frame so it just couldn't shut all the way. This obviously became a point of contention as countless things were being destroyed or just plain missing (destroyed, then thrown away). Since it was going so well, she decided to adopt the dog. !!!

I tried numerous times to talk civilly to her to no avail. In fact, it was met with serious hostility and devolved from there into her shouting at my door calling me expletives after asking her about money to replace my Nikes that the dog chewed up sitting in my room. The dog was also never added to the lease. One of the first things that I said to her when she was asking about the foster to adoption that I just wanted my dog to be able to still roam around the house while I'm at work. I'm the only one in the house with a FT job so, I hate my dog being locked up for 8+ hours, especially when she's used to roaming around. The next thing I said was to put the dog on the lease.

The dog then began to start tearing at the fencing in the backyard as well as the screens in our lanai. My lease states that I can be liable for damages from pets. I also come home at 7 am to the back door and sliding door into our living room wide open with my furniture and belongings being the primary 'common area' furniture.  I'm the only one who has a pet on the lease, so I called the management company because at this point, it was starting to become clear that she didn't care what happened to me or if I was going to be held liable for damages her dog accrued. The management company said - sorry, should have told us sooner, so you guys are all in violation. I wasn't aware it was my responsibility to inform them within a certain time frame. The lease doesn't say that.

After emails back and forth, the owner did not approve having the dog on the lease, but now my management company is saying they need to do a walk through first.

I'm not even staying there because it is absolutely miserable. Me and my dog are in a hotel and I have added a lock to my door but I'm paying rent for a place I'm not staying at and I'm also leaving my furniture in the common areas because I can't afford that AND a storage unit. Are there ANY options for me getting out of this?

edit: while typing this, I found out she has emailed my boss (I also work in the legal field) to say she wanted them to know I broke attorney/client privilege. They, of course, didn't believe her but thought I should know what I'm dealing with. I can't believe this is because of a dog.

Answer:
 Am I correct in understanding your situation, that you are all on the same lease?

If so, there's virtually no action you can take to unilaterally remove yourself.  You can try to negotiate something with your roommates and the landlord.


Title: Woman won't refund me until I take my bad review off of Google Reviews.

Question:
On Saturday I have an eye lash perm and tinting appointment. I have never had one before, so I didn't know what to expect, all I could find online was before and after articles and pictures. The process hurt a lot, but having never did it and not knowing what chemical pink eye was, I just thought that was what happens. After I opened my eyes for the first time after the appointment was over I had bloodshot eyes. I also thought that was normal.

It wasn't until I woke up the next morning with terribly aching eye balls and swollen feeling eyelids, that I started looking into my symptoms more. I found out she did it wrong and gave me chemical pink eye.

Today it didn't hurt as bad, but realized my eyelashes are already losing their curl. For $115, I expected it to at least last six weeks.

I left a review on Google reviews in hope to warm others and asked for a refund. She emailed me back saying once I remove my bad review she'll refund it.

I am wondering is this legal? I assume it is, but it just seems so scummy to withhold a refund when she damaged my eyes and did a terrible job because I left a true and honest review about the experience.

Also, I will not, I didn't sign anything saying I couldn't hold her liable for any damage done. All I signed was a paper saying I would be okay with her doing the service without a sensitivity test patch. But this wasn't a sensitivity issue, she outright damaged my eye with improper procedures.

TL:DR, Went in for an eyelash perm and tint and the woman damaged my eyes and did a terrible job, won't give me a refund until I remove my bad review on Google.

Answer:
 She is legally required to offer a refund in accordance with any official refund policy. She also cannot prevent you from posting a truthful, but negative, review.

Don’t make this a legal issue. It won’t be worth your time. Remove the review, get the refund, and then repost the review. Answer #2: Your easiest option, and likely the best, is to remove the review and get the refund. You can update it with your communucation regarding the refund. Something like "Owner demanded I take down a bad review for a refund of shoddy work."Answer #3: Did you pay with a credit/debt card? If so you could initiate a chargeback as the merchant is refusing to work with you.


Title: Professional photographer. Do I need a model release? (Washington D.C.)

Question: [deleted]

Answer: yes, you need a model release


Title: Close friend hacked me and others in 2013, now is going to federal prison. Can we get damages?

Question:
Edit: He is in CT, some of us are in MA, NJ, CT, WA, and ME

Like the title says, one of my (former) close friends is going to federal prison for hacking almost 300 people’s accounts and being a part of the Celebgate nude leak. Got a letter in the mail awhile back that I was a victim of Access Without Authorization to Obtain Information, but thought it was about the Equifax leak until this week.

A lot of people in my friend group were victims, but we don’t know exactly what he took of ours or what he had access to. There isn’t any information on the VNS. What are our options here? Should we get lawyers? Do we ride it out until he is formally sentenced in a month and see where the cards fall?

Thanks!
Topic:
Criminal Law

Answer:
 It's highly unlikely you will ever know exactly what he had access to down to the file name. As far as a civil lawsuit for breach of privacy you could certainly talk to an attorney about that but there at least three things to consider. One, this guy probably has no money. Two, it will put the whole thing back into the limelight and will rekindle public interest.  Three, a civil suit against somebody serving a prison sentence, while not impossible, is problematic.

I loved you in Hunger Games and X-Men by the way,


Title: I developed an iOS game, and someone stole it, reuploaded it, and put in advertisements.

Question:
(CA, USA)

Hey /r/legaladvice,

I'm a minor (if that makes a difference). I've created an iOS game and launched it to the app store under my father's name.

Recently, it has come to my attention that somebody took my game, modified a few things, added a little bit of his own content *including advertisements*, and reuploaded it to the app store. Pretty much everything is stolen. The assets, the (custom made) music, the code (most likely), the level designs, etc. He even accidentally used a scrapped asset. He also forgot to change the display name of the app uploaded it with a different name onto the app store. It's also worth noting that I've done a few updates, and it's likely he copied the very first version.

I can prove my game came first, and I pretty much have all the information the app store page provides to you. I also believe his game is connected to my analytics account, but my analytics account is deactivated.

I seriously doubt either game has gotten above 500 downloads, looking at the reviews (mine has 7, his has none).

It's also worth noting that the guy's name sounds Vietnamese, so it's possible he's in a different country as well. He has multiple (20+) other apps, while this is my only one.

I haven't done anything about it yet. Could I get a little bit of advice as to what I should do about this? Should I just report it to Apple or should I go a little farther?

Thanks so much!

Answer: Have you reported it to the app store yet?


Title: [Ohio] My car was parked, someone else hit it drove off. Found the car. Car is insured under dad's insurance.

Question:
I have a fun one, and just want to see what I should do (other then talk to a Lawyer, will do, but guy is probably judgement proof.)

My car was parked in front of my home, and someone hit it and ran. Cops found the other vehicle down the road and the driver fessed up to it.

Problems are that the driver has a suspended license. The dad gave him the keys, and let him drive the car, but from the dad's insurance company the son isn't listed on the policy (40 year old son, so not underage).

Am I super boned? Is there something I should be looking/asking about? Taking the guy to court isn't going to be a very good option because he's probably judgement proof (doesn't own squat, doesn't have a job, lives with dad, yadda yadda.) The guy's dad's insurance called me to ask me some questions, but told me his son isn't on the policy and it's an exemption, but they don't usually deal with claims from Ohio so they are unsure of the laws (this is what the rep told me on the phone).  It looks to be a smaller company, based out of Illinois.

I called the cops, they took pictures at night, I took pictures the next morning without moving the car, all 4 corners, all the damage, took a video, it's all time stamped and all that fun jazz, so I have evidence aplenty. Plus the police report has the guy owning up to doing a hit skip, and driving without a license.

My insurance isn't doing anything because I didn't have the right kind of uninsured/underinsured coverage, I only had it for medical and not property.  Go me.

Answer:
 No one is "judgment proof".

Sue the parents or their insurance for your damages (probably both); The guy's father negligently entrusted the vehicle to his son. How much are your damages? This will be the factor that primarily determines if you actually need a lawyer.


Title: [Wa] Mom has a DVPO against my dad. Both want to be at my wedding

Question:
My wedding is in October. My mom currently has a DVPO  against my father in which he cannot be within so many feet of her. At this time she will only be attending whereas  my dad is involved in the planning and in the party. If he is at the venue before she arrives, and she arrives knowing he is there, can she get him into trouble?  Is there a way to go through the court so they can both be there?

Side note: my dad isn't dangerous. The DVPO was a move by her to get him out of the house/get divorced. (A whole other issue entirely)

Answer:
 Unless a court allows him to be there, he can't be there if she is. Talk to your mom and see if she will get the protection order amended to allow your dad at the wedding. You may tell her she is not welcome if he can't be there. Answer #2: From what I understand it goes both ways. If he is there first and she showed up she had to leave. She can not just show up at say his work and expect him to walk out. Tell you mom she eather needs to not come or go back and have it fixed (and show you the paperwork) so that they can both be there. If she doesn't do this and shows up tell her to leave and call the cops that she has willfully defined her own dvpo coming to were she know your father would be there. Do not let her get your dad arrested. It is up to you to decide who you want there and let it be known.Answer #3: >If he is at the venue before she arrives, and she arrives knowing he is there, can she get him into trouble?

Yes.


Title: [MA] Husband assaulted at Costco, now being charged with assault with a weapon and destruction of property

Question:
So, first of all, we are getting a lawyer TOMORROW. But we just found this out today and are both freaking out and need any advice we can get.

A couple weeks ago we got married. The night before the wedding, literally a couple hours before the rehearsal dinner, husband and his friend went to Costco to get some things for the big day. On their way inside, a guy in a pickup truck drove quickly out of a parking spot and hit my husband in the arm with the mirror of his car. Husband and friend cursed and flipped off the driver, who promptly stopped the car, got out, and started yelling back at them. This went on for a couple minutes until the truck guy was provoked enough.

Then, the truck guy (maybe 6 inches and >50 lbs heavier than husband) started coming towards my husband and his friend. My husband took out a pocket knife he had in his pocket and told him to stay away (BIG MISTAKE OBVIOUSLY). The guy kept coming and my husband's friend tackled him and they started fighting.

That's the last thing my husband remembers, because the next thing that happened was a second guy came out of nowhere and punched my husband square in the face and knocked him out. He woke up to a cop questioning him and was sent to the hospital via ambulance and diagnosed with a concussion.

Today, he received a summons in the mail for 2 counts against him: assault with a weapon and destruction of property >$250 (unsure what this could possibly be, neither him nor his friend have any recollection of anything being damaged).

So, how fucked is husband? He has no criminal record and never actually touched anyone during this whole ordeal. It was so stupid of him to take out the knife but a guy twice his size was charging him and he panicked. Again, we are getting a lawyer and a copy of the police report ASAP, just need any thoughts/recommendations on what to do from here.

Answer: There's nothing stupid about pulling out a pocket knife to defend yourself in the circumstance as you've described it. If the situation unfolded as you say it did, your lawyer should be able to handle it without too much difficulty. Costco surely has surveillance cameras over their parking lots that will have captured the incident; your lawyer will be sure to procure those.Answer #2: my guess is the property they're claiming he destroyed was the guys mirror, wouldn't doubt for a second the guy is claiming your husband unprovoked damaged his truck and he was confronting them about it when they pulled the knife


Title: [UK] Employer took £65 out of bonus for not attending the Christmas works party (due to health reasons related to work) - I have never agreed to any wage deductions

Question:
To start with there's nothing in my contract or anything else I've signed (or verbally agreed with) that states that I can have any of my wages deducted for any reason.

Before the party it was stated that not attending it would result in the money being deducted from my pay, although this was never something I agreed to in writing or verbally. I was off in the week leading up to the party due to depression and anxiety (which I had been to a doctor to for that week) that was brought on by changes in the work environment.

Instead of the £65 being deducted from my wages it was instead deducted from my bonus. The thing is that the bonus is not written into my contract at all so I'm aware it doesn't have to be paid. But if everyone else got the same bonus and mine was the same as theirs minus the £65, is that not an obvious attempt to get around the restrictions on wage deductions?

Answer:
 Try /r/legaladviceuk. You will likely get better informed results there.Answer #2: Discretionary bonuses are just that, discretionary.

As long as the bonus isn't contractually obligated (eg, a sales commission or performance target), your employer is well within their rights to give you a full bonus, a partial bonus, or no bonus at all.Answer #3: In the U.S. at least, a bonus is exactly that, they don't have to give it to youAnswer #4: did you go to a Christmas party on a work day and stopped working early to attend it? If so most companies pay you for the day but in order to get that, you must attend the party


Title: [Ohio/California] Someone keeps making twitter accounts posting nude images of me that I had originally posted privately to tumblr when I was a teenager

Question:
The original images were uploaded years ago to tumblr. I'm unable to access the log in to the original tumblr page and am attempting to contact tumblr to remove it.

I'm interested in pursuing police action/intervention but have heard of situations related to "nudes" taken by adolescents, in which the receiving and sending party both get charges lauded against them for possession (receiving party) and distribution (sending party) of child pornography. I'm concerned that while police action against the person creating this twitter account (and following people associated with my real twitter, etc.) [third time this account has been created] is perfectly valid for harassment as well as more serious charges – I'm wary that I myself may somehow be held accountable for posting the original images years ago. Is there any basis for this concern?

Answer:
 > Is there any basis for this concern?

~~Were you under 18 when the pictures were taken?~~

Edit: Actually, don't answer that. If you were, get a lawyer. Because you could potentially face serious criminal charges and this will need to be handled very carefully.


Title: Being forced to sign a non-compete. Should I quit, or should I let them fire me? [VA]

Question:
*
Topic:
Labor Law

Answer:
 > I know they are hardly enforceable except maybe at an executive level.

**NEVER** count on this!  I suggest showing the document to a labor lawyer before signing anything.


Title: [West Virginia] potential case of entrapment? (No, seriously!)

Question:
This didn't happen to me or anyone I know. It was a story being told by a friend of mine.

So, this guy, friend of my friend, was chatting up this girl he met at social media. She claimed to be 18, and looked passably 18. They met and had sex.

Then he's arrested for statutory rape. She's 15.

My friend had access to his text logs, and got saw that he had no reasonable motive to suspect she was underaged. She wrote like an 18 year old, and claimed to be a college freshman, and her speech matched those by 18 year old college freshmen. He met her with the clear intention of banging an 18 year old.

Turns out he had a feud with this guy whose brother was a sheriff (IIRC). He lured him into committing statutory rape so he could get back at him.

In the end, he got released, and the case was dismissed. However, he did lose a very good job, potentially costing him his career, and had to flee his town.

Would that be a case of the infamous entrapment?

Answer:
 Entrapment is like lupus on *House.* It's never entrapment.Answer #2: >Would that be a case of the infamous entrapment?

There is one element that I miss here. The fact that the government put him up to a crime he wouldn't have commited on his own.

The sherif's brother isn't part of a government agency nor did he do it on behalf of the government.

(IANAL and this just as far as I can see based on the information provided).Answer #3: Doesn't sound like entrapment to me.


Title: Wife hit by car while crossing street. Insurance company offering cash but unsure what to do.

Question:
I initially posted this in r/personalfinance.

A few weeks ago my wife was hit by a truck while crossing the street in our town in southwestern Montana. A police report was taken and the driver of the truck was found to be 100% at-fault. She suffered bumps and bruises on her body and head, and spent an afternoon in the hospital, but nothing serious or incredibly debilitating.

Flash forward to today, the driver's insurance company is offering to pay the bills in addition to a $2000 check. I am worried that because she suffered a slight head injury that complications could arise in the future (she already has a history of seizures). I feel like $2000 would disappear quickly and it would be awful to battle treatments for a head injury that may be a result of this incident.

Is it unreasonable to be asking for more? I want to make sure my wife and family are taken care of, and I don't want to sign anything before I know that we are not being taken advantage of.

Answer:
 It would be reasonable to *NOT* take the offer immediately. They want your wife to take the $2000 and then sign away any future ability to sue for more. They want this to go away cheap. You can ask for more, yes, and that would be reasonable.

It would also be reasonable to consult with a personal injury lawyer and see what they feel is reasonable and they can help you get that from the insurance company. This is what I would do if it was me or a family member in your wife's situation.


Title: Cousin got fleeced on a potentially predatory car lease. Help?

Question:
Hi all!

So my young, impressionable and not-so-bright cousin got into an astonishingly bad lease a couple months ago and asked me for help on a way out. I've already laid into him for not consulting with me before such a huge financial decision but there's nothing I can do about that now. Just trying to determine the best way out of this situation.

What happened was that my cousin went in to check out his dream cars for fun at a Maserati dealership. The sales guy somehow convinced him he could afford this $80k car on a $36k salary. He verbally stated the payments were much lower than what was on the contract and used his decent credit to get him into something he clearly cannot afford.

 The lease is on a Maserati Ghibli and the payments are at $1200 a month for 39 months with $6.5kpaid upfront. Total allowed miles are only 25k. Value of the car per contract is listed at $80k with a residual value of $39k, and fees/taxes totaling $8k.

Yes that's right. Probably the worst lease terms you've  ever seen. He got completely fleeced.

My question is, as a young kid (22 years old) who's English is questionable, had no idea what he was doing, and may not have been explained everything clearly, are there any outs here? Consumer protection laws or "predatory leasing"? We're in California for what it's worth.

I'm starting my research and would appreciate any insights. Thank you!

Answer: He's an adult (has been for 4 years too!) and presumably had a chance to read the contract before signing it. He may have some options for walking away from the lease (check the agreement), but he's not getting that down payment back. Answer #2: Your cousin is quite a bit older than a "young kid", and is intelligent enough to land a job making $36k. If he chose not to read the contract before signing it, that's on him. It sounds like he really wanted a Maserati, and now he has one.


Title: [USA/CA] Is it legal to switch my plates between cars?

Question: [deleted]

Answer:
 Dude.

No.


Title: (Pennsylvania) Assault on Mother and Backlash

Question:
This is something that has begun in the past week.

On July 8th there was an event held in my local town. Drinking and eating and hanging out and all that stuff. My mother and sister had been recently threatened and insulted by a minor, of 14 years old. I do not know the full story of why the threats came but I do know that it's because of my sister's ex boyfriend.

Now, on the night of July 8th, my sister and mother were at the house of the step mom of the minor, the step mom being good friends with us. Next, the minor came up to my mom calling her a "cunt", "bitch", probably some other expletives before she started to hit my mother.

My mother, being a 40 year old woman being assaulted by a 14 year old female was at a lost. She put her hands up to block the hits, and finally grabbed the pony tail of the minor and lowered her to the ground.

My mother ended up having a black eye and facial fracture (she has lost all feeling in her face from, something she might not regain). The minor was not injured at all.

My mother, and me and the rest of my family have been threatened by several people since. These threats range from damaging property to severely assaulting my mother.

My question is this: what exactly are the legal ramifications that my mother can face, if she would be in the wrong here?

I'm happy to offer anymore information needed to help with my situation.

Answer:
 Why would your mother face any legal ramifications? If she is attacked by another individual, even a 14 year old, if you call the police the 14 year old can be arrested for battery.

Have your mother go to the doctor if she has fractured her face. She could file a police report about the incident, but there is no guarantee any charges would be filed by the DA. You would be able to pursue the minor & her family for damages, however.


Title: (OR) I’m refusing cancer treatment and my family is threatening to make me a ward of the state and force me into treatment. Can they?

Question:
I’m 23 and recently found out I have 4 stage cancer. It’s not quite yet terminal, but I’ve been that if left untreated, it will be terminal within 6 months, most likely less. It’s an aggressive kind of cancer and has already metastasized.

I’m choosing to leave it untreated for many reasons. Mainly, it’s because cancer treatment is awful and quite the battle. I’ve been told that I would have to get maintenance chemotherapy about once a month or so following remission to prevent it from coming back for the rest of my life. I already have a death wish, I’m not willing to go through intense treatments and spend so much money on treatment when I’m not even a fan of life. And yes, I do have (professionally diagnosed) major depression disorder among some other mental disorders. I also have a lot of student debt from college... I just graduated this year.
Once it’s terminal and I have less than 6 months to live, I plan on seeking physician assisted death (which is legal in Oregon).

My family did notice that I am sick, so I told them. They know about my depression (I was once in the mental hospital as a minor). However, I no longer talk to them about it. Nor have I since I moved out at the age of 18.

Now they’re threatening to deem me as mentally incompetent to make my decisions due to my depression, make me a ward of the state, and force me into treatment. They’re also going to fight against me having the right to physician assisted suicide once I end up terminally ill (if they aren’t able to force me into treatment first).

Do they have a legal basis? Are they able to force me into treatment because of my depression? If so, how do I fight back? How do I make sure that, at 23, a grown adult, I have autonomy over my body?

Answer:
 The problem they're having is if you have MDD then you may well *not* be making the same choice you would without it.

You're very young still, and life doesn't get better for most people until they're older than you. For what it's worth I'd highly encourage you to seek treatment for both the MDD and the cancer. When it's terminal there isn't anything you can do about it if you change your mind.Answer #2: Generally adults are allowed to refuse treatment even if that would kill them.

Your parents can argue that you're incompetent but if you generally live your life as an adult it won't be an easy argument to make.Answer #3: Not a lawyer or a doctor, but I would recommend looking into assigning someone outside your family (who you trust) with a medical power of attorney. That way someone is there fighting for what you want from the beginning. There are also forms available that you can sign such as Do Not Resististe or forms along the lines of No Medical Intervention that you can look into.


Title: My friend's gf just filed a false police report against him for domestic abuse.

Question: She's been abusive to him for years.  She often punches him and he doesn't do anything.  She attacked him this morning and he pushed her away (not too harshly) and she threatened to go to the police.  Well she filed a police report against him and now he's afraid it's a setup.  I've known this guy since I was 9 years old and I know he wouldn't do something like this.  Should he contact a lawyer?  What should he do?  Is there any action he can take to protect himself from this false accusation?

Answer:
 > I've known this guy since I was 9 years old and I know he wouldn't do something like this.

I guarantee you there are people who said the same thing about the South Carolina shooter, the Boston bomber, and the lady who helped the two prisoners escape. They were all wrong.

If you weren't there, you don't know what happened.


Title: Is it worth suing the company I was fired from?

Question:
[deleted]
Topic:
Employment Law

Answer: Why do you think you couldn't be fired? You called out of work but said you were not sick. You just didn't want to work. They didn't feel that you were going to be able to continue with the job so they let you go.


Title: My lease is expiring and I may need more time to move....

Question: [deleted]

Answer:
 Don't play games with adding an eviction to your record. First, ask. If the answer is no, put your stuff in storage and find a place on Craigslist or a cheap motel with weekly rates. Much better than giving the shaft to your landlord and maybe getting evicted. Answer #2: In addition to the comments below, why do you think the LL will accept the July rent and why do think the judge is going to give you a few weeks?

In my jurisdiction, the judge would have you removed within 24 hours of a properly noticed and executed eviction procedure.

Talk to the LL to see about staying a little longer, or move your things into storage and stay with a friend or cheap motel.Answer #3: I don't see any reason why it should take over a month and a half to buy a house with cash.Answer #4: I'm a bot, *bleep*, *bloop*. Someone has linked to this thread from another place on reddit:

- [/r/bestoflegaladvice] [My lease is up and my landlord gave me notice, but it's totally cool if I just stay, right?](https://np.reddit.com/r/bestoflegaladvice/comments/4job6o/my_lease_is_up_and_my_landlord_gave_me_notice_but/)

[](#footer)*^(If you follow any of the above links, please respect the rules of reddit and don't vote in the other threads.) ^\([Info](/r/TotesMessenger) ^/ ^[Contact](/message/compose?to=/r/TotesMessenger))*

[](#bot)


Title: [LA] Our new apartment doesn't allow pets. We were planning on giving our cat to a friend but the idea is distressing to me-- I have a mental illness and could qualify for an ESA, but I don't want to abuse the law.

Question:
Apologies, because I realize this has been asked before.

We are moving from Texas to Louisiana in a month's time. We just signed our lease with a new apartment in the town we're moving to, and a clause in the lease stated "No pets will be allowed without the landlord's written consent."

We currently have a cat, but, because we're not scumbags and don't want to violate this agreement we've entered into, decided to hand the cat off to a responsible friend to take care of. While I realize this is probably the best thing to do, I'm having a hard time with the idea of losing my little buddy.

For backstory, I go to a psychiatrist monthly, and am tentatively diagnosed as either bipolar or C-PTSD and mainly suffer from depression. I am on meds for these conditions. While I could live without my cat, I do take a large amount of comfort from him and find being responsible for an animal mitigates my symptoms. I still think I could live without my cat, but I don't want to if I don't have to.

What is my best course of action here? I was considering asking my psych to write me a note recommending our cat as an emotional support animal, but I also don't want to be one of those people who abuses the law for their own benefit. I figured we could just get the note and shoot the landlord a text/give them a call asking if they would make an exception for us. Does this seem unreasonable? Can I do anything if they say no/should I? I also don't know if a note from a psych in Texas would even mean anything in Louisiana.

We haven't moved in yet and our lease starts on the first of July, and I really don't want to start our tenant/landlord relationship on a bad foot. I would also be interested in hearing the perspective of any landlords as well.

Thank you for your time.

Answer:
 Depending on how many properties your landlord owns, they may be exempt from being required to accommodate an ESA.

You need to figure out if you truly need the cat for emotional support, and your therapist can help you make that determination. If you do genuinely need an ESA, then you need one. If that's the case, you wouldn't be exploiting the law, you'd be utilizing it for support.

Your therapist will have to provide a letter saying you need an ESA, if you decide you need one.

Having said all of that, bringing an ESA into the equation this late in the game will most certainly seem suspect to landlord on some level. Just keep that in mind.


Title: Weird situation with airline lost baggage..

Question:
2 weeks ago I flew from Los Angeles to Miami for vacation. I checked one bag. When I landed in Miami and got to the luggage carousal, my suitcase never appeared. I immediately reported it as missing at the counter and they said it was probably delayed and should arrive later that night. They got my hotel info and said when it arrives they will drive it to my hotel.

It never arrived that night. I called and they said they didn't know where my bag was and they will look for it.

The next day, I call to see if it was located and the lady told me that someone else called and said they had my bag (we have the same bag)

Apperantly the airline lost this person's bag completely. They told the airline that they will not return my bag until their bag is found, essentially holding it hostage.

The airline basically said there's nothing they can do and hung up.

I called the police and reported theft. Apperantly they contacted the airline and the airline won't give the info about the caller and claimed the bag isn't stolen, just "misplaced"

I just want my bag back. The airline told me to file a claim and list the value of everything in my bag and they'll reimburse me but I don't want to do that because they literally know where my bag is and aren't cooperating with the police.

I've escalated with the police but they are pretty much saying I'm SOL until the airline tells them the name of the person with my bag.

I'm at my wit's end and I don't know what else to do. Do you guys have any advice on how I should handle this situation??

Answer:
 > Do you guys have any advice on how I should handle this situation??

You should file a claim and list everything of value in the bag.


Title: Neighbor threatened to sue

Question:
Hi, folks,  thanks for reading.  The backstory: my wife and I hired a guy to remove a tree on the property line between our house and a neighbor's.  Well, the tree guy didn't finish and vanished so we had to hire a new company to complete the work.

The first guy took out the top part of the tree which required him to work on the neighbor's property (We received permission for this). The guys who finished the job worked only on our property. Unbeknownst to us, the first guy left a stack of logs in the neighbor's yard.

This happened about 2 months ago, fast forward to today when the property owners live in boyfriend asked us to pay him for lugging the logs to the curb for brush collection.  I told him he should have let us know there were limbs left behind and we would've handled it. He said he hurt is back and claimed he didn't know how to get in touch with us. I suggested he could've left a note,  my wife pointed out that the property owner had her email address and phone number.

This is the point when he said, "I can sue you.  I have pictures." Pictures of what,  we don't know.  I told him the conversation was over and we walked away.

This is in Texas,  btw.

My question is, does this guy have a leg to stand on? Can we be sued when we were not informed that the logs were left behind?  Can we be held responsible for him hurting his back?

Sorry for the wall of text but I wanted to give as much detail as possible.

**tl;dr**  Neighbor didn't inform us that a contractor we hired left cut logs in his yard. He moved them himself without asking me to do it. 2 months later he asks me to pay him for doing the job I had no idea needed to be done.

Thanks for the help.

Edit: typo

Answer:
 "We couldn't get a hold of you!"  ~lives next door~

A judge would love that one.  If the facts of the case are anything even remotely similar to what you've just laid out, it's unlikely they could get anything.


Title: Can someone be forced to work on a client that harasses them?

Question:
Florida: My wife goes to cosmetology school. There is a man that comes in and ask specifically for her to give him a haircut. However each time he comes in she says that he makes very suggestive comments and stares and her genital region/breast pretty much the whole time.

She has complained to her teachers about this but no action is ever taken. Yesterday he came in again and she said she did not want to work on this client but she was given an ultimatum that she either provide the service or be sent home and lose credit hours. She chose to get sent home.

The teacher said they can be sued for discrimination if they do not provide the service but this sounds like BS to me. I would think its the other way around and the student could have a case against the school for putting students in possibly harmful situations.

Either way, can the school force students to work on clients that harass them? Can the school take action against a student who has legitimate complaints about a client?
Topic:
School Related Issues

Answer:
 >The teacher said they can be sued for discrimination if they do not provide the service but this sounds like BS to me.

Because it is BS. There's nothing illegal about refusing service because a person is sexually harassing staff. Your wife should consult any policies the school has for registering a sexual harassment complaint, and submit a written complaint with specific details of the objectionable conduct. Does your wife's school accept federal student loans? Because Title IX requires them address these kinds of issues. If they fail to do so, you can complain to the Office of Civil Rights in the Dept. of Education.

http://www2.ed.gov/about/offices/list/ocr/docs/title-ix-rights-201104.pdfAnswer #2: As it seems you had sound advice and are taking action, /r/legaladvice loves its Updates. Please try to follow up regardless of outcome!


Title: Is it illegal to make your restaurant employees come in to clean the restaurant without pay?

Question: My boss is having all the servers/bartenders come in Sunday morning to “deep clean” the restaurant. We are not being paid and it is mandatory. Is that legal? I have worked in a lot of restaurants and I have never heard of that. Just wondering. This is in Pennsylvania.

Answer: It’s illegal to have an employee report to work without paying them. You should report the restaurant to the Pennsylvania Department of Labor. Answer #2: Yeah he can't do that. Answer #3: He can make you clean, but has to pay at least minimum wage. And if tipped servers are cleaning he needs to bump their hourly wage to minimum as well.


Title: Ticketed for Leaving Car with Flat Tire on Street

Question:
The specific city code my ticket cites reads as:
"No person shall leave any unlicensed, partially dismantled, non operating, wrecked or junked vehicle on any street, highway or public property within the city."

The comments on the ticket cite the flat tire and "damage" at the rear of the vehicle. The damage was present when I purchased the car. It's superficial body denting: a small dent above the tire well and a larger dent in the bumper. The flat tire was due to a nail that punctured it and had slowly leaked out. The flat tire is the back left one, and the damage is coincidentally in the back left of the car.

My primary issue with the citation is that, in my view, a flat tire and unrelated damage fits the description the code puts forth.

I also got a tow notice at the same time as the ticket. One of the reasons it lists for towing is leaving a car in the same place for more than 24 hours. There is a city code that prohibits this, reading " No person owning or having care or custody of any motor vehicle, trailer or all-terrain vehicle shall abandon the same on any street, alley or public place, nor shall such person leave the same standing thereon for longer than twenty-four (24) hours. "

Luckily, my car wasn't towed in the time it took for me to see the ticket and notice in the wind shield three days later. I had left the vehicle there for three days or so prior, as I take the bus to and from school, and don't need to drive back and forth every day. This, however, is not the code cited on the ticket.

So my questions are:

Would I have a valid case to say a flat tire doesn't fit the description of the code on the ticket?

Would negotiating with the prosecutors office in an attempt to have the case dismissed be advisable?

If the prosecutor's office or going to court put me at risk of being ticketed for violating the 24 hour rule?

And (a dumb question) since my car was not moved, but now is, within 24 hours of the ticket, still allow my car to be towed?

&#x200B;

Thank you all for your time.

Answer:
 You need to fix the flat and move to another space or you are going to get towed.

I'd follow the process for appealing the ticket if you have the spare time to due so. Yes they can ticket you for it, but a judge will be understanding if you can show you corrected the issue as soon as you were aware. It's within thier ability to dismiss the ticket


Title: [MN] Ex-husban's lawyer's trying to get me to sign something saying that I waive the right to independent counsel. What exactly does this mean and can I refuse to sign?

Question:
Our judgment and decree of divorce is a year old, and I had pro bono representation which has ended now that the divorce is official.

My ex-husband's lawyer put together a stipulation and order to correct a mis-wording of the original J&D, which is preventing them from completing a stipulation my ex-husband needs to do.

But the lawyer added a second bit at the end of the stip:  "I hereby expressly waive the right to independent counsel, and freely and voluntarily sign the stipulation and order."

It's separate from the first part, which is just to change the rewording, and requires a 2nd signature.

I have no need to file for pro bono representation yet, unless they serve me with a motion. Is he trying to get me to sign something to say that I won't/can't do that? Can I refuse to sign it?

Answer:
 Can you ask your old lawyer just a quick question? This ***could*** just be a procedural requirement without which the document might not be able to be filed.

If your old lawyer can't help, give legalaid a call and see if they can answer a quick question:

http://mylegalaid.org/about/contact-us/

Numbers down the right hand side.


Title: My son has recently passed away, what is the best way to set up a fund for my grandchildren ( 8 and 6) without my daughter in law having access to the funds ?

Question: Thank you for your kind advice.

Answer:
 Are you asking for the best way to save up your personal money without your DIL having access?

Or are you discussing the execution of your son's will/dispensation of his finances/etc?


Title: (OK) I'm applying for security clearance. I was previously suicidal; help me with my application regarding my detainment?

Question:
Alright,  so ~3 years ago in Oklahoma I was depressed, bought a shotgun, and planned to kill myself. At no point did I plan, threaten, or imply that I wanted to hurt anyone but myself, and I am no longer suicidal.

Anyway, my therapist had told my psychiatrist about some of my behaviors and he decided to have me placed under emergency detainment. The campus police came, handcuffed me, confiscated my shotgun, and took me to an in-patient facility where I had to stay for a week. Fast forward 3 years, and I got a job that needs a security clearance and I have to report all this stuff.

My questions:

* I have a copy of the police report, and the box marked "arrest occurred" isn't check. This means I have never been arrested, correct? Even though I was placed in handcuffs and put in in-patient care against my will?

* This doesn't count as being found mentally incompetent, right?

* Idle curiosity, but not as necessary: I've heard that this means I am no longer allowed to own firearms in any state. Is this true? What is the best way to check this? Is this something I could appeal?

Answer:
 You were not arrested.

You will have to disclose this in section 21 of the SF-86.


Title: Teacher possible hostile work environment

Question:
For starters I am located in South Carolina. This is my first post so please excuse me if I format it incorrectly.

I work in an elementary school where we have very little discipline. This school year alone I can count 6 times a teacher has been assaulted by a student. This ranges from being pushed, poked, or having their arm twisted. In only one of these incidents was a student punished. The punishment was a 45 day suspension.

There are students who actively try to get teachers to hit them or yell at them. I personally have been targeted by a student who will say inappropriate things to me and then record my response. This is an elementary school these children aren't old enough to know what they're doing. It is very likely his mother is coaching him to try and get a lawsuit against the school.

Students are allowed to yell at us, throw things, run rampant, and leave the classroom. They pretty much do anything they like. We are not allowed to raise our voices or use an angry tone;  meaning we have no control over the situation. When a student acts up we are told to call the parent. This almost never actually results in the child changing thier behavior.

We have absolutely no support. Many teachers are talking about quitting. We don't have a union and are in a right to work state. We need advice.

Also we are being told that after school events are mandatory. Even though they fall outside of our contracted work hours.

Any guidance is truly appreciated.

Answer:
 These are elementary school kids.  I can't imagine it would be better if you have these types of students by teaching at middle or high school.  Your best course of action is to leverage your complaint process and keep it documented.  Do you have the ability to write referrals to get the student's behavior documented and sent to the principal?  Do this.  Keep records.  Keep records of the punishments (or lack thereof) and results.  Bring this to the school board.  Get together with the other teachers and come up with a plan.  You don't have to unionize, but you can get other teachers on board with the documentation plan.  Get a few months of results, present to the board, ask for specific items that will resolve the issue, and, if not granted, find another job.

If you are actually injured by a violent elementary school kid (I can imagine being stabbed with a pencil or scissors or something), you may want to find a lawyer and sue.  The child may have crossed the line into criminal behavior, so police may become involved.  You also may have a claim against the school if you have piles of documentation that they have failed to take action to correct the problem to the point of negligence.


Title: (England) My Auntie has been taken into hospital for appendicitis 3 days ago and she hasn't been served a hot meal

Question:
Is there anything we can do about this? Who would we need to contact about this?

EDIT: More details, she was taken in 3 days ago, and hasn't been put on the ward yet, no surgery is currently planned. She was given bread and butter one morning and a sandwich one afternoon but we've had to provide the rest, she wasn't given a drink for 12 hours on the one day

Answer:
 Are you sure she's not still supposed to be on clear liquids? If she had surgery and her bowels haven't started working yet, she's not supposed to eat solids. If she didn't have surgery yet, she's not supposed to eat solids if they are planning on surgery.

Hey, while we are chatting, do you know many people that are allergic to carrots? I'm honestly curious.


Title: WA/MT-Bigamy Q?

Question: So I am separating from my husband and in looking at his records, the lawyer who is helping me with the paperwork for the divorce found that he is still married  to his first wife in the state of Arizona. We got married in Washington, but we are currently in Montana, and have been since last june. What should I do? does this mean I can just get an annulment? In WA, Bigamy is a class C felony.... this guy was physically and emotionally abusive and I can prove that if need be, it would be great to see him face some consequences for something after what he's put me through.

Answer: If he was still married, your marriage is void, as if it never happened. You may still be able to get an equitable division of your property and support, because you reasonably believed you were married. You could also report him to the police in either Washington or Montana. Both criminalize bigamy.


Title: [FL] Parents are being sued for french drain

Question:
Hi everyone. My parents were having an issue with water drainage from their neighbors yard, so they hired someone to look into the problem. They found out that their neighbor had recently cut some trees down and that, combined with their pool enclosure, led to water dumping into my parents yard and ruining the yard. They had two potential plans on how to fix it: one that would cost a lot more, but be in only my parents yard, and one that would cost less but would be in their neighbors yard (there's a wall that separates the yards, my parents is lower, and at the top of the wall starts their neighbors property. Or at least we think, I don't know if either party knows exactly the property lines or anything.)

Anyways, my parents talked to their neighbor and they said that they would be okay with the less expensive option (I don't think this is enough to count as a contract or anything,) so they did the work. It cost about 17k. Now, my neighbors son is suing because, from what I can gather from my parents, they didn't give my neighbor the plans for the construction. They want my parents to remove the drain and put grass there (there wasn't grass there before.) That would cost about 5k. Is there any chance my parents aren't totally screwed here? I'm really pushing for them to talk to a lawyer.

TL;DR: My parents had a drainage problem in their yard. Landscaper said that it was because of problems in their neighbors yard. He suggested a fix that would require a drain in their neighbors yard. My parents described the proposal to their neighbor. She said okay, do what you need to do to fix it. My neighbors son was unhappy with the fix, said my parents didn't provide the plans for the drain, even though that wasn't agreed upon. Neighbors son is suing parents and wants them to remove the drain and put grass in there.

Answer:
 No, they're not totally screwed. They communicated and got consent from the owners of the property.

Does the son own the property of have power of attorney because your parent's neighbors are incompetent? Have your parents actually received legal documents saying they're being sued, or has the neighbor's son just said it? Generally, the neighbor's son doesn't have any standing to sue on any of this.


Title: The anarchist cookbook PDF Canada legality

Question: I am doing a paper on the borders of what information should be silenced and not open to the public and I want to know if it is legal or not to own a PDF of the anarchist cookbook on a phone or computer in Canada, any info?

Answer:
 It's completely legal to have a copy of the Anarchist's Cookbook.

It might be illegal to follow any of the advice in it, and it's all so badly-written that using it would be suicidally dangerous. (As an example, the section on pipe bombs advises you to tamp down a friction-sensitive explosive directly inside of a closed metal container - advice likely to kill you if followed.) If you want to know how to make explosives safely, get a [nitrogen chemistry textbook](https://www.amazon.ca/Chemistry-Explosives-RSC-Jacqueline-Akhavan/dp/1849733309) off of Amazon and take an inorganic chemistry safety course. If you want to read up on making drugs, get a copy of [PHiKAL](https://www.amazon.ca/Pihkal-Chemical-Story-Alexander-Shulgin/dp/0963009605) and take an organic chemistry course. All of the information needed to ruin your life is legally available in much, much safer formats.


Title: Someone made a Tinder account for me, gay men would not stop calling my work phone.

Question: [deleted]

Answer:
 >Would seeing a lawyer to bring about an eventual lawsuit against the creator of the account be worthwhile?

Specifically, what financial damages have you sustained as a result of this incident?Answer #2: You have no grounds for a lawsuit, because you have no damages.


Title: Received a ticket after my car spun out in the rain. Any tips to contest this?

Question:
Hi everyone!

I'm on mobile so I'll try to keep this brief.

On 06/27 I was driving home from work during a heavy downpour that slicked the roads pretty well. I was taking an off ramp and was merging into the left lane when my car began to spin out of control after hitting a patch of water. I didn't travel that far but I did crash into a ditch which ultimately totaled my vehicle. May she rest in pieces.

I'm uninjured, airbags didn't deploy, no other vehicle or person was involved, nor was I speeding. I called 911 on instinct and both city police and highway patrol showed up. City police assessed I was fine and that no one else was involved and left without any hoopla. Highway patrol ticketed me for "failure to stay in a single lane/caused crash" which I feel is super messed up. Insurance handled the tow truck and provided a decent check for my old car that served as a meaty down payment on a new car which I got like a week later, so the situation went as well as it possibly could have in spite of the ticket.

After talking to a few friends of mine who are police officers, none of them agreed that a ticket should have been issued and advised me to contest it in court. I have a date set for this Friday but wanted some input from you amazing folks as to how I should present my case. Any and all advice is greatly appreciated and please don't hesitate to ask for further details you feel may be pertinent. Thanks in advance!

PS, this is in Florida.

Edit: removed dumb joke

Answer:
 > Any tips to contest this?

Drive in a more reasonable manner in the future. That's how you 'correct' this. You were clearly going too fast for the conditions. Answer #2: >nor was I speeding.

I understand and sympathize, but the fact that you lost control is proof that you were driving too fast for conditions.    Speed limits have no legal role in "failure to maintain control" type of citations.   The highway patrol issues these all the time in single-vehicle collisions.

You can go to court and present your argument that you were driving at a reasonable speed for the conditions.   The judge might agree with you and dismiss the citation.   But it won't be because you are arguing about sufficiency of evidence or applicability of statute.   You'll be making an argument that's contradicted by the objective facts.Answer #3: >Highway patrol ticketed me for "failure to stay in a single lane/caused crash" which I feel is super messed up

It sounds like you did in fact fail to stay in a line and caused a crash. Did you LEO friends tell you that it shouldn't have been issued on a discretionary basis or that you were illegally ticketed?

>Highway patrol protec but they also attac

No one attacked you. So stop that.


Title: Girlfriend got pricked by a needle at work.

Question:
So a little background my girlfriend works part time at a big chain restaurant on the weekends here in upstate New York. Part of her job includes cleaning a box built into the wall that contains used feminine hygiene products.

(as a guy I don't really know too much about this, any ladies on here feel free to elaborate on this...)

Now apparently these are supposed to have a bag in them that contains the waste for easy removal but this restaurant does not have one for some reason so she has to reach a (gloved) hand in and manually remove them for disposal.

While doing this last week she got pricked pretty deep with an unmarked needle that someone put in the box. She told her manager and filed for workers comp. They gave her one week of Medicine to try to prevent possible HIV or other viral contraction, and drew blood. When it came time for the refill a week later the pharmacy said they couldn't fill it until they talked to the adjusted for workers comp.

Four days later they still won't fill the prescription and said they haven't heard from the adjuster and her manager said that the company literally JUST changed insurance companies and that's why there are problems.

What we want to know is if there is any way we can go after the company legally for their lack of responsibility in not putting the bag in the box per protocol as this may have prevented her from having to stick her hand in the box and getting poked.

Thanks! Sorry for the text block!

Tl;dr girlfriend got poked by an unmarked needle in a tampon box at work. What's the best course of action?

Answer:
 Worker's comp is generally the exclusive remedy for on the job injuries.

While coverage is being figured out, go pay cash for that prescription and get a receipt.  It's important to take those meds in a timely manner.Answer #2: also, contact your states department of labor.  They will help prevent the next accident.


Title: Landlord isn't responding to any communication. Best way to avoid messing up a good thing?

Question:
For starters, the place I'm renting is like $500 cheaper than it should be, LL hasn't increased rent in over half a decade and I'd like to keep it that way by continuing to be a good tenant and also not annoying my LL.  Lastly, we are on month to month since we let our yearly lease expire a long time ago...just kept paying and living here.

We don't want to initiate a longterm lease right now as we are looking to buy a home this year and move out.

However, as of a few months ago, my LL hasn't responded to any of my communication.  A couple of issues have come up regarding broken stuff in the home that LL is responsible for (...being vague on purpose to remain anonymous).

Basically phone calls, voicemails and emails are not being responded to.  Rent has been paid early for over 5 years now, every single month directly from bank to bank, so I don't even have LL's current home address (they have moved to a new house during our tenancy). Just a phone number and email.

In your opinion, what's a good next step for trying to get in touch with LL without stressing them and reminded them we pay dirt cheap rent?  ;)  My worry is that asking for repairs on items in the home is going to cost them money and they may rethink the current rent price.

On the flip side, we've been excellent tenants taking well care of both inside/outside the home, which likely has encouraged LL to avoid pushing us out by not raising rent.  We are on good terms, I just don't want to change the vibe.

Answer: There are ways to force landlords to fulfill their obligations, naturally. If you choose not to take that route, your remaining option is to determine whether the repairs NEED to be done or if you can live with them until you end up moving into a house of your own. If they do *need* doing, how much does that cost you to do yourself? Weigh that cost against the risk of rocking the boat and having your landlord increase the rent.


Title: Spilled water and someone slips and dies..am I liable?

Question:
Let’s say I’m at a mall or a store and spill a cup of water. While going to get an employee or get a towel to clean it up, someone slips on The wet spot, hits their head, and dies.

Am I guilty of manslaughter?

Answer: No, because you didn't kill someone in the heat of passion (voluntary manslaughter) and spilling water isn't criminally negligent or a result of a criminal act (involuntary manslaughter). Accidental death pure and simple.


Title: [AZ, USA] I keep receiving harassing telemarketing calls from an auto glass shop even though I keep asking them to stop

Question:
A few years ago, I had our windshield replaced. I've been getting repeated phone calls much more often in the past few months. Every time they call, I ask them to stop, and they say ok but then I'll keep getting the calls.

After this most recent call yesterday, I've left complaints with the BBB, the FCC, the FTC, and the Arizona Attorney General.

I don't expect them to stop, so what can I do when they call me again? I know that Arizona law requires only one consenting party for recording phone calls. Does anyone happen to know the best way to do this on an iPhone?

Answer:
 What do you think recording the calls will do?

Block them. EZPZ.


Title: Grandparents Rights - Maryland

Question: [deleted]

Answer:
 So it seems that in MD, a grandparent can file for visitation as either a de facto parent, or as a third party. In order to be a de facto parent, they have to meet these four criteria:

The legal parent consented to and fostered the relationship between you and the child;
You have lived with the child;
You perform parental functions for the child to a significant degree; AND
A parent-child bond has been forged.  (To prove this, you may need to show that the bond has formed over enough time.)

This is a pretty high bar, and as long as MIL doesn't move in and take regular responsibility for some element of the child's upbringing, she can't file as a de facto parent.

In order to file and gain visitation as a third party, you would have to be shown to be an unfit parent, or that there is some exceptional circumstance that would negatively affect the well being of the child by denying the grandparent visitation ("a child needs their grandma!" isn't good enough to win visitation).


Title: Emotional Support Animal dog bite

Question:
My girlfriend suffers from a neuromusculoskelatal disability and has an Australian sheppard licensed as her Emotional Support Animal. When he was a puppy, he nipped our neighbor when she opened her apartment door. He was then registered as a dangerous dog for that incident.

Recently he bit nipped a different neighbor when they approached him outside while he was on his tiedown leash. So now my girlfriend has an impending "failure to control a dangerous dog" charge. Her court date is coming up and we should be able to get him out of the shelter at that point.

But we are also applying for a new apartment. When they do a tenant background check, they will see her charge, but no conviction yet. I am wondering if the landlord has the right to refuse our dog because of this charge and being "dangerous?" Or are they legally responsible to accommodate since he is an ESA?

Answer:
 Serious question: Doesn't having a dog that is repeatedly biting people to a point resulting in criminal charges cause the kind of anxiety that would sorta negate any emotional benefit from this "emotional support animal"?

Also, assuming you are in the US, there's no such thing as an emotional support animal license.


Title: Cop shows up at front door

Question:
So about a week and a half ago I had hit a parked car. After I had pulled up a couple blocks and pulled over an off duty officer who happened to be driving behind me got out. He ended up asking for my ID and left.

Now comes 11 days later he shows up in badge asking why I haven't reported my vehicle to insurance. I told him I haven't been able to as I had a busy week. He gives me a " driving without due care and attention"?

Now I am very well aware that I committed a hit and run. But if he witnessed it, why did he not charge me with a hit and run? Will my insurance company know about it when I go to claim it?

Basically I am just curious as to why I only got a " driving without due care attention" or will my insurance company have a nice hit and run charge waiting for me??

Answer:
 For all he knows you are paying out of pocket for repairs and not involving insurance.

His behavior is odd Imo.


Title: Can you receive alimony in prison? [CA]

Question: Let’s say your spouse gets sentenced to life in prison, do you still need to pay alimony to them?

Answer: [It depends](https://wrightfamilylaw.wordpress.com/2016/07/15/could-my-jailbird-ex-be-entitled-to-alimony-while-in-prison/). A life sentence would be a really good argument to bring to the court when arguing that the circumstances have changed, but you'd probably need a court order to replace the existing support order to end the obligation to pay. With a shorter sentence, the court could perhaps find good cause to require it to still be paid, but it would depend on the situation.


Title: Every time a trampoline is mentioned in a post, there is a flood of "destroy it immediately" comments. Here's an example of why.

Answer:
 Do not click on the "why" unless you like to see bones sticking though skin.

I would have appreciated a warning, frankly. Which is on the original source link.


Title: Berkeley San Fancisco - Breaking a lease - Earthquake

Question:
I was just enquiring how to handle our current housing situation and the legal obligation that accompany it.
We were desperate for accommodation this summer and stupidly signed a year lease when we only intended staying here 3 months. We told the leasing office this information and they said subletting would be easy as students will be coming back in september and they would do everything in their power to assist us. Unfortunately due to a serious of events (Visas expiring & other disasters) we have to leave a month early as the remaining few who still have valid visa, cannot afford to stay here on their own. We went down to the office to which they said they have to lease the other units before assisting us which is no help to us at all.

We have absolutely no problem forfeiting our deposit but we literally cannot afford to stay another month. So i just wanted to know what will happen to those who signed the lease. What will happen if they break the lease and return to their home country/ What will happen in the future if they every try to re-enter the country on a graduate/holiday/working visa?

Some other information, and I hate to mention this, is that we live in the same apartment complex as the berkeley victims and would have some ties to the victims and their friends, with some of the victims being our neighbors, which really put a damper on our entire stay here. We have to walk past the memorial every day to our apartment which is depressing in its own way.

On the news it states that the Bay area is about to experience the largest earthquake in awhile and it can happen "Any day now" http://news.sky.com/story/1523331/major-san-francisco-quake-expected-any-day-now

Im probably completely out of my depth here but the balcony which collapsed couldn't hold the 13 people on it due to the construction company cutting corners, resulting in the death of 6 people (same company that faced a 3million lawsuit for cutting corners when constructing other previous property). The apparent was advertised as earthquake proof but who really knows giving the construction companies past and the balcony collapsing due to negligence on the companies part. Who's to say that when the earthquake hits the entire complex wont come down? Is it possible to claim we don't feel safe here, is that a reason for contract termination? Anyway I know nothing and I probably just watch to much suits.

Any advice appreciated.

Answer:
 That news report about a future earthquake is 100% false. Literally every time there is a slight tremor in SF, some random news outlet publishes practically this exact same story. San Francisco is overdue for a big earthquake; it could happen at 7pm this evening, or it could happen on April 5, 2039. There is literally no way to prove or falsify either of those claims.  Answer #2: Possible future earthquake is not a reason to break a lease. Your landlord does not have a legal obligation to let you out of the lease early or help you find a replacement.

I think it is possible but unlikely that the landlord would try to pursue you civilly (especially out of country) but there is no criminal charge involved.

I find it unlikely that breaking the lease would affect your re-entry into the U.S. but I am definitely not familiar with this area of law.Answer #3: Well, it was daft to sign that lease, but I'm guessing you know that now.
People have been claiming Califoria is about to fall off into the sea for decades. A potential future earthquake is not a good reason to break a lease.

However, the Irish Immigrant Pastoral Center in San Fransisco will likely be able to advise you. Outreach centres often provide lawyers etc. (They have been excellent in supporting those affected by the Berkley Tragedy, as you probably know.)


Title: Forced to comply with grooming policy in opposition of religious beliefs

Question:
A month ago I was approached by a supervisor asking me why I was not clean shaven. I informed him that I had not shaven due to my religious beliefs. He then asked me to write a report detailing a request for religious accommodation. I wrote the report and was told 4-5 days later that the boss had sent it their counsel.

After almost 3 weeks of waiting for a response to my request I had not been forced to shave, nor did any other supervisors bring up the issue. I was never approached requesting any further documentation. I was then ordered to shave. I was told that the company could not consider my request because I had began practicing that tenet of my religion before I got their approval. I was told directly by my boss that if I did not shave I would be written up on a formal disciplinary which could impact my future with the company. I was also told that if I shaved and submitted a new request it would be considered. I ended up shaving out of fear that I could lose my job if I continued not to shave. The company employs over 200 people and does not have a policy that governs the protocol for requesting religious accommodations.

I am currently continuing to shave against my beliefs and am awaiting a response from them. I have been straightforward with everything they have asked of me, and when I had my meeting with my boss I brought in a union rep to act as a witness. I was told that I needed to provide more documentation in regards to my request. When I asked what documentation they were looking for I was told "It is not my responsibility to research your religion, you need to research and provide documentation." I have submitted a very lengthy report that covers more than what could be reasonably asked of me, but I am still shaving due to fear that I could be disciplined.

Have my rights been violated?
Is this normal in the process of requesting a religious accommodation?
I can not think of an undue hardship that would prevent anyone from having facial hair. In fact our company had a relaxed grooming policy for movember in which all employees could grow beards from Nov 1st until Dec 31st with no issues. The grooming policy is not uniformly enforced, other people are allowed to violate verbiage in the same policy, such as piercings and unnatural hair colors, but only allows beards that are a medical necessity due to skin conditions.

I have documented this and much more in reports that I have submitted and have kept copies signed by a supervisor in case the reports go missing. The head boss does not think beards look professional and I believe they have acted in bad faith trying to prevent me from practicing my religion. Is there anything I can do?

Answer:
 This is a clear violation of Title VII of the Civil Rights Act.  You can report it to the EEOC.  There is no requirement to provide documentation, provided that it is a "sincerely held" religious belief.

Unfortunately, by starting to shave, you have hurt the strength of your case.  But I think you still have a strong argument.Answer #2: Just for next time, don't shave or do anything against your religious beliefs while trying to fight something like this.

It gives a defence for the company such that "you shaved, therefore you admitted that you don't follow this religion and therefore have not had any religious rights violated".