Title: (RI) My mortgage was bought and sold twice within a week starting on Aug 20, 2015, now both buyers feel theyre owed the payment I paid on Sept 1st 2015 to my original mortgage bank. What are my rights for harrasment, credit affected, and time wasted trying to resolve?

Question:
(Rhode Island) Basically should I waste any time trying to sue either bank for the 1 year of harrasment for the payment that has negatively impacted my credit, along with the countless hours and hours on the phone trying to resolve the issue of who is owed what over the past year+.  I want to sue for the many hours of wasted time trying to resolve only for it to sit unresolved.

BACKGROUND: Original bank sold my loan on Aug 20th 2015, to one bank, who then immediately sold it to another, I think the same day. Now both banks are requesting payment for the Sept 1st due date.  I had auto payment thru my bank and paid the normal mortgage payment to the original bank on Sept 1st 2015. Original bank never forwarded the check to either of the 2 new banks that bought my loan.

Any advice would be greatly appreciated, I just feel I am being jerked around and have no power to do anything about it. I wasted hours and hours trying to resolve with no resolution other than both banks wanting that Sept 1st payment.

Answer:
 What happens if my mortgage servicer changes? What do I do?

If the servicing rights for your loan are sold and you get a new servicer, your old and new servicers must notify you of the transfer of the servicing rights to your loan. The notice should disclose to you the date on which your old servicer will stop accepting payments and the date on which your new servicer will begin to accept payments. It should also disclose the new servicer’s name, customer inquiry address, telephone number for an employee or department of the new servicer, and the effective transfer date.

If your loan servicer changes, carefully review your monthly mortgage statement to confirm that your payments are being accurately credited. Failure to send your payments to the right servicer after you receive notification that the servicing rights on your loan have been sold could result in your payments not being credited properly.

Additionally, for 60 days beginning on the effective transfer date of the servicing rights from your previous servicer to your new servicer, your new servicer cannot charge you a late fee or treat the payment as late if you sent it to you previous servicer on time or within the applicable grace period.

[consumer.gov](http://www.consumerfinance.gov/askcfpb/215/what-happens-if-my-mortgage-servicer-changes-what-do-i-do.html)

Answer #2: You can't sue for wasted time.  You can instead choose not to deal with them outside of a courtroom and dispute any negative mark on your credit they try to create.


Title: Can I sell a book and promise to intend to marry someone that buys it legally?

Question: [deleted]

Answer:
 > Figured wtf

Yea wtf pretty well sums your question.


Title: My aunt stole my inheritance. What can I do?

Question:
My(F/23) grandfather died when I was 13, and left my sister and I each an inheritance to collect when we turned 21. My aunt (my grandfather's daughter and my dad's sister) was the executor of his estate, and handled everything when he died. My dad trusted her to put our money in accounts until we were old enough.

My aunt lives on the other side of the country, and my dad and her would occasionally talk. Months before my 21st, my aunt stopped taking my dad's calls. As I turned 21, I messaged her on Facebook to ask about the details of my inheritance. She then blocked me and the rest of my family on social media. My dad contacted the lawyer that dealt with my grandfather's will. Turns out, the lawyer left the firm, and now his brother runs the place. He told us that his brother never made sure the money was in accounts for my sister and I, he just took my aunt's word because they were friends...

This lawyer was quite helpful at first, and didn't ask for any payment. He acknowledged that his brother messed up and that he was now responsible. My dad and I travelled to go speak with him. He advised that we check my grandfather's bank for an account in my name or my aunt's. No such luck. He then sent an official letter to my aunt for her to sign. She refused it, and threatened to sue him because he was her lawyer. He freaked out and refused to speak with us anymore.
Since then, we've gotten a few lawyers that knew my grandfather, and they tried to contact my aunt, but nothing has worked, and they're obviously hesitant to sue the lawyer that messed up. I'm also aware that we need a lawyer that practices in the same state the will was (Pennsylvania). Also, were hesitant to actually take my aunt to court, as the lawyer fees might cost a great deal of what the inheritance is ($20,500) especially since she keeps refusing.
Any suggestions I would really appreciate. thank you!

Edit: thank you for all your suggestions, I really appreciate it. Going to get the ball rolling on this case, and I'll report back hopefully sometime soon.
Topic:
Other Civil Matters

Answer:
 Contact the bar association in PA and ask them to make a  recommendation specifically for estate law. Consultations are typically free, and the estate lawyer will be able to review the details and advise you on the best course of action.Answer #2: > Also, were hesitant to actually take my aunt to court, as the lawyer fees might cost a great deal of what the inheritance is ($20,500) especially since she keeps refusing.

Consulting with a lawyer to get their opinion on the options in your case is normally free. I suspect that if the facts are as you describe them then you could sue your aunt not only for the money she failed to protect for you but also for your legal costs in suing her. But the lawyer could tell you better in the consultation you're going to do over the phone.Answer #3: I'd not only sue for the money, but also the loss in gains.. nearly 10 years @ 20.5k?  Or is it 20.5k for you and your sister?Answer #4: I wonder if the aunt paid taxes on the money she stole.   Might be some IRS trouble for her.


Title: HUGE cover charges at bars near Wrigley in Chicago during World Series - is it legal or gouging?

Answer:
 Gouging (at least the illegal type) is limited to necessities and times of crisis (like hotel rooms during an evacuation, or gas prices during a blizzard.

Not only is this not illegal, it's pretty much the perfect illustration of capitalism. If this was illegal than how could hotels/restaurants raise prices for Valentines Day, NYE, etc?

That said, I understand why you would ask. Cubs fans have never actually had to deal with the inflated prices that come with winning before.


Title: 3 day notice to rid of a dog I don't have or evicted. (California)

Question:
So on the 13th I got a paper stuck on my door from management telling me to rid of a dog I don't have within three days or I will be forced to turn in the apartment. The only time I had a dog in my home is a few days ago when my brother came over with his tiny harmless toy poodle. I have tried going to the manager's office several times a day since the 13th and it has been closed.

Anything I can do if the manager tries to be a dick and still tries to make me turn in the apartment?
Topic:
Landlord Tenant Housing

Answer:
 All you need to do here is respond with a letter that you do not have a dog, nor did you ever have a dog, and that the dog which visited for  an afternoon will not be returning.

I'm assuming the lease is clear that no pets are allowed. The facts that it is tiny, harmless, and a poodle are irrelevant.


Title: Need help regarding a speeding ticket.

Question:
Anyways, I was pulled over for apparently doing 125 on the highway when the speed limit was 100km/hr. On the ticket the officer did not check whether he got me with the radar or estimated he left that section blank. Does that make the ticket void?

I also know for a fact i wasnt doing 125, although i was doing over 100 i had my cruise control set to under 120 at 115-117.

As the officer had me pulled over i pulled out my phone to text my sister to let her know i would be late to pick her up. The officer threatened to give me a $280 ticket for distracted driving even though i was safely pulled over with my hazard lights on.

Another thing i dont understand is that he claimed i started doing 125 after i passed him, if he didnt radar me why did he start randomly following me claiming that i only started speeding after i followed him. Does he have probable cause to randomly start following me since he was on the side of the road?

Thanks for any1 who has a reasonable response/knows what they are talking about.

I live in alberta canada btw

Answer:
 He didn't "randomly" start foowing you.

You were speeding, by your own admission.

Answer #2: You sound like a major jackass. Take that a attitude to court and have fun with your fine! Maybe you'll grow up a little


Title: Proving residence in an area as a baby a while ago.

Question: [deleted]

Answer:
 Have you tried census records? If she was there in 1960, they would list her age.

There may be a genealogy subreddit that could help you find the information you're looking for.


Title: Been scammed out of around $450

Question:
Hello r/legaladvice,
I need your help regarding a friend of mine, let's call him Josh. My friend lives in Pennsylvania and has recently been scammed/robbed of $450.

What happened was that there was this guy, we'll call him Rob, who was going around Josh's neighborhood asking people if they needed outdoor work and if so call him. Now Josh lives in a perfectly nice area, suburban middle class, nothing ever goes wrong there. Josh asks Rob to come power wash his house and fix up the driveway (the winter did a number on it). He got a quote of $1200 from Rob in which Rob asked for a $600 deposit, in cash (these sorts of transactions always happen here, people don't like paying taxes) Nothing wrong so far, right?

Now is where the trouble began, Rob said that he would come on Monday to take care of everything and that he'll need 8 hours. Monday came and went, Josh called Rob and asked him what happened. Rob said that he needed to get his blade fixed, he needed it for the driveway. Couple more days go by and finally Rob comes around and power washes the house, Josh was relieved something happened. Now all that was left was the driveway, Rob calls a couple days later and says that he can't do the driveway and he'll refund Josh $450. Josh understands and asks Rob to come over the next day to drop it off. The next day comes and goes and this happens for about a week. Now Josh is mad, he has been calling Rob every day and Rob is avoiding his calls.

What can Josh do? The only way to get in touch with Rob is by phone, there was no email or address given.

tldr: friend asked guy to do work, guy did half now won't return deposit

Answer:
 Small claims court is really his only option.

Well, or chalk this up as a $450 life lesson.


Title: Landlord only wants boyfriends name on lease, not mine (Massachusetts)

Question:
So, my boyfriend and I found an apartment we may want to rent. About four years ago, my old apartment complex sent my final move out bill (~$200) to the wrong address or didn't send it all, and I didn't find out about it until it was already with a collections agency. (I did try disputing it, but that's a story for another day.)

Because of this, the landlord only wants my boyfriends name on the lease and not mine. The lease specifically states that no one not named on the lease would be allowed to live there. We asked them about removing that clause from the lease or adding a note that I would be allowed to live there, but they said no. They've said verbally a few times that I can live there but won't put anything in writing - not even an email. We have an email from the realtor stating that I have permission to live there but that's it.

The only reason I'm still (kind of) considering this apartment is because there's not much left in our price range for our desired move-in date (11/1).

What are the potential ramifications of me living there without being on the lease? Could they make me leave at any time for any reason since I wouldn't be on there?

Thank you!!!
Topic:
Landlord Tenant Housing

Answer:
 > We asked them about removing that clause from the lease or adding a note that I would be allowed to live there, but they said no.

Don't rely on a verbal agreement; if the landlord's not willing to put this in writing, assume your landlord will eventually want to enforce the lease as written. This may lead to your boyfriend being evicted for subletting against his lease, since the proposed arrangement would make you your boyfriend's subtenant.

You'll have to find another place to live, with or without your boyfriend.Answer #2: > What are the potential ramifications of me living there without being on the lease? Could they make me leave at any time for any reason since I wouldn't be on there?

Likely not. But they could evict you *and* your boyfriend in the usual manner.


Title: [AZ] Veterinarian faked my name onto a bill and sent it to collections

Question:
Hi all. My dad has a different first and last name than me and when he took his cat to the same vet that I've taken my cats to, he didn't pay his bill of $125. He's gotten letters to pay the bill and he didn't. Last week I got a call from a collections agency, looking for "myname apoorattemptatmydadsfirstname mylastname". They said that I have to pay the debt or they'll report it to the credit bureaus within 30 days, so I paid it over the phone (despite a past attorney's advice that I shouldn't acknowledge the debt).

I have a statement in front of me that has my dad's correct name on it and not a mention of my name. I also have a statement from the collections agency with my incorrect name on it for the same debt.

Is this legal and do I have any recourse? Thanks!
Topic:
Credit Debt Bankruptcy

Answer: it's possible there was just a clerical error at the vet. but when you paid the bill you acknowledged the debt as legitimate and belonging to you. you should never ever pay anything that's not yours. you can go after your dad and ask him to pay you back for his bill, but it's gonna be an uphill battle for you if he says no


Title: Tags taken for no insurance reported to DMV

Question: I'm in Maryland. My brother in law was pulled over and the cops took his tags and left him on the side of the road because he had no insurance reported to the DMV. He just bought the truck at carmax, had insurance through his carrier, but they wouldn't accept it because it wasn't reported. Is this a fault of the dealership that processed his tag and title, or was he supposed to report it?

Answer:
 IANAL, live in MD. Depends on what "just bought the car" means. Sounds like your BIL messed up, insurance isn't the dealership's job. After buying the car he needed to call his insurance and update them, then they would contact the DMV. They usually can backdate it to when you bought the car. BIL then brings his proof of insurance (which he's supposed to keep in his car) to court.

If BIL had valid insurance he needs to call his agent to tell them they need to update their info with the DMV. Has that happen once, got a letter saying I needed to have insurance, agent sent a fax to the DMV to fix it.


Title: 24 y/o dating a 16y/o

Question:
Hi everyone, II really need some advice. My sister is 24 years old and she studied sociology to specially work with troubled teens and young adults. She worked for this program where troubled teens had to live on that campus and work out their issues. A couple months passed, and my sister was terminated! She said it was because there was a rumor of her kissing a student there.

More months passed, and my sister finally told us that she has been dating the student who's also a female and is only 16!!!! This teen is now out of the program and apparently her family is okay with her dating my sister (24 years old). So I guess there's the consent? but however, this teen is troubled and ghetto and she might be spiteful one day and completely fuck my sister over!

We live in Massachusetts.

Answer:
 While it is legal of a 24 year old to date a 16 year old, you can be fired for it. It may be illegal even, since she was in a position of authority over the minor.Answer #2: 1.  Your sister did something that was not only gross but quite likely illegal when she dated someone she was counseling.

2.  If she ever wants to be licensed as a therapist this would likely be a serious problem.

3.  This child may some day wake up and realize how fucked up it is to have a relationship with a counselor.  That's not spitefulness.  The wrong & liability is on your sister.Answer #3: It's not consent, what your sister is doing is absolutely abusive and is governed by many states' child abuse / statutory rape guidelines if they're having sex, and needs to stop immediately.  She needs to change careers and stop this relationship.


Title: [CA] A cop pulled me over for texting while driving. I wasn't texting while driving. Now I have to prove it in traffic court, the most vile of all courts.

Question: This is a pretty stupid story but it's something I need to deal with so bear with me. A few weeks back I was driving next to a cop on the highway. I knew he was there so I was being particularly cautious. I had my phone plugged into my car charger, resting in my cup holder in front of my transmission, so the screen was visible to me but too far away to use. Then, because my phone is stupid, it reset itself, and did that bright flashy number phones are apt to do when they reset. It was a dark night and the flashing was very distracting, to the point where I considered it hazardous. I quickly reached over and flipped the phone around so that the screen wasn't facing towards me. It was a risky call to do so with a cop right next to me, and it didn't pay off. The sirens went off and I had to explain to the officer that, while I understood that the phone ceased to be a hands-free device while I was holding it, I did so out of necessity for the safety of myself and the drivers around me. I even showed him (and screnshotted) evidence that I hadn't received or sent any calls or texts since I'd started driving. He issued me a traffic court date to defend my case, but I don't know what kind of evidence will be admissible when I go in for it, or if my side of the story is even worth telling. Should I eat the fee or is there something defensible to the story above?

Answer: If you talked to a lawyer, chances are they're going to tell you that the statute is the statute.  All that cop knows is you were driving and had your phone out.  The statute criminalizes using a wireless communication device while operating a vehicle regardless if you were texting, shuffling music or browsing Facebook.  It doesn't have an exemption for 'but I took a screenshot' or 'I was just turning off the screen'Answer #2: Contact your provider for a log of times you texted and prove you weren't Answer #3: No one wins in traffic court especially pro per.  Hire an attorney or give it a shot,  my guess is they find you guilty but may still let you do traffic school.


Title: My dad's small business is going belly up because his partner thinks everything is a business expense

Question:
Harris County/Galveston County, Texas

My dad has a small construction business. Equal ownership with his partner. Dad does not have a car so his partner picks him up from Galveston to do the jobs. The jobs are in our area (Harris County) so he would have had to have driven up here anyway.

My dad kinda stopped getting paid, and he questioned his partner about the books and was forbidden to see them. My dad got a statement from the bank (he's on the account) and saw that the business account was over $1000 in the hole.

My dad does not have a bank card associated with the business, only his partner. My dad got the statement and saw charges for the following:

* iTunes
* Personal Storage unit
* Trips to Walmat, Randalls, Buccees, and a whole lot of transactions at Galveston corner stores for ~$5 (business partner is a smoker)
* Truck payments (truck not owned by company and not fully owned by my dad's business partner) and insurance
* Gas receipts for EVERYTHING (even his 4 hour trip with his wife that isn't business related at all)

Most of the transactions ended up getting a $38 NSF fee, and Monday (a few days ago) they were supposed to do a job for a customer. They gave them $1200, and on Monday the account was negative $35.

We got a check issued by my dad's partner at the beginning of the month for his pay, and with permission of his partner we ordered pizza two times with the card (being told there were funds in the account, with every intent to pay the company back). Not knowing our 3 transactions ended up with 3 separate $38 overdraft fees.

My dad's business partner forfeited his first few paychecks to put back into the business whereas my dad took a small paycheck, which they both agreed upon. Now his partner told him that he's entitled to his money whenever he wants. He's also saying that iTunes, all of the gas, all of the truck payment, and all of the insurance is to be paid by the business because it's a "business expense" even though he uses the truck for personal reasons.

Can/should my dad take legal action?

Answer:
 You're dad needs to stop doing business with this man. Not sure how it could be any clearer.

As for legal action, if he's authorized to use the accounts, your dad most likely has no recourse. Answer #2: OMG I cannot even imagine your dad and his partner's tax situation. You should desperately hope you do not get audited. Disentangle business and personal expenses *immediately.*


Title: Neighbors stealing mail, can I press charges if I catch them on camera?

Question:
[deleted]
Topic:
Criminal Law

Answer: Call the postal inspection services and they'll look into it. (They're police, but for the post specifically)


Title: Might Be Subpoenaed. Don't wanna be Subpoenaed.

Question:
So 3 years ago a man I worked closely with killed two of his family members. He had schizophrenia and had been in and out of hospitals beforehand. I was still shocked when I found out what he'd done to his family, never seemed the type to do anything that crazy.
Anyways, the past week I start getting phone calls and a letter from these lawyers representing his hospital. Apparently his brother has now decided to sue them for negligent care and wrongful deaths. The lawyers found out I worked with him, including the night of the murders, and want to interview me and potentially use me as a witness in the hospitals defense as to what his state of mind was. I ignored the lawyers at first but then her messages started mentioning me getting subpoena'd for an interview. They even went so far as to call my wife at her job which freaked her out as she had never even met the guy in question.
After this, i called the one lawyer lady back. She wants me to come in tomorrow, i told her I'd think about it.
What do I do? I definitely don't want to get dragged into any courtroom proceedings.

Answer: You do it voluntarily or end up doing it involuntary with a subpoena.


Title: Potential Scam / Im Terrified

Question: Throwaway Account. Im 20, living in Arizona. I met a girl on OkCupid whos profile said 18, we had texted for roughly 2/3 days and she had sent a photo of her in underwear which I had not requested. Today I recieved a call from an angry “father” claiming that his wife had found the messages of his 17 Year old daughter and I, and had gotten into a fight with her. They had broken a glass door. He now is expecting me to pay him $2400 or else the Police will be contacted. Am I in real danger here? What are my options regarding ignoring contact and or verifying the reality of said situation?

Answer: This is a common scam. Usually they "broke a computer" or "she needs therapy," glass door is an interesting twist. But I assure you there's no girl and you're fine.


Title: DUI arrest with no conviction showing up on background check

Question: About four years ago, my wife made the poor decision to get behind the wheel after drinking a little too much.  She was pulled over, arrested, and taken to jail.  I bailed her out shortly after and it was in the newspaper the next day.  Long story short, through some sort of connection, she was able to basically have the paperwork just "left in a desk" somewhere and nothing else ever happened.  Basically, someone in the department was in the position to do us a large favor and did.  It is well past the statue of limitations.  She recently applied for a state license for her job (not going to mention what that is here) and just received an email stating that something has shown up on her criminal background check.  They want proof that there was no conviction, or paperwork, or an affidavit explaining the situation.  We don't even remember the name of the officer who helped us and really don't want to get anyone in trouble, but at the same time have to show the board the info that they requested.  We are going to consult a lawyer, but I thought I'd post here before we start making calls to lawyers tomorrow.  And by the way, she has not driven under the influence since that day.  Any thoughts would be appreciated.  Thank you.

Answer:
 >It is well past the statue of limitations.

Lord help both of you. If this is the result of a "favor" this was no favor, because the statute of limitation doesn't apply if someone actively hid the evidence which it sounds like to me. This sounds like tampering or even worse. You need to speak to this attorney you have retained and do exactly what he or she recommends.


Title: My mother's vehicle was parked next to a golf course yesterday and was hit with a golf ball, causing damages to the windshield and the roof. She just got a call from somebody at the golf course saying that they are not responsible for any of the damages.

Question:
My mother works at a salon in San Antonio Texas, which is located next to a golf course. She has been working there for many years and has never had any problems.

Yesterday afternoon she noticed her front windshield was busted in a size of a golf ball as she was leaving work. She contacted the police and got a police report. The police officer also noticed couple of dents on the roof of her car, which he assumed was due to the golf ball bouncing on it after hitting the windshield. She also contacted the golf course yesterday and this morning she got a call back from someone that works there and was told that they are not responsible for any damages and basically this is her problem (they problem that they caused).

My mother's car is leased and she has full coverage insurance, however I don't think she should be held responsible and go through our own insurance to pay for the damages, specially when she has to pay a deductible.

Can someone please provide some advise in regards to this situation. Please let me know if you need additional information.

Thank you, I really appreciate it.

Answer: She should go through her insurance, absolutely. If there is a claim to be pressed against the golf course, the insurance will pursue it as a subrogation claim. The whole reason you have insurance is so that they figure this shit out for you. Report the damage, let them take over. Delaying reporting will only hurt her in the long rung.


Title: How can we let police know that a missing person report for someone (19F) should not be taken seriously when she is not able to talk to them in person?

Question:
Hi all, I posted previously [here](https://www.reddit.com/r/legaladvice/comments/br7xvz/19f_running_away_from_abusive_parents_help_needed/) and got very helpful responses so I'm back for more advice.

&#x200B;

Situation: friend is soon to be leaving an abusive home and cutting contact with her parents to attend school out of state. Her parents will most likely call the police, report her as a missing person, and try to get her back any way they can. We want to make sure that her parents won't use the police to track her down and find out where she is staying (this has happened to another friend of ours and we don't want to take any chances) . I asked about this in the previous post but all of the answers involved her going to a police station in person to let them know she's alright, which she can't do because her mother won't let her leave the house without her supervision. Once we pick up my friend from her house, we're going straight to the airport and we don't have time to go to a police station. After she lands, she'll be staying at a homeless shelter before she can move in to school dorms.

&#x200B;

Questions:

&#x200B;

1- If she gets some friends to go to the police in her place and explain her situation, will it be enough to ensure that they don't take her parents' report seriously? Would something like an affidavit be required?

&#x200B;

2-  She's looking for her ssn and birth certificate, but in case she doesn't find them, can social workers at the shelter help her get them (along with a passport, bank account, and other important things)?

&#x200B;

3- Can social workers also help her communicate with the police that she's not a missing person?

&#x200B;

Thanks

Answer: How is she going to board a plane without identification?


Title: scratched someone's car, they were over the parking spot line

Question:
[USA]  I tried pulling into a tight spot on private property (shopping center) and scratched one of the cars' bumper.

I'm awaiting an estimate but do I have any legal ground if the car was over the line marking the parking spaces? It was one of the line markings that have two lines, the car was over their line, but not into mine.

Answer:
 > I'm awaiting an estimate but do I have any legal ground if the car was over the line marking the parking spaces?

No. You are still responsible for hitting a stationary object while driving.Answer #2: Parking space lines are in no way a legally binding boundary. You damaged a stationary vehicle, it doesn't matter if it was parked sideways across six spots. It was parked in a parking area, so yes you're at fault.Answer #3: > do I have any legal ground if the car was over the line marking the parking spaces?

State laws vary, so it's impossible to answer reliably. But you are likely 100% at fault for striking a stationary object.


Title: How can I make sure that I get custody of my dog?

Question:
Situation: My ex-girlfriend and I adopted a dog together five years ago. We both live in Illinois. We broke up a few years later, so we split custody of our dog 50/50 - swapping off and on about every other month. Things have been civil and polite between us thus far.

She is moving to another state, and she is wanting to take our dog with her. The dog is still registered to my address (she moved out - I own the place). He is about 8 or 9 (unsure as he was a rescue). He shouldn't have to move across the country, and I want to ensure that if she moves that he stays in Illinois with me.

She had previously told me she was the only one who signed the adoption papers, but I contacted the shelter, and they resent me the agreement which we BOTH signed.

She has access to a good lawyer... what can I do to best make my case? He is currently in her custody, and I am worried she is just going to leave with him. If this is the case, should I get law enforcement involved? What is the best course of action?

Answer:
 Someone else will have to jump in with the advice but just wanted to clear up the following.

Law enforcement won't care because it's a civil issue, there's no such thing as dog custody. Animals are seen as property in the eyes of the law, same as an Xbox or a jacket.Answer #2: Whoever pays for the dogs vet/grooming bills will most likely get the dog if it comes to a legal dispute. Animals are property.Answer #3: Unless your dog is like some rare, registered pedigree, you're only owed the dollar value of one similar dog even if you go you court and win. In this situation, it seems like possession is nine tenths of the law.


Title: [Texas] Employer cancelled my order after I quit so I lost my employee discount?

Question: [deleted]

Answer: It might be against company policy, but it's not illegal.


Title: Roommate is refusing sublets

Question:
I tried to get a sublet for my old apartment starting September 1st. Since Late August I’ve been in my new apartment with my girlfriend.

My old roommate is kind of a slob, pretty damn racist, really picky about who his roommate is, and has an overly aggressive 70lb dog that isn’t allowed in the apartment.

I had several people come look at the apartment. A few were scared off because of his dog, or couldn’t move in because his dog would attack their pet. The others who were willing weren’t to my roommates liking. One was too old, one had mild autism, and one was black. He’s told me explicitly in person he isn’t comfortable around black people or old people. He won’t room with a girl either. So I’ve been strung along paying $400 a month ever since, and he says he has a Craigslist ad and is trying. But I’ve seen no progress.

My baggage: I also broke the apartment no dog rule. My girlfriends dog came over often without the apartments permission. And I had a puppy for 3 weeks there that chewed a little on the carpet. The carpet was already old and my roommate and his dog did far more damage to it than the puppy did. But still I broke those rules.

What can I do?

Location lawrence ks

Meadowbrooke apartments

Answer:
 I highly doubt he cares what you find for a roomate.

Atm he has an apartment to himself for half the price.

Everyone is going to ask about the lease details for breaking the lease early i bet.


Title: [IL] Can I sue my father-in-law for money owed to me from a handshake business deal?

Question:
In mid April 2014 I became unofficial partners with my father-in-law. We made a handshake deal where he would pay me a guaranteed $20k at the end of the year.

On paper, it looked like I worked for him. The end of the year rolled around and I got a 1099. He told me he couldn't pay me yet because he had a problem with his mortgage and if he didn't use the money to pay the bank, he and his family would lose the house and become homeless.

To make a long story short, it's coming up on 5 years and he hasn't paid me a penny. I looked up the statute of limitations on verbal agreements in Illinois and it's exactly 5 years. Is it possible to sue him for this and win? Thanks in advance for any help!
Topic:
Contracts

Answer: Yes, it’s possible. A verbal agreement is a contract. “Are you willing to possibly destroy your marriage?” is also something you need to consider.


Title: Requesting to remove nudes taken of self while underage from website?

Answer: Uh. Yeah. You need to talk to a lawyer and not us. You have produced child pornography.


Title: Oklahoma - Buy mom mother's house to save her $$

Question:
My mother has a history of making poor financial decisions which currently leaves her in a position where she owes more on the house than it's worth (after taking out a 2nd mortgage some time ago).  She also, as a result has horrible credit history.  I on the other hand, have very good to great credit scores.  I was considering "buying" her house form her, so that I could get a better rate, that she could more easily afford to pay.  Or could refinancing with me as a co-owner help?  Or might she just be better off filing for bankruptcy?
Topic:
Credit Debt Bankruptcy

Answer: Are you financially prepared to make all payments on this house? Your mother's history of poor financial decisions will most likely continue, leaving you holding the bag.


Title: School did not send recommendation and then later did not send transcript in timely manner. Can I sue or give them any ramifications?

Question:
Hi, I'm in Florida and my Florida high school did not send my transcript to my Florida college before the deadline.

Before this the same district has done incompetent things, like take a full year to enter in my grades acter moving there which made it so I had to wait to take SAT in senior year. After numerous emails reminding my counselor after they agreed to send a recommendation, my counselor failed to send it at all which caused me to get rejected from every school where it is a requirement, making me essentially waste all my application fees.

My high school promised to send out transcripts after filling out a card when I graduated saying where to send it. All grades have already been entered in the online unofficial transcript. After the college emailing me to tell me the deadline is coming up, I called the registrar and was told they had to wait until the End of July for state testing when a Florida Public University expects it at the beginning of July. The university admissions person I called said this was untrue. They were emailled repeatedly for all these issues and I have documentation for every single thing and written verification from the registrar that they have not sent it. This has made it so I have holds to register for classes. I was also told intro classes for my major fill up fast and I probably won't get into most this first semester and have essentially wasted nonrenewable scholarships on my first year. Can I take any legal action or at least get this registrar written up for incompetence (even though they are only at fault for 2 of these issues)?

Answer:
 First and foremost, explain to the college registrar that your high school is delaying sending out any transcripts for reasons beyond your control.  Ask if the hold can be lifted so you can register, and if they say no, speak to the dean of students.  They may have the clout to ensure that you get into classes.

You can complain to the school board that your high school administration is causing students to not be able to move on to college due to their slowness and see if they take action.

You can also contact the [Department of Education](http://www.fldoe.org/contact-us) and make a complaint.  They won't like this, either.

Besides that, you can consult with an education attorney to see if there is any other course of legal action you can take against your high school.  There may be federal guidelines the school has to follow in regards to sending this documentation out in a timely manner, but I wasn't able to quickly find it.


Title: [PA] Sister-In-Law Has Discontinued Treatment For Her Multiple Sclerosis. Does Her Family Have Any Options?

Question:
Background: About a year ago my SIL discontinued taking her MS medication and stopped seeing her neurologist after a friend passed away from side effects related to an experimental MS treatment (a different treatment than my SIL is prescribed).

Her husband is obviously upset but was keeping her secret for some time. After a hospitalization this past winter he disclosed to my SIL's mother (my MIL). My MIL, not sure how to proceed, disclosed to my wife. My wife disclosed to me but did not confront her sister. I know that my SIL's husband and my MIL have both tried talking to SIL but so far the medicine is just being stockpiled. She's, for whatever reason, filling the prescriptions and then not taking the medicine.

She seems to be having another flair and my wife just confronted her and told her she knows what's going on. SIL said she's going to get back on her meds and see her neurologist next week. I don't believe that at all.

So my question is: can her husband or mother schedule doctors visits on her behalf? Maybe if the visits were scheduled she'd be more relenting and go see the doctor? More importantly; under what circumstances could non-optional mental health assistance become an option? To me it seems crazy she wouldn't be trying to slow down this disease. She has a husband and young daughter who would both strongly prefer she remain mobile for as long as possible.

TL;DR - What are the options and limits of family members trying to convince/compel someone with a chronic, debilitating illness to engage in treatment?

Answer:
 You're asking if you can force medical treatment on her she doesn't want? This is her decision not yours.Answer #2: If the doctor's office allows a third party to schedule an appointment, then they can.  My doctor would allow this. Obviously she doesn't have to go and cancellation fees may be attached. Obviously this could have a negative impact on their marriage.

> More importantly; under what circumstances could non-optional mental health assistance become an option?

 Does she actually have mental health issues? If there is a point at which her choices can be made for her, simply declining to pursue treatment is not it.Answer #3: Unfortunately, if she is 18+ and of sound mind and competent, you cannot force her to take her medication or seek treatment. At the very least, I would suggest therapy for her if she is not seeing someone already. I'm sure she is struggling seeing the people around her pass away from the same illness. A therapist may also be able to help her family convey why this is so important in a way that is meaningful and compelling to your SIL.


Title: Ohio- Driving Under Suspension(Unique)

Question: [deleted]

Answer:
 The only person responsible for your decision to get behind the wheel is you. The whole story leading up to _why_ you made that decision is, from a legal perspective, irrelevant, except in as much as it supports the proposition that you knew your license was suspended and chose to drive anyways.

Given that you have two separate outstanding traffic infractions related to not having the things you are legally required to have in order to drive, and that you have a long track record of infractions, odds are very good that the judge will be completely unsympathetic this time. Get a lawyer, shut up, and let your lawyer do what they do, but there's a fairly good chance you will not be able to legally drive for years after this, and a very good chance that you come away with a criminal record. Driving under suspension is a misdemeanour offence, i.e., a real criminal charge, and while the penalty is relatively light as criminal offences go, explaining your criminal record to _security companies_ is not going to improve your life.

Whatever your lawyer manages to arrange, stick with it. If you have to drive or you'll be late for work, be late for work. If you have to drive or you'll get fired, get fired. If you have to drive or someone will die, call 911 instead. It's trite, but driving really is a privilege, and it's within the judge's authority to bar you from ever getting behind the wheel again as long as you live.


Title: Sister's ex is refusing to do the custodial exchange tonight, refusing to tell us where he or the child are.

Question:
New York State

He is required to return my niece to her mother(my sister) at 6pm. He's been texing all morning that he doesnt want to send her back because it is snowing. He refuses to tell her where he is, other than "his dads house". Wont give up an address or phone number.

This might seem like a resonable action, but the roads arent that bad, and judging by his history, he is doing it out of spite because my sister claimed her on her taxes.(she had her two weeks longer than he did in the 50/50 split because he didnt want her the week she was sick and refused to take her, and another week he was in the hospital after a near fatal motorcycle wreck he caused.)

What should she do? Call police to find his address and accompany her to get the kid, or what?

He pulls something like this once a month

Answer:
 You can call the police to enforce the order. That being said, they might not want to. You've already offered to be the one to drive, correct?Answer #2: Your problem is, assuming there is a court order, that yes, it **does** seem a reasonable action to refuse to drive under the circumstances. I realise that there is a back story and that may be the reason for his decision, but if you try to enforce the order under these circumstances the person who will come off looking unreasonable is the mother. Because the back story isn't relevant here.

Most of NYS is under a winter storm warning, while the rest is under an advisory. Frankly a reasonable parent would think twice about taking a child out in those conditions. Answer #3: even if the roads are ok where you are, they might not be where he is, my friend lives 20 minutes away and his roads were pretty good this morning, mine were safe <20mph only.


Title: [MI] Got a ticket for failing to stop leaving private drive. Also got harassed by the officers.

Question:
Hello I am preparing for my trial in traffic court which is in a week.

In late August I was leaving my apartment to drive my girlfriend home to her dorm. We are at a University and it was a Saturday night so cops were all over the place to keep the parties under control. I turned out of my apartment complex onto the street and noticed the cop turn on his lights to pull me over. There was no place for me to stop my car without blocking traffic so I drove a quarter mile (which I measured using google earth) at a very slow speed, probably around 20mph and turned using my blinker. When I did stop the cop walked out of his cop car over to my vehicle, opened my door without asking me and told me to get out. Apparently he thought my quarter mile drive to the pullout was "evasive". The officer then walked me over to the police cruiser and told me to put my hands on the hood of his car. During this time I referred to the officer as “sir” and complied with all of his instructions. While my hands were on the hood of the officer’s vehicle, the officer reached into my pockets and removed my wallet and phone. The officer then led me to the back of the cop car and made me sit there while I was questioned. He seemed to be under the strong impression that marijuana was in my vehicle. The questions I was asked were:

If there was any marijuana in my car, I informed the officer no.

If I was under the influence of marijuana or alcohol, I informed the officer no.

How much marijuana I had smoked that night, I informed the officer I did not smoke marijuana that night, nor had I ever.

Why my eyes looked glassy if I had not smoked any marijuana that night, I informed the officer once again that I did not smoke marijuana that night, nor had I ever.

**During this time, the officer had still not provided me any explanation whatsoever as to why I was pulled over in the first place.**

I replied to all of the officer’s requests to search my vehicle with “officer, I do not give my consent to a search”. Finally, when the officer was done questioning me, he turned to his colleagues beside him and said “alright lets hand out a ticket”,  before I had ever been told what reason I was pulled over for in the first place. Eventually I was handed a ticket for "Failing to come to a complete stop leaving a private drive" (http://www.legislature.mi.gov/(S(n4zgw4yivwbjybc1wsgtaxaz))/mileg.aspx?page=GetObject&objectname=mcl-257-652)

There was no stop sign where I turned, and I know that  I slowed down to a reasonable speed and made a safe turn, because there are very large speed bumps that force me to slow down when leaving the apartment complex. I have colorado plates so I think the officers just wanted to bust me because they thought there was pot in my car (which there wasn't, I don't smoke).

How do I defend myself in court? Should I tell the judge I think I was unfairly treated because of my license plate? All I want is no points on my driving record, I don't care if I have to pay a fine.

Answer:
 If you didn't come to a complete stop before entering the roadway, you're guilty and don't have a defense. You're required to stop at the end of the driveway, even if there is no stop sign.Answer #2: > and I know that I slowed down to a reasonable speed

Did you stop fully and completely before entering the roadway?  If not, you're in violation of that statute.

The entire rest of your post is irrelevant.Answer #3: Were the cops assholes? Yes. Did you break the law and deserve the ticket? Also yes. Answer #4: >How do I defend myself in court?

Tell the judge that you admit breaking the law but the cops were totally meanies to you.

>Should I tell the judge I think I was unfairly treated because of my license plate?

I mean you might as well. You have no legal case so keep throwing irrelevant information at the judge, they LOVE that.

>All I want is no points on my driving record, I don't care if I have to pay a fine.

Then try to talk to the prosecutor before the case to see if you can plead the charges down. If you can't do this then you need to consider giving up your idea of a court fight, you are going to lose. Sure the police's response might have been overboard, but nothing egregious enough that a judge is going to care about.


Title: Not sure how many of you care, but here's an Update: Minnesota - Landlord hasn't fixed radiator heating, known about it for nearly four months

Question:
OP: https://redd.it/3nisy0

Last Thursday was October 15th, so I called the Saint Paul Inspection Department that was listed in the link that /u/gnfnrf provided and gave them the relevant information. The lady on the phone sounded utterly uninterested, and when I finished, she merely asked "So...you want to file a complaint?" Yes. Yes I do. She then told me that the city's Fire Inspector would be coming out the next day to look at the property, which was good enough in my book.

Friday. I'm at work, just about finished up at roughly 9am when I get a phone call from a local number. I answer, and it's the inspector saying he'd be there around 10:30am. Perfect. I grab some breakfast from taco bell after work and head home to meet him. His first comment when he walked in the house, even though it was absolutely freezing and gusting wind outside, was "Man, it's pretty cold in here", to which I agreed.

We walked through the house, he cited relevant codes and took pictures as we went, and concluded the meeting by getting my Slumlords phone number and said he would be issuing orders to get it fixed immediately, which, because it was Friday, meant it would be Tuesday at the latest.

...

Today: I get a call from the same HVAC company that did the inspection last June, saying they would be over tomorrow to bring 4-6 space heaters and measure up the radiators for replacement, which would happen on November 2nd. I'm still not sure that it's legal to simply supplement space heaters when the city code specifies that the heating system in the house needs to be capable of heating the unit to 68 degrees 5 feet above the ground, but hey, at least it's something. The Fire inspectors will be coming back out to re-inspect the unit sometime in the near future, and hopefully my landlord will get his act together.

Thanks /r/legaladvice !!

TLDR: Inspector came, said he'll put a fire under his ass, HVAC company coming to save the day with space heaters

Answer:
 *Update!*  **Minnesota!!**  Awwwww....

Good news.  Despite the attitude the person answering the phone dished out, local FD are usually very concerned about safety, have much power, and aren't afraid to wield it.Answer #2: I'm sure you know this, but space heaters are a huge fire hazard and cause dozens of fires every winter here. Don't run them when you aren't in the house. I'd call the fire inspector again and ask them about it.Answer #3: It's so cute how everyone is assuming that the space heaters are going to be electric. I bet the HVAC guy shows up with 2 propane salamanders, a kerosene heater, a 12 pack of boot warmers, and some tea candles he inherited with his aunts fondue set 30 years ago.

But if he does bring over electric heaters and you  run them someone is going to have a large electric bill. Make sure you're not on the hook for that.


Title: Released from Jail due to error; later told to turn myself back in. PLEASE HELP!!

Answer: Contact the attorney who represented you during your drug charges.  He or she will be able to advise you here.


Title: Hard credit inquiry from car dealership without signing credit application. What do I do!

Question:
I am from Massachusetts

So last month I went to the car dealership and inquired about car I had saw online.

I liked the car however the prices they gave were egregious.

I talked to the guy and we thought financing might be a good idea. Me being a new care buyer (first time) thought it would be harmless to just take a look at financing numbers.

the gentleman had taken my information on the computer and went to the back office and brought back some numbers that were unofficial financing offers.

I had at the time decided that it would be better to pay cash and said I am not interested in going the financing route.

He looked unhappy about it and it turns out the reason why as he explained, I didn't sign a credit application and he could get in trouble for doing a hard inquiry.

I didn't really understand what was going on but essentially his managers unsuccessfully tried to intimidate me into signing credit application.

My CreditKarma show a hard inquiry and I'd like some advice on how to remove this from my credit report.

what would you do suits?

Answer:
 There's really not much you can do. By your own admission you authorized them to do so. Here's some pertinent info - https://www.creditkarma.com/article/hard_inquiries_and_soft_inquiries

Waiting a bit might be prudent. Don't frivolously check on financing at places, it will be bad for your credit.
Answer #2: I wouldn't worry about it as one inquiry has a negligible impact on your credit score.


Title: Family trying to coerce me into co-signing a loan.

Question:
In Wisconsin.  I'm the only one in my family with a pot to piss in, barely, so naturally,  I'm the most responsible one and I'm the one who gets a call to help everyone out. Really, I don't mind but this situation is sticky...

I got a call last night from my dad, who was incredibly drunk, asking me to co-sign for a loan for my estranged uncle (I have talked to him one time in about 15 years and that was when my aunt died), because he had a judgement  against him and he had to put up 10,000 dollars worth of farm equipment up for collateral. He's a farmer. He also married a Thai woman but she can't come over for a year due to immigration laws or something. I don't care for the details because I don't care for my uncle AT ALL.  Clearly, he is not good with money. This is a fact. He has sent money over to Russia in another love-for-hire scheme before he met his new wife.

My dad is in this because my uncle owes my dad lots of money. More than $10,000. My uncle needs to pay off this 10,000 dollar settlement or his farm folds. His farm folds, he loses his parents' $263,000 estate, which he is due to get in October,  supposedly. My dad is apparently getting his money from my uncle in October. Okay...so I don't want my dad to lose out on the money owed to him. I'm in a quandary.

First,  I don't know if my credit will qualify anyway. 2: I don't fucking like my uncle and hope his farm does fold because he's an idiot. 3: what if my uncle dies within this 6 month period and I'm on the hook for the ten grand? 4: I don't like being told what to do or coerced. 5: why doesn't he cut losses and let them keep the farm equipment to satisfy that judgement? 6: I don't want to do this at all. It's not the money, it's the principle. 7: my dad co-signed an auto loan for me 7 years ago so now I guess I owe him. 8: I don't know what else my uncle owes so this loan may not even be satisfied when everyone else gets their cut in October.  I want full transparency ofhis ffinancial records. Seriously,  I've got hard demands.

I feel like I need to help my dad but don't want to help my uncle in the slightest. My dad won't talk to me again if I don't do this. I hate my family. Just this morning my mom asked if she could get a ride to the store.
.
Sorry for the formatting but I need advice today because they want me to sign today. I feel like I need more than a day to ensure this deal won't go sour, though. I feel like I should also get collateral in the event the loan defaults. My dad said it wasn't a loan but a note.

What should I do? I know what I should do, which is not sign it at all, but just in case I am stupid enough to do so...

I'm really sick of my family.

Answer:
 > I don't want to do this at all.

Then don't.  Seriously.  There's no legal requirement for you to do this, and there's absolutely no reason why you should spend your money in a way you don't feel comfortable with.

You're an adult now(right?) and sometimes that means making tough decisions.  Frankly, if your family will disown you because you don't give them free money, you're probably better off without them.Answer #2: From a financial standpoint, I would never recommend co-signing a loan for anybody but one's child. There is a reason the lender is asking for a co-signer, and it's because your Uncle is a bad credit risk.Answer #3: The smart rule with family is, never give a loan. If you are going to give money, assume you will never get it back. If you do, then great.

So if you want to give him 10k (because if something happens [which seems likely] you will be on the hook to pay all of it) then give him 10k. But you do not have to do anything. And with all you are saying, it sounds like a horrible idea. It seems like you would just be following in their footsteps by making poor financial decisions. Answer #4: Dont do it. You will live to regret it. Your uncle probably will not.


Title: If a black woman and a white man have the same experience, qualifications and both interviewed really well, in what country is the employer legally required to choose the black woman?

Question: One of my primary or intermediate teachers told my class this a few years back so just wondering whether I remembered correctly and whether what he said was correct. So I'm just curious. Thanks in advance.

Answer: None.Answer #2: In the US, certain Federal contractors that are required to comply with OFCCP regulations for affirmative action may have placement goals for specific job groups. If they are hiring for a job group with a placement goal of more women or more African Americans, your description is how most people would describe the company's obligation. But it's not explicitly that they must hire the black woman if the two are equally qualified, more that they must do what they can to ensure black women are able to find out about the job and aren't hindered by systematic racism/sexism.


Title: If someone won't return my property, can I file a police report?

Question:
I let someone borrow a car that I own, however he's now refusing to give it back to me. There's no formal or written agreement, I was just doing the guy a solid and now he's refusing to return my property to me.
Is this grand theft auto? If not what would this be classified as? I know where the guy lives and where he's keeping my car but I'm trying to avoid any conflict by going over there.

I intend on filing a police report, will the police do something about this if I tell them where the guy lives and is keeping my vehicle?  What would happen if I reported the vehicle stolen?
Topic:
Criminal Law

Answer:
 Any criminal charges, if any, would depend on your location.  The police may tell you it is a civil matter.

But if you, him and the car are in the same place at the same time and the cops are called out, the car would likely go to you because your name is on it.


Title: Oversold Parking (CA)

Question: [deleted]

Answer: You will find the pass does not guarantee you a space. Read the terms and conditions.


Title: (MO) Terminated for theft

Question:
Hello Reddit,
As the title says I was accused of stealing from work and terminated a week ago.  I had no history of documented problem behavior at work.  I was shown the video of the accused theft but it is just me doing my job.  The job is at will.  Since I didn't take anything and wasn't caught red-handed is there anything I can do?  I'm afraid I could be denied unemployment and it could affect future job applications.  I was employed there about 7 months. I contacted a wrongful termination attorney and they could not take the case.  I feel sick and anxious just thinking about it.  I'm grateful for all input.  I know I didn't steal I feel wronged!

Answer:
 The employer will have to show a preponderance of the evidence that you were busted for gross misconduct like theft to get your UI denied.

If the video doesn't show this then they probably won't meet that burden.  File for UI, it will be denied since the employer will contest, and then when you appeal this denial you and the employer will go before the ALJ and argue it out.Answer #2: There's not much that you can do. They terminated you because they suspected you of stealing. If you file for unemployment and it's contested, you can argue your side. If a wrongful termination attorney didn't take the case, odds are that it was for a reason.Answer #3: > I was shown the video of the accused theft but it is just me doing my job.

Could you possibly give a bit more detail about what went down?


Title: (NY) The world's dumbest identity thief is using my mom's billing address to buy things online in another state. Does she have any legal recourse?

Question:
Sorry if this isn't the right sub, but I wasn't sure where else to ask about this.

So, I think my mom is being targeted by the world's least competent identity thief. Long story short, someone in Ohio managed to get into an account she has with an online retailer. This genius decides to order himself a PS3... by changing the shipping name and address to his own, and leaving the billing address, email, and payment information as my mom's. So obviously she gets an email that says "Your order has been completed" or something with all this weird info that isn't hers, and is understandably angry. She called the retailer and they retrieved the shipment and cancelled the transaction.

But yesterday, this same person attempted to open up a UPS account, again using her billing information and his address. And *her email again*, not his own, because she got an email thanking her for opening an account with this guy's info in it. Again, she called and cancelled it. My mom thinks he was trying to track his original purchase through UPS which is why he created the account, but he didn't need to use her email to do that....

First, I wanted to make sure this doesn't sound like some kind of scam or other method of identity theft that I haven't heard of, and that it's actually just a really stupid person trying to steal a PS3 for himself.

Second, is there anything she can/should do besides change all her passwords and put a freeze on her credit as a precaution? In the original account, her only saved method of payment was a credit card only usable at that store, so even if he did manage to get that card number he won't be able to use it anywhere.

Third, she has this man's real name and address. Can she take any action against this guy, either for what he's already done or to try and stop him from doing anything else in the future?

My mom isn't particularly tech savvy and is very upset by this, and I've walked her through it the best I can. I just want to make sure I'm not missing anything and leaving her vulnerable.

Answer:
 Police report pronto. Wait too long and the idiot could move.

If she hasn't lost any money, she doesn't have a reason to sue.

The credit freeze is a great idea. Also she should still report the store card stolen and change her passwords on all accounts that share a password with that one (the one that was breached). Answer #2: You mom has this guy's address?

Find an amazon box about the right size.  On an index card, write "Here's your PSP, moron."  Place at bottom of box.  Get a balsa-wood airplane with the rubber-band and the propeller.  Take the wings off.  Fill the box with glitter.  Wind the rubber band, gently place wingless airplane in box and shut lid so that when it opens, the propeller will be free to turn.  Print a shipping label, attach, and stick in the mail.

No, seriously, don't do that.  Funny to think about, but don't actually do it.

You mom might do a bit of investigation.  Based on the purchase (a PSP) and the poor execution, it's likely that this is a kid.  Might consider doing some googling and sending a letter to mom and dad.


Title: [GA] My employer requires I sign a form before I receive my paycheck. Is that allowed?

Question:
Whenever I go to pick up my paycheck, I have to sign a form that says the money paid to me is correct. They will not give me my paycheck unless I hand them that signed form first. Are they allowed to do this? I feel that this is unfair and grounds for them to screw me over.
Topic:
Employment Law

Answer:
 It's legal to make you sign the form; think of it as an acknowledgement that they gave you your check.

But if you discover at a later date that the check is not correct, that form will not save your employer from making up the difference.Answer #2: You could refuse to sign and they would have to give you the check. They could fire you for it though.


Title: One Man's Trash is Another Man's Treasure

Question: There is a bike laying on the ground at my university, not locked up and has been there for a few days. A vast majority of students have gone home for the summer and I believe someone may have left the bike behind. Is there any laws in the united states which will not allow me to take the unmanaged item?

Answer: Yes. Theft laws.


Title: uncle is wiretapping her computer

Question:
My friend is stuck in an abusive household and cannot go to her parents. Her uncle has gotten increasingly creepy in the past few weeks. Sitting to close, unnecessary touching, moving closer when she moves away, being aggressive if she asks him to stop. Its creepy as hell but not technically illegal. Recently he has been hijacking her computer. Going though her files, web history, and spying through her webcam. She asked him about it and he said something to the effect of 'theres nothing you can do to stop me'.  We tried breaking the webcam and he showed her all the replacements he has and whenever the webcam is broken he just gives her a new one or fixes the one we break.I know rights are often different for minors and her parents will not help or back her up at all. They may even kick her out. She's always welcome in my home and we have the resources to support her. So I guess the bottom line is. Is it illegal to wiretap a minors computer even if you're family? He says excuses like 'im just concerned about her well being' her parents would probably be on the uncles side. I doubt my friend  would testify against him. She's been abused most of her life and is completely convinced she's over reacting. That she's always wrong and adults are always right. He started pressuring her into going on a road trip alone with him and he said she should bring all of her electronics.  Im scared for her. She's about to turn 16.
We live in Michigan near Detroit. I've delt with CPS and cops in this area and theyre all sub par at best.

Answer:
 1. call cps, even if there isn't anything clearly abusive to you, you may not know the whole story.

2. if her parents or uncle bought her the computer then they are free to use it, put software on it, or allow someone else to.  It's a bit different story if she bought it, and if she did she can always password protect it.

3. why does she live with her uncle and not her parents again?

edit:

>I've delt with CPS and cops in this area and theyre all sub par at best.

OP you get half the story, which is likely what your friend is telling you.  It's very possible these are exaggerations, but either way don't say those services are sub par at best based on the info you are given.


Title: Junior in Highschool contemplating lawyering... if you guys could answer questions I'd love it.

Question:
Hey guys, nerd from the junior class here. I'm trying to decide what I want to do with my life, and I'm decided. I love history, I love civics, and it sounds corny, but I really really want to personify the integrity of law that I love about America (told you, I'm a nerd.)

1) With my interests of history, politics, and so on, do you think I'd enjoy it?

2) What is a way I can find out if I'd like it.

3) My mom basically said I have to major in EE or CS, but I can double major in anything that tickles my fancy... Is it possible to actually get a lawyer job? Or is it a completely dying field due to automization?

Answer: Shadow at a law firm or courthouse.  Field of study in undergrad doesn't really matter unless you want to do patent law.  Write a lot.


Title: Forced to Decide to Renew Lease or Not Without Telling Me New Rates?

Question:
Topic:
Landlord Tenant Housing

Answer:
 You can't be forced to agree to a mystery rent, but they don't have to let you stay, either. I'd press her to let you make the decision once the updated rates are published.Answer #2: Tell her what YOU want to pay. If she says no, tell her to make a counter offer now or you are giving your notice now. Don't let her play stupid games. Take control of the situation.Answer #3: You'll have to be told the rates when you're presented with your lease - unless you sign a lease saying that you will pay any rent, which would be done.

When she presents the lease, decide whether you're good with the new rate.  If not, negotiate or refuse to sign.  Answer #4: What about the rates? Is there a law or anything on how high they can increase your current rent? For instance, they can only increase it 10% or 15%?


Title: 19 and pregnant

Question:
Yeah, I'm a dumb fucking kid, but I'm really trying to make all this right. Fix my mistakes. I thought I had time, learn about myself...but that isn't the case anymore. I've got, approximately, nine months to fix my shit. Because I've got a baby on the way, and they're depending on me. I got to be a mommy. I don't get to be a fuckup anymore.

A little background, I'm an addict. Never really into the super hard stuff, but I still screwed up. A lot. I'm dating this guy, and was going to break up with him until I found out I'm pregnant. I've been in recovery, and I live in a recovery household with four months clean. He's made it absolutely hell for me. Always trying to pull me back into it. Offering drinks when I go to pick up clothes...selling my cat, who I've had since I've moved at 18, for an 8th of weed. I had to practically threaten murder to get him back.

Now I'm pregnant, and I'm terrified to tell him. I need his family's help. Mine has abandoned me. I have my father but we have barely started to communicate again. I love his family and know they will help. But I don't want him to know. He's really, really sick, and has made all sorts of awful jokes about hotboxing cars when his kid won't sleep, getting them drunk with him once they're maybe 12, taking his kids to parties because he doesn't want them to hold him back...I can't, I won't, sacrifice my baby's safety like that.

Long story short, I know I will have to go to court...I don't care about child support, my concern is custody and visitation. I want ALL visitation supervised. I want full custody. I want to make sure my baby grows in a safe, drug free environment, and is not put at risk. I'm worried about telling the courts I'm an addict, and them ripping him/her away from me even though I haven't used for 3 months before my child's conception.

Help?

Answer:
 > I want ALL visitation supervised.

That is up to the judge. You need proof that he is unsafe around a child.

If you are able to pass a drug test and show what treatment you have COMPLETED. then they are unlikely to remove your child from your care.


Title: Fiance's charges were dropped, but they're the first thing that comes up when you Google his name + our town.

Question: He hasn't been able to work for a year because of this whole ordeal, and now I'm worried he won't be able to get an interview anywhere because places will Google him, see that, and not even give him a chance to explain himself or show the paperwork proving that everything was dismissed. Is there anything we can do to get Google or the specific news websites to take down the articles about his arrest and charges? We live in New York, if it helps.

Answer:
 IF you want help burying it (Since it is public record and they don't have to remove it) you can consult with a reputation manager who can help you hide embarassing things.

What you want is the second half of the document for this one

http://lifehacker.com/5850288/how-to-fix-internet-embarrassments-and-improve-your-online-reputation

https://brandyourself.com/info/seo/online_reputation

http://www.forbes.com/sites/cherylsnappconner/2014/03/04/top-online-reputation-management-tips-for-brand-marketers/Answer #2: >Is there anything we can do to get Google or the specific news websites to take down the articles about his arrest and charges?

No. When your fiance was arrested, that information was publicly available at the time. You could try to speak with the news websites in relation to taking them down, but there is nothing you can do otherwise.


Title: I may have committed food stamp fraud, but I am not sure. I don't understand the FS laws very well so can anyone tell me if what I am doing is considered illegal (AR)

Question:
Ok so this is such a long story but I will try to shorten it.

I have been on food stamps for 4 years with just me added on. Then I got a roommate and I called DHS and asked if I had to add my roommate and they said "as long as you prepare food separately, you don't have to add him".

Well some times goes by and I get pregnant by my SO of 3 years (at the time, together 5 years now) When I went to add him to my FS they said he needed his bank account statements. SO flat out refused to give it to them. He is from a wealthy family and was always taught that his finances are a very personal matter.

So he would not give them the statements. So after the baby was born we ended up breaking up and then I got my foodstamps with just me and my baby.

Well now SO and I are back together and he still refuses to give them the statements. So I told the FS approval lately that our relationship is on and off and that we did not live together. So yes, I lied, but the thing is we get into so much he moves out, I move out, it is honestly hard to keep track of.

Am I obligated to report him moving out, me moving out, even if it happens like once a month? And am I committing fraud if I say he does not live here when he does?

It is very important that I should note, my SO  feels so adamant about this whole thing that he honestly flat out refuses to eat anything I buy with food stamps. So I guess we do prepare our meals separately but we live together and he is the father of my child, I've very confused of the legality of this and I don't want to get in trouble, I am honestly just not very well informed.

Am I , in any way, committing fraud? If so, how do I make this right?

Edit: And for those saying that I should leave him, he really is a great father. I really want a 2 parent household and he does have his faults but so do I and I believe we can make this work. The times we are "off again" in the relationship is because of silly things mostly. Its not like we have ever cheated on each other or anything. It's all very trivial problems.

Answer:
 yes you may be. You have to report members of the household that you share food with and they have to report income. Food stamps are based on household income. i'd talk with legal aid and get their opinion.

You might also consider why you are with some who doesn't pay for their own food or other expenses and doesn't want you to get help.


Title: [CT] Landlord refusing to give me new set of keys/ removed my name from mailbox until I pay this months rent

Question:
I know I owe rent for May. I’m getting back on my feet and have been open and honest about my situation and completely understood if he ad to go through the eviction process.

A few nights back my roommates room was robbed. So my landlord changed the lock without notifying me. He never gave me a key and I didn’t realize the key didn’t work until today. I didn’t have to lock the door when leaving to realize it because when I left my roommate was coming in, so he locked the door.

Anyways, I realize today the locks must’ve changed since my key didn’t work. I texted him and he opened the door for me, but when I text him again to find the keys, he keeps ignoring me and asks if I can send money today. I only have $7 to my name. If I had it, I will give it. I simply don’t have it and again, I understand if he wants to go through with the eviction process. I’m gonna pay when I can but I can’t afford to give the $7. That’s my emergency money.

He also removed my name from my mailbox. I had my social security card delivered, my food stamps card, and a random piece of ma and they said it was returned to sender.

Is what he doing legal? He’s basically refusing to give me a key and locking me out. I work early mornings so when I come home, usually nobody is home. And plus he removed my name from a mailbox, all without warning. He is also doing random housework and idk if it’s to purposely disturb me, but I’m really uncomfortable.

Any advice is appreciated. Thanks

Answer: Despite being behind on rent, your landlord cannot simply lock you out of the house without going through the eviction process in court.  What he is doing is called a "self-help" eviction.  It is illegal, and you can sue him for possession and double damages plus your costs.  See [Conn. Gen. Stat. Ann. § § 47a-43, 47a-46](https://www.cga.ct.gov/current/pub/chap_833.htm).


Title: [NY] Liens against previous homeowner - can't sell house?

Question:
2009 - Bought house, Seller had 7 or 8 judgment liens against the property - looked like he had maxed out every credit card he could get his hands on and never paid them. My attorney promised me everything would be resolved as far as the liens went, and that the title would be clean etc. The sale/closing was completed and I moved in.

2017 - I am selling this same house, using same attorney as before, signed contract with buyer, was just waiting on a closing date - and my attorney tells me that the buyer's attorney has found issues with the judgments against the previous owner, and the house can't be legally sold until they are resolved. This was about 6 weeks ago, and my attorney just keeps telling me that they are working on the issue when I ask for an update, with no estimate on when it will be resolved.

So my questions are ... how serious of a problem is this? Did my attorney potentially not do something correctly back in 2009? Is there any possibility I can somehow be liable for liens against the property/previous owner? Do I have any recourse if the buyer decides to back out on his offer if this drags out indefinitely?

Answer: Title insurance should be the first people involved. I don't think this is on your lawyer, I think it is on the Escrow company. Call your title insurer.


Title: Car Accident - I open door as car drives into parking spot next to me. Who's at fault?

Question:
Hi all!

If I was parked in a parking lot and I open my door as another person drives into the spot next to me (fairly quickly) and my door creates[ a deep dent in his bumper](http://imgur.com/a/KJxkn), who is at fault?

We're currently trying to settle this through cash and haven't notified out insurance agencies, but I feel like it might not have been my fault.

I do recognize that I erred in not checking to make sure it was completely clear next to me before opening my door, but I would think that a pedestrian getting out of a car would take precedence over a vehicle driving into a spot, no?

This is my first time in an accident so I could be ignorant.

EDIT: Ty friendly bot for telling me to share my location. I'm in California, USA.

Answer:
 You can't just open car doors into the path of travel of other legal road users.Answer #2: >I would think that a pedestrian getting out of a car would take precedence over a vehicle driving into a spot, no?

Maybe, but it's still significantly easier for you to see if another car is about to pull into that spot, than it is for him to guess that you're about to open the door while he's pulling into said spot.


Title: [California] Stopping a potential parental kidnapping?

Question:
My uncle is married to a foreign national and they have 1 common child (2 years) who is a US citizen.  My uncle's wife also has a daughter (14 years) who is also a foreign national. My uncle's wife has a history of psychiatric health issues (bi-polar and post-partum psychosis) and has recently been exhibiting erratic and disturbing behavior, part of which has included her threatening to take the 2 year old to Mongolia (which is where she is from.)  We are reaching out to attorneys currently but I wanted to see if there are any issues to discuss with them that I have not thought of.  Our main concerns are as follows:

* Making sure the 2 year old is not taken to Mongolia.  We do not trust that the mother would return and we do not trust her family with the child (past history of abuse). Supposedly my aunt's brother has sent her 2 plane tickets to Mongolia.  My aunt also snuck into my parents' house and took his passport.

* Making sure the 14 year old can stay in the US.  My uncle has not legally adopted her, but she is included in his "Family Registry" in South Korea, which apparently means something?  The 14 year old is a S. Korean national but has been living in the US since she was 6.  She was also abused by her mother's family in Mongolia.  We had recently reached out to Legal Aid about formal adoption proceedings but are now concerned that if there needs to be a legal separation between my uncle and his wife, my uncle and our family would have no legal standing to have custody of her.  She has been abandoned by her mother before and she has vehemently stated that she does NOT want to return to Mongolia with her mother and wants to live with us/my uncle.

Any advice? Issues to bring up? Questions to ask? First steps?

Update: I now have the passport. My uncle found it in my aunt's things. I am keeping it at my house since my aunt has zero access to my place until we can put it in the safety deposit box. I'm hoping the immediacy of the problem is over so that we can have a properly thought out legal plan that allows both kids to stay with us/my uncle.

Answer: Report the missing passport. It wouldn't stop her, but it would slow down departure. She would be able to get it reissued without his consent, however, if she was unaware it had been reported as stolen, she wouldn't think to check it's validity, and would be detained at the airport.  I would imagine your uncle would find this out and know to file immediately. He should have a lawyer already set up.


Title: Under what circumstances can you be charged with a crime in the United States even though the crime was committed outside the United States?

Question:
The only circumstances I'm aware of where you can be charged with a crime that you committed abroad is if you plan the crime wild in the United States. I'm aware of the case of the murder of Trish Willoughby by her husband Dan Willoughby and his lover Yesenia Patino. Dan Willoughby planned the crime with Yesenia in Arizona where he lives. The crime ended up happening while the family was vacationing in Mexico, which happens to be where your senia was born. Dan was charged with murder in Arizona, while Yesenia was charged in Mexico.

I also heard of a case where somebody was charged with rape in Kenya, but they were prosecuted in America. https://youtu.be/1s5H-QODKi4

Answer:
 There are laws applying to Americans (and Canadians) no matter where they are in the world regarding child sexual abuse or "child sex tourism". Canada and the United States have laws on this, an American or a Canadian can be charged with sexual abuse of a minor even though the offense occurred in another country.

[US law](https://www.justice.gov/criminal-ceos/extraterritorial-sexual-exploitation-children), [Canadian law](https://travel.gc.ca/travelling/publications/child-crime).Answer #2: There are plenty of cybercrimes that could occur with the suspect outside the USA...


Title: Friend has been hooking up with my sister. [Los Angeles, CA]

Question:
So my friend who is 24 years old has been dating my 15 year old sister. It has recently come to my attention that the friend has been pushing my sister to try some sexual activities. I am worried that my sister may get emotional scarred since my friend is a bit of a PUA (pick up artist) if things don't go well between them (as in, their relationship doesn't last). And also equally as important, it is illegal to have intercourse at their ages.

How can I protect both my sister and my friend? (1) I love my sister and would hate for her to be hurt and (2) my friend is a good friend but said that he will "try not to have sex with her."

I suspect that he intends to try to have PV intercourse with her. Also, I have suspicions that some heavy petting has occurred, as I walked in on them and he was on top of her with their clothes on. Does this count as child molestation?

Thanks.

Answer:
 >How can I protect both my sister and my friend?

I don't think you can, if your friend puts his desires  above common sense and the law.  And, you know, decency.  He's going to "try not to have sex with her"?  What, is he afraid he's going to trip?

You're probably going to have to choose one of them.  I really hope it's your sister.Answer #2: Surely messing around with your 15 year old sister is a violation of the Bro Code or something.  Tell your friend that's not cool and he should back off.

>...my friend is a good friend but said that he will "try not to have sex with her."

Being a good friend yourself, tell him you will "try not to beat the crap out of him before calling the police" if he does have sex with her.  Answer #3: How are you even okay with a 24 year-old "dating" your *15 year-old* sister?!  I mean, even if there wasn't evidence of him trying to engage in sexual activity with her, how in the world are you comfortable with them hanging out or spending time together alone?

>How can I protect both my sister and my friend?

You can't, because he's not your friend.  Friends don't say they'll "try not to have sex with" their friends' underage sister.  They respect each other enough to know the proper limitations.   Unless they're in high school together, most people would realize that even joking about something like this is an invitation to getting their ass beat.

I'm truly amazed that neither your parents nor you have threatened to call the police.


Title: (MA) Roommate broke lease, now requesting I pay him back his rent for the month that he moved out.

Question:
This September myself and 4 other people signed a lease for my apartment, a 5 bedroom. When we signed, all that was required up front was first month rent and a security deposit, no last month rent was given. One of the roommates decided to move out a week into the second month. He had already paid his share of the rent when he initially told me he was moving out he did state that he would take his time to move out and I would find a sublet for the first of following month. He never mentioned when he was completely moved out and there was a lot of stuff that he never picked up that I had to clear out for the new person.

Now he is sending me a venmo charge for "back rent" He never made any effort to contact me. He has my email and phone number, hell he even knows where I live. I do not want to get my landlord involved.

can I tell him to get fucked?

Answer: If you hear from him again and you have not found anyone to fill the bedroom send him a bill for next months rent.  You don’t owe a refund but what does your lease say about breaking the lease?  He could still be responsible until you find a replacement because the rest of you will need to continue to pay his share.


Title: Reposted from /r/legal advice: Is there any chance > 0% that the Seattle plane thief would not spend the rest of his life in prison?

Question:
It seemed to me that this was a mental health crisis and not a deliberate act of terrorism. I am trying to find the impact of temporary insanity on judicial punishments, if any at all.

Thank you.

For the uninitiated:

http://www.latimes.com/nation/la-na-stolen-plane-20180810-story.html?outputType=amp

Answer:
 > I am trying to find the impact of temporary insanity on judicial punishments, if any at all.

"Temporary insanity" is a rare thing, rare enough that it's hardly even worth discussing.

The chances of him spending the rest of his life in prison would be around zero, unless he killed a bunch of folks deliberately or accidentally.

The maximum penalty I could find with a quick look was 20 years at the federal level for disabling/destroying an aircraft.  Someone could stack these, of course, but I suspect that to be unlikely.Answer #2: There was a kid out there who was stealing planes, flying them to another airport land and leave.  It took years to catch him I dont think he served any hard time.  6 1/2 years

[https://www.washingtonpost.com/national/baby-faced-barefoot-bandit-faces-parole-now-he-wants-to-be-the-next-steve-jobs/2016/08/30/0288fd5e-60b2-11e6-9d2f-b1a3564181a1\_story.html?utm\_term=.520956f4d969](https://www.washingtonpost.com/national/baby-faced-barefoot-bandit-faces-parole-now-he-wants-to-be-the-next-steve-jobs/2016/08/30/0288fd5e-60b2-11e6-9d2f-b1a3564181a1_story.html?utm_term=.520956f4d969)

I dont think it would be the rest of his life. Probably 5 years and restitution. Answer #3: He wouldn’t spend the time rest of his life in prison.  He didn’t murder anyone or commit a violent crime of any kind. He just committed theft. A rather large theft, but theft nonetheless. Even if he was slapped with federal charges related to airplanes, it still wouldn’t amount to life.

With regard to temporary insanity, though, successful use of that defense is extremely unusual. It’s rarely tried. And being suicidal is not generally a defense to any crime. Answer #4: is he not dead?


Title: Company hired a dangerous murder convict, fired him when they found out, put locks on the door, but are not telling employees about it. They don’t know that I know...

Question: My company hired a man that is on trial for murder RIGHT NOW. They did not vet him or run a background check. He worked here for 60 days. They found out and fired him this week. The SAME day, they put locks on the door and told employees that they’ve “been wanting to do that for a long time.” They didn’t tell anyone the real reason why locks are on our doors now (we have to use key cards to get in now). Is it legal for them to not disclose the information regarding their own mistake for the safety of their employees? It feels weird and I’m the only one that knows (I just happened to come across the news article regarding the trial). What do I do?

Answer:
 They aren't obligated in any way to tell people they accidentally hired an accused murderer. They weren't even obligated to fire him or take safety precautions. It would be weird and counterproductive to tell all of the employees about an HR/Hiring practice issue that's been resolved. You can tell your coworkers, your bosses can fire you for doing so if they see fit. Answer #2: Why would they be required to tell employees about anyone's background check? Why would you need to do anything in response?

Edit: Also, not that it changes anything, but he's not a "murder convict" if he's just on trial. Answer #3: > Is it legal for them to not disclose the information regarding their own mistake for the safety of their employees?

Yes.

> What do I do?

Keep working there, or don't.


Title: Shot an arrow at a store front

Question:
It was like 3 or 4 am and i shot an arrow at a convenient store from a friends yard next door and it stuck in the exterior wall. Two days later the police show up at his door and say the owner claims they  didn't want to press charges, just wants me to fix it.

My question is, if they do press charges, what charges will they be and will they arrest me on the spot when i go to turn myself in. I realize how stupid i am before that gets brought up. Thabks in advance.

Edit: I am in southeast Houston, Texas.

Answer:
 I am not a lawyer, but I *am* an archer who has done some digging into this.

The question of "what charges will they be" is *even more location-specific than usual*, and will depend not only on the state but also the specific *municipality*.

In some municipalities, especially urban or suburban ones, shooting a bow falls under the same discharge laws as firearms - which sounds weird right up until you remember that bow-hunting is a *thing*, and an arrow with a broadhead point shot from an 80-lb compound can kill you just as dead as a bullet (and will likely *feel* a fuck of a lot worse).

Things get even more fun with crossbows (although, since you said "arrow" rather than "bolt" I'm assuming that's not the case here) - *those* are often treated as de facto firearms, and discharging crossbows is often illegal even in municipalities which don't restrict you from tooling around with your recurve in the backyard.

So yeah. Tread lightly. Also quit doing dumbass shit with archery - in case you didn't get that particular memo, a bow is a *weapon* which you can use to *kill things*.


Title: [Serious] What would it take/is it possible for Fox News ("Fair and Balanced") to be found guilty of false advertising (or a similar charge) on a corporate level? The goal I have in mind is to have "News" removed from their name.

Question:
I also considered posting this to r/journalism, but I figured I'd start here.

I know it may sound absurd or far-fetched, but I hear about their lies all the time.  At what point can they be held responsible for their misinformation?

Also, not that it matters, but I'm in CA

Answer: I know bong conversations seem really deep when you are in the midst of it. But go sleep it off. To the rest of us you sound like a moron.


Title: School may expel me for being arrested for prostitution

Question: Hello, I am a gay (male) college student. I got arrested by local (non campus) police for prostitution, but I didn't get charged with anything. However, they notified the administration at my college, and they made a big deal out of it, and now I have to go to a hearing. I don't think this is legal because there's no mention of prostitution in the student handbook. What can I expect from this and should I hire a lawyer?

Answer: They might have an overall category, like "behavior unfitting of a student" or something super vague like that which would allow them to kick you out for pretty much whatever reason they want. You can try hiring a lawyer, but they aren't a legal court system, so it might not help at all. Answer #2: Keep in mind that your initial campus hearing is not judicial, and may not allow you to have legal representation. My guess is that there is some sort of moral turpitude (if it is a private or religious school) or legal catch-all in the handbook that they will use. One school I worked for suspended students for kidnapping a goose (animal cruelty) which wasn't a specific handbook violation.


Title: landlord won't pay utilities, despite lease stating they would be responsible

Question: (California) The lease states that they would be paying for water, sewage, and trash. I forgot about this by the time I got my utilities accounts set up and only just realized this after nearly a year when reviewing my lease terms. Up until this point, there are nearly $1200 worth of utilities that I have paid that my lease contract says I should not have been responsible for. When I made an inquiry with the company, they said that when they rent single-family homes (like mine), the renters are responsible for all utilities (which makes sense since none of the meters are shared). All the same, I have a signed contract stating they would be paying. The company's answer to this is that they made a 'clerical error'. Is there anything I can do here or can you really sign a contract and say 'whoops didn't mean to do that' afterwards?

Answer: No, but I fear for you in recovery. While yes you are right, you should not have been paying. And no, a mere error doesn't absolve them, a contract is the meeting of the minds. That you set up and paid utilities for nearly a year before reviewing the lease gives credence that at no time where your LL or your mind set on the notion that you would not be responsible for your utilities. So if you sued to recover, they would argue the error, that there was no such agreement in practice, and likely, that your rent was lower because of the utility difference.


Title: [Ohio] I went to urgent care last night and paid $631 to get glass removed from my hand, now they want to charge me an additional $95.

Question:
A little back-story. I was replacing a brake light in my car and while pushing in the build, it burst. A large piece went into my hand, rookie mistake; I know. So I had my wife take me to the urgent care... Obviously a big mistake. They charged me $631 because I'm still on my parents medical insurance which is high-deductible. So I paid reluctantly. Well, today I received a call from them saying that they coded it wrong and I still owed $95 and if I didn't pay they were going to bill me $150. What can I do? I don't want to have to pay $726 to have a tiny piece of glass taken out and then a single stitch put in with nothing to numb the pain. Please help.

Edit: The charge is for the visit. Apparently the doctor had charged me for the removal and the stitches, but had neglected to add the charge for the visit itself.

Answer: If the charge is justified, you owe the money.  Ask them for written justification of the charge.


Title: My hair was ripped out by a kitchen mixer. Is there anything I can do?

Question: [deleted]

Answer:
 >There’s no safety warnings or anything on the machine. Is there anything I can do?

Do you really need a safety warning to tell you not to have your hair inside the mixer when you turn it on?Answer #2: Oh for crying out loud.

Have you ever heard the expression “more hair than wit”?

That would be you.Answer #3: You can be more careful next time.

Talk to a lawyer if you want, but it's unlikely that the manufacturer will have any liability here.