Title: Apartment closing common areas too early?

Question:
So my apt building closes all amenities at 10pm(pool, indoor lounge, gym, rooftop, BBQ areas). As a night owl this gets annoying. I understand their reasoning as they want to limit noise complaints but the indoor lounge and gym should stay open for people who get off work late or study at night. The lease only mentions pool hours.

Is there any way to fight this or get the hours pushed back?

Answer: You can request that they keep those areas open, but they are not legally obligated to keep them open just because you're more of a night person than a morning person.


Title: Should I contest alimony and child support

Question:
I am currently paying $2,500 a month in child support and $2,000 in alimony. The alimony was for six years and has three years remaining. A bonus structure change at my employer will result in about $30k less income for me next year. In the past my bonus was based on individual performance and was easy to attain. Going forward, it is based on EBITDA. I've also found that my ex-wife's real estate income has increased dramatically. She is projected to sell $3.2 million in real estate this year. Depending on her take, this would amount to $48k to $80k in income. She imputed $40k in the mediation. Is it worth it to take her back to court to possibly eliminate alimony and/or reduce child support? Does her new income and my change need to be documented for a certain period of time? Thanks in advance.

Edit: I'm in Florida.

Answer: Yes. Yes it is. Keep paying what you are paying, but a reduction in your income combined with an increase in your wife's is absolutely a good reason to seek a recalculation.


Title: In regards to the recent sc shooting.

Question: The judge set bond at 1 million dollars for possession of a firearm in the act of a violent crime.   The judge went on to say, bond couldn't be issued for the 9 murder charges.    Why did the judge set bond for the initial crime, when the murder charges couldn't be given bond?

Answer: Each charge has to be addressed; you can't just ignore one ("I'm not even gonna bother with this one, since you've got all these other ones"). That, and what /u/cassius3000 said. Answer #2: IANAL but I'm guessing he does that so everybody doesn't have to put their suits and ties on again if the other charges are dropped (not that they will be in this case).


Title: I was turned down for a job due to inaccurate information on my background check. What are my options?(California)

Question: My background check claimed that I committed burglary and had a DUI and had other misdemeanors (even though I have never been arrested in my life, these are all inaccurate) and was turned down for a job as a result.  I contacted the company that ran the background check but they will not answer their phone nor have they responded to my calls/emails. What are my options?

Answer:
 Send a letter (certified, with a return receipt) demanding that they either prove the accuracy of those arrest records or erase them. They are legally required to do one or the other within 30 days, and send you notification within 35 days. If they don't do this, they've committed a fairly serious violation, and a local lawyer can explain to you what legal options are likely to get you the largest settlement.

Unfortunately, there is no corresponding legal obligation that they respond to calls or emails, nor is there any way to compel them to go faster.


Title: Would I lose citizenship? (Aus)

Question: [deleted]

Answer: No


Title: Someone threatened to post a video of me masterbating bdsm style online

Question:
I made a really stupid mistake last night and let some "girl" order me around on a webcam. She got me to tie my balls up and stick a pen up my ass on camera WITH my face. She then told me to give her money or she would post it on "youtube". I refused, deleted the yahoo messenger account that I was using to talk to her and the email it was associated with. What's going to happen? Should I take any legal action? I'm freaking out right now.
Some background: Im a 21 year old male college student in the US. "She" claims to be from the uk.

Answer: I remember the first real date I had with a pretty girl named Kathi. We went and had some ice cream at DQ. We then went to see the movie The Way We Were and I admit I cried a little. I walked her back to her house, and even though I was terrified I managed to kiss her. Her hair smelled beautiful. Like lilacs. And then suddenly she made me tie a belt around my nuts and forcibly shove a Bic pen up my ass. I admit I cried a little there too. Ahhhh. Memories of youth, they are so precious and sweet. To be young again!


Title: friend accused of calling a customer "n" word.

Question:
[VA,USA]

A close family friend, who is an immigrant and who can barely speak english had a customer come in for a alteration for the clothing. The Customer came to pick up the clothing and tried it on. She claimed it did not fit well (the alteration only goes ahead if the customer is happy with the measurements.. that is why pins are used). The customer refused to pay and the close friend said she would have to pay in full to receive her clothes back. The customer claims that the woman then called her a "n-gger" and snatched the clothes away from her.

She called the police and the police said that there was a witness outside who heard the woman call her the N word. The police said that there would be a summons and a warrant for her to appear in criminal court.

Now, the woman who said she was called the N word said that the lady at the counter snatched the clothes from her hands and then called her the N word. She showed me CCTV footage and that was absolutely not true. In fact the woman put her clothes on the table and the clerk picked the shirt up from the table.

The lady who made these accusations then posted up on facebook and the store name, number ETC and the clerk has been receiving threats and non stop phone calls for her phony claim.

The clerk is korean. In Korean, there is a word to say: YOU'RE and ME. Youre= Neega and ME= Nega and You= Nuga As a non native english speaker, she must think about what she will say in english, but under pressure she will speak korean. She has never experienced anything like this in her 20 years of being in the business. What the accuser and the witness heard was her speaking in korean using one of those variations. They sound VERY similar to the N word. However, the korean language is over 1000 years old. How can the accuser make these posts and slander her name by only using her side of the story, then falsifying/exaggerating it on facebook and yelp to make the clerk look extremely evil and then tell people to "blow up the phone"?

What can the clerk do against these false accusations and threats? Can she actually be charged for supposedly saying "N-GGER"? What steps should she take next? The accuser is adamant of taking her to criminal court.

Answer:
 NAL, but it is not against the law for someone to use the n word. It's rude, it's bad for business, and it's considered a fighting word, but it's definitely not against the the law. The woman might try to accuse your friend of assault, but cc footage disproves that. She might try to drag the business through the mud on social media, but your friend is not in legal trouble for the use of that word.

Edit: this is also a wonderful example of what is wrong with yelp and other review sites. They don't allow for both sides of the story, and they leave businesses susceptible to blackmail from shitty customers. I work in food service, and it is common for angry customers to completely fabricate stories when they are unable to extort freebies from businesses. I'd have your friend try to refute the claim directly with yelp due to lack of evidence.Answer #2: There must be more to this story, it's not a crime to use an offensive word. The police know this, she must be accused of something else as well.


Title: Recommended I sue former employer (large bank) over distress? Is it possible?

Question:
Hello Reddit! A friend had recommended I take my former employer to court due to distress, is this possible? Here's the story.

Late march I was hired by a large banking institute. Mid June I had an outage (missing money from my drawer). Due to the amount of the outage, I was placed as a greeter while I was under investigation. According to my employer handbook, my outage is on grounds to terminate the employee. I was under investigation for three weeks, and was just greeting customers through the door for my job duty. On week 2 out of those three weeks, we were robbed. Quiet robbery via note to the teller. I happened to be behind the teller line and witnessed the end of the robbery. Went home thinking, "I could've died today, I'm not sure if I want to work here, etc."

By week 3, I was enforcing bank policies such as no sunglasses inside, due to the high alert everyone was on post robbery. People were being people, and were either okay with removing their sunglasses, or called me a jackass for asking them to. Some even took me aside and gave me the whole, "Do I look like a security threat to you? I've been banking here since beforehand you've been born!", the usual upset and self entitled speech. I even had to ask an older gentleman to take off his sunglasses, and he was hiding tons of recent scars/bruises :( I never felt so bad. Even if it was bank policy, it wasn't enforced very heavily before the robbery.

Told my friends the story last night, and they are recommending I sue my former employer. They are a very large banking institute, and I'm not sure if it's possible. Is it?

If not it's okay. It's been two weeks since my termination, and I've found a job that pays much more, and works better with my hours!

Thanks Reddit

Edit: Location is in the U.S.
Damn, guess my friends have no idea what they're talking about as far as this topic goes.

Answer: No. You can't sue your employer because you don't like your job. I mean, you can, but you will lose. It doesn't sound like you have any monetary damages. You need monetary damages before you sue for some type of distress. Answer #2: You're kidding, right? Please tell me this is a joke. Answer #3: Your friends have no idea what they are talking about. You have no case.


Title: (UT) Estranged father is threatening to take my mom's house

Question:
My father is dying of cancer and is separated from my mom. He hasn't lived with us for three years. Me and my younger brother have a complicated relationship with him, so we almost never visit him. I recently got into a fight with him and have decided that I don't want to see him again. In response, he is threatening my mom that if me and my brother don't see him once a week, he'll take our house.

He bought the house with my mother 15 years ago, but the title is in my mother's name only. Would he be able to take the house? Should my mom divorce him before he dies? What special precautions should we take?
Topic:
Custody Divorce and Family

Answer:
 The disposition of the house would be settled in a divorce. If your mother is patient, it'll become a self-solving problem when he passes away, but she should speak to a divorce attorney anyways.

Short of that, no, there's not much he can do. The fact that his name's (edit: not) on the title means he'd have a very hard time enforcing any marital or ownership claim to the house other than through a divorce.


Title: Can I install tracking software on a promotional USB(California)

Question: [deleted]

Answer:
 I can't think of a worse way alienate your customers than for a social media story to come out about how you put a tracking rootkit on their thumb drive.

Answer #2: I have no idea as to the legality of this, but if I dis covered this I a) would not be a customer and b) would make sure to tell as many people as possible in the hopes of ensuring no one else is a customer.

Whether it comes back to bite you legally or not, do not do this.  It is a beyond terrible idea.


Title: Help! Just saw on credit report car I sold 5 years ago was impounded and tow truck company is trying to collect from me.

Question:
Basically, sold my 91 Acura Integra in Jan 2011.. thought I was done with that car forever. Check my credit report, saw a debt collector was trying to collect a $1700 debt because apparently that car was impounded, in bakersfield (southern cal) in Mar 2011. Tow truck company says it was in my name and wasn't switched over to the new owner until May 2011, at least that's what the tow truck company is saying the DMV report says.
What are my options? I know I sent in the top portion of the pink slip right away, is it possible the DMV didn't file it right away? I don't want to pay a debt for a car that I no longer owned at the time. I'm trying to contact DMV myself and see what their report says

Answer: In California that debt was only good until Mar 2015.  Netflix and Chill


Title: Is the way my employer goes about payroll legal? NJ

Question: [deleted]

Answer:
 It's all [perfectly fine](http://lwd.dol.state.nj.us/labor/forms_pdfs/lsse/mw-17.pdf).  You're being paid twice a calendar month, or on the next business day following scheduled payday.  There is no rule about what time on that payday pay must be available.

EDIT: I misread that pamphlet.  Pay should be on the *prior* business day, not the following.  Early, not late.


Title: Why the legal pad?

Question: [removed]

Answer: Ringbound books get mutilated with all the page turning. Y'ever have those first few pages in your school notes binder rip out, forcing you to fix them with tape or those little o-ring stickers? Yeah.


Title: If you lend someone an album and they keep it, is that technically considered piracy?

Question: Thanks for the quick responses!

Answer: It is plain ol' theft.  If they make and sell copies it becomes piracy, however. Answer #2: No, that is theft.


Title: [IL & FL] I'm thinking of suing UPS in small claims.

Question:
Back in July, I moved from IL to FL. I shipped my iMac using UPS because I had no other option. Obviously I bought insurance and so on so that if anything happened to it, it would be replaced.

Basically, the computer arrived broken (it arrived in a flimsy cardboard box with some packing peanuts, while our other items were all in heavy-duty boxes, and looked like it had been seriously crushed). I then began the process of filing a claim. The investigation process involved me sending the computer back; when I received it again, it was completely broken.

I'll spare the details of what's happened over the past 3 months (unless anyone really needs to know) suffice to say that I still haven't been compensated for the damages, despite the investigation ruling in my favor and submitting all the necessary paperwork and so on. I have literally no idea what the fuck is going on and I've just been waiting for a month for a check. I'm getting tired of waiting for UPS to make right and feeling like a powerless victim because of them. I am thinking of suing them in small claims court, or even seeing if threatening a lawsuit/taking some beginning steps in legal action would expedite things a bit.

Does anyone have any advice as to how I might handle this going forward?

Answer: The minute you talk about a law suit the customer service people will stop communicating with you and sent it to their legal people to deal with. This will delay things even more.


Title: Car accident in an icy parking garage at a private university. Can I ask the school to pay for damages?

Question:
My girlfriend is a student at Lafayette College in Easton, PA. She was pulling into a spot today in a parking garage and the entire ground was black ice so she slid directly into the car one spot over. Her car is relatively damaged, but luckily the car to the right has no damage. She managed to back up away from the car, but the surface was so bad that she didn't want to risk even getting back in her car. She's waiting for maintenance to come and spread salt around her car.

All highways and roads are perfectly clear in the area, but no salt or any safety measures were taken on this surface, so my /r/legaladvice request is whether or not she can request the school pay for her damages. Any and all advice is appreciated. Thanks!
Topic:
Traffic and Parking

Answer: She can request anything she wants.  It's unlikely that she'd have any luck with a lawsuit, however.


Title: [California] Seeking advice in writing a letter of testimony for a divorcing parent (vs. other parent)

Question:
Hey guys,

I'm looking for advice regarding a letter I'm planning on writing to send in defense of my father, who is going through a divorce with my mother (both biological parents). I'm almost 30, been living out of their home for over a decade, and I'm not sure how much weight my words might hold, or if there is anything I should or should not include to help him as much as I can.

They are in Cali, divorcing because she's been having an affair and it isn't her first. I know that doesn't matter because no-fault state. She filed divorce papers and a restraining order claiming spousal abuse. Thing is, she's the one who is verbally and physically abusive - it's one of the reasons I moved out before I was 18. Not to say my dad never verbally fought with her, but he never hit her that I saw... but she would fly at him slapping and punching him over and over again. He'd just try to hold her off. It was normal in our family and I grew up thinking it was a normal thing to have happen. She rarely speaks in anything but a scream.

Anyhow, the allegations she's making are about to cost him his job. If the restraining order is upheld, he won't be allowed to carry weapons ever and his job requires it. He's less than a year away from retirement (he'll be 50). I can't fly out (opposite side of the US, I have kids and obligations, no money for a ticket etc.), but I can write a letter. I'd really like to do that. I know that she'll walk away fine, but I'm worried that she'll try to ruin him. Her lying to get him kicked out of the house (he pays for it) and fired proves she's out for blood.

So, what should I include? I grew up witnessing domestic abuse and she's accusing him of it. He told me today that she kicked him in the shin a month ago. He won't report it because it looks like lying in retaliation. But I can include it, right? And should I go into her abuse (emotional/verbal/physical) of me? Should I mention anything about the divorce aspect or should I stick to the restraining order part since that's the biggest issue right now? Her job, which she's held for about two years, is the longest she's been employed at one place in her life. And it's the longest she's been working since she and my father have been married. She's contributed very little and now she wants to walk away with everything. What can I say to make sure this ends up being fair?

Thanks in advance for any help. I'm awful at replying (those aforementioned kids and obligations ;) ) but I really do appreciate any help in this matter.

(I also posted a couple weeks ago in RBN about how to help my dad when he was against getting a lawyer. [This is that post](http://www.reddit.com/r/raisedbynarcissists/comments/2izi2a/nmom_divorcing_edad_any_advice_to_help_him/), if it helps give any additional information. He has one now!)

Topic:
Custody Divorce and Family

Answer:
 >What can I say to make sure this ends up being fair?

Well, that's the thing.  Your testimony by letter is textbook hearsay because you aren't in court.  If your mother or her attorney objects on that basis or the lack of fairness due to your not being available for cross-examination, it is very probable the judge will refuse to consider your letter.


Title: Are employers required to tell if you’ve failed a pre-employment background test or drug test?

Question:
Are employers required to tell you if you’ve failed a pre-employment background check and drug test? I interviewed, they ran a background check, and I took the drug test all about a month ago now and I have not heard back.

I take prescription drugs (that are prescribed to me) and a few OTC medications for heartburn and headaches. Could this have affected a drug test? I assume my background check should have come back clean.

I feel like a month has been a long time to not have heard back from an employer. Are they required to tell me if I did not pass?

Answer:
 The employer does not have to give any reason for not hiring a candidate.

Regarding the drug testing, some states require to send results or contact you in the event you 'fail.'

May have been something in the criminal background.Answer #2: I work in HR and we do pre employment drug tests on all of our candidates.

Generally the process is that candidate goes in and takes the test. If something comes up the testing facility will contact us to have the candidate contact them. If a prescription can be verified the lab will send the test results through as a pass, if not it will be a fail.

The reasoning behind this is HIPAA laws prevent your medical information from being transferred so it’s advantageous to have the facility handle that as a medical provider and just give pass/fail results to HR.

You can request your results from the lab as it’s technically your medical information, but if no one reached out to you I would suspect that you passed the test.

What does the recruiter/hiring manager say, have you reached out and asked about moving forward? Normally someone would contact you to rescind the offer if it’s been withdrawn. Answer #3: I believe you have a right to a copy of the background check under the FCRA whether that was the cause of their decision or not. You also have a right to the drug test results. Submit a written request for both and you should get them. Not sure of Indiana law, but the drug testing company should have contacted you if you failed to see if you are on any prescription meds that could explain it.


Title: My best friend's husband is trying to get me arrested for doing "illegal" stuff online.

Question: [deleted]

Answer: Viewing (well, possessing, but they're effectively identical in this case) child porn is a felony.


Title: I've been letting a friend drive My 2nd car, insured under me. Recently found out she's driving drunk and want to understand my liability.

Question: [deleted]

Answer:
 Yes you are liable. She has no license and you are letting her drive. So likely you will be liable for any accidents. And your insurance will not cover it since she has no license. Answer #2: Take the keys back and give her notice to vacate.

Cut her out of your life, she clearly doesn't deserve your kindness.

If you are too kind to do that, you could just take the keys back and give her a bicycle to use.


Title: (FL) Is it really illegal to have a comprehensive first aid kit?

Question:
An acquaintance of mine recently told me that my fully stocked first aid/emergency kit is illegal.

I was in the medical field(many years ago but I keep my first aid training up to date). I live in a rural area, one bad storm and we could be cut off for 2+ weeks.

I have everything from basic alcohol pads to suture kits and antibiotics. The emergency kit has both non-perishable food, ways to get it(fishing line, etc.) and even baby formula(people have gotten stuck on here before and I have friends with babies I keep a few cans of hypoallergenic formula just in case).

Any of this illegal or is my acquaintance just bat shit?

Answer: You can have anything in it that is otherwise legal to possess without a prescription, unless you have a prescription for that item.


Title: Cousin wants me to pay for damages to her phone!!?(CALIFORNIA)

Question: So my cousins & I went to a concert and on the way there my cousin asked to use my aux cord in my car to listen to music on her phone. i showed her where it was and she plugged it in. on the way back she took it out & a piece of the aux cord is now stuck in her phone. She says that I am obligated to pay because it was my aux cord, is this correct? i did not force her to use it & she is the one who took it out. When she took it out she asked if it usually gets stuck and I said sometimes. I also attempted to help her remove it and offered her to take the whole aux cord to see if she can try inserting it back in to take out the little piece that is stuck. She is saying that it is my fault because I did not tell her beforehand that it was faulty, but I have had no issues with this aux cord, but when she asked if it usually gets stuck I said "sometimes" in the spur of the moment. Am i required to pay for the damage done to her phone?

Answer:
 1.) Turn off phone. Gently try to see if you can use a pair of tweezers to pull the stuck piece out. Gently. (Not you, your cousin) It's an accident and no one's fault.  If she takes it to her mobile provider they can probably get it out pretty easily.

2.) Tell your cousin that shit happens. Maybe she broke your aux cord, no?

3.) If your cousin tries to sue you over this, enjoy the judge's eye-rolls (if he agrees to hear this farce).

Also how old are you both?


Title: [WA] Ex threatening me for Revenge Porn

Question: My ex is threatening me for revenge porn, but they have no proof that I uploaded the pictures. They told me that they have a lawyer and will take me to court, and I told them to fuck off. Should I look into hiring a lawyer?

Answer:
 Proof is for a court. Evidence is easily obtained. Where else would the porn have come from?Answer #2: > Should I look into hiring a lawyer?

Yes, since there's likely a few ways for them to *get* evidence, especially if you did in fact do it.Answer #3: You are the only person who knows if they uploaded the pictures or not but judging by this post and your attitude I'm guessing you probably did. In which case yes you should get a lawyer.

Why? Because you aren't as smart as you think you are and this sort of thing can and will be traced back to you.


Title: (KS) Can we sue my fiancées surgeon?

Question:
My fiancée went in for surgery using the Da Vinci machine to fix her hiatal hernia and GERD. They took her back and put her under anesthesia and made the 5 incisions and then her surgeon passed out. We were told that it might have been a heart attack, but then we were told that he knowingly had the flu and went to operate anyway. If it had been even 5 minutes later, she could have died if he had been using the machine. They didn't have anyone else close by (in the hospital or even in the area) that could have finished the operation.

My question is, can we sue him for knowingly having a bad case of the flu and going forward with the operation anyway?

Answer: I mean, hypothetically you could. But you don't have any actual damages here, and medmals are stupidly expensive even to file. So practically speaking, no.


Title: [Minnesota] My wife and I are very amicably divorcing up to this point, but child support estimated by her lawyer seems very high.

Question:
Summary: we're in the early stage but very amicable.  We seem to agree on most everything and saw the best way to reduce costs would be for her to get a lawyer, have her draft something based upon what my wife and I have agreed upon, and have it reviewed by 3rd party divorce attorney.  The price for child support mentioned seems wildly high at $1100/month. how should I go about making this a more reasonable amount? Apparently this was based on a 10%-45% calculation of children's time with me. Should I advocate for 50% of time with them?

Background. Minneapolis.  Currently living together. After years of couples therapy we are ending our 8 year marriage. We have been very amicable, agreeing on most everything. (Nearly all of our assets are liquid; we rent) We're both adamant that we want this divorce to best serve our children.

Im making ~$115k, she makes ~$125k

We have 2 very young children, both in daycare. Currently $574/wk for the two. Apparently the price of child support would be in addition to this expense. As they are young, both in cribs (very early bedtime suits them well) we see the utility of keeping them sleeping in the same home most of the time(ie moms home).  Therefore were thinking trading every other weekend and a night with me once during the week seems adequate at their age based on some divorce/child impact reading we've done. This would make a 50/50 split in time rather difficult. Also - I'm planning on renting an apartment right away before purchasing a larger home that can accomodate me and the kids.

Answer:
 You really need to get your own lawyer. The cost of a lawyer will be insignificant compared to the amount you will be paying in your child custody agreement over the next decade or two. Answer #2: You do need to get your own lawyer, and they will be able to explain to you how child support is calculated in your state. That will enable you to know whether $1100/mo is high or not.

FWIW, I don't see $13,200/year in child support as "high" at all for someone with a $115,000 annual income. Seriously? That's less than 12% of your income. I mean, how much are you spending on them now (their share of rent/mortgage, groceries, utilities, health insurance, clothes, etc.)? What did you expect to be paying?Answer #3: Here's a calculator for your state: http://www.alllaw.com/calculators/childsupport/minnesota


Title: [MA] Requesting police dashcam footage under FOIA

Question:
So I was recently stopped and cited for a violation that I believe I am not guilty of. I intend to fight the charge, and as such, I'd like to request the footage from the officer's cruiser taken around the time of the stop to use as evidence. I've seen some conflicting information about what it takes to get footage and was hoping someone with more experience might be able to clarify a few things like: whether or not it's even possible in my situation, whether I will incur a fee (and if that fee can be waived or how I might be able to reduce or avoid it), whether I can do it on my own or if I will need an attorney, and if I am able to request the information to be sent in digital form (i.e. a file to an email address).
Topic:
Other Civil Matters

Answer:
 If you plan to use this as evidence, FOIA is not the appropriate avenue.  You should ask for the footage as part of your discovery.

A lawyer will make this whole process easier.


Title: [MA] Did I default on my lease?

Question:
I will try to be succinct, but if you'd like more details I am happy to provide them!

1. I was one of three graduate students living in a house in Massachusetts. We signed a lease that was to end on August 31, 2014.

2. In March, one of us got married, and the other two of us had job interviews in DC, so we all decided we would have to leave the house earlier than August. We approached the landlord in late March and told him of our intention to move before August - most likely in June. We never asked him to terminate the lease *per se* (we even offered to help find subletters if that's what he wanted).

3. In early April, he gave us a letter stating that our lease would end May 31st.

4. In early May, he gave us a letter stating that he had found tenants to move in, and that we would have to have the place cleaned by the 31st.

5. We moved our stuff out, cleaned the apartment, and left at noon on the 31st.

6. He is now withholding the security deposit of $1,000 for what he feels is a default of the lease. The lease does state that the landlord can do this "for unpaid charges due by reason of Tenant's default."

I guess the most pressing question is whether or not we did, in fact, default on our lease. We feel that we did not, as he decided to end the lease early and look for new tenants, and as how we fulfilled all of our legal obligations to him otherwise. He feels that we did default, as we signed a lease through August and are now not paying him for those months.
Topic:
Landlord Tenant Housing

Answer:
 It is hard to tell whether or not it is a default without knowing exactly what was said between you and the landlord, and what his letters to you regarding the lease termination said.  From your general description, however, it sounds unlikely to be a default.

Even if it was a default though, he can't simply charge you a $1,000 penalty, you are only responsible for his **actual damages**.   Since he has new renters, it seems unlikely that he has much, if any, actual damages.  Do you know what the new tenants are paying in rent?  If it is less than what your rent was, he can charge you for the difference.  Do you know if he incurred expenses in reletting the property?  You would be responsible for those expenses to the extent that they are reasonable.

As him for a breakdown of his actual damages.  Anything above that must be returned to you.


Title: [NYC] My sister cut her finger, went to the hospital and they did the stitches wrong & now she has to get surgery on the finger can she sue the hospital?

Question:
so about two months ago my sister gut her finger and went to the hospital where they gave her stitches to close the wound. Anyways who ever did it apparently failed to do some cleaning ? Im not to sure but now she has pus growing inside her finger and her doctor told her she has to get surgery to clean the inside of her finger. I've told her multiple times already to find a lawyer to sue the hospital but she is hesitant because she feels as she does not have a valid case.

So you guys tell me. Does she have a valid case?
Topic:
Medicine and Malpractice

Answer:
 Her finger got infected.  It happens frequently.  This does not mean that the finger wasn't properly treated.
She would have a very hard time proving that the infection didn't originate post procedure at home, enough if she followed instructions perfectly.
Get her to a doctor for follow up/antibiotics, if she hasn't already been.Answer #2: Medical malpractice attorneys want nothing more than to listen to your sister tell her story and analyze whether she has a case. That's what they do. They will likely ask to see some medical records, etc. it won't cost anything. If she has a case, the attorney will take her on and the attorney will take a cut off the back end. If she doesn't, they'll be honest.


Title: (TX) Took my car to fill chip in windshield, glass company cracked it instead.

Question:
I do not know if this is the correct place to ask, but is there any action I could take.

We had a small chip in my windshield (possibly from a rock on the highway) we took the car in to get it filled to prevent it from cracking further. After a little waiting we got called up and told that upon trying to fill it, the chip just cracked about halfway across the windshield. We were told they could stop the run of the crack but we would have to pay for it, and strongly suggesting that we change the entire windshield of course.

Is there any liability to the glass company?

Answer:
 No, there is never a guarantee with filling chips. They can *always* cause further damage, which is why they suggest *attempting* to get them filled as soon as possible.

However, the good news is that some insurance companies cover windshield replacement with a small deductible.Answer #2: No. Chipped windows sometimes crack the entire window. Luckily it didn't crack the rest of the way while you driving down the freeway at 70 MPH.


Title: Hypothetically...if one conjoined twin is found guilty of a felony, can they still send them to prison if the other twin is innocent? How would we even handle that?

Answer:
 It’s never happened so we don’t know. The law doesn’t cover all possible events; edge cases like this have to be dealt with by the court if and when they occur.Answer #2: I mean dunno how they would commit murder without the twin being complicit.Answer #3: Follow up question: Now the GA has fetal personhood can they incarcerate the innocent fetus for mom’s crime?Answer #4: They could not. The twin who didn’t commit the offense would be unlawfully detained and would have to be released.Answer #5: Weird facts make for weird law. This case has yet to be tried so there's not an answer. In theory we favor the innocent over the guilty but this case would have so many relevant details that it'd be beyond speculationAnswer #6: bless this subreddit lolAnswer #7: Can we get this added to the Frequently Asked Questions list, if it's not already on there?Answer #8: Haven’t there been cases where the law was not able to distinguish which identical twin (with identical DNA) committed a crime, and therefore were unable to prosecute? They weren’t able to guarantee they wouldn’t be sending an innocent person to prison, so they didn’t send anyone.

While this case is different , if you follow a similar logic, I feel like the answer here, where only one was guilty, would be no. The cost of an innocent person in prison outweighs the cost of a criminal in freedom.Answer #9: So basically they could just go around murdering people and never tell anyone •which• twin did it.

The perfect crime.Answer #10: Mark Twain answers that question nicely


Title: (AZ) My MIL is crazy and I'm wondering if this is legally publishable extortion

Question:
She seems to have dropped it, but out of curiosity (I was arguing with a friend) I wonder how serious of legal trouble she could get into. And heads up, my MIL is crazy and lacking any kind of class.

She is very sue happy. Seemingly every week she has a new potential lawsuit for my SO to talk her down from. A month ago she was outside of her suburban home when a disgruntled neighbor (not sure why) tried to assault her husband. She jumped in front taking the blow. She egged him on to hit her again (using every profane word in the book). He didn't and she only ended up getting a bruise. She was upset as she couldn't sue for medical costs. But this neighbor is on parole and an assault charge could send him back to jail. Her idea was to threaten to file a police report if he didn't give her money (5 grand IIRC).

I want to say that is illegal. My hubs has seemingly talked her down from it, but out of curiosity what charges would she be looking out? What if no one in the family l, including myself (because she has gotten drunk and attacked a 4 yo before for being a bastard child, she would fucking destroy me). And assuming of course this post never is associated (oops...).

Answer:
 This is straight up extortion. Extortion arises when one person induces another person into doing something that person is in no way legally obligated or legally allowed to do. If your nutjob of a MIL wants medical expenses covered (yeah right), she can pursue payment of those expenses through *legal avenues*, not criminal ones. Answer #2: It's extortion, a felony in most jurisdictions.

This sounds like a woman I wouldn't want in my life at all.


Title: Cannot find is a song (We'll Meet Again) from 1939 is in the public domain

Question:
Colbert's finale had a really great rendition of "We'll meet again" with a star studded cast. Our dad is dying and I'd like to draw in the musical talents from around the family to do our version of it, but I know I can only make it happen if it's legal.

My Googling has been unable to determine if this 67 year old sold is in the public domain. Clearly I don't want to make any money off of it, but I also don't want some unknown company to have the right to take it offline forever and sue me for having all the kids, grandkids and great-grandkids sing our version of it.

Is there any definitive way of knowing if we can make our own version of this song for, from and by those of us in the family?

Answer: I'm sorry for your loss. Why does it have to go on YouTube? The copyright implications aren't particularly relevant if the performance isn't being disseminated where anybody could see it.


Title: (mentally ill?) brother attacked family and won't voluntarily enter rehab/hospital; what are our options?

Question:
Hello! I hope I'm posting this in the right sub.

I (23) live in PA and my mother and two brothers, we'll call them A (29) and B (26), all live in South Dakota. My mother just called me and told me that brother A was just arrested for very drunkenly attacking her and brother B. During the ordeal B called the police and A was taken into custody... nobody was badly injured, thank god (he did say some really horrifying things to my mother though :( ). My mother told the police that A had grabbed her arm and twisted it and pushed her around. She also told them that while she didn't see which of my brothers threw the first punch, it was obviously A. Also, A had smashed her dishes and thrown her coffee table.

We have suspected for a few years that A was developing bipolar disorder, which runs very thoroughly throughout our father's side. Brother A has apparently been seeing a psych in the last couple months but has never been diagnosed (he had allusions of finishing law school and didn't want that complication). However, it's really clear that he's sick/mentally ill and having an episode. It is my opinion that he needs to be placed into a psychiatric hospital to receive some sort of analysis and medication (and mom and bro B agree). But there's no way that he would go voluntarily.

What are our options here? is there a way that we can have the police station transfer him into a psych facility? What abilities do we have here? Or do we just have to let him get released and wait for something really awful to happen? (I'm extremely scared that he's going to hurt my mother or bro B, someone else, or even himself... and we just don't know what to do. I know my mother will soften and feel sorry for him, and it makes me sick to think about what would happen next time...)

Anyways, again, hopefully this is an appropriate sub, and I've given you useful/sufficient information.
Thanks!
Topic:
Alcohol Related Other than DUI

Answer:
 He can be involuntarily committed generally in two ways: if the police deem him to be unsafe to himself or others, or via a petition filed with the county board of mental illness by you or another family member. If the board determines that he meets certain criteria, they can order the police to apprehend him and take him to a psych facility for an examination and/or treatment.

[More info here.](https://dss.sd.gov/docs/behavioralhealth/community/aroadmapofsouthdakota2000.pdf)


Title: Local ice cream bar that I know for a fact throws away all male job applications right away

Question:
There's a local ice cream bar around where I'm at that takes all male applications that get brought in and throw them away instantly. I figure this is very illegal and can actually get the business in trouble. What kind of trouble would they be expecting?

Location: Ohio - United States
Topic:
Employment Law

Answer:
 There has to be a good reason to discriminate based on sex. Look up "bona fide occupational qualification" for more information.

The preferences of the boss, coworkers, or customers does NOT qualify as a good enough reason.

An example of legal discrimination based on sex would be only considering women applicants to  depict Marilyn Monroe in a play.Answer #2: How... do you know that?Answer #3: Contact [these people](http://das.ohio.gov/Divisions/EqualOpportunity/AffirmativeActionEqualEmploymentOpportunity/EEOlaw/tabid/397/Default.aspx) here.


Title: [VA] Is a live-in girlfriend considered a tenant in Virginia state law?

Question:
I bought a house 2 years ago, and moved into the new house with my then live-in girlfriend. We previously had a lease together at an apartment but the house, and all funds used to obtain the mortgage, were in my name. She's lived there since then, changing her DL address and permanent address to the house, as well as moving in her belongings.

She pays no rent; in the past 6 months she has been assisting in payment for utilities. Each check is marked as being paid 'for utilities' and marks the difference in running the AC more to keep the place colder; otherwise there is no monthly payments made. Otherwise the only money she spends on the house is for consumables like food.

She has done a few minor house improvements, but always assisted by others and with materials I purchased.

Things might come to a conclusion soon, and I'm aware of the Virginia landlord tenant act, which grants significant protection to tenants. However with no rent agreement, and no regular payments being made it things other than consumables, I believe this doesn't constitute her being a tenant, but rather a guest. Is this the case?

EDIT:I'm not planning on booting her out; I'd like to make things as amicable as possible if this happen and allow her time to move out. However if we break up and she moves out in a short time, I might be held liable if she comes back at a later date and says she was a tenant; requiring a 30 day notice as well as a legal conviction after the 30 days in VA served by the sheriff, followed by more time for the person evicted to move out. Evictions in VA are normal to take up 90 days; which would be 90 days in a possibly hostile situation since we both occupy the house.

I just want to get an idea of the situation I'm in.

Answer:
 She's an 'authorized occupant' under state law.  Once your consent for her to live there is revoked, she becomes a trespasser and can be evicted.  If it is a problem, you should give her written notice to be out by a certain date.

Decent people make the transition process easy, help the other person move their stuff, and so on.


Title: Is it legal to ban a customer from publically criticizing your company?

Question:
I was looking at getting a puppy and noticed something weird in one of the contracts.  Most of the form has to do with a health guarantee, but then it says this-

>Purchaser Agrees not to attack/criticize [breeder] or its owners publicly (on public forums, blogs, social networks, etc) at any time for any reason. In the case of a breach of this clause, buyer agrees to pay breeder $3,000 as damages.

Is that enforceable?  Seems kind of intense.

edit- Virginia
Topic:
Contracts

Answer:
 They're not banning you.

You're **agreeing** to this as a condition of getting the puppy.  Either negotiate it away, walk away, or accept it.Answer #2: Companies can't ban you from leaving bad reviews *in form contracts* where you have no ability to negotiate, under the Consumer Reviews Fairness Act. That doesn't apply here because you can negotiate.


Title: [SC] I was attacked outside of a bar... Now I'm facing charges

Question:
Back in October I went out with some mutual friends for dinner and drinks. The night progressed without a hitch until the very end when I got into an argument with another guy from the group. I'll recount exactly what happened next as I remember it and how it was confirmed through others. This guy and I get into a verbal argument and he hits me from behind, knocking me down. I get up from the ground and put my hands around his neck. He swings again, hitting me in the face, and pushes me to the ground where he kicks me in the face. The guy then flees the scene with another one of his friends.

My injuries amount to four badly chipped teeth, another tooth that had to be extracted, a black eye, and some minor scratches and scrapes. After the scuffle, I waited for police to arrive and document everything. I went to the emergency room to make sure there were no head injuries (CAT scan came back negative) and then went to the police station to formerly press charges. I didn't get contacted by an officer until 4 days later when he confirms if I want to press charges. He goes into how it will be a drain on my time and a lot of paperwork and my thinking was "Idc this guy has to be charged for what he did." Problem is, there were no outdoor cameras that caught the event and none of the bystanders at the scene wanted to give a statement. My only fallback was a girl (part of the mutual friend group) that was outside with the guy and I. She saw everything happen. I ask her to give a statement to the police but she is unwilling. I give her number to the officer anyways, hoping he can convince her to give a statement.
Full disclosure: I texted this girl the day after the incident happened and she confirmed that the guy did indeed hit me first.

A week goes by and I check in with the officer to see how everything is progressing. He tells me it's not going that well since there is no footage or testimony as to what happened... just my word. He then suggests that contacting the guy may be a "last hope" to try and get him to acknowledge what happened. So I give the officer everything I knew about him (Full name, place of work). The officer informs me a few days later that he will have to transfer the case over to another officer since he has ties to the guy's family.

I get acquainted with the new officer (through email and brief phone conversation) and tells me he will attempt to contact the guy. I wait a week and ask for an update from the officer and he tells me nothing has changed. Not wanting to be a nuisance, I don't contact the officer again until 2 weeks later he emails me to tell me was advised by the city attorney to charge both of us with disorderly conduct! His reasoning was that this will give a court date where both parties are present and the judge can decide how to proceed. So he tells me I will have to turn myself in at the local PD.

At this point I'm pretty livid but I go to turn myself in and it turns out to be an 8 hour deal! I was put in cuffs, booked, kept in a holding cell.... the whole nine. This happened a week and a half ago and I'm still dumbstruck. While in jail I learned that one of his friends gave a statement to the guy's attorney basically saying he wasn't sure how it started but he looked up to see my hands around his neck and then he threw me down and kicked me. The thing that infuriates me the most is the girl that was there to see everything happen refuses to talk. When I texted her, she kind of let on that she didn't see everything that happened after the initial hit. But after talking to a mutual friend, she was apparently telling the story to the friend in greater detail.

More disclosure: This probably doesn't help my case at all but I want to leave out as little as possible This happened outside of a bar after closing time so yes everybody had been drinking.

One of my questions is: Is this a normal progression of how things go? I can't wrap my head around being charged for anything when I was the one that got attacked, stuck around for the cops to arrive while the guy ran, I'm the one racking up medical bills, and I'm the one that tried to press charges in the first place.

My other question is: I now have a court date so what (if anything) will I need to bring to that? Documentation of my face and teeth, medical bills, the original statement I gave?

I appreciate any input in advance. Let me know if you would like more details or if anything is unclear.

Answer:
 You are being charged because you were disorderly by being drunk in a verbal altercation.  Bring a lawyer to your court date.Answer #2: > I can't wrap my head around being charged for anything

You're being charged with disorderly conduct.  The fact that you were hit first doesn't mean that your other behavior that evening is excused, or that you weren't equally at fault for picking the fight.

Based on your narrative, dual charges of disorderly conduct sound appropriate.  Since the police can't ascertain who assaulted who, they're not proceeding on that.


Title: The president of my homeowners association. Is threatening to tow my car away from its registered residence! Please help!!

Question:
The president of my homeowners association is this miserable lowlife who has no life other than exacting his revenge from getting bullied in school is what I imagine. I live in a town home with my mother, father and adult sister and myself I'm 24. We have lived here with our four cars for over five years with no issues pertaining to parking or any issues for that matter.  Keep in mind there is ample parking and in some resident spots there is never a car. The president of the homeowners are owners association has got a hard-on for my car for no apparent reason. And is threatening to tow my car away from its registered residence a.k.a. my home. In the contract it states residents are allowed two parking passes and a third to be issued for $100. Which we did for my sister. Me being the odd man out I've had to get guest passes to park in my own neighborhood (where my bed is) (in my house) on and off for the last year or so. The president of the homeowners association told me they will no longer issue me guest passes for my car and that "my family and i have to have a family meeting to decide on which car were going to get rid of." This guy is out of his mind. We are all four adults with jobs working 35 hours a week minimum. Is there anything that can be done? Is there any law against towing a car away from its registered residence? Any insight? Any suggestions? I tried to speak with this gentleman civilly to no avail, he's drunk with power.  Somebody please help me I'm suffering from extreme anxiety from this ordeal.

Edit: Location Florida

Answer:
 >This guy is out of his mind.

Nope, you are just feel entiteled to something you are not entiteled to.

>Is there anything that can be done?

Yes, run for HOA president.

> Is there any law against towing a car away from its registered residence?

Depends on your jurisdiction (which you didn't provide) but your HOA can almost certainly set certain rules and when you don't follow them you probably agreed to having your car towed.

>I tried to speak with this gentleman civilly to no avail, he's drunk with power.

No he isn't drunk with power, you just should find parking outside of the HOA and you are in the clear.Answer #2: You are violating the rules. You should start discussing which car to get rid of and arrange for another family member to drive you or become familiar with local public transportation/UberAnswer #3: Don't live in place that has a HOA if you don't want to follow the rules. Answer #4: Do your contracts prevent other residence leasing or licencing you their car park rights? Try and buy a spot of another resident perhaps?


Title: I was the roommate of an alleged high profile sexual assaulter

Question: Last year I was roommates with a man that currently has several sexual assault charges against him. The news has since been heavily publicized and recognized on a national level. At least one of the alleged victims claimed the sexual assault occurred in our apartment during the same period I was living with him. I have not yet been contacted by police/investigators/press/his attorney to provide any information, however I'm assuming that I will be soon. I do not intend to provide any information. If I am contacted, is it standard that his attorney will also take me as his client to defend me from some way incriminating myself as well? Will this be free of charge to me since his family is already paying the lawyer? Is it realistic to think that I will be subpoenaed?

Answer:
 > If I am contacted, is it standard that his attorney will also take me as his client to defend me from some way incriminating myself as well?

No, he will **absolutely** not do that.  It would be a conflict of interest.

Unless charged with a crime, you have no right to an attorney.  If contacted by the police or his attorney, you would be wise to hire one before speaking to them.  We can't guess whether you'd be called to testify.  Realistically, if you haven't yet, it's less likely.  Answer #2: > I do not intend to provide any information.

You won't have that choice ***if*** you are subpoenaed, unless you feel that testifying will incriminate you and then your about-to-be-hired-by-you attorney will direct you to not answer due to the possibility of self-incrimination.


Title: Carpet ban from supermarket based on school

Question:
Hello all,

Since last Wednesday a chain supermarket near me has refused service to me and every other member of the school I go to (in the UK; with a uniform).

They justify this because one individual shoplifted last Tuesday and have held the ban since then.

Not planning to do anything since it's not a huge problem, but just curious what the legality of this is.

Thanks

Answer: The store is private property, even though they deal with the general public. As far as I know, "Students of a particular institution" are not a protected class under any UK human rights legislation, although r/legaladviceuk might know something we don't, but the ban is very likely lawful and you would be trespassing if you ignore it.


Title: Can my friend get custody of her daughter

Question:
Ok so I have a friend whose daughter was taken by her ex they are not married and he moved out of state to florida and hes cut all ties to her from knowing about her daughter by blocking her on social media and phone number could we potentially make a case and once she gets a lawyer what are her chances of winning the case. Also according to her, her ex was a lazy scumbag that was abusive to her. And never took care of the baby when she was born
Topic:
Custody Divorce and Family

Answer: No one here can say what your friends chances are of getting custody. The courts are going to act in the best interest of the child. She needs a lawyer that specializes in family law and a formal custody agreement.


Title: Can my boss make me increase my auto insurance coverage without compensating me for the extra I have to pay?

Question:
I work part time (approx 10 hours a week) for a property management company in California. They recently sent a letter stating I have to increase my auto insurance coverage which will cost me around an extra $400 a year. They also want to be listed as an interested party on the insurance. I already have auto insurance but my coverage is significantly less than what they want. The reason they gave me is if I'm depositing checks or picking up supplies I need the extra coverage so THEY are protected. Are they allowed to do this without paying me the difference?
Topic:
Employment Law

Answer:
 Yes, they are allowed to make having appropriate insurance coverage a requirement for keeping your job.

Honestly if you're not already very well covered, you should be. Insurance is cheap, lawsuits are *expensive*.


Title: I was ticketed for having a bottle of corona on a beach, and the fine is $500. Is there a way I can get the penalty changed?

Question:
The friday that my finals/semester ended in the spring I went to the beach with two friends. We each brought one beer with us, but being as they were too warm we just left them by our towels. A few hours later a cop pulls up and gives the three of us tickets, all for possession of one 12oz corona.

I was bummed but whatever, I'd pay the fine and move on. When I finally get to pay it online, the ticket is for $500. Im a broke college student and I don't have the money to pay this. My court date is soon, can I request community service or a lower fine or am I going to be stuck with this?

It also doesn't help that I'm 20. The people I'm with are 26 and 21 now. It was just really frustrating because people were all over the beach blasting music, drinking coolers full of beer, being rowdy and none of them attracted the cops attention, the three of us sitting quietly along the shore are the only ones doing something wrong. The cop made a huge scene and afterwards, everyone on the beach came up to us not believing he targeted us while all these other people were obviously drinking and going crazy.

I've never gotten in trouble with the law before, record is clean, and I have good grades in a respected engineering school and I participate in alot of community organizations like academic clubs and habitat for humanity and red cross (which Ive helped run in the past) Is any of this stuff worth bringing up to try and get the fine changed to doing more service hours or something?

Answer: You can go to court and beg but that is about it. Sounds like you committed the crime you are being charged with. "Because others were doing it" is not going to help you in court.


Title: [MI] Legality of publicly naming my abuser.

Question: [deleted]

Answer: Although truth is a defense to defamation, that won't prevent the other party from suing you. And you would have to pay money to defend it. That is the risk you take.


Title: My friend's ex-husband has abandoned her and their son. I don't think this is right and want to help her.

Question:
Someone PM'd me and suggested that I post this here. I want to help my friend but I don't know how.

She is divorced with one child. She met her ex-husband when she was 19 and they got married when she was 21. A year later she gave birth to her son. When her son was 1 her ex-husband got suspicious about himself being the father. He took him for a test without her knowing and it came back that he wasn’t the father. He filed for divorce and it became final a year later. A test from a lab picked by the court also showed he wasn’t the dad. It’s been a year since the divorce became final. Her son is 3 years old now. Her ex-husband has not seen or talked to her son since he was 1 when he filed for divorce. Since he filed for divorce he has not seen her except in court and has not spoken to her. Because he signed the birth certificate and supported her son for a year the court ruled that he has to pay child support, until her son is 18 (or 19 if he hasn’t graduated from high school yet). He pays through the state child support office and has no communication with her. But he doesn’t have contact or provide her with emotional support or give her relief by looking after her son and giving her a break. Even though he is paying the support because of the court order he is no longer on the birth certificate, he has no visitation or custody or rights to make decision as per the court order (like for medical care or if she wants to move or travel with her son). He has to pay the support but the court ruled that he doesn’t have any other legal obligations like visitation or emotional support. He is not on the birth certificate so she can travel out of the country if she wants and she won't have trouble at the border taking her son.

During the year between when he filed and when the divorce was final she continued living in the house but the judge ordered it sold. She got half the equity but after she paid her lawyer she had nothing left. She didn’t get alimony because of the cheating allegation and she was a homemaker for their marriage and is having a hard time finding a job now. Also when her ex-husband left he tore up and deleted all the pictures that had him, or both him and her son in them, so besides some wedding pictures she doesn’t have any pictures of him and her son doesn’t even remember him. He chose to sever ties this way.

My friend is all on her own. Even her family disowned her over this. I don’t think it’s right that her ex-husband can just emotionally sever things and abandon things like this. Is there anything she can do legally. He didn’t want visitation or contact. Can she take him to court to get it?

Answer: Don't feed the troll, folks.


Title: (NYC) Got a ticket for UPM and Tresspassing. Terrified. What do I do?

Question: Hi everyone. So i should preface this by saying that i've NEVER been in trouble with the law before. For anything. I'm 25, I live in NYC. College student, finishing my BA degree, interning as a software developer. Weed has been de-criminalized for a couple years now in NYC. I was headed home, stopped by the park close by my place to call my friend. In my pocket I had a sealed, tiny jar of a few joints. Cops pulled up, asked if I knew i was tresspassing I said i didn't realize that I was, asked if I had anything on me, I was honest and said weed in my pocket that I wasn't going to smoke. They took it and gave me two tickets (the pink slips) for Unlawful Posession of Marijuana (221.05) and Tresspassing (140.05). I was visibly distraught and they seemed chill and said that it's the equivalent of a parking ticket and that it'll more than likely just be a 50-100$ fine for both and likely be dismissed. I'm freaking out as i've never been in trouble with the law, do I need to hire a lawyer or anything? How do i plead when i show up to court? The cops made this seem like this is a routine thing for them and that people just go in, pay their fine, and go home. What are the odds of it being that easy? Will this appear on my record for whenever i graduate and try to find a job? Please, any and all advice is very much appreciated.

Answer:
 Thank you for posting the codes you were hit with as it makes this so easy.

http://ypdcrime.com/penal.law/article221.htm#p221.05

Violation, just pay a fine.

http://ypdcrime.com/penal.law/article140.htm#p140.05

Violation, just pay a fine.


Title: Inter-sibling abuse laws in Ontario, Canada? Can someone be convicted years later?

Question: Even if you are not versed in Canadian law, any insight would be helpful. Two siblings had apparently done some "touching" and experimenting almost 10 years ago, at the ages of 11 and 8 years old. The younger sibling has claimed lately that the incident was traumatizing, and though this sibling has been known to be quite manipulative, irrational, and exaggerating, something like this clearly cannot be overlooked. My questions are: can the older sibling be convicted for this years later? Where is the line drawn between "kids being kids" and actual crimes being committed? What steps should be taken for this matter? I do not think anyone should be "punished", legally or not.

Answer:
 Your best bet in this situation is to get the younger child therapy while you still can. As the child was under the age of 12, they cannot be charged with sexual abuse in Canada. Once the child gets older and moves away (assuming it hasn't already), it will be harder for you to help him get the help he needs and the problem will become worse.

EDIT: This [pamphlet](http://www.ksacc.ca/docs/sibling_sexual_abuse.pdf?LanguageID=EN-US) from the National Clearinghouse on Family Violence should give you some valuable information


Title: Closed on the house but sellers refuse release the keys

Question: We purchase a house and just closed on the house yesterday. The sellers have origally agreed to move out and turn in the keys two days after closing. However after we've signed all the documents and left the lawyers' office, we were told that our lender has sent the funds to the wrong closing attorney. ( we changed the attorney while under contract). Now the lender was working to locate the fund, the seller refuse to turn in the keys as originally agreed. What legal recourses do we have? Do we leagally have possession of the house? Thank you for your help.

Answer:
 Why on earth would you expect them to hand over the keys when they haven't been paid? This is either your lenders or your screw up depending on if you notified them you had a new attorney.

> the seller refuse to turn in the keys as originally agreed.

The seller agreed to turn in the keys once they were paid.Answer #2: Until someone comes up with the money and completes the closing pretty much none. Its still their house.


Title: I haven't seen my daughter in 6 years. She is 8 years old.

Question:
I don't even know where to begin.
I just want to at least start seeing her and becoming apart of her life as her father.

I have never openly came out with this and since its a throwaway its pretty arguable to even say that this is openly but I need to get this off my chest. Everything in my life is great except for the fact that I don't see my daughter. That is the single most shitty thing about my life and nothing comes even remotely close at all. Some people know I don't see her and its a hard thing for some people to understand. I am judged harshly behind my back and some people just look at me like a piece of shit so I wanted to make this post to get it off my chest and maybe someone can understand where I have come from and how the situation came to be and also most importantly get help and take the next step to seeing her.

A little background about my family.  I am the oldest of 5. My Mother is hard of hearing (hears about 40%) and I have never seen my biological father once. My oldest brother is 5 years younger and my next 3 younger siblings are 11, 12 and 13 years younger then me. My stepdad whom I consider my father came into my life in the 6th grade and started a family with my mother, he is completely deaf. This adds a certain dynamic to my family as well. Me and my oldest brother are not his kids so even though he tries to own us like his there is that separation there. Our communication is completely shit. Me nor my oldest brother are VERY fluent in sign language but we know enough to get by mixed with the fact that my parents are extremely good at reading lips. My younger brothers and sisters on the other hand grew up with it and are more fluent then my oldest brother and I and almost act as translators sometimes. Text messages and modern day media has truly strengthened our communication. Although its no where near where I would like it. When they call me on the phone if its not video chat its through someone else known as a relay operator. Someone just reading their sign language off to me. There is never any flowing conversation. We take turns talking and there is no feel to the convo, the relay operator often times misinterprets what she is saying and it makes for a lot of pauses in the conversation and trying to figure things out. A normal conversation with my parents could easily take 10x the amount of time to have figuring things out and getting it right as a conversation with a person of hearing.  When you mix this with the fact that my mom had me when she was 19 and basically was still growing up when she had me. I have ALWAYS been very distant from my parents. I may be short changing my mom but I didn't feel very parented at all. When I was very young I was mostly with my grandmother who passed away when I was 7. From there on out guys where hopping in and out of my moms life and she was doing drugs. I remember watching her smoke weed once when i was in 3rd grade and they told me to go to bed. I stood up to listen to them smoking crack. This was only once but I just want to paint the picture of what it was like for me growing up and the separation with my mom. She has become an amazing parent now but as her 1st I really fell like the child she screwed up on. I don't use this as an excuse and I love my mom to death but this is the reality of what it was like growing up for me.

My ex and I were 19 when she got pregnant. She was my 1st serious girlfriend and I thought I was in love. She was good at times but really treated me like shit a lot but I loved the idea of having a girlfriend and it really blinded my judgement of the whole situation. When we found out she was pregnant she broke up with me. We still communicated but it was mostly in bad ways. I was a pushover and she tried to take advantage of me in every way and I let her. We still hooked up a lot because the sex was amazing and that's almost the only thing that kept us talking. I still had feelings for her at the time. She knew that and would use it against me to play with my emotions. Its like she didn't want me but wanted me to want her.

A little background about her family. Her family is black and and she is the youngest of 4. At the time we were in a mostly white town known for its racism.  This made things different. When I would come over to visit her family they would cast me away as the white boy. They didn't come out and say it like that but their actions supported that. I truly was colorblind to everyone, but to them I was white and they were black and it was different. It just made another dynamic to the whole situation. Hey father isn't around, lives on the west coast and she sees him on random summers. Her mother is a Sheriff and acts very intimidating most of the time. I once seen her hold up a line at a gas station and yell at the cashier just not giving a fuck at all. She legit sleeps with a gun under her pillow. Her brother is an ex felon for shooting someone although he seemed really cool. Her family was actually pretty cool in general but it was so awkward for me at the time and I never really got close to anyone of them besides her sister who I used to work with. On top of that a lot of her family drank a lot. Like, almost every weekend at least someone was drinking. I know every family has problems and despite all that I think they had a strong family that  really loves each other and would do anything for each other. They were really connected and its truly not as bad as you would think after just learning all of that.

There I think her mother was manipulating her. Her mother has 4 kids from different dads and always had this persona of being able to do it all on her own and saying she didn't need men and of course her mother was her biggest support when the news broke of her being pregnant because once she became pregnant she was a COMPLETELY different person. It was all fun and games and then became real all too quick.

 We did have a verbal agreement going and I seen her a lot for the first year. Then this one day happened.
I was watching her at my house when I lived with my parents at the time. I had to work in the evening and she was supposed to pick our daughter up about 2 hours prior from me going to work.  Before she dropped her off earlier in the day she told me she was going on a date just to piss me off when she was really just going out with her friends. The time she is supposed to come pick her up comes around and shes late. That's okay my mom gets home and she can watch my daughter until my ex comes around to pick her up so I can go to work. Well my ex shows up shitfaced! She drove to my house with her friends shitfaced. She came in and her friends waited in the car while she thought she would come pick our daughter up and drive away. The second she came in stumbling I was pissed. She was late and she was wasted and she was driving. She walked into my house and tried to turn the situation on me. Calling me an asshole for even calling her out on it. Our daughter starts crying feeling the emotions stir up and things get tense. She tries to take our daughter but I just dont let her, NO WAY. She then starts punching me in the face so I grabbed her hands and just held them so she would stop punching me. As I do this she falls backwards and I semi catch her from hitting the ground any harder. She laughs at this and says what the fuck with an evil smile on her face. She said she wasnt leaving without our daughter and told me that her friend can drive. Knowing I wasn't going to trust her on this anyways I inspected her friend in the back of her car who also seemed intoxicated. At this point she wasn't leaving and she wouldn't stop punching me so I called the cops. She ripped the phone out of the wall in the middle of the call and the cops came anyways. She told the cops I pushed her and I told them I was defending myself and not gonna let her leave with our daughter. They seen she was drunk and took my word and they arrested her. Her mom showed up with the police force because shes the sheriff and she went to jail for the night and got a DWI.
When she got out, she blamed me for everything of course.  It was my fault she went to jail if I didn't call the cops non of this would have happened.  It was mutually agreed we needed to be apart from one another after that all happened. She said she would have her sister or mom drop off our daughter and that's how that would be settled. When the time came for me to see my daughter she was full of excuses. It was excuse after excuse and me at the time I believed them and time went by and more excuses came and I didn't see my daughter. After all of that part of me still loved this girl and I was even still blinded by that. I seen her so rarely after that. Then eventually didn't see her at all. I tried for a really long time and then just gave up. I went to my parents and they gave me brief advice but we never acted on anything. They were busy raising their own kids and they just expected me to figure it out on my own.
Well I didn't. I turned to an experimentation in drugs stage. It never got really bad as it did with my brother for a bit but I did smoke weed almost everyday. I played video games nonstop and I just wanted to disconnect from reality. I had no self respect. I had a good paying job and to me in my eyes at the time that meant I could do whatever I wanted. My priorities were complete shit I was younger and dumb and I was treating my life like complete shit for the longest time. Until eventually years have went by. My daughter is 8 now and for the last 1.5 years I have been just cleaning up the shit habits I have had for the last 10+ years. I quit smoking tobacco, weed, I eat WAY healthier now, i'm cleaner, and i'm adulting way better. Well now is the time to to make the leap and pursue being a father again.
 I cant live this way any longer. I'm tired of not seeing the most important person I have to even live for. I'm tired of being afraid to make that leap. I'm tired of lying to people when they ask how my daughter is doing and acting like I actually know. I'm tired of taking the easy way out of everything. I'm tired of having that tarnished reputation and it effecting how people treat me. I'm tired of not being able to respect myself further because of it.

What do I do now? If it helps at all i'm from Minnesota. Where do I begin this process. I have payed child support for the last 8 years and I am signed on the recognition of parentage and I just wanna shoot for visitation at 1st.  I don't have much money but i'm willing to do whatever it takes.

Thank you for any detailed responses and sorry for the poor grammar.

Answer: You get an attorney and find a sub that cares about the personal emotional baggage. Answer #2: Error 404: TL;DR not foundAnswer #3: You're not going to get visitation just so you feel better about yourself. The only thing the court will care about is the best interest of the child and the fact that you haven't made any attempt to see her for 6 years will count heavily against you. You are a stranger to her and you don't just get to show up in her life and play daddy to assuage your guilt.


Title: Pictures taken of young children, offender for charged with "invasion of privacy"...what can we do?

Question:
Cliff notes version:

40 year old man took pictures of children (ages 7-10) without their permission

Pictures were mainly upskirt, rear end, close up of bathing suits around the vaginal area and buttocks.

Children were positively identified.

Cell phone used to take photos contained pictures of other females (ages 7-21ish), also taken in a "peeping tom" fashion.

Perp. had two cellphones on his person. One for pictures, and one that was actually his phone.

Pornography found on phones.

Judges said there was not enough evidence to justify searching the home or personal computer.

Same man spoke out against his fire chief (oh yeah, he's a fire fighter) facing sexual assault charges, said the chief was a good guy, good friend, would never do anything like this, etc.

This man was observed by no less than 3 adults taking these pictures in a public place and in a private place (bus).

His punishments: 6 days in jail and therapy. Charged with "invasion of privacy". ( nearly a YEAR after the event occured)

There is NO Way this guy hasn't done anything like this before. The police involved even said they wanted to get into his computers etc, but it was out of their hands and apparently crotch shots of 7 year olds isn't considered lewd or raises red flags for anyone.

What can be done? This guy is a pervert for sure and yet he continues to be allowed around children. He apparently is no longer a fire-fighter, but I feel like I need to do something so no other kids get hurt by him.

Or is this just how the legal system works...and we just wait for him to mess up again?

Answer:
 Given the case history as you describe it and the fact that even the police are champing at the bit, it's likely that he'll be investigated again as soon has he behaves even the slightest bit less than perfectly gentlemanly and someone makes a complaint, and that the police will try for a different judge when it comes time to obtain a warrant, or that they'll find another jurisdiction that has the right authority and refer the matter there.

You know he's a kiddy fiddler. The cops believe he's a kiddy fiddler. He hangs out with kiddy fiddlers and now he has a criminal record. He's going to get done for kiddy fiddling or child pornography, it's just a matter of time at this point.

You can help that process along by encouraging people who see him photographing kids to make police reports.


Title: Father died in 2000. Contacted in 2014 by life insurance company about a policy I didn't know existed. Do I have any recourse for extreme delay?

Question:
My father died in 2000 (in AL). I (in NV) was contacted in Dec 2014 by a life insurance company (in GA) that held a policy for my father. I was unaware of the policy.  They stated they were notified by the Social Security Administration in 2012 that my father had passed. They could not explain why it took 2 years after that notification to contact me (my name and address are on the policy) or why they failed to escheat the policy to the state after the prescribed number of years without contact from the policy holder (5 years). I filed the claim and they paid it with no problem, but they have been holding the proceeds for 14 years. Do I have any recourse to recover interest on those proceeds, or should I at least report the (perceived) shady business practiced by this giant corporation?

Topic:
Insurance

Answer:
 Maybe it's just me, but if I had a windfall like that, I'd be happy about it, not wondering if I should sue somebody.  I'm the last person on earth to defend insurance companies, but if they wanted to screw you here, you'd never have heard about this policy.

If you want to pursue this, contact your state's insurance regulator or a civil lawyer in your area.


Title: [CA] A d-list movie used footage of me they filmed without my permission.

Question: The title sums it up pretty well.  This whole situation was recently brought to my attention by a friend who noticed that I was featured in an awful movie that's now on Netflix.  It's a super low budget "Sharknado" style film with a brief ski sequence.  I'm the skier in the sequence and the shots were filmed entirely without my permission, I had ***NO*** idea I was even being filmed let alone that the shots would end up in a movie.  Skiing is my livelihood and I think I deserve a credit at least, if not a meager payment.  What should I do?

Answer: How many years ago was it?  I think that California has a two-year statute of limitations on Right of Publicity violations. I'm not sure how this would be counted.  As the saying goes, "If you're outside the SOL, you are SOL."


Title: The legalities of failing or refusing a drug test (hear me out).

Question:
I'm in Iowa.

I'm job searching and running into a lot of places that require testing, however, I take AD/HD medication, which is a Schedule I drug (or II, I can't totally remember) so I would outright fail any test I would take. (it is considered an amphetamine)

I could get a note from my doctor, and I don't have a problem doing so, but I feel like this is one giant can of worms and I'm not sure what the best way to go about this is--I feel like saying I'm going to fail and explaining why might disqualify me without even basing it on my merits.  Iowa is an at will state so I'm trying to get my ducks in a row.

Any suggestions/thoughts?  Thanks.

Answer:
 Employers are within their legal rights to require drug tests. They can ignore your application or fire you if you refuse.

You can hand them a doctor's note that simply states that you have a valid prescription for this -- it doesn't need to go into detail.

This is routine for tens of thousands if not millions of people on prescription pain killers and the like. Answer #2: I have done hundreds, maybe thousands of pre-employment drug screens. If you have a valid prescription for these meds, you have nothing to worry about. Don't bring your script or your med bottles to the drug screening place-- they don't want that information or care if you're on drugs. Just give them an adequate amount of urine or hair and move on with your day. After the test, you will be called within a week or so (depending on which reference lab performs the test) by a Medical Review Officer (MRO) who is an MD. He will call you with the positive result and you will give him the information about your legal prescription, including the provider and where you get it filled. Then, the MRO will mark your test as negative and that is what will be reported to the employer.

Edit: just some phrasing


Title: [St.Tammany,Louisiana]What to do when a doctor doesn't send your medical records to court as requested by the judge?

Question: Went to a court hearing, where it was vital that the doctor send the medical records to prove my case, but the clinic sends a blank disc to the court.  I was give the blank disc from the court that day.  I was told in court that because the disc was blank with no records on it that I was going to lose my case in court that day. I was to recover no reward for my case.  So the doctor or the clinic messed me out of thousands.  No justice for me at that time.  Well I haven't given up hope that I will fix this.

Answer:
 Might have been an honest mistake. Why did your lawyer not ask for a continuance?Answer #2: was it dismissed with or without prejudice? do you not have a lawyer? why didnt you go to the doctors and pick up the records and films yourself? Answer #3: You will probably have to provide more information. Were the records subpoenaed? What kind of case/court will admit evidence/documents which contain plenty of hearsay and expert opinions without a proper foundation? Was this a SS disability case? A workers' compensation case? Why don't you already have a copy of your medical records? You can get those yourself at any time as long as you give the provider enough notice (and sometimes pay a copy fee).

Generally, a witness (here, your doctor) is not required to provide any testimony or provide any documents unless they are subpoenaed (by your attorney or by the court).


Title: SF, California - Landlord moved all my belongings out of my house while I was not there and more.

Question: [deleted]

Answer:
 On the one hand, SF has some pretty strict tenant protections, and you can contact an SF tenant union for help, there are plenty.

On the other hand, you refusing to communicate with the landlord about both the move-out date, and refusing to pay utilities is just childish on your part. Usually when people rent spaces, they rent from the first of the month, so just because you wanted to move your things on the first doesn't make it reasonable to do so. Moreover, you owe your landlord money, which I'm sure they can prove.

If I were you, I'd just pay the money, get your speakers back, and drop the rest. Your legal recourse is slim and you don't even have a lease.


Title: [NJ] My son is living with a drug addict

Question:
Throw away account.

My teenage son’s mom got together with a heroin addict. I found out that the boyfriend had OD’d and been subsequently arrested and spent a few months in jail but I felt like it was too late to do anything at the time. Since then, he had seemingly got his act together and they bought a house. Yesterday, I found out from his family that they got married and he has been using again. I can’t send my son back to that house. What do I do? My wife wants me to call CPS but I’m worried that that won’t accomplish anything. She also wants me to go down to the court and try to get temporary custody and require them to get drug tested. I feel like the state won’t side with me because I’m male. Appreciate any advice.

A little more backstory: my sons mom and I do not get along. She is a liar and a thief. She constantly puts him in situations to lie to me because she doesn’t want me to know her business (like her boyfriend ODing).

Answer:
 If you feel your child is in imminent danger, call the cops or CPS. Otherwise this is a custody issue and you need to go thru the family courts. Keeping in mind that "we heard some stuff about someone" likely isn't enough to get the courts to take action. So you need real evidence your child is being put in danger to force change.Answer #2: Step 1: apologize to your wife for ignoring her advice.

Step 2: follow your wife's advice

Step 3: DOCUMENT EVERYTHING. If you have texts confirming the useage, save them. Try to get the public records of the overdose arrest, any documents you legally can.  If you have any texts or emails about what happened get them together.

Do NOT violate the court ordered agreement.

Report this to CPS, the police, and get a lawyer to file an emergency custody order.Answer #3: >My wife wants me to call CPS but I’m worried that that won’t accomplish anything.

Given it takes zero effort to pick up the phone and call them, it should be a no brainer to try anyway.Answer #4: Heavy subtext here that you have skeletons in the closet. Unwilling to call CPS? Come on.


Title: Medical malpractice? Do I have a case?

Question: Long story short.  I went in for back surgery, operation failed after a week and had it redone.  This all started April 15th.  I got sepsis and a hospital acquired infection and feel like I legit almost died.  Have been in and out of hospital since then.  I am currently home and receiving 2 IV’s a day at home for next 6-8 weeks.  I am going broke not working and bills are two feet high.  I’m in Florida.  I am finally well enough to even type out this question.  Since April 15 I have either been in agonizing pain accompanied by primal screams, incredibly drugged up on opioids or unconscious.  Truly the worst thing that has ever happened to me.  Do I have a case?!    Was healthy 49 year old before all this happened.

Answer:
 Pleae, call a lawyer in your area. This is the type of thing you’ll want a professional opinion on.

Good luck.


Title: [CA] Nearly got citation for selling alcohol to a transient.

Question: Rundown: I work in a store that sells alcohol. We occasionally get transients in to buy beer. If they're visibly drunk we refuse to sell to them, if not we do. I just had a local police officer threaten to write me a citation for selling alcohol to one because he said that selling alcohol to known transients is illegal. Does anyone know anything about this? I asked the officer to see the law but he didn't show it to me, claiming he didn't have it on his person.

Answer:
 My googling suggests that there is no state law against selling alcohol to transients, but it's possible for city or counties to have such laws. Seems to be particularly popular in Ohio.

>but he didn't show it to me, claiming he didn't have it on his person.

He probably didn't. He's certainly not required to.


Title: Grandparents rights ....

Question: Does anyone know informations n on grandparent rights ? I got served paperwork and the father is deceased and the grandparents haven't seen my child in 6 years. And the years before i lived in another state. What are the chances they will be granted these rights? I was in an abusive relationship with the father and don't want he family back in my life or my child's. My child doesn't remember her father nor his parents. Any advice is appreciated. I'm in Arizona !!! Thank you

Answer: Hire a lawyer and do not allow any contact. Sadly, contact now only helps their case so they could claim a prior relationship.


Title: Neighbor keeps hitting my car with her door. What are my options? (Texas)

Question: My apartment complex has assigned parking, and there's a Cadillac Escalade in the spot next to me. I don't drive often (once a week at most, since I work within walking distance), and my 'neighbor' drives to work every day. I just started noticing a bunch of small dents along my passenger-side door at the same height as a metal attachment on her door. They're hard to see unless you look at it at the right angle, but there's at least 25 or 30 marks there, with a few more appearing each time I go downstairs to look. Should I leave a note and contact the apartment manager, or should I contact my insurance company?

Answer:
 If you can film her actively doing this then you can claim damages to her insurance with an almost guarantee you will be compensated for the damages. When there is car damage in terms of a dent or paint scratch most places tend to repair the entire door frame; usually the amount of marks/dents is irrelevant. You should also contact your apartment manager about this situation for more documentation and see if he can somehow resolve the issue; possibly moving you to another parking spot.  I wouldnt recommend contact your insurance company unless your neighbor's insurance either low-balls you or denies you claim (with video evidence). I would also recommend pictures of your damage and her damage so it correlates but again a video evidence makes it extremely difficult for denial.

TL;DR Videotape her damaging your car, file a claim with her insurance, inform apartment manager, and only call your insurance if her insurance does not satisfy you with their offer.

edit: ~~no clue why i keep using her; dont think too much about it.~~ I brain farted.  Answer #2: You need video evidence (aka proof), or else you'll be in the same boat as [this person](http://www.reddit.com/r/legaladvice/comments/2uc6nf/co_parking_neighbor_dented_my_car_6_times_wont/).


Title: (TX) Is this harassment? If so, what to do?

Question:
I live in a small town in Texas. One of those "everyone knows everyone else" types of tiny towns.

Last year in July I briefly dated a local cop. The relationship ended in November right before Thanksgiving and I rarely saw him after that. He wasn't happy to end the relationship, but he seemed to accept it.

About 2 months ago I was at a bar after work for a birthday party. My ex was there, off work, and I noticed him several times watching me but didn't think anything of it. A few days after that though I started running into him, and other local cops, constantly. I've noticed cop cars driving past my home a lot at night, sometimes following me home from work in the evenings. At least 4 times I have come out from work to find a cop car parked directly behind my car blocking me in rather than in a parking space. Usually the cop in question is nextdoor at the coffeeshop (I work in a stripmall type center) and comes out soon to leave.

I've been stopped half a dozen times in the last 2 months, never gotten a ticket and its always kind of questionable stuff. The most recent I was told I didn't stop long enough at a stop sign, but I feel I was there more than long enough. The time before that I was told I was speeding in a school zone. The speed limit changes depending on the time of day, but it was half an hour after the time change and the lights telling you to slow down were not flashing.

Every interaction I've had has been with the same group of 5 cops. My ex never stops me, but he has been one of the cops that sometimes follows me home.

A couple people I've talked to said I'm just paranoid. Another friend says I should just keep my head down and not make trouble because they'll stick together against me. I don't know if any of this even means harassment or not. Its a small town, there aren't may cops, so running into the same ones again and again might just be coincidence.

What should I do?

Answer:
 IANAL

I'd start making a record of every interaction you have with them, include things like following you home and blocking your car in.

Then take that to the police department and ask to make a complaint. Answer #2: Get a dashcam too. It will help document the stops and be able to refute the reason for the stop.Answer #3: I know it is a small town, but if there is a Citizen's Review Board, I'd report it there.  If not, file a complaint directly with the chief of police.  Or both.  Also, a record of all stops is probably in order, given the fact that the police are obligated to document every seizure anyways.  If your records are not consistent with theirs, that may support your complaints.  Ultimately though, it is very difficult to stop police harassment, especially of this relatively low grade variety.

It is usually bad enough to have one rotten cop after you, but if you are dealing with a slew of them, it becomes downright impossible.  Good luck though!Answer #4: You can document all of these interactions and file a complaint with the police department, but if this is a small town as you describe then your friends might be right in this might make things worse.

I honestly don't know what can be done in this case, legally, but you might want to think about moving.


Title: I live on 2nd floor, 1st floor neighbor ais complaining about walking noise during daytime hours. I live in Florida and can't find clarification on what constitutes as too much noise. My kids play and run through the house during the day.

Question:
My neighbor has made several complaints during daylight that we are stomping when she is trying to study.  My property manager said we don't have to worry because of the time of day but she claimed that they told her to record audio and file complaints.  I called security because I was also advised to log all complaints.  The security officer listened to the noise and agreed with my neighbor that we were being loud but it was still during the day on a holiday weekend and there is not much I can do to keep two little kids from running around our apartment during the daytime.

I am aware they are loud but they are usually in bed by 8.  What are my options here as I feel like there is not much I can do and don't want to lose my apartment.

Answer:
 Your kids are going to run around, and that's normal.  You can mitigate the noise, though, and given that there have been complaints you might have a duty to do so.

Put down area rugs, and have your kids wear soft soled slippers in the house.  Don't let them jump around (no jumping off the bed or the couch, for example).  And obviously no bouncing balls or anything like that.  Your kids aren't too young to learn to be considerate of others.

A little bit of running around should be no big deal, but it should also be no big deal to be considerate of the people who live below you by not allowing your kids to make excessive noise.Answer #2: Teach your kids not to run in the house. I lived in a private home and didn’t let my kids run in the house.