Title: I work a graveyard shift and have a 'day sleeper -- do not disturb' sign on my door, but apartment management refuses to respect this.

Question:
So I live in Utah. I work a graveyard shift, get home about 7:00 a.m., go to sleep, and usually wake up between 2:00 and 3:00 p.m. During this time, I have a sign hanging on my door (at eye level, clearly visible) that says "Day sleeper -- do not disturb". But I keep getting maintenance and inspection people banging on my door while I'm sleeping. I've brought it up with management several times, so they know that I can wake up at 2:00, giving them plenty of business hours left to come by my apartment (which I think is a pretty reasonable request), but they always come up with some bull reason why they have to do it earlier. With the inspections, their reason is that the inspections are done by an investing firm from California, so they have no say when they'll come by. So we were notified last week that there would be inspections today. I went by the office and pleaded with them that they try as hard as possible to wait until after 2:00 for my apartment. They said they have no say in the matter. I said "fine", and told them in the very least, if someone has to come by and they see the sign on my door saying I'm sleeping, don't knock, just silently come in and take a look around, and don't go in the master bedroom. They agree. But nope. Someone comes banging on my door at 12:30. They knock twice and ring the doorbell. Then they open the door and yell "Hello?? Is anyone home?". I feel like some kind of privacy laws should protect me from crap like that. I mean, logically the law should be that if a renter has a pretty good reason, they should be allowed to refuse entry to anyone, right? And I have a pretty good reason, and I'm trying to be accommodating. This probably isn't something I'd pursue legal action over, but if I could go to them and tell them "Look, what you're doing is illegal", it might encourage some change.
Topic:
Landlord Tenant Housing

Answer:
 I used to work nights and had annoying property management that would wake me up and then talk about pointless things for a long time. I started answering the door in my underwear and they tended to leave me alone after that. Just don't break any indecency laws.Answer #2: Why not put an exact time on the sign?  Your sign is too vague.  If you wrote "do not disturb until 2 pm" you might get better results.Answer #3: ~~According to California law, the landlord (and their agents) have the right to enter during business hours so long as proper notice is given. You cannot refuse or restrict that right.~~

In Utah, ~~there is no statutory notice requirement~~ 24 hours notice is required and you can't deny the landlord entry.Answer #4: What does your lease say about entry?


Title: (CT) - Daycare Provider didn't give my 1 year old a drink all day

Question:
I'm livid, but I don't know if there's anything I can do about this legally besides just switching daycares. So I thought I would come to you fine folks.

My boyfriend dropped our 1 year old off at daycare this morning and they asked if he had a sippy cup with him this morning since he didn't have one yesterday. My boyfriend responded that he did drop off a sippy cup yesterday and it should still be there because it didn't come home when we picked him up. She then stated that it wasn't there and that our son hadn't had anything to drink all day. My boyfriend opened the fridge and it was sitting front and center on the shelf with our son's name on it. It was completely full.

My boyfriend was angry, but he had to get to work, so he didn't hash it out with her like he wanted to. He called me and told me  what I wrote above and that she had stated several times that our kid hadn't had a drink all day. They never called one of us to bring him a sippy cup, and didn't try to give him anything out of a regular cup. They literally gave him nothing all day. Poor kid was so thirsty when he came home that he sucked down a full thing of water, which I thought odd, but kids do weird things sometimes.

So, I'm furious, and we are definitely looking at new daycares because I've had it with this place. But I don't know if this rises above angry parent territory and into neglect territory, or something similar. I figured you guys would know.

Answer: You can make a report to Community Care Licensing. They can look into it. You should also talk to the director of the facility. But calm down a little first so you can have a productive conversation. Answer #2: What kind of daycare doesn't keep extra supplies on hand? I would be contacting whatever agency licenses daycares in your area. Who know what else these people are/aren't doing? Answer #3: As a parent, I suggest leaving an extra sippy cup or two in your child's cubby (if they have one). Personally, I would have ripped the director a new one (after I calmed down of course).


Title: Ex husband hasn’t refinanced house after divorce even though he legally has to. I don’t think he has the ability to qualify for a refinance. What can I do in order to get my name off the house?

Question:
Our divorce was 3 years ago. He had 12 months to refinance and never did. I let it slide for a time but I told him one year ago that he had to get it done because I’m looking into buying again. I am a Veteran and I need my name off the existing house in order to get my VA Home Loan benefit back. Well 12 months has gone by and it’s been excuse after excuse the whole past year. From talking with him I don’t think he can refinance because of bad credit and lack of finances.

My question is that since he’s in violation of our divorce agreement what am I legally able to do in order to get my name off the house? Can I force him to sell if he can’t refinance in an appropriate amount of time (2-3 months)? Can I myself refinance it solely into my name and charge him rent or something to stay there (investment property type situation)?

We only talk once every few months and only about refinancing the house. He and I aren’t on bad terms but at this point I’m done asking. Should I get in touch with a lawyer? Also, I’m located in Minnesota. The ex and the house are in Colorado.

Topic:
Other Civil Matters

Answer:
 Only option is to file motion for contempt, go back to divorce court and proffer a different solution. Answer #2: Generally when two people own a house and one wants out and the other doesn't (or can't), you go to court and force a sale.  As others have said, the place to start is divorce court to enforce the existing order.Answer #3: My mom went through this. They had been divorced for over two years and his sporatic mortgage payments were harming her credit. In the decree, he was supposed to remove her. He tried to get my early 20s sister to co-sign but she refused.

My mom had her lawyer file for contempt after trying to work it out. That did nothing so she wound up contacting a real estate attorney who lit a fire under my ex-stepdad. Her ex managed to sell the house three months after she hired the lawyer.Answer #4: Use an attorney. You need to file a contempt motion.


Title: My employer changed our scheduling system to an incentive based one. In doing so he posted tip percentages earned. I'm not thrilled about this being public, but is it legal?

Question: I work as a server at a large chain restaurant. Today my boss changed our scheduling system from a "who is available to work" system to one that grades each server by sales, liquor sales, other add-ons and finally by reported tip percentage. The posted wage upset me, but I'm not sure if posting this information is legal or not. Any help would be appreciated. This is in Kansas  U.S.

Answer:
 It's absolutely not legal in Saudi Arabia.

You can garnish his wife as a result.


Title: Death of a step-parent, with no will, but her parents are alive. In Michigan. Help?

Question:
My wife lost her father four years ago. Her step-mom (married to her father when my wife was in college) passed away a couple of months ago, after a brief illness.

The step-mom had mentioned to several people she wanted to "leave the bank account to her sister and the house to the  the girls." The girls are my wife and her sister. The home where their father and their step-mom lived was previously the home to their grandparents on their father's side.

Hiccups: The step-mom did not have a will, and her parents are still alive.

The step-mom's parents have decided they will not let the girls have the house. They seem to think my wife and sister-in-law treated their late daughter poorly (untrue). My sister-in-law was the step-mom's best friend, taking her to all doctors appointments, chemo and radiation appointments, etc. There's a "other side of the tracks" feel to this as well. My father-in-law and his daughters all went to college. The step-mom's family didn't. I'm not casting aspersions, just trying to paint a picture of the differences in the families.

My read is the step-mom's family thinks they won the lottery and they're greedy assholes. My late father-in-law had substantial monies in the bank, all going to the step-mom's sister (she was added to the bank account some time before step-mom passed).

I think they want to paint my sister-in-law and wife as somehow unworthy of anything to justify cutting them out of everything.

I'm not sure if I'm using the words correctly, but my understanding is the estate was entered into probate in early May. The step-mom's family didn't tell us. We found out through a search in Legal News.

So...my wife and her sister are wondering if they should use the probate process to submit a claim (or whatever it's called) or should they try the "emotional" route and try and get the step-mom's parents to change their mind on the house.

The house is still full of my late father-in-law's stuff, items from his parents, many family memories that pre-date the step-mom, along with the usual stuff from my father-in-law's marriage to the step-mom. The house has a market value of probably $120K. This isn't a palace. It's a bungalow in southeastern Michigan, in a working-class town.

There are also two cars. My wife had her heart set on one of them after her dad died. The step-mom wanted to sell it to her at market value (step-mom didn't need the money) so that sale to us didn't happen.

If you made it this far, thanks. Is filing a claim or whatever it's called worth it? Do the girls have any legitimate chance of getting the house? The step-mom told the girls, an aunt and a neighbor about wanting to have the girls get the house, but it was never put to paper.

How much can something like this cost?

I appreciate any ideas/suggestions.

Answer:
 >The step-mom did not have a will, and her parents are still alive.

According to Michigan law, step-mom's parents split everything.

http://www.legislature.mi.gov/(S(oojijf0mrjdq5q4u0qvngrxe))/mileg.aspx?page=getObject&objectName=mcl-700-2103


Title: [PA] Signed a ten month lease failed to give 60 day notice and I'm now expected to pay two more months

Question: [deleted]

Answer:
 > When signing the lease ten months ago, I was never made aware of this policy and it wasn't explained.

...but is it in your lease? If so, you're on the hook. So is your father.


Title: My roommate cashed the check for my half of the rent but never paid. I had to then pay the entirety of rent. What can I do?

Question:
Our rent is $1850. Because our landlord uses Chase Quickpay and he's got a Chase account, my roommate pays rent and I give him a check for half. (Actually, usually less than half; I pay the bills, so I deduct half of those bills from the amount I pay him for the rent.)

Last month I got a call from the landlord on the 9th asking where rent was. I went ballistic; he paid that day. He also promised he would never do anything like that again and that he would send me confirmation emails each month of the Quickpay until I trusted him again. Now it's the next month. He went out of town to his sister's wedding, but promised me he would be paying. He cashed my check, but never paid. His phone's been off since the third when I paid the entirety to the landlord. He hasn't responded to calls, texts, or emails. At this point, he owes me the $1850 I paid, the $750 or so from the check he cashed that he did not pay rent with, half of the bills from the month, and $125 for the fridge I bought. What're my options to a) make sure I get paid back, and b) kick him out or make sure this doesn't happen again? My dad wants me to pawn everything he owns. He claims this isn't stealing if I keep the pawn tickets and provide them to my roommate so he can get his stuff back if he wants. Is this true/advisable?

I've also made it so he can't get in to the garage, effectively locking him out since he doesn't have house keys. I plan on not letting him back in until the money is in my account. I think tat's all the information I have. Please give me your knowledge, oh wise r/legaladvice!

Answer:
 Sue him each time he doesn't pay rent, and for the fridge. Don't lock him out.Answer #2: 1. Don't follow the advice of your dad. Only an idiot would do that.

2. You cannot kick him out. (Maybe he pays you from now on his half of the rent and you pay the landlord?)

3. Ask payment in full before next week and if he doesn't pay you take him to small claims court.Answer #3: Everything you plan on doing is a horrible idea. It will get you in a lot of legal trouble.

Your only legal options are to sue in small claims court or work it out amongst yourselves. Answer #4: A) You can sue him in small claims court if he refuses to pay you back. You cannot pawn anything he owns, that is terrible advice.

B) You should setup the relationship so that he pays *you* his part of the rent five days before the 1st of the month and you should pay the main rent check.

You *cannot* lock him out of the house as that would be considered an eviction and you don't have the authority to evict him.

EDIT- Your roommate situation stinks, but you are both legally tenants and you can't take direct action against him in anyway. The most you can due is to sue him.Answer #5: My landlord uses Chase and I have another bank, but you can set up your own Quickpay account with them to transfer the money from your nonChase account . It takes a few days to verify your bank account, but I would suggest from now on make your roommate give you the rent money and pay it yourself.


Title: Minnesota laws not selling liquor to Puerto Rico ID

Question:
A restaurant just denied me liquor quoting that Minnesota law says they’re only allowed to sell to people with ID from any of the 50 states or Canada. I’m from Puerto Rico and living here for two months. It would suck to not be able to go to bars for my stay here. Is there something I can quote because I’m over the drinking age and kinda pissed off.
Topic:
Alcohol Related Other than DUI

Answer:
 A private establishment can deny serving alcohol to anyone for basically any reason (other than being part of a protected class). Many places tell their employees to not accept foreign ID's because they are difficult to verify. Theses places can tell their employee's to state it's "because of state regulation" even tho that isn't true.

At the end of the day, you can't force anyone to sell you alcohol. They are within their rights to turn you away because they can't verify your ID, even if it is valid.Answer #2: An establishment always has the ability to refuse service if they can’t verify the legitimacy of an ID. We get stories of stores denying a US passport as valid proof of age. There’s no legal requirement that they sell to whomever asks or with any type of ID. Go down the street and get the booze somewhere else.

My family is from Guam, and I know how annoying it is when it seems like they’re saying the territories aren’t part of the US; but that’s not what’s going on here.


Title: How to get freeloading adult children out of the house (Los Angeles County)

Question:
Relative is divorced, 60F.  Her freeloading son is now pushing 30, and she said she doesn't know how to get him and now his bf, out of the house.  She says the police said they can't help her and she's been actually afraid he might get revenge should she figure out how to remove him from the property.  (ie break the windows, set the house on fire, etc.).

Just found out her neighbors called the cops twice recently bc son and his bf were fighting.  (Crazy and I know the son drinks quite a bit.)

If anyone has heard of a strategy or something clever they could pass along, I would appreciate it.  She's about to put the house on the market, just to get out of the situation.  Thanks!

Answer: She can give him 30 days notice to move out and if he doesn't, then she can start eviction proceedings.


Title: [US - Pennsylvania] Collection company sued me for credit card debt. I did my research and filed prelim objections. They missed their deadline to re-file. What now?

Question: [deleted]

Answer: You should absolutely respond, objecting to their request. If their request is granted, they will be able to re-file later. You want the court to hold them to the law and make them do it right, according to the rules. Instead they are asking for an unlimited do-over.Answer #2: Damn well done on the research, you should be a lawyer.


Title: Storing users money on my custom website

Question:
I am a web developer trying to create a website from scratch which allows users to sign up, and transfer funds to other users in exchange for services. The users have to use paypal (or credit card) to upload funds to my site which can then be used to pay other users.

I have done some researching on the legal issues of this and heard people say that I have to follow banking and money laundering regulations if I am holding on to peoples money.  Here is a related question someone asked a while back but didnt get much feed back on: [https://softwareengineering.stackexchange.com/questions/94065/how-to-go-about-building-a-website-that-allows-users-to-deposit-transfer-money](https://softwareengineering.stackexchange.com/questions/94065/how-to-go-about-building-a-website-that-allows-users-to-deposit-transfer-money)

Can someone help me understand the legalities of what I am trying to do?

Thanks

Answer:
 This is one of those business plans where you really, _really_ can't avoid speaking to an attorney. There are a bunch of possible areas of risk, and getting a referral to a business attorney who deals with startups will cost you less than the lawsuits or criminal charges if you guess wrong based on the advice of a free internet forum.

Beyond money laundering and know-your-customer issues, you'll also want to discuss

* PCI-DSS compliance and routes you can take to mitigate that expense (third-party payment processors help a lot),
* Dunning
* Your process for handling fraudulent transactions, both before and after you've disbursed the money to its final recipient
* Any financial reporting laws you may need to comply with
* What insurance you should carry
* What other risks you might be exposed to based on the nature of the transactions


Title: Got my 3rd 5th degree possession

Question:
I live in Minnesota and have been on probation for a felony theft of narcotics and a 5th degree possession (heroin) and have been on probation for a few years for these charges and 2 months ago I have been arrested twice with Xanax. The first time I had almost 2 ounces of weed and 70 xanax bars and the second time I only had 3. I'm in treatment right now and had court for a probation violation from an old charge because I failed to finish my community service and they put 6 months in the workhouse over my head incase I leave treatment. I have an amazing lawyer and I'm completely serious about being sober. What am I looking at?

Sorry for the bad grammar and sorry I'm all over the place with this. Ive also never been on this board so please excuse me if I'm not using it correctly.

Answer:
 Dude...

What does your lawyer say about this?


Title: Am I part of a money laundering scheme? (US)

Question:
I agreed to sell some computer parts through craigslist (CPU, Mobo, Ram) for $325. I quickly got a reply through through text from a women who said her bf was interested. I gave my email address Her bf soon emailed me. Apparently he doesn't live near me, so he wanted to send a check to me, while having someone he knows near me pick it up to ship to him.Somewhat unconventional, but he's also offering another $50 on top of the $325. The guys english doesn't seem perfect in the email and this is not how I prefer to do business, but I know I'm not going to rip the guy off, so I'll make sure he gets his parts. Today the check arrives, and it's for $1,800?? Along with another email.
> Hello good day, how are you.
Concerning the item you want to sell
the payment already delivered to your location.
And This is what to do, once you got
the check head to your bank and have
it deposited and withdraw the money,
deduct the cost for the item plus$50 for
your running expenses. And send the remaining
money to the mover via walmart 2 walmart
nearest to you so that the mover can come
for the pickup today... The Remaining Balance should be sent to the
Mover information below via walmart 2 walmart nearest to you

Obviously I'm somewhat confused. He did say he would send a little extra for his "mover" or whatever. But this is just odd. Should I be as sketched as I am? I just don't get how a random person can send someone else this much money and "instructions" and expect someone else to just go along with it.  Prior to this email I thought I was just going to receive a check for about $400, then meet the "mover" and give them the parts and the extra cash for shipping expenses.

Answer: no, you're being scammed.  the check they gave you is fake, you're giving them money back and shipping the parts.  so you lose out on the parts and you lose out on the money you sent back to them.  and when the check fails to clear, you might also be out overdraft fees.


Title: Reasonable accommodations between masks and lip-reading

Question:
Located in BC, Canada. Long time lurker using a throwaway account.

I’m legally (and almost completely) deaf, wearing a cochlear implant on one side and a hearing aid on the other. I function very well with my cochlear, but do rely on lip-reading to help with comprehension with people I don’t know, or amid background noise. Considering that my store is in a mall and plays music all day, I struggle to hear my customers if I’m not able to read their lips.

Amidst COVID, my manager and I have been concerned about how things are going to work out with my continued employment as long as the company requires staff and suggests to customers to wear masks. Due to the wire connecting the cochlear magnet to the processor that sits on my ear, both masks with elastic and ties behind the head are problematic for me to wear.

Herein lie my problems. The elastic frequently catches on the wire or processor and knocks the magnet off, therefore cutting off my sound and leaving me completely deaf and reliant on lip-reading, which I cannot do if the other person is wearing a mask. I’m not outright refusing to wear a mask myself, but I can hear and understand less than 25% of speech from someone who is wearing one.

I’ve seen articles all over Reddit lately of those masks with clear panels for lip-reading, but I highly doubt I can get my hands on enough to offer one to every customer when I’m on the sales floor.

My manager is still willing to wear a small microphone so I can hear her across the store, but is not in favour of my asking customers and other staff to lower masks so I can lip-read. She would prefer I spend much of my shift in the small back room, opening stock and doing mark-downs. I am uncomfortable with this because it is less than 2 meters deep, with barely any room to move around between the break table, racks, and shelving. I would also still be required to cover the floor during meal breaks, as well as communicate with my co-workers should they need something in the back room. There may not be enough work to do in the back room to keep me busy for the entire shift as well.

Some of my customers are frustrated by the accommodations I asked of them before COVID, such as turning to face me or opening fitting room doors a crack so I can lip-read if they need me while inside. Add in the additional recommendations of social distancing, masks, not being allowed to try things on, et cetera, due to COVID, and I am anxious about facing increased upset customers if they have to repeat themselves multiple times due to my deafness.

I enjoy my job, but my manager is considering letting me go. I know that it is illegal to let me go specifically because of my disability, but that the employer must try to make reasonable accommodations.

Would my manager legally be in the right to let me go, considering my deafness and difficulty with masks? I doubt I have enough hours worked to go on short-term disability until masks are less required, and I’m already on PWD from the provincial government.
Topic:
Employment Law

Answer:
 Having you work in the back, despite you not enjoying the tasks, is almost assuredly a reasonable accommodation.

Things like asking customers and others to move masks during public health emergencies are not reasonable, and communicating with customers is almost assuredly a bona fide occupational qualification.

Your employer needs to accommodate you without the bounds of what is reasonable rather than do whatever it takes. We aren't going to be able to assess here what exact solutions are and are not reasonable here. You need to continue having a conversation with your employer about what is factually possible for you and try to remain open minded that they do not need or and cannot take all measures possible to help you continue doing your usual job if it comes down a public health vs your accommodation requests. There is still a limit, but there aren't bright lines we can point to.


Title: I lent a camera and equipment to a co-worker on the condition of "if you like it buy it, if not return it" but they are avoiding all contact. Should I and can I go to court?

Question: The camera equipment itself totals around 1,200 used.  We'd been friends for awhile, and even had been in trips with mutual friends together.  I lent her the equipmenton the condition that if it worked to her liking, she could purchase it (I even offered her a huge discount).  It's been 2 months.  I've contacted her via text and phone calls, and I seldom get a response.   She's a struggling 21 year old who works in the service industry with me, so I thought I'd help her a bit with her passion to become a photographer.  I'm now fed up with trying to contact her, and I'm wondering if I have a case in small claims court. I have texts that involve the transaction, but that's about it.  I've never had to go to this level before and am looking for some advice.

Answer:
 Send her a formal notice telling her to return your equipment within a week or you will consider it stolen, and will report it to the police.

Then do it.

And yes, you have a small claims court claim too.  But you should report stolen things to the cops.  First, because that tends to make recovery easy (which is better than going to court), and second because if you didn't go to the cops there will be questions about why.

Also, if she sold your equipment, she probably doesn't have money to pay you in any case.


Title: (Oklahoma) Walmart cashier duped me

Question: [deleted]

Answer:
 File a police report. Call Walmart's corporate office.Answer #2: >receipt (that I never even looked at before throwing it in the floorboard of my car and later disposing.

So at this point you have absolutely no proof that you even attempted to make the payment. This is going to be a lesson learned sadly. Keep every receipt for every payment until well after your last payment on the loan. This is exactly what happens when you don't.Answer #3: Do you have proof of what you are alleging?


Title: Hawaii- can a prosecutor threaten to drop a case just because he doesn't like the opinion of the victim/witness?

Question:
I am a witness (and family) in a murder case. My family and I strongly disagree with the charges the prosecutor decided to bring. We asked on two occasions to talk to the prosecutor about it, and the first time, he yelled, slammed his fists on the table and told us we pretty much had no right to question his decision.
Second time, he had his assistant call us to say that he would leave the case if we persisted in questioning him.
 It seems like he's throwing a tantrum because we have a personal opinion about the case that differs from his nonsensical theory.
 Would it be legal for the prosecutor to recuse himself from a case for no other reason than the victim's family disagrees with something?
And if he can, does that mean a different prosecutor could then pick up the case?
Topic:
Douche

Answer:
 Prosecutors have *absolute* discretion in what cases to prosecute or not.

They can use literally any reason they want.Answer #2: I certainly can understand it is hard for you being the family member of someone involved in a murder. But I doubt you or your family are more qualified, or experienced, to second guess a prosecutor handling a murder case on what theory/charge he wants to proceed with.Answer #3: Is it a deputy prosecuting attorney or *the* prosecuting attorney? If it's the former, you can raise your concerns to the first deputy or the elected prosecuting attorney; but on a case as high profile as a contested murder case, you can be sure he's already gotten approval from them to run it his way. If it's the elected prosecuting attorney, no; you have no recourse beyond supporting his opponent in the next election.


Title: Crazy Lady doesn't think dogs should be in kennels

Question:
I live in VT to preface this and this account is also a throwaway. But this just happened in the last hour and Im still a little shook up from anger and adrenaline.

So I had just got home from work and had let my dog(10 month old german shepherd) (Im not good at reddit or would put the pet tax here)  out of the kennel to use the bathroom and to get her around so we could go run some errands. I got a knock on my uber tiny apartment's door and this lady was standing there and I said "how can I help you?" (I had never seen her in my life)  She said I'm your neighbor and is there someone you can give your dog to take care of. you shouldn't keep your dog in a kennel all day you're being cruel, I'm going to call the cops on you, I'm going to call animal services on you. If you can't take care of the dog you shouldn't keep it in a kennel all day."

Mind you this was pretty much a big run on sentence. I was instantly angry and said excuse me but why? She told me that my dog whines all day and she lived above me and takes classes. Im reply I'm sorry but I can't help it if she whines a bit she's a puppy it's what they do. She then went on a rant reiterating essentially the same thing.

I got tired of this at this point and was angry to boot so I told her to get off my porch and off my property and I don't care if she stands on the sidewalk outside my tiny gated yard but she needed to go. She refused. I said this calmly at least five times and then told her I would either call the cops or the property management company.

She said good Im not leaving until I make sure they take your dog. And you never know if someone could poison it.
I then asked so are you threatening me? she said yes and then i asked if she was threatening my dog. She said yes. explicitly.

I called my property management company gave them the short story of what was going on and they said hold on the owner will be over really soon. I said okay good. As I am on the phone with them she keeps yelling trying to let them hear her on my phone. And i am trying to use my physical presence (Not much I'm pretty small for guy Im only 5'5 and 140 lbs)  to herd her outside the gate at the least. She then starts yelling and I am asking her continuously and loudly to leave my property where she says its not my property I don't own it.
I replied " it isn't explicitly mine however this plot that is clearly enclosed with only my apartment by virtue of my paying rent on it is temporarily mine and you need to leave its clearly marked confines." She refused again saying this was going to be the last day she was going to deal with it. I then put my hands wide out and used my chest to push her outside of the gate and pull the gate closed and shut it.

She then called me a sicko, a weirdo, and she was going to call the cops and charge me with assault. I then waited outside for the owner of the property.

He shows up a few minutes later and I tell him exactly what happened. However I was calm enough now to pull out my phone and show him the logs from my pet camera that is activated with sound and motion that there were only 2 times that my dog had whined in my apartment while I was at work. (its a tiny apartment and doesn't take much to activate it i was actually really proud of her because she s come such a long ways ) He said that doesn't seem unreasonable that a dog should whine even 5 times in 9 or so hours.

Then the police showed up and I relayed the story to him. He then went and talked to her. Essentially told her that since I told her to leave she should have and the lady says she doesn't think dogs should be kept in kennels and mostly restating what she went on a rant to me earlier. The police came back and talked to me and said currently there isn't anything we can do.

So besides that long story I screenshot the logs from today of when my dog made noise because it only backs up the last 24 hours on my pet camera. But since she threatened to harm my dog

what are ways I can prevent this?

 besides going out with my dog which I already do or her trying to claim to anyone who will listen that could potentially get my dog taken away from me. I love my pup and Ive had her since she was 12 weeks old. I do my best to give her everything she could possibly want but I can't trust her to be in the apartment unsupervised.

 Could my crazy neighbor put something in my yard that could hurt her? (Its a tiny yard and offers zero privacy maybe 4.5 feet tall with 4 inch gaps between the metal posts). Is there anything else I should do?

It seems like she won't let it go by how she was going on.
If I could afford to take my dog to doggy daycare everyday Im at work I would. But Im only 25 and just starting out in my career and I definitely don't make enough for that. Not to mention my shifts are about to change in a few weeks and no doggy daycare is open past 7 pm where I live and i won't be getting off until after 10 pm so that wouldn't work.

Im not being paranoid and afraid that I or my dog might come to harm am I either?

Answer: A German Shepherd in a tiny apartment and you keep him in a crate for 9 hours at a time?  What were you thinking?  If someone calls animal control, you may have problems.  Then again, the dog may have a much better life ahead if you do.  This is abusive.


Title: I'm being subpoenaed, what do I do? (CA)

Question: I used to be a home health aide.  A former client of mine had kids who were fighting over her estate.  It was getting pretty ugly and I left the situation due to the intense weirdness and other reasons.  A few days ago I got a phone call from a paralegal because they have another court case and apparently I'm a witness.  I was in a hurry when I answered the phone.  They sent me a subpoena.  Am I obligated to testify?  I really don't feel like sitting in court all day and her family is bizarre.  I haven't answered the subpoena paperwork.

Answer:
 IANAL.

Yes, you're obligated to testify. As the subpoena document no doubt informs you, failure to comply is punishable as contempt of court ("sub poena" is Latin for "under penalty").


Title: CA. My dad was deported in 2011. IRS sent letter home asking for almost $10k in unpaid/unfiled taxes from 2011-2016.

Question: The letter gives until next month to pay in full before levy/liens are placed. My dad hasn't lived here since 2011. My mom and dad's names are on the house loan (don't know if that matters). I just got back from mailing a copy of his deportation papers to the IRS. Can my mom be held liable for anything?

Answer:
 Has she been filing her returns with any income she has earned?

What probably should have happened is that your father should have filed one last return as a part year resident for the year he left the USA.  He could do that now and send the IRS a letter if he wishes, and they'll quit bothering him.


Title: Looking to press charges on someone. Need advice(long read)

Question:
Hello.

Okay so on the 21st (last week) a coworker in our What's App chat was acting up like a fool and I called him out about how he was wasn't performing well at work. I said "well maybe if you were performing better at work you would get more hours"
I knew it would make him mad(and maybe I could of said it a nicer way) but it pissed him off to the point where for the rest of the day he threatened me in the group chat (with a 14 year old girl and my boss) and once he got removed he went out of his way to contact me over everything, I stayed up all until 3am because he said he would be at our house at 2am, I have a 4 year old daughter and I was scared for her(and tbh I'm scared, I never been in a fight before) at one point he said "I'm coming for all of you" i took that as my family so I rather be safe than sorry.

I now have him blocked on EVERYTHING facebook, PSN, Xbox live, phone numbers, etc.
He is still going out of his way to contact me and my wife to "scare" us, which at this point it's more annoying than anything. He's texting my wife now, he's going out of his way to use other people phones to call/text us.
I have screen shots of everything he have said to us.

Today he was at our work (I work in a zoo) looking for me, he ran to his car the sec he saw my boss walking up to me.

I think it's time to press charges but I don't know how to go to doing so and how much it costs.

Answer: Call the police, it's free.


Title: [USA] Lawsuit threatening because I doxxed a guy's employer?

Question:
A dude was bragging on a subreddit about pirating a new movie. I told him he should pay for movies. He told me he "works in Hollywood" and that I obviously didn't, and that everybody who works in Hollywood knew that the movie studios took 99% of the profits from movies so he wasn't stealing from anybody.

I was curious so I googled his Reddit user name and immediately found his Facebook, LinkedIn, etc. He doesn't work "in Hollywood" but has a low level position in a company tangentially related to entertainment/media. I replied to his Reddit post asking if his employer (by name) approved of his stance on copyright infringement and intellectual property.

He deleted his posts and has blown up my inbox  threatening to "sue me for libel". Does he have a case at all? I may have broken a Reddit rule, I don't think I'm liable for anything. How did I "libel" him when he himself admitted to pirating movies?

And before anybody asks I didn't and don't have any plans to email his employer. I just think it's bizarre a person who works in media with an account easily traceable back to his real identity is bragging about pirating movies.

Answer:
 You are afraid someone you know to lie and exaggerate is going to sue you for libel?

Think about that for a second and tell me if you should be worried. Answer #2: Truth is a defense to defamation claims.  The odds of him actually identifying you, let alone filing suit, is pretty slim.  You'd have a very solid defense if he did.  Doxxing is a violation of reddit rules and can get you booted, so be aware of thatAnswer #3: > He deleted his posts and has blown up my inbox threatening to "sue me for libel". Does he have a case at all?

No to the case (the truth will set you free) and he is not going to sue. His defense would get him into legal trouble.

> I may have broken a Reddit rule

That's Reddit's problem. If he is blowing up your Reddit inbox complain to them


Title: Person rear ends someone at a red and pushes them into the intersection where they are hit by a truck. Person flees, reports car stolen. Didn't know it was all caught on camera. They were texting+driving. The other driver died. Penalties in NV after their arrest?

Answer:
 You need a lawyer. Yesterday. Answer #2: So here are a couple of simple rules for when you are a suspect in this kind of situation.

**rule 1**: Shut your mouth, nothing good will happen when you talk about it.

**rule 2**: Get a lawyer ASAP like yesterday, a lawyer is your best friend, they advice you about that you should keep to rule 1 and when the exact moment is to break rule 1 (that moment might actually be never) and help you mitigate the potential punishment you would recieve.

**rule 3**: You should not pannick, people who pannick make mistakes and are bound to break rule 1, rule 2 or both.

**rule 4**: Do not do anything that could end up creating more evidence against you.

**rule 5**: talking to a reporter or talking on the internet also means breaking rule 1, your lawyer is really going to hate you when you are stupid enough to make a statement on social media or the media in general, even if it isn't admitting fault, statements can only hurt you.

So tl;dr: shut your mouth and get a lawyer.Answer #3: Talking to a lawyer=good. Posting this on Reddit=moronic.


Title: Neighbor repeatedly calling the police on my house for no legitimate reason.

Question:
The elderly woman who lives alone next door has called the police about 20 times on my house, and it's been 4 nights this week. It's usually noise complaints, but she has also reported that we were selling drugs. There have been maybe 2 legitimate noise complaints and each time we have acknowledged it was too loud and turned the music down.

I know "loud" is subjective, but for instance tonight the music was barely audible. Sometimes when the music or tv is up we get no complaints. She has called police on me and my girlfriend quietly talking on the front patio around 11pm. They came once at 7pm when it was me and 2 friends talking at conversational volume in the back yard (we were selling drugs apparently.) We have a dog that barks, but we stop him and bring him inside when he does, and the complaints have never been about the dogs.

We are young students and service industry workers who are active at night. We have active social lives and have guests with moderate frequency. We like to goof off and drink and listen to heavy metal, but we aren't particularly wild and we don't hang out with anyone belligerent or slovenly or mean. I think she's scared of us because we are up late, wear black, have a van with a mural on it, and are generally non-conformist radical freaks or whatever. We are actually very sweet people and have good rapport with our other neighbors.

We have talked to her and offered our phone numbers, which she refused. She told my roommate that she was scared to come talk to us because we drink a lot. We have told her she has nothing to be afraid of. She told us the police told her not to talk to us. The officers who have come out have, for the most part, agreed that they have no reason to be there, even saying it was annoying to them too. A few, we have seemed to build a rapport with after repeat incidents. She has threatened to talk to our landlord to try and get us evicted. We have a good relationship with our landlord.

It has been stressful, time consuming, and disruptive. It seems like she just doesn't like us. She said something to my roommate about how she doesn't like that an unmarried couple is cohabitating. She has complained how there are too many black people in the neighborhood. I think she's just a paranoid, prejudiced, old woman with possible dementia. I feel bad for her, but her actions are harassing us. I'm nervous around police, especially because our dogs bark at visitors and I've heard too many stories about trigger happy police and barking dogs. We wrote her a firm yet polite letter and put it in her mailbox. I am wondering how a harassment suit would hold up in court, or if even a lawsuit threat or summons might put a stop to this.

Edit: They came back! 3 cop cars! There is music playing so low I can't hear it from the next room, nobody has been in and out of the house in 2 hours, roommate was in her room about to start a paper, me and my partner were in the shower. Now we are all fuming and ranting. Our night is ruined. The roommate was about to start a paper and now she's too upset to think. Me and my partner were just about to get into a long awaited sexy time and now our sex date plans are derailed. My mind is racing and my stomach is tied in knots. This lady is ruining my life. Causing mental anguish. Now I'm afraid to get into sex mode with my girl. What if I had had her tied to the bed already? Again, the cops were sympathetic but basically said there was nothing we could do, and that we probably wouldn't win in court because she is old. I don't care, I'm suing her. She is going to keep harassing us, trying to get us to move. She is ruining my life. Help please.

Answer:
 Ask the officers how to proceed if the unwarranted calls continue.

> We wrote her a firm yet polite letter and put it in her mailbox.

Gotta mail something to use the box.  Send it certified if it's important. Answer #2: The next time she calls the cops, ask them if you can press charges against her for harassment and filing a false report.


Title: I need help. Is this considered rape?

Question:
My boyfriend and I have been in a very horrible situation. After having our first baby, which I didn’t want and forced him to use protection, (later I find out by him that he forced it so that i can’t leave him) i go batch shit crazy and try and kill my self.

I was sent to a hospital because he called the cops on me and long story short, CPS was called and I got the help I needed, but I was forced to live in supervision and couldn’t be alone with the kids. At this time my mother has been diagnosed with a brain tumor and right now i lived in my house by myself, I didn’t want to and decided to move with my now ex-boyfriend and with the kids.

Anyhow, since there’s only one bed, he would normally sleep in the floor, and to make the story short I was laying in the bed close to the baby like I always do, In case something were to happen, and out of nowhere he holds me very tight, and starts grinding on me. I was in shock for a little bit, but began to cry and said no lightly, after then I said no louder and it came to a point we’re i yelled no and started crying. He later cried and apologized and well I forgave him. I haven’t told anyone because I don’t want him to get in trouble if it is indeed rape, but am I overreacting? In the month that I lived in his house, a second attempt was made before I could move out and have my child with me without him, and the second time I quickly said no and he stopped. I don’t think he’s a bad person, I just don’t know. Location is LA

Answer: It's definitely sexual assault. You should call the police.Answer #2: This is sexual assault. You are not overreacting. He is abusing you. He is a bad person. Please get away as soon as possible. Call the police if you feel safe doing so (safe YOURSELF, the safety of your abuser is irrelevant).Answer #3: That is sexual assault. Answer #4: Report him immediately. You are in an abusive relationship end it now before it gets even worse. This is sexual assault and is highly illegal


Title: ex Verizon employee suing retail store

Question:
IANAL
Location: Roanoke, VA

Employee was offered another job elsewhere and left Verizon at the end of January 2016.  Before leaving, Employee won 2 seperate sales contest at the end of 2015.  One contest he placed 2nd in and won a new phone, and the other contest he won 1st place in and won a $2500 cruise.  All contest results were revealed prior to Employee's leaving the company, and he was announced as the 1st and 2nd place winner to the company.  The cruise contest stipulated it would be booked by the end of February 2016 to travel anytime after May 2016.  For the phone contest Employee was told via texts messages he could pick out his phone in March 2016.  Once Employee had left the company he continued contact via text with the district manager and the owner of the company.  Both kept promising Employee he would get his prizes... eventually.  Employee texted every couple weeks since leaving inquiring on prizes and was always told another excuse as to why he hadn't received them yet.  The DM told him "We're not trying to screw you.  The owner has been busy.  You will get your prizes."  The owner even emailed Employee stating he could take the cruise earlier per request.

Today, Employee got a text from the DM stating that he and the owner are having a hard time validating giving him his prizes for the contests because they had recently found a few mistakes in commission throughout his time as an employee with the company.  Basically, saying they went back and looked through Employee's numbers and found mistakes and are now threatening to not give the prizes he had earned.  Does this sound okay to anybody?

There's no way that's legal.  There's no way that would stand up in court.  That would mean they'd have to go back and look at every employees' numbers that won a prize in the contest to verify they did not make any mistakes in commission throughout their time employed with the company.  And regardless of that, that's not the way a contest works.  You can't announce someone as a winner and then change the rules so you can take the prizes away after.  I'm astounded at the balls in that.  They must be crazy.  Employee was their top salesman of 2015, earning the company hundreds of thousands of dollars (forgot the exact number), left on good terms with proper notice, and this is how they treat him?!

Anyway, Employee has politely threatened to sue them.  Yet to hear a response back from DM.  Just curious on anyone's thoughts on this.

Answer:
 > Employee has politely threatened to sue them.

That's an error.  This doesn't scare Verizon employees.  If you're going to sue them, just sue them.  You would sue them in small claims court for the value of what you are owed plus court costs plus any other damages.  Bring all the evidence you can (printed out) that you won the sales contests and are owed the money.

> You can't announce someone as a winner and then change the rules so you can take the prizes away after.

It's not changing the rules if a winner is announced and then a defect is found in the contest submission.

>  Employee was their top salesman of 2015, earning the company hundreds of thousands of dollars (forgot the exact number), left on good terms with proper notice, and this is how they treat him?!

None of this outrage is actionable.  Don't mention it to the judge in small claims court.  Stick to the contests that you can demonstrate that you won, prove you won them, and leave it at that.


Title: [Georgia ] My neighbor taps his pipe into fire hydrant and washes his car on pavement. He wastes a lot of water and damages the sanity of our neighborhood and hygiene of street. I want to make him stop. Is he really committing any crime ? Whom should I report ?

Question: I am in Demorest. Shall I report to Police, Municipality, HOA or anyone else?

Answer:
 Troll. You expect us to believe your neighbor has a hose that has can handle a fire hydrant pressure levels and would spray that at a car?

Or that a racist would see a black guy move in and want to question others before reporting something?

Please this is legal advice. Troll better. Our literal jobs are to hear lies our clients tell, figure out truth, then think of better lies that will be used later.


Title: My father is having heart problems and may die soon. The situation is kinda complicated. I'm at a loss.

Question:
United States, Washington State

So my I'm fairly certain my dad just had a stroke in front of me. He seems stable right now. He refuses to go to the hospital under any circumstances and doesn't want us to call even if he is unconscious.

He's in his mid sixties and pretty unhealthy.  I doubt he'll live much longer than a few more months and he'll probably die while I'm at home.

What do I do in a situation like that? What are the legal ramifications against me for respecting his wishes? What can I expect to have happen if he does die while I'm present and I respect his wishes by not calling for an ambulance? Is there anything we can do to protect our family from legal action?  Any advice is good.

*edit, forgot to mention that he is legally disabled and retired. Also not sure how to flair this.
Topic:
Healthcare Law including HIPAA

Answer: If your father is unresponsive or has any sort of diminished capacity in front of you call 911. If he would like his wishes taken into account then he should formalize them with a DNR/MOLST/ living will or whatever other vehicle available to him to complete this task.


Title: My sons father is not letting me see my son.

Question: My sons father was supposed to pick him up from daycare yesterday evening and forgot him. He is now saying it was my day and I forgot my son and is now telling me I can’t see him and that he can’t come back to my house. I have seen a few layers and can’t afford their retainer fee. How do I file for custody if I can’t afford a layer?

Answer:
 Absent a custody order either biological parent can exercise exclusive control over the child and can deny the other one access.

You can go to the local court where the child lives and file for custody on your own, while the clerks will not help you do so and cannot provide you with legal advice, there may be a local law school clinic or even some pro bono assistance at the courthouse that, while they won’t represent you, will help you fill out the necessary paperwork.

You can also look to the MO bar website, it has a find attorney option, you may be able to find someone who will work on a payment plan or can do a limited engagement to help you completely and file the necessary paperwork.


Title: [OH] Public school forcing me to stand for the pledge of allegiance

Question:
I didn’t stand for the pledge and about 2 periods after homeroom the principal called me into the office and told me if I didn’t stand for the pledge there would be consequences.

Can he do that?
If so what could he do?

Answer:
 absolutely nothing

West Virginia State Board of Education v. Barnette has been a thing for 70+ years.Answer #2: If you face further issues, the ACLU of Ohio is a good place to start looking  [https://www.acluohio.org/resources/need-legal-help](https://www.acluohio.org/resources/need-legal-help)  They have also further information about additional resources in Ohio depending on the county and city.Answer #3: You are not required to stand for the pledge of allegiance. Your principal is wrong. The relevant supreme court case is West Virginia State Board of Education v. Barnette. If you are provided with a consequence for refusing to stand for the pledge of allegiance (as long as you are not otherwise disrupting class), you should reach out to your appropriate branch of the ACLU for support.Answer #4: No he can not do that, all he can do is be upset that you are exercising your right to free speech, as determined by the case of West Virginia State Board of Education v. Barnette. (Unless your disrupting the class in various ways)

I am actually going to go against the grain here and say that you should contact the ALCU ASAP to make the issue known. (or at least to get more advice on how to handle this)


Title: Does my work have a right to tell me my religious tattoo is offensive?

Question:
My workplace allows tattoos to be visible as long as they are not offensive. I have the Triple Goddess with a pentagram in the middle tattooed on my wrist (I am Wiccan) and my employer saw my wrist a few days ago and told me I have to cover my tattoo or wear long sleeves as it would be offensive to some of our customers (company is a big name department store known to have Christian owners and customers). I also have a hand of Fatima tattoo that she remarked on that has to be covered as well, which would be unless I was wearing a skirt for the day.

My question is, is this allowed since the company was originally Christian based and has a reputation for it still? She didn’t write me up for it, just told me they have to be covered as they are offensive.

Answer:
 If Wicca is a sincerely held belief, and the tattoos (being openly displayed) is part of the religion, it’s plausible that the EEOC would agree this practice is a form of religious discrimination.

If all religious tattoos/items are requested to be covered, it’s not. And as far as I know they can tell you it’s offensive without issue.


Title: [CA] Help, I think my former boss paid me with laundered money. Am I at risk of legal trouble?

Question:
Hi, I'm a former budtender in the state of California. The situation described below occurred between the months of May, 2018 to November 2018.

Recently I was fired (?) from my job after an argument with one of the night managers over my bathroom habits. These are bathroom habits I can not control due to medical issues, which I explained to management several times before this and before even being hired - I told them that if they couldn't accept my bathroom habits that I could seek employment elsewhere, they accepted me onto the team anyway. Feeling very upset by the conversation, and being accused of slacking off, I informed my manager I was leaving and that they could call to discuss the issue further with me in the morning. That was over a week ago and the only correspondence I've received from my job has been to inform me not to show up for my scheduled shifts and then, nothing. My employee account with our scheduling service is still active, but void of any shifts.

So I figured that I'm as good as fired and I should probably take myself down to the unemployment office to speak with someone but then. . .

That leads to my legal dilemma, I was preparing my pay stubs (I saved ALL of them) and I noticed that the owner of my business was not listed anywhere on my pay stubs, or checks, and upon further inspection found out that our payroll company, that I will refer to as BS payroll, hasn't technically existed since May, 2017. This is a huge issue since every other dispensary in the area pays cash whereas the dispensary I worked for paid us with checks from a Wells Fargo bank account. The dispensary is a cash based business due to the fact that banks such as Wells Fargo and BoFA refuse to do business with dispensaries because of the federal laws surrounding cannabis - they see it as dirty drug money and technically, it is.

BS payroll was registered in the state of California November, 2015 and the only other paperwork that comes up with BS payroll is an agent resignation form in May, 2017. Both of these forms were filed in the state of California despite the address listed on them being from Las Vegas, Nevada. The address listed on my pay stubs was the original address on both pages of paperwork for the registration and agent resignation, however, it is not home to any business at the moment and apparently has not been the entire time I was employed at the dispensary. In fact, googling BS payroll actually shows that they aren't a payroll company at all anymore. BS payroll is now BS rent-a-cop, they claim on their website to only provide security solutions.

None of the three different addresses listed between my pay stub and pay check line up with BS rent-a-cop or BS payroll at all and as far as I've searched also have no connection to my former boss or anyone on the management team. My employee handbook, given to me in May 2018, listed BS payroll as our official payroll company despite it already being shut down for a year at that time.

So I'm left with a situation where I'm cautious to approach the UI office because it's becoming wildly apparent to me that the money I've been paid with has been laundered.

Am I at risk of backlash if I attempt to file for UI benefits? Or, am I at risk of being audited by the IRS when I file my taxes next year?

&#x200B;

&#x200B;

Answer: So, you think a company that SHOULD be running an all-cash business is instead involving a bank ON PURPOSE to launder money? That seems pretty dumb...


Title: In-laws bought a car but dealer now says paperwork was wrong and it was optioned way better than what my in-laws paid for. They want in-laws to return that car and take home a different one. Kentucky.

Question:
My in-laws live in Illinois but were driving back from Florida. They had a car accident and their car was totaled while driving through Kentucky.  My father-in-law decided instead of renting a car he was going to buy a new one right then and there and drive it home. So, they took a cab to a dealership and bought one.

They test drove two and bought the second one.  Normally I'd be cringing at their choice but, interestingly, it worked out particularly well for them: When they got it home in Illinois in April we went to check it out and he showed me its giant engine for a 4-cyl. I looked and told him it was a V6, but he insisted that all his paperwork said it was a 4-cyl inline. I honestly just figured he was confused and didn't worry about it.

This Monday the dealership contacted him and told him there was a mistake on the vehicle because of a paperwork error. They said he took home the wrong car.  Wouldn't tell him details, just said they need him to come back and trade cars, or they offered to have someone drive it to him in Illinois, get the paperwork settled, and drive back the wrong car. He was upset by this, thought he was getting scammed and called us (good idea).

He says when he was at the dealership they couldn't find the window price sheet for that car and thought someone must have taken it after test driving and the staff didn't notice.  So they said they would print off a new sheet for him.  What they printed on the computer and he took home in a folder of paperwork has base model info, just printed and stapled together, and someone hand wrote the VIN number at the top of it. But, we found the original window price sheet under the floor mat and it shows that it's a much higher optioned model and was priced 14k higher than what they charged him.

The actual finance/purchase paperwork doesn't spell out options, just the VIN.  We are thinking things took a wrong turn because the dealership was closing up shop when he and MIL arrived (they had shortened their hours due to COVID but not updated website) but a sales guy and a finance guy saw an easy sale an stayed late to make it happen thinking it was a sure sale.  So the normal big wigs weren't around and we're suspecting that's how this happened without notice.

Side note, he and MIL are now in an argument about this. She thinks they should take it back because she doesn't want the dealership to get in trouble, he thinks they made their bed and and he gets to lie in it.

Before we do anything else I want to figure out what legal implications come with this if he insists on not giving it back. They believed they were selling him a base model car, and as for him, I don't even think he knew WHAT he was buying in terms of options, just that it had lots of neat things like heated seats for my MIL and bluetooth for him to brag about but never use.  My wife and I aren't sure he will willingly give it back so if this will give him legal issues we'd like to get in front of them.

Answer: Vehicles are identified (not surprisingly) by the VIN. If the VIN on the purchase agreement matches the VIN of the vehicle he can tell the dealership to pound sand.Answer #2: All that really matters here is the VIN.  Do they have the car with the VIN that matches their paperwork?


Title: Employer 1099'd my xmas bonus as non-employee compensation... I'm a full time salaried employee.

Question: I was under the impression that payroll taxes were taken out of it, but apparently not since I'm now on the hook for roughly $4,500 in back taxes. Is this legal? If so, I guess lesson learned. If not, any steps I could take to rectify this would be great.

Answer:
 No it's not legal.  You'll owe self employment taxes on the income to the extent that your regular w-2 pay wasn't over the FICA limits.

You're now faced with the issue of either living with it, confronting your employer, or reporting them to the IRS.


Title: I have a medical cannabis license and got willed guns [AZ]

Question:
As the title states I have a medical cannabis card and take it therapeutically. A relative of mine died and left me around $50k worth of guns, ammo, safe, and reloading equipment.

1) can I legally acquire these guns?
2) if I can not, will I be able to have my wife take ownership?
3) what’s the likelihood of the atf/law enforcement finding out about this situation (hipaa being my thought behind this question)

Thank you r/legaladvice
Topic:
Wills Trusts and Estates

Answer:
 You are not allowed per federal law.

 If the relative passed in the same state then you don't need to fill out any paperwork (4473/Arizona) for the items. Your wife would have to be the only one with access to the firearms, as in a locked room or container only she has access to. It may be easier to sell the firearms than to figure out how to make it work.

If you do sell you can expect to get about 2/5ths value of the gun at a shop or you can try selling then yourself if you want the most bang for your buck. Answer #2: I suspect you'd have to stop use and posession of cannabis (ideally for a month or so) before taking posession and refrain between then and when you see all the firearms.

You don't make the use of cannabis seem urgent, so I suspect refraining for a bit might work for you.

If I recall, the form (4473) asks if you are "addicted to" illegal substances.

There are subreddits and GunBroker and I'm sure there are many people in your area that would take them off your hands.

Brush up on your legal understanding so you see them all legally.

Do not depend on not getting caught, it's not worth the consequences.

If you've got Dillon (blue) reloading stuff, I'd love to know about it.


Title: California - Is what my (now ex) boyfriend did legal?

Question: x

Answer:
 Well, what kind of "legal loophole" are you looking for here?

You were a tenant at will subleasing from the lease holding tenant, so you don't have any recourse from the landlord. The landlord did exactly what he or she was supposed to do, and given that the person on the lease followed the proper protocol for ending tenancy the landlord had an obligation to rent that place out as soon as possible. If you had tried to stay eviction would have been inevitable.

Your ex needed to give you notice, but did not. The problem here is that there isn't a lot of remedy to be gotten here. I guess you could sue him, but there's no way that it would be what you want to get out of this. I mean, you'd be able to sue for costs related to finding a new place and just about nothing else.

I'm sorry. That's a terrible thing to happen to you. It's just that it has been a while, this kind of thing can be hard to argue, and the maximum potential benefit for you isn't all that much. I would recommend letting it go and moving on with your life. Answer #2: The most cunning eviction/breakup I have ever heard of. He put you in a position where you could have refused to move and not give movers permission to touch your stuff,  but the emotions of the action and the breakup got you to go with the flow. Nothing illegal,  just  insanely devious and cunning. He may be a supervillian. Answer #3: You could have stayed in the first apartment but the landlord would have evicted you and him.


Title: Not paid for a working interview (MA)

Question: `A staffing agency sent me to a dental clinic to interview for a job. I came back and worked a normal day as a test. I did not get the job but I thought I should still be paid for my eight hour day. I asked the Dentist in charge and she states this is not common. Am I owed money?

Answer:
 You are owed at lease minimum wage for hours worked. Thenforstbstep is to send a letter demanding payment for the day you worked. If they keep crapping out a bullshit "working interview" line, you can file a wage claim with the department of labor or sue in small claims court. Both of these can be dont independently withour an attorney., but of course you should consult with one if you are stuck on any part of the process. The DOL in most states also have a hotline for questions. I am on mobile so searching for yours is tricky, but you literally just need to type "wage claim Massachusetts" and it should be the first non-sponsored result.

Good luck!


Title: (FL) Boyfriend is not being given full-time status and benefits at work, despite working full time consistently for over a year

Question:
My boyfriend works for a very large, fairly well known grocery store chain known for its crappiness. He has for several years. On average, over the last year he has put in 38hrs/wk. Most weeks it is 40. Despite this, on the books he is listed as "part time" and receives no benefits, no sick time, no vacation time, no scheduled raises, no 401k, nothing. What options, if any, does he have?

EDIT- the internal company definition of "full time" is 35 hours a week for more than 3 consecutive months. And he is not getting his ACA benefits.
Topic:
Employment Law

Answer:
 FL does not have a department of labor but the employer may be interested to know that the IRS considers your boyfriend to be fulltime:

https://www.irs.gov/affordable-care-act/employers/identifying-full-time-employees

"a full-time employee is, for a calendar month, an employee employed on average at least 30 hours of service per week, or 130 hours of service per month."

edit:  an ACA rep may be able to help:  https://localhelp.healthcare.gov


Title: Two bikes were stolen or removed from apartment's locked storage area. Management is saying to go through renter's insurance, renter's insurance says if it isn't in the apartment itself they wont cover it. What are my options?

Question: I have had two bikes, chained and locked in the locked storage area/laundromat for bikes at my apartment complex.  I was given permission through email to verify that I was able to store my bikes there.  Went to go check on them, and an entire wall of chained bikes was gone.  Contacted management to see if they removed them due to doing some maintenance work in the building recently, and they said no, but that they have had an issue with a homeless man breaking into the building and stealing things in the past.  Management said I would have to go through renter's insurance to cover the loss, renter's insurance said that since the bikes were not in the actual apartment, that they wont cover the loss.  I feel as though I am out of luck, but hoping I can get the cost of the two bikes (valued at around $250) covered through either source.  I feel that since management has had a ton of workers in and out of that building, leaving the door open a lot of the time, that they should be responsible for the theft.  I am pretty sure that someone would notice about 35 bikes being stolen, and that a homeless man wouldn't be able to remove the metal structure from the wall to get the bikes, and also, where would he place that many?  I have a feeling it was one of the contractors who removed them, and the fact that they were in uniform, they went unreported for removing property.  Columbus, ohio

Answer: You should check with your renters insurance again.  Tell them that you are thinking about filing a claim - see what the person who actually manages claims says (as opposed to what the first lackey who answers your call says).  Renters insurance will often cover personal belongings from theft, even if they were not physically located within your rental unit at the time they were stolen.  But of course you probably have some kind of deductible, which might be higher than the actual value or even the replacement value that you can recover from your insurance for the items that were stolen.Answer #2: Did you keep a record of your bike's serial number along with a description? Ask for that to be added to the police report. And keep an eye out on Craigslist or similar sites for someone selling your bike.


Title: Landlord posted a 60 day notice to quit letter on my door after I made a noise complaint on upstairs neighbors.

Question:
My neighbors are loud, they stomp when they walk, their dogs bark threw out the day, and they constantly slam doors. I have spoke to them several times before finally reporting to my landlord.

My landlord didn’t seem interested in helping me out, and basically just ignored my complaint.

The noise continued, and I took a broom and tapped on the ceiling signaling their disturbance. I heard them laughing and then they stomped loud on purpose just to be dicks. I called the police.

The next day my land lord texted me telling me not to call the police again, like I was in the wrong for calling the cops.

Weeks go by and the same thing happened again and I HAD to call police again!

One week later my landlord posted a 60 day notice to quit, and I am honestly shocked!

I live in California, and I am month to month so I know they can terminate your lease whenever they want but they wrote the reason as to why they are terminating it- saying “I unreconcilable differences with other tenants”

I just think it’s unfair-the way I been treated... the question is, can my landlord even do that? Is this legal?
Topic:
Landlord Tenant Housing

Answer:
 Prepare to move out, but you should still keep making complaints about the upstairs neighbors, *every single time something happens*. They might end up getting fined for the noise.Answer #2: \>  it’s unfair

yep

\> Is this legal?

yep


Title: (New York, Albany) Sears lost $200 ring, refuses to acknowledge

Question:
[RESOLVED]
37 days ago I dropped off a ring at a Sears jewelry location to be resized under our lifetime service plan. We have the slip detailing the transaction. The item is 2 weeks past due on being shipped back to us, at the store they claim they can't see information on the status of the item because it was sent out for resizing, and at the number they provide us no one will comment on the status of the item, and either puts us on unending hold (hung up after 2 hours) or transfers us somewhere completely unrelated, where they can't help us and tell us we need to call the store where it was sent out from. Is there any feasible way to get them to replace or refund the item?
Topic:
Consumer Law

Answer:
 It looks like you need to go to the store and talk to a manager. In person.

Politely and nicely, mind you - you get more flies with honey than with vinegar :)

Ask for a clear timeline by which you either get your ring back or enough money to replace the ring back.Answer #2: Okay, I'll bite: resolved how?Answer #3: Have you re-visited the physical store location where you dropped it off with your documentation/receipts/slips, inquiring about where the ring is?


Title: Going after my wife's affair partner... taking his house?

Question: [deleted]

Answer:
 There is absolutely no way you're going to be able to take his house. It's ridiculous to assume you would even be able to.

There is nothing you can go after the HOA for. If you want to sue him for abandonment of affection, feel free. That is the extent of any claim you have against him.


Title: I electronically signed a rental application in June, and now the complex is saying I signed a lease and have issued an eviction notice that I just received (Virginia)

Question:
I electronically signed what I thought was simply the rental application for an apartment in a college town. It soon came back saying I was approved, but I would need a guarantor. I have no one who could be a guarantor, so I didn't respond and never sent anything to the office other than my mom's name and email on the application. I received at least 5 emails over the next 2 months saying I needed to complete my financial qualification and to send a notarized Guarantor Aggreement within 7 business days. Again, I never responded, and had no idea I had actually signed a lease for their complex.

By August, I had signed a lease for another location, and I've been living there for the past month. I just recevied a phone call from my mom a few days ago saying that the original apartment was attempting to collect rent. I went to the complex, and told them everything that happened. They printed off a copy of the lease that I apparently electronically signed back in June. Again, I had no idea I was signing a lease by simply applying for an apartment, and I am certainly not financially qualified to live there. I also never sent in the guarantor form - I only put my mom's name and Email address on the form. Do I have any sort of recourse on this matter, or will I be held liable for this phantom lease? I truly believe I was deceived by their online application process, and considering the 5 warnings saying I would be unable to move in until I proved I had a gurantor, I am shocked that they allowed me to rent from them.

Thank you.

**TL;DR college apartment complex is saying I e signed a lease, not just an application, and are attempting to evict me out of an apartment I didn't know I was leasing until yesterday.**
Topic:
Landlord Tenant Housing

Answer: See if your university has a law clinic for students. Answer #2: Call the complex first and see what the deal is, ask them where they think you are living, who accepted the keys, and who paid deposit and rent in order to move in.


Title: Got towed under suspicious circumstances and they damaged my car

Question:
I am on Oahu and I parked in the guest parking at my friend's apartment complex last night. I came outside around 5AM to my car gone and it turned out the spot is a tow zone from 3AM-5AM. However, that notice was painted in the stall. When I parked it was dark and raining and I didn't see the paint. There is no other indication or sign stating that was a tow zone during those times. My friend has only been living here a short time and didn't realize it was a tow zone during that timeframe.

I had to call the local police on the non-emergency number to locate the company that had my car. After finding the company's information I called them and was told the car was towed at 4AM and would cost me $265. I have a 4 door sedan so it's not a big car.

I went online to look up towing laws for the area. The .gov website said that the towing "notice shall state that the vehicle will be towed and held at the expense of the vehicle owner, as well as the name, address, and a telephone number of the facility where the vehicle will be towed and held.  The notice shall be of such size and be placed in a location that is clearly visible to the driver of a vehicle approaching any individual marked or unmarked parking space", which is not the case here, in my opinion.

I arrived at the tow company and upon seeing my car I noticed that the area where they hooked my vehicle up under the bumper was hanging off the car (black rubber thing). There was also a car-long scrape on the bottom doors of the passenger side as if it got scraped on the curb. When I pointed out the damage they had me fill out a report and take photos. I was told I would be contacted within 24 hours about it and they gave me a copy of the report. My copy didn't have a reference number/case number which I asked for and I was told I wasn't allowed to have that info.

I asked to see the exact fees I was paying and the lady told me I wasn't allowed to have that either. I told her I wanted each dollar I was paying accounted for and she said she couldn't tell me. I looked up laws regarding charges online and unless I've done the math wrong or missed a detail, I believe I am being overcharged by at least $45 if I add up the maximum fees. I was towed 14 miles from the towing company and here is what I got from the same website: "Charge not more than $65 for a tow, or $75 for a tow using a dolly, plus a mileage charge of $7.50 per mile towed and $25 per day or fraction thereof for storage for the first seven days and $20 per day thereafter.  When the tow occurs between the hours of six o'clock p.m. and six o'clock a.m., from Monday through Thursday and from six o'clock p.m. Friday to six o'clock a.m. Monday, the towing company shall be entitled to an overtime charge of $15."  They have me a receipt for the cash and I left.

Also, when I asked for her name she said she wouldn't give it to me but that her employee number was 90.

I know nothing about the laws regarding this and all of my information is from the .gov site. I could be totally incorrect with my conclusions but this whole situation seems shady and rather unfair. I am pretty broke so this really sucks. Is there anything else I can do?

Tl;dr car got towed and after looking up laws regarding towing I found that the notice in the parking space didn't have the info needed and that the tow company may be overcharging me, they also damaged my car.

Answer: It's your duty to mitigate costs.  That means you have to pay it and get your car out ASAP.  Then you have to take pictures of the spot, total charges, etc. then bring the tow company to small claims court.  A judge will decide if the tow was legal or not, or if they overcharged you or not.


Title: CA my roommates have too many "emotional support animals", how can we get rid of them?

Question:
I share an apartment with 5 others including a couple that shares a room. We'll call them "Kelly" and "Greg". The place has a no pets policy but because Kelly is "disabled", she can have an emotional support animal and she has a cat. She's also claiming that Greg's dog is an emotional support animal too. We knew about the dog and the cat before we signed the lease in August. But since then she and Greg keep bringing home cats and other pets.

Now we've got 5 cats, a dog, three snakes, and tons of different insects including feeder roaches in our apartment. Kelly says that she's allowed to have them because they're all emotional support animals but at this point it's straight up animal hoarding. The apartment stinks, it's unsanitary, filthy all the time, and the insects are found everywhere outside of their room and it's frankly disgusting. Kelly never cleans anything related to her animals because she's "too disabled" (bipolar) and when we tell her to clean up the litter box, vacuum and lint roll the fur off our furniture or literally do *anything* for upkeep she calls the police because "we're attacking her all at once". She's also threatening to report us (idk where) for not accommodating her  disability.

What are our legal options for getting rid of Kelly and Greg, or at least the extra 4 cats, insects, and reptiles they've added since August? We could totally have another friend take over their share of the lease, but they won't leave because they can't afford anything on their own, and they won't agree to a reasonable number of animals, or take care of the mess and smell that having this many animals results in, because of Kelly's bipolar. The landlord says his hands are tied on the matter.

Answer:
 You can waste a ton of time trying to fix this.  Or you can just move out and be done with it.

You can state that the apartment isn't habitable due to the animal waste issue and therefore are not responsible for paying rent until the landlord "cures" the issue.  Obviously not the landlords fault, but you can squeeze him into getting rid of her or letting you out of your lease.


Title: Ridiculous Elevator Bill

Question:
Kind of a complicated story getting more complicated as time goes on.

I had the misfortune of dropping the keys to a Uhaul I rented down an elevator shaft on a Sunday. The vehicle was to be returned the next morning so asked the building manager to call elevator service and get the key retrieved. I was warned that Sunday charges would apply and didn't think too much of it. Got the keys back the same day and thanked everyone.

April 16th: The bill arrived. For a Grand Total of $801. I told my landlord \(the unit owner\) that this is ridiculous and I would not pay such a price for the services. I told him I am willing to pay a fair price for the work done and requested to see the bill. Was informed that the building management company has paid the bill and I am to pay them. \(so a business to business charge with me footing the bill\)

Bill details are as follows:

Mileage \- 47.50

Mechanic doubletime 0.283hrs \- 157.88

Mechanic doubletime travel 1hr \- 557.87

May 15th:  After reporting the business to the BBB and speaking to a government consumer protection agency I learn that they cannot help me because it is a business to business transaction. I am advised to go to small claims court.

I speak to management that same day and tell them that I will not pay the bill. I am also informed that this is actually between the unit owner and myself. I calculate that 320 is fair and that I am willing to pay that so I tell the receptionist that that is all I am willing to pay. My landlord emails me and asks if I am willing to pay the 320, I say yes.

May17th: Withdraw the money and drive to his place of work to deliver the cash. I consider this a done and done deal and am happy to get it sorted.

May22nd: Landlord emails me to inform me that he received a letter from the condo board about the bill. It has gone past the 60 day builders lien and has been forwarded to a legal company/collections agency. Bill has now escalated to $1275.47... I tell him that as far as I am concerned we are square and that I will not give him any more money.

What can I do about this? I am simply not willing to pay them such a ridiculous amount of money for driving. Their work office is a 20 min drive from the condo building. But was informed through the BBB that they actually cut me some slack because the driver actually drove 1.58 hrs but they "only" charged for 1hr. This would make the real bill closer to $1100 with $897 just for travel. I have paid my old landlord $320 so far but foolishly paid in cash so no proof other than a withdrawal and a same day google timeline history of a stop at his office address.

Is this price gouging? Do I stand a chance in court? I want to fight this.

Answer:
 > I am simply not willing to pay them such a ridiculous amount of money for driving

Shame on that.  You'll very likely have to.  Paying someone for their drive time is very common, especially when they come out on a Sunday to help you recover from a problem of your own making.

Qualified repairmen aren't cheap.  Qualified repairment willing to respond on weekends, less so.Answer #2: I mean, not only did they inform you that you’d be paying after hours billing, but they also gave you an itemized bill that broke it all down. Why do you think you shouldn’t have to pay this? They provided a service, you received the service.


Title: [CA, ON] My work schedules me for shifts then intend to cancel.

Question:
So my work is a little weird. I work as a support for people with disabilities. To complicate things, as far as I am aware, under a legal pretence, we are classified as "Untrained medical professionals". (Whatever that means.)

I generally do night shifts, and every other month or so, there is two or three shifts they know they are going to cancel, as it's known in advance that my services will not be required. They don't cancel my shifts as they hope to be able to move me to a different location. More times than not, I get my shifts cancelled last minute (24 hours in advance) Now this sucks as anyone who works nights know, it's hard to fully transition to nights, and it's incredibly boring to do so. I'd much rather sleep if I know I have 7 days off. I am a part time staff. The full time staff is never scheduled on that weekend, and AFAIK hasn't had this situation yet. But I could totally be wrong on that front, but I've had about 7 weekeneds cancelled, which is a fairly large chunk of my pay.

My question is, in Ontario, is it legal for them to schedule me with the intent to cancel, and can they always schedule myself for that, over giving it equally out to the fulltime staff.

I'm sorry if that seems like an accusatory tone, I'm not trying to be, but I've been trying to get in contact with the local free legal aid business, but they keep wanting to meet in person and I just can't make their hours, usually because of work. :p
Topic:
Labor Law (Unions)

Answer:
 It appears that nobody knows the answer to this. Doesn't Canada's version of the Department of Labor have a phone line you can call in and ask questions like this to?  Answer #2: I worked for a bunch of these organization in university in Ontario.

It is legal.

First, call your union (if you have one).
Second, change organization. If you work for one you can work for another with (probably) better rules.

I feel for you. Some of these organization are great to work for, others treat their employees as disposable .


Title: Children getting screwed in medicine trial in Arlington, TX

Question: My kids (9 and 8) are doing a dermatology study on a cream of some sort. When the dr approached us we were told they would each receive $650 for about 16 weeks of study, using meds and getting blood drawn. We discussed this with them and they wanted to do it. Upon signing the paperwork we noticed that it said the payment would be $500 for each. My wife talked to the Drs tech about it and she was assured that the payment was $650 and that it would be changed. Fast forward until now and we are being told it is actually only $500 and that we signed for that amount. Drs office isn't willing to do anything about it. Do I have any legal action I can take or are my kids just screwed for trusting them the staff in the beginning?

Answer: IANAL but you noticed the issue with the contract and you signed it anyway. You really don't have much of a case. You're out 300 dollars, but 1,000 dollars for a medical study isn't terrible.


Title: Bad doppelgänger, what steps to take?

Question:
My husband and I are doing our own divorce in MA so we have been taking a lot of field trips to the clerk’s office. He’s super friendly and the office ladies love him, which led them to disclosing something to us- there is a woman with my name and age who has a rap sheet. I was suspicious so I went home and googled my name and sure enough in the public records, she’s been arrested for getting into multiple disputes with neighbors and was arrested for dumping trash illegally.

We have a very unusual first and last name; think like Esmeralda Fitzpatrick or something like that. We are also almost the exact same age, month and year wise, but not day. We live in the same medium sized city. The clerks seemed shocked at the coincidence and so are my husband and I, the odds of this seem very low to me, but here we are. The clerks know I am not the same person so I am not worried about identities getting mixed up in this case, but I am concerned about a) background checks b) public reputation (I am in a highly paid profession where reputation is key) and c) if somehow our records could be mixed up.

What steps if any should I be taking to make sure we stay legally separated?  Are there any other things I should be thinking about?

Edit: I just did a couple of background check searches online and some of the info on past addresses appear to be doppelgänger’s but are listed as mine. So it looks like our info is already mixed in some places.

Answer: Do you have a middle name?  Do you want to go to court and make one? Answer #2: It's more a PR/SEO than legal question, don't stress over "on line background check ' those are trash services anyways and almost always have disclaimers as not legal for tenant screening or employee screening.  "our service is so shitty it's illegal to use"Answer #3: I would do a credit check just to be safe. It is probably unlikely that your identity has been stolen but for some reason, my mind jumped to that as far as other things you might think about.


Title: I recently found out that a relative plead guilty to sexual child abuse more than 20 years ago? Can I,legally, keep him away from my children?

Question: I live in Florida.

Answer: You can legally keep your kids away from anyone (except probably the other parent).Answer #2: Well, unless he's the other parent, or has a court order for visitation or custody, your relative has no particular legally-enforceable right to be near your children. It's up to you, the parents, to decide who gets to be near your kids.


Title: [CA - Bay Area] Landlord spent our deposit

Question:
So I have a slightly convoluted and problematic issue regarding my (and friend's) security deposit. Before I go on, we understand a lot of things were done incorrectly and are willing to concede that this may be a costly life lesson. I should note that the landlord was a former coworker so we put up with a lot of things since he was a "friend." He's entered our property multiple times without notice or with very minimal notice - i.e. texting us that he'll be at the house in 10 minutes, etc. Besides the original lease, nothing was by the book. He tried guilt tripping us multiple times when we signed the original lease saying that "there were tons of people who wanted this place and offered him more money per month." We told him that we already signed the agreed upon price of $2600/month and if he really had offers of $3.5k+, we'd be happy to cancel the lease and move on. He always backed down when we called his bluffs.

Anyway, my friend and I signed a lease with our landlord back in 2015 for a ~15 month lease that was suppose to end in February of 2017. The agreed upon terms were $2600/month for 3 people, upped to $2900 if 4 people moved in and a security deposit of $3500. We had a friend move in a bit later as an unofficial subletter with nothing signed (landlord was okay with this). My roommate and I are the only people on the official signed lease so we continued to just make payments in our names. We had no issues until I decided to move out last July with permission from both landlord and roommate. We had a friend come in and unofficially sublet my room and my original roommate continued to make payments. We're all very good friends so I decided to wait to get my original security deposit after the lease was terminated (we're all childhood friends with no money problems so trust isn't an issue).

Then things got a little messed up. The landlord owns 2 properties next to each other. The tenants from his other property decided to move into our place and "break" their current lease (our lease wasn't affected by this at all). However the landlord used this opportunity to raise the rent for EVERYONE. There was no new lease signed or anything. Again he quoted that the original lease was below market price and that he'd like to make it fair for him (yes, bullshit I know). They all agreed since they viewed him as a friend that was flexible given the chaotic change that just occurred. So he raised the rent to $3600 without any documentation, no new leases or anything. It was all verbal I thought they all had signed a new lease when this happened but it seems that the only signed lease that exist is the one from 2015.

Regardless, rent gets paid every month on time without issue. Now fast forward to this year and my former roommates wanted to extend the lease for a few months. They notified the landlord (verbally) that they intend to vacate the property by July (they let him know in June). However they didn't give an official 30 day notice in writing (yes, I told them to but they didn't listen for some reason). That's when the landlord notified them that he had spent/didn't have our security deposit and would return the deposit to us as soon as new tenants came. He would just take their deposits and give it to us. He's demanded we find new tenants to cover the vacated premise even though they already gave him an verbal 30 day notice (and they paid him July rent as a goodwill gesture).

Sorry if this is super confusing as it's been pretty much a disaster since I moved out. I realize this would've been a slam dunk had my roommates just documented everything but it gets messy since they didn't. Any advice on how to proceed? Thanks!

Answer:
 The landlord has 21 days after the tenants return possession to provide the deposit, or the remainder of the deposit plus a written accounting of any deductions. Whether the landlord has the money or not is the landlord's problem, not the tenants'.

If the landlord does not return the deposit, or withholds in bad faith, the tenants should send a demand letter. If the landlord is nonresponsive or refuses to resolve the issue, the tenants can sue the landlord in small claims for up to twice the amount of the deposit in punitive damages, plus the amount withheld in actual damages (for a potential maximum of three times the deposit, if the entire deposit is withheld in bad faith).

[Source](http://www.dca.ca.gov/publications/landlordbook/sec-deposit.shtml).

Verbal notice isn't effective, and the tenants need to confirm in writing that their landlord is willing to terminate the tenancy at the negotiated time. Otherwise, they need to give thirty days' notice _in writing_. The landlord can countersue for the extra month if they vacate without adequate notice.


Title: [NYC] Received letter from Landlord re: non payment of rent. Have been withholding rent to get repairs done. How should I respond?

Question: [deleted]

Answer: I'm not sure about the rest of it but when you withhold rent it needs to be deposited in an escrow account. You can't just stop paying.


Title: (MA) Lease has a provision utilities are included in rent. Landlord didn't cover the full gas bill for the building. What now?

Question:
I woke up this morning to a notice that my landlord didn't pay about $160 worth of the gas bill for my building and that it would be shut off if the tenants didn't scrape together the money in a month. The notice says it's from the gas company and that it'll be posted in the front of the building as well.

I just moved in here recently and there's a provision in my lease that says the landlord is responsible for covering utilities. I'm not really sure what my next steps should be. I haven't spoken to any of my neighbors about this because I haven't been here long enough to have really met any. I haven't contacted the landlord or the gas company or the landlord yet because I'm at a loss for what my next steps should be. Who do I contact first? What are my rights here?

Answer:
 >I haven't contacted the landlord or the gas company or the landlord yet because I'm at a loss for what my next steps should be. **Who do I contact first?**

The landlord.