Title: [OR] If an officer places a compliant person under arrest with enough force to cause them to cry, is it illegal for this person to move around in an attempt to relieve their pain?

Question:
I was compliant and very calm when agreeing to be placed under arrest. When the officer said he was placing me under arrest, I submitted to this.

Unexpectedly, the officer who arrested me was unnecessarily rough. Instead of cuffing me with my hands behind my back, he quickly took me down to the ground and laid me on my stomach on the sidewalk. He cuffed me way too tightly and proceeded to pin my wrists down with his knees with what felt to me like all of his might.

I did not struggle until this moment, reacting to what I perceived as violence, and I only did because I was panicking. I felt the bones in my wrists and hands being crushed and went into survival mode. I repeatedly begged him to get off of me (I simply meant take his knee away and remove his full body weight from the metal cuffs pinching my skin) and he did not, but continued to shove against my movement.

I am a 20 year old female, face-down on cement underneath the full weight 30-something male officer, and I am only squirming because I am in agony. Truly. The incident left temporary (weeklong) injuries around my wrists and on the tops of my hands.

I struggled to move and relieve my discomfort and begged him to get off of me because the bones in my wrists felt like they were being crushed under his weight. I have no motive to lie about this, as I am audio recorded being calm and immediately agreeing to arrest.

He did not budge or attempt to calm me in any way despite my sobbing. I perceived this as violent and, in a desperate attempt to free myself from the weight of his knees, my shoe apparently hit the officer in the back of the leg. I was charged with assault for this.

I had absolutely no intentions of escaping, resisting arrest, or injuring anyone. How does anyone properly protect oneself from injury in this case, without being punished such as I am?

Answer: Well aside from any practical advice given here on how to conduct one's self during an arrest - you need a lawyer. Today. If you can't afford one, you need to see about getting a public defender.


Title: If I call the cops on the girl who lives downstairs, would they be allowed to search my apartment?

Question: [deleted]

Answer: Unless you live in some country with no civil rights, not without a warrant or very good evidence that a crime was being committed. For example if they heard somebody screaming "help me!" coming from your apartment they could enter. But life advice is don't have illegal shit in your home if you're going to call the police on somebody else.


Title: My bank took 1600 dollars from my bank account on Christmas day.

Question: I'm set up on automatic bill pay with my bank. My car broke down last month and I wrote a check for the expenses, to be cashed 12/28. I also delayed my auto bill payments until my next paycheck 1/1. Well my bank went ahead and withdrew the money anyways and says it will be 10 business days until it comes back. So now the check I wrote for car repairs will bounce. They said there's no way to stop pay the  auto bill pay check until Monday and then I have to "open a claim" to retrieve the money, but NO CHECK HAS EVEN BEEN ISSUED, its still showing "in process". The money was withdrawn, no check was written, and now its just sitting in limbo, and the bank says even they don't have access to it. I'm at a loss for what to do.

Answer: Not legal advice: try contacting the auto place and telling them what happened. They won't be happy about it, but they don't want a bounced check any more than you do. They may be willing to delay cashing it until 1/1.Answer #2: Auto bill pays often 'pre-withdraw' money before they actually issue.  Found this out the hard way.


Title: Seized computers/usb's

Question: [deleted]

Answer:
 My partner said they gave him a warrant?
what information would this have on it?


Title: Just exploded my car's rear windshield on a low cement ceiling in a Whole Foods parking lot.

Question:
So I was backing into a spot at Whole Foods in Brooklyn, New York when there was a loud crash and I realized I backed my compact SUV's rear window into a low hanging cement ceiling specific to this parking spot. I hadn't seen it because it wasn't in the view of my backup camera (too high). It was the perfect height to demolish my rear windshield. Had my wife and kid in the car and when glass shattered, it was not the greatest dad-moment ever. For the record, I realize that this was a knucklehead parking job, and that I should have checked my surroundings better.

The manager came down and was apologetic. He told me the spot usually had shopping carts in it, but with none there at that moment, there were no signs indicating it wasn't a parking spot. There was also no parking bumper to stop my car from hitting the low ceiling block as I backed up, although every other parking spot had one to stop cars from backing into the cement wall.

My question is if Whole Foods should cover damages, and further, if I should bother opening a claim w my insurance company??

In the mean time, cleaning up tiny bits of tempered glass all inside my trunk is a mother. I'll be finding glass bits for months for sure.
Topic:
Traffic and Parking

Answer:
 >For the record, I realize that this was a knucklehead parking job, and that I should have checked my surroundings better.

There's your answer.Answer #2: Talk to your insurer if you want. But this is not the fault of Whole Foods. Backup cameras are good for some things but they are not the end-all-be-all of backing up.Answer #3: Why would they be liable?


Title: Merchant got hacked, had to close my debit card, my bank won't tell me what merchant it is.

Question:
**EDIT:** Sorry, my location is southwest Missouri

Just got a call from the small/local bank telling me that some online 'merchant' had gotten hacked, and the financial info they had on record was compromised. As a result, my debit card was canceled and I have to go pick up a new one. I asked what merchant it was, and they said that they were not allowed to tell me.

Do I have the legal right as a consumer to know which merchant it was, so I can possibly avoid doing business with them in the future? I feel like I should be told who it was that lost my financial information.

Answer:
 The bank does not have any legal obligation to tell you.

Something EVERYONE should keep an eye on occasionally is Privacy Rights Clearinghouse's list of known data breaches found [here](https://www.privacyrights.org/data-breach/new).

There is no law in place that I'm aware of (unless something went in this year) that requires any merchant to publicly announce a data breach within any sort of timeframe.


Title: Local police favoring family (West Virginia)

Question:
~~A friend’s mother was in a wreck when another car went the wrong way on a one way street. The original police report was filed faulting the other car but it has been changed to fault my friends mother and now her insurance won’t help her. This is in a pretty small town and we’re pretty sure the other person has family in the police force.~~

~~The police refuse to change it back despite my friends mom having photo evidence of everything. Is there someone they can escalate this to?~~

EDIT Alright so I showed my friend that I was posting this. She had the following to add, correcting some of the stuff I said:

((So it was apparently my friend's vehicle involved in the wreck)

So the police officer actually didn't change the report. It was his Leutinent, who wasn't even THERE... and he didn't even talk to the police officer! He just changed it based on looking at the picture he said?? Which made no sense because it clearly shows the car in the one way. And we tried to talk to him and no matter how much logic we presented, even eye witnesses, he said he just didn't believe it. And he's definitely the corrupt one. The sheriff though listened to all of this, and he said he doesn't have the authority to do anything about it?? Like what?D

Meanwhile insurance company trying to speak to anyone in the police force and no one will return their calls, nor mine when i try to get a copy of the witness statements. Every time we call they say they are out or on vacation.

Answer:
 The friends mother can ask the poker supervisor to review the accident report.

The friends mother can still sue the other party for damages and let a judge decide.Answer #2: WVSP also may be of some help. If you believe corruption could be involved. However I would go to the supervisor of the police officer, then county Sheriff unless you have cause for corruption.


Title: Will i get my seized money back??

Question: I wasas stoped by police they ended up searching my car and found less than 2 grams of marihuana and found 20000 us dollars on me and seized it i got the money from selling the house that my parents left me in mexico we had it for more than 5 years and lived there i have proof and legal documents i already have a lawyer working on my case but i want to hear other opinions thanks.

Answer: The opinion is your lawyer knows best.


Title: My [24M] deadbeat father is not paying my mother the $75,000 in backed-CS he owes. What do? FL/USA.

Question:
Greetings all! To make an insanely long story short(ish), my dad split when I was 5 in 1995 leaving my mother, brother and I high and dry in California. In the divorce decree the two of them filed then, he was charged to pay $1400 in child support, $700 per child until the age of 18. He neglected to pay this for 9 whole years, accruing just shy of $150,000 in backed CS in that time.

In 2003/4, he was finally served a subpoena to pay the child support via court order in the state of Florida, where he lived. At first very little was being payed but it was better than nothing, and eventually the full amount ended up coming in. He paid the full CS amount for about 2 years straight, bringing his total down to about $75,000 that he still owes.

**Since then**, he has tried/managed to use every loophole he can think of to get out of paying the CS, including: putting all assets in his new wife's name so they can never be placed on lien, moving to Washington and trying to move to Canada, and claiming he did not live in the states that he was living in over the course of the last 20 years. He has tried all of this, even though he and his wife are Registered Nurses and, although I have never seen his paycheck, he has been employed as high up as the "Stroke Center Coordinator" for major hospital systems in both Washington and Florida, almost certainly clearing $100,000 a year.

In October of 2014 he quit his job, and since then, $1000 is coming in every three months to my mom, a far cry from the $1400 monthly that he owes. He now resides in Jupiter, FL, so the laws there apply.

My mother is done with the games, and so am I. I live in Michigan and I do not have the heart to hear that my mother is close to bankruptcy due to his negligent behavior.

Reddit: What are my mother's options regarding any legal action she can take, any claim that she can make, or anything she can do at all to make him pay the money that he owes her? She is considering filing a case of some kind regarding malicious aversion of paying CS; is there anything like that in existence, and what do you think our chances are?

**tl;dr: Deadbeat dad owes $75K out of $150K in backed CS. He has stopped paying the full amount, and pays only once every 3 months. What can we do about it?**

Answer: Has your mom filed criminal charges against him for nonsupport with the police?


Title: [Boston, MA] Have access to evidence of a crime where the victim may not want to come forward. What do I do?

Question:
**tl;dr**: I'm in a situation where I'm aware of, and can get proof (phone video recordings) of, a crime where the victim understandably doesn't seem to want to come forward due to embarrassment and/or fear of this evidence being publicly circulated. I could also get the evidence away from the perpetrators while keeping a copy myself to give to the authorities but I'm not sure whether that counts as a crime itself (destroying evidence even though I'm keeping a copy) or whether it will end up invalidating it altogether. I'm also not sure whether anything would even come from this if the victim would rather pretend it never happened at all?

---------------------

Okay, I tried to write this post with as little actual information as possible, but my google-fu skills weren't sufficient to find anything similar enough to this to just give what I think the actual charge would be so I'll just be blunt about it.

There are three guys who live on my floor in my college dorms who have recently been showing some other guys and I a video they'd taken of themselves at a party a few weeks ago of them defecating and urinating on a passed out drunk girl.

As far as I'm aware, this hasn't spread at all and no one has reported it. My guess is that the girl managed to clean herself up and get back home after waking up without anyone/too many people noticing and would rather put it behind her instead of trying to report it and bringing attention to what happened. It's also possible that she's aware/afraid of there being videos of what happened and is keeping quiet in fear of having the videos circulated as revenge. (Edit: or it's possible that she has decided there is no point in coming forward even though she wants to since she has no idea who did it and presumably washed off all evidence as quickly as possible once she woke up)

I feel strongly that these guys need to be punished for what they've done, but I'm not sure whether the police would do anything about it when I don't know who the girl is and without the girl coming forward herself? (Also, am I even right in thinking that it's my duty to report this regardless or am I pushing my selfish desire to see these guys punished on this girl at the expense of her own wishes?) Is this the kind of crime that requires the victim to explicitly press charges for anything to happen or would the state prosecute regardless? If it requires the girl to press charges then maybe I should make an effort to try find her myself and see if she even would rather than bringing all of this to public attention for no reason?

I am confident that I could send a copy of this video to myself and delete it from their phones (clarity edit: I believe I could get them to give me their phones willingly under a different pretense and then send the video to myself to give to the authorities and also delete it from their phones. Not breaking into their phones or anything) to ensure they can't upload it anywhere or start sending it around but wanted to check first whether this would be a crime on my part (destroying evidence even though I'm keeping a copy of the video and doing it to make sure further crimes aren't committed) or whether this would somehow invalidate or cheapen the evidence itself?

Any advice would be greatly appreciated.

Answer:
 You should report this to your university's Title IX department and let them deal with this. If these creeps are showing it to multiple people, it will obviously get out.

The victim may choose not to cooperate with the investigation, but if someone in the school sees a copy of this, those assholes are likely to be expelled.

Do not destroy evidence or break into anyone's phone. Do not record anyone without their consent; Massachusetts is a two party consent state.Answer #2: You could certainly report this to the police or your university.  The victim's participation is not required for the state to press charges, though the willingness of the victim to cooperate is often taken into account when the state is make the decision to investigate or prosecute.

Accessing these people's devices without their permission in effort to copy a video could get you into trouble.


Title: Employer is requiring me to disclose SSN and date of birth to customer in order for us to gain access to the internal network. Is this reasonable?

Question:
In the past I have been strong-armed into subjecting myself to two different background checks with two other customers.  Both customers have a history of data breaches. I would think the integrity of one company remotely accessing another's computer network would be covered by some sort of contract, not an employee being compelled to hand over personal information.  Also, if I do not comply, I have a well-founded fear of being terminated based on comments from a supervisor.  Location: Ohio

Crossposted from https://www.reddit.com/r/jobs/comments/30yly8/my_employer_is_requiring_that_i_hand_over_my_ssn/.  Sorry, I didn't think to ask here first :-/

Answer: You can be terminated for refusing. You would likely qualify for unemployment.  This is going to be the new normal now for people with access to that kind of data.


Title: Recieved Tickets for Event By Party Who Injured Me

Question: I was hit by a then-friend a few months ago, and am currently trying to work out a settlement with him. I received a package from them today, containing letters apologizing, a check for the direct expenses, and tickets for a WWE event tonight. I am not cashing the check, but was wondering if using the tickets would add to the situation. This all happened in New York, for what its worth.

Answer: it very well could be seem as some form of settlement (probably not though), contact them and declined


Title: DNR game violation mess

Question:
Back story:  Last November I was duck/goose hunting with two friends in Wisconsin.  During the hunt we were spread out on an island on the Mississippi and both of them accidentally shot at a swan mistaking it for a snow goose.  The DNR agents showed up from a complaint and gave all three of us citations for "taking, attempting to take, or possessing a protected bird."  The report finally came in to the District Attorney's office and I called him for a resolution.

The phone call:  The Assistant District Attorney said that because both of my friends plead guilty it basically proves my guilt.  He compared it to a bank robbery with three people where one pleads not guilty and the other two plead guilty (I told him that was an unfair comparison).  He told me that if I pursue this in court (early February) and if I am found guilty I would be charged the maximum fine of $2,000 an increase of what it is now of $300 for lying under oath.

I only shot at ducks and geese but I am now second guessing if I should go in to fight it since the case sounds like it will be my word against the DNR officer's.  Any suggestions or help would be very much appreciated.  Thank you.

Answer:
 How they plead makes no difference in your case at all.

Talk to a lawyer. Soon.


Title: [Oklahoma, Creek County] I was threatened with a criminal lawsuit because I took apart a weight machine and haven't had time to put it back together. Is the complaint viable and could I counter sue for the threat?

Question:
UPDATE: Thanks for the assistance! I got the paperwork needed to support a defense should I require one. Not going to concern myself with a suit of my own, and was able to get in touch with a reporter that was actually interested. Problem not solved, but I'm confident things will work out. Appreciate all the prompt responses and insights.

There is this weight machine at the elementary school I work as a volunteer for that that they have had for five years, give or take. Donated to them by the head lunch lady of the school for the football players, but never used. Not once. It was all stored in the room that our PTA uses for meetings and storing. Since October of last year, we made it known throughout the school that we wanted to tear it down and move it because it took up a huge amount of space and wasn't being used anyway.

Finally, there is a relatively free week for me and I go to the Superintendent and inform him that I plan on tearing it down, and he gives me the approval and so I do so. That very same week, supposedly, one of the Board of Education members and the Business Manager for the school claims to have bought the machine on surplus.

She asked me to put it back together and I told her I didn't think I could, but I'd be willing to try and find a guide off the internet and see what I could do, but I also told her I didn't have the time. This is a few months down the road, don't recall exactly when. November-January maybe. Around there.

Fast forward to May 15th, 2015 and I have a 2nd grade field trip to Seminole, OK for the Children's Museum there. I get to the school that morning before the trip and the moment I walk in the front office to sign in, the office gets a call from the business manager saying I need to call her back ASAP. I return the call and she tells me that she's going to press misdemeanor charges on me for destruction of private property because I tore down the machine she had bought and I haven't put it back together.

She claims she bought it the year before and that she forgot, but that she has a receipt claiming she bought it then, and that I destroyed it as a form of retaliation. She would not clarify retaliation for what other than I have "been ignoring her for months". I had a meeting with her just two weeks prior to this encounter where we discussed the retirement parties of two staff members. A third party was present during that encounter.

Complicating matters, the Superintendent claims he doesn't remember giving me the approval and he was even removed from employment that very same day, told to vacate immediately (reasons unknown to me).

When I took the machine down, in January or sometime then, there was a PTA meeting held to discuss the machine where the Superintendent and PTA board members were present and he gave approval then, too, to tear it down. The PTA members are willing to write a unified letter stating that I had permission to break the machine down, but I worry that is not enough.

The only other thing I have to support my claim I did not do it out of malice, and that I gave ample notice, is that she claims to have bought it a year ago, yet it is listed on a surplus list of items to be sold off in a meeting agenda for the Board of Education dating April 13th, 2015 and the weight machine is specifically listed and itemized as "weight machine (disassembled)".

I have volunteered months of my life to this school and can't believe I've been treated like this. She threatened me with a criminal misdemeanor and even laughed saying I'll never be able to work in any school ever again. I'm absolutely livid because I do hard work and grown to love those kids. There are some teachers willing to stand up for me, but ultimately I guess the questions are:

What were my legal responsibilities for that weight machine?
Could I counter sue for duress or that they made a threat? If she does not follow through on filing a suit against me, could I/should I file one of my own?

I was told that when an item is purchased and surplussed that a person only has so many days to get it before they lose their right to it. If she did, in fact, buy it a year ago, where could I find the statutes regarding the length of a time they can hold on to property before they lose their claim to it?

I'll keep checking back if further details are needed. Regardless, thank you all for your time.

Answer:
 >What were my legal responsibilities for that weight machine?

You followed appropriate chain to get permission, so you should be fine there.

>Could I counter sue for duress or that they made a threat?

No.

>If she does not follow through on filing a suit against me, could I/should I file one of my own?

No.


Title: Ex is threatening to call lawyer over a favor.

Question:
Gonna try and make this quick:

Ex and I were taking a trip somewhere, tire exploded, had to throw on a spare and drive to tires plus to get a quote, was about $228 and I was getting kinda heated cause it was an unforeseen expense on a brand new tire.

I go to use the Bathroom, come out, and she paid the bill already and I kept saying she didn't have to, but she insisted. I insisted that I'd return the favor.

A few months pass after we broke up and I made an attempt to mail out the $228(Cash cause I didn't have checks at the time, yes I realize to use checks from now on) and apparently she never received it(however, her mother opens her mail sometimes, and I absolutely had every address correct etc.)

She now randomly contacts me today and says

"230 Cash or I call my lawyer tomorrow"

I get it, I'd want my $230 back as well, but she insisted she'd pay for it, and I was never even obligated to repay that, yet I still made an attempt to and she apparently never received it.

Could I be in any potential legal trouble? I simply just don't have another $230 to toss out to nonsense.

I live in Florida, USA

Answer:
 Her lawyers not getting involved over 230 but will tell her to sue you in small claims. I'd advise going to Judge Mathis. You claim gift she claim loaned that you tried to pay would be used against you that you thought it was a loan.

Real deal though what happened that y'all being so petty? You cheated? She cheated? What happened?


Title: California statutory rape help?

Question: Hi so I'm very scattered and scared right now. SWIM is 16 and she has friend who is 22. They have had sexual intercourse. SWIM is very worried that he will be arrested. SWIM's social worker filed a CPS report. What will happen? What can SWIM do?

Answer:
 The age of consent in California is 18. The law is pretty cut and dry on that one. He had sex with a minor.

Unless they're married, there's a possibility he'll be charged with a misdemeanor or a felony. If charged with a felony, he could face up to 4 years in prison, because she's 16 and he's over 21. But that depends on his criminal background.Answer #2: >16... 22... have had sexual intercourse

Then the 22 year old committed statutory rape. California law doesn't acknowledge consent until 18.

>SWIM is very worried that he will be arrested

He committed statutory rape, so he should be arrested.

>What can SWIM do?

Nothing. He committed a crime, and he's likely going to be punished for it as a result. She should stay far, far away.


Title: Do I have to pay alimony? CA

Question:
I am considering divorce with my husband. He has become the meanest person I know, I offered him counseling but he doesn't want to do it.

We have two children, I recently bought a home. I work and my husband has quit his job 1.5 years ago and is not actively looking for on. If divorced the kids would stay with me at the house.

Do I have to pay alimony? I am afraid if I do, since he is not working that I will no longer be able to keep my home.

State= CA

Answer:
 You may be ordered to pay spousal support for a limited time, while he has an opportunity to get a job.  Except in very rare cases, there is no such thing as a lifetime of support anymore.  The non-working spouse is expected to get on their feet and support themselves.

Keep in mind he is entitled to half the value of all marital assets.  You should absolutely get an attorney.Answer #2: You don't have to pay alimony unless a court orders you to do so.

We can't even really guess what they may or will order in this case.  Consult a local attorney- he or she will much better be able to tell you what you will likely expect based on the specifics of your situation.


Title: Former employer thinks coworker stole company info, keeps hounding me for info, wants an affidavit signed, I want out.

Question:
Hello everybody, I'm here in Michigan. I apologize if my "reddiquette" is messed up; I don't often post here.

Thursday, on the second to last day of my employment (I was quitting on Friday), I was pulled into the president's office and accused with accessing company payroll records and spreading info to other employees about how much a bunch of people make. Being the IT guy, I was the first person they thought of to grill about this, of course. Now, I had actually heard rumors about what certain people make, a long time ago--from the former IT guy, who told me and apparently told a handful of other employees, before he quit last year.

After explaining this case, which was corroborated by someone else who also was told this by the aforementioned former IT guy, I continued to be grilled and insulted, and told I might be prosecuted. I was also asked to write down the amounts I had heard, and was told they were wrong. I don't have access to these supposed records, nor do I even know if they exist and if they did, where they'd be. I was essentially a graphic designer/printer un-jammer while I worked there.

My former boss called me Monday and asked me more questions about the other IT guy, and told me they want me to come and sign an affidavit. He also texted me this morning asking if I would call him.

I've told them everything I know, and I don't want to be involved in this. I left that company and all its drama behind, and I don't want to be haunted by it or the memories of it any longer. I don't want to sign an affidavit or keep in contact with any of those people who treated me like a criminal in that office. I've considered changing my phone number but I don't want that to be seen as a suspicious move. But I also don't want to be texted by my ex-boss and asked to call him at 8:30 when I'm swamped with very important work.

I keep being told by people to just call him and say basically what I just typed in the previous paragraph; that I have no obligation to sign anything or be involved. But god forbid they find some legal way to force me to do something.

I'm going to be honest, here--I don't think this is as big as they think it is. Rumors swirled around that company like wild fire, just as they do in many places--and I think it's pretty unfair that they're going after this guy. But it's none of my business--which is exactly why I no longer want to be involved. I just want to move on.

06/12/15 UPDATE:  Since I last posted, I've blocked contact--that is, I blocked my former boss' email address, phone number, and Facebook account, as recommended. I have yet to receive calls from the company itself and I haven't heard a single thing since then. Unfortunately today is the day I need to go into the building to retrieve my final paycheck--which A) Cannot be mailed because they require you to sign a bunch of paperwork and B) Has been notoriously difficult to get for people in the past, because the company likes to withhold them; I've heard of former employees being forced to comply with certain demands like signing extra things, and even a case where an out-of-state person had to fly back to retrieve it. I am friends with one of the women who works in the office, who texted me and let me know that she got everyone else's paycheck except mine, and when she asked where it was, was told that when I arrive, that they should be alerted I was there. Now I'm not 100% certain of what to do. I can't simply pass up a whole paycheck. But I'm not sure what they're trying to pull. I've considered calling the police to have an officer accompany me to the company, because I am certain what they're doing is technically illegal (as is whatever they'll try to make me do to get my check). But I don't even know if this would qualify as being "important" enough for police to even spend the time on. Should I call the police? Call a lawyer? Call the company and threaten to do the two previously mentioned ideas? (Half-joke, but hey, maybe.) I don't feel comfortable going there without some sort of legal aid.
Topic:
Computer and Internet

Answer:
 > I've told them everything I know, and I don't want to be involved in this.

Then don't.  Call them, tell them you're done, and ignore them.  Unless you have a contract where you promised to help them in such a circumstance, you're under no obligation.

They have ways of forcing you to provide documents or testimony; those are called "subpoenas", and they can only be issued by a court.  If served a subpoena, you *must* comply or challenge it.  But until then, you're under no obligation to help them out.


Title: [NC] Money from estate account stolen by one of the executors.

Question:
Hi everyone,

I'll try to lay out all the details best I can. My family and I live about an hour outside of Charlotte, NC. My father is a co-executor of my late grandfather's estate along with my aunt (my father's sister). They had an estate account with around $200,000 in it that came from selling some of the property left to them. My dad went to withdraw money from the estate account to pay taxes on another plot of land from the same estate and the teller informed him there was less than $200 in the estate account. Needless to say my dad had an immediate freakout.

After discussion with the bank my dad was given copy images of all the checks as well as the transactions that have taken place since the estate account was created. The money in the account was meant to be used to pay taxes and fees on the other estate properties and then split evenly between my father and his sister, as stated in the will. There were 2 occasions where my dad asked if my aunt was okay with him getting out part of his 'half' in advance that would then be subtracted at the final settlement of the estate. She had done the same, asked a couple of time if she could advance part of her half. While she only asked a couple of times, someone was using her signature to drain the account a few thousand dollars a week since the creation of the estate account.

Only she receives statements on the account so my dad had no idea the amount of money in the account. That was, until she made a strange comment to him around two weeks ago that gave him concern. It was at this point he made the trip to try and withdraw funds to pay for taxes on the other estate property and was told the account was practically empty.

He is going to see an estate lawyer but I wanted to know if there is something we should be doing on our own to help salvage as much of his inheritance as possible. The checks are all endorsed by my aunt but some of the signatures appear to have discrepancies from her signature so there is no way to know for certain she is responsible. There are a lot more details that may influence legality of the situation but I don't want to break any of the sub's rules on post length. If you need additional information just let me know.

TL;DR

My grandfather's estate account was drained from around $200,000 to $200 without my dad's (co-executor) knowledge. My dad's sister's (other co-executor) signature on all check withdrawals with some signatures looking suspicious. How should he move forward to get his half of inheritance that was spent? Should he force the selling of the remaining property and then fight for his half of the money that was blown?

Answer:
 Your Dad absolutely needs to get to an estate lawyer as soon as possible.  I would also recommend inquiring if that law firm also handles UCC-3 negotiable instruments as any potential bank liability is time sensitive and complicated depending on how many different banks are involved.  Take not only the check images (front and back) but all statements since inception of the account to the estate lawyer along with a complete copy of your Grandfather's probate file.   The executors may have been required to have a bond insuring their roles as fiduciaries of the Estate .   Let the estate attorney guide your Dad on how to recover his share in the most time and cost efficient manner as there could be several avenues of recovery for him.

Edit:  duplicative wordsAnswer #2: First off, neither your father nor your aunt should have been taking advances on "their half" of the inheritance until the estate has closed.  That was a breach of a duty as an executor.

Second, the estate stays open until all of the debts have been paid off and assets are distributed.  If the estate property remained in the estate's hands, then the property taxes and other upkeep payments (such as utilities) were debts of the estate and remain as such until the transfer of property has been effected. What's the long term plan for these properties?

When you discuss with the estate attorney, you'll want to find out whether the estate can recover from your aunt for misappropriation of estate funds.  If your aunt has spent the money already and has no assets of her own, recovery may be difficult.  Note, however, that your aunt will likely also have a claim against your father for advance distributions if she so chooses to bring a counterclaim.


Title: Water Company wants me to pay bills for water I didn't use in a gutted house with no pipes. Pittsburgh (PA)

Question:
I bought a gutted house in August and I plan on rebuilding it this April. It basically just a shell only wood and walls and it’s been with way for some time approximately 5 years. There is not even a water meter let alone pipes. Last month I got a bill for $230 from the water company and when I called them up they said it was for water usage and that they could see usage on it. I told them the condition of my house and that I have not use any water. They said they need to send someone to verify the condition of my house but first I needed to send them proof that I was the new owner of the house even know the Bill they sent was in my name. So I sent them a copy of the deed and waited to here back. Flash forward two weeks I get two more bills one form my house and one for my neighbors both in my name. I call them reexplained the issue and got them to send someone out. They went to the wrong house twice. But I finally met with the Plummer who verified there are no pipes and I'm not using water. Now the water company says I owe the $230 not from my usage but from unpaid water bills from previous owners and they want me to pay $3 a month for not using water. Is this legal? How can I be charged for previous owners bills and how can they charge me for not using water?

**tl;dr – Water Company wants to charge me for unpaid water bills from previous owners and they want me to pay $3 a month for NOT using water. Is this legal?**

Answer:
 > they want me to pay $3 a month for NOT using water.

I'm guessing this is a fee for maintaining the water district infrastructure. (They have to maintain the pipes that service your neighborhood, whether you use them or not, plus the filtering facilities and pumping
stations). Next time you talk to them, please ask them for the state or municipal section that authorizes this fee.


Title: My position was eliminated, company now hiring for similar role.

Question: My position was eliminated in February. I was told that there was no longer a need for this position based on the work. I was given a severance. I was a Director. Just saw that that they are posting for a Manager position. The responsibilities are identical to what my role was. Can I take legal action?

Answer: You accepted money they had no obligation to pay you and now you want to sue because of your ego? Move on with your life.Answer #2: Based on this information, no. You have no claim here.


Title: My parents prevented me from finishing high school and now I'm screwed (long)

Question:
I doubt there is any legal action I can take at this point, as it's been over 7 years.  But I am hoping someone may have some sort of experience or information that can provide me a path to being able to support myself.  Disability is something I am curious about but kind of doubt I qualify for as I've never received real medical attention for anything other than sleep issues.  Though I have seen doctors throughout my life for sleep I have never been given an official diagnoses... just pills.  The disorder is indeed serious and has been life altering but I am guessing it's almost impossible to get disability for a sleep disorder.

But that's why I'm here...  So here is my story and I'm sorry it's so long.  I did my best.

When I was 17, a senior, I wasn't a golden boy but I was on track to graduate early. Then I was shipped to another state and held against my will until I turned 18 and my parents didn't have to be responsible for me anymore. This is going to be a long story and even then I highly doubt I will really accurately explain everything. It's a big messy pile of crap and it's also very disturbing for me to recount.

I have had a sleeping problem all my life and, up to that point, had taken meds for it most of my life. Well I started having really serious complications with the medication because apparently you are not supposed to be on this particular drug as long as I was. I had an open ended prescription to clonidine (not Klonopin) which is a blood pressure medication. I started waking up in the night drenched in sweat, heart pounding, couldn't breath... the doctor told me that my heart was literally stopping in the night and my adrenaline would pump super hard to kick start it and that's when I would wake. I had to stop these pills cold turkey and it seriously messed with my ability to sleep, which in turn messed with my mental stability. So things got pretty crazy.. I got pretty crazy. I was manic, emotional, very moody, paranoid, delusional... all that good stuff. The amount of understanding I received from family was none.

It's like my entire history of sleep problems and the fact that I had just had a seriously bad reaction to medication made zero difference. I was definitely not a poster child... my friends and I smoked weed and would shoulder tap beers... stuff I consider pretty damn normal 16-17 year old behavior. So my parents decided that I was a drug addict, secretly. Nobody actually discussed this with me.

I was told I would be going away for a month to an emotional counseling wilderness program. I was totally not against this at all and though it could help me reset myself after the big sleep ordeal. My friends warned me of other kids who's parents did similar stuff and those kids never came back. I sorta took that as hearsay but at the same time made my parents promise me there was no "missile in the water" and that I would definitely be coming back.

I made my intentions clear. I wanted to go give this program my all, come back and finish high school then go to the nice city college in town. I was promised up and down I was coming back in a month, in time to complete high school that year as I really only needed like a couple classes worth of credits. Again, to be clear, this was all done under the predication they I was just having some emotional troubles and needed a little break from everything.

If you aren't really interested in a little personal history you can skip this paragraph. My dad at this time was almost 2 years sober, off meth/ crack (whatever he could get). He was a reeeeaaaaal bad case. Walked out on me and my mom when I was about 9 and proceeded to go off the rails for 4 years. Even before he left he would just disappear for long periods of time with no contact. Usually for less than a week but once he was gone for 2 weeks. He would literally sneak out in the night and just be gone for extended periods of time. At the end of his extreme 4 year bender he was homeless and I had seen and experienced a lot of things that most people don't as a child and may not in their entire lives. My mom met my dad in a bar less than a year after her former husband had unexpectedly died of heart failure. She was a naive person from a small town who just didn't understand the danger of a total user like my dad. He moved into her life and used her to sustain himself for years. My mom was working and going to school when I was a baby. She quit her job because she came home one night to an empty house and my dad came back with me at 2am high out of his mind. So fast forward that nightmare for about 14 years, I'm a freshmen and my dad's been working on getting sober for a couple years, with some relapses. He lives in a different town now. My mom was at her wits end, pretty much always was my whole life. I think she completely avoided dealing with the death of her husband and has been mentally checked out since. I've never felt close to her and never really felt like she wanted to be. She decided I needed to go live with my newly sober dad. Not long after I moved in with him, in a SLE (sober living environment) with about 6 other people. I would say that was a weird time but my life has never been normal. After a year in this place my dad decided to move in with a lawyer he met on a dating website. I spent 2 years with them, she also had a young son. Things started to get strained though. There were issues between my dad and I that were not being dealt with. He was trying to phony his way into a new life and he just completely started mirroring this lady and he behavior. This is what he does he finds a mixed up woman, and believe me this woman was mixed up but I want go that deep into her background, pretends to be their perfect match and then uses them to advance whatever agenda he has set for himself. We were having very big fights and things were coming out that he did not want tainting his new life.

So off to this wilderness program I went, and I loved it. I absolutely loved it and wish I could go back at times. Hiking every day, learning how to build shelters and fires from scratch literally so far from any civilization nights were pitch black and I saw more stars than I ever new could possibly be in the sky. Working with counselors and a therapist who I felt a good connection with. I felt very positive about my future and finishing school/ beginning college.

1 month turned to two months and one day I was handed a packet. It was for another program. A drug program. A young people's live in rehab. I freaked out. I felt so damn betrayed and completely powerless to do anything at all. I couldn't even run away if I wanted to I was in a completely different state and in the damn middle of nowhere. I had a phone call with the programs bullshit artist who made me feel like this place might be alright. He said they had hiking, pools, a gym, basketball court, a school, blah blah blah blah blah. He also said the length of time you spend there is totally up to you and it's all about getting young people n their feet. I was reluctant but had no choice. I soon found out I was in for trick, not a treat.

This place turned out to be an utter hell hole. You can skip this paragraph if you aren't interested in the details of the program. You woke up at 5 am, or had ice water dumped on you, and you spent the day working, being berated by staff and studying alcoholics anonymous. The pools were in the back yards of staff members. The only contact we had with that water was to clean them during one of our many manual labor periods. We would spend these periods cleaning the "campus" and staff houses as well as clearing the "hiking trails" on someone else's property that weren't for us. If we didn't have anything to do we would just have to move rocks back and forth. This was also a form of punishment.. and believe me they could find reasons to punish you... so basically you would just spend a predetermined amount of time picking up giant rocks and moving them for no particular reason. The gym was an extremely shoddy prison style outdoor set up with one bench press and one of those pull the cord to lift a stack of weights machines. At one point a metal bar fell off the top of that machine and hit me in the head. I had a cartoon size lump on my head and they wouldn't allow me to see a doctor. The basketball court was a rickety driveway hoop out in the street and the school was a room with tables and a couple crappy computers for us to take online classes from a place that I'm not sure is even a accredited. Speaking of which... neither was any staff member at this program. No joke. A program that parents from around the country were paying to fix their kids had zero qualified staff members. Not a single person there had a shred of education in anything relating to running a program like this. There was no actual counselors, no actual therapists, no actual teachers, nothing. I know this because the place was eventually shut down for all this stuff and even put on a cult watch website for the way it was run. This place was so poorly run that a new kid who had clearly been crying for help and saying he needed professional attention was ignored, told to just get with the program and he killed himself in an incredibly gruesome way. The only staff member there who seemed to have a real certification of any kind was the psychiatrist who would only show up to prescribe new residents a bevvy of drugs which in most cases included seroquel. This place also bought cartons of cigarettes for underage kids which we would have to earn by working manual labor on top of the required manual labor we were required to work every day for nothing. "Character building" and such..

I spent a year in this place, totally cut off from the world. I didn't get to see my childhood dog one last time before she died of cancer. That was another one of their techniques. No contact, no TV, no phones, no computers (except the crappy "school" computers which were monitored) no news papers, no magazines, no radios, no letters from anyone but your parents and they would literally go through them before hand and black out stuff they didn't think was "important for your sobriety" or whatever bullcrap they made up. For the first 3 months you get no contact with your parents and then you get a 15 minutes phone call once a week. This phone call is monitored and it is made very clear that if you try and use your phone call to bash the program or ask to go home you will be cut off again. You are given 3 weekend visits with your parents over the course of a year.

You might be thinking, "how the hell do parents go along with something like this?" Ignorance is bliss. Remember these are all parents who didn't want to deal with the hard stuff themselves, or were just emotionally incapable of doing so, and were so eager to pawn there kids off on someone else that they didn't even vet the place that would basically hold them like a freakin jail for a year. The first time I actually got a private word with my parents I tried to tell them how backwards this place was and they just acted like I was being unreasonable.. it was like one of those stereotype television moments where a kid is trying to tell their parent something who just laughs and shakes their head.

I'm actually trying really hard to keep this short and am leaving lot's of stuff out. It's hard to sort out years of a hectic life and sum it up in so many paragraphs.

After a year in this place I was given the option to come home.. but it wasn't a very welcoming offer. It was more like a "if you come back this is the way it's going to be" and I had very little trust for my parents at that point. The other option was another program.. related to the one I was just in but it was not a lock-down style it was more just like a big house where people lived and you were generally free to come and go and do as you pleased but you had to check in with staff and what not. I had made some good friends over the course of that year and many of them were going to this other program. So I went there.

I spent 6 months in this halfway house, got a job, a car and eventually my own place. This was around 2006-07.. if you were alive then you probably see what's coming. By 2008 I was living with a girlfriend and struggling to keep work. My parents were not helping me and my relationship was becoming quite strained. I had been asking my parents for help for a while at that point and was basically told to kick rocks. One day I called and said ready or not here I come. So after being gone for 5 years I went home. 23 with no HS diploma, though I had taken the GED by that point. I was living in the town my dad lived in, as my mom lives in kind of a shit hole... Well it wasn't long before I realized being around my dad was a mistake. My mom has her own issues but my dad is just rotten to the core. So, after a ton of convincing, my mom let me move back into the house I grew up in. The plan was I was going to help her fix up the house and figure out what I'm doing with my future.

As the years have gone by, I'm almost 30 now, the reality of my future becomes more and more clear. I have had mental and emotional problems since I was a kid which have only compounded with each twist in the road. I have made a few attempts at taking classes but my sleep is still a big issue and keeping a schedule is a very difficult thing for me. Not to mention the amount of anxiety I generally feel, which increases just by leaving the house. It is hard for me to concentrate in a bright classroom full of strangers. I was bad at it as a kid, am worse at it as an adult. So I just don't feel like going to school, at least not in a conventional way, is an option for me. Online classes are crazy expensive if you plan on actually getting a degree that way.

I also never mentioned that my mom was 45 when she had me. She is 74 but in good shape. When she's gone, which is a constant lingering fear, I'm homeless. So far I have found zero help or even really much sympathy for my situation. I cannot get a job, who wants to hire a 29 year old with very patchy work history and no high school diploma. Job applications ask you to specify GED or diploma for a reason and I'm tired of people, who usually have diplomas, telling me a GED is the same thing. What am I going to do... start a career at McDonalds at 30? I cannot support myself on that I have had fast food jobs before.

So that's it. I feel like Charlie Brown getting the damn ball pulled away every time I try to kick it. For the last year I am basically a blob. It seems my energy levels have given up on me and I barely pull myself out of bed some days. Worst case I feel I will be homeless and best case I will scrape by in poverty with some terrible job. What the hell do I do?

Answer:
 No one is going to read all of thatAnswer #2: Stop growing pot in your mom's house.

You have a GED, lots of people get jobs with just a GED.  Or you could maybe join the military if you can get a medical waiver for whatever your sleep issue is, they don't care about pot use anymore.Answer #3: You're an adult. Time to start acting like one. Answer #4: Jesus Christ. No one is going to read all of that.

Also, this is a place for simple legal questions.

Also, it looks like a lot of this happened after you were 18. At that point, you were an adult and you were free to make your own decisions. None of the stuff after you were 18 was anyone's fault but your own.

Nothing that your parents have done, that you have described here, rises to the level of criminality.


Title: Can we break lease because the complex is now allowing aggressive breed dogs? (Az)

Question: Me and my girlfriend signed a one year lease for an apartment 6 months ago and are now fed up with the complex. It is fairly expensive, in a good area, and started fine, but lately the complex has been changing the rules of their contracts in order to fill the last few units. Aggressive breed dogs have begun popping up along with a lot of... well, trashy people. We cant exactly break the lease because someone stole all the movies out of the office, or because some white trash lady refuses to stop her small children from playing in the parking lot, but we were hoping that the fact that there is now an aggressive German Shepherd trying to share the dog park with our corgi despite our signing a contract with explicit breed restrictions would give us an out. Does anyone know how this works in Arizona? Google told me nothing and I couldn't find a similar case here anywhere.

Answer:
 there is no such thing as an aggressive breed. are you this judgemental of humans as well?

if a dog shows aggressive behaviours, call animal control. if the dog is proven to be aggressive, it will not be allowed off leash in dog parks.


Title: Cop pulled me over, took my vehicle registration. Didn't give it back to me. What should I do?

Question:
STATE: California

I was driving high on marijuana. Was swerving. Got pulled over. Gave cop my license and registration. COP DIDN'T NOTICE I WAS HIGH AND LET ME GO!!!

However, I was so high (and freaking out) that I forgot to ask for my registration back. Now I lost my vehicle registration.

Of course, that is much better than getting a DUI. But still, what should I do?

Answer:
 First say 25 Hail Mary's and ask for forgiveness for driving intoxicated.

Then, if you're truly repentant, you might consider going down to your local DMV to request a copy of your registration, which costs a few bucks.


Title: Does finders keepers hold up legally. If I find some cash on the ground in the park is it legal to take it.

Question:
(In NYC) Just super curious and hoping to not get in trouble.
Under 1000$ but more than I've ever found before. Not in a wallet or anything. and no form of identifying who it belonged to

Answer:
 I don't have advice, but a relevant anecdote.

I found a $100 bill in the parking garage attached to my government building a couple months ago. I immediately turned the money in to the security desk and the next morning, emailed the building manager in case it was never claimed.

Turns out, the security guard kept the money and was then fired. They are now debating on if the state has to give me that money back as it was entrusted to the state and then stolen by a contract employee. I kinda hope they do.


Title: Found audio recording created by my mom on personal computer. Legal to listen, release, and use?

Question:
Hi folks,

I'm trying to resolve an issue between my mother and I. We've been estranged for about five years now and it's all concerning a specific topic (below). Just curious on some legal aspects before I send out a letter to her and make an online statement to friends/family to stop her lies.

A Basic Background:

It started when I found out some information that invoked questions and concerns concerning the story I was told my whole life about the nature of my biological father and how I was conceived.

Throughout my childhood, my mom had told me different explanations of how I was conceived and who my father was that she thought were appropriate for my age at those times. As a young child she told me I was a gift from God. Then a few years later, when I learned that her story mimicked Mary's and Jesus's I instigated for more information and was told that I did have an earthly father. If not then, sometime soon after, I was told (and what has been told to many others) was that she was babysitting for a young man who had a daughter and that she had been raped in his vehicle. From that point on because of her explanation I thought of this man as evil, a rapist, and someone I would never want to associate with.

Then throughout the years I started to think about it more and was worried as a growing child, on how I could be affected by this unknown man. I wanted to learn more about what parts of him could relate to who I was and was becoming. Whether any of us like it or not, genes and family history do play important roles in our lives. Also keep in mind, I was never told anything more about my natural father and that there may have been any good in this man. Nor, that my mother and biological father did in-fact have some sort of relationship. Everything she said to me was to create this belief of a man that I would not want to associate with.

After having some discussions with some family members I came to the conclusion that she wasn't telling me everything and that I had pretty much been mislead about who this man was. Not one of them could think of an ill word to say about him. And they had all mentioned how they thought it odd/weird how my mother described how things “went down."

Fast forward some time and based on just a few conversations about this my mother finally conceding to being in a relationship with him but that she was date-raped. Obviously, with me or anyone else not being there, there is no way for anyone to refute that. So I conceded to that even though I was and have been upset about the previous lies and misinformation that I was given. Which she still has never apologized for or recognized as an issue. I believe it is and deserves an apology.

But now, here comes the kicker, from all of this and other evidence, her story just didn't seem to add up. If she were truly raped (even date-raped) why would she visit the rapist home after I was born to “try and see if it could work out together?” I even have a picture of his daughter, my sister, and I next to his truck and house on two different occasions.

Also my mother, through her explanations, made it seem like she only had a single sexual encounter with my natural father but I found an audio recording that I feel proves otherwise. Obviously, we could have just ask my biological father concerning this (and I have), but that just leads to a “he said, she said” scenario.

Explanation on How I Came About Audio Recording:
So funny thing, I was cleaning up my computer files and was going through all my songs in iTunes and came across an odd song title that I never noticed before. I don’t know how I got this file exactly but throughout the years of helping my mother with her computer issues and sorting through her “full” hard drives I'd use my external hard drives to swap out data, and so I'm guessing that's how I ended up with it.

It is titled, “My Life Story by First Last Name (My moms name).” This is an audio recording that my mother created about two years ago where she explains her life.

The part that describes the events concerning my issue with her begins at 10 minutes and I quote with emphasis:

“…in our apartments this family lived there and this guy would visit with his little girl. Pretty soon, I met them and his name was ____ and his daughter was ______ and I got to know them because well my mom was just never home and they were and just got to know them. Their names were _____ and _____ and they had two boys. So when this guy came over with this little girl and, you know, it was like my little brother and I would be out playing basketball. He’d be right there and I’d be playing with the little girl and I got to know’em. He had gone through a divorce and he was like 23. So me being a little girl who had been through my parents’ divorce I was drawn to her.  Cause I, wanted to like, just, she was so cute and cuddly, just want to hold her and play with her. She was adorable. And I kind of got to know him and what I didn't realize was that he was already stocking me, already aware of who I was, already aware that I was home alone a lot, already aware that he knew pretty much my schedule when I was out playing with my brother. Shortly, he just started having conversations with me and saying all the things that I didn't get from my mom and dad. Just words of comfort, encouragement, and kindness – nice things, everybody wants to be valued. What I didn't realize that I know now was that him stocking me and pretty much profiling me, I was soon to be a victim of his mental issues and that was that he decided that he loved me, he decided that no one else could have me and that I would be his and he ensured that happening by buying me a ring. And before God he said, that I was his. I had no one. I had no one to protect me, to beat him up, to tell him to get the hell out of my life. No one to tell him that he was crazy and wrong and to get far away from me. I had no one. I was scared, and alone, and trapped. He drove me out to __________ Lake and he had this van and in the back he had preplanned it all. And, it was dark and cold. [sigh… breathing] And I blamed myself for so many years but then as a mom now, I realized, what could I have done? He stole’d my innocence. He didn’t have a weapon. He had words. He had manipulating, confusing words. And he raped my innocence, my physical purity, he took advantage of something that wasn’t his to have. And it didn’t happen just once. It happened a lot. There was no one, no one to protect me, no one to save me…”

It's hard for me to listen/read this without laughing because my mom was so dramatic in her interpretation of the events. To me from what she describes is any young man who starts liking a girl, pursues her, talks to her, takes her out, and tries to "woo" her. He liked her enough to buy her a ring. He was nice, kind, said things that helped her get through what ever she was going through. And ended up having sex together before marriage. If I didn't already say this, keep in mind my mom was a legalistic Christian and went to a "perfectionist" church. And they had sex multiple times from this statement. She says many times that no one was there for her but she was 18, lived with her mother, went to school, church, and many other places to where if she truly felt this guy was stocking her or even after a first rape could have told anyone to get help. She has said in the past and slightly mentions it in her story that he didn't abuse her, have a gun to her head, never threatened to hurt her or anyone else. He just said the "right things." Things that were apparently "manipulative." Not sure how but whatever.

So in my letter and statement to her I am wanting to let her know that I have this new evidence that proves that she has lied to me and so many others. Could it come back to bite me in the ass for releasing such information? Any privacy laws that I could be breaking?

Also before I try and make any stance do you have any reasons to believe her? Am I crazy thinking this way? I believe she chose to say it was all rape just so she didn't have to deal with the fact that she committed a "sin" and the consequence she would feel from within the church. I don't necessary care what she did but I do care that she has lied to me about the character of my father when in fact he's been one of the sweetest, most caring people I know since I sought him out.

Thanks for you time,

Andorwin
Topic:
Computer and Internet

Answer:
 This isn't a question for /r/legaladvice.

You should talk to a therapist.

And then you should reconsider whether judging your mother is helpful or healthy.  Answer #2: ಠ_ಠ You need to spend some serious, serious time in a therapist chair my friend.Answer #3: stalking. *stalking*. Anyway, it sounds more like 'grooming' to me. And I don't see anything materially different in the story she told you (well, not the immaculate conception one), and the story she recorded for herself. Whether it passes your rape sniff test, it's pretty obvious that she feels this man preyed on her innocence and took advantage of her.

Anyway, get some therapy, and get yourself sorted before you try to to blow up your mother's life with this amazing 'revelation'.


Title: Moving in with my boyfriend. Should I add my name to his apt lease?

Question:
So here’s the deal. For the last four years I’ve had my name on my apt lease in Queens. Decided to move in with my bf to Brooklyn this month. His name is on his lease in Brooklyn. Question is - should I immediately add my name to his existing lease when I move in this week or can I wait until his lease is up for renewal in January to then add my name to his lease? Are there any cons related to credit score or taxes etc if I end my lease now and wait until January to add my name to my boyfriend’s lease? Any tips? Maybe I’m overthinking it but would love your legal advice!
Topic:
Landlord Tenant Housing

Answer: What makes you sure his landlord will even allow this?


Title: Staff at rehab Confiscated my Phone and Wouldn't give it back until the end of the day and won't let me leave

Question: [deleted]

Answer:
 It sounds like you're in a pretty serious mental health crisis (multiple suicide threats in this post), and are where you need to be. Maybe lean in to the process and see how it goes. When you get out, or if someone commits a crime against you, then consider getting an attorney. Answer #2: You are at a medical facility. They have certain controls over you as part of what you signed to enter such facility.

I would care less about your phone and more about the fact that you threatened to kill yourself over it.

Gain some perspective.


Title: Police want to interview me

Question:
The police want to interview me.

I was pulled over and cautioned for "Careless driving." (I disagree, but that's besides the point.)

I was not arrested.

I was told to call into the police station within 7 days to produce my driving license.

I was also told that they want to interview me.

My question is -

Can I refuse an interview? (I was not arrested) and if so, what are the consequences?

If I must submit to an interview, can I just keep silent? If so, what are the consequences?

Thanks.

EDIT:

Location: Northern Ireland (UK)

Answer: Yes you can refuse. No one can guess the consequences because it depends on wy they want to interview you. It is not for careless driving.


Title: (MI) Ticketed for no proof of insurance on a vehicle that doesn't require insurance.

Question:
Hi all,
I was recently given a citation for not having insurance on my 49cc scooter. All research of my own says that mopeds and scooters don't require insurance in the state of Michigan, just registered and operated by a licensed driver. The officer who issued me the ticket even told me he "didn't really know much about the moped laws" and ticketed me anyway even though he seemed unsure.
The ticket is for no proof of insurance rather than no insurance-he said he did that so he wouldn't have to impound my vehicle and I could drive home.
I have proof that my scooter is within the engine displacement requirement to not be considered a motorcycle, but do not know where to go from there.

Answer: I've gone through similar things in MA. You'll just have to go and fight the ticket in court.Answer #2: You'll need to fight the ticket in court. If the facts are as you state, you should be found not guilty. It's a hassle, you need to pay the fine amount as bail, but you'll get it back after trial. Answer #3: A little life advice though:  You should get insurance on that 49cc scooter.  It's really cheap, and has saved several people I know.  One had their bike stolen and had a check in a couple days.  Another ran into a car and would have had to pay thousands out of pocket otherwise.  The worst was a gal who hit something going only about 10mph, only had a half helmet, and ended up with reconstructive surgery on her jaw.


Title: My friend [22F], her mother [50sF], and little brother [17M] were kicked out by their alcoholic father [50sM].

Question:
This is all taking place in Nassau County, Long Island, New York.

I feel it is important to note that her mother and father were never officially married, but they have been living together for 22 years, and have two children together, one of whom is under legal age in New York.

So as my title states my friend and her family were kicked out of their home by her dad, who is an alcohol that drinks himself to the point of psycosis on a regular basis. He would often tell his family they were all scum and that he did everything around the house, all the while he'd be sitting in the couch, drinking, and expecting people to wait on him hand and foot.

Recently he was annoyed that there wasnt a warm meal ready for him when he got back, when hes the first person to get home. He is just an entirely irrational person at this point. This escalated into a fight that ended with him throwing them out.

This happened three days ago, and her father is now beginning to throw their belongings out. I am also curious as to the legality of that. Thank you so much for taking the time to read this!
Topic:
Landlord Tenant Housing

Answer:
 Likely legal in Somalia.

In the US it would be an illegal eviction. The mother would be better off talking to a divorce attorney.Answer #2: Sounds like an illegal eviction. Time to contact the police and a divorce attorney. Immediately.


Title: [Kansas] 20 y/o being sued by hospital for unpaid medical debt. Desperately seeking advice.

Question:
Hello, Skyy from Kansas here. Thank you for clicking and being interested in my problem.

tldr; Being sued for 8k+ in medical debt and I have no money to give them. Does anyone have advice on being sued for unpaid medical bills?

When I was nineteen I was in a car accident. I was immediately taken to the hospital to make sure I didn't have internal bleeding. As soon as I arrived I got a hold of my step father (my mother and step father were in the middle of getting their divorce finalized) to confirm I had insurance. He said I did but later denied me access to the information because he did not wish to help me. After trying to contact the union that held my insurance they would not let me get the information either because I was not the primary. In the end it was a giant fight between him and my mother, I never got the information to the hospital.
I got called eventually by debt collectors, I believe twice.Looking to me for over twenty thousand dollars. I explained there was no way I could possibly pay that at my age and my income level. I wish I could pay them what they deserve but I have no means to. I barely make it by at twenty years old.

It all went silent and my credit report did not reflect the hospital showing I owed them, so I assumed they must have dropped the case.

A couple weeks ago I received a lawsuit, court date and a packet of information from a local Sheriff.

I am being sued by the hospital who has brought it down to around $8,000 + over $1,000 in lawyer fees for them.I have no idea how to solve this situation. I have saved up two grand for a car that I can put towards legal fees but my family is saying I should just go straight for bankruptcy. Do I really have to throw away everything I've worked for so far?

Also, my friends have suggested going to the local media about this since it's a very upsetting ordeal to see if I could raise the money. I don't know if that would be okay on any terms while being in court for it so I would appreciate it if anyone could touch on that.

Thank you so much for reading my post. Any thoughts/suggestions on this matter would bring a lot of relief to me. I work full time and barely have anything, it's very upsetting that I might lose the money I've saved up for. The whole ordeal is very shocking to me and i'm just recently becoming educated on how often people get sued for medical debt. Yikes.

-Skyy

Answer:
 > Also, my friends have suggested going to the local media about this since it's a very upsetting ordeal to see if I could raise the money.

They don't care.Answer #2: Where is your mom in this?
Is there a divorce decree that has you covered under someones insurance?

I'm not sure how if you were really covered under a policy you can't force that issue


Title: Is this hackathon in violation of title ix?

Question:
 [https://www.hackher413.com/?fbclid=IwAR0nubKY2hTjhYGs2eUUD8XkK5CY-Fsn-oVt6UB7ErNYpmRuXEjz8Y5Ek9U](https://www.hackher413.com/?fbclid=IwAR0nubKY2hTjhYGs2eUUD8XkK5CY-Fsn-oVt6UB7ErNYpmRuXEjz8Y5Ek9U)

I'm legitimately confused about whether this hackathon is in violation of title ix for universities since it aims at only including women and non-binary people who don't identify as men?
I get that they could be getting funding from various other people/companies but it still lists UMass Amherst as a sponsor.

Answer:
 If it is sponsored and put on by the college then it might be a Title IX violation.  If the group is unaffiliated with the college and is just renting space then it is unlikely to be a violation.

You can contact your university's Title IX office and report the case.  It is unlikely that anything will come of it.Answer #2: No, a gendered event doesn’t violate Title IX. There are specific exemptions to Title IX that allow gendered activities when they serve a bonafide educational need. Answer #3: Nah.  At best, it raises a slight concern that I'm sure wouldn't amount to anything.

Title IX doesn't bar colleges from having gendered activities.  Athletic programs, for instance, are widely restricted by gender.  It just requires that colleges not discriminate against their students in providing educational opportunities.  And I think you'd have a hard time arguing that men don't have enough opportunities for computer science education.


Title: [New Jersey] I am 18 now and my dad wants me to sign paperwork without my mom knowing.

Question:
My parents are divorced and now that I am 18 my dad opened me up a bank account and put money into it. From his words he said he will put the monthly money(child support) he pays to my mother to my savings account.

But then he said not to tell my mom I am going with him to the office to sign the paperwork. I am doing this later today, but after he said that I don't know what to do.

The last thing I want is a full out actual fight again with my dad and/or my mom's disappointment.

I really don't know what to do. I wish there was a handbook saying what to expect when you're 18 with divorced parents.

Edit: Thanks for all the info guys! I wasn't actually expecting a lot of insight on this.

Answer: Your dad can put money in a bank account for you. You can sign the paperwork. You don't need to tell your mom. *But* this will have no effect on your dad's child support obligation - it's just him giving you money. He will still owe the child support to your mother.


Title: California - There was a misunderstanding and my stepson assaulted a cop

Question:
Never thought I would be posting here or that something like this would be happening to us. I'm posting here because of my stepson and something he did. What happened was that my stepson was taking his great grandmother to the doctor. He dropped her off in front of the building and drove a bit further up to park. Here is where he screwed up; he saw a woman with a hold of his great grandmother's arm and purse. He honestly thought his great grandmother was being robbed and according to his great grandmother he shouted at the strange woman and when she turned to look at him he punched her.

The problem is that the woman he punched was a cop with a badge. She was in regular clothes but his great grandmother said she had a badge clipped to her belt and had identified herself as a cop and asked if she needed a hand stepping onto the curb. So his great grandmother knew she wasn't being robbed but my stepson did not know and he acted without thinking. The cops ended up with a broken bone in her face.

Now even though it was a misunderstanding he was responsible for his own actions. He will be getting a public defender and we hopefully can bail him out. I'm posting here to ask because I don't know anything about the law and I know not everything I Google or see on TV is real; what consequences and penalties could my stepson face? Just so my wife and I have some idea of what to expect. He is 18 and in his first year of college. He's never been arrested or had trouble with the police before. We just want to be as realistic as possible while not excusing his actions.

Answer:
 He absolutely needs a criminal defense attorney immediately, and if he cannot afford one he needs to request a public defender at his first court appearance. Assault on an officer is not a charge that is treated lightly. He should not speak with the police without one.Answer #2: Different state, opposite side of the country. In my youth I spit over the balcony of a rooftop bar without looking. It supposedly hit a police officer. I was charged with felony assault and faced 5-10 years and up to $10k.

He will probably face similar penalties, if not more due to the damage done. He'll also almost definitely be on the hook for her medical bills.Answer #3: This is not legal advice bc you have received the only important advice-get an attorney.

I would also consider talking to your son's dr and seeing if he may have some chemical imbalances that cause him to have very low impulse control.Answer #4: If you can afford a defense attorney, hiring one would probably be the single best thing you could do at this time.Answer #5: Besides a criminal defense attorney, might I also recommend some sort of therapy?

Over-reaction or not, this seems like an over-over-reaction.Answer #6: What statute or ordinance number was he charged with violating?


Title: [California] Maintenance will be blocking access to apartment from 9AM to 5PM for one day, what are my rights?

Question:
[deleted]
Topic:
Landlord Tenant Housing

Answer:
 They wouldn't have to provide a hotel voucher since you're not out of the apartment overnight.

For one day, you have to be a cat: in or out.Answer #2: It's one day.  You were given notice.  Your choices are to stay in your apartment or to go out and amuse yourself for 8 hours, which really doesn't seem like it should be an impossibility.  Go to the beach, a movie, a museum, to eat somewhere.


Title: Went to the hospital and was told that I would only owed $250. Almost 3 months later and I'm being billed $1690. What??

Question:
So, I had my gallbladder removed. Everything went smoothly and I was out the next afternoon. As I was checking out I was told that my bill would be $250... that my insurance took care of the rest. Paid that and left for home one organ short (yay!). The next month I got a bill for approx. $300 (paid in full). It's now been almost 3 months and I'm getting a bill from "Capitol Anesthesiology Association" for $1690... I cannot afford this right now. Plain and simple. Thank you for your time and any help is appreciated!
Edit: Forgot my location- Austin, TX

Answer:
 its one of the most common errors.

Anesthesiologist wasn't in plan.  My wife works for a hospital and this happens all the time.  Everyone was in plan except them.  You need to call your insurance company ASAP but you're probably on the hook for it, its technically your job to make sure everyone is in plan Answer #2: Work your insurance company for this, but: supposing you do end up owing the money, offer to set up a payment plan to keep the debt out of collections, where it could damage your credit more than an outstanding debt and which could cost you more money in the long run.  They'll most likely accept it because you'd be paying them far more than a collections agent ever will, and they'd rather have the money over, say, 2 years than get a small percentage that they'd have to sell the debt for.  Plus, if you're making payments, they likely won't be harassing you for it.  Don't let them set terms you can't afford-- 1 year would be about $141/month.  Can you afford that? How about $70/month for 2 years? Maybe you can pay a lump sum right now, followed by a year of payments?  Run some numbers on what you can afford and present them with a payment plan that you can actually satisfy.


Title: Undiagnosed fractured spine.

Question: [AK] On March 29 I had a slip and fall on company property that resulted in a compound fracture to my thoracic spine. I went to an urgent Care on march 30th where I was given a 3 minute evaluation and cleared to return to work the following week his words were something along the lines of "I'm not going to waste your time with an x-ray today". After returning to work where a moderate amount of physical activity is required it was clear I was not ok to work. I followed up with my primary physician the next day and was given a similar exam and told I'd be day to day and to take Ibuprofen and a muscle relaxer. After having 2 more work weeks off to rest my back, it was not feeling any better. I had another follow up with my primary where an x-ray was finally ordered uncovering the fact that I have had a fracture in my thoracic spine the entire time. In the mean time my back has gone from intermittent pain to hurting constantly regardless of posture or position.  Given the potential extra damage to my vertebrae and potential for long lasting damage due to it being undiagnosed and un treated for almost a month would I have a potential negligence case against the urgent Care, or my primary physician?

Answer:
 i'm not a lawyer, and the lawyers here will likely tell you that medical malpractice is incredibly fact specific, and that they would advise you seek the advice of a medical malpractice attorney.

that being said, i hope someone comes along that knows a bit about these things and can give you a more helpful answer.


Title: Neighbour won't let my kid play in the communal courtyard (Brighton, UK)

Question:
Hi,

We live in a small mews in Brighton and we have a 15 month year old boy. We've enjoyed the sun over the last few weeks and spent a short amount of time in the communal courtyard together - helping him walk etc. We've had a complaint by an elderly neighbour who claims:

"The title deeds of the properties clearly regulate how the courtyard may be used.  The courtyard is only to be used by the residents of those properties that are around the courtyard and only for the purpose of providing access on foot to and egress from the properties and for no other purpose.  This matter is not for individuals to have a personal view on but is determined in law."

We've spoken to all the other neighbours who are outraged by this complaint but legally does he have a leg to stand on? What's the best course of action - a petition from the other neighbours?

Thanks!
Tom

Answer:
 "This matter is not for individuals to have a personal view on but is determined in law."

Tell him to contact the police. Answer #2: Have you actually checked the wording of your title/deed?Answer #3: I would wait until someone with actual authority -- the owners/managers/etc or the police/government -- say something to you. Answer #4: I've heard cranky old people say all kinds of shit. One even tried to tell me our condo docs said dogs could only walk by the south side of the building and not the north (which is a lie, she just hated dogs).  Ignore him unless *your* lease says no one can loiter in the courtyard or whatever.

Also, when a deed/title/lease says a common area is to be used for access, etc, that usually means it can't be used for a garden or a parking lot in the future. It's intended to reserve the area as open space, not to prevent a baby from toddling around in the grass. Answer #5: Thanks for the advice all. I've asked for a copy of the deeds so I can read through them. In the mean time my wife wrote a letter to all the other neighbours asking if it was a problem and they have been so outraged with the neighbour who complained that they are all having a vote next week on the matter with the aim to create a set of new house rules for all to agree on! Sweet justice.Answer #6: If he believes the title deeds of the property says this, he can complain to the manager or owner about it.  Until you hear from them, ignore him.


Title: Professors Retaliating

Question:
(Connecticut)

One of my professors, who also employed me in research for sometime, has made comments and acted in a way to make me think he would retaliate against me for not pursuing a master's degree (in his department?). In fact, he said he would, he then completely and shamelessly changed his story. It was not a veiled threat. He has significant power in the department, and I have to take classes with him to graduate.

He has tried to screw over another (former) student by having their funding withdrawn midyear. I know of the student, and I am considering hiring a lawyer to try and deposition this former student early on, in the case that the professor does anything untoward. I would like the school to understand beyond a shadow of a doubt that I am very very serious about my right to graduate. Do you think this is a good step? I am afraid he will "get to the student" first if I wait. Should I consider a free consultation?

I am also trying to take precautions to make sure that I can't be accused of Academic Dishonesty and that I am being graded fairly, which involves the Dean's Office, Department Head, possibly the Ombudsman. These people are generally all friends, though, and I am afraid that discussing things with them could not be in my best interest. Any advice here?

Topic:
School Related Issues

Answer:
 > has made comments and acted in a way to make me think he would retaliate against me for not pursuing a master's degree (in his department?)

Ignoring the legal aspects, how would he know if you are or aren't pursuing further education until after you graduate?  And once you graduate, what power does he have over you if you *aren't* getting another degree at that university?

> I would like the school to understand beyond a shadow of a doubt that I am very very serious about my right to graduate.

You don't have a right to graduate.  Or even one to attend classes.

> Do you think this is a good step? I am afraid he will "get to the student" first if I wait.

Honestly, I think it's insane.  You want to hire an attorney to depose a student purely to use to threaten your administration *in case* your professor tries to bully you?  First of all, you cannot force anyone to attend a deposition without a subpoena, which you can't get until you file a lawsuit.  So you'd have to sue first.  Suing your school is, in general, a great way to not graduate.  You also currently have nothing to sue over, so it's a frivolous suit that would get tossed quickly and infuriate both your professor and the entire school who had to waste money fighting over this non-issue.


Title: My teacher girlfriend was fired unexpectedly.

Question:
I posted this in /r/advice and was told to post here. This is in California. My girlfriend was told today that she would not be offered a contract for the next year. The principal was crying as she told my girlfriend this. When asked why, the principal said they legally could not tell her, but that most teachers resign so it looks better on her resume.

The thing is, my girlfriend did very well, passed her evaluations, her students score well on tests and homework. They've led her to believe that she'd have a position there next year but they might be moving her grade. She had no indication that this was coming.

She received an email last night saying she had to meet with the principal on Tuesday. But since she's been sick, she's probably taking the day off. So they dragged her in to the office today.

Now, her predicament. She has to resign by Wednesday. They were originally going to give her less than a day to mull it over, but now she has two days. The principal told her that she strongly suggests that my girlfriend not tell anyone, there was a staff meeting directly after, and she has to finish out the next 3 months. Is there any way she can claim unemployment? Are there any other courses of action she can take? Should she be fired or should she resign? It's odd that they decided to just spring this on her. Is there anything she can do with the union, she isn't tenured, what do her union dues go towards?

TL;DR: teacher girlfriend fired from job, no reason given, what do?

Answer:
 I'm a local teacher's union president,  not a lawyer-I just find this sub fascinating.   But if one of my members came to me with this, my first words would be  DO NOT resign without talking to the union /letting them check into it.  I'm very suspicious of the time limit, and of telling her not to tell anyone.  Something seems hinky with that...what's the hurry? Why don't they want her talking to anyone? Red flags. Contact the union!
Also, tell her to keep copies of those good evals, etc., at home.  If she is nonrenewed, she can take those to interviews with her.

Answer #2: She can talk to somebody from the Union. They may or may not be able to help. She should file for unemployment and look for a new job. Generally if you quit without good cause you cannot qualify for unemployment but a "quit or we will fire you" threat counts as a fired in terms of unemployment.


Title: We bought a TV from Walmart for Black Friday, it was broken, we didn't get the "return" we wanted.

Question:
[deleted]
Topic:
Consumer Law

Answer:
 Since you are in Iowa, you may want to tell your law student friend that Irish law and commission have no bearing here. Answer #2: Even before you accepted it Walmart probably had no obligation to you but a refund.

Now that you’ve accepted it the transaction is concluded. You can enter into a new transaction if both you and Walmart want.


Title: Drug Dogs Falsely Alerting

Question: Hey all, this is my first post in this group. I was wondering, since drug dogs tend to falsely alert quite frequently, what rights would I have if a dog alerted on one of my possessions (car, backpack, myself, etc) in school? I'm a minor and I was was unsure what I would be able to do if they alerted? Are the police liable for payment if they falsely alert and decide to search my property (by opening things, damages such as tearing through cushions) and don't find anything? Would I face legal repercussions from my school by even being ALERTED by a drug dog in the first place? Would the police be liable for damaging my property? Drug dogs have a  very high rate of false alerts and I'm worried. Thanks! (California)

Answer:
 If the dog alerts you have no rights to not be searched.  It doesn't matter if the dog was wrong.  It might matter if the search was destructive, then you might have a claim to compensation for the damage.  The only relevant thing right now is that the court considers a drug dog alert to be sufficient for probable cause.  There is nothing you can do to change right now.  Answer #2: FWIW, the courts have consistently stood by drug dogs even if the alerts are BS:

https://www.washingtonpost.com/news/the-watch/wp/2015/08/04/federal-appeals-court-drug-dog-thats-barely-more-accurate-than-a-coin-flip-is-good-enough/?utm_term=.122db417cea7


Title: IUD Pregnancy

Question:
So, in the process of going to the ob-gyn to confirm that she is pregnant, my wife also discovered that the copper IUD she had inserted last November by another ob-gyn office was not in the correct position (in the cervix instead of the uterus). The old office did a check up a month after it went in and ok'd it. Is there any case that we could file against the first office for not placing it properly? This is in Utah.
Topic:
Medicine and Malpractice

Answer:
 An IUD can work its way out, even if it was placed properly.  It was likely placed properly.  There is a strong likelihood that it migrated after her last check up.

Given that it was checked and verified to be in the correct position, you likely don't have a case.  Medical malpractice is too complex for r/legaladvice to answer your questions, but please be aware that it is quite possible that this happened on its own since that check up.


Title: KY: SERIOUS: I may need to get rid of a lion.

Question:
I know this sounds crazy.  It is crazy, but it is real.  My uncle has owned multiple exotic animals in his time (a lion and a bear) and has a permit to own those animals in another state.  A friend of his in this exotic animal world has had a litter of lion cubs and "owes [my uncle] a favor" and he wants to GIVE ME A LION.  I don't want a lion. I can't have a lion. I'm pretty sure it's illegal to have one in Kentucky.  He may have already paid for this lion, and he is serious and adamant I need to have this lion cub.  I thought he was joking.  He was not.

I am desperately hoping we can convince him how horrible of an idea it would be if he actually delivers the lion, but just in case, how do I get rid of a lion?!  What would I be facing, legally, if I suddenly were in possession of one?  What would happen to him if he were caught in Kentucky with the lion?

Answer:
 Kentucky lawyer here, I've actually dealt with this before.  KAR lists this as an inherently dangerous animal and it is illegal to even possess.  That said, I would contact and attorney who has some experience in these matters and ask them to negotiate its surrender with the Dept of Fish and Wildlife.  That's what I did with some Gila Monsters for a client.  It was a fun day at work, I'd be happy to do it with a lion too.

They'll actually be fairly excited to get the animal and can pick it up from your attorney's office so the Kentucky State Police won't investigate.

Edit - don't call local animal care and control.  They don't have the authority to make a binding deal on Dept. Of Fish and Wildlife and also are not professionals. They will be very excited about investigating you and will break their deal.

Don't listen to everyone saying surrender it at a Wildlife rescue.  Those places are regulated and they will either report the lion or Fish & Wildlife will come and notice a new lion.  They will then investigate where it came from.


Title: Amazon will not reinstate my product listing.

Question:
I am from Austin, TX

I have been selling on Amazon for about a year now and use the FBA program as a source of income.

I created my own brand of a nutraceutical known as TUDCA (Tauroursodeoxycholic acid). The name is "Black Grizzly TUDCA" and I had it for sale on Amazon for about 2 months, selling well.

On Nov. 15th I received an email from Amazon saying they suspended my listing because they suspect me of selling bear bile. I am not selling actual bear bile, it is a synthetic endogenous bile acid. My product has the EXACT same ingredient as my competitors on Amazon who still have their listings up.

I gave them ample information regarding my product including a Certificate of Analysis from the manufacturer. Their legal team responded and said the listing is not going to be reinstated and referred me to the Wikipedia page on TUDCA.

What is my first step? Thank you for any and all help.

Answer: I'm sure if you check your agreement with Amazon, they retain discretion to list or unlist any item.