Title: compensation for helping stop a police pursuit?

Question: So I was brorwsing /r/justiceserved and came across van helps out police and in this video, the suspect turns into a malls parking lot and a civilian crashes into the car helping the police catch up to the suspect and arrest him. My Question Is do the police and or city have any means to compensate damages to your vechical or anything of that nature? or is it a stay out of the way, let the police do the work if you're in the way and get damaged, sh*t outta luck bud. ALSO 2nd bonus question. does the suspect being chased by the police have ANY GROUNDS to sue the civilian for intentionally causing a crash??? :)

Answer:
 > Is do the police and or city have any means to compensate damages

No. The (idiotic) civilian can file a claim with his insurance. He can also likely expect an increase in his insurance premiums for being in an accident.

> is it a stay out of the way, let the police do the work if you're in the way

Civilians are not cops, nor are they trained to stop fleeing cars. Civilian cars are not built like cop cars and cannot stop fleeing cars with the same efficacy/safety that cop cars can. That moron is lucky he didn't hurt himself or the police in question. In other words, civilians should stay the fuck out of police business.

> does the suspect being chased by the police have ANY GROUNDS to sue the civilian for intentionally causing a crash?

He could try, but the suspect assumed a great deal of risk by the fleeing police. It would be a tough case to pursue either personally or by his insurance provider.


Title: Student loan servicer just admitted to misleading me and incorrectly charging me 6 months of late fees. what can I do?

Question:
student loan servicer admitted to misleading me and incorrectly charging me late fees since January this year.  I have spent over 6 hours this week trying to resolve this, the stress it has put on me has really impacted my home life and career.  After I requested the recording of the call when I set up my payments they told me I can't have it without a subpoena and they would look into it.  Today they called and apologized for their mistake and said they would correct it but they have been submitting incorrect reports to the credit bureaus for 6months.

&#x200B;

I can't begin to explain how stressful this has been, basically called a lier accused me of being irrational and trying to skip on my loan obligation, I have paid back over $40k already and only have $12k left and I could really use some direction on how to manage this and I want to help others who may be in this same situation. I am mentally exhausted from this small battle that I won.

relevant info:

I am a finish carpenter, not a finance person so looking in excel spreadsheets to catch this was extremely hard for me to do and I wonder if they are doing anything else that I didn't catch.

Answer: File a complaint with the CFPB. Include as much evidence as you can.


Title: [CT] Mentally unstable 'tenant' is threatening to accuse my husband of rape if we kick her out or evict her

Question:
I was friends with a girl I worked with who alleges she was in an abusive relationship, and had to leave abruptly. She asked if she could move in with me and my husband for two weeks while she found a new place to live. I stupidly let her.

We never charged her any rent because I wanted her to save her money to move out, and it was supposed to be only two weeks. She has now been here for 21 weeks.

I am due to have my baby in 3 weeks. Really it could be any day now since I'm already having contractions sporadically. I have tried everything to get her to leave. I have bluntly told her what day she needed to move out, even offered to give her money for first and last months rent with no expectation of being paid back. Still nothing. She's a squatter at this point. If I try to talk to her about leaving she cries and says I'm being mean.

Finally last night when I had a contraction, I told her there were 3 women's shelters in the area that she can go to, but she's done here. I told her to be out by the 15th, which is when my next doctor's appointment is, and that I'll give her a ride and help her pack her things if she needs it. She told me she doesn't want to go to a shelter and that if I try to make her, she'll call the police and tell them my husband raped her. They have never been alone together, so I know this isn't true, she's just crazy.

I know from browsing similar threads on here that she's technically a tenant now because she has been here for over 30 days, even though she has paid no rent. I won't get into what a disgusting slob she is, or the fact that she frequently blocks my driveway with her car, that she has purposely let my dog outside into our backyard (which is not fenced) twice now, or that she has stolen prescription medication from my husband (I have no proof but I don't know who else it could be). I just want her the fuck out before I have my baby and if she accuses my husband of rape that could be disastrous to his career.

I can't find anything in this sub specific to Connecticut but I know I have to give her a certain amount of notice, I'm not finding much on Google. Do I need to get a lawyer or call the cops? Should I get out in front of the false rape accusation threat? I'm pulling my hair out here.

Answer:
 File a report with the police that she threatened to file false rape charges. If you wait until she accuses your husband, the claim that she made the threat will have virtually zero weight.

Also, there are ways around two-party consent, specifically that it applies only to voice recordings. You being close to delivery is an opening, since you and she won't be co-located. Continue the conversation, including mention of the threat (as in "you won't get away with falsely accusing him of rape"), by text messages - if she texts back anything that includes the threat, that isn't covered by two-party consent, since it isn't a voice recording.Answer #2: Unfortunately CT is a two party state so you wouldn't be able to record her saying she is going to lie about being raped.


Title: Mothers ex husband threatens to kill a minor (TX, USA)

Question:
Im a 16 year old male living in Northern Texas
(Throwaway account)

Tonight at around 11:30 PM i was watching breaking bad, i fell asleep and at 11:45 and 11:46 my mother ex husband texted me saying turn that shit off, and to shut the fuck up. I was asleep and didnt see it. He came upstairs and started banging on my door screaming loudly at me me to shut the fuck up, and how he would "tear my ass up" and "i will kill you i swear to god" and other ways if saying that slightly differently. I told him to "shut the fuck up" and he started pounding heavier and more frequently He also said im a worthless piece of shit and i shouldnt fuck with him because hell kill me. He said he would kill me multiple times. The police arrived after he was screaming for me to open the door while i was on the phone with the operator. (I doubt the phone picked it up but he threatened to kill me while i was on the phone with her) i had a small kitchen knife in my room that i held on to in case he got in. When the police arrived they talked to me and i told them what ive told here and they talked to him and he denied everything. One of the officers even remarked how my door was bashed and how his hands were red and bruised. My mother came home and took me to a friends house and the officers said there isnt anything they can do because there isnt any proof, and its just his word versus mine. What legal action should i take? What should i do? He has a past history of abusing his pervious wives as well as abusing my mother. I don't know if its safe for me to return home ever while hes there and i am trying to figure out how to handle this situation.

Answer: Contact CPS immediately.


Title: (NY) My father sentenced for a high profile murder 26 years ago, now I need help.

Question:
In 1991 my father was living in Queens New York when my mother woke him saying the baby (my brother) was missing.   There are some gruesome details involving hiding evidence using a dog. I have a hard time typing them out.  Long story short, he was accused of murdering my little brother.

He has been in prison ever since and honestly I don't think he should be there.  I don't mean this as a family bias thing.  I mean this as a I think they nailed the wrong parent thing.  I lived with this woman and everything they said he did fits her rage and actions while I was growing up and her story changes constantly.

He was put up for parole on Tuesday and it was denied.  Despite having a shining record (7 writeups in 26 years all minor like talking when you're not supposed to) and multiple letters of recommendation they turned him away 'because of the nature of the crime'.  So now I am sitting here wondering what, if anything I can do to help him appeal and get out.  I have no idea what information I need or what would help him.  I do know he contacted the Innocence Project but they told him they couldn't help because they more so used cases with DNA issues which this didn't have.  I also know he DID NOT confess and maintained innocence this whole time including through plea deals that would have had him in for 4-12 years.

I'm not sure what else to include but I will answer any questions I can if it helps.  Thank you!

Answer:
 You can get your mom to confess to the crime.Answer #2: The reports about the crime say that your father confessed. Why do you believe that to be a false confession?Answer #3: Is there at all a possibility that your mother has PTSD from the event? My mother has extreme PTSD from a traumatizing event and she is barely functional mentally. My mother lies, forgets facts, adds new facts, and is in general unwell.

Outside of new evidence in the case or some kind of sound-minded confession there isn't much you can do.


Title: I was fired from my job for making threatening text messages to a waitress and her boyfriend after being provoked

Question:
Backstory: I worked at the job for 4 years. The waitress was hired 6 months ago. She's covered in tattoos and a bit of a lost soul. She sticks around with her psychotic, drug-addict boyfriend because she has nobody else in life. Her father died 7 years ago and she's told me (as well as all of the other staff) on numerous occasions that he constantly abuses her sexually, mentally, and physically by saying things such as:

* I want to have a threesome

* You don't respect me and my sex drive if you get upset that I fuck random girls from the bar

The girl lets the boy live with him while not paying any bills. The girl gets a grant to go to school (or something like that) and works. The guy doesn't hold a job. The girl lets the guy drive her car, which he has crashed 3 times.

Let me repeat that.

Car 1. Girl let's guy drive it. He crashes it, it's totaled. She didn't have proper insurance, money lost. He was drunk, somehow didn't get arrested or harm anybody.

Car 2. Same story, except she didn't have gap coverage, so she had to continue to pay for it.

Car 3. Same story.

I will admit full guilt to getting involved in this girl romantically. She left her crazy boyfriend, hoping I would fall for her. She told me she prefers me much to him and kicked him out of the house for the first time in 7 years. I didn't take a liking to her, and she crawled back to him weeks later.

Months go by and the boyfriend knows I had sex with her girl. He knows that he isn't very much of a good boyfriend, or a good anything for that matter. He sits out in her car waiting to pick her up after work, and all kinds of people joke that he wants to kick my ass all of the time (he was an MMA fighter). She had to hide the fact that we were friends at work (I would often give her advice on how to handle his abuse) because he would be insanely jealous and hurt.

My girlfriend finds out that I slept around with this girl and goes berserk. Being the immature girl that she is (the whole situation is immature and sticky from a legal perspective), she texts the girl saying all sorts of rude things like "go fuck my boyfriend some more, lalala".

The deciding factor was when my girlfriend starting texting that girl's boyfriend saying she wanted to have a threesome with him to get a rise out of me (payback for what I did).

I lost it. I texted the girl and the boyfriend really, really stupid (keyword graphic) shit I shouldn't have said. I was trying to sound tough. I was talking out of anger and hurt. I'm lucky to not be in jail (as they were just text messages and I do not have a history of any sorts, let alone a violent one).

What follows next is where I think legal action may or may not be possible.

The boyfriend of the girl calls the suicide hotline, claiming he is my friend. The police come to my door, asking to see me to determine whether I am cut or bruised. Like an idiot, I didn't call a lawyer. I fully complied with the cops and told them the entire story. Before long, I was in handcuffs at a mental facility because I was Baker Acted (on perjurious claims from this guy fucking with me, no?)

The girl, mad that I told her I don't like her and at the influence of her boyfriend (who she is now on good terms with, surprisingly when it comes time to band up against me) went straight to the police. I'm sure deep down she was possibly scared for her life, but I think she also knew how harmless I was. She had known me personally for quite some time. I'm led to believe that since I called her a few names, brushed away her love attempts, and called her boyfriend a scumbag, her and him banded together to get back at me. I'm not sure if she tried to get a restraining order or protection from the police, but I do know that my general manager said he had multiple police reports on his desk from different counties (same incident).

I was immediately released after examination from a doctor (which took 24+ hours to get due to the numbers of patients/situation of it all).

My general manager spoke to me one-on-one over the phone and said I lost my cool. Unfortunately, to protect the rest of the employees, since I made those threats, I had to be fired.

What do you recommend I do? I worked extremely hard at my job and got involved in a nasty love triangle with poisonous people. I have witnesses to attest to the kid's nasty behavior as a person. Everybody detests the kid for treating her like shit and cheating on him.

Should I just consider myself lucky that I'm not in jail and whack it all up as a loss? I made great money at my job and am going to have an extremely hard time finding another one similar. I worked plenty of overtime to earn myself multiple raises. My general manager said I was a great employee and he was sorry, but his hands were tied because of some text messages related to a personal matter and he had to fire me.

Answer: You should find a new job.


Title: Previous Company in a lawsuit. Do I get a reward for a statement?

Question: A company that I use to work for was sued for pirating software. I have some information for the plaintiff that would provide them victory in the lawsuit. Is it wrong to request a reward for my statement which if they win, they would be granted several million in the lawsuit. It was a terrible company and I do not mind throwing them under the buss which they deserve the lawsuit.

Answer:
 No, you do not get a reward.

If the matter got to trial and you were on the witness stand, as soon as the other side asks whether or not you're being paid for your testimony or some variation of the question, your credibility would go right out the window.
Answer #2: If you tell them you have information that they want, they can just subpoena you, and then you are legally compelled to provide this information regardless of compensation.

This is so stupid.


Title: Neighbor filming traffic violations; police issuing tickets based solely on those videos. (Valley Twp, PA)

Question:
Neighbors are filming other neighbors rolling through a stop sign and sending said video to the local police department.  The police have started issuing tickets based solely on that video evidence.  According to some residents the police chief has said that he is aware this practice is questionable and anyone who complains, but does not fight the ticket, will have the charge reduced to a summary offense forgoing all points and some of the fine.

Is any or all of this as wrong as it sounds?  To me both the ticketing and the lowering of the offense seems uncomfortably suspect.

Edit: English/Clarity

Answer:
 > According to some residents the police chief has said that they are aware this practice is debatable wrong

Based on what?  There's absolutely no problem with someone filming you committing a crime and turning that evidence over to the police.

> Is any or all of this as wrong as it sounds?

What part of charging someone based upon clear and convincing evidence of the violation seems 'wrong' to you?Answer #2: Simplest solution: obey the traffic laws.

Typically, video evidence isn't enough for traffic violations unless it clearly shows both the car and driver. The lesser charge is likely something along the lines of a civil penalty, which is what most red light cameras are (in the US).


Title: I got some call that legal actions were filed against me and my social security number is suspected of fraud.Im a kid and I don’t know what to do

Question: They said to call them back but I won’t because I think its a scam and that’s what my parents told me but I would like further clearance about this.By the way the call was from a robot

Answer: This is 100% a scam. Don't even give it another thought.Answer #2: It’s a scam; block them and don’t respond.


Title: Employee sued me

Question: [removed]

Answer:
 >Since he was paid off the books, can I just claim that he isn't an employee of mine and get the whole thing over with?

Yeah....don't lie to the courts.

Get an attorney, this is a mess that cannot be handled with free internet advice.Answer #2: You paid him off the books. That was a big mistake, and lying to cover that up is not going to make things better for you. Own up to your mistakes.


Title: (Nebraska, USA) Joint account with ex gf (broke up 9 months ago). Out of blue she clears out my account and closes it. Do I have any options?

Question: I know, joint accounts are the worst idea. Also, I know, it's my fault I didn't remove her immediately after the breakup. Finally, I'm aware that legally (and criminally) there's nothing technically wrong with what she did. But we haven't had contact in at least 5 months, and none of that money was hers. I have statements, direct deposit slips, and student loan records that will prove that. Is my only option to go to small claims court? Please tell me something I can do, as I'm devastated and now totally broke (except for my 401k and emergency savings).

Answer: Your only options are to ask her to give the money back or go to small claims. Answer #2: From the bank's perspective she didn't do anything legally wrong taking money out of an account that she had joint access to.  But from your perspective, you can sue her in civil court for any money that she took from you that wasn't legally her money.


Title: my friend has a job so she can save up for college but her parents take a larger percentage of her money for alcohol and cigars. what can she do to protect her money?

Question: so my friend who is 16 got a job recently to save up money for college since her parents have no money saved up, but she’s run into a problem; her parents take money from her to buy items like alcohol and cigars.  she doesn’t want to lie to them in any way so i was wondering what her legal options are to protect her money

Answer: Parents are allowed control over their minor children’s money.    There’s not much she can do.


Title: Mother in Trouble. Please Help!

Question:
Location	Shawnee County, KS
Players:	Rachel: Mother
                Ross: Stepfather

Rachel and Ross got married in February of 2014 and things went ok until about October.  Around then things got really rocky and finally culminated last week on December 11.  To make a long story short; Ross flipped out and ended up choking Rachel and threatened to kill her.  Rachel called the sheriff.

The deputies at the scene told Rachel that because there were no marks left they were not going to make an arrest.  Rachel left that night and stayed the night with my aunt Monica.  The next day Rachel got an restraining order which was served on Ross yesterday and she has been waiting to hear from the sheriff’s department about getting an escort to retrieve her things (clothes, dog, legal documents, and one of the beds).  Background that might be useful: Ross owned the house prior but Rachel had some of the furniture that they integrated into the décor when she moved in, including a queen sized bed in one of the spare bedrooms which is the bed she wanted to get.

The sheriff’s deputy she spoke to today told her that they won’t escort her to retrieve any property and that she is not allowed to go on her own because of the restraining order.  They told her that the only thing she can do is to call him and ask if she can send someone over to get some things for her.  If he says no then she is out of luck and can’t get anything since they said she abandoned her property.

Rachel has told us (her 5 kids) that she will not file for divorce.  This is because this is her fifth marriage.  Ross had said prior to marrying Rachel that this would be his last marriage because he’d rather die than go through another divorce.  This was his fourth marriage.  We have all told my mother that she should just bite the bullet and file for divorce but she is pretty adamant about it.

With that being the case, what can she do?  She doesn’t have the funds for an attorney and she can’t afford to replace her wardrobe and furniture.  It doesn't seem right that he just gets to keep everything.  Furniture can wait really since she can crash with one of the family until she gets her feet back under her.

Answer:
 > Rachel and Ross got married in February of 2014 and things went ok until about October. Around then things got really rocky and finally culminated last week on December 11. To make a long story short; Ross flipped out and ended up choking Rachel and threatened to kill her.

Were they on a break?


Title: Senator as attorney

Question:
[Illinois]

-See comments for more on my situation-

Hi there,

I'm in a really bad relationship with my wife who has been negligent toward our son and our household alongside being verbally and emotionally abusive (plenty of chat logs depicting this over the course of 4 years. I always responded rationally toward her). There's also infidelity with photographic evidence thrown into the mix.

She's a woman who does not want to work and takes our livelihood for granted, spending days away from home partying and going to clubs with her 'friends' and doing who knows what. I've been trying to get out of a $10,000 hole and have begged her to help me multiple times, and because of that, we moved back with my dad (which she agreed to). Aside from that, I'm her personal chauffeur. I have to take her around everywhere as she does not drive. If I don't do it, she will verbally abuse me. I work the night shift in IT for a hospital, and I also go to school on Tuesdays and Thursdays from the time I get out from work at 8:30 until 1:20 PM. She does not cook and barely cleans. She expects me to come home with food every single time I get out from work or school. This woman also defecates and urinates in our son's diapers because she does not want to go and use the restroom as she has stated that she doesn't want to talk to my dad. For that same reason, my son doesn't eat anything aside from chips and junk food when I'm not there (among various other issues such as never brushing his teeth, etc).

I found an attorney through my employer's legal plan who is also a state senator. He has passed many laws in my state in regard to child protection / neglect. I have scheduled a consultation with him for tomorrow.

Is there any possibility that having such a lawyer would work in my favor? I am trying to obtain full custody of our son. I understand it's quite a battle, especially as a father, but I am definitely going to fight for him. She has put us through so much misery, and after finding out what she has been doing behind my back, I am just torn apart and it's sick that my son has to go through this.

If I could just get some general input, I'd really appreciate it!

-S

Answer:
 If what you wrote is true, your wife is mentally ill and you should seek help for her.

Having a good lawyer is important.  If you trust the person you found, great.  If not, it doesn't matter if he's the prettiest lawyer ever, your relationship will suck.


Title: Won a raffle/giveaway from SPOOKY WORLD Nightmare New England. I had to be 27 years old to claim it..?

Question:
So me and my gf went to the Spooky World in Manchester NH, and filled out one of those raffle/giveaway things they do. All i wrote down was
1. Name
2. address
3. email
4. phone number
Now I get a call 11 days after I filled this out, that I have won $50 in cash, and a free hotel pass for 2 nights and 3 days valid anywhere in 90 countries that they have listed, good for 4 people.
I called back to claim as i got a voicemail, the representative started to verify my name, phone and address and then says "Are u married, who do u plan to go with?" So I replied back, saying that just me and my girlfriend. Then the representative kept repeatedly asking me if i was married even tho i said no, till i said im in college, so im not married or live with anyone, except for when i go home to my parents, when in school break. At this point she asked, how old i was, and i replied 23, and my gf is 21. She finally said theres nothing she can do, as i am disqualified because im not 27 years old. therefore I dont get any of that prize. She said its in the rules, but I never saw the rules when i filled the paper out, and I have never heard of this specific age for anything really. Any help on how to approach this would be great, (if i should pursue this).

Answer:
 > (if i should pursue this)

Don't pursue this.  They want to give you an extremely hard-sell to buy a time-share, normally a horrible financial investment.  They will not leave you alone until you attend a presentation that lasts much longer than they promise.  Answer #2: Timeshare scam.


Title: [OH] Is it legal for a business to require employees to stay inside the business after clocking out?

Question:
I work at a clothing store in Ohio, and have for 2 years. Since I started here, every time I close the store, I (and any other closing employees) have been required to stay after clocking out. We clock out in the back of the store, then walk to the front and wait by the doors until the manager locks up, and once the doors are opened and we head outside, we are *still* not allowed to leave, until the doors are locked. When people do leave without the okay, I've heard them get reprimanded and threatened to get in more trouble once back on the clock, although I don't know if they actually do get in trouble.

The time between clocking out and actually leaving is usually 7 minutes, but it has been up to 15 (since I've started counting) and sometimes my manager tries to make us listen to a quick meeting while waiting, unpaid.

This is where the important details end, continue reading if you'd like.

I get paid $10.20/ hour.  If I close 3 days a week (I usually close MWFS, but I'll be generous) and wait 7 minutes each time, I'm losing about $3.50 a week (if my math is right), so about $180 (!! And I'm rounding down!) a year.  That's a lot of money to me.  This doesn't seem legal.  Many employees have questioned the legality of it but most of them have left and been replaced by teenagers who don't question if it's okay, just complain.

My manager actually used to get upset at the staff for "stealing company time" by clocking in before putting our belongings in lockers, putting on a headset, etc., which is funny considering how okay they are with stealing our time.

Is there anything I can do, or are they in the right??

TLDR: Can my managers force my coworkers and I to wait to go home, unpaid, for about 7 min every shift?

Answer:
 Probably. I don't agree with court decision but it is what it is.

http://www.nytimes.com/2014/12/10/business/supreme-court-rules-against-worker-pay-for-security-screenings.html?_r=0

What's to stop you from just leaving once you clock out? Is this a security measure?


Title: Megan's Law at an outdoor pool

Question: [deleted]

Answer:
 > My concern is what is to stop pedophiles from coming into the pool/facility?

Nothing.  And so what?

> Are my kids at risk?

Not really.

>  Is the Y liable?

No.


Title: [CA] Can I garnish a spouses wages after small claims victory?

Question: Won my small claims case and have not received a Judgement Debtor's Statement Of Assets (SC-133) yet. Filed to get a hearing and that is scheduled for august. In the meantime I have been able to discover where the wife of the debtor works. I know there is a space on the Statement of Assets that specifically asks for the spouse's job and such so I was wondering if legally I could garnish her wages as they are married. I did not put her on the lawsuit. They have been married before the lawsuit.

Answer: Yes, but this has to do with California community property - generally speaking, since wages earned during marriage are usually community property, commingled funds 'belong' to the debtor and can be garnished. There are also other limits on garnishment under federal law.


Title: Rights as a tenant and prospective new tenants frequently viewing home

Question: [deleted]

Answer: It's legal. You don't HAVE to clean up and you shouldn't HAVE to leave the house for the showings. Those things can be your negotiating tools with the management company. If they want you to pick up and not be there, then they can schedule exact times. If not, they get what they get.


Title: Employee becomes Muslim to avoid being fired?

Question: [deleted]

Answer:
 If she is fired for poor performance and then makes public statements contrary to this that actually get broadcast in the media then you are probably going to have a decent case for defamation against both her and her wealthy family and the media outlets who failed to fact check their story.

On the flip side of her plan though I could actually see another headline gaining some traction.

"Wealthy antisemitic immigrant fakes being a muslim to blackmail community health clinic"Answer #2: Fire her, and don't cave in to pressure from the marching morons. Boom, done.

Boss shouldn't say anything to the media.  At all.  I wouldn't suggest legal action because that will just amplify things, rather than quiet them down.  Fire her, don't communicate with her, move on.  If someone calls following up on references, either decline to say anyhting, or just be truthful.


Title: Can you get charged for admitting to smoking weed years after you do it?

Question: I'm asking this because in one of Lukas Graham's songs he says he smoked weed when he was a kid and it made me curious as to whether the legal system could take any actions against him for that. I know they probably wouldn't but if they wanted to, could they?

Answer:
 No. There is something called a statute of limitations. Once that has run its course, you cannot be charged with a crime.

Say I live in a state where the SOL is 5 years for theft. The day after the SOL is up, I can take a full page ad out in the local paper saying I did it, and the state cannot do anything about it.


Title: Can a waitress that was fired over a Yelp review, sue the reviewer in NY?

Question:
Hello everyone,

I've been elected Yelp elite for a year now.. That basically just means I'm invited to events where restaurants would cater to us for free. It's cool...until recently.

I went to a restaurant and had an awful experience.. I felt like the waitress had profiled me and my friend and rudely assumed that I could not pay for my meal.

I wrote that I felt she was disrespectful and rude an that I was profiled. I didn't specify if it was racial or not... I said I felt it was because we were "young or...."

I basically got a message from her saying she's been facing mental distress over it and that she will defend herself because it is slander and defamation.

Is this a case or?

Answer:
 Even if she got fired, telling the truth is a defense to libel. As long as you were truthful you should be alright, it's probably best to block and ignore. Answer #2: Plus, "I feel..." pretty clearly indicates that what is coming is opinion, not a false statement of fact.

I'd just ghost this person.


Title: Can parents interfere in there child's under age voting?

Question: In most states you can register to vote if you'll be 18 before the next general election and in some states you can also vote in that year's primaries. In most states you can't just register on election day so can parents keep there children from voting by just grounding them until the registration deadline? What happens when parental rights conflict with a child's right to vote when they turn 18? What happens if a state lowers it's voting age? What about absentee ballots and primaries? Can parents order there children to vote a certain way?

Answer: If the parent "intimidates, threatens, coerces, or attempts to intimidate, threaten, or coerce, any other person for the purpose of interfering with the right of such other person to vote or to vote as he may choose"  that could be voter intimidation under 18 USC § 594Answer #2: If you're 18 before the next general election it's not underage voting to begin with, because you will be of voting age before you cast the ballot. It is a violation of federal  and state law to interfere with voting registration. Such is a felony offense.  However, registration can be accomplished via mail. It is also a federal offense to obstruct a polling place by any means. What that means is if your parents ground you and enforce it to prevent you from voting, they will be receiving a knock at their door from the FBI, if you report it.Answer #3: I'm confused by this question because if the person is 18 at the time of voting they are not a child or minor anyway.


Title: what to do if you think your neighbor is doing something illegal?

Question: I don’t want to get called racist for “racial profiling” but there has been some strange happenings and would like to know how to alert authorities. Should I share security camera videos of what I’ve noticed to be weird with police? Would if it avoids a terror threat or something. I’d hate to be on the news like, I noticed somethings but I never told the police or FBI because everyone these days calls everyone else a racist. And I’m not even white, and that BS about profiling these days goes so far I’m posting here for advice before alerting the police.

Answer: If you suspect a crime has happened call the police.


Title: Cops are at my car!!! Help!!

Question:
throwaway.

cops are at my car. i have a fake disabled parking permit in my car and a decal that doesnt belong to me. i'm parked at a handicap spot thats on campus,  i'm a college kid too.

cops have been at my car for an hour?
plus i received a call to ask questions and to goto my car, a dispatcher or some woman with theuniversity police department called and i told them it wasnt mine and i hung up.

how do i get in the least amount of trouble?

i learned my lesson i know i'm a scum bag for doing what i did. dont have to tell me..

help!!?

location florida

Answer: Start calling law firms that do criminal defense.Answer #2: Your car is about to get towed, buddy.


Title: NC - notary stamp photocopied and used without my knowledge, want to quit, unemployment?

Question:
I am a notary public in NC.  Yesterday my boss called after I had left work for the day and asked me where my notary stamp was.  I keep it in a locking bag inside of my work bag, which also locks, so it was on me as it always is.  He said he had gotten a lien waiver for Job A that needed to be notarized by 5pm that day.  I told him to go to the bank that is literally 100 feet from our office with $5 from petty cash and do it there.

This morning I came in and he asked me multiple times if a notarized document for Job B had gone out yet.  I told him that yes, the contractor copy had gone out, and our copies were filed with the receipt from the post office.  But since he asked so many times, I dug out the folder just for my own peace of mind and to show him the post office receipt.

Instead I found that the documents I notarized for Job B were cut up.  The seal (embossed, not stamped) was cut out and it was also trimmed because that piece doesn't match the hole it was cut out of.  I actually didn't realize what had happened at this point, but a few hours later another manager came in and mentioned that since he could get me or the other office worker who is a notary in the office, that he "used my stamp."  Except my stamp is on me, so the lightbulb went off that he photocopied the seal from a different document.  I asked if the boss forged my name?  Other manager said yes.  I start yelling at him and he tells me he just saw it, had nothing to do with it, and to keep him out of it.

I have not seen my boss yet and he's out of phone touch.  I know I need to report this to the secretary of state, and I'm not sure what else.  I also want to quit, but I have two kids and need income, and I don't know if this would qualify me for unemployment.

Answer:
 North Carolina [has whisteblower protection laws](http://www.workplacefairness.org/whistleblower-retaliation-claim-NC) that protect employees who report criminal activity. Answer #2: Because you are a Notary Public, you HAVE to report this.  To not report it is a dereliction of your duties, and if it comes out, YOU could be in really hot water.

*I am a NP too.Answer #3: Report him to the police and start looking for another job.  Do you honestly want to work under someone who forges your signature because he wanted to save a few hours of time.  That is the same person who will throw you under the bus when someone comes after you for signing something illegal or sketchy when your signature was forged.Answer #4: NC's unemployment statute regarding voluntary quits is notoriously stingy and unforgiving. DO NOT quit your job; chances are almost certain that you will NOT be eligible for unemployment insurance. Given how the UI system was recently overhauled to make the rules even more business-friendly than they already were, I could not in good conscience tell you that you could collect UI when it's strongly likely that you would not.

You should, however, strongly consider looking for a new job and then reporting this infraction once you have found a soft place to fall.

Edited to add: https://www.littler.com/publication-press/publication/sweeping-changes-north-carolina%E2%80%99s-unemployment-insurance-laws-takeAnswer #5: The National Notary hotline is 1-888-876-0827

Monday-Friday, 5am-7pm

https://www.nationalnotary.org/membership/hotline


Title: (MO) Want to put in fence, bank owns property next door

Question:
My fiancee and I purchased a house in MO this year and we really want to put in a fence on the sides and back of the house.  Well the issue with the north side of the house is that there are two makeshift fences, probably one ours and one of the neighbor, and have about 5-8 trees probably 20-30 years old.  They don't have large trunks but are about 50 feet tall.

I read up about boundary trees and fences and both neighbors being responsible for them, but how does it work when a bank owns the property?  Do we still need to try and contact the owners and see if they will let us cut down the trees?  Or since nobody currently lives in the house we don't have to?

Answer:
 Sorry cant help too much but...

> Or since nobody currently lives in the house we don't have to?

Do you really want to find out the hard way with the bank suing you? Theres a fair number of posts here that demonstrate trees can be worth tens of thousands of dollars, and thats assuming they aren't in some way protected.

Do not touch those trees until you have in writing that you are allowed and have made certain they aren't protected.


Title: Hospital Mistake (NY)

Question:
So I recently gave birth to our first child. The labor went wonderfully but I had complications after. My complications led to them performing a D&C on me twice, in which part of the procedure involves placing packing inside me. My doctor placed the packing inside and the next day a hospital resident took out the packing. I was discharged 3 days later and went home. The second day at home my body passed a wad of packing that the hospital resident had accidentally left inside me. I contacted my doctor's office, and they had me come in immediately. My doctor was very upset about this and said that never should have happened and that she was going to find out what happened (who removed it and what was recorded). I'm going back into the office in 5 days and will hopefully hear an update.

I don't know if there's any action we should/can take. After what I went through I'm a bit pissed-off that such a simple thing was overlooked. From what I understand the packing left in there could have resulted in a bad infection and who knows where that would have led especially with my immune system being so low.

I'm very grateful I made it through everything all intact and that our baby is as healthy as can be... but I don't want to just let this go if there's action to be taken. Please let me know what you all think.

Answer: Do you have any resultant injury? If no injury, you have no damages. As such, you cannot sue for malpractice (which is what I think you are asking about). Nor can you sue for what *might have* happened. In order to have a MedMal case, you need damages and negligence (not just a simple mistake).


Title: I manage an apartment building in Chicago, where there is stuff always going down on the security cameras. I wanna start a YouTube channel, but worried I might get sued for something.

Question:
So I’m a property manager in lovely north side Chicago! There is stuff always going down on my security cameras at the building, that I want to start a YouTube channel! Literally my building is like a show! I want to post mainly people who do not live there, who are either breaking or (last week) people running from the cops through my building.

I will NOT post any incident involving my tenants/residents living there, for their privacy. Also, I will not post any address of the building on YouTube, I just want to post the neighborhood name. I just want people to know the neighborhood that’s it’s happening in.

I want to just want to post the crazy-ness that goes on in and around the building, such as the break-in and let the world see what I see!

Can I or my building owner, get into any legal trouble for posting security cameras footage of others/non-residents doing illegal things on YouTube?

Answer:
 This just raises multiple alarm bells for me.  It's not a good idea for a number of reasons.  It puts you and your building at various risks just for kicks.

The owners won't like it when someone recognizes which building it is. It displays their building in a negative light.   Also, it will scare the tenants if they learn how much crime and craziness is going on at their location, and they might give the landlord a hard time about ending their leases.

But if you really want to do it, just ask the people who own the video for permission first, and get it in writing. I don't think they will agree to that.Answer #2: Anybody can sue anybody for anything. Involving your employer in a lawsuit because you posted security video without permission is also a great way to get fired.


Title: [USA] Someone sent me an illegal image on messaging app, I reported him but am still nervous

Question: I was using the wickr messaging app (similar to kik) the other night and was messaging someone with legal provocative pictures when he suddenly sends me a disgusting illegal underage image. As soon as I saw it I deleted my account from within the app and uninstalled it. I didn't save the image or download it or anything. The next morning i reported his username onto the cyber tip line. Can I still get in trouble for this? I'm really nervous the cops are going to bust down my door

Answer:
 Not a lawyer; but work in forensic field. Cops prob aren't going to kick down your door. There's actually a legal 'test' used called the Dost Test to rank where a person in possession of CP falls. If you deleted the app, etc and claim to not be a part of that world, you will probably be fine.

That being said, you probably shouldn't be sending lawful nude photos, in general. Unless you know exactly who is in the other side; and even then I would be cautious.

Tl;Dr - quit sending nude pics.


Title: [Texas] Another tenant stole my spot. No damage this time but what about next time.

Question:
Hello.

So the other night I am driving home when it starts hailing. Starts small enough but as it gets bigger and louder I decided I shouldn't risk driving all the way home and park under a bank awning.

For the next 20 minutes I watch marble sized hail rain down around us. Finally it lets up and I make it the rest of the way home before it starts back up.

I pull into my complex and find someone else parked in my reserved, paid for covered spot. Now, this **** isn't the only one who had this idea, as all covered parking is taken up when I know on an average night only about 2/3 of the spots are taken.

Now, I get it. You don't want to watch your car get pummeled while there is a spot 5 feet away empty that will protect it.

But from my perspective, I was LIVID, and then when someone else left, I took *their* spot and then became an *******.

Now, nothing happened, and while I am sure I could have had them towed, there wouldn't have been nearly enough time before my car was damaged if the hail started.

So, with proper photo evidence, IF this happens again, could I file a claim against the person parking in my space if my car became hail damaged due to someone taking a space, one of the reasons I pay for specifically being this issue?

Edit: People keep saying "tow" but if I pull up in the middle of a storm there is no way a truck would get out there fast enough to protect the vehicle from damage.

Answer:
 There is a legal doctrine that basically says that you have to take reasonable action to mitigate your damages. You cannot simply allow a harm to happen or continue to happen and then sue for damages.

So simply parking your car out in the open during a hail storm, when another option was available, would probably not fly. You could however get compensation for the cost of those actions.

However you can and should have them towed. I've had people do something similar, blocking my driveway, and having them towed once generally prevents them from doing it again. Answer #2: Tow tow tow tow tow tow tow tow tow tow tow tow tow. Tow tow tow tow tow tow tow then tow some more. TOW TOW TOW!!!!!!!Answer #3: I wish you'd gotten a real answer to this question because I've wondered the same thing. I pay $300/year for my covered parking space. It's written in my lease. I've towed folks out of it in the past.  But I've always wondered, if I come home and a hail storm is near and some douche is using my spot, is he liable for my damage? The apartment complex has signs posted all over saying not to park in covered spaces, as they're reserved.   I have paperwork stating that my spot is mine and it's part of my lease agreement.

A severe hail storm would total my car, no doubt about it. That's one of the reasons I pay for covered parking in the first place (I live in a part of the country where hailstorms in the spring are very likely).


Title: What constitutes Sexual Assault (ON, Canada)

Question:
A friend of mine was in a consensual sexual relationship with a guy who, during unprotected sex, forcible ejaculated inside her. It was the last time they had sex. He made her take plan B, which failed, and she is pregnant with his child. He became enraged when he found out plan B did not work, and was very adamant he did not want to be a part of the child's life.

At this point we are wondering whether what he did is considered sexual assault, since despite giving consent to having sex in the first place he did not stop when she told him to and forced himself to cum inside her.

On top of that, how do we go about ensuring his rights as the father of the child are essentially zero. I am concerned with his control issues he will decide to be a part of the child's life if only to torment the mom.

Any help is appreciated, thanks

Answer:
 >He became enraged when he found out plan B did not work, and was very adamant he did not want to be a part of the child's life.

Well too fuckin' bad for him, he's a dad.

>At this point we are wondering whether what he did is considered sexual assault, since despite giving consent to having sex in the first place **he did not stop when she told him to** and forced himself to cum inside her.

Sounds like it. Consent to intercourse must be voluntary and continuous. You can revoke that consent at any time.

>On top of that, how do we go about ensuring his rights as the father of the child are essentially zero.

Family lawyer. Answer #2: Did she specifically ask him to wear protection and / or pull out? Both of these people have made terrible choices but I am unsure if a crime occurred.

Can you elaborate on the "forcible" statement?


Title: Extorted into giving $200 into a girl from Hinge (online dating) who claimed she was underage after listing 19 on her account and sending me unsolicited nudes first.

Question:
Title is self explanatory.  Connected with a girl on Hinge who immediately was sexy, leading, and aggressive to text and share nudes... which is not too uncommon for someone in my age group (I'm 21).  I of course obliged, under the guise of her being 19 as listed on her account, and after an exchange she drafted paragraphs of Facebook messages she intended to send to my friends threatening to explain the situation AND expose my nudes (which is illegal). She claimed she backdown after the $200 but obviously she is still in possession of my nudes, messages.

&#x200B;

I'm filing a police report, filing an injunction with Hinge and PayPal, but are there any further steps I should take?

Thank you so much for your time and consideration

Answer:
 You got scammed. You're probably not getting your money back. If you try to dispute with your bank and win paypal will send you to collections and damage your credit. It's only $200 be glad it wasn't $2000.Answer #2: This is a common scam.  There's no girl.  Do not send any more money.

Also when the cop / detective / enraged father messages you wanting iTunes gift cards in exchange for dropping the case, that's part of the scam.  Block and ignore.


Title: Pennsylvania - A friend is still paying off their deceased father's debt

Question:
Pennsylvania - A close friend of mine let me know that they were still paying off their father's debt.  Apparently about a year before his death he took out a large loan in his name only, with a building that he used for business as collateral.  Upon his death their mother was the executor of his will, and did not use the money from his estate to pay off the debt.  Since then the building that was collateral has been sold at least twice, and hasn't been in their possession in years.  The bank has refused to show either my friend or their mother any documentation on the loan, as neither of them are actually listed on the document.  They've been continuing to pay the loan for years, and it is now putting significant financial hardship on them to do so.

I feel like every portion of this situation is messed up.  My questions for you all are are:

1.  What legal and financial liability do my friend and their mother have here?
2. What steps should they take to limit any future payments to only whatever liability they still have?
3. What would happen if they stopped paying completely?

Thank you in advance for any advice you can give.

Answer:
 >They've been continuing to pay the loan for years

Why have they been doing that? They shouldn't have.

They severely, severely mishandled pretty much every aspect of this.

The estate should have send a certificate of death and used any remaining funds after the funeral to clear outstanding debts.

Your friend and his mother should have never touched it. By making payments on it, the debtor will argue that they assumed the responsibility of the loan - in other words, they're on the hook now.

They need to talk to a lawyer with experience in both debt and estate management. Best of luck to them.Answer #2: If they are paying that loan, and the circumstances are as you say, it's a monumental mistake.

That being said, I have to wonder if you have all the facts right. Maybe your friend isn't telling you everything. Maybe your friend doesn't understand everything about the situation. Maybe the mother isn't telling your friend everything.For example, how do you know the mother isn't a cosigner on the loan?


Title: Roommate lied about having a pet wolf; being evicted

Question:
Sorry in advanced for this being the stupidest question ever. My current roommate and I met through a service at our college. She has what is very clearly a blue heeler dog, but has evidently been telling people it is a wolf mix, because we received a letter today telling us that housing an exotic animal was a violation of our lease (we are allowed to have up to two cats/dogs as long as they are not on the banned breed list and she paid the pet deposit) along with screenshots of her instagram posts of her dogs labelled #wolfdoglove and giving people wolfdog ownership advice.

We are on the lease together. I do not want to be evicted or fined. What should I do? Should I contact the rental agency? Can I break my lease with her over this? Can I get in any trouble for this? I did not know she was telling people it is a wolf.

Edit: in Missouri, we are both 20

Answer: If she gets evicted so do you. No, you cannot break your lease over this. You can contact the landlord and tell them that it is just a normal dog. Answer #2: funny thing is same thing happened to me in california littlebrother kept telling everyone our blue heeler was a wolf hybrid until one time animal control payed us a visit as soon as she took a look at him she laughed and explained that if he where a wolf mix she would have to take him away from us, really bad idea tbh Answer #3: IANAL - I work in a veterinary office. It's tricky, the vet records will say what breed the dog is, and most landlords (at least here in RTP, North Carolina and in Western New York State) will take that as proof of breed. However, the vet office may not issue you any records as the non owner- unless you were able to plead your case to the practice management or HR department. For example - at my place of work, we can't release records without owner consent, technically, but if it were just a proof of vaccination history or similar (breed, aka not a wolf, FFS) we certainly understand roommate situations, and would help someone in your predicament as best we could.... Unless the vet practice has a name that involves the word 'Exotic' or 'Wild' and possibly 'Rare' - then maybe it's really  a wolf and can eat your landlord? Just my 2¢ good luck!Answer #4: I'm amazed people actually believe her. The similarities is pretty far off


Title: Is my school legally allowed to keep me in? Without my own say!!?? (16)

Question:
So I'm 16 m, in last year of high school, grade 11. (I live in Quebec and over here high school ends at grade 11)

So anyways, I was getting picked up at lunch by my mom for a dentist appointment. Usually, I would have to wait in the office for my mom to come but sign me out.

My mom was taking an awfully long time and I really wanted to just wait outside for her where it's nicer out and it would just be less of a hassle for my mom,since you have to get buzzed in from the public entrance.

So i went up to the front desk, and asked politely to sign myself out. The lady just looked at me like I just asked her how to screw in a light bulb, like she was staring at me like I was retarded. She just tells me "no, you can't leave." but also asked if I had a note. I said no but my moms coming soon, so she tells me to sit down and wait, and not to leave.

My mom eventually gets there and signs me out.

This was very bizarre for me because this doesn't seem right. My ethics teacher even mentioned to us that we can sign ourselves out of school at 16.

I asked my mom about the issue and she says I'm not allowed by the school. My ethics teacher says to differ.

I just don't get it. They shouldn't be legally allowed to keep us in school. Our principal also said that we are not to leave, and are not allowed to leave, regardless of age.
Topic:
School Related Issues

Answer: I'm sure the school can do what it wants while you are in their care, more so since they have your mom's blessing.


Title: Father owes 100k+ in child support to child in Canada for 18 years. A lawyer has contacted us on his behalf, asking if he can pay small fraction to get debt forgiven.What are our options?

Question:
My father has never been a part of my life, left before I was born and was mandated by the Alberta government to pay monthly child support. This was court ordered maintenance. My mother has done an admirable job of raising me on her own, but we have made a lot of sacrifices in life to get where we are. I'm now 24 and rounding off an Astrophysics degree with a large saddlebag of student loans. He was required to pay monthly for 18 years, and owes us approximately 150,000$.

After 24 years of no contact he has reached out to my mother through a lawyer in our city asking if he can pay 25,000$ and have us call off the debt. He says he is able to pay this because some kind anonymous soul has decided to help him pay it off.

We know that his father recently passed,  his father had previously owned a sizeable company and was very well-to-do. Both the company and my father's father were in eastern canada, though his father also owns property in texas. Our impression is that he cannot inherit without having to pay what he owes

Upon our initially responding to the lawyer saying that we would want more money paid than he has offered the lawyer has indicated my father would not in fact like to pay more than that. We have had no communication with them since.

What are our options here? Would it be worth hiring some kind of private investigator? Would his lawyer be required to give us any contact information for his client? Is there some inheritance loophole that means he's getting his money and house without having to pay child support? Any insight and advice would be appreciated.

Answer:
 The first thing to do is to stop listening to his lawyer. His lawyer is exclusively doing what is best for him. If you want to recover what you are owed, you need to get your own lawyer that can determine how much you can reasonably expect to recover.Answer #2: This is a fun one. I actually domesticated a child support judgment from Nova Scotia not too long ago in Texas. See that’s what you want to do, is figure out in what county his father’s property is located (there’s 254 counties in Texas so this is important). Then find a family lawyer in that county who can domesticate the Canadian judgment for you and get it filed in the real property records of that county as a judgment lien.

He will still be able to inherit, but he won’t be able to sell it. Any property search would show this lien and no title company will just ignore that. Then you refresh it every 10 years until it’s either sold or he dies and you inherit. Or alternatively you can seek to enforce the judgment by requesting the clerk of the court in that county issue a writ of execution, wherein the sheriff of that county will sell the property for the amount of the judgment (plus his fees) and send you the cash. This presumes the land isn’t his homestead.


Title: Why were wall street banks considered too big to jail?

Question: [deleted]

Answer:
 Well, you can't jail a bank. They don't make jail cells that big.

As for the executives: what actual crime do you think Jamie Dimon committed? For someone to be sent to prison, there needs to be a specific penal law that they are convicted of violating; "he did something bad" doesn't come close to cutting it.


Title: (MD) Neighbor is feeding feral cats, adopting shelter cats and releasing them too. Cats damage houses. Can we sue them?

Question:
So it's a small neighborhood. There's one neighbor who moved in very recently who has been feeding feral cats, and after the county takes/culls them goes to shelters and adopts a few more then releases them. This pack of almost twenty cats has basically destroyed my front yard and killed a lot of other animals(squirrels, birds, rabbits) in the area. My boyfriend noticed that the siding on our house is even significantly torn up. Our gardens are also shithouse and another neighbor's kid has a playground sandbox filled with cat shit. As well as it gets colder these cats will start sleeping in and under cars.

When confronted the neighbor makes all sorts of threats, slurs, etc. They even tried getting everyone else in the neighborhood to sign a "petition to chase the tranny faggot out" which certainly sounds actionable and nobody else signed.

Tl;dr: Neighbor hoards and releases cats that destroy everything and harasses whoever confronts them about it.
Topic:
Other Civil Matters

Answer: What did the police and animal control say when you contacted them?


Title: Neighbor banning me from walking my dogs?

Question:
The neighbor right next to our house gets annoyed every time we walk our dogs because his dogs bark uncontrollably when we walk past his house. It’s not just our dogs. His dogs bark at all the dogs being walked, but he chose to come out and confront us today because he knows we’re his neighbors.
Anyways, today he came out to say we have to stop stopping in front of his house. And we’re not allowed to pass in front of his yard anymore. But I don’t think we’re stopping or loitering. I control my dogs by having them sit for a few seconds on the sidewalk so they don’t go dragging me and charging through the front yard and to his door where his dogs are barking. After a few seconds, my dogs are ready to behave again and I resume walking them to our house a few feet away.
So on the way back, I tried crossing over and back to get around his house and to ours. Didn’t work. As I crossed the street opposite the far end of our front yard, his dogs still went wild barking. But at least this way he’s not aware it’s us. I feel sorry for him because he does have a home business and it must get frustrating to always have the dogs kick up a fuss. But I don’t know what else to do. The dogs (one in particular, with his health problems) need to be walked. And I don’t see myself driving 15 min to the nearest park and having to vacuum my car all the time. But he doesn’t seem like the compromising type and I’m worried that one day he’ll make this into something bigger than it is. What can I do to protect myself? I feel like I wouldn’t have any proof if he were to accuse me of loitering on his property.

Answer:
 Your neighbor has no authority to prevent you from walking in front of his house on a street or sidewalk.

You have a relationship problem with your neighbor, not a legal problem.


Title: [CA] Moved to salary, not being paid more than double minimum wage.

Question: Owners of a small less than 10 employee company in Orange County moved me to salary about 8 months ago, and only recently have been slow increasing my pay. Pay is 18/hr when I was moved and is currently less than 20/hr. I am required sometimes to work extra 2 hours after my normal shift and I don't get overtime. I have been written up for being late 3 days in row less than 5 minutes very recently due to road work. I wanted to know if any of this is even legal?

Answer: To be exempt in California you need to be paid at least twice the state minimum wage, you must have administrative, executive or professional tasks and be able to make independent decisions. You would not be paid for overtime and can be written up or terminated for being late.


Title: My apartment was burglarized with damages. Landlord says I need to pay for the damages to the property.

Question:
This is the second time my house has been burglarized. They broke the glass on the front door to get in, and also kicked in two more doors. My landlord says that I need to pay to fix the doors.

The lease says tenants are responsible for any damages done by "tenants, friends, or others". It doesn't say anything specifically about burglars. The lease does not say I am required to have renters insurance, but my roommate does have it. The landlord has insurance on the property as well as his other properties (obviously).

Also, they have already made repairs, but he is saying I need to reimburse him.

Do I really have to pay for the damages? Can my roommate make a claim on the damages after repair? He has already made a claim for stolen items.

Answer:
 Yes. You need renters insurance.

But the landlord didn't damage the property. Sue the guy who broke in our contact your local victims advocates to see if they can help pay for it. Answer #2: In Kansas, as long as there is a police report that details a burglary, the landlord is responsible. Without that police report, the tenant is responsible.


Title: Landlord trying to collect property taxes.

Question:
Basic info
State: PA
County: Westmoreland
Rental type: Property and Trailer
Duration of lease: 1 year

So I just received a phone call from my landlord telling me that I owe her property taxes. She is saying this as I had taken over the rental property from my father. I alongside my wife signed a lease with her to which makes no mention of property taxes. In fact it states that No Oral Agreement have been entered into and all modifications or notices shall be in writing. When my father was her tenant they had a verbal agreement that he would pay the property taxes to which my dad was in the hospital during the first tax period after the agreement. So keeping with his agreement we paid the taxes (this was before we signed our lease with her). She is threatening to take us to the local magistrates office to collect the taxes she feels owed.

Over the course of living at her property we have had several issues with her not fixing issues. In winter we had the furnace go out and she had taken 2 weeks with Temps of - 10 to 20. The furnace went out a couple of days before Christmas. The other is there is a leak near the water meter that has been going on for the past 6 months to which we have told her as well as the water authority.

I am currently in the process of getting a home to move out and just want to move on. Am I legally required to pay her the taxes?
Topic:
Landlord Tenant Housing

Answer:
 Property taxes are the responsibility of the property owner. If your lease doesn't say you are to pay the amount of the property tax to the property owner you don't have to.

A tenant paying property taxes is highly unusual. Most of what I comment is California landlord-tenant stuff. I've never seen a lease where the tenant pays property tax.Answer #2: NoAnswer #3: Only time you'll see property taxes in leases is commercial Net terms leases.

The owner is responsible for all taxes.Answer #4: Based on what you have said about maintenance and the taxes, your landlord has no idea what it means to be a landlord. Your state will have maximum repair delays for the furnace, and other statutes...

If feasible, consider moving as this will not stop


Title: [AL] High school bureaucracy doesn't allow me to go to school at all, forcing my grades to suffer as well as my attendance.

Question: I am a senior in High school who was recently sent to alternative school for the rest of the year for selling a pot cookie to a friend of mine. First and foremost I am not your average delinquent. I am an AP student and this is my first infraction of this magnitude. Anyhow, the rules of this alternative school state I must be dropped off by a parent in a car, and the parent must accompany me every morning. There are many other rules, but those are the most important. My mom and I live alone, and our income is under the poverty line where we live, and we do not own a vehicle. The first day of that school we even rode our bikes, and they told us we had to leave because it was against the rules and it wasn't their job to care basically. I would have to the Board of Ed. so I went to the board later that day and the woman I spoke to called me back later that day and said there was nothing they could do to help me. There is a school transportation DEPARTMENT and they can't get one person to pick up and take home one kid who doesn't own a vehicle because they care about him graduating? I have put 12 years of dedication to be where I am, and this is ridiculous.

Answer:
 It is becoming commonplace to require vehicle drop-off and pickup at schools. You'll need to have your mother get a waiver and I've heard people complain that they aren't easy to get depending on where you live.

Also, check this out if you would prefer to just test out of high school and get away from all this non-sense: https://sites.google.com/site/highschoolexits/home/examsbystate


Title: Retail store charging more than marked price

Question:
There is a market in my town that routinely charges more than the stamped price on their items.  Specifically on items they stamped the price for themselves.  When it's brought up to the cashier they just say "that's how it is in the system".  This is just a small convenience store so the price difference is never more than a few dollars but it's still annoying.  I found this:  https://www.nist.gov/system/files/documents/2017/04/28/US-Pricing-Laws-All-States_2.pdf  Page 122 seems to suggest their practice is not legal - how do I report their practice?  I know I could just stop going there but that doesn't help the rest of my community.  Also they only give you an itemized receipt if you ask for one so most people won't even catch the discrepancy.

Location: Virginia.

Answer:
 NAL, former Pricing Manager for major grocery store in California.

This is potentially a weights and measures violation since it is a market. Weights and Measures governs things sold by weight or volume, so if it is priced one price on the shelf but being rung up at a different price at the register, it does not matter if the price is higher or lower, it is seen as a violation of Weights and Measures and the market could be subject to heavy fines. I suggest contacting your state's Weights and Measures department here https://www.vdacs.virginia.gov/food-weights-and-measures.shtml and see what they can do.Answer #2: It appears that they are violating the [Virginia Consumer Protection Act](https://law.lis.virginia.gov/vacodepopularnames/virginia-consumer-protection-act/), specifically § 59.1-200.8

>8.Advertising goods or services with intent not to sell them as advertised, or with intent not to sell at the price or upon the terms advertised.

>In any action brought under this subdivision, the refusal by any person, or any employee, agent, or servant thereof, to sell any goods or services advertised or offered for sale at the price or upon the terms advertised or offered, shall be prima facie evidence of a violation of this subdivision.

You can file a complaint [here](https://www.oag.state.va.us/consumer-protection/index.php/file-a-complaint)


Title: Started business in OK, USA. Want to show former USMC service, but don't want to violate trademarks or make it seem like the USMC is affiliated with the business.

Question:
It's just a small shop selling furniture. Not looking to brand my products with any logos or anything, just want to make previous service clear.

I'm guessing that putting the Eagle, Globe, and Anchor on a business card is right out, but what about a small sign in a window?

I'm decently confident in my ability to reason out a common sense approach to making sure there's no confusion about my business being sponsored by or affiliated with the USMC, but I doubt that would have any impact on what is allowed and what is not. Even so, are there some guidelines I should be aware of? Particularly in the context of previous service. For some reason I'm wondering if that makes things more stringent.

Obviously, the answer would be "no" if people asked about affiliation, but I feel that them having to ask would mean I already misled them.

Anyone have thoughts on it?

Answer: You should join something like [this](http://www.navoba.com/) and put their sticker in the window. That avoids all of your concerns and keeps you well away from any problems.


Title: [Greatest Country in the US, Texas] Apartment cleaning fee? More like... something clever!

Question:
Hi law dogs, I’ve long been subscribed to r/legaladvice on my main account but only recently have come into a scenario where I am the one needing advice. Most of the advice I see in this sub is renting related and here’s another one for you.

I went to State School University and graduated mid-May.  I happily left and moved out of my off-campus housing, but as you all know, college apartment buildings lease on 12 month cycles only, so I paid through the end of July after I had turned in my keys on a day in late June after a trip that had me driving through State School Town.  I also entered the apartment in late May to do one final sweep.  After that time, I did not enter the apartment as the locks had been changed, my roommates had mailed in their keys, and I have no reason to believe anyone other than apartment complex workers had been in the apartment since I and my roommates moved out a few days following graduation.

Then, while checking the mail today, [I receive this bill for ~$200 to pay for cleaning et cetera.]( http://imgur.com/e5CPm6l.png)  I call my roommates and they confirm that they have recently received a bill for ~$200 as well, the values vary except for a few common numbers.  As part of the marketing to get students to rent from this complex, they did not make anyone pay a security deposit.

What’s in the lease: [“When you leave, whether at or prior to the Ending Date, the Premises, including the windows, bathrooms, patios, balconies, kitchen appliances, and furniture in the Common Areas, must be clean and in good repair and condition.  If you fail to clean the Premises or if furniture or appliances have been damaged, then you will be liable for reasonable charges to complete such cleaning, repair, or replacement.  We recommend that you schedule a walk-through with Manager or member of Manager’s staff; if you do not, you agree to accept our assessment of damagers and charges when we accept the Premises.  If you leave any of your property in the Premises after you leave or after Ending Date, that property is deemed to be abandoned by you and we can take such action as we desire and charge you for the costs incurred to keep, sell or dispose of such property without our being liable to you.”]( http://i.imgur.com/HoMtVTY.png)
While I signed the legally binding contract and was also required to provide a guarantor on the lease, due to the charges I can only imagine they found Fortune 500 CEOs to clean the apartment and carry trash the 20 meters to the dumpster.

I kept my room immaculate and the common areas fairly clean.  When I moved out, there was nothing left in my room and I even swept and mopped on my way out.  They claim that they removed 2 trash bags worth of trash from my room alone and are claiming $50 for the pleasure of doing so.  Another 8 bags of trash were removed from the common area at a cost of $200 spread across the three roommates.  When I moved out of the apartment all my worldly possessions fit into maybe 10 trash bags so I don’t even see where 8 bags of trash would have come from.  They claim they removed 3 large items from the common area, but as the apartment was furnished when we moved in the large items would have been their stuff, which we certainly would not have thrown out as it was not our property.

I have an idea where some trash may have come from.  As part of apartment upgrades, new kitchen appliances – oven, fridge, et cetera – were installed in June at some point several weeks after any of the three roommates had last entered the apartment. I cannot speak to the state of the apartment but it is quite possible in my mind that whoever installed the new equipment left the boxes and whatever else strewn across the nice clean apartment in what can only be ascribed to malice or incompetence.  That technically could fill 8 trash bags and require a “full kitchen clean” at approximately $1 per square foot. My non-legal mind tends to think that neither I nor my roommates should not be responsible for that trash.

So, I complained to a friend who stated “yeah I got something like that for $800 when I moved out, never paid, they never contacted me again, there was no hit on my credit nor did I face any issues renting an apartment later on”.  This course of action is really appealing to me as it requires no action whatsoever; but as Friend did not have a guarantor, and mommy and daddy would not like being contacted because their grown ass kid didn’t pay their apartment bill, this is not my ideal outcome.

Second course of action: just pay the bill, it’s $200 for each roomate. But to quote one of our generations greatest minds, “it’s not about the money, it’s about sending a message”.  Based off of what I as an anonymous dog on the internet told you, this seems like a quick cash grab from recent graduates who don’t know any better or don’t care. I already paid $x,xxx for all the months this apartment has been empty and I don’t want to give them one red cent they don’t deserve.  The fact that Friend had no follow up when he did not pay is indicative that this is a cash grab rather than a legal transfer of money due to cleaning and repair costs.

Third course of action: I’ve always wanted to yell “I’ll see you in court!”  I did a video walkthrough of the apartment when I first rented it, but did not do the same when I left as I wanted to GTFO.  This also resulted in me not doing a walkthrough with Manager.  I really want them to show me the 10+ bags of trash they cleaned out of the apartment, but I don’t know that they are required to provide any evidence of the cleaning/repairing.  While from the lease we must “accept Managers assessment of damages”, there is no way the charges are “reasonable charges to complete such cleaning”. I’m more than willing to assume some cost of cleaning the apartment in preparation for new renters but $50/roommate seems more fair than $200/roommate.

I’ve told my roommates not to pay in the immediate future until I have had time to get advice from you and looked through pertinent Texas law.

Answer:
 > Hi law dogs

Dog Law specialist here.

Don’t call us that. Answer #2: You can:

1) Pay the bill, then sue in small claims court for a refund.  If you lose, you lose.  They don't need video, testimony is sufficient.  Do not yell anything at anyone, the judge will hear about it and think you're an asshole.

2) Don't pay the bill and take your chances on your credit.

3) Split $200 among the roommates, pay it, and get on with your life.


Title: Called cops for roomate doing coke; nothing happened

Question:
Hello Reddit,
TDLR: I heard my roomate doing coke, called the cops, nothing happend. What now?
Sorry if I am ranting in this but I am furious with my roomate because I've tried helping her but all she does is lie to my face and act like I'm an idiot.
I just had a very upsetting night. My roomate has a coke problem, I've talked to her about it and she said "she only did it on the weekends" and in the stripclub she works at. Whatever, I try and get my step dad to help out but every time I try and set something up she blows it off. So it's 4 in the morning and I hear her snorting up a storm, I look up my options and call my stepdad. He advises I call the cops and I'm a bit hesitant at first because of what I read about people sharing a lease and having drugs on the premise... I call the cops, they come over, check her out and look around the room (since they don't have a search warrant they can't get a good look around) They don't find anything ( but they do notice my roomate go to the bathroom while this is happening). They say thats all they can do and leave. Once the cops are gone she comes out of the bathroom asking me why I called them I say angrily "Because I heard you doing coke" she replied "I was only blowing my nose" (if you ever heard someone blowing lines you know the difference) She asked me why I called the cops again and I said " Because I don't want you doing coke in the house!!?" She shrugged and said "Okay and??"
 What the hell am I supposed to do now?

Answer: This isn't your problem.


Title: Can my dead dad's joke Vegas wedding be a problem as I go about collecting his estate?

Question:
Dad married a friend in Vegas a few years ago. A big ceremony with video, witnesses, vows and The King himself. Clearly a joke, no marriage license. I haven't run into any problems yet, I've been telling his banks and whatnot he was single and nobody is contesting my claims.

Mostly California, some assets in Washington, small estate, no real property.

Answer:
 Are you sure there's no marriage license?  I'm fairly certain those Elvis's are legitimate ordained ministers, capable of binding two rock and rollers for life and infamy.Answer #2: You can search online right here:

http://www.clarkcountynv.gov/depts/clerk/services/pages/marriagelicenserecords.aspx


Title: Sold motorcycle and was just mailed a ticket that the new owner got with my plates. What to do?

Question: [deleted]

Answer:
 You should have kept the plates. Pay the ticket, ask the buyer for reimbursement, and sue if they won't pay you.

http://dmv.utah.gov/buying-selling/responsibilities


Title: Help with Stopping at red light ticket

Question: I've decided to fight a ticket for a rolling stop at a red light. The reason I am is because the officer wasn't even around the corner before I turned and while writing up my ticket he said he wasn't sure if I did stop fully or not. 2 questions do I have chance at a he said she said argument against the officer and 2ND am I still allowed traffic school if I lose. I currently am being offered  traffic school just fyi. I know it's a long post but I appreciate any help. In California

Answer:
  >do I have chance at a he said she said argument against the officer

You have a chance, it's not a very good one.  What you say the cop said would be a very stupid thing for a cop to say, and it's not likely the judge will believe the cop said that.

>and 2ND am I still allowed traffic school if I lose.

Depends on the judge -- it's not guaranteed.  And almost surely no if the judge thinks you're lying.


Title: Can I call my album “Fuck You Jordan”?

Question:
Simple enough set of questions regarding fair use, free speech and .

Background : my bands name is a reference to Jordan Peterson. We want to call our album “Fuck You Jordan”.  We are located in Ontario, Canada.

1. Is it legal to sell merchandise which directly tells a public persona to fuck off?

2. If/when he sues us does he have a case? I assume he’ll go for defamation or libel or whatever he uses in those cases. This is an art project, obviously we have a wide latitude to critique his message and his words. How wide is it?

3. If we use his own words as lyrics or song titles, is that covered under artistic fair use?

We want to highlight his hypocrisy regarding free speech by using ours.

Thanks!
Topic:
Canada

Answer:
 Not a Lawyer.
#1 - Yes, this is generally legal.
#2 - Defamation/libel would usually require that he show that you said something at least kind of specific about him and that damaged him. Telling him to fuck off isn't usually specific enough to trigger defamation or libel - there's no real protection against people disliking you enough to swear in public. You would want to be much more careful about specific claims about him. "... is a jerk" isn't likely to be a problem, it's clearly opinion. "... is sexually aroused by lobsters" could be a problem, but is more likely to be understood as parody/satire. "... murdered someone at 8pm on may 12th, 2002 at the corner of fifth and main in Toronto" should absolutely be run by a lawyer before it finds its way into a song.
#3 is more complicated - as you're Canadian, you're looking at The Copyright Act of Canada, Section 29 -
> Fair dealing for the purpose of research, private study, education, parody or satire does not infringe copyright.

Obviously, if you're concerned, talk to a real, local Lawyer, but it sounds like Satire/Parody should cover small excerpts.Answer #2: You should be fine, legally.

The threshold for libel against a public figure are significantly higher than the threshold against a private citizen.

Not sure if the limits are different for lobsters.Answer #3: I just came to say that as a Jordan this post title caught me off guard


Title: KS - Can't pay ordered amount

Question: I received an order signed by judge that I am to pay back more than $1300 in medical bills to my ex wife from our children I was never aware of. I am fine paying the amount but am under water each month financially and am unable to pay the lump sum which is ordered to be paid in full by the 12th of this month. I have sent a certified letter to my ex wife expressing my financial condition at this time and explain I will pay at least a minimum each month. She wants everything paid up front but I'm stretched thin, what will happen when I don't pay in full by the deadline?

Answer:
 She can seek to garnish your wages or seize your bank accounts. If there's no money there, either, then she might be able to get an order authorizing her to have the sheriffs seize and sell personal property to satisfy the debt, but it's more likely that she'll wait until you have more income/more money and go after you then.

If you're broke, you're broke. Keep records of your attempt to pay, just in case she goes back to try to argue you're in contempt, but otherwise, do what you can. If she obtains a garnishment order, she'll get her money whether you want her to or not.


Title: Car towed (Illegally?) in OC, CA. What are my options?

Question:
 I parked in a "customer only" lot and had dinner at a certain super cheap tex-mex style fast food place. Went for a walk for a couple hours and came back to find my car gone. I found a sign with a local police number and called that, they gave me the number for the towing company.
Here's the weird part, when I got the towing authorization form from the towing company, the time stamp on the receipt is for 10 minutes before I even ordered my food! I probably hadn't even gotten out of my car by that time. It cost me almost $300 to get my car back. Do I take the towing company to small claims or the restaurant? What do I need to do?

Answer: This one of the most *legal* tows I've ever read here.Answer #2: You stopped being a customer and left your car there. I don't see how you'd fight this and win.


Title: Teen sprayed me with liquid a$$

Question:
First post, heads up.

A kid sprayed liquid ass on me while I was in the bus home (public hs) I used to be friends with the kid ( years ago). I didn’t start or do anything to him. He decided to have a friend  record it. Is there any action I can take against him (aside from having the driver write him up and letting the kids parents know, that’s already being done).  It was kind of painful to breathe for a few minutes but nothing else. What action can I take against him for doing that.

Answer: You can tell your principal.


Title: No one cited after car accident. What now?

Question:
I was just involved in a car accident last night in Phoenix, AZ.  Was heading north, a southbound-facing car didn't see me and made a left hand turn right in front of me.  I hit the brakes but there simply wasn't enough room to stop.  It was pretty clear that she was waiting for another car to turn right and did not see me at all, she came out of the car saying "I am SO sorry!!"  Thankfully neither of us appeared to be hurt.  Two witnesses stopped, one of them gave me their number.

The arriving officer filed a report, but did not cite anyone.  He said that protocol was to make an observational report and let the insurance companies sort it out.  I am not sitting well with this, as I have a $500 deductible and no rental coverage.  I should be hearing from my adjuster tomorrow, and was told that the other drivers' insurance may pay for a rental and/or the deductible, but playing the waiting game now.  I just want to be back on the road with as little financial impact as possible, would contacting a lawyer be the smart move or would it needlessly drag out the process?  Any advice would be appreciated.
Topic:
Traffic and Parking

Answer:
 A traffic citation issued at the scene will make no (or nearly no) difference in the civil matter of the accident.  The person at fault is at fault regardless of whether a citation is issued or not.

I rarely issue tickets at accidents.


Title: (FL, OH) I think I may have a kid

Question:
I'll try to be brief. I lived in Florida from 2003 to 2005. I now live in Ohio. During that time I had sex with several women. My dad (who shares the same name as I do) received a call from a social worker in FL saying that they were looking for a "wtfakid" so he could sign away his parental rights and the child could be adopted. Given that this was a decade ago, I remember very little. They gave my dad the girl's name and birth year. Given what I do remember it's POSSIBLE but the window is very small What I would like to know is:

1. I've never taken a paternity test, won't I have to do that before signing away rights? If so how does that work when I'm 1/2 way across the country?
2. Is this a ploy to get me to take a paternity test, and pay back child support?
3. Before I call this social worker back (if he is indeed a social worker), Should I consult a lawyer?

Answer:
 If you want to establish paternity you would need to take a paternity test, but I see no reason you would need to travel to Florida to do this, at least initially.

> Is this a ploy to get me to take a paternity test, and pay back child support?

Unlikely but not impossible. Florida appears to allow retroactive child support for up to 24 under some conditions. This may be something you wish to discuss with a Florida family law attorney.

> Before I call this social worker back (if he is indeed a social worker)

It's unlikely this is some kind of scam. You were in Florida and you had sex with different women. It's entirely possible you are the father.

> Should I consult a lawyer?

Never a bad idea.


Title: [FL] Neighbor is pressing charges for assault against my son

Question:
So last Thursday my 17 year old son was out in our yard waiting for a ride when our neighbor, who is an older gentleman, started yelling at him from his yard about how he believed that my son was connected with a vandalism incident that occurred recently. From what my son tells me (because I was not present for this part of the encounter), he calmly explained to the man that he had no idea what he was talking about and tried to ignore him by just browsing his phone. When the man continued ranting my son walked over from our yard to his and grabbed his shoulders with both hands, attempting to turn him around and nudge him back to his own home. This was not done with malicious intent, he was being verbally harassed and wanted to be left alone.

Our neighbor started shouting when my son layed hands on him and tried to push back, which prompted my son to lightly kick his kneecap. At this point I heard the shouting and came outside, which was when I witnessed the kick. Again, it was very light and done only because our neighbor was trying to physically push him. The neighbor was in a rage at this point and they were both butting heads, which was when I intervened and pushed the neighbor to the ground. This is not something I would have done had we not been standing on soft grass, I knew full well that this would not result in injury and I was trying to break up the scuffle. I would really rather this next part not have happened, but once he was lying with his back on the ground my son delivered a *light* kick to him. I immediately told him to stop and apologized for that, but again, it was extremely light and the man didn't even seem to be in pain from it, so I didn't think much of it.

Fast forward to the day after and two police officers show up at our doorstep, and we find out that our neighbor will be pressing charges against my son. Nothing like this has ever happened to me so I really don't know what to do here. My neighbor instigated the encounter by verbally harassing my son, so I do not see how he intends to make it out as if the blame is solely on him. I'm afraid that the incident will end up getting misreprented in court because, to my knowledge, we were the only witnesses.

Any help is greatly appreciated.

Answer:
 >so I do not see how he intends to make it out as if the blame is solely on him

 Because your son assaulted him.

> I'm afraid that the incident will end up getting misreprented in court because, to my knowledge, we were the only witnesses.

 Who needs to misrepresent anything when the truth is so blatant.Answer #2: First get your son an attorney. Second, get him into anger management ASAP before he escalates. Apparently the apple doesn't fall too far from the tree because you both think it's OK that a teenager can't handle a little mouthiness from an OLD MAN, which i might add caused your son NO HARM, and therefore feel justified in physical assault. Answer #3: In addition to all the other posts, you are lucky that **you're** not being charged with assault, since you also admit to assaulting the neighbor.Answer #4: Your son instigated the physical part of the encounter and thus has no real defense.  He then escalated the physical force used when the neighbor responded with the same level of force.  Your son deserves this charge.Answer #5: Your son assaulted your neighbor. Get him a lawyer.Answer #6: Get your son a lawyer and tell him not to speak with anyone about it except as advised by his lawyer.


Title: [NYC] How do I negotiate an ROI for a loan I gave out or desperation?

Question:
I had a friend start a business and get in over his head about 10 years ago.  I got a last minute call that he owed a debt that would close his business 9am if I didn't help him pay $125k by midnight the day before.  The debt was verified as was the potential effect of non-payment.

As a friend I agreed to a fair 10 percent of his company until it was repaid but we never discussed any more details.  I trusted it would just be repaid or if I needed the money, in the future, the business was a viable source to retrieve it, otherwise I wouldn't have invested.

Today the company has 150 employees, far cry from the 2 when it started, but I still have nothing in return and I confirmed there's no expectation to sell within 5 years.  Recent events sparked my friend to pursue greater aspirations and that means reinvesting not paying old investors.

He on the other hand has been paid generously for his "time and efforts" in expanding the business.  While that's expected at what point can, should, I be able to expect a return?  I own 10% for almost 10 years and since money is being taken out and reinvested, I don't see why I don't have a dividend reinvestment and slowly gaining more capital?

Answer: You need a lawyer, $125,000 or 10% of a business puts you way behind anonymous internet advice.


Title: Could my school legally watch us through our laptop Webcams?

Question:
Our school have us chromebooks and they have been pretty stalkish about them. They regularly use a program that allows them to see whatever is on your screen (this doesn't bother me, I'm not using it for anything other than school). However, a lot of kids at our school have taken videos of their Webcam light (showing its being used) being on without them ever using it, and while I doubt it's true could they watch whatever is happening on the Webcam at our house? So since they would likely have access to do it can they actually legally watch you through your Webcam while youre at home? It's not like if they saw you doing anything illegal on it that they could take any action because youre at home anyway right (except maybe search your backpack at school for whatever they saw you do)? Again, I doubt it's true but if it is, is it legal and how- it seems like an invasion of privacy especially since most of the people who have them are already 18 and have rights.
Austin, TX

Answer:
 As always:

[It's not like if they saw you doing anything illegal on it that they could take any action because youre at home anyway right](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Robbins_v._Lower_Merion_School_District).

 They can try.Answer #2: Best advice:  scotch tape (the translucent kind) over the webcam prevents a whole lot of worrying.  If you want something removable because you have to use the webcam, I personally am a fan of [these things](https://www.amazon.com/MMM686RYB-3m-Durable-File-Tabs/dp/B005ENGUL6).

Yes, they _can_.  No, they _shouldn't_.  But it's possible, and foreseeable, and preventable.  So plan ahead, and assume they're watching.