Civil Rights, Government & Administrative Law
Browse published legal information questions related to Civil Rights, Government & Administrative Law.
How do I handle student loans if I became permanently disabled and cannot work?
If you became permanently disabled and can no longer work, there may be relief options for your student loans, but the right path depends on what kind of loans you have, who services them, and whether the loans are feder...
Can a store use hidden cameras in dressing rooms to prevent shoplifting?
In Ohio, a store generally should not place hidden cameras in a dressing room or other area where a customer has a strong expectation of privacy. Dressing rooms are usually treated as private spaces, and secretly recordi...
What happens if I recorded a roommate admitting they stole money but did not ask for consent first?
In California, recording a conversation without asking for consent first can raise serious legal issues, even if the other person appears to confess to theft. California is generally a two-party consent state for confide...
What happens if my employer refuses to sign the PSLF certification form?
If your employer refuses to sign a PSLF certification form, it usually does not automatically end your chance at Public Service Loan Forgiveness, but it can make it harder to document your qualifying employment. In gener...
Can a Neighbor Legally Trim Branches From My Tree?
In Massachusetts, a neighbor may usually trim branches or roots that cross onto their property, but only up to the property line and generally at their own expense. In other words, a neighbor typically does not have the...
What are my rights if my ex recorded our private conversation and sent it to my new partner?
In Washington, your rights may depend on how the conversation was recorded, what kind of conversation it was, and whether you had a reasonable expectation of privacy. In general, Washington is a two-party consent state f...
What happens if the person harassing me says their messages are just free speech?
In general, saying “it’s free speech” does not automatically make harassment lawful. Under U.S. law, people have strong speech protections, but those protections are not unlimited. Communications that cross into threats,...
How do I file a small claims case in Alabama over a contractor who took my $2,500 deposit?
In Alabama, a small claims case may be one way to ask a court to decide a dispute over a contractor deposit, including a claim involving $2,500. In general, small claims courts are designed for lower-dollar disputes and...
Do I have to pay a fee to claim money that was escheated to the state treasury in New York?
In New York, you usually do not have to pay a fee just to search for or file a basic claim for unclaimed property that was turned over to the state treasury, often called escheated property. In many situations, the state...
What happens if the store says they are not responsible because no employee saw the puddle before I fell?
In Texas, a store’s claim that no employee saw the puddle before your fall does not automatically end the issue. In a premises liability claim, the key question is often whether the store knew or reasonably should have k...
What happens if I was hurt by a dog while pet sitting for the owner?
If you were hurt by a dog while pet sitting for the owner, the legal question is usually who may be responsible for the injury and what insurance, if any, may apply. In Delaware, as in many states, the answer often depen...
Do I have to pay a dentist for a procedure that failed and needs to be redone?
In general, you may still owe money for a dental procedure even if it did not work as expected, but that does not mean the dentist can always charge you the full amount without question. In New Jersey, as in many states,...
Do I have to get consent before recording a mediation session about a consumer dispute in California?
In California, the safest general answer is usually yes: you should assume you need clear consent before recording a mediation session, especially if the session is confidential or involves private dispute-resolution com...
Can I Sue a Travel Agency for Booking the Wrong Dates?
In general, you may have a legal claim if a travel agency books the wrong dates and that mistake causes financial loss or another measurable harm. Whether a claim exists usually depends on what the agency agreed to do, w...
What happens if my ex hid a camera in my apartment after we broke up?
If an ex hid a camera in your apartment after you broke up, that may raise serious privacy, criminal, and civil law issues in Michigan. In general, secretly recording someone in a private place can be illegal, especially...