Civil Rights, Government & Administrative Law
Browse published legal information questions related to Civil Rights, Government & Administrative Law.
What are my rights if my loan servicer gave me wrong advice and I lost years of PSLF credit?
If a loan servicer gave you wrong advice about Public Service Loan Forgiveness (PSLF) and that advice caused you to lose years of qualifying payment credit, you may have several possible avenues to explore, but the exact...
My neighbor’s fence blocks the only sunlight to my garden. Is there anything I can do?
In Massachusetts, a neighbor’s fence blocking sunlight to a garden is not automatically a legal violation. In general, property owners are allowed to use their land, including putting up fences, unless a local rule, ease...
Can I return a car if I discover undisclosed frame damage?
If you discover undisclosed frame damage after buying a car in Colorado, you may have legal options, but there is not a simple automatic right to return the vehicle in every situation. What matters usually depends on the...
How do I challenge statements made after hours of questioning without food or sleep?
If a statement was made after hours of questioning while a person was deprived of food or sleep, it may be possible to challenge whether the statement was voluntary. In criminal cases, courts usually look at the total ci...
Do I have to pay my deductible when the accident was completely the other driver’s fault?
In New York, the answer is often: maybe at first, but not necessarily in the end. If you use your own auto insurance coverage to repair your car, your policy may require you to pay the deductible up front before the insu...
What happens if a repair shop charges me for parts I did not authorize?
In Massachusetts, a repair shop generally should not add charges for parts or work that you did not authorize, but the exact answer depends on what you agreed to, what the shop disclosed, and how the repair was documente...
Do I have to preserve the device if I find a hidden camera in my hotel room?
If you find what looks like a hidden camera in a Pennsylvania hotel room, it is usually a good idea to preserve the device and the surrounding scene if you can do so safely. In general, the condition of the device, where...
What happens if a customer leaves a Google review falsely saying my restaurant gave them food poisoning?
If a customer posts a Google review falsely claiming your Texas restaurant caused food poisoning, the review may create serious business and reputational harm. In general, a false statement of fact published to others ca...
Is it legal for a roommate to leave a phone recording in the kitchen during a private argument?
In Pennsylvania, whether a roommate may legally leave a phone recording in a kitchen during a private argument usually depends on the facts, especially where the conversation happened, whether the people involved expecte...
What are my rights if my student loan balance increased while I was in an approved deferment?
If your student loan balance increased while you were in an approved deferment, the first question is usually whether the increase was expected under the loan terms. In many student loan programs, some interest may keep...
My Neighbor’s Pool Water Flooded My Yard — Can I Make Them Fix It?
In general, if a neighbor’s pool water is repeatedly or unreasonably flowing onto your property in South Carolina, you may have options to ask for the problem to be fixed and to seek compensation for damage. The legal th...
Do I have to pay taxes on student loans that are forgiven through PSLF?
In general, federal Public Service Loan Forgiveness (PSLF) is designed so that forgiven federal student loan debt is not treated the same way as regular taxable income. For many borrowers, the forgiven amount under PSLF...
What happens if the defamatory post was deleted but people already took screenshots?
In general, deleting a defamatory post does not necessarily make the issue go away. If other people already saw the post or saved screenshots, those screenshots may still be used as evidence that the statement was publis...
How do I enforce a small claims judgment against a business that closed?
If you won a small claims judgment against a business that later closed, enforcement can still be possible, but it often depends on what happened to the business, who owned it, and whether any assets or insurance remain....
Do I have to tell my car insurance company about a DUI?
In general, a DUI can affect your car insurance, but whether you must proactively tell your insurer depends on your policy, the insurer’s reporting requirements, and the facts of the incident. In Mississippi, many driver...