Civil Rights, Government & Administrative Law
Browse published legal information questions related to Civil Rights, Government & Administrative Law.
Is it legal for a school to withhold my transcript because I owe an old tuition balance?
In general, a school may have some ability to withhold an official transcript if there is an unpaid tuition balance or other outstanding account balance. That said, whether the school can do so depends on the type of sch...
What happens if my student loan servicer applied my extra payment to future bills instead of principal?
If your student loan servicer applied your extra payment to future bills instead of principal, the practical effect is usually that you may not reduce your loan balance as quickly as you expected. In many situations, the...
How do I handle finding a camera disguised as a phone charger in a vacation rental?
Finding a camera disguised as a phone charger in a vacation rental can be alarming, and in Georgia it may raise both privacy and criminal-law concerns depending on the facts. In general, the safest first steps are to avo...
Is it legal for the insurance company to subtract old dents from my repair payment?
In general, an insurance company may try to reduce a repair payment if part of the damage was pre-existing, unrelated to the current claim, or not covered by the policy. In Nevada, as in many states, the key question is...
What are my rights if my bank will not refund fraudulent debit card charges reported within two days?
If you reported fraudulent debit card charges within two days and your bank still will not refund the money, you may have consumer rights under federal law and possibly under your account agreement or state law. In gener...
Do I have to report a minor accident to my insurance if there was only a small bumper scratch?
In general, a minor accident with only a small bumper scratch may still be something you consider reporting to your insurance company, even if the damage looks cosmetic. Whether you have to report it often depends on you...
What happens if my insurance agent entered the wrong address and my claim was denied?
If an insurance agent entered the wrong address and your claim was denied, the denial may not be the end of the matter. In general, the key question is whether the wrong address was a material mistake, whether it was cau...
What happens if my PSLF payment count shows 82 payments but I think it should be 110?
If your Public Service Loan Forgiveness (PSLF) payment count shows 82 qualifying payments but you believe you should have 110, that usually means the loan servicer or PSLF review process has not yet credited some months...
Can I record audio on my home security cameras if contractors are working inside my house?
In Massachusetts, recording audio on a home security camera may raise legal issues because audio recording can be treated differently from video recording. In general, people are often more comfortable that video of acti...
Can I take a moving company to court for holding my items hostage over extra fees?
In general, a moving company may not be able to keep your belongings indefinitely just because it says you owe more money, but the answer depends on the contract, the shipment type, the facts of the move, and whether sta...
How do I cancel a monthly tutoring service that keeps billing after my child stopped attending?
If a tutoring company keeps charging you after your child stopped attending, the first step is usually to review the contract or membership terms you agreed to when you signed up. In many consumer service arrangements, t...
Can a Hotel Charge a Smoking Fee If I Never Smoked?
In general, a hotel may charge a smoking fee if it believes a room, balcony, or other hotel area was smoked in or smelled like smoke, even if the guest says they never smoked. The key issue is usually not only whether th...
Is it legal for police to stop me just because I left a bar parking lot late at night?
In Florida, police usually cannot stop a driver just because the person left a bar parking lot late at night. In general, a traffic stop or detention needs some lawful reason, such as a traffic violation, a visible equip...
Can a Hotel Keep My Deposit for Noise Complaints I Did Not Cause?
In general, a hotel may only keep a deposit if its policy, the room agreement, or another valid contract term allows it and if the hotel can connect the loss to the guest’s conduct or to an actual charge that the deposit...
What are my rights if the bite happened while I was working as a mail carrier?
If you were bitten by a dog while working as a mail carrier in Kansas, you may have more than one possible path for help, depending on the facts. In general, a work-related dog bite can raise workers’ compensation issues...