Civil Rights, Government & Administrative Law
Browse published legal information questions related to Civil Rights, Government & Administrative Law.
Is it legal for a repair shop to hold my laptop until I pay a diagnostic fee I was never told about?
In Alaska, a repair shop may be able to keep possession of a laptop for unpaid charges in some situations, but the answer usually depends on the facts, the paperwork, and any agreement you made with the shop. If you were...
Is it legal for the state to suspend my driver’s license over child support arrears?
In general, yes. In Arkansas, a driver’s license may be suspended when a person falls behind on child support, depending on the amount owed, the enforcement process used, and any available exceptions or ways to get back...
Do I have to say out loud that I am recording before a business call starts in California?
In California, the answer is usually yes if you are recording a confidential telephone or in-person communication and you do not already have the required consent. California is generally treated as a two-party consent s...
Is it legal to record a customer service call in California if the company says the call may be recorded?
In California, the fact that a company says a call may be recorded does not automatically mean you are free to record the call yourself. California generally has strict rules about recording confidential communications,...
What happens if a debt collector keeps reporting the same debt every month on my credit report?
If a debt collector keeps reporting the same debt every month, it usually does not mean you have a brand-new debt each month. In general, the account may be shown as an ongoing collection tradeline, and the monthly updat...
Can I record a call with an insurance adjuster if I tell them at the beginning?
In California, the answer is usually no if the other person does not agree. California is generally treated as an “all-party consent” state for recording confidential communications, which means telling the insurance adj...
How do I know whether a public sidewalk conversation is private enough for Penal Code 632?
In California, the answer usually depends on whether the conversation was carried on in a way that a reasonable person would expect it to be confidential. A public sidewalk is a public place, so that setting often makes...
Is it legal for a contractor to record our payment dispute without warning me?
In Pennsylvania, whether a contractor can record a payment dispute without warning you depends a lot on how the recording was made and what was said. If the contractor recorded a conversation and you were part of that co...
Can I sue a website for refusing to remove defamatory comments posted by users?
In New Jersey, the answer is often complicated and depends heavily on who posted the content, what the website did, and whether federal law applies. In general, websites are often protected from liability for user-genera...
Can a landlord deny me housing because of my credit score alone?
In general, a landlord may consider your credit score when screening rental applicants, but the answer depends on the facts and on whether any fair housing or consumer credit rules apply. A credit score by itself is not...
Can an HOA tow my car from my driveway because the registration sticker is expired?
In Florida, an HOA may sometimes be able to have a car towed from a driveway if the vehicle is violating the community’s recorded rules, parking restrictions, or property-use requirements. An expired registration sticker...
Is it criminal damage to property if I smashed my ex’s phone during an argument?
In Minnesota, smashing someone else’s phone during an argument may be treated as criminal damage to property if the phone belonged to your ex and you did not have permission to destroy it. In general, intentionally damag...
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...
Can I sue my landlord if I found a hidden camera inside my bedroom smoke detector?
If you found a hidden camera inside a smoke detector in your bedroom, that can raise very serious privacy and safety concerns. In California, a landlord generally is not allowed to secretly record a tenant in a private a...
Can I Sue a Photographer Who Never Delivered Wedding Photos?
If a wedding photographer never delivered your photos, you may have a possible civil claim, but the answer depends on the contract, the communications between the parties, and what actually happened. In Illinois, dispute...