Civil Rights, Government & Administrative Law
Browse published legal information questions related to Civil Rights, Government & Administrative Law.
What are my rights if my ex refuses to pay half of medical bills listed in the parenting order?
If a North Dakota parenting order says both parents must share certain medical bills, that order usually remains enforceable unless it has been changed by the court. In general, one parent’s refusal to pay does not erase...
Can I Sue My Roommate for Leaving Unpaid Rent?
In general, a roommate dispute over unpaid rent is a contract and shared-housing issue, not a criminal matter. In Massachusetts, whether you may be able to bring a civil claim usually depends on how the housing arrangeme...
Do I Have to Return Wrong Items Sent With My Buyee Order From Japan?
If Buyee or a seller sent you the wrong item, the answer is usually fact-specific. In general, whether you have to return it depends on the purchase terms, who made the mistake, what was delivered, and whether any return...
My Bank Froze My Account After a Fraud Report — How Do I Get Access Back?
In California, a bank may freeze or restrict an account after a fraud report if it believes the account may be involved in unauthorized activity, a disputed transaction, identity theft, or another security concern. In ge...
How do I handle police asking me to come to the station for a voluntary interview?
If police ask you to come to the station for a “voluntary interview,” the most important thing to understand is that voluntary does not always feel optional in practice, even though you may not be under arrest. In genera...
Do I Have to Pay HOA Fines If I Never Got the Violation Notice?
In general, whether you have to pay an HOA fine after not receiving the violation notice depends on the HOA’s governing documents, how notice was supposed to be delivered, and whether the association can show it followed...
Is it legal for a former tenant to post false claims that I illegally kept deposits?
In Hawaii, a former tenant generally may have some freedom to talk about a dispute, including saying they believe a landlord kept a deposit unfairly. But if the tenant posts statements that are false and presented as fac...
Can I Get a Protective Order Against My Father for Ongoing Harassment?
In Minnesota, it may be possible to ask a court for a protective order against a parent, including a father, if the behavior fits the legal standards for harassment or another type of abuse. The basic question is usually...
Can a towing company refuse card payment and keep adding storage fees?
In general, a towing company may be able to set the payment methods it accepts, but that does not automatically mean it can add unlimited storage fees or ignore other legal limits. The answer often depends on the tow con...
Dog sitter lost my dog during a weekend trip. What can I realistically recover?
If a dog sitter lost your dog during a weekend trip, you may be able to recover some of your financial losses, but the amount and type of recovery usually depend on the facts, the contract, and California law. In general...
What happens if my boss secretly recorded our closed-door meeting without telling me?
In California, secretly recording a private or “confidential” conversation can raise serious legal issues. Whether your boss broke the law usually depends on the setting, who was present, whether everyone knew the conver...
Can I be charged if I broke my own property while it was in someone else’s apartment?
In Minnesota, you generally cannot be charged just for breaking your own property. But the fact that the item belonged to you does not always end the legal question. If the property was in someone else’s apartment, polic...
Can I Press Charges for Fake Evidence and Reputation Damage in Georgia?
In Georgia, the answer usually depends on what happened, who made the fake evidence, and how it was used. In general, a private person does not personally “press charges.” Criminal charges are usually handled by law enfo...
Is it legal for my spouse to record our private argument in the bedroom without telling me?
In California, the answer is often no if the recording is a confidential communication and your spouse did not have the required consent. California is generally a two-party consent state for recordings of confidential c...
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...