Legal Q&A Topics
Browse published legal information questions. Pages are sorted by recent reader activity.
What happens if I use AI to create a sequel to a copyrighted novel?
Using AI to create a sequel to a copyrighted novel can raise copyright concerns, especially if the new work is closely based on the protected characters, plot, setting, or expression of the original book. In general, cop...
My employer schedules me for “volunteer” events with clients. Do they have to pay me?
In general, if your employer schedules you for an event with clients and expects you to attend, that time may be treated as work time rather than true volunteer time. The label “volunteer” does not always control. What m...
Do I have to pay student loans if I was the victim of identity theft?
In general, if a student loan was taken out in your name because of identity theft, you may not be responsible for repaying that debt. But the answer often depends on who actually signed the loan documents, whether the l...
What are my rights if my landlord ignores repeated requests to fix a broken window?
If your landlord ignores repeated requests to fix a broken window, you may have rights under South Dakota landlord-tenant law and your lease, depending on the facts. In general, landlords must keep rental property in a c...
What are my rights if a detective says asking for a lawyer will make me look guilty?
If a detective says that asking for a lawyer will make you look guilty, the safest general rule is that you still have the right to ask for a lawyer. In the United States, a request for counsel is generally a protected c...
Employer Raised My Hourly Rate by Mistake and Won’t Fix It—Am I Liable?
In New Jersey, an employer may sometimes try to recover wages that were paid by mistake, including an hourly rate that was accidentally set too high. Whether you are legally liable usually depends on the facts, including...
What happens if my security camera records audio of guests talking inside my living room?
In California, a security camera that records audio inside your living room can raise significant privacy issues, even if the camera was installed for home security. Whether the recording is lawful usually depends on the...
Is it legal for a tow yard to charge $95 per day after my car was towed from the crash scene?
In Indiana, a tow yard may be able to charge daily storage fees after a crash tow, but whether a $95 per day charge is legal usually depends on several facts. Those facts can include how the vehicle was towed, what the t...
Neighbor’s dog keeps getting loose and scratched my car. Can animal control help with property damage?
In Georgia, animal control may be able to help if a neighbor’s dog is repeatedly running loose, creating a nuisance, or violating local animal control rules. Whether animal control can do anything about the car damage it...
Is it legal for a landlord to serve an eviction notice through a maintenance worker?
In general, a landlord may be able to use another person to deliver an eviction notice, but whether that service is legally valid depends on the rules that apply in the specific jurisdiction and on the facts of the deliv...
Do I have to call the police if I discover a hidden camera in an Airbnb rental?
If you discover a hidden camera in an Airbnb rental in New York, you generally are not legally required in every situation to call the police just because you found it. But in many cases, contacting law enforcement may b...
Is it legal for a landlord to charge a move-in fee not listed in the lease?
In Arkansas, whether a landlord can charge a move-in fee that was not listed in the lease usually depends on the lease language, any addenda, and whether the fee was clearly disclosed before you agreed to rent the proper...
Can a landlord charge late fees when their online payment portal was down on the due date?
In general, a landlord may only charge late fees if the lease allows them and the fee is otherwise lawful under Tennessee law. If the landlord’s online payment portal was down on the due date, that fact may matter becaus...
I bought a mattress online and the return window ended before it fully expanded. Any rights?
In California, you may have some options, but the answer usually depends on the seller’s return policy, the product listing, and whether the mattress was defective or not as described. A mattress that arrives compressed...
How do I make a personal injury claim for burns from a defective pressure cooker?
If a defective pressure cooker burned you, the general process usually starts with getting medical care and preserving evidence. In a product-related injury claim, people often try to show that the product was defective,...