Legal Q&A Topics
Browse published legal information questions. Pages are sorted by recent reader activity.
What are my rights if my ex refuses to pay court ordered spousal support but pays other debts?
In Idaho, if a court has ordered spousal support and your ex is paying other debts instead of the support obligation, that may mean your ex is not following the court order. In general, court-ordered spousal support is t...
What are my rights if I slipped in a restaurant bathroom with water all over the floor?
If you slipped in a restaurant bathroom in Idaho because water was on the floor, you may have a premises liability claim, but the facts matter a lot. In general, restaurant owners and operators have a duty to use reasona...
Can a Landlord Make Me Sign a New Lease With Higher Rent Mid-Term?
In general, a landlord cannot usually force a tenant to sign a new lease in the middle of an existing fixed-term lease just to raise the rent, unless the original lease gives the landlord that right or the tenant agrees...
Can a broken apartment door lead to a felony under Minn. Stat. 609.595?
In Minnesota, a broken apartment door can sometimes be part of a felony property-damage charge, but not every broken door leads to a felony. Under Minn. Stat. 609.595, the legal issue usually turns on whether the damage...
Can I file an antiharassment order against a neighbor who bangs on my walls every night and screams threats?
In Washington, you may be able to ask a court for an antiharassment order if a neighbor’s conduct fits the legal definition of harassment. In general, that kind of order is used to address a course of conduct that seriou...
Is it legal for an insurer to reduce my settlement because I had a prior back injury?
In general, an insurer may try to reduce the value of a settlement if it believes part of your current back condition was already present before the accident or event at issue. That does not automatically mean the reduct...
My apartment’s fire alarm goes off constantly and management ignores it. Can I break the lease?
In Texas, a constant fire alarm problem may be more than a nuisance if it creates serious safety concerns, interferes with your use of the apartment, or shows that the landlord is not maintaining the property in a livabl...
Can police use a statement I made voluntarily before they asked any questions?
In New Jersey, a statement you make voluntarily before police start asking questions may sometimes be used by law enforcement. Whether it can be used often depends on the circumstances, including whether the statement wa...
Is it legal for police to lie about evidence after reading me my rights?
In Nevada, as in many other states, police may sometimes use deception during an investigation or interrogation. Being read your rights does not automatically stop officers from using questioning tactics that may include...
Can I fight an eviction notice if my landlord refused to accept partial rent?
In Virginia, you may be able to fight an eviction notice after a landlord refused partial rent, but it usually depends on the lease, the timing of the payment, the amount owed, and what notice the landlord gave. In gener...
Do I have to pay back Medicaid from my injury settlement?
In general, Medicaid may have a right to be repaid from part of an injury settlement if Medicaid paid for medical care related to the injury. This is often called Medicaid recovery or reimbursement. The exact rules can d...
Is it legal for an insurer to reduce my settlement because I had arthritis before the fall?
In general, an insurer may try to argue that a pre-existing condition such as arthritis affected the value of a fall-related injury claim. That does not automatically mean the insurer is allowed to reduce a settlement si...
Do I have to pay an early termination fee if my apartment is unsafe because the front door lock has been broken for weeks?
In Mississippi, the answer usually depends on the lease terms, the seriousness of the safety problem, and what steps the tenant and landlord took after the problem was reported. A broken front door lock can be a signific...
How do I respond to an eviction notice for lease violations when there are no photos or proof?
In Massachusetts, a lease-violation eviction notice does not automatically mean you must move out right away. In general, a landlord still has to follow the proper legal process, and the landlord usually bears the burden...
Can I still recover money if I was not wearing a seat belt during the crash?
In general, yes, you may still be able to recover money after a crash even if you were not wearing a seat belt. In Wyoming, the fact that you were unbelted does not automatically end a personal injury claim. However, it...