Personal Injury Claim Questions

Whether you can sue your Uncle or not will depend on a variety of factors including the date of offense and any evidence that might have been gathered at the time. If the molestation by your uncle happened too far in the past, the statute of limitations to file a lawsuit may have already lapsed. For a better understanding of your rights and options I would contact a personal injury attorney. I do not practice that type of law but if you give me a call (see below) I can give you a good referral.

Best Regards,

Matt Sharp
The Law Office of Matthew D. Sharp

I'm so sorry to hear that this happened to you.

It sounds like you did all the right things by sharing your information with the other driver, obtaining what information you could from him, and calling for a police report. It would seem as though the license plate number would be enough for an insurance company to locate the policyholder, even if the policy number is incorrect. If they can't, it's possible that Allstate isn't actually his insurance company. It sounds as though you're on the right track with filing a claim with GEICO and allowing them to track him down with the information you provided.

You mentioned some back pain. It's important that you get a medical examination right away. Sometimes, more serious symptoms don't appear immediately — it could take days or weeks for some conditions to become apparent after an accident. You need to get documentation from a medical professional of your condition. If the back pain leads to anything that requires treatment (medication, surgery, etc.), or if it requires you to take time off from work or affects your life in other ways, you'll want to be compensated for that. An accurate medical record is crucial to receiving the compensation you deserve.

You asked when is the time to involve a lawyer… it sounds like the time is now. There are a few reasons for this: The first is that you're having some trouble tracking down an insurance policy for the other driver and he wasn't entirely cooperative. GEICO might be able to resolve this, but maybe not. It's always good to have a lawyer in your corner when one party is uncooperative.

The second reason is that you're beginning to experience some physical injury as a result of the accident. You might not know yet the extent of the injury or treatment, but medical bills can accumulate fast. Also, you want your lawyer to review any settlement offered by the insurance company in order to make sure that the amount will cover the full extent of your injury and treatment. If you will require future medical treatment resulting from the accident, you can't go back to the insurance company and request more after you've agreed to a settlement. Your lawyer can advise on whether an offered settlement will be enough.

Please feel free to use the Enjuris law firm directory to find a Maryland personal injury lawyer who can help. Best of luck and I hope you feel better!

In South Dakota, liability insurance, comprehensive insurance, and collision insurance typically follow the car. This means that the owner's liability, comprehensive, and collision insurance will cover the driver of the car. However, the coverage may be void if the owner of the car is unlicensed depending on the wording of the specific car insurance policy.

On the other hand, personal injury protection (PIP) and MedPay coverage typically follow the driver. In other words, if you have PIP or MedPay coverage, it should pay for your injuries regardless of who owns the vehicle.

Keep in mind that the above information is only relevant if you caused the car accident. If someone else caused the car accident, then their liability insurance will pay for your damages, regardless of who owns the car and whether they're licensed.

I'm sorry to hear about your accident.

Many insurance policies contain a "choice of law" clause, which states that a certain state's laws will govern the policy regardless of where the accident took place.

If the policy at issue doesn't contain a choice of law clause (or if the clause is unenforceable as written), the court in which you file your bad faith insurance claim will determine which state's laws govern the policy.

In most cases, the laws of the state where the accident occurred (in this case Tennessee) will apply, but that's not always the case. If the lawsuit is filed in South Carolina, for example, courts have historically followed the lex loci contractus rule which applies the laws of the state where the policy was purchased and signed.

Choice of law determinations can be confusing. I would recommend meeting with an attorney in your area to discuss your options. Most initial consultations are free. When you meet with the attorney, be sure to bring along copies of all the relevant insurance policies (if possible). You can find an attorney near you using our free online directory.

Also, keep in mind that even if you can't stack coverage, you can file a personal injury lawsuit against the at-fault party for any damages that exceed the policy limits.

I'm sorry this happened to you.

You ALWAYS have the right to fire your attorney and hire a different attorney.

You can find more information about firing an attorney (including a sample termination letter) here. In addition, you can find a new personal injury attorney using our free online directory.

When an insurance company deems a vehicle a "total loss," an adjuster for the company estimates what a reasonable cash offer for the vehicle would have been immediately before the accident took place. The insurance company then retains an independent adjuster to appraise the vehicle. The offer the insurance company makes to you generally falls somewhere between these two estimates.

It's common for people to be frustrated by the amount their insurance company offers for a totaled vehicle. This is because the insurance company's offer takes into consideration things like wear and tear.

You can attempt to negotiate with your insurance company, but, realistically, hiring an attorney probably won't help improve your offer in this situation—especially when you take into account the amount of money you'll have to pay the attorney to represent you.

I'm sorry you're in this situation. Generally, a district attorney only prosecutes criminal cases — they don't handle civil or family court matters as part of their role as the DA. It's possible that this person is acting as a family lawyer in a private capacity outside her function as the district attorney, though that would seem unethical and inappropriate.

Each defendant is entitled to a lawyer assigned by the state for a criminal proceeding. Under Texas law, you're not entitled to a family lawyer to represent you for a divorce or financial issues — you need to find one on your own if you need one. There is more information about that on TexasLawHelp.org.

However, it sounds to me as though you would benefit from having both a criminal lawyer to defend you in your criminal proceedings and a family lawyer to help with the divorce and financial issues like the stimulus funds and tax considerations. Your criminal defender likely isn't well-versed in handling family tax or financial issues, and it would be better for you to find an attorney who specializes in those areas of law. Without knowing the specifics, I can't say what you should do at this point, except that you should find a lawyer who can represent your interests.

Best of luck — I hope everything works out for you.

I'm sorry this happened to you.

The fact that the attorney didn't verify that he was suing the correct person, particularly after being informed of his initial mistake, strikes me as very irresponsible. That being said, you probably can't recover any damages in this situation. The situation you described doesn't rise to the level of harassment or even a frivolous lawsuit.

You might consider filing a grievance against the attorney with the Texas Bar Association. The Texas Bar Association will investigate the complaint and discipline the attorney if appropriate.

Under Utah Rule of Civil Procedure 5, all motions filed with the court must be served upon all parties. This can be done by serving the party's lawyer or, if the party does not have a lawyer, by any of the methods listed in Utah Rule of Civil Procedure 5(b)(3), which include email, mail, hand delivery, and others.

If a motion is not properly served, the judge will not grant the motion.

A retainer is an amount of money paid upfront to secure the services of an attorney. The most common type of retainer is a "retaining fee." A retaining fee must be deposited into a trust account to draw from as work is completed. If there's money left in the trust account when the attorney-client relationship is terminated, the attorney must return the leftover money within a reasonable amount of time.

Without reviewing your attorney-client agreement or knowing more about your case, I can't tell you why it's taking so long for you to get your retainer back. I would recommend contacting your attorney (send a letter via certified mail with return receipt requested so you have proof of delivery). If you can't resolve the issue, contact the Pennsylvania State Bar Office of Chief Disciplinary Counsel.

It is illegal to distill "spirituous liquors" for personal consumption in Colorado without a license (see Colorado Revised Statute § 44-3-101 et al.). Spirituous liquors are defined as:

"Any alcohol beverage obtained by distillation, mixed with water and other substances in solution, and includes among other things brandy, rum, whiskey, gin, powdered alcohol, and every liquid or solid, patented or not, containing at least one-half of one percent alcohol by volume and which is fit for use for beverage purposes."

Home-distilling spirituous liquors for personal consumption without a license is considered a Class 2 Petty Offense, carrying a $250 fine for each offense.

You can learn more about obtaining a license here.

Your husband's lawyer has an ethical responsibility to respond to your husband in a timely manner. If the attorney was privately retained, your husband has the right to fire his attorney for lack of responsiveness and hire a new attorney. If your husband's attorney is a public defender, your husband will need to request permission from the judge and provide evidence that his attorney hasn't responded to him in a year.

What's more, your husband can file an ethical complaint against his attorney. The Tennessee State Bar will investigate the complaint.

I'm so sorry that you are going through all of this.

First and foremost, I would recommend filing a police report so this man can be charged for his crimes. Once the police are involved, you can reach out to a personal injury lawyer so that you can file a civil lawsuit to recover damages for the injuries he caused.

Here are a few other resources I would recommend contacting for assistance:

• Georgia Rape Crisis Centers
• Georgia Domestic Violence Shelter Programs
• Georgia Legal Aid

I'm sorry you went through this experience. I would recommend contacting your local Georgia Legal Aid. The office may be able to help you with any legal issues and, if not, they can refer you to someone who can help.

Additionally, if you're experiencing mental health issues, you should consider contacting the Georgia Crisis & Access Line (GCAL) at 1-800-715-4225 (available 24/7) for access to services and immediate crisis help.

Missouri Rule of Professional Conduct 4.2 prohibits an attorney from communicating with a represented party about the case unless the lawyer has the consent of the other party's lawyer or is authorized to do so by law or court order.

If you believe your lawyer has behaved unethically or unprofessionally, you can file a complaint with the Office of the Chief Disciplinary Counsel of the Supreme Court of Missouri. That office will investigate the complaint. If the charges are proven true, the lawyer will face a range of disciplinary actions depending on the nature of their behavior.

I'm sorry you're having problems with your lawyer.

You always have the right to terminate your relationship with your attorney and hire a different attorney. Read more about how to fire an attorney and protect your legal rights here.

Additionally, you should consider filing a complaint with the Nevada State Bar. The Nevada State Bar can investigate complaints of professional misconduct filed against an attorney. If those allegations are substantiated, formal disciplinary proceedings can be initiated. You can find more information about filing a complaint with the Nevada State Bar here.

I'm sorry you're having such a difficult time.

It sounds like there are a number of landlord-tenant issues you're dealing with. Here are a couple of things to keep in mind with respect to tenant rights in Colorado:

• A tenant has the right to a residential property that's fit for human habitation. In other words, a tenant has the right to be free from conditions that interfere with the tenant's health or safety. (CRS 38-12-503)
• A tenant has the right to be free from discrimination and harassment. (CRS 38-12-509)

If your landlord violates these (or any other tenant rights), you may have grounds for a constructive eviction. In other words, you may be able to lawfully break your lease if the issue is not resolved after providing written notice to your landlord.

Before breaking your lease (or taking any other action against your landlord), it's important to talk to a landlord-tenant attorney in your area. If you think you qualify for free or reduced-cost legal help, you can contact Colorado Housing Connects or one of Colorado's legal aid organizations.

In North Carolina, the process for "renewing" a judgment is different than in most other states.

To renew a judgment in North Carolina, the creditor must file a second lawsuit for the remaining amount owed on the original judgment. The debtor must be served with a complaint, summons, and affidavit.

If the debtor is not served, the judgment won't be renewed. However, there are a number of fairly simple ways to serve a debtor when the creditor doesn't know where the debtor lives or is having trouble serving the debtor personally. For example, the creditor can simply publish notice of the lawsuit in a newspaper located in the county where the debtor last resided.

I suspect your creditor is in the process of completing service by publication (notice generally has to run in the newspaper for several weeks). Once your creditor has completed this process, they can once again obtain a 10-year judgment on the basis of your unresponsiveness.

If you would like to resolve this issue, I would suggest contesting the renewal (i.e., responding to the complaint) or contacting the creditor and working out a payment plan.

I'm sorry you're having a difficult time with your attorney.

There are many valid reasons why an attorney may continue a case. Continuing a case is especially common among public defenders who have many clients and often need more time to gather evidence to support their clients. What's more, sometimes the prosecuting attorney asks for the continuance and the defense attorney simply agrees to the continuance.

Your attorney does, however, have an ethical responsibility to respond to you in a timely manner. If your attorney was privately retained, you have the right to fire your attorney for lack of responsiveness and hire a new attorney. If your attorney is a public defender, you'll need to request permission from the judge and provide evidence that your attorney hasn't responded to you in months.

The Federal Bar Association has developed an informational handbook for self-represented (pro se) litigants that is available here. The handbook contains general information that may be helpful, but not all parts are applicable to the Northern District of Georgia.

You can visit the Northern District of Georgia's webpage for pro se guidance here. In general, the clerk's office staff can provide procedural information, including helping you use PACER.

Depending on your financial situation and the nature of your lawsuit, you may be able to receive free legal help through legal aid.

In the meantime, I would consider looking through our Georgia personal injury pages, which may help you understand your lawsuit and formulate a response.

I'm sorry that you are going through this difficult time.

Several states recognize an "alienation of affection" claim, which allows you to sue the third party who interfered with your relationship. Unfortunately, Texas is not one of the states that recognizes this claim.

You may be able to sue your spouse for the intentional infliction of emotional distress (see Twyman v. Twyman) if you can prove that:

1. Your husband acted intentionally or recklessly,
2. Your husband's conduct was extreme and outrageous,
3. Your husband's actions caused you emotional distress, and
4. The resulting emotional distress was severe.

Unfortunately, most courts in the United States don't consider an affair "extreme and outrageous" enough to award damages. So far, no court in Texas has awarded damages on the basis of an affair. Nevertheless, if you want to talk to a lawyer about the specific facts of your case, most initial consultations are free.

The attorneys at Enjuris practice civil (not criminal) law. You will need to speak to a criminal attorney to get advice with respect to your question on whether you will be arrested for sexting.

In the meantime, you can read Virginia Code §18.2-374.3, which addresses the crime of sexting with a minor.

The minor's father would have to file a civil lawsuit (on behalf of the minor) against you in order to recover $4,800 in damages. There is no guarantee that a court would award civil damages in this case. In fact, most sexting cases in the United States have not resulted in civil damages being awarded.

In other words, I would strongly advise you not to pay the father any money unless you are ordered by a court to do so (especially given that this may be a scam). If you would like, you can find an attorney near you to talk about the damages issue further using our free online directory.

I'm sorry you're dealing with this and that you were injured.

It sounds as though what you're asking is how to defend against the violations with which you've been charged. My suggestion would be to find a lawyer to advise.

Without all the facts, I can't suggest what you should do because I don't know the exact charges or what evidence they're based on. Even if these are not criminal charges (rather civil violations), you can call a criminal defense lawyer who's familiar with your local court system and who can advise you on the charges and review the evidence. It's possible that if the statements are "second-hand" as you say, they could be inadmissible in court as hearsay, but that's something your lawyer will need to determine.

Best of luck and I hope it all works out for you.

Judges have a right to make a decision immediately or take a case "under advisement" and issue a decision at a later date. The Georgia Code requires judges to make decisions within a certain period of time (generally 30 or 90 days depending on the population of the county where the court is located). I can't find a similar law for magistrate judges under the Uniform Rules of the Magistrate Court. This isn't unusual, as these cases tend to be less formal.

Two months is likely nearing the end of a time period that would be deemed reasonable. With that being said, many courts are currently backed up due to the COVID-19 pandemic. I would continue to reach out to your attorneys. If you're having problems with your attorneys, you can contact the Georgia State Bar Client Assistance Program.

I am so sorry you're going through all of this. It may be that there's some sort of breakdown in the system if you're not permitted to have any type of involvement in proceedings related to your children's care and custody. If you feel that your lawyer hasn't been handling your case adequately, you can look for another lawyer.

Be sure that whomever you choose is experienced in family law and handling cases involving Social Services. Your lawyer does have a responsibility to communicate with you about updates to your case and to make sure that all court appearances are made and documents filed on time. It sounds as though there might also be a criminal proceeding if you entered into a plea agreement, so make sure that you have the correct type of lawyer (or multiple lawyers if necessary) for the types of cases that are pending.

If you need assistance or an advocate, you can contact Ohio Legal Help for additional resources.

Best of luck. I hope that the situation resolves swiftly.

A lawyer is responsible for explaining:

1. The reasoning (strengths and weaknesses) of the case
2. The probable outcome of a trial
3. The terms of the plea bargain offer
4. Possible sentences

A lawyer certainly should be providing all of the information necessary for the client to make a reasonable decision based on the likelihood of a variety of outcomes for their case, including any changes that might arise over time.

I'm sorry you're going through this.

Louisiana law permits a lawyer to withdraw from a case if the client is unable to pay the lawyer. However, Louisiana Rule of Professional Conduct 1.16(b)(5) requires that the lawyer provide "reasonable warning" before withdrawing. In other words, your lawyer was required to provide you with sufficient notice prior to the motion hearing to permit you to find another attorney.

Regardless, it sounds like you and your lawyer have mutually agreed to terminate the relationship. If you're having trouble locating an attorney who you can afford, I would recommend using the "Modest Means Directory" or the "Legal Aid Directory" on the Louisiana State Bar homepage to find a lawyer who can provide free and reduced-cost legal help. You can find links to these directories here.

It's always good to have photographs of your injuries as close to the date that the injuries were sustained as possible. In most cases, people aren't able to take photographs of serious injuries while they are being sustained. In your case, having witnesses and time-stamped photographs of your injuries should certainly help your claim.

You can learn more about how to take accident scene photographs here.

If you think you're ready to meet with an attorney, you can locate one near you using our free online directory.

California passed a law in 2017 that protects a consumer from a "surprise" medical bill from an out-of-network ambulance transport under certain circumstances. A patient also has the right to refuse an ambulance ride if they're competent to do so.

If emergency responders arrived on the scene and provided you medical services, you are likely responsible for those costs. You can check with your insurance company to see what's covered under your policy.

With respect to your concerns about the possibility of having been drugged, that would be a criminal act and should be handled by law enforcement. The first step would be to have an immediate medical exam with testing to determine if there's detectable drugs in your body. You'd need to prove the presence of drugs in order to show that a crime took place. If so, you should contact your local law enforcement department to pursue legal action as the victim of a crime.

The term "personal jurisdiction" refers to the power a court has to make a decision regarding the party being sued. A court in Wisconsin has personal jurisdiction over a company if: (1) the company was incorporated in Wisconsin, (2) the company has "substantial and continuous operations" in Wisconsin, or (3) the action giving rise to the claim occurred in Wisconsin. Based on the information you provided, it sounds like the action giving rise to the claim (breaking the sink) occurred in Wisconsin. Additionally, it sounds like the Minnesota company may have "substantial and continuous operations" in Wisconsin. This would be the case if, for example, the Minnesota company routinely completed construction projects in Wisconsin.

Accordingly, based on the information you provided, you can most likely sue the Minnesota company in Wisconsin. Keep in mind that there might be information you haven't told me that could impact this answer. For example, it's possible that the construction contract you signed with the Minnesota company includes a clause that limits where you can file a lawsuit (this would not be uncommon). "

• The company was incorporated in Wisconsin,
• The company has "substantial and continuous operations" in Wisconsin, or
• The action giving rise to the claim occurred in Wisconsin

Based on the information you provided, it sounds like the action giving rise to the claim (breaking the sink) occurred in Wisconsin. Additionally, it sounds like the Minnesota company may have "substantial and continuous operations" in Wisconsin. This would be the case if, for example, the Minnesota company routinely completed construction projects in Wisconsin.

In conclusion, based on the information you provided, you can most likely sue the Minnesota company in Wisconsin. Keep in mind that there might be information I don't know that could impact this answer. For example, it's possible that the construction contract you signed with the Minnesota company has a clause that limits where you can file a lawsuit.

Generally speaking, the personal liability section of a homeowners insurance policy covers people who are injured in the home except for members of the household.

Every insurance policy defines the term "household" differently. For example, some policies define household to include family members living in the house full-time, whereas other policies include family members living in the house part-time or even living completely outside the home. Similarly, some policies only consider spouses and children of the named insured to be members of a household, whereas other policies extend to distant relatives.

The bottom line is that your chances in court depend on the specific language of the homeowners insurance policy (regardless of whether you signed the policy or not) and the court's interpretation of that language. Without reviewing the policy, I can't answer your question. Accordingly, I would recommend meeting with an attorney in your area to review the policy.

Keep in mind that, even if you can't file an insurance claim, you may be able to sue the at-fault party for damages.

A client can generally fire an attorney for any reason. The exceptions are rare and generally include situations when a trial is pending.

Your attorney can legally recommend that you accept a settlement. However, your attorney can't force you to accept a settlement. Specifically, Rule 1.2 of the Mississippi Rules of Professional Conduct states that a lawyer shall abide by a clients decision whether to accept an offer of settlement and must consult with the client before accepting or rejecting a settlement offer.

In your case, it sounds like the settlement offer has not yet been signed. Consequently, you are within your rights to refuse to sign the settlement and to terminate your relationship with your attorney.

Under California Rule of Professional Conduct 3-700(D)(2), an attorney is prohibited from keeping an unearned fee. Rather, upon termination, an attorney must promptly refund any part of a fee paid in advance that has not been earned.

This begs the question: Did your attorney earn the $500 that you paid him?

It's impossible for me to know the answer to this question without knowing the work your attorney has done on your case.

However, California law requires attorneys to provide their clients with an accounting that explains any charges made against an advanced payment. Accordingly, I would recommend asking your attorney for an accounting. If you're not satisfied by the accounting, you should request that your attorney return your $500 deposit.

In the vast majority of cases, you are free to terminate the attorney-client relationship and proceed with the probate on your own. To do so, you need to have your lawyer file a motion to withdraw with the court.

Oregon Revised Statute 115.305 provides that "all causes of action or suit by one person against another survive to the personal representative of the former and against the personal representative of the latter."

In other words, the personal representative of your brother's estate can continue the lawsuit to its conclusion. Any money awarded would go to your brother's estate and would be distributed according to his will. To continue the lawsuit or enforce the settlement, the personal representative simply needs to file a motion with the court (or have a lawyer file the motion).

Generally speaking, there is no duty to render aid. However, the Michigan Supreme Court recognized a duty to render aid when there is a special relationship between the parties. One such special relationship is the "employer-employee" relationship. When a special relationship exists, the parties are required to render "reasonable care under the circumstances."

In other words, your husband's employer had a legal duty to render "reasonable care" to your husband. If your husband's employer failed to call 9-1-1 after learning that your husband had a heart attack, then they likely breached their legal duty to render reasonable care and could be held liable for any resulting harm.

I would recommend scheduling an initial consultation with a Michigan personal injury attorney to discuss your legal options.

I'm so sorry this happened to you.

In California, there is no legal duty to assist someone who has been injured unless there is a "special relationship" between the parties. The law recognizes several special relationships, including that of a parent-child and physician-patient.

Unfortunately, the law does not recognize the relationship between a store owner and a customer as a "special relationship." In other words, you probably can't successfully sue the business owner for your injuries.

There is, however, a single California Court of Appeals case that held a business owner liable for interfering with a Good Samaritan's attempt to use the business's telephone to call an ambulance to help a victim who had been shot. Though the facts of the case are slightly different than your situation, a lawyer may be able to use the case to argue that the business owners in your situation should be held liable.

I would recommend meeting with a California attorney. The attorney can review your case in detail and help you decide whether to proceed with a lawsuit.

I am so sorry that you and your dog have endured this drama. It sounds like you're asking to be reimbursed for costs related to the dog attack.

First, it's important to report the attack to your local animal control department. If animal control determines that the dog is dangerous, there are certain restrictions that will be imposed in order to prevent the dog from injuring another animal or person.

Second, California's strict liability law for dog bites requires that a pet owner is usually liable for a dog bite injury. However, a defendant might argue that it's unreasonable to pay for costs associated with travel to an out-of-area veterinarian if there are veterinary services nearby. In general, a lawsuit can claim damages for the costs associated with an injury or loss, but you can't usually go above and beyond reasonable costs. If you had to take time off from work because of the distance you traveled for the vet, but you wouldn't have done so if you went to a vet in your one city, it might be difficult to recover those costs.

Finally, California offers small claims court for claims less than $10,000. This might be the best option if you're interested in recovering those costs. Be sure to bring receipts for all of your related expenses when you appear in court. Best of luck and I hope your dog has a swift recovery.

I'm sorry you're having so much difficulty. It's definitely important to continue to follow up on your cases because court filing deadlines and other time restrictions could be significant to your outcome. That said, there's nothing to stop you from finding a new lawyer. You don't need to cut ties with one in order to pursue another — you can find a new lawyer and ask that person to pursue getting your file or documents from the previous lawyer. If the lawyers with whom you're working are unresponsive, that might be the best course of action.

It doesn't matter how much money is at stake; the lawyer's job is to represent your legal interests to the best of their ability. If you don't think that's happening and you aren't receiving communications, you should consider finding another lawyer. Best of luck.

With respect to what should or should not be discussed before a preliminary hearing, I'm not able to comment on the specifics of your son's criminal case without more information.

As for the lawyer calling you delusional, lawyers have certain ethical obligations in California. For example, a lawyer must deal honestly with others. Keep in mind, however, that the lawyer's main obligation is to their client (your son) and not you—even if you paid for the attorney and are allowed to discuss the case freely with the attorney.

Thank you for your question. I don't have enough information about your case to know whether you need to hire a dependency attorney or whether these issues can be resolved by working with your child's social worker. With that being said, it never hurts to meet with an attorney (especially if you are concerned for your child's safety). Most initial consultations are free and the initial consultation can help clarify whether the attorney can be helpful or not.

If you need help finding an attorney, you can locate one using the Colorado State Bar Association search feature. If you think you may qualify for free or reduced-cost legal help, you can contact Colorado Legal Services.

I'm sorry you're having trouble with your attorney.

Without reviewing your file and the attorney-client agreement, it's impossible for me to know whether your attorney owes you money. With that being said, there are 2 things you can do to hopefully resolve this issue:

1. You can contact the Tennessee Board of Professional Responsibility Consumer Assistance Program (CAP) at 1-800-486-5714 or through their website. CAP helps consumers who are having trouble with their attorneys. CAP will review your case and send the attorney a formal demand letter, help mediate the dispute, or refer your case to the Disciplinary Counsel.
2. You can meet with another attorney to discuss your contract dispute. If you need help finding an attorney, you can use our free online directory. Most initial consultations are free.

Thank you for your question.

Arbitration is just 1 tool used to settle a dispute. Arbitration is generally quicker and cheaper than going to trial. However, just because 1 party refuses to participate in arbitration, doesn't mean the case is necessarily going to trial. The dispute can still be resolved through mediation or through informal discussions between the parties.

Generally speaking, insurance companies like to settle cases and avoid trials, as trials are costly regardless of who wins. An attorney can help you negotiate with an insurance company and, if necessary, represent you in trial. You can use our free online directory to locate an attorney in your area.

I'm sorry you are going through this difficult time.

Generally speaking, court reporters have an obligation to type every word that is said in court unless both parties agree to go off the record. Next time an incident like you described occurs, make clear that you don't want to go off the record.

You might also consider contacting the Massachusetts State Bar Lawyer Referral Service to see if you qualify for free legal assistance.

Hello, Ericha:

I am sorry to hear this! My question is who is the legal owner of the vehicle? If it belongs to your boyfriend and he let you borrow it, then reclaimed it, it's his property and he has every right to it. If he sold it to you (the title, registration, and insurance are in your name), then it belongs to you and he can't take it without your permission.

If he has taken your car without permission (again, a car that has its title, registration, and insurance in your name, regardless of who sold or gave it to you), then it's theft and you should contact the police. If you don't own the car, then you don't have any right to it.

I'm so sorry this is happening to your friend.

Inmates have a right to health care under the Eighth Amendment to the United States Constitution, which prohibits "cruel and unusual punishment."

Here are the steps your friend should take:

• Step 1. Submit a sick call describing her symptoms and requesting treatment. Sick call forms should be available in her housing unit. Sick call requests must be answered within 48 hours.
• Step 2. If the sick call is not answered, your friend should submit an I-60 form (also available in her housing unit).
• Step 3. If the I-60 form isn't answered, your friend should submit a "step 1 grievance form." Your friend can learn how to do that here. The Texas Department of Criminal Justice has 40 days to answer the step 1 grievance. If the step 1 grievance isn't answered in 40 days or she's not satisfied with the response, she may file a "step 2 grievance form." A step 2 grievance must be answered within 35 days.
• Step 4. If your friend hasn't received a satisfactory response after 35 days, then she has "exhausted all administrative remedies," and she's allowed to file a lawsuit. To file a lawsuit, I would recommend reaching out to the Texas State Bar lawyer referral service.

Hello, Jeff:

I am so sorry to hear about your dog. That sounds tragic, and I know the loss of a pet can be upsetting and leave lasting sadness and trauma.

The Virginia legislature classifies pets as personal property. That means if someone's negligence causes the death of your pet, you can sue for the animal's market value, but not for your emotional damages.

You can sue the groomer for the replacement cost of your dog… in other words, so that you can purchase another dog at the same market value. But under Virginia law, you are not permitted to recover damages (money) for loss of companionship or emotional distress related to the dog's death.

There's information here that can help you to determine the market value of your dog: https://www.enjuris.com/blog/questions/sue-if-kill-dog/.

Depending on the cost of your dog, this might qualify as a small claims action. In Virginia, you can file in small claims court if the amount you're demanding is up to $5,000.

Also, it could be important to determine the cause of the fire. If it's the result of a criminal act (like arson), that might change who the negligent party is and how you'd proceed with a lawsuit. In other words, if another person set fire to the van, that person could be the negligent party and not the groomer.

If you would like more guidance, I'd urge you to contact a Virginia personal injury lawyer. They will work through the facts of the case and advise you of your best options for recovery. Again, I am so sorry for your loss.

Hello, Dustin:

It sounds like there's a lot happening with your houseguest. First, I am concerned about your children's safety. Are they safe now? If this person is harming your children, he should not be in your house. Please make your children's safety your priority right now and be sure that they are not near this person or in a position where they can be hurt. If you need resources to protect them (or yourself), please contact the National Domestic Violence Hotline at 1-800-799-SAFE (7233). You can also call your local police department for additional protection for your family if necessary.

Second, if this person has harmed your children (or anyone else), it's important to report that to police. Hopefully, your children will be okay, but you want to make sure that they are never injured by this person again, and that he can't do this to anyone else. He sounds like a dangerous and unpredictable person and it's time to get professionals involved.

With respect to your vehicle, you're correct that if he damaged it while using it without your permission, he should pay for the damages. Remember… "borrowing" a car without permission is the same as stealing a car (even if it has been returned). There are a lot of reasons why you can and should get police involved in this situation. However, from a civil perspective, you can make a claim for damages for the car if you can prove that the reason why it needs repair is because of this person's actions.

You can call a personal injury attorney to determine whether it would be reasonable to hold this person responsible for damages to your car, but you should also call the police to report the other crimes he's committed. And, please do make sure that he is immediately prevented from accessing your home or your children. It sounds as though he should not be there and the children need to be protected.

Hello, Nicole:

This sounds like a lot going on and I am sorry to hear that your family is going through a tough time. If a family can't agree on the care of a person who has dementia or Alzheimer's, the court can appoint a guardian or conservator. This doesn't happen overnight — it involves court proceedings and testimony with an attorney's assistance. The guardian would make health and financial decisions for the disabled adult in order to ensure their health and safety.

Since you and your aunts are disagreeing on your father's financial needs, and since he also needs representation for his divorce, it sounds like you should probably consult with an attorney who specializes in Elder Law.

You can seek out the guidance of a lawyer who will work with you to help your father get a court-appointed guardian, and that person can assist in handling payments to the previous attorney if necessary. Best wishes.

I'm sorry you're dealing with this situation.

First and foremost, I would strongly recommend contacting the police and filing a report if someone is threatening you with a gun.

Second, you may be able to sue the individual who is harassing you for assault or intentional infliction of emotional distress. You might also consider petitioning the court for a restraining order against the individual.

Third, if you're hired by a third party (such as a general contractor, subcontractor, or staffing agency), you may be able to sue the third party for failing to exercise reasonable care to keep you safe (i.e., negligence). To improve your chances of success, be sure to notify the third party in writing that you're being harassed (send a copy of the notice "certified mail with return receipt requested").

If you want to sit down with a lawyer to discuss your case, I invite you to use our free online directory to locate an attorney in your area. Most initial consultations are free.

Most employees in Virginia are "at will." This means that you can fire them at any time and for any reason unless that reason is illegal. Accordingly, wrongful termination lawsuits tend to be filed after someone is fired on the basis of race, color, national origin, sex, religion, disability, pregnancy, or age.

If you were not an "at will" employee (for example, you signed a contract), you may be able to file a wrongful termination lawsuit.

If you'd like to talk to an attorney about your situation, you can find one near you in our free online directory.

To date, thousands of lawsuits have been filed against the drug manufacturers of Abilify. The lawsuits allege that the drug manufacturers failed to provide adequate warning to Abilify users concerning the drug's serious side effects, which include uncontrollable urges to gamble. Although many of these lawsuits have settled, there is still time to file a lawsuit.

If you believe Abilify is causing you to experience health issues or side effects, please see your health care professional. Once you have done that, consider reaching out to a personal injury attorney. You can find an attorney in your area using our free online directory.

In the meantime, read more about Abilify lawsuits here.

The transient occupancy tax (sometimes called a "bed tax") is a tax charged to transient guests in hotels and motels. California law requires owners to charge the transient occupancy tax. Because owners are required to charge the tax, I'm afraid you can't sue the owner for doing so.

I'm so sorry this happened to your daughter.

Depending on the specific circumstances, you may be able to sue both the perpetrator and the employer for damages. Practically speaking, a lawyer would probably file a lawsuit against the perpetrator and attempt to negotiate a settlement with the employer's insurance company.

I would recommend meeting with a personal injury attorney in your area. Most initial consultations are free. You can find an attorney using our free online directory. If you think you may qualify for free legal help, you can contact the State Bar of Texas Lawyer Referral Information Service.

Finally, the Rape, Abuse and Incest National Network (RAINN) is the nation's largest anti-sexual assault organization. RAINN operates the National Sexual Assault Hotline and carries out programs to prevent sexual assault, help victims, and ensure that rapists are brought to justice. Call them toll-free at (800) 656-HOPE (4673).

I'm sorry this happened to you.

If you can prove that your landlord intentionally made your dog sick, you can sue them for damages (for example, veterinary expenses). You can learn more about lawsuits based on intentional torts here.

Additionally, if you believe your landlord is intentionally poisoning your dog, I would recommend contacting your local police department and reporting the incident. Your landlord may be held criminally responsible under California Penal Code 597.

I'm sorry this is happening to you.

Generally speaking, a non-refundable deposit only protects the seller if the buyer fails to complete the sale. A non-refundable deposit isn't valid if the seller fails to complete the sale.

Because the amount at issue is only $650, it probably doesn't make financial sense to get a lawyer involved. Your best option is to work out an agreement with the seller. If this doesn't work, I would recommend taking the seller to small claims court. In Alaska, you can file a claim in small claims court so long as the amount you're seeking is less than $10,000.

The courts in Alaska publish a helpful small claims handbook to help you through this process.

This sounds like an issue that needs to be resolved in Family Court. Your ex-husband might have an award of "exclusive possession," which doesn't automatically grant him rights to all of the contents of the home permanently, but it can bar you from entering the home during ongoing divorce proceedings. The difficult part of recovering costs or items that have been sold is proving that you were entitled to them in the first place. If you have a family court lawyer, you should consult them for guidance.

If you don't have a family lawyer, you might have a court-appointed guardian who oversees your children's interests if you've been involved in any custody proceedings. That person might be able to provide advice or refer you to someone who can help, since this matter also affects the children.

I'm so sorry that this happened to you.

To hold the family care home liable for your dog's death, you need to prove that the family care home was negligent.

In New York, the plaintiff (you) must prove the following elements to establish negligence:

• The defendant (the family care home) owed a duty to your dog,
• The defendant breached the duty, and
• The breach was the cause of your dog's death.

Proving negligence in this case will be very challenging. In general, businesses have a legal duty to keep others on their property safe from dangerous conditions. The open dumpster might be considered a dangerous condition. What's more, many towns have local ordinances that require businesses to take certain steps with respect to the cleanliness surrounding their premises.

However, even if the open dumpster is considered a dangerous condition, businesses aren't liable for any injury caused by the dangerous condition. Rather, the injury must be reasonably foreseeable. In this case, a court is unlikely to find that the death of your dog was a reasonably foreseeable result of leaving a dumpster unlocked. However, this might change if there are additional facts (for example, if bears had removed trash from the dumpsters previously).

To answer your question: Yes, you can sue the family care home for your dog's death. However, in order to win you'll have to establish negligence, and it's far from a sure thing. Your best bet is to consult with a premises liability attorney in your area.

Due process requires that you provide the defendant with notice of your lawsuit. This is done by serving the defendant with a complaint and summons.

The law provides several methods for properly serving a defendant. The most common method is to serve the defendant personally by handing the defendant a copy of the complaint and summons (or, by having a process server hand the defendant a copy of the complaint and summons). However, appropriate methods of service depend on the nature of the defendant and the state in which youre suing the defendant.

Keep in mind that if you don't properly serve the defendant, the defendant can have your case dismissed. For this reason, its a good idea to meet with an attorney before attempting to serve the defendant.

It sounds like you entered into an oral lease agreement with your landlord. It sounds like the terms of that agreement are that you will rent the house month-to-month in accordance with the terms of the prior written lease agreement (i.e., $1,000 per month). Your landlord is now attempting to increase the rent payment.

First, when it comes to month-to-month leases in Texas, your landlord is allowed to raise your rent any time he wants so long as he gives you 30 days notice.

As for the vehicle issues, your rights depend on the language in the agreement. If the agreement says something about how the back is to be used, then that language controls. On the other hand, if the agreement simply says that the back is included as part of your rental, then you have a right to keep it free of your landlords possessions.

When you signed up for your internet service, you entered into a written contract with your internet provider (Xfinity/Comcast). Whether or not you have a legitimate claim against the internet provider depends on whether the internet provider breached the terms of the contract.

Without reviewing the contract, it's impossible for me to tell whether or not your provider breached the contract. Some contracts state that internet providers will reimburse users for outages, whereas other contracts don't provide for reimbursements so long as the issues are resolved in a reasonable amount of time.

Keep in mind that pursuing a legal claim against an internet provider is an uphill battle considering the resources the internet provider has to fight your claim. Nevertheless, if you wish to file a claim, I would recommend meeting with an attorney in your area so the attorney can review the contract.

I'm sorry you were in that situation. Unfortunately, you likely dont have grounds for a lawsuit because the possibility of an injury happening doesn't give rise to a claim - you can only make a valid claim if an injury actually happened. The basis for a personal injury lawsuit is to be compensated for your losses related to the injury, and you'd need to prove that the injury happened and was caused by someone else's negligence.

In this instance, it's possible that the mechanic was negligent, but it doesn't sound like an injury occurred (financial or physical). Unfortunately, any financial loss that might be related to the work performed on your car will be hard to prove without an invoice. The business should maintain records, but without filing a lawsuit, it might be hard to compel them to give it to you.

If you believe that you've suffered a financial loss because the mechanic caused damage to your car, you might either return to the same mechanic and request that they fix it, request that they pay for additional work on your car by another mechanic, or seek to be reimbursed by a small claims court action.

In California, a gift becomes the legal property of the person who receives the gift. At that point, the person who receives the gift is free to do with the gift whatever they please.

Consequently, the person who gave you the Xbox can't sue you for deciding to sell the Xbox. The only way this person would have a viable claim is if they did not intend to give you the Xbox as a gift but instead, for example, only intended to loan you the Xbox.

Thank you for your question. I'm very sorry this is happening to you.

It sounds like you were experiencing workplace harassment for a period of time. During this period of time, your employer likely had a legal duty to take certain steps to keep you safe. However, now that the harassment is occurring solely outside of work, it is your responsibility to take action.

I would recommend asking the court for a protective order. A protective order is an order issued by the court that prohibits a person from doing something (such as harassing you, communicating with you, or even living near you).

In Ohio, you can get the forms you need to apply for a protective order from the clerk at your local court. After you complete the forms and return them to the clerk, the clerk will give the forms to the judge who will decide whether to issue a temporary order. If the judge decides to issue a temporary order, the clerk will work with the local police to serve the harasser with the order.

If you need legal help accomplishing these steps, consider hiring an attorney or reaching out to your local legal aid office.

It sounds like your funds are being held while PayPal resolves the identity theft issues. Federal law provides some limitations on holding periods, but generally these holding periods are set by PayPal and stated in PayPal's user agreement.

I would recommend contacting PayPal to see what information you can provide in order to prove your identity. If this does not work, I would recommend reaching out to a free or reduced-cost attorney to help with your legal issue. You can find one here:

• North Carolina State Bar Advocates for Justice
• North Carolina Legal Aid

In addition, you might want to reach out to one of the many help hotlines that the United States Department of Housing runs to help homeless individuals in North Carolina.

I'm sorry that you're having this experience. First, cannabis remains illegal in Utah for purposes other than medical cannabis for patients with qualifying conditions. Second, you are entitled to live in your home without health risks or other hazards.

You mentioned that you've complained about this problem, but it's not clear if you've complained directly to the neighbors or to your management. You should make a written complaint to the apartment management and make subsequent complaints if they're not acknowledged or handled. It's the apartment management's responsibility to ensure a safe and healthy living environment.

The other step you could take is to call local law enforcement when you smell marijuana (if you're certain that's what you smell) since it's illegal where you live.

If your landlord or management refuses to take action, you'll need to contact a landlord/tenant lawyer or use some type of resource like the Utah Tenant Hotline (801-359-2444).

It's hard to provide specifics without knowing the details of your lawsuit. Generally speaking, to start a lawsuit you need to:

1. File a complaint with the proper court and pay the associated filing fee, and
2. Serve the defendant with a copy of the complaint and summons.

A complaint sets forth the facts of your case, the defendant's liability, and how much money you're demanding. A summons is simply a document that notifies the defendant that they're being sued.

Once the defendant receives a copy of the complaint, they will have a chance to respond. The court will then issue a scheduling order setting forth the next steps and deadlines.

You can learn more about how to sue someone and find a lawyer near you using our free online directory.

If you purchased the vehicle (i.e., your name is on the purchase and sale agreement), then the vehicle belongs to you and your ex-boyfriend does not have any rights to the vehicle. If your ex-boyfriend is refusing to return the vehicle that belongs to you, you should (a) file a stolen vehicle report with the police, and (b) tell your insurance company about the situation.

If the police are unable to recover the vehicle, you can file a "replevin" lawsuit to determine the rightful owner of the vehicle. To do so, you can use our free online directory to locate an attorney.

I'm so sorry this happened to you.

Landlords have some degree of responsibility to protect tenants from criminal acts. Whether or not you can successfully sue your landlord depends on whether your landlord knew or should have known that your neighbor was likely to attack you.

For example, if your landlord received prior complaints about your neighbor's propensity for violence (perhaps he has attacked other tenants) and failed to take any action (such as starting the eviction process or warning other tenants), then you can likely sue your landlord for damages.

On the other hand, if your landlord had no reason to suspect that your neighbor would attack you, you probably can't hold your landlord liable.

If you want to talk to a personal injury attorney near you, consider using our free online directory. Most initial consultations are free.

I'm so sorry this happened to your grandson.

It's always a good idea to have legal representation in a situation like this. If you can't afford an attorney, the Minnesota State Bar provides some links to free or reduced-cost legal services.

If you choose to meet with the woman's attorney unrepresented, I would strongly recommend NOT saying ANYTHING during the meeting. Instead, allow the attorney to talk and, if the attorney asks you a question or makes an offer, tell them that you need to talk to your attorney first and that you'll get back to them.

Finally, don't agree to let the attorney record the meeting.

Your boyfriend has a right to file a lawsuit against you. However, if the money was given as a gift, he doesn't have a right to repayment and the court will dismiss the lawsuit.

In order to get the money back, your boyfriend will need to prove that you entered into a contract. This means that he'll have to prove that both of you intended to enter into a contract and that you gave him something in exchange for the money. Based on what you told me, it doesn't look like your boyfriend can prove any of these things.

I'm sorry this happened to you.

Whether or not you owe your ex-husband $15,000 has nothing to do with your husband's criminal record. I don't know the circumstances surrounding the claim for $15,000, but if you don't believe he is owed the money then you have the right to prove your case in court.

You may want to hire an attorney to help you do so. You can use our free online directory to locate an attorney near you. If you can't afford an attorney, you can contact the HelpLine, a service provided by the Center for Arkansas Legal Services and Legal Aid of Arkansas.

There is a personal injury cause of action when someone wrongly ruins your reputation by spreading false information, which is called "defamation of character."

The elements of defamation are that a statement was made and published (a Facebook post would likely count as publication), the statement was false, and the defamed person suffers injury as a result.

Breaking it down, it doesn't seem to be in question that a statement was made and published. It would seem as though the statement is false because obviously if she is saying that the child is deceased when he is, in fact, alive, then the statement is untrue. If she is also claiming abuse and you can prove that is untrue, then this element would also hold up.

Montana defamation laws are a little different from most states. In many states, a person's opinion is not considered defamation unless it contains a false statement of fact. In this case, the fact that your son is alive would mean that the grandmother was incorrect, even if she truly believes he is deceased.

The part that could be challenging to prove is how you were injured. You would have to show either financial loss that happened directly as a result of her statement (for instance, you lost your job or earning capacity, or you lost business as a result of the damage to your reputation) OR pain and suffering or emotional distress because of your personal humiliation or loss of standing in your community.

Ultimately, it sounds like while the person might have done you wrong by saying things online that were false and damaging, it could be difficult to prove your injuries. Your best "defense" could be that your son is alive and well (and I hope he recovers quickly) and you can prove her wrong.

However, if you believe that her statements cost you business or caused you to suffer other losses, you can certainly contact a personal injury attorney for additional guidance.

There is no statutory law in Michigan that explicitly prohibits a person from telling others the address of an individual, particularly when that individual's address is public information.

However, a person may commit the tort of "invasion of privacy" if they intrude upon a person's "seclusion or solitude." For example, if someone spreads your address for the purpose of encouraging others to show up at your home and harass you, you may be able to sue them for invasion of privacy.

If an individual is spreading your address for malicious purposes, I would strongly recommend contacting the police. Once you have done that, you may want to consider talking to an attorney about filing a lawsuit based on invasion of privacy.

To find an attorney, contact the Michigan State Bar Attorney Referral Service.

In Alabama, you can file a civil lawsuit for the tort of conversion.

Conversion is "the deprivation of another's right to use or possess personal property." To prove conversion, you must establish the following 3 elements:

• Your ownership or right to possess the property. In other words, you must provide evidence (receipts, etc.) that you owned the furniture.
• The defendant's conversion by wrongful act inconsistent with your property rights. In other words, you'll have to prove that your son's ex-wife sold the property without your consent.
• Damages. You'll have to prove the value of your furniture.

I would recommend reaching out to an attorney to discuss your case. You can find an attorney near you using our free online directory or by contacting the Alabama State Bar.

If the furniture is worth less than $6,000, you might consider foregoing an attorney and filing your claim in small claims court. If you have proof that you owned the furniture (receipts, etc.) and an affidavit from your son stating that you did not give him or his wife permission to sell the furniture, you have a pretty good case based on the information you provided.

The United States Department of Justice estimates that the average ratio of inmates to correctional officers in state prisons nationwide is 4.9 to 1.

Unfortunately, understaffing issues are common in Georgia.

Although there are federal laws requiring a minimum ratio of inmates to correctional officers when it comes to private prisoner transportation companies, I am not aware of any laws requiring a minimum number of correctional officers in Georgia's prisons.

Nevertheless, you may be able to sue the prison for negligence if you're injured as a result of understaffing. You can learn more about suing a prison for negligence here. Keep in mind that to file a negligence lawsuit you must prove that YOU were harmed as a result of the prison's negligence. In other words, it's not enough to show that someone else was harmed.

You might consider contacting your local Georgia Legal Aid. The office may be able to help you with any legal issues and, if not, they can refer you to someone who can help.

Hi, Millicent:

I am sorry that you made such a large purchase and felt as though you were scammed. However, I don't think you have much recourse. If the store has an "All Sales Final" policy, then it's required to post this in a conspicuous place (for example, near the register). However, "All Sales Final" is different from 14-day exchange, but it still should be displayed.

If the store doesn't have a clearly posted "All Sales Final" policy, the FTC has a rule that says a buyer is entitled to a full refund until midnight of the 3rd day after the purchase. You would be required to return the items in the same condition as they were in when you purchased them.

However, finding out later that the price you paid is higher than market value isn't a cause of action for a lawsuit. Unless you made the purchase under duress or as a result of deceitful practices, you chose to pay the amount you did for the items and as your decision, only you are responsible for that.

Hi, Alicia.

I am so very sorry that you were hurt.

It sounds like there could be both criminal and civil liability for your neighbors. If the police responded to the scene, then they are likely considering criminal charges.

You can file a civil lawsuit — separate from the criminal charges — for the costs related to your injuries. That would include your medical treatment, ambulance ride if you took one, lost wages if the injuries forced you to lose time at work, and any other expenses that you incurred as a result of being injured.

Assault and battery are considered intentional torts in Texas. That means you can sue an attacker in civil court for a money judgment. According to Texas definitions, assault is threatening someone with bodily harm and battery is actual contact that results in injury.

Know, also, that Texas is a modified comparative fault state — that means if you (the plaintiff) were 50% at fault or more, you would not be able to recover any damages. If the court finds that you had a degree of liability in the attack, then you would not recover compensation if it's more than 50%.

If you would like to see about being compensated for these injuries, you should contact a Texas personal injury lawyer for guidance and to assess the likelihood of a successful claim.

I'm so sorry this happened to your brother.

Under Georgia's COVID-19 Pandemic Business Safety Act, healthcare facilities cannot be held liable for damages involving a COVID-19 liability claim unless the claimant can show that the facility's actions involved "gross negligence, willful and wanton misconduct, reckless infliction of harm, or intentional infliction of harm."

Courts define gross negligence differently, but all agree that gross negligence is something more egregious than ordinary negligence.

For example, one court defines gross negligence as follows:

"Gross negligence represents an extreme departure from the standards of ordinary care to the extent that the danger was either known to the defendant or so obvious that the defendant must have been aware of it."

As a result, you will have a hard time suing the hospital where your brother contracted COVID-19 unless you can show that the hospital's actions amounted to more than mere negligence.

If you still want to talk to an attorney about your case, you can find one using our free online directory. Most initial consultations are free.

Hello, William:

Usually, the law is that each party pays their own attorney fees, regardless of whether they win or lose a case. There are some exceptions, such as if there was a contract between the parties that included attorney fees in the event of a dispute or some other law specifying attorney fees in a specific type of claim.

From your question, it sounds like you were the defendant in a lawsuit filed by your neighbor. It seems that the neighbor's truthfulness has been called into question, but it's not clear whether the lawsuit has reached resolution. If you successfully defended against the claim and you're trying to collect attorney fees to cover the costs of your own representation or other expenses, you probably won't be able to do so. Although there are some instances when a court might order a plaintiff to pay the defendant's costs (for example, if they had no standing to sue), it's unlikely. Often, when a party can't pay their attorney fees, the lawyer would suggest filing bankruptcy because that process usually discharges attorney fee claims.

Regardless, you should consult your attorney to find out what your legal remedies are based on the specifics of your case.

I'm sorry this happened to you.

The process for filing a claim against the moving company is likely set forth in the moving contract. The contract may, for example, require you to pursue arbitration first or file your lawsuit in a particular state.

If there are no restrictions set forth in the contract and your damages (the cost of moving the possessions that weren't moved, plus the cost of the missing gun) are less than $20,000, you're probably better off filing a lawsuit against the moving company in small claims court.

If your damages exceed $20,000, or if you want to hire an attorney to pursue a claim regardless of the amount of damages, you can find one using our free online directory.

With respect to the missing gun, you'll want to report the theft to the police. However, you may want to talk to your attorney first, as you could face potential liability if you improperly stored the firearm or if the firearm was a prohibited weapon for any reason.

Hi, Charlie.

I am so sorry for the loss of your dog.

I am not a veterinarian, so I can't assess whether the veterinarian met the standard of care based on your dog's presentation and symptoms. However, it is reasonable for you to be charged a fee for services even if your dog's life wasn't able to be saved. Regardless of the outcome, the vet would charge you for the office visit (their time), any tests or bloodwork, and the euthanasia, itself. Depending on where you live, the cost of veterinary medicine varies and that could be an appropriate amount for the services provided.

However, if there are lingering questions or issues, please feel free to use the Enjuris law firm directory to find a lawyer near you who can help.

Hello, Henry:

I am sorry your family is dealing with this, and I hope that everyone has made full recoveries.

Unfortunately, I don't think you can sue this person for sharing COVID-19 infection with your family. It might have been irresponsible and selfish for her to knowingly expose people to covid, but it would likely be nearly impossible to prove that it's how your family caught the illness.

There are a few elements that must be present for any personal injury lawsuit: First, you would need to prove that this person caused your mom to be infected with covid. Second, you would need to prove damages — or that the covid infection cost her money.

If she was hospitalized (or passed away) from covid, there could be expenses associated with the illness. But if she recuperated at home and without medical treatment, there would be no basis for a lawsuit because it didn't cost her money.

More importantly, though, is the burden of proof. Because covid is so widespread right now, it would be impossible to prove how your mom caught it. Even if she did not leave her home for any reason during the time when she could have caught the virus, if other people are coming in and out, you could not prove that this one person infected her. As we know, someone can be infected and contagious with covid and not have any symptoms or be aware of their own infection. And, with the Omicron variant, it seems that sometimes covid tests aren't picking up infections, either. So, it's possible that your mom could have picked up a covid infection from anyone who was in her home or who she saw during the days before her infection was diagnosed.

Enjuris has shared some blog posts on this topic if you're interested: Can You Sue Someone for Exposing You to an Illness Like Covid?

Hello, Carolyn.

I am so sorry for what you've endured and I hope that you are in a safe place now — away from anyone who is trying to harm you and that you are okay.

Yes, you can sue a person for civil damages for assault and battery (intentional torts). This can include a variety of types of abuse, and you can also sue for identity theft if you lost money as a result.

However, because of the nature of these injuries, I'd suggest that you first contact the National Domestic Violence Hotline at 1-800-799-SAFE (7233). Even if you're not in a domestic violence situation at the moment, the resources available through the hotline can help you to deal with these past traumatic events.

If you're looking to recover costs related to injuries from past abuse, you can contact a personal injury attorney for guidance. It might not be an easy process, especially since you'll need proof of the abuse in order to be successful in a lawsuit. Your lawyer can look for evidence like medical records, phone calls, and other things that might be present in order to find your ex-spouse liable for some expenses. Please feel free to use the Enjuris law firm directory to find an attorney near you who can help.

Again, if you're in an unsafe situation NOW, please either call the domestic violence hotline or your local police department immediately so that you can receive assistance to relocate to a safe place and avoid further harm. Best wishes.

Missouri's dog bite law can be found in Missouri Statutes 273.036.

The law states that the owner of a dog is liable “for damages suffered” by the person bitten, regardless of whether the dog has bitten someone before.

You cannot win a personal injury lawsuit if there are no damages. In other words, as part of their lawsuit, the plaintiff must prove that the dog bite caused some sort of injury. Keep in mind that the injury could be physical (such as a laceration) or mental (such as emotional distress from the incident). Mental injuries are typically much harder to prove than physical injuries.

Hello Xavier,

I am so sorry to hear about your loss. Losing a pet is heartbreaking, and I'm sorry that you're going through this.

I am not a veterinarian and can't say whether a sudden downturn after surgery is expected, even if everything went smoothly.

However, if your question is about whether you can sue based on the information you were given (or not given), that's a different question. In a personal injury lawsuit, you have to prove that the injury (in this case, your emotional distress) cost you money. There's no way to claim damages if you can't prove a financial cost from the harm.

However, if you believe that there was veterinary malpractice, then you might have a lawsuit. That would be a question to ask a personal injury lawyer. Your lawyer can review evidence that includes medical records and consult with experts to determine whether you have a valid claim.

Please feel free to use the Enjuris law firm directory to find an attorney near you who can help.

You can sue your neighbor for running over your 5-month old goldendoodles if you can prove that your neighbor acted:

• Intentionally, or
• Negligently

In most cases, it will be easier to prove negligence. To prove negligence in Ohio, you must establish the following elements:

1. Duty. Your neighbor owed you a duty of care. In this case, your neighbor owed a duty to exercise reasonable care to avoid harming your dogs.
2. Breach. Your neighbor breached their duty of care. A breach occurred if your neighbor failed to exercise reasonable care (for example, your neighbor didn't see the dogs because they were texting and driving).
3. Causation. You must prove that the dogs were killed because of your neighbor's breach. In other words, but for your neighbor's breach, the dogs wouldn't have been killed.

The unfortunate reality is that pets are considered property in Ohio. As a consequence, owners of injured or deceased pets are typically limited to recovering the following damages:

• The fair market value of the pet if the pet dies (i.e., what it would cost to buy a similar pet on the open market)
• Medical expenses (the cost of treating the injuries caused by the veterinarian's malpractice)

As a result, most lawyers don't handle these sorts of cases. Consequently, it may be worth taking your neighbor to small claims court.