I’ve come to realize that we’re probably best having two optimized styles — one for newcomers and one for those of you who are already familiar with the different areas of law and the site.

TheLaw EXPERT Skin — If you look in the sidebar or in your General Settings you’ll see almost all the way at the bottom “Forum Skin.” For a more condensed, slick style without all the explanations, use this one.

TheLaw DEFAULT Skin — This is the default skin which first time users will see. This will be activated shortly. While it also includes the expand/collapse buttons it will additionally include detailed explanations of each forum so users will know where to post questions.

Let me know your thoughts on this new addition!

ADDITIONAL NOTE: LAW TOPICS LIST – A quick access dropdown from the search bar will allow you to view any major category and its subforums quickly.

My former LL has not returned my security deposit and I would appreciate some advise. Background is: As of December 2010, had been renting for 2 1/2 years when LL informs me that they will be moving into my house. They tried to give me a 60 day notice, but as I was in a lease until August 2011, I told them that I could not move until I found a suitable place, and with Christmas 2 weeks away, it would probably be later than the February 1st deadline they wanted. Surprisingly, I immediately found a house, and offered to move by the first weekend in January. That did not suit them, as they wanted January rent for funds to help them move. So I continued my search, while in the meantime they offered $1000 incentive (cash or towards last month’s rent) to move out. I finally found another comparable place (s.footage, location, price) in mid-February…mind you, I looked at houses EVERY day in between. The LL agreed to terminate the lease, and came over on 2/18 to do a walk-through and we signed paperwork terminating the lease as of that day (2/18), but giving me until March 31st to move out (incentive option). I was completely moved out by March 4th, and we had agreed previously that they would do the final walk-through with me at 3:00 that day. They did not show, so I left the keys on the kitchen counter and emailed them to inform them that we were out. They responded with a “thank you” and I waited for the return of my security deposit. Since it never came, I sent a certified letter to them on April 26th, informing them that I expected my deposit back within 7 days, since it had been more than 30 days since I moved. They responded with a nasty voice mail letting me know that they would countersue for March’s rent (since I had until the 31st to move out and clean) plus damages to the property if I pursued the issue. The return letter I received on April 28th is a demand for $650 for various, and bogus, damage charges plus March rent. My question is this: if I moved out March 4th, do the 30 days for return of security deposit start then, or on March 31st, when I had to be out? I have emails from them stating that I could use the incentive for the last month, but it was not in the termination letter that we signed.

I have a personal blog about professional American football that I just started. I want to use some of the pictures found on sites like everystockphoto.com, where there are tons of images available to you that you can use for free.

I’m new here, so I’m unable to post a link to one of the photos I want to use (to make this easier), however, if you go to everystockphoto.com, type in “NFL” (for example) in the search box at the top of the screen, you’ll see many photos appear in the results. If you click on the third photo from the left (a picture of an NFL player running with a ball), on the resulting screen, if you click on the “Attribution License” link directly to the right of the image, you’ll see where it says:

“You are free:

* to Share — to copy, distribute and transmit the work
* to Remix — to adapt the work

Under the following conditions:

* Attribution. You must attribute the work in the manner specified by the author or licensor (but not in any way that suggests that they endorse you or your use of the work).”

My question is, even though the author says the image can be used, that doesn’t mean that the NFL is fine with me using that image, correct? My hunch is that using websites like this for images of people or other items is ok, however in instances where an entity is involved, in this instance, the NFL, I was thinking that I’d need their permission in addition to the photographer’s, who took the photo.

Am I right or wrong, here?

On New years this year I reported hearing gunfire from the direction of one of my neighbors houses whom we’ve had a scare with a weapon before. After the police left, this guy started calling my house telling me he knew I had called the police and he wanted me to know that he knew who the snitch was. I called for the officer to return. When he did the officer went to the neighbors house and supposedly told him to knock it off. After three calls to the police for the continued harrasament they finally got into a shouting match in the street. Again, no help from the police. The neighbor proceeded to get nasty on facebook even tho I tried to tell him that it was not the place to talk about people and that I would hold him responcible for the hurt he caused. After about ten minuites I realized that to just ignore him would be the best option. During the course of the facebook conversation he informed me how connected he was in town and that because of his connections he “is the man” and there was nothing that could be done about anything that he said. I finally just let it all go to childish behavior. Last night at dinner I get a knock at the doorstep. I answered the door to one of this neighbors friends asking to talk to me. When I went outside he told me that he was there to let me know that he was helping the neighbor by the neighbors request to stop me from causing the neighbor any problems. When I asked him to repeat himself to make sure I had heard him right he told me that he was down here to show me that the neighbor was not to be bothered. I told this guy to get off my porch wanting him away from my door. At the top stair of my house is a porch with an old door lying sidways to keep small dogs from getting loose. Behind that door to prop up the door from falling is a wooden bar stool. Both have to be moved to gain access to the stairs. While I was moving the door and the stool to walk the guy off my steps when I heard something drop. When I turned to face him better hi was coming back up the steps with a piece of 2×4 kind of behind him like he was going to hit me with it. I pulled the stool that was already in my hand to the front of me trying to get him away from me. This hit either him or the stick or the porch, I’m not really sure, but after backing up the guy came at me a second time. This time he got hit with the stool on his forhead and it knocked him to his knees. Believe it or not, this all happened before my girlfriend could even come to see what was going on. As soon as she came out of the house I told her to call 911 which she did. While the guy was sitting on the ground he started talking about my neighbor again. That he was there for my neighbor and “someone” had a gun. While I was standing by my steps I noticed a knife about 3 feet from this guy so I picked it up and threw it under the house. While I did this I saw the 2×4 by my truck and moved that out of the way as well. I asked the guy if he had any more weapons and started to empty his pockets. When I didn’t find anymore I stood back and told him to relax, that the police had been called and would be there soon. I was getting worried about the cut on his head so I told my girlfriend to call the police again to tell them to hurry. About that time he started to get aggressive again and I told him to just relax and sit down. About that time he jumped up, grabbed the stuff from his pockets and started to run to the back of the house. When I walked back to see where he went I saw him running up the other side of the house where my back door is. Somewhere along the line I had sent my girlfriends kids to the neighbors, but my girlfriend was still out in front of the house. I ran back to the front and saw him running down the street towords this neighbors house. I told my girlfriend to go to where the kids were and I again called 911. I was a little excited and cussed during the call trying to tell the operator that this guy was talking about a gun. The operator just got offended and told me not to talk to her that way and that the call had already been placed. As soon as I got off the phone this guy came walking back down the street again talking about the neighbor having a gun. I picked up a stick and hid behind my truck and told the guy that if he came back on my property I’d hit him again. He started telling me that he was going to press charges and that I would’nt get away with it. About that time the police finally showed up and I told the cop that the guy might have a weapon. I was still behind my truck. After the search and the call for the ambulance the cop asked what had happened. He stated that He had just answered a call about this guy from a store in a different area and all had decided not to arresst him. The cop told me he had driven the guy to my neighbors house not a few minuites ago and that another county was in the process of getting a warrent for this guy because he had apperently assaulted his girlfriend and her mother earlier that night. I gave the cop the knife from under the house and told him all that had happened. He asked me to write a statement and I did. He was on the phone with an investigator and I guess they decided to hold the guy at the hospital long enough for the other counties warrent to process. In the mean time it was a case of self defence. About an hour later I got a call from the same police officer telling me that the investigator had decided to come and talk to me. I was told I was not under arrest, but I was read my rights and asked to give another statement verbally. All this after the investigator took a bunch of pictures, took my stool. the stick the guy had and the one left on my truck by me trying to scare the guy off. The cop even told me when I asked him what was going on that he didn’t understand it either. When I got into the investigators truck and he read me my rights I got scared and said on tape that I’d already given a written statement, I didn’t have anything else to add or nothing would change and asked to not make another. The recording was stopped and the investigator said that it would have been better on me to have made the statement. It felt like he was trying to talk me into doing the right thing so I told him I’d give the statement. He kind of smiled and said I’d already refused. I told him I was just confused and scared, could we do it tomorrow after I calmed down and he agreed. He then told me that he wanted to talk to the kids as well so 4 this afternoon was decided. Am I in trouble? Is giving another statement smart? I’ve since found that this guy’s family has money, and the problem neighbor seems to be family with the local group of law enforcement and polotics. What Should I do Here?

I got swarmed with 5-6 cop cars at a gas station, guns drawn they told me to get out of vehicle they pulled a empty oxycontin bottle out of my pocket a script that i had filled that day and around 12 grand cash out of other pocket. They charged me with trafficking and property obtained by crime(the money) they did a raid on the residence i just left 10=15 mins earlier and found a person in pssession of the same pills i take and close to the same amount of pills i take on her they found lots of other stuff there to not sure all but they were charged also. My personal vehicle was seized (i wasnt even in it at the time) they said in my bail hearing that a confidentation informat has said i was selling my meds to the people that they raided thats how the search and seizure came about. My questions are this is all circumstantial evidence how can they link this together? How can they prove those were my pills?etc I have a lawyer i havent seen him yet soon i hope.

Ok so I got a very special case. Basically a cop came up to my car in the parking lot with reason to confront me. The car smelled of burnt marijuana. He had reason to detain and search the cab of the car as well as me and the passenger. Legally though, he did not have reason to search the trunk because the smell of burnt marijuana gives only probable cause to search where we might smoke and its unreasonable to smoke in the trunk(United States V Wald 10 Cir. 2000) Well he searched the trunk anyways without my consent and found a lot of marijuana. So that was illegal. Heres where it gets iffy and my attorney says it doesn’t matter but I cant confirm that. When he was detaining us, the officer found a small amount of marijuana and a pipe ON my friend who was in the passenger seat.
Does finding contraband ON him give reason to search the car?
If it does, and the search of the cab was fruitless, then is it still reasonable to search the trunk?
Please link for references to your answers if you can.
Thanks!

I have a question regarding a search warrant which i believe may be illegal. In the first paragraph of the warrant, the officers are given permission to enter and search the premises. However, in this paragraph, the address is incorrect. The warrant gives permission to enter Apartment #123, but the apartment is really #213. Does this mistake make the search warrant illegal?

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Hi. I have a question if this is a unjustifiable arrest.

I live in illinois.
I have had my license suspended and received a probationary license from the sec. of state. No restrictions. So driving home one day, with my seat belt on, a State cop pulls beside me then pulls me over. He comes up and says that I wasn’t wearing my seat belt. I told Him that I was, but he did not care. Anyway, when he asked for my license, I told him the story how it is suspended but I have a Probationary permit. He tells me he has never seen one before and my license is suspended and arrests me. Before they tow my car, the search it and find Under 2.5 grams of weed. So, I was arrested for under 2.5, and driving under suspended. Also, car was towed.

The next day I called the Sec. of State and made sure I was ok. He said that it never should have happended, and I was ok to continue driving. I wanted to make sure, so it would not happen again.

So, it happended again. I called the Lieutenant in charge. He said that they would take care of it. They didn’t, and I went to court, and they didn’t care. All they wanted to know was guilty or not guilty.

So my Question is, What the hell is going on?

But really, since they had no reason to arrest me the under 2.5 should get thrown out, right?

Any help on what to do.

Hi, my name is Jason Young, and i seem to have a problem i could not solve using the search. This may turn out to be a long post so please bare with me.

I signed a second lease with my landlord and gave him 12 postdated cheques on march 10 2006( he only cashed 4- 8 came back) when he told us he was headed on a business trip to China and would return in 2 weeks. To make a long story short i have not seen nor heard from my landlord in 4 years and 4 maybe 5 times a year i pay my rent towards his water / property tax through a City of Toronto Atornment(sp). My wife and I are the only tenants in this 2 apartment complex located above a variety store and last month those tenants moved out, i have maintained the internal workings (ie AC / Furnace units) and other minor bumps and scrapes here and there. My question is what are my options? i was told by a friend i could apply for homestead or squatters rights and claim the building as my own as long as i pay off the moneys owed in tax’s, i don’t want to move out and my wife if scared to stay…. Any help would be great.

Thanks in advance
jason