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Q: Will a judge approve my late tort claim in California with documented mental disorders and injuries?
I am seeking guidance regarding a late tort claim in California. Due to documented mental disorders and significant injuries, including a reconstructed pelvis and brain bleed, I filed a late tort claim, which was subsequently denied by Sedgwick. I understand I now have six months to petition a... View More 
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Emery Brett Ledger
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answered on Oct 13, 2026
Lawyers, want to be a Justia Connect Pro too? Learn more ›
answered on Oct 13, 2026
A late claim denial from Sedgwick is not the end of the road in California. It is usually the start of a second, shorter clock.
Under the Government Claims Act, most injury claims against a public entity have to be presented within six months of the accrual date. If you miss that window,... View More
Q: Do I need to contact my ex-husband regarding equity waiver for my home sale?
I am the sole owner of the title and paid-off mortgage for my home. My divorce agreement stated that my ex-husband would waive any equity in the home if he failed to pay half the taxes, insurance, and maintenance costs. He stopped paying these costs in 2008, and there has been no communication with... View More
Lidice Samper
answered on Oct 13, 2026
answered on Oct 13, 2026
Selling a home you have carried on your own since 2008 should not be held up by an old clause, and you are right to sort this out before closing. Even though the deed is in your name alone, a title company will want to know whether the divorce judgment, which usually incorporates or merges the... View More
Q: Can I receive alimony in Texas after living with my ex for years post-divorce?
I was married to my ex-spouse from 1989 to 2004, after which we divorced. However, we reconciled and have been living together from 2005 to 2026 without remarrying. I am currently separating from my ex-partner. Am I eligible to receive alimony under Texas law given our history of living together... View More
John Michael Frick
answered on Oct 13, 2026
answered on Oct 13, 2026
No. Historically, Texas prohibited courts from granting alimony because it violates public policy. The future income of one spouse is that spouse's separate property and the a Texas court is prohibited from taking away or dividing one spouse's separate property.
In 1997, the Texas... View More
Q: What legal options do I have for hospital oversight and improper discharge in California?
I recently underwent a full pelvic reconstruction and treatment for a brain bleed at a hospital in California. Despite these serious procedures, I was discharged and it was later discovered that I had a missed broken hip and fractured rami. After seeking a second opinion at another hospital, I was... View More
PREMIUM
Emery Brett Ledger
Lawyers, want to be a Justia Connect Pro too? Learn more ›
answered on Oct 13, 2026
Lawyers, want to be a Justia Connect Pro too? Learn more ›
answered on Oct 13, 2026
Missed fractures after a pelvic reconstruction and brain-bleed treatment are the kind of facts California medical negligence claims are built on. The later discharge, left at a bus stop without shoes or paperwork, makes the picture worse, not better.
In California, hospitals and treating... View More
Q: Can SB620 be filed before sentencing to remove gun enhancements after accepting a plea in an attempted murder case in California?
I accepted a plea deal in a criminal case regarding attempted murder, which has already been officially recorded in court. I'm contemplating filing SB620 prior to sentencing to seek removal of gun enhancements. Is this process possible under current law?
Martin Louis Winfield Jr
answered on Oct 13, 2026
answered on Oct 13, 2026
Possibly, but the terms of your plea agreement are critical. SB 620 gave courts discretion to strike certain firearm enhancements at sentencing under Penal Code sections 12022.5(c) and 12022.53(h); it does not automatically remove them. Your attorney can raise the issue before sentencing, but... View More
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