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Q: What are the consequences of a first-time OUI offense with a chemical test refusal in Maine?
I recently faced my first OUI offense in Maine, where I was subjected to a field sobriety test and refused a chemical test. However, I was never read my rights, and I was informed that my license is not suspended. What legal consequences could arise from this situation, and how might this affect my... View More 
Hunter J Tzovarras
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answered on Sep 12, 2026
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answered on Sep 12, 2026
If convicted of a 1st offense OUI refusal in Maine, the minimum penalty is 4 days in jail, $600 fine, and 150 day license suspension.
The Maine BMV will send a notice of administrative suspension for 275 as well. It typically takes a month or more from the time of the charge before the BMV... View More
Q: What legal steps can I take for medical malpractice with post-surgery complications?
I had a knee revision surgery on January 8, 2026. Five weeks post-op, I developed cellulitis at the top of the incision, and oral antibiotics didn't work, leading to a septic joint. I was hospitalized for the infection and underwent another surgery to clean out the infection. After the... View More
Loc Tan Dang
answered on Sep 12, 2026
answered on Sep 12, 2026
That is an enormous amount to carry, and the fear you described about your leg is understandable given what has happened.
On the timeline. Your surgery was January 8, 2026, so the two-year period under Chapter 74 of the Texas Civil Practice and Remedies Code is not immediate. But Chapter 74... View More
Q: How to submit spousal support garnishment to employer in Maryland?
I recently started a new job in Maryland, and my wages need to be garnished for spousal support. How do I correctly submit this garnishment to my new employer's payroll department? The garnishment is specifically for spousal support, and I want to ensure I'm following the correct... View More
Mark Oakley
answered on Sep 12, 2026
answered on Sep 12, 2026
The court typically issues an Earnings Withholding Order where support payments are ordered to be automatically withdrawn and paid. That does not happen in all or even most cases in Maryland, but when ordered, or by agreement of the parties, there is an order issued that is then served on the... View More
Q: Can I face repercussions for lying about seatbelt use in an accident?
I was involved in an accident in Texas where I wasn't wearing my seatbelt. I told the police that I was wearing it, but I am unsure if this was noted in the report. I was the only person injured, sustaining a laceration to my eye from hitting the driver's side window. The other drivers... View More
Loc Tan Dang
answered on Sep 12, 2026
answered on Sep 12, 2026
There are two issues here, and the one you did not ask about is the more consequential.
On the seatbelt itself. Texas allows evidence of seatbelt non-use to be presented in civil cases. The Texas Supreme Court changed this in Nabors Well Services v. Romero (2015), overruling earlier law... View More
Q: Can I face repercussions for lying about seatbelt use in an accident?
I was involved in an accident in Texas where I wasn't wearing my seatbelt. I told the police that I was wearing it, but I am unsure if this was noted in the report. I was the only person injured, sustaining a laceration to my eye from hitting the driver's side window. The other drivers... View More
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Emery Brett Ledger
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answered on Sep 16, 2026
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answered on Sep 16, 2026
I'm sorry you were hurt, and I understand why the police statement is weighing on you.
In Texas personal injury cases, not wearing a seatbelt can affect damages, but it does not automatically erase a claim. Under Texas law, failure to wear a seatbelt is generally treated as a... View More
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