Get free answers to your Civil Litigation legal questions from lawyers in your area.
I have been holding a designer purse valued at $3,000-$4,000 for an acquaintance who left it with me nearly two months ago. Despite my two attempts to ask them to pick it up, they refuse and insist I drive to them to deliver it. I have given them an ultimatum that I will leave the purse outside my... View More 
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answered on Apr 16, 2025
Yes, you can bring the purse to the police, but how they handle it may depend on the circumstances. Most police departments have a property or lost-and-found division where they can temporarily take custody of valuable items, especially if there is concern over ownership disputes or if the item was... View More
I am facing an issue with a lawyer who acted as a trustee for a joint living trust that included my ex-wife's parents' house. The house was sold on August 4, 2023, and the trustee placed over $533,000 from the sale proceeds into a money market account without informing my ex-wife. He held... View More
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answered on Apr 16, 2025
If a trustee in Colorado has withheld funds, failed to provide timely distributions, and offered no valid justification under the trust terms, you have the right to challenge their actions. A trustee has a legal duty to act in the best interests of the beneficiaries and to carry out the terms of... View More
I purchased a puppy for $360.00 in cash from a lady on March 10 without signing any contract or discussing any verbal agreement. After the purchase, she emailed me a contract that I never signed. Now, she is demanding the puppy back, claiming I broke a verbal agreement and the contract's... View More
answered on Apr 15, 2025
I agree that she has no right to reclaim the puppy if you did not sign the agreement and you did not agree to any specific conditions verbally. As a practical note, you may want to block her on as many forms of communication as possible (phone, email, all social media). If she does find ways to... View More
I have been representing myself in a custody battle in Colorado for two years with my children's father, who has a history of incarceration for violent crimes. In November, I declined parenting time with my son, but since then, my children have reported abuse and threats from their father. He... View More
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answered on Apr 12, 2025
To reopen a closed custody case in Colorado, you’ll need to file a motion with the court. This motion should request that the case be reopened due to new evidence of abuse or threats against your children. Be sure to explain the new developments, such as the recent reports of abuse and threats,... View More
I lived with a friend for 18 years and was his sole caregiver for 13 of those years. Before he passed away, we verbally agreed that I could stay in his house until it was sold, after which I would receive money to help me get on my own. I have witnesses to this agreement. How should I proceed with... View More
answered on Apr 11, 2025
This is a complex question. First, Colorado has what's called a "Dead Man's Statute" that limits testimony regarding a deceased's verbal agreements. However, if you have independent witnesses, you may be able to get around that.
Second, Colorado has a "Statute... View More
I'm experiencing issues with the municipal code enforcement in Pueblo, CO. In 2024, they condemned my home, claiming my son's trailer on my property was the reason. Without any legal documentation or notice, they also cut the power to my home, removed my water meter, and took two... View More
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answered on Apr 13, 2025
In Pueblo, CO, municipal code enforcement has certain powers to address property issues, but those powers are not unlimited. For property abatement, they typically need to follow a legal process that includes providing proper notice and obtaining approval from a court or relevant authorities before... View More
I have shared custody over my two children, but they have been living with their mother, my ex, who moved to Missouri in 2021. For two years, I was able to exercise my parenting rights by flying them to Colorado until my ex cut off all contact. Recently, I’ve started communicating with my... View More
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answered on Apr 13, 2025
Given the situation, the fastest legal way to bring your daughter to Colorado would be to first file a petition for modification of the custody order in the court that issued the original order. This petition should explain the circumstances, including the abuse your daughter has reported and her... View More
I completed a two-year lease with my previous landlord in December. During the final walkthrough, attended by my wife and a friend of the landlord, she mentioned needing to replace a curtain and clean the carpet. We agreed to these changes, and had a $1200 security deposit. Now, she is demanding... View More
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answered on Apr 13, 2025
The landlord’s demand for $40,000 without a formal invoice is highly concerning. You have the right to request proper documentation for any claimed damages or renovations. A word document created by the landlord with random amounts is not sufficient evidence of the costs, and it is reasonable to... View More
I am involved in a custody case where the intervenor has been refusing to allow the respondent mother her court-ordered visitations for the past three months. Additionally, the respondent mother has stopped complying with the court-ordered drug testing for the last 30 days. There is also a paternal... View More
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answered on Mar 24, 2025
Yes. You can also file to enforce the parenting time and note that your enforcement efforts include the show cause motion filed contemporaneously with the enforcement motion. All of your enforcement efforts should be preceded by a written request to confer as an attempt to resolve the issue prior... View More
I was convicted of a felony and spent four and a half years in prison. My conviction was later overturned by the appellate court and reclassified as a misdemeanor, with a maximum sentence of one year. After serving more time than the maximum sentence, the parole was dropped. Upon release, I... View More
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answered on Mar 24, 2025
You're facing an incredibly difficult situation after your wrongful conviction and the severe hardships you experienced both during and after your incarceration. Your letter of intent should clearly document the timeline of events, including your original conviction, the appellate court's... View More
I am the sole legal representative and administrator of my deceased father's estate, which includes lands held by my family for generations. A woman falsely claimed to be married to my father to gain inheritance rights, supported by what I believe are invalid legal documents. Furthermore,... View More
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answered on Mar 18, 2025
If you are the administrator with letters then you are not doing your job. Do you have an attorney? Apparently your lawyer is going to need to file various actions in various Counties for ejectment, quiet title, unlawful detainer and/or conversion of mineral proceeds. Many SOLs apply and are... View More
I was falsely accused of domestic violence 15 years ago, which led to my arrest. I wasn't given a chance to call or speak with an attorney before going to court. A court member suggested that if I pleaded guilty, I would receive probation and classes, and could leave, so I did. I wasn't... View More
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answered on Mar 24, 2025
You might still have legal options even after 15 years, though the path forward requires careful consideration. Many states allow for post-conviction relief when new evidence emerges that could have changed the outcome of your case, and evidence that the accuser lied in a sworn statement might... View More
I took custody of my wife's grandkids, and after an altercation, a civil protection order was filed against me. I successfully motioned for the civil protection order to be dismissed, but I didn't realize there was also a criminal protection order, leading to my arrest. My next court date... View More
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answered on Apr 13, 2025
Based on Colorado criminal protection order procedures, you can attempt to modify or dismiss the criminal protection order before your court date, but the process differs from civil orders. In Colorado, criminal protection orders are issued by judges as part of criminal proceedings and generally... View More
I have a contract with a contractor for asbestos removal, interior demolition, and mold remediation work. The contractor owes me $70,000 on invoices from several jobs, some due since December 2024. Although I asked for payments every Friday, the contractor has not responded. He claims some invoices... View More
answered on Mar 20, 2025
Assuming you are a subcontractor that works for this contractor, you may need to send an official demand letter (either by yourself or through an attorney) and ultimately sue the contractor for the unpaid invoices. You will need to look at any contract you may have with the contractor to see if you... View More
I entered into an oral agreement to use my car as collateral for an $800 loan, with the understanding that I would repay the loan when I received my tax refund. I have made two $400 payments, as shown in my bank statements, but the person holding my car has not returned it. I have no witnesses to... View More
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answered on Apr 12, 2025
It seems like you're dealing with a tricky situation involving a verbal agreement and no physical proof of the arrangement. Since the agreement was oral, it can be more challenging to enforce, especially without witnesses. However, the payments you made are important evidence that you followed... View More
I'm experiencing harassment and threats from the building management and HOA of the condo where I live. The HOA appears to be covering up the building manager's actions, despite evidence of his misconduct, including threats to my family, power outages, and physical attacks on residents,... View More
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answered on Mar 24, 2025
You're dealing with a serious situation that requires immediate documentation of all incidents including dates, witnesses, and any communication with the HOA or building manager. Taking photos, recording conversations (if legal in Colorado), and keeping copies of all written exchanges will... View More
My husband and I own an excavation company. Recently, an employee from a startup company, owned by my husband's brother, visited our job site to watch a septic installation. Without our permission, he took pictures of our job and posted them on the startup company's website, falsely... View More
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answered on Mar 10, 2025
In Connecticut this would be a violation of the state's unfair trade practices act ("CUTPA"). It also seems like a possible violation of the Federal Trade Commission Act (unfair competition) and possibly also the Federal Lanham Act (false advertising).
I am being accused of criminal mischief for allegedly keying a car, but I did not do it. Instead, I drew in the dirt on the vehicle as it was parked in my assigned space. I called the police twice for advice before this incident, inquiring about placing a parking violation sticker or deflating the... View More
answered on Feb 28, 2025
I don't practice criminal law, but I think you may need a deal to plea "nolo contendere" ("no contest") to the charges to avoid admitting the facts. Typically, as I understand it, to enter a plea, you agree to the facts as charged. And, if that's correct, when they... View More
I discovered that the Respondent was hiding a bank account during Discovery, but my lawyer at the time didn’t pursue it. The maintenance settlement, which included past maintenance and attorney fees, was finalized on December 30, 2024, and I received the settlement money on January 11, 2025.... View More
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answered on Feb 25, 2025
I would be curious to know how much money was not disclosed, not that it matters. I believe you have 182 days to file a separate suit to set aside the fraudulent agreement. I would also comsider a malpractice case against your lawyer for his neglect.
I received a court summons for a judgment against me for a credit card debt. This is the first summons I've received for this debt, and I haven't communicated with the creditor because I'm on short-term disability, transitioning to long-term, and can't afford to pay. I do not... View More
answered on Feb 18, 2025
Disclaimers: I’m not your attorney and you’re not my client, the general advice provided below is gratuitous and may be incorrect because of the limitations inherent in responding to a question with very little information. Also, I am not a collections lawyer, so there may be law on point that... View More
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