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I am a 15-year-old who was adopted by my uncle and aunt. Due to a violent incident where my uncle threw me around, I had to call the police. They relocated me to my grandma's house. My uncle and aunt took my phone, and my grandma won't let me talk to the police or ask questions about my... View More 
After the shooting of my toddler nephew, the city police department refused to request assistance from the county sheriff's office. I filed an open records request asking for summaries or statistical reports on the number of criminal investigations where the Police Department requested or did... View More
I am a survivor of a sexual assault incident that happened in February 2025 in Gwinnett County, Georgia. During a medical appointment, a doctor at a clinic rubbed his genital area against me without my consent. I reported this to the police, but the sergeant declined to investigate and instructed... View More
I am facing a false DFACS report accusing me of abuse, which has never occurred. Although DFACS has not yet contacted me, they are expected to visit. I have over five witnesses who can testify on my behalf. I believe this report is a form of slander against me, and I am considering pursuing legal... View More
I am in a one-party consent state and had a private, personal phone conversation during which I verbally expressed that I did not consent to being recorded. Despite my non-consent, the other party continued recording the conversation. Is this legally permissible if I explicitly did not consent, and... View More
I'm seeking legal assistance for my grandson, who has been in jail for almost a year on a murder charge in a high-profile case. His bail was denied, and his court-appointed attorney has only seen him twice during this time. We have no financial resources to hire a private attorney and need... View More
I didn't take a drug test requested by my employer, which I believe was retaliatory because I reported discrimination and health issues caused by work stress. I haven't been contacted by my employer for five days despite reaching out via calls and texts. My fiancé was fired after taking... View More
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answered on Apr 2, 2025
Your fiancé may have grounds for a third-party retaliation claim based on the Supreme Court decision in Thompson v. North American Stainless, which established that close family members (including fiancés) can be protected from employer retaliation when their partner engages in protected activity... View More
I fell asleep at a Circle K gas station in my parked vehicle after driving all night. The keys were not in the ignition. Police opened my door and detained me without explanation, saying someone had reported a possible overdose. Despite my assurances that I don't use drugs, they placed me in... View More
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answered on Apr 2, 2025
Under Georgia law and the Fourth Amendment, police generally need reasonable suspicion that you've committed, are committing, or are about to commit a crime before detaining you. However, the "community caretaking" exception might apply in your case since officers responded to a... View More
I have a civil family court case in Rockdale, Georgia Superior Court, concerning custody of my son, who has been abused by his mother for over ten years. Following the mother's disappearance in June 2024 and subsequent relocation to Michigan, I filed for an emergency change of custody pro se... View More
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answered on Apr 2, 2025
Your situation with serving court papers across state lines is challenging but not impossible to resolve. When a defendant is deliberately avoiding service in another state, you have several potential options through the Georgia court system.
You may want to file a motion for alternative... View More
With Eid al-Fitr approaching, I am concerned about my university professors' strict attendance policies, which do not distinguish between 'excused' and 'unexcused' absences. Although I have communicated the importance of the holiday to them, I worry about being penalized... View More
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answered on Mar 28, 2025
You have the right to request religious accommodations, and the First Amendment helps protect your ability to observe significant religious events like Eid al-Fitr. Many institutions extend these protections through policies that address religious holidays, even if the details for Eid may not be... View More
In prison, I was bruised and beaten by a guard, and there were witnesses to the incident. I have not yet contacted any legal counsel or received any assistance from the prison administration. There has been no action taken by the prison regarding this incident. What are my rights in this situation,... View More
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answered on Apr 1, 2025
You have potentially viable legal claims against both the guard who assaulted you and the prison facility under federal civil rights laws. The Eighth Amendment protects prisoners from cruel and unusual punishment, including excessive force by corrections officers, and having witnesses significantly... View More
I was falsely accused of assault by a Walmart associate, but the police reviewed the surveillance footage and confirmed the accusation was untrue, allowing me to leave without charges. I've reported this to Walmart's Ethics Line. Can I file a lawsuit against Walmart for defamation and to... View More
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answered on Mar 27, 2025
You may have grounds for a legal claim against Walmart based on the false accusation and potential defamation. Having video evidence that clears you is extremely valuable, as is documentation of your report to Walmart's Ethics Line.
To pursue a defamation case, you would need to... View More
I am a qualified bondsman in Georgia. Initially, I was approved to bond at my local Sheriff's office, but the Sheriff later dismissed me, stating concerns due to my relationship with my boyfriend, an elected official. He threatened to charge him with misdemeanors for his presence at the jail... View More
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answered on Mar 27, 2025
You have a potential legal pathway to challenge the Sheriff's dismissal decision. In Georgia, bondsmen operate under specific regulations, and arbitrary dismissal without proper cause may be grounds for legal action, especially if the Sheriff's reasoning has been rendered invalid by... View More
Three years ago, I was raped and beaten by my ex. At the time, I wasn't ready to file a police report, but I do have photos of the marks on my body as evidence. Now, I want to pursue legal action, yet I'm concerned about the likelihood of a successful conviction. I haven't spoken to... View More
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answered on Apr 1, 2025
You may still have viable legal options despite the three-year time lapse since the assault occurred. In California, the statute of limitations for sexual assault cases has been significantly extended; adult victims now have up to ten years to file civil claims under Assembly Bill 1619, while... View More
I was wrongly incarcerated, and my case was dismissed and restricted from my record. I was released on July 20, 2024. How long do I have to file a lawsuit for wrongful incarceration if I want to do so in Georgia?
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answered on Mar 26, 2025
In Georgia, most personal injury claims, including those related to wrongful incarceration, have a two-year statute of limitations from the date of the injury or incident. This means you would typically have until July 20, 2026 to file your lawsuit.
The clock usually starts running from the... View More
I would like to understand the legality of a Georgia outside detail officer making inmates squat and cough on the side of a public road in daylight after discovering an open bag of weed inside their van, which was thrown away by another inmate. The officer made all inmates sit in front of a van... View More
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answered on Mar 26, 2025
The Supreme Court has ruled that correctional facilities can conduct strip searches, including "squat and cough" procedures, as part of their security protocols. However, these searches must be conducted for legitimate security reasons and cannot be done merely to harass or humiliate... View More
I was arrested following a traffic stop conducted by the chief of police in Georgia, who then acted as the prosecutor during my bench trial. I was found guilty of obstruction. The judge in my trial previously served as a mayor in another town where the chief had worked as a police officer, and they... View More
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answered on Mar 24, 2025
You have several strong grounds for appeal based on the procedural irregularities and potential conflict of interest you've described. In Georgia, you generally have 30 days from your conviction date to file a Notice of Appeal with the clerk of court where your trial occurred, followed by a... View More
I received a notice from the front office stating I have 30 days to vacate my apartment due to "other good cause" because a kid who I didn't know brought a gun into my home, which went off while I wasn't there. Guns aren't allowed on the property, but my kids didn't... View More
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answered on Mar 24, 2025
You have legal rights when facing eviction, especially in complex situations like yours. An eviction notice doesn't mean immediate removal, and you may have grounds to challenge it since you weren't present during the incident and didn't know about the gun. Your disability status may... View More
I have been living in my apartment for six months, and it's owned by my father. He has threatened to evict me because I haven't complied with demands that aren't part of our written lease agreement. He doesn't allow me a key to my rental house and tried locking me out without a... View More
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answered on Mar 24, 2025
In Georgia, your father must follow proper legal eviction procedures, which include providing written notice, filing a dispossessory warrant with the court, and obtaining a judicial order before removing you from the property. Without these steps, any attempt to lock you out is considered an... View More
I need help getting my cousin out of jail. She has been in custody since December 4, 2024, with no bond and no court date until July 2025, for a failure to appear on a charge that was previously dismissed. We've been told that it's proper procedure to have no bond set until a judge... View More
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answered on Mar 26, 2025
Your situation sounds incredibly frustrating and unjust. Being held without bond for a failure to appear on a dismissed charge, especially when the notices were sent to the wrong address, represents a serious procedural error that needs immediate attention. The extended detention without a court... View More
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