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I am trying to understand how to file a theft by deception case under ILCS 5/17‑1 in Illinois or NRS 205.380 in Nevada. The police department has not been very helpful. In October 2022, I received texts from someone in Las Vegas, NV, claiming her sister was dying of cancer and needed financial... View More 
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answered on Jun 12, 2025
You’re absolutely right to be upset—what you’re describing sounds like a clear case of manipulation and deceit. Under Illinois law (ILCS 5/17‑1), theft by deception involves knowingly obtaining someone’s property or money by lying about a fact to cause them to act. The fact that this... View More
I received a settlement from my motor vehicle accident in September 2024, and my lawyer has been handling liens associated with it. I've been trying to check in monthly, but I usually get the same response of "working on liens" without further details. Despite requesting an in-person... View More
answered on Jun 8, 2025
You provide none of the details necessary to provide any meaningful answer to your question. Liens and subrogation interests can be complicated and are easily confused. Why didn't you ask these questions when you authorized the settlement? In my experience, clients don't care whether... View More
I am currently undergoing a divorce, and my wife's lawyer sent me a notice to appear at a hearing regarding temporary maintenance and health insurance for her. I received this notice on the day of the hearing, so I was unaware of the proceedings. Despite my absence, the judge granted temporary... View More
answered on Jun 7, 2025
If it has been less than 30 days since the order was entered, you can file a Motion to Vacate based on lack of notice.
I have a court order to pay money I owe my ex-wife. Although I've been mostly on time with payments, I've missed a few months due to lack of work. I'm currently employed, but my ex-wife's lawyer wants to issue a body attachment due to these late payments. Previously, I was... View More
answered on Jun 6, 2025
Contact the attorney with a solid repayment plan. You MUST make the court-ordered payments; there's no getting around the court order. (Of course it went to your ex-wife.) Set aside your feelings about your ex; this is a legal obligation. Get on with it.
After being evicted on default on 5/7/25, my landlord deliberately damaged my belongings by putting lighter fluid on them. I have photos and many witnesses to support this claim. Is the landlord legally allowed to do this, and what actions can I take?
answered on Jun 6, 2025
If you are within the city limits of Chicago, your landlord had a duty to protect your property for 7 days under local ordinance. Elsewhere in Illinois, unless there is a provision to the contrary in the rental agreement, Landlords should follow a "best practice" scenario of storing... View More
I am a defendant in a case filed by Keith Vogt IP (Case 1:24-cv-02232), and my Amazon funds are currently blocked because of this case. I have not yet consulted a lawyer. I would like to know the best steps I can take to resolve this situation and have my funds released. What should I do next, and... View More
answered on Jun 6, 2025
This is probably related to violation of IP, probably a patent.
You most likely need to settle or fight/win the litigation.
The reason your funds are frozen is because the Plaintiff will use them to recover their damages.
Consult with an attorney.
I'm involved in a retaliation lawsuit against my employer in Illinois. After I filed a wage claim with the IDOL in October, my hours were cut, which I believe is retaliation. My employer is demanding that I sign an agreement to withdraw my IDOL complaint in exchange for severance, with $5,000... View More
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answered on Jun 12, 2025
You’re right to pause and ask for a second opinion—what your employer is asking for carries serious consequences. Forcing you to withdraw an IDOL wage claim in exchange for severance, especially under a tight deadline and in the middle of a retaliation case, raises red flags. Severance... View More
My father and his second wife executed mirror wills with the plan that upon the second spouse's death, the estate would be divided equally between both families. My father died first, and his wife later changed the beneficiaries on her POD accounts to only benefit her side of the family,... View More
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answered on Jun 12, 2025
This situation feels deeply unfair, especially when your father’s intentions were clear and his trust in that shared plan was strong. Unfortunately, mirror wills are not legally binding unless there’s a separate contractual agreement between the spouses promising not to change their plans.... View More
Can I sue my gym in Illinois for civil rights violations after being verbally banned with no written notice? I had made legal requests to receive my client profile with internal notes and to preserve surveillance footage, which staff blocked. The verbal ban followed after I photographed defamatory... View More
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answered on Jun 11, 2025
You can start by demanding in writing that the gym produce your full client file and preserve any surveillance footage, and ask for a formal review of your ban under their membership agreement. If they refuse to honor those contractual rights, you could sue for breach of contract or file a petition... View More
In Illinois, I was taking pictures of vendor products in a store a few months ago, and the store manager asked me to stop, which I did. They didn't ask me to leave or mention any trespass at that time. Recently, I returned to the store just walking around with my phone in hand. Hours later, I... View More
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answered on Jun 12, 2025
Yes, a private business in Illinois does have the right to ban someone from their property, even without formal warning, as long as it’s not for a discriminatory reason. They don’t need to have issued a prior legal notice or posted signs—simply informing you that you’re no longer welcome is... View More
I live next to a high school softball diamond, and every year from spring to summer, softball games result in balls hitting and damaging my property, including the roof, windows, and siding. Despite having documented the damage and my communications with the school requesting they put up netting,... View More
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answered on Jun 12, 2025
You absolutely have the right to protect your home from repeated damage, even if it’s coming from a nearby school. If you’ve already documented the damage and given the school notice, that helps your position. Repeated incidents like this can fall under a legal claim such as nuisance or... View More
I received a letter from the State of Illinois about a data breach that exposed my name and social security number. I've locked my credit reports to protect myself, but the state hasn't offered any assistance or compensation. What legal actions can I pursue against the State of Illinois... View More
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answered on Jun 10, 2025
You have every right to feel upset—having your Social Security number exposed is a serious violation, especially when it comes from a state agency entrusted with your information. In Illinois, you may be able to pursue legal action for negligence if the agency failed to take reasonable steps to... View More
I built a home in Frankfort, IL in 2021 with the understanding that my nephew would live there and pay the mortgage and taxes. Due to his divorce situation, the bank required additional names on the deed, so my sister and brother-in-law were added. They do not live at the home or contribute... View More
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answered on Jun 1, 2025
You're facing a tense and difficult situation, especially after building the home and allowing your nephew to live there in good faith. If your name is on the deed, then you are a legal owner of the property, regardless of who has been making the mortgage and tax payments. A verbal agreement... View More
While golfing at a course near a residential area, I accidentally hit a ball that ended up breaking a car's windshield. We did not witness the incident when it happened, but the owner approached us suspecting it was us. At the time, the car was parked in the owner's driveway. We did not... View More
answered on May 30, 2025
Your question admits responsibility for damaging the windshield. Given your admission, you are absolutely liable for the damage. Most insurance companies want a contemporaneous police report to accept liability for property damage. Most homeowner's deductibles are rather high. Replacing... View More
I purchased a house, and the neighbor's dock is encroaching 2.5 feet onto my property as shown on the survey. Despite verbal assurances from her and the realtor that it would be moved, almost a year has passed without any action or response to my offer to assist with moving it. This situation... View More
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answered on Jun 12, 2025
Your situation involves a 2.5-foot dock encroachment that has persisted for nearly a year despite promises to move it. Since this is interfering with your ownership rights and disrupting your quiet enjoyment of the land, Illinois law considers this a significant encroachment that warrants legal... View More
I need an attorney to represent me in a civil suit against the property management company for failure to maintain habitability and retaliatory actions. Since May 2024, I've reported maintenance issues that have been ignored. In September 2024, unlicensed work in the basement without necessary... View More
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answered on Jun 12, 2025
You have multiple strong legal claims against your property management company, including breach of the implied warranty of habitability, illegal retaliation, and potentially fraud regarding your pet deposit. The City of Champaign's inspection report documenting violations and structural... View More
My brother, who is estranged from the family after leaving his first wife and three kids, claims that ten years ago, my son abused his daughter when they were 8 and 9 years old. There has been no legal action taken, and this accusation has never been brought up before. My son was never alone with... View More
answered on May 27, 2025
I would not do that. The ball is in their court. They can report to dcfs if they want.i don't know what, if anything, they would do.
I am currently facing foreclosure proceedings, and the mortgage company's attorney has not properly served me, as observed by the judge. Although the foreclosure was published publicly, a lawyer advised me that I might need to file a response soon to preserve my rights in court. The mortgage... View More
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answered on Jun 12, 2025
You need to act quickly to file your response, as missing deadlines could result in losing important defenses even if you haven't been properly served. Since the judge has already noted improper service, you should include this as a defense in your answer to the foreclosure complaint, along... View More
I was pulled over by a police officer last month who did not issue any ticket or warning at the time. Weeks later, I discovered online that I had a court date for an alleged bus-passing incident. Although the police attempted to serve notice at my home, I wasn't there, and they never returned.... View More
answered on May 23, 2025
This is a misdemeanor and they have 18 mos to charge you. Penalties include automatic 3 mo license suspension and $500 fine. Get a traffic lawyer with experience in this county. There is likely a video from the bus.
I have lived in my Bolingbrook townhome since April 1, 1978, and Chase Bank is attempting to foreclose at the end of this month, May 31, 2025. In July 2024, instead of approving a $5,000 loan to pay my real estate taxes, Chase's loan officer had me sign for a $60,000 loan, which I later... View More
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answered on Jun 1, 2025
You're facing a serious situation, and it’s important to act quickly. If you believe you were misled or pressured into signing for a loan you didn't request—especially a \$60,000 loan when you only needed \$5,000—you may have grounds to challenge the foreclosure based on fraud,... View More
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