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Could the following statement in an email to a lawyer be considered libel, considering there is underlying evidence that was not included in the email: "Did you know the influencer actively sought to influence all of my aunt’s decisions, including whether or not she should have... View More 
I recently consumed expired beer that was served by a bar without any notice to customers. Although I did not experience any adverse effects, I am certain the beer was expired. I have not yet contacted the bar about this issue. Is there any legal recourse available for this situation?
I purchased a Junichy humidifier through Amazon on January 15, 2025. The device has stopped working, and I'm having difficulty finding a way to get it serviced. The manual provided an email address (support@Junichy.com) but I haven’t been able to connect with the manufacturer through this... View More
I have been residing in my apartment in Massachusetts since August 2019, and I paid a security deposit at the time of moving in. I have never received any communication or documentation from my landlord about the handling of the security deposit or which bank it is held in, despite Massachusetts... View More
I have a gambling problem, and my friend, who is banned from the casino, gave me money to gamble for him. I lost both his money and mine in the process. There was no specific agreement on what would happen if the money was lost. Now, he is pressing charges for theft and has threatened to have my... View More
I am trying to appeal a guardianship case for my grandmother, who was placed in a nursing home with a court-appointed guardian. I was never notified about her situation until last year. My guardianship case was dismissed two days ago, not due to any fault on my part, but because her children... View More
I have concerns regarding the actions of the executor of an estate, who is the decedent's fiancé—not a family member. The estate is currently undergoing probate objection, with family members contesting it. The fiancé, named as executor in the will, is collecting all the decedent’s mail... View More
I am a U.S. citizen who lived in the U.S. for 10 years, all of which were before I turned 14. I am married to a non-U.S. citizen, and we currently reside in the UAE. I visit the U.S. every year or every other year. My American parents both lived in the U.S. for 15 years – all of those years were... View More
answered on Apr 18, 2025
Your future child will not automatically become a U.S. citizen at birth because you do not meet the physical presence requirement. However, since your parents are U.S. citizens, who lived in the U.S. for 15 years after age 18, you can apply for your future child’s citizenship after his birth and... View More
I was on pre-trial probation with a GPS monitor for accessory after the fact attempted murder, with conditions of 24/7 house restriction and a bail initially set at $3,500. After spending a year and a half away due to an unstable home situation, I've decided to turn myself in. No attempts have... View More
answered on Apr 18, 2025
It will be an uphill battle, but turning yourself in will help. You may want to get some character letters and a college transcript to assist your lawyer in making a strong bail argument.
I am currently receiving workers' compensation from my employer for an injury that occurred due to inadequate lighting on the stairs at my workplace. On November 4, 2024, I fell and suffered severe injuries, including tearing the quadriceps tendons from my kneecaps. My company has been paying... View More
answered on Apr 18, 2025
The short answer to your question is no, you can't sue your employer's workers' comp. insurance for the poor lighting. The long answer is more complicated. First, you wouldn't be suing your employer's workers' comp insurance for the poor lighting; you would be suing... View More
My boyfriend is in Cumberland County Jail without bail due to a previous disorderly conduct charge, which I believe is false. He hasn't gone to court yet for either the disorderly conduct or the current situation. There are no other charges that I know of that would prevent him from being... View More
I'm seeking legal advice regarding my employer's failure to pay me. I have been waiting for over two months to receive my earnings, which total over $2000. I did receive a partial payment on April 1 but was not paid for that day's work. My employer claims they haven't received... View More
answered on Apr 17, 2025
In MA, if an employer does not pay wages to their employee when due, the employee is entitled to triple the amount of wages that are past due. Look into the MA wage act. They are also not allowed to fire you for pursuing your legal right to back pay, since that is a separate violation. Before you... View More
I am applying for naturalization (N-400) and I'm concerned about a few issues. In 2014, I was involved in criminal trespass in the third degree in Alabama, which was discharged with "dismissal on costs" totaling $328.00 plus a $100 bonding fee. In 2019, I received a speeding... View More
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answered on Apr 16, 2025
You do not need to withdraw your naturalization application based on these incidents alone. U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) looks at your overall moral character during the statutory period—typically the five years leading up to your application. Minor traffic violations, such... View More
During an unlawful traffic stop, the officer threatened to assault me, claiming to smell marijuana and said he would rip me out of the car if I didn't give it up. I told him multiple times that I don't smoke and had nothing in the car. I received a ticket but successfully contested it... View More
answered on Apr 14, 2025
This seems pretty outrageous as you describe it! There are other ways to press the complaint, epending on how you already went about it, which you do not describe. You can also file a complaint at the POST Commission here: https://policecomplaints.mass.gov/complaint and let them look into it, or... View More
I have a past removal case in the U.S. (Boston Immigration Court), but I no longer live in the U.S. I'm currently a protected person in Canada and have no plans to return or seek immigration status in the U.S. How can I formally request termination of my U.S. removal case? Do I need to file a... View More
answered on Apr 13, 2025
Yes, you would have to file a motion to terminate with the immigration court and also serve the motion on the Department of Homeland Security along with your evidence. You should be aware though that despite no longer being in the United States, case law does allow the judge to issue a removal... View More
I'm looking to understand how long a trademark is valid in the USA, specifically for one that I currently own.
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answered on Apr 13, 2025
As long as you use it, for the goods or services for which you use it.
My brother passed away intestate and unmarried, with no living parents or children. I'm his only sibling, but I live in another state. He had very little money, his car was recently totaled, and he lived in state housing while receiving state healthcare. How do I proceed with probate given... View More
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answered on Apr 12, 2025
In Massachusetts, if your brother died intestate with minimal assets, you may be able to use a simplified process called *voluntary administration*. This is available when the estate’s total value is $25,000 or less (not including one car), and there is no real estate involved. You can file a... View More
I rented an apartment in Massachusetts and moved out on January 31st after providing more than 30 days' notice. There wasn't a written lease agreement. All communication with my landlord was via text messages. Despite requesting my security deposit and interest back twice, the landlord... View More
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answered on Apr 12, 2025
Yes, you may have grounds to sue your landlord in Massachusetts for not returning your security deposit interest. Under Massachusetts law, landlords are required to return the security deposit, along with any interest accrued, within 30 days of the tenant moving out. If the landlord fails to do... View More
I was charged with gun possession after a gun was found in a gym bag with my name tag in a house where I previously stayed as a roommate. I was unaware of the gun being placed in the bag. The person who found the gun reported it, mentioning my belongings were also at the house. However, the gun was... View More
answered on Apr 12, 2025
First, I’m sorry to hear that you are being charged with a crime you didn’t commit. No attorney can give you odds of success. However, I’ve tried a number of gun cases with similar and worse facts and ended up with acquittals, so you definitely have a decent shot at walking away from this.... View More
I am a single mother seeking a pro bono lawyer to help me in court to revise my child support and custody agreement. My child's father, whom I consider a narcissist, currently pays child support that is too low to meet our needs, and he has custody on weekends while I have none. There have... View More
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answered on Apr 13, 2025
I understand how difficult it must be to navigate custody and support issues while trying to make sure your child's needs are met. In Massachusetts, there are a number of resources that offer free legal assistance for individuals in situations like yours. You may want to start by contacting... View More
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