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I've been holding onto my ex-boyfriend's clothes that he gave me to keep, but after we broke up, he asked for them back over text. I asked when I could drop them off, but I'm considering donating them without his knowledge. Could I get into legal trouble for donating them?

answered on Jul 5, 2025
You don't want to do that. Let him have his clothes back. Otherwise, yes, you can get in trouble. You could be accused of conversion, the wrongful act of interfering with personal property of another. The fact that the clothes are donated to a good cause, or that they are no longer in your... View More
I had an agreement with a man to cut and sell timber from my property in Cortland County, NY, where I would receive 55% of the sales. We have a written contract, but the payment was supposed to be contingent on receiving written proof of timber sales, which he has withheld. He started taking trees... View More

answered on Jul 2, 2025
I'm sorry you have been treated so poorly by this contractor. My family personally has a large tract of land in a nearby state, and I have considered various offers to cut down trees on our property. I imagine I would also be frustrated by a contractor who didn't do what he promised.... View More
In September 2004, my brother invited my family to live in my father's house to help care for him post-hip surgery and avoid assisted living. I moved in with my husband and our two children, then aged 4 and 6. Over time, my brother misused his power of attorney status, attempting to control... View More

answered on Jul 1, 2025
I'm sorry you and your children are experiencing such a distressing and unstable situation. Being threatened with eviction, especially after standing up to abuse, can be overwhelming. In New York, your legal options will depend on the status of the property ownership, your current legal right... View More
I live in CT and lent $2,000 verbally over the phone to someone who lives in NY on May 22, 2025. I have not received any repayment, and the person is not responding to my calls or texts, although they are active on social media. I have a screenshot of the bank statement showing the transaction. Can... View More

answered on Jun 29, 2025
You can. The more evidence you have of a written nature, the stronger a case there is. Verbal promises count for something, but things like written repayment agreements, emails, texts, or bank records are more solid proof. Bank transfer records can still be argued various ways - as a gift, a... View More
Back in 2021, I ended my lease with a mutual termination agreement with my landlord and moved out of my apartment in Brooklyn, New York. I did not transfer the utilities back to the landlord or notify Con Edison that I moved out. The next tenant moved in and never transferred the utility account to... View More

answered on Jun 23, 2025
Dear Brooklyn Tenant:
On the surface, it would seem that as the primary account owner, you have direct liability for the utility charges. You may have a valid cause of action against the tenant who succeeded you based on a theory of unjust enrichment and whatever your lawyer may figure out.... View More
I have a rental agreement that lasts until June 30, 2026, but I have a verbal confirmation from my landlord and the property owner that I can exit early without paying rent after I move out. However, I have not received any written confirmation. Am I legally required to pay the full agreement if my... View More

answered on Jun 20, 2025
No, for two reasons. Any written contract must be modified in writing. Also, under the Statute of Frauds, any contract involving real estate must be in writing. If you had some kind of written confirmation, even an e-mail, you could use that as a defense in any non payment proceeding.
I have a rental agreement that lasts until June 30, 2026, but I have a verbal confirmation from my landlord and the property owner that I can exit early without paying rent after I move out. However, I have not received any written confirmation. Am I legally required to pay the full agreement if my... View More

answered on Jun 23, 2025
Why not have them provide written confirmation to you now? Oral promises cannot alter the terms of a written agreement.
But even if the lease, like most residential leases, does not provide a right by a tenant to unilateral nullification, all New York tenants are protected by the mitigation... View More
In March 2025, I had a Bruno CRE-2110 stairlift installed under a contract that promised full power swivel functionality and adjustable height to accommodate my needs as one of the users. Despite implied assurances from the salesperson, the stairlift does not swivel as promised, and the... View More

answered on Jun 17, 2025
It is understandable to feel frustrated and unsafe when a product intended to support your mobility instead creates hazardous conditions and fails to meet its promised features. Given the significant financial investment and the impact on your health and safety, it is reasonable to seek legal... View More
I let a family friend borrow my car, and he insisted on getting an oil change at a random location instead of my usual dealership. Afterward, my car wouldn't start and there was no oil in the engine. I did not give him explicit permission for the oil change, and there were no prior issues with... View More

answered on Jun 17, 2025
Situations like this can be frustrating, especially when your property is damaged as a result of someone else’s decision. In New York, whether you can successfully sue your family friend for the damage to your car depends on several factors, including the nature of your agreement, the extent of... View More
I had a stairlift installed in March 2025. The contract guaranteed a full power swivel and adjustable height, but the installation resulted in tight clearance, poor orientation, and rail issues, contributing to falls in May 2025 and worsening my pre-existing medical condition due to the unsafe... View More

answered on Jun 17, 2025
It is understandable to feel frustrated and unsafe after paying a significant amount for a stairlift installation that not only failed to meet promised specifications but also led to injury. You are dealing with a situation that affects both your health and your financial investment, and it is... View More
I work for a non-profit organization in NYC, where employees are given new contracts annually. I am currently pregnant and due in June, and notified my employer about my pregnancy back in January. Recently, I was offered a new contract for the upcoming year with a significant compensation decrease... View More

answered on May 29, 2025
To answer this question properly, a lot more information is needed. One question I would have is whether other employees similarly situated were presented with reduced compensation packages. It is one thing to suspect you are being penalized with a salary reduction due to your pregnancy and another... View More
My tenant and I verbally agreed to extend a one-year lease without signing a new written agreement. They've been paying rent via direct deposit monthly, from the 1st to the last day of the month. The tenant sent a 30-day notice on May 4th, stating they intend to vacate by June 3rd, citing New... View More

answered on May 20, 2025
Dear Manhattan Landlord
New York State Real Property Law Section 232-b is not a statute that relates to tenancies in New York City.
A NYC tenant is not required to provide advance written notification to end the month to month tenancy. In order to avoid owing the entire rent due... View More
I hired a dog sitter through Rover, which considers sitters as independent contractors. Unfortunately, she lost my dog, and I had to return early from a trip I had planned for 5 months. I incurred over $2,000 in trip costs, spent $400 on a drone expert, and hired a professional dog trapper to... View More

answered on May 18, 2025
I am sorry to hear about the distressing situation with your dog. In New York, you may have grounds to sue the dog sitter for your financial losses and potentially for emotional distress, but the success of your claim will depend on several factors.
First, you can pursue a claim for the... View More
My estranged husband and I were both listed on the title of our mobile home. Before selling it, we discussed that he would not receive any of the earnings from the sale, and he agreed to this when signing the bill of sale. We are not currently going through a divorce or legal separation. I have... View More

answered on May 19, 2025
If both you and your estranged husband were listed on the title of the mobile home, New York law generally recognizes that you both have an ownership interest in the property. However, the situation is more complex because you mentioned that your husband agreed not to receive any earnings from the... View More
At the closing for my short sale, there was no document stating that the short sale had been approved, even though the bank's loss mitigation department told me it was pre-approved. The real estate attorney affiliated with the agent I dealt with was meant to represent me, but I insisted on... View More

answered on Apr 28, 2025
Since you already have an attorney the proper person to address this would typically be your own attorney. Since no one on this forum has been privy to the details of this deal, we cannot give you better information than those who have been privy to it.
It is ultimately the seller’s... View More
I recently discovered that a scheduled rental increase was not applied to my rental statements for six months. Although my landlord claims the increase is included in my lease agreement, I never received any notification during those six months. The lease specifies that rent increases should be... View More

answered on Apr 23, 2025
Dear Queens Tenant
I gather that the landlord hadn't served a Rent Demand or suggested that the landlord will seek a determination in Housing Court.
You could share the rental dispute problem with an attorney. But if the claimed retroactive rent is less than one thousand... View More
I've been informed that my sister and I allegedly cosigned for an agreement stating my father would give a cow to a lady. Neither my sister nor I recall this agreement, and it supposedly happened when I was between 12 and 16 years old. The lady claims my father should sell the cow and give her... View More

answered on Apr 10, 2025
The experienced contract law and business law attorneys here would know these types of settings best, but your question remains open for almost a week, and you probably don't want this to escalate into a headache. You could reach out to one of them to ask about your best immediate actions. A... View More
I discovered after the death of my ex-romantic and art partner that much of his artwork was based on my photography and social media posts. I want to publish his art alongside the references he used, but I am concerned about the legality of including certain images.
Some of the photographs... View More

answered on Apr 7, 2025
1. Using Referenced Images for Commentary or Analysis
Including the original reference images alongside your ex-partner’s artwork for the purpose of commentary, critique, or scholarship can potentially fall under Fair Use, especially if:
The inclusion transforms the original... View More
I discovered after the death of my ex-romantic and art partner that much of his artwork was based on my photography and social media posts. I want to publish his art alongside the references he used, but I am concerned about the legality of including certain images.
Some of the photographs... View More

answered on Apr 7, 2025
That's a great question, and I think that you should be on pretty safe ground because your use is transformative: it is designed to shine a light into your partner's creative process, which is quite different from the original purposes for which the reference images were created. I would... View More
I was involved in an arbitration concerning an advanced commission breach of contract dispute. When I left the company, my ledger showed a negative balance. The arbitration ruled in their favor, even though I wasn't present to defend myself. Now, I've received a letter stating they will... View More

answered on Apr 1, 2025
The key issue in responding to you is whether you "participated" in the arbitration. You say both that you were "involved in an arbitration" and that you "[weren't] present [at the arbitration] to defend yourself." Participating can be an issue of fact, so you... View More
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