A friend of mine had some trouble with US Customs after traveling through Europe. As it turns out,
Lush soap may violate US drug laws. Customs evidently took her soap, tested it and showed it contained trace amounts of THC. She was detained for five hours, threatened with imprisonment and fined $500. So my question is thus: Is Lush in anyway liable if they are putting marijuana in their products without proper labeling? Is there anyway to appeal or contest the US Customs fine? Has anyone had a similar experience?
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posted by elwoodwiles
on Dec 6, 2004 -
26 answers
Can someone check Lexis Nexis to see if this case is real:
Sofia Stewart vs Andy and Larry Wachowski, Joel Silver and Warner Brothers, United States District Court of California? Boing Boing
says that the Matrix was stolen by the Wachowski Brothers from Sofia Stewart and they lost a court fight but the only source is a
college newspaper! The only thing I found on Google was
some guy saying that the details were on Lexis Nexis.
posted by exhilaration
on Dec 6, 2004 -
8 answers
[Social consciense filter]
I know, for a fact, that someone is drink driving EVERY DAY. Not just a few pints, but at LEAST 8pints and then driving home. Mostly it's a short, five minute drive, but sometimes it's longer distance. I have tried to talk to him and get him to stop - to walk to the pub. His brother has tried to talk to him. He just won't. He is also diabetic, so the drink has adverse effects on his sugar levels, which makes him more dangerous. He can't even walk properly when he gets home, so goodness knows how he can drive. The problem is, this person is a relative - and he's given me somewhere to live when I had nowhere.
I just don't know what to do. Would you inform someone? Or would you keep quiet? I don't particularly WANT to 'rat' on him, but what happens if he hits someone, and I know I could have stopped it? What would you do?
posted by anonymous
on Dec 6, 2004 -
40 answers
CollectionsFilter: I am an independent contractor. I work with small, emerging technology companies. Recently, one company paid me late, the other has not paid me in full - how do I collect?
I am getting legal and collections advice, and am evaluating my options. In the future, I'll be more diligent about accepting 'interesting' work only after doing a full credit report and getting references. Independent MetaMembers - how have you solved collections issues in the past? Share your stories and solutions, TIA
posted by anonymous
on Dec 5, 2004 -
4 answers
"
Reffy is a Windows-based mass referrer spammer.... Reffy comes with a pre-generated list of 3047 active blog websites...."
My blog is on that pre-generated list. These people are spamming my logs and filling my referrer page with crap. Paypal has, unsurprisingly, not responded to reports that they're being used to transfer money to spammers, and .htaccess deny blacklists are no good when your URL is being distributed to spammers all over the place. So, (1) how do I stop them, and (2) what legal recourse would I possibly have to get my cut of the money they're making by putting my website URL in their application?
posted by anonymous
on Dec 4, 2004 -
11 answers
parking meters and nyc. the law says 15 ft but lots of people park closer than that. is there a rule of thumb for this kind of thing? how close is too close? i live in brooklyn if that makes a difference.
posted by alkupe
on Dec 4, 2004 -
10 answers
What's so great about the U.S. constitution? From a political science perspective, a legal perspective, a historical perspective? Non-USians without a written constitution especially invited to reply.
posted by insideout
on Dec 4, 2004 -
33 answers
When, for the purposes of US law, does an envelope become mail?
posted by kenko
on Dec 3, 2004 -
10 answers
I'm in a long-term, gay relationship and looking to put together a will that puts me and my partner’s mind at ease before Civil Partnerships come into affect in the UK. The problem is, how does one go about putting together a will? What are people's experiences? Should I go to a lawyer specialising in gay relationships? And, if so, can anyone recommend a good one in the UK, London area?
posted by axon
on Nov 29, 2004 -
1 answer
I heard recently on NPR a
story about the new Clinton Presidential Library and how all of the gifts of original artwork sent to the President were kept as it was illegal to throw or give away any of it. The story went on that all the artwork was at the library but that there was so much that only a slight minority of it would ever be displayed. My question is, does anyone know more about this law obligating the President to keep the drawing I send him/her? Would they have to keep it even if it stunk or was otherwise somehow unappealing? I imagine you know what I'm getting at with our friend W in office for another four years...
posted by pwb503
on Nov 24, 2004 -
6 answers
My SO's long-held family house looks like it will soon have a 6 lane highway built through it. Is there anything that can be done or said that could have a bearing on the route? (MI)
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posted by figment
on Nov 22, 2004 -
14 answers
How does one find a lawyer? I'm skeptical of the online directories I can find with Google, as well as lawyers who are aggressively advertising. There must be a better way than picking one at random from the phone book. A friend looking for legal help with disability stuff has asked for my advice on this matter, and I turn to you, O MeFites.
posted by eyebeam
on Nov 18, 2004 -
11 answers
Is John Ashcroft's singing of "
Let the Eagle Soar" a copyrighted recording, or does him (formerly) being a gov't official doing it at some strange gov't event in public make it public domain?
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posted by mathowie
on Nov 11, 2004 -
12 answers
My husband is going to court in Atlanta/Fulton County next week for a speeding ticket. He has an unpaid speeding ticket in another state from two years back, but was able to renew his license here without any problems at all. The primary reason he's going to the court date is because we can't afford to pay the fine before then and they don't accept payments the day of the court date without you appearing in court. I'm scared the judge will somehow see the unpaid speeding ticket and my husband will immediately be thrown in jail. What is the likelihood of this happening? Am I being irrational?
posted by anonymous
on Nov 9, 2004 -
12 answers
MTV series like the Real World use a huge amount of current popular music as background noise. How can this not be prohibitive in cost?
posted by smackfu
on Nov 8, 2004 -
21 answers
PoliticsFilter: Were all 11 of the "defense of marriage" initiatives amendments to state constitutions, or were some just laws? (I know Oregon's was an amendment, but haven't been able to find out about all the others) If they are amendments, are state constitutions superceded by the U.S. Constitution?
posted by RylandDotNet
on Nov 8, 2004 -
3 answers
ElectionFairnessFilter. So i just voted (yay) and noticed something odd - a man in the polling place sitting quietly behind a MoveOn PAC sign. I didn't think we in the US could have anyone inside the polling place advocating a specific voting paradigm (even if I do think it's a good paradigm to support), and so I wasn't surprised when a lady complained and an officious-looking man walked over to talk to the seated gentleman - but after a short conversation, they let him stay. Anyone know what gives here? Why would they not ask him to leave?
posted by caution live frogs
on Nov 2, 2004 -
15 answers
Lawyerfilter: I'm curious about the legality of replicating content (designs, catchphrases, etc) from a given medium into another. For example, I love the "Real Genius"-inspired shirts that
founditemclothing.com is producing ( "I Love Toxic Waste," "International Order for Gorillas," and "Surf Nicaragua,") but I'm wondering if it's permissible under the law. Thanks in advance to anyone willing and able to take a stab at explaning it.
posted by Sinner
on Oct 26, 2004 -
8 answers
I'm looking at
nolo press' site for info on LLCs, and the simple ~$300 method of creating one online at corporation.com, but I seem to recall reading somewhere that LLCs incorporated in Delaware and Nevada are the only ones that are tax-free when money goes into them -- that money going into another state's LLC does get taxed, and when money goes into your personal bank account it gets taxed in both cases. So aside from Delaware and Nevada, money going into an LLC would be taxed twice. Is that correct? Are there any drawbacks to making a Delaware or Nevada LLC as opposed to your home state?
posted by mathowie
on Oct 26, 2004 -
14 answers
The
IMDB entry for Donnie Darko says: "The script initially called for Donnie's fantasies to be about Alyssa Milano. This had to be changed however when Richard Kelly was denied the legal rights to reference her in this manner." Does anyone know what laws are operating in this situation?
posted by lbergstr
on Oct 24, 2004 -
13 answers
Would it be legal for a member of the NYAG's office to start shorting a company Spitzer's about to sue shortly before he makes his first press release about it, given that my impression from
this article is that his doing so tends to lead to drops in stock prices?
posted by kenko
on Oct 22, 2004 -
6 answers
I've been a freelance web designer operating as a sole trader for six months. Now I've gotten a contract that can only hire people as limited companies. I've been told to use an umbrella company, but after reading up on them online, I'm just at a loss. I can understand
what they do, but why don't companies want sole traders? And does anyone have any recommendations on umbrellas to use?
(Save, of course, the Umbrella Corporation)
posted by Katemonkey
on Oct 20, 2004 -
4 answers
Ambulance Etiquette: Divided highway, two lanes in each direction, pull over into shoulder and stop?
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posted by anathema
on Oct 11, 2004 -
11 answers
Imagine someone made an 6'x10' sign featuring the Talented Mr. Goatse with the caption "Massachusetts Welcomes You" and draped it over the actual welcome sign on I-95 south at the New Hampshire border. Early on Thanksgiving morning. What would happen to this person if they were caught?
posted by Mayor Curley
on Oct 7, 2004 -
47 answers
So apparently it's
legal to have sex in a bar bathroom in Italy, but what about the U.S.? Related question: is it illegal for a woman to go in the men's room (or vice versa)? Anybody ever gotten in trouble (beyond just embarrasment) for something like this?
posted by rorycberger
on Oct 6, 2004 -
22 answers
Oaths and Non-Disclosure in the military: What legal and moral responsibility do soldiers or mercenaries have to keep quiet or speak up about events they witness during their tour of duty? [Swear something interesting on this big book, and I'll tell you more on the inside]
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posted by b1tr0t
on Sep 25, 2004 -
3 answers
My home was burgled yesterday while my wife and I were at work. Our cats are uninjured; my camera collection, large collection of criterion & kino DVDs, powerbook & lcd projector, and all of her good jewelry were not so lucky.
My question: how do I go about exacting revenge?
posted by luriete
on Sep 9, 2004 -
31 answers
Ethical considerations aside, are there any issues I should be concerned with if I were to use my neighbor's wireless internet without his explicit permission? Say, my computer getting hacked, my passwords being intercepted, my email being read, my browsing history being revealed, etc etc.
posted by TheIrreverend
on Sep 2, 2004 -
10 answers
What happens to someone's personal debt (ex. credit cards, student loans) if s/he goes to prison? Does it matter if the term is <10 years? Life? (Not that I need to worry personally, just curious.)
posted by ferociouskitty
on Sep 1, 2004 -
6 answers
Prenuptial agreements. Got one? Know someone that does - or didn't, and wishes they did? Looking for personal experiences, good and bad (purely out of curiousity, of course). Are they crucial in these modern times...or just unbearably unromantic?
posted by gottabefunky
on Aug 28, 2004 -
17 answers
JAG Filter: This
article in the New York Times (reg. req. and expires soon - see also this
article) states the judge in one of the Abu Ghraib cases is contemplating granting immunity to several officers to compel their testimony. This testimony could be helpful to the defendant who is trying to establish that he was acting upon orders from his superiors. I thought the prosecution not the judge decided who would get immunity, that is that immunity was like a contract whereby the prosecution agreed not to use the testimony in exchange for someone waiving their Fifth amendment rights. Any JAG lawyers out there? Do the rules differ about this in military courts?
posted by caddis
on Aug 25, 2004 -
3 answers
If one has a business that is registered as an LLC (with no partners-- just the one person) and if: the business location (office) is in one state, the owner lives in another state and most of the business (or clients) are in a third state in which state is state income tax due-- where the office is, the owner's residence or where the clients are?
posted by limitedpie
on Aug 24, 2004 -
3 answers
Moving Filter: Do we have to give 30 days notice that we're going to move? [mi]
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posted by drezdn
on Aug 18, 2004 -
15 answers
Is it legal to sell your vote in the United States? Since I don't care all THAT much who's president, and I live in a swing state, I was thinking of auctioning my vote off, or forming a syndicate with like-minded citizens to auction our votes
en bloc. I mean, either party would get bigger bang for their buck buying 100,000 votes outright for $6 million, than spending the equivalent on hit-or-miss TV advertising.
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posted by Faze
on Aug 12, 2004 -
25 answers
Ecommerce filter: Here at work we are attempting to understand/define the default business rules for taxation calculations within an ecommerce app. Specifically we are all tied up in knots over the application of rates, reporting issues, etc. Is there an industry standard for handling this aspect of a transaction? Who defines the standards, and how can I find out more about it?
posted by lilboo
on Aug 12, 2004 -
2 answers
Are there any good resources for searching United States Supreme Court Cases by which law was being challanged? Has the SC ever said a law banning interracial marriage is unconstitutional and on what grounds? (Hopefully an answers to the first question would allow me to answer the second on my own.)
posted by Apoch
on Aug 11, 2004 -
8 answers
Email disclaimers - is there any point in having an email disclaimer? Is it legally binding? Is it merely a waste of bandwidth and brainpower?
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posted by BigCalm
on Aug 10, 2004 -
18 answers
I'd like to live in Europe. My wife is a 2nd generation Latvian and I recall reading about an "ancestral permanent residence" policy that affects the EU, of which Latvia is now a member. I know there have been several questions about living abroad, but I can't find this information. Can anybody help? [MI]
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posted by maniactown
on Aug 6, 2004 -
10 answers
I am thinking of starting a very small business, but I have a few questions for those of you who have done so before I really make up my mind wheter to go forward or not. [More Inside]
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posted by shotsy
on Jul 29, 2004 -
10 answers
Has the Supreme Court ever reversed a unanimous Supreme Court ruling? How frequently are 8-1 rulings overturned? I'm writing a paper on
Brown v. Board of Education and was wondering whether it was worth it for Warren to press for unanimity given that the "all deliberate speed" clause was added to achieve this, and severely diluted the ruling.
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posted by alphanerd
on Jul 28, 2004 -
8 answers
for the lawyers:
i'm three years from admission on motion in NY (which bar membership has been recommended to me by several folks for various reasons). i may or may not be moving back to WashDC in two years (reciprocity with DC and admisson on motion to VA are not at issue). should i sit for the NY bar or wait out the reciprocity?
what advice for/experiences with changing jurisdictions do/have y'all had?
posted by crush-onastick
on Jul 16, 2004 -
2 answers
I'm studying for the New York bar exam (law), using BarBri, and I was wondering if there's anyone out there who's passed the bar and can give me any pointers on scrambling to learn all this material? I feel like a candle burning at both ends and I need some moral support. Thanks!
posted by adrober
on Jun 23, 2004 -
9 answers
A friend of mine was offered a flat screen at his place of work to use in conjunction with his laptop computer. He declined because he is quite happy to use his laptop, and his desk space is at a premium. Later, he was given a piece of paper to sign waiving all rights to sue the company for an injury that might occur as a result of using his laptop. Would such a document actually carry any legal authority?
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posted by nthdegx
on Jun 21, 2004 -
15 answers
Well this will get a lot of flack, but what's the deal with this '
How to Avoid a DUI''? It's the latest local news sensationalist reporting fad, and I'm really curious. Personally, I will never have more than one drink and drive (yeah, yeah even one is apparently bad), but I can't think of what would be on the video that's so bad. I realize that sensationalist local news reporting is just that, but they have some truth in them. I mean .08 is a .08 no matter where you are?
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posted by geoff.
on Jun 8, 2004 -
10 answers
I have a friend (shh) who failed to show up at court for driving on suspended permit. She's never gotten this taken care of because she's stupid, and 8 years have passed. She now lives in a new state, attends college, is really nice (despite being stupid) and is about to get a corporate position that involves drug test + background check. Advice needed. [MI]
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posted by precocious
on Jun 3, 2004 -
17 answers
