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The comptroller of my county did something that seems unethical (although probably not illegal). Aside from the voters in the next election, who do they report to? [more inside]
posted by jonathanhughes at 10:06 AM - 7 answers

I know you are not my lawyer. But I need a lawyers opinion. A family member with a history of bipolar disorder got a pretty disturbing message to me insinuating suicide. I know this family member very well and I feel they are serious. I dont want to understate my concern (cont) [more inside]
posted by The_imp_inimpossible at 8:49 PM - 17 answers

I'm looking for a lawyer to draft or review a operating agreement for a US-based multi-stakeholder/"platform" co-op. I have several unusual desires for this that I haven't seen precedent for, and want someone who is willing to have a dialogue about what I want and how to encode it into a contract. [more inside]
posted by wesleyac at 8:20 PM - 2 answers

I have been leading a report-writing project for a committee at my city's bar association for about nine months, and need advice from you, hive mind, to help me at a crossroads on the effort. I committed to the undertaking, have put a lot of work into it and do not want to quit, but the lack of congeniality on what is essentially a volunteer project is wearing on me. What can I do to steer this project safely to land? [more inside]
posted by ponibrown at 8:26 AM - 4 answers

I know a person who has schizophrenic tendencies and also a number of restraining orders/stalking charges. He has been prohibited by court order from making any mention of the persons who have requested these orders on social media or his website. I'm curious about the legal basis for this. While I sympathize with the victims, I wonder about the implications for the first amendment. Obviously, YANHL.
posted by matkline at 3:04 AM - 10 answers

You, of course, are not my lawyer. I'm being sued in small claims court for something I did not do and am not at fault for. A third party has already been found at fault. This has already been determined by both parties' insurance. I'm in Washington State. I need a legal advice but am having a hard time finding it. [more inside]
posted by Maude_the_destroyer at 11:37 AM - 15 answers

Help me understand why I received a surprise bill and what, if anything, I can do to fight it. [more inside]
posted by Amy93 at 4:57 PM - 22 answers

I recently read either a (USian) Twitter thread or a blog post in which someone said they'd spent time on some conservative message boards for years, and discovered that in many cases liberals and conservatives agree on fundamental things, but use completely different terms for it, which is keeping the two sides apart on many things they'd agree upon (like socialized medicine or protecting our natural resources). It had a number of great examples. Does anyone have a link?
posted by rednikki at 7:32 PM - 8 answers

Has there ever been a case where a government has purchased a patent from its holder, in order to then make that patent freely usable by its citizens or the world? [more inside]
posted by slappy_pinchbottom at 10:09 AM - 10 answers

On election night, I caught part of a live NPR interview with, if I remember correctly, an anti-abortion activist who was partying at the White House election night. The interview was pretty incoherent and I can't remember the person's name, nor can I find a transcript online of election night coverage. Anyone hear this or remember who it was? [more inside]
posted by pepper bird at 8:18 AM - 8 answers

I shipped an insured media mail package via USPS. The transaction was done at the counter where a worker weighed the package and applied the (supposedly) correct postage. Despite this, the package was returned to me "postage due". I was wondering if anyone who's dealt with a similar situation might know why the package was returned when the postage was correct, and/or if I have any options in fighting this and/or getting reimbursed for the postage. [more inside]
posted by gtrwolf at 11:14 AM - 14 answers

I am helping with a protest of the law firms that are supporting Trump’s effort to steal the election. What are some good chants we can do outside their offices?
posted by andoatnp at 7:58 AM - 14 answers

Help, I'm drowning in negative news about how the U.S. is turning to authoritarianism, eroding democracy, etc. Are there books, articles and interviews about ways people fight/reverse/change minds amidst this situation? Other countries that faced this and turned it back? Please no "all hope is lost" comments, I've got enough of that pumping through my veins from Twitter/newspapers/social media!
posted by rogerroger at 5:30 PM - 6 answers

I am new(ly returned) to AskMetafilter so this question will be brief in hopes of not getting deleted. What possible causes of action are there in U.S. law -- statutory and case law -- for what is happening right now in our country? Any standing for democracy-lovers? YANML, but you have some knowledge about U.S. law.
posted by ponibrown at 6:44 AM - 6 answers

Asking for a dear friend. They would need to be able to work and have some type of open-ended/long-term residency status. They don't have a job that they can do from abroad and don't have enough savings to live off of for the rest of their life. [more inside]
posted by dancing leaves at 1:39 PM - 7 answers

Metafilter taught me that it is important for everyone to do their part in protecting democracy, instead of relying on others or "the system". I want to help protect the democracy in Germany. Please help me do that. [more inside]
posted by any_name_in_a_storm at 12:28 PM - 3 answers

Hopefully this is answerable legally and not chatfilter: why is it legal/ethical for my state's Attorney General to use his time and the color of his authority to file this amicus brief regarding a case in a different state?
posted by ftm at 1:11 PM - 6 answers

The Republican Party delights in obstruction and cruelty and stands opposed to US national and global well-being. They've lost the presidency but retain an immense structural advantage --- and they'll extend it with redistricting. For the good of everyone, the GOP needs to be consigned to the history books like the Whigs. Is anyone working to promote this vision? [more inside]
posted by Chef Flamboyardee at 7:26 AM - 13 answers

How winnable is either U.S. Senate race in Georgia? And how best to help the Dems win?
posted by NotLost at 9:47 PM - 17 answers

I want to give lots more money to make sure everyone has the right to vote since voter suppression remains a huge problem. What organizations should I be donating to? Feel free to be generous with the definition of voter suppression, for instance I would include gerrymandering as a form of suppression.
posted by Tehhund at 6:44 AM - 12 answers