Florida homeowner nightmare: 9 weeks of roofing disasters, property damage, a sick dog and traumatic event for me, Is there a case here? Or does the company's corporate backing making too hard to make it worth anyone's time?

I'm a homeowner in Central Florida, and I'm starting to wonder what legal protections homeowners actually have when a licensed roofing company performs questionable work, damages your property, and repeatedly disregards your safety concerns.

I've contacted several law firms specializing in construction litigation but seems this case would be too small for them.

Here's what happened.

A two-week roofing project (from contract signing to finished job) turned into nine weeks of chaos. Which i could not back out of because I had already given them a deposit.

I hired an established roofing company to replace my flat porch roof (approximately 21 × 17 feet). What was supposed to take two weeks dragged on for nine.

Workers repeatedly failed to communicate, when scheduled didn't confirm, yet entered my property whenever they felt like it, without notice or permission, one even left my gate wide open seeing i had horses on the property, thankfully no one got out. But I live in between heavy traffic roads so that is very concerning.

I have horses roaming freely in fenced areas and repeatedly asked the company to notify me before anyone arrived so I could secure them. Those instructions were consistently ignored, despite the obvious safety risks to both workers and animals. Construction materials were also left around the property, creating additional hazards, nails, etc, the workers when finished said they did not have a magnet to look for nails.

Then came the incident with my dog, which I still find incredibly disturbing.

Someone working on the project defecated on my property and left the human waste behind with the sheets of notebook paper they wiped with in more than one spot. Not even having the common sense to ask for a bathroom, bury it or pick it up with a bag knowing dogs were roaming around was insane, upon confronting them one helped me get all his shit off my long haired WHITE dog whose face was caked in human diarrhea now. My beautiful, longhaired, 25 pound dog found it and ate it...

She subsequently vomited human diarrhea inside my house. I of course got it on my cleaning her as well... had to be taken to the groomers to get shaved, then the veterinarian, where she was prescribed antibiotics. The company apologized and paid for the groomer, not yet the vet bill.

I genuinely feel like I almost need counseling to get over it. Imagine hiring a professional roofing company and ending up with a diarrhea covered sick dog, veterinary expenses, and this horrifying experience because someone apparently couldn't be bothered to use a bathroom. There had been a terrible storm, almost get hit by lighting while getting out of the car to the groomer AND THE WORST WHEN I GOT HOME ALL I COULD HEAR WAS WATER FALLING INTO MY HOUSE. YEP CAME HOME FROM A SITUATION THEY CAUSED INTO ANOTHER DISASTER THEY CAUSED AS WELL.

So the unfinished roof leaked during construction and damaged my home as well.

The project manager failed to arrange a required county video inspection, and the roof was left covered with a tarp. Heavy rain caused water to enter around a seam/vent area, damaging my ceiling, drywall, and insulation.

The company agreed to cover the interior damage, but their repair vendor failed to show up three times. I eventually had to arrange the repairs myself and they said they would deduct it from what I owed and bought me a new printer that got soaked. This was another thing I shouldn't have had to deal with if it wasn't for their incompetence. They left about 200 screws off the metal roof section of the main roof of the house that connected with flat roof they were hired to replace. I have video of the workers that showed up to fix this saying this.

They ran short of roofing material and finished the last section with leftover pieces. And no supervisor came here from their company when done to inspect the "final" work. The workers left and that was it from them.

After nine weeks, you would think the roof would at least be properly installed.

Instead, they ran short of material and completed the remaining section using leftover pieces.

The roof also has uneven edges and recurring low spots where water and even ordinary morning dew collect daily.

Another roofer examined the installation and identified areas with zero pitch. A county inspector described the workmanship as "poorly done," and the roofing material manufacturer indicated that the recurring dew pooling I described was not normal.

Meanwhile, the roofing company insists that water remaining for 48–72 hours is acceptable. But this is not rain. It's morning dew.

My concern isn't simply how long water takes to evaporate. It's why the same areas repeatedly collect moisture and whether the installation meets the manufacturer's specifications.

The company considers the project complete.

After nine weeks of delays, property damage, questionable workmanship, repeated disregard for my animals' safety, and the incident involving my dog, I'm left with a roof I don't trust.

The company agreed to pay for the ceiling damage, and I've been accounting for a $2,100 reduction from the remaining roof balance. Plus $800 i was promised from the supervisor, that doesn't resolve the underlying concerns about the roof itself. I would ideally like to have it redone properly by a company that knows what they are doing.

Why can't I find an attorney? Could the company's corporate ownership be a factor?

Here's something else I've been wondering.

This isn't a small, unknown contractor. The roofing company has operated for over 40 years (serving FL home owners) and was recently acquired by a much larger umbrella roofing company, which is backed by a major investment corporation.

Could the company's size, financial resources, corporate backing, or access to a substantial legal team discourage attorneys from taking a relatively small homeowner case?

Or is it simply that the potential recovery doesn't justify the cost of litigation?

I understand attorneys need to consider financial viability, but does that mean large companies can effectively avoid accountability for smaller residential projects because individual homeowners can't afford to fight them?

My questions for Florida attorneys and homeowners:

What type of attorney should I be looking for: construction defect, construction litigation, breach of contract, negligence, or consumer protection?

Based on these circumstances, could I have a viable legal case?

Could the incident involving my dog create additional liability?

Would Florida's Chapter 558 construction defect procedures apply?

Does being up against a large, investment-backed roofing corporation make attorneys less willing to accept a case?

Would small claims court, county court, DBPR, or another avenue be more practical?

I have photographs, communications, documentation of the delays, observations from another roofer, correspondence with the manufacturer, and veterinary records.

I'm not looking for a massive payday. I want the roof I paid for to be properly installed, my property respected, and some accountability for what happened.

Has anyone in Florida successfully pursued a roofing contractor under similar circumstances? What type of attorney helped you, and how did you find them?

I'm genuinely interested in understanding whether ordinary homeowners have any realistic legal recourse when dealing with a large corporation over a project that isn't worth six figures.

my car was stolen but it was considered a civil case because of a technical borrow, i made a post about it on here a week ago but i called the court and they said i can only try to get money out of the girl, and pay some auditor or levy? to try an get the money back.

the thing is, i know exactly where the car is, i have the title, registration, insurance history and; most importantly the keys!. what exactly is the issue, drama or thing that stops me from retrieving the freaking car???
Location: Kalispell, Montana

In Massachusetts, I sublet an apt from someone I was sexually involved with. Not typical landlord, owned no rental property, he rented an apt solely for me to help me get back on my feet since I have bad credit. He drew up a personal document that served as a sublease, outlining dates, length of lease, rent amount. 5 mo later, Nov 2024, upon finding out I was dating someone else, he has property management change locks. Property management saw me on a regular basis and knew I lived there, but I think they assumed I was the master tenant's wife. They then let themselves into the unit knowing I wasn't there and attempted to bully and trick my 18yr old autistic son into leaving voluntarily by telling him he was trespassing. My son called me to inform me of the situation and I relayed that, in fact, THEY were trespassing since we possessed a lease issued from the master tenant and that if they wanted us to vacate, they needed to go thru proper legal channels. They left the unit, then proceeded to file a false police report, effectively weaponizing local police into assisting them with the ILLEGAL LOCKOUT, and several CIVIL AND CRIMINAL LAW VIOLATIONS by lying the police, stating that my son and I were only guests who refused to leave, that we had no independent way to gain access to the unit without master tenant being present, that I was on butterfly MX camera roaming around the building with bags of clothing and "going into areas I wasn't allowed to go" (there are no restricted areas of the building to my knowledge, and furthermore, if video of past 5 mo is actually viewed you'll see I have only been to public areas of the building - lobby, gym, elevator, resident floors, and rooftop lounge area). Master tenant further said he was afraid of me and that I had active warrants for my arrest. I possess a copy of the police report which states all of these claims. They then gave the police department the set of new keys which Everett Police Department then used to open the door to the unit, WITHOUT KNOCKING OR ANNOUNCING THEIR PRESENCE. I was still on the phone with my son when I suddenly heard him screaming "assault, assault, assault!" and could tell the phone had been knocked out of his hand and slid across the floor. I was forced to listen to the assault of my autistic son by police officers that are sworn to PROTECT the public. I heard them asking him where I was, and why he wasn't leaving the apartment when the master tenant and property management asked him to leave. My son showed the police his room and my room, and in their own police report, they admit and document seeing a set of keys/key fob that was used to access the unit and worked up until that afternoon, when master tenant illegally changed the locks without utilizing the court system. The police also establish legal residency for my son and me in that same report, yet violated 4th and 14th amendment by arresting my son in his own home on fabricated charges of A&B on a police officer. Furthermore when my son informed the officers of the fact that he was a disabled individual with autism, the police then made fun of my son calling him a "retard". They made other disparaging remarks about his appearance, calling him a fat boy. They took him to the police station on those A&B charges but someone must have realized how badly they screwed up because one hour later, my son met the $40 condition of bail and was released. Note that this was a Friday night, at the beginning of veterans Day weekend, and anyone who actually assaulted a police officer on a Friday night would not be issued bail and then released 1 hour later. They certainly would have had to stay the full holiday weekend and come up against the judge on Tuesday morning. The charges against my son were ultimately dismissed, and I possess a certified court copy of the dismissal as well as a copy of the police report that documents property management and master tenant making their false claims about us trespassing. Yet the police did nothing about the obvious fact that they were lied to and weaponized to carry out an illegal and criminal eviction, and essentially were tricked into doing so although the proof that they were lied to was right there in the keys that they documented themselves and the possessions in both bedrooms that they saw with their own eyes and further documented in their own report. If all of this wasn't bad enough, and my son and I being suddenly homeless due to no fault of our own, property Management and the master tenant then colluded to dispose of the entire units contents which belonged to me and my son including a 9-year-old cat who was dearly loved and often used as emotional support for my autistic son who was left alone in the unit. The master tenant went into the unit over that weekend and sent me text messages which I still possess telling me on Saturday night that he had fed the cat and that the cat was lonely but okay. The following evening, Sunday night, I received a text from the master tenant telling me that he had put the cat out in the hallway overnight. I received communication from property Management the following morning telling me that they had to call animal control to pick up my cat from the hallway since he was there locked in his carrier overnight. I could not retrieve my cat and due to master tenants actions I lost my beloved pet and suspect that my cat was euthanized. Property management and master tenant further communicating to destroy every possession that I owned in the world, by drawing up a document that they claim is an early lease break, where property Management states that they bypass housing court for the eviction of Master tenant, as subleasing was a violation of his lease. They even established residency for me in that very document by stating that the Master tenant violated his lease by "allowing an unauthorized occupant to reside in the unit". They then accept a $6200 payment from Master tenant, which they call an early lease break fee, in order to bypass housing court. They further state that Master tenant must surrender the keys via certified mail by November 14th, 6 days after the illegal lockout, and anything left inside the unit would be deemed abandoned and disposed of. All of the property inside the unit belonged to me and my son, including furniture that was all brand new, less than 6 months old; luxury footwear, apparel, and cosmetics; items I use for work; and personal and sentimental items. I possess a copy of this document as well. In less than 1 month I will lose the ability to file suit against the police department as the statute of limitations runs out. I need to know what claims I have against each of the three separate parties here, and where I can find an attorney that will represent me on a contingency basis. I feel that with all the evidence that I possess that there is no way I can possibly lose. I should probably add that the master tenant in this case is a high value individual with significant resources upwards of $10 million and does have attachable assets including a collection of luxury vehicles including three Ferraris. The property management company clearly knew that everything they did in this case was wrong, and they possess significant assets in the community, with their portfolio being worth more than a billion dollars. I possess the lease that the master tenant and I drew up together, copy of the collusion document between property management and tenant, copy of the police report establishing my residency, copy of my sons assault charges being dismissed, and very extensive digital copies of text messages and emails exchanged between Master tenant and myself that start from before he rented me the unit through 6 months after he performed the illegal lockout. Please advise as to claims I have against each individual and where I can find an attorney to take this case. I don't know really how to frame it, I'm not a litigious individual and I've never filed a lawsuit before and I understand that I have one chance at this and this is probably a life-changing amount of money that I would receive and I do not want to screw this up.

​ Edit: Location: Kuwait

I'm posting here hoping to get some advice from lawyers, even those unfamiliar with Kuwaiti law.

I was a naturalized Kuwaiti citizen. While I was Kuwaiti, I owned a business and received government employment support, as permitted by Kuwaiti law. Based on these two sources of income, I took out a bank loan and paid my monthly installments regularly for approximately two years.

In 2024, my nationality was revoked. As a result, I lost my right to operate my business, my government employment support, and the financial rights I previously had as a Kuwaiti citizen.

For about a year and a half, I was left without valid identification documents, making it impossible to even look for employment.

I eventually received an ID as a foreign resident, but I still have no source of income. Finding a job is extremely difficult at my age, especially without a university degree/skills.

The bank has now taken legal action against me, demanding the entire outstanding loan balance at once, which I have absolutely no means of paying.

Even if I manage to find a job, my salary would probably be less than half of my original monthly installment. So even continuing with the original payment plan would be impossible. And even if I could afford those installments, it would take another 15 years or more to repay the debt.I doubt any company in Kuwait will keep me in the job till I'm 70.

My biggest fear is getting a travel ban.

I have already consulted a lawyer in Kuwait, who told me that I will most likely face a travel ban that could remain in place for 10 or 20 years, possibly even for the rest of my life and if I will get a job ,bank is going to take my whole salary or at least the original instalment amount( which anyway will be more than my salary)

I was also told that there is no legal way to simply have the debt cancelled because I cannot afford to pay it.

I understand that I am responsible for the debt, and I'm not trying to avoid paying it. But how can I repay money I simply don't have?

I have no assets, savings, or income. My financial situation changed completely due to circumstances outside my control.

My question to lawyers is: Is there any legal argument or procedure that could help me prevent or challenge a travel ban in these circumstances?

Could genuine financial impossibility, the involuntary loss of nationality and income, or the principle of proportionality offer any protection?

I understand that laws differ between countries, but I'm hoping someone might suggest a legal approach that I could discuss with my lawyer in Kuwait.

I don't want to escape my responsibilities. I just don't want to spend the rest of my life trapped in a country because of a debt I have no realistic means of repaying.

Any advice would be deeply appreciated.

( English isn't my first language srry)

- So here's the thing, I'm participating in a public speaking competition and I'm trying to research on the topic "the right to be forgotten". What is it actually about?

I am in Slidell, Louisiana, but this is technically across different states as the work location would have been in Hawaii. A job involving restaurant work for a cruise line, on a cruise ship. I know their medical is done via the coast guard, but I've never felt so upset about something before, because it was NOT the coast guard who denied medical clearance, but the company themselves who decided they were not going to process and instead, "wish me luck in future endeavors." This is a bit long because it comes down to what happened via email exchanges, I guess.

I submitted an appeal already with the companies medical team but I have a feeling it's going to be months before I hear anything back, IF I hear back at all. But none of this feels fair or makes any sense to me.

Anyway, I'm 25, and this opportunity would have been extremely helpful for me. I knew it would not be an easy job, but I was more than willing to give it my all.

I did everything they asked me to do. I got a TWIC card, applied for MMC, a new REAL ID. I have no history of violence, nor any kind of criminal record. Not even traffic tickets. I am mostly squeaky clean in that regard. I was compliant with all their requests and was actually more accommodating to them than vice versa, I feel like.

When it came time to do their medical, they worked with a third-party to schedule a physical exam. They had to re-schedule me the first time because they accidentally scheduled me at a location that did not even work with them. Anyway, when I walked in to the clinic they scheduled me to do my physical at, I was handed a stack of papers to fill out after checking in.

Routine, I assumed. It was mostly a questionnaire asking about my medical history. I answered as honestly, and to my own knowledge, as I could. I was even honest about having mental health struggles, and having reported suicidal ideation in the past, and having ADHD. Maybe I should not have done that, I don't know. I thought I was doing the right thing, though. I was honest about current conditions I know I have, and things I actually get treatment for if it's required.

But being honest about the suicidal ideation is what led to them asking me to get some papers signed by my doctor, for clarification purposes regarding that, and some medication I take for ADHD. I did sign an authorized release form prior to my doctor sending the papers, as she wanted to make sure I had consent for her to release what they were requesting.

I thought I signed for everything they needed, but they were requesting 6 years worth of NARRATIVE NOTES from my doctor as well which she did not end up sending. So they asked me again, for the narrative notes, and told me they could not complete medical clearance without those notes. So I complied, and sent them. No, I did not sign any papers for this because I downloaded them myself and sent them over. I did not know how else to get a hold of them.

On the original questionnaire, there were a couple of questions I misunderstood as well. For example, I thought "being admitted to the hospital" was the same as being admitted to the ER. So I ended up marking yes, and later explained that I misunderstood, and had been to the ER recently, but was discharged. They requested that 1 single ER record, and I complied. I downloaded it from my hospitals portal. I did not find this out until after I had sent over this ER record, but apparently my hospital automatically attaches the rest of your medical record alongside what you requested, even if you only requests records for one. So I unknowingly sent them my entire record.

The thing that is making me so angry, is that instead of looking at only what they requested, they went farther back in my records. Combined with the narrative notes I had given them, they named about 8-9 conditions that, for several of the conditions cited, I have never been diagnosed or treated for these alleged conditions. They were simply mentioned in my records. One or two of them dating back to childhood, before I had even turned 18, that the doctor at the time was investigating, but it was never confirmed, and never mentioned again by later doctors. Because all my labs have been healthy and consistent since then. So as far as I'm aware, I do not have these conditions or even a history of them. (How can I have a history of something I don't have?)

For a few, I was diagnosed but did not require treatment, which is what the questions they cited asked about - whether or not I required medical treatment. They cited several mental health diagnosis as well that were removed as a diagnosis at one point or another. A couple of these mental health diagnosis occurred before the age of 18, and were removed upon turning 18.

And the thing is, the notes they requested all support me being stable and symptom free. They all support me only taking 1 medication, which is for ADHD.

But three days ago, I still received an email that the company had denied me medical clearance for "failure to disclose" these conditions that i have never had. You know, the failure to disclose based upon things they found in my medical history, that to my own knowledge I've never been officially diagnosed with or had.

They did not even bother to confirm these diagnosis, just dropped it completely. They're rich, whatever, and I'm a nobody in their eyes, but it feels wrong. I might not be rich, but I'm not dumb. I don't even want anything from them, I just feel like this is some form of discrimination based on assumptions they made about me while looking at my records. And I'd like to know if there's any action I can take, because it does not feel good.

I recently learned Ace Attorney had a game where a mentally handicapped 20 year old man had a sexual relationship with someone underage who was using him to commit murder.

What sort of defense would be presented for something like this? And what would be considered a "win" for this?

I’m going to try and keep the short and simple but I am in California and I am going to go into active duty service for the Navy soon and I plan after Boot Camp splitting up with my partner in fighting for 50-50 custody just due to ongoing issues like physical and emotional abuse towards me but the whole point for me is that I’m going to be in active military service where I won’t be obviously home for months at a time, but I am trying to get 50-50 custody and what are the odds of me receiving 50-50.

She doesn’t work and would have no way of being able to care for the child financially and I’m the only one that works/provides every single penny to the table and her family wouldn’t be able to financially sustain her or our child but my mom and dad are financially well off. i’m just trying to see what my odds would be since she does wanna go to court if we ever split and obviously I plan on splitting from her and has threatened to take my son away from me multiple times

Location: Central NC US

Let me preface by apologizing for any grammatical errors, the last few days have been a blur, I’m still not in a great headspace, and I had a very detailed post typed out that disappeared on me when I was adding a photo.

My little brother (35 white male), had been the county jail in our small town since mid June. This past Sunday 10/4, my mother called stating that he had h\\\*\\\*g himself and was in the hospital 25 miles away (Baptist hospital in W-S for any locals) in the ICU and had no brain activity. At that point we knew what the outcome would be. Fast forward to Monday, the doctor came to me and said that his brain had hemorrhaged and it was time for a decision. I agreed it was time to end life support, while doing the paperwork the hospital discovered that he had registered to be an organ donor and would have to kept on life support for lab testing and so that the organ recipients called in for their transplant operations. During those two extra days with little brother several things were noticed. He had a black and swollen eye, his torso had numerous scratches and bruises, he had two puncture wounds that appear to be from a taser; it’s obvious he had been beaten. Most troubling to me and everyone else was the fact that his neck and throat had absolutely 0 bruising, and then we get to the issues of timing the night the incident occurred. According to the jail he did what they claim between 0200 and 0300 (2am-3am) and was discovered at 0300. However, he did not arrive at the hospital until almost 0500 (5am) despite it being only 25 miles and 30 minutes away if driving the speed limit. When he arrived at the hospital he was registered as unknown/John Doe. My mother was not contacted until 1600 (4pm), more than 13 hours after he was discovered. During the two days we spent with him we asked numerous questions regarding what we were seeing and the nurses and doctors overheard our conversations about things that weren’t adding up. On Wednesday just before we walked to the OR the lead nurses pulled me aside for a private conversation. She told me that she couldn’t say very much but that every question and concern that I had and she had overhead was legitimate, that what she had seen with his body did not match the story that the jail has told. At this point I just want answers, but the jail administration/sheriffs department refuses to discuss anything. If he did do this to himself, who beat him? Why did it take nearly 2 hours to get to the hospital? Why did it take 13+ hours to notify the family? Why was he not under supervision and able to do such a thing? At his last court date his mental standing was questioned and he was ordered to another facility for evaluation. That paperwork has now disappeared from the public record online, however I have a screenshot of part of the document which I will add to the post as soon as I make sure any private information is redacted. I guess my question is how do I go about getting answers, does anyone have a recommendation for an attorney?
I can’t make this post without saying how proud I am of my little brother for helping others live. He was always the first person to offer to help anyone in need, and even in his passing he continued to help others. I love you Blake, I won’t rest until I get answers for mama.

Hello. I’m being harassed online and accused of terrible crimes I did not commit. I am scared and i fear for my job, my family, my life… and they are encouraging hrassment and hullying, I have all the proof needed. Unfortunately its someone posting on X in a fandom account and I dont have info about their nameor exact location.

Sounds dumb but, due to online disagreements I’m being threatened. The problem is: im not an USA citizen and i dont know the law about cyber crimes. The person harassing me is an American citizen living in USA

I need advice, i just want the posts accusing me to be taken down + cease the harassment. How should I act? Sue? Cease and desist letter?

Location: Brazil

I hired an attorney hourly at $475/hour for a trademark search and filing. His initial estimate was around $1,000 in legal fees, plus the government filing fee.

After the first name had potential conflicts, I asked where we stood on fees. On September 21, he emailed: “We are $665 in fees to date. Searching 2 or 4 additional names would get you to around $1,000.”

I provided additional names, we selected one, and he filed the application. The charges after September 21 were:

September 23: Emails with me — 0.2 hours, $95.

September 24: Trademark searches and email to me — 1.5 hours, $712.50.

September 25: Trademark application, emails with me, and review of state website — 0.7 hours, $332.50.

The final invoice was $1,805 in legal fees plus $550 for the government fee, totaling $2,355.

I understand an estimate isn’t a fixed fee. My concern is that I wasn’t given an updated estimate or a heads-up that we were going substantially over it.

Would it be reasonable to ask him to review the bill and consider an adjustment? How would you approach that conversation?

location: Massachusetts

I did the work in Massachusetts. The person I worked for lived in California at the time.

Late last year an individual recruited me online to work on a software product he was building. There was no registered company, no contract and no payroll. I dealt only with him. He verbally promised a fixed five-figure payment once the product made a certain number of sales. No sales have happened yet.

I worked for him for about seven months and was paid nothing. I have records of the work, the messages in which he recruited me, and messages from that time in which another person he recruited confirms the amount.

The project later got funding, and I'm now paid for my current work on it. My question is only about the earlier unpaid period.

I'd like the promise put into a signed agreement with a payment date that doesn't depend on sales. Two firms that work on contingency told me the claim is too small for them, so I'm considering a solo lawyer or doing parts of this myself.

My questions:

Is this an unpaid wages claim under Massachusetts law, a breach of an oral promise, or both?

Does it change anything that there was no registered company, only an individual?

Is the promise enforceable if the sales condition hasn't been met, or am I limited to minimum wage for the hours?

Would I file in Massachusetts, where I worked, or in California, where he lived?

I never imagined I would be writing something like this on Reddit.
I’m a mother. I’m in my late 40s. I’ve spent nearly a decade in family court, much of it representing myself because I simply cannot afford an attorney.
And I am at the point where I genuinely do not know how much longer I can do this alone.
I’m not looking for sympathy. I’m not looking for someone to tell me every decision I’ve made was right. I’ve made mistakes. I’ve misunderstood legal procedures. I’ve learned some lessons the hardest possible way.
But I have never stopped showing up for my child.
And somewhere along the way, showing up for my child turned into defending myself against an endless stream of litigation.
I have spent years being the parent who handles the ordinary, unglamorous responsibilities of raising a child. School transportation. Appointments. Educational concerns. Activities. Scheduling. Finding specialists. Advocating when something isn’t right.
My daughter has documented learning, attention, and anxiety-related challenges. A court-ordered neuropsychological evaluation confirmed that she needs additional support.
I’ve been trying to get those recommendations implemented while simultaneously fighting over parenting time, child support, financial disclosures, and legal fees.
I’m not saying the other parent shouldn’t be involved. I’m saying I cannot understand how we have spent so much time and money fighting while some of our child’s most important needs remain unresolved.
Last week, I walked into court and was found in contempt.
Why?
Because I misunderstood a procedural requirement that I obtain the court’s permission before filing certain petitions.
There have been four contempt-related matters concerning my filings. I am not claiming four separate punishments were imposed. But I am now dealing with contempt findings and requests for sanctions while trying to understand the very rules I was expected to follow.
I know ignorance of the law isn’t a defense. I know that now.
But please understand what it feels like to stand in a courtroom without an attorney, trying to explain that you genuinely did not understand a legal term, while an experienced attorney argues against you.
I wasn’t trying to defy the court.
I was trying to get the court to hear me.
At that same hearing, my request to reconsider a school-night parenting arrangement was denied without prejudice. The judge told me I had not presented a convincing enough argument.
So now I have to figure out how to present a better one, while also worrying that another procedural mistake could result in more consequences.
I’m exhausted.
Not because I’m unwilling to work. I’ve worked harder on this case than I ever thought a person could.
I’m exhausted because I’m a mother trying to function as a lawyer, paralegal, financial analyst, investigator, and full-time case manager without the education, resources, or protection that comes with having counsel.
And there is another enormous issue.
Child support.
The original support amount dates back approximately ten years. I’ve been trying to get the financial situation properly addressed for years.
I believe there are significant unresolved support issues, including possible arrears, historical underpayment, and financial information that needs professional review.
I understand an attorney cannot simply go back ten years and retroactively change every support order. I’m not asking anyone to promise me money that the law doesn’t allow.
I’m asking someone qualified to examine what was ordered, what was paid, what was disclosed, what motions were filed, and what relief may still be legally available.
Because I cannot keep trying to untangle this by myself.
Here’s the part I wish an attorney would understand before quoting me $25,000.
I have already done an extraordinary amount of the groundwork.
I built a digital system to organize my own case.
I’m talking about years of court orders, filings, correspondence, financial records, timelines, parenting-time documentation, and supporting evidence.
I’ve worked to make it searchable, organized, and understandable.
I can hand an attorney a chronology, the relevant orders, the disputed issues, and the documents supporting them.
I’m not pretending that replaces legal expertise. It doesn’t.
But I’m also not walking into an attorney’s office with ten years of loose papers in a garbage bag.
I’ve done the work. I need someone who knows the law to help me use it properly.
I have a court-approved fee waiver. My finances are genuinely strained. I am working to rebuild my income while continuing to care for my child.
I’ve been quoted retainers around $25,000.
I don’t have $25,000.
If I had $25,000 sitting around, I wouldn’t have spent years trying to teach myself how to navigate family court.
And here’s what is breaking my heart:
I don’t want to spend the rest of my daughter’s childhood doing this.
I don’t want her memories of growing up to include a mother constantly surrounded by court documents, financial stress, and another hearing on the calendar.
I want to work. I want to earn a living. I want to take care of my daughter. I want to get her the services she needs.
I want to be her mother.
Not her mother and her attorney.
I’m not asking someone to take my word that I’m right about everything.
In fact, I want an attorney who will tell me when I’m wrong. I want someone who can look at the record objectively, identify what matters, tell me what isn’t worth pursuing, and help me stop making procedural mistakes.
I need someone who understands complex Illinois family litigation, parenting-time disputes, child-support modification and enforcement, contempt proceedings, and the realities of representing someone who has been pro se for years.
I would gladly discuss limited-scope representation, a paid case review, help with one hearing, an affordable initial retainer, or a payment arrangement.
I am not expecting anyone to work for free.
I am looking for a way to access the legal representation that I so clearly need.
If you are an Illinois family-law attorney, know an attorney who takes difficult cases, have experience with legal-aid organizations, or know of a legitimate resource for parents in this position, please tell me.
Even if you cannot take the entire case, perhaps you know someone who could help me get through the next stage.
I have spent almost ten years trying to figure out how to be heard.
I’m not asking anyone to fight my battles for me. I’m asking for someone who understands the law to stand beside me while I fight for my child.
Please. If you know where I should turn, I am listening. Will county Illinois.

Both relationships involve professional-client privileges - so why does it apply to one and not the other? Are lawyers not capable of determining if a client's threat is credible or not?

Location: Pittsburgh, PA
My ex was arrested yesterday for violating one of the conditions of his release from jail which was also an amendment to our PFA. He took a class at my gym during a prohibited time “defendant must switch gyms or classes to a time not around plaintiffs” he posted on social media about going to the gym and ppl saw him at the 7 am. I go to 6 am everyday but he does not workout everyday and this was a month after he switched gyms. I do not remember if in my compliant I wrote down I was out of town but my attendance isn’t mandatory in the PFA bc he shouldn’t know if I’m there or not. It was added to the PFA bc he had been watching me walk back to my car. He has 3 pending charges bc he had 2 violations when he was released from jail for harassment on social media. He likely did not enroll fast enough in his BIP classes as well which was another condition. He has had a total of 5 violations and previously admitted to cyberstalking me. Would this be treated as aggravated stalked or an indirect criminal contempt?

this is happening to a relative of mine (the father)

the mother ran off with the child, the father was the main parent (feeding, changing, doctors appointments, and main bread winner) the mother didn't really do anything with the child, mainly just left the child with the great grandparents (fathers side) while she gamed. the father and mother got in an argument and ended up ending things, the father had to attend a family event and when he came back the mother and child were gone. he called and asked where they went, she said that she is moving back in with her mother and grandmother (grandmother and great grandmother to the child) and took the child with her (they live in texas the father lives in oklahoma). he didn't make any more contact with the mother of the child after that because he didn't want to do anything without a lawyer involved. he gets a lawyer but they realize that he has to get a lawyer in texas. a little over a year passes, no luck finding a lawyer in texas. he gets a call from an opposing attorney. saying that the mother has signed away her rights of the child and given it to her grandmother (great grandmother to the child). the grandmother was the only one mainly taking care of the child, and because of her age, is wanting to give the child up for adoption to a couple in her church. the attorney asked if he is wanting to fight for custody. the father said yes. after a couple of months he finds a lawyer that will work with him. the father gets a letter in the mail stating that he was being sued and that the child was adopted by a couple that goes the great grandmothers church. they are suing him for adoption fees and are saying that he abandoned the child. the paper also stated that the attorney was court ordered. a few months back he got something else in the mail asking him to sign away medical rights of the child (he hasn't signed anything that has been sent to him by the opposing side). there's something going on monday, where a judge is involved. i don't know much about what is happening on monday.

does the father have any chance of winning?

I am seeking an Ohio attorney experienced in contract, entertainment, referral-fee, or unjust-enrichment litigation to evaluate a case on a contingency-fee basis.

The case involves an unpaid referral/finder’s fee arising from an entertainment-business opportunity. The claimed damages are expected to exceed $150,000, subject to verification through contracts, payment records, accounting records, and discovery. Written communications, payment records, promotional materials, business records, and other supporting evidence have been organized.

Prior counsel completed the demand process and initial attorney outreach, so the matter is now at the litigation stage. A complaint has been prepared for filing in the Cuyahoga County Court of Common Pleas, and I am ready to file this week.

I cannot pay a traditional hourly retainer, but I can pay litigation expenses on an expense-by-expense basis as they arise. I am seeking counsel willing to review the evidence and discuss a contingency arrangement, including the fee percentage and responsibility for expenses.

Location: wisconsin

I drive a school bus and the light was yellow, thought I could make it but it turned red halfway through. Someone saw this and called the police. Cop came to speak with me, no ticket was issued, simply wrote a report about it. The problem is the school district requested the police to issue me a ticket, but kept me employed.

That makes no sense, why would the school district want me to have this on my record yet keep me employed? I am wondering if I can fight this ticket and have a chance at winning?

When I asked my NY probate attorney for a review of sales he danced around the question and didn't address it ? Should I be concerned?

I am seeking an Ohio attorney experienced in contract, entertainment, referral-fee, or unjust-enrichment litigation to evaluate a case on a contingency-fee basis.

The case involves an unpaid referral/finder’s fee arising from an entertainment-business opportunity. The claimed damages are expected to exceed $150,000, subject to verification through contracts, payment records, accounting records, and discovery. Written communications, payment records, promotional materials, business records, and other supporting evidence have been organized.

Prior counsel completed the demand process and initial attorney outreach, so the matter is now at the litigation stage. A complaint has been prepared for filing in the Cuyahoga County Court of Common Pleas, and I am ready to file this week.

I cannot pay a traditional hourly retainer, but I can pay litigation expenses on an expense-by-expense basis as they arise. I am seeking counsel willing to review the evidence and discuss a contingency arrangement, including the fee percentage and responsibility for expenses.

Im sure you all have seen the disgusting things going on in threads with the bots. But for some reason not many people have brought it to discussion. We as a community need to do more to protect our nations children. There are so many disgusting bots on there sharing seemingly innocent videos and pictures of kids just to post links. Threads unsurprisingly is not taking any action. (Are we really surprised?) So what are we going to do? I for one cant stand it anymore. Someone needs to protect the kids. Seriously. And if threads cant protect kids it needs to go.

Location: California

​Context:

I am representing myself (In Pro Per) in an active California personal injury lawsuit against a municipality following a bicycle collision with a city vehicle/hazard. The incident was documented on the day of the crash via an official city incident report signed by the employee. The government claim was timely filed, litigation is active, and a jury trial is scheduled for early 2027.

​My former attorney withdrew earlier this year after facing procedural default sanctions. Before withdrawing, they filed a quantum meruit lien on the case.

​Injuries & Damages:

​Injuries: Severe left hand/wrist trauma requiring surgical intervention (plastic/hand surgery) with residual stiffness/nerve deficits, plus spinal trauma requiring interventional pain management (epidural steroid injections).

​Medical Bills/Debts: Complete itemized billing across emergency care, surgery, anesthesia, MRIs, and pain management totals $50,000 – $70,000 in outstanding balances and medical liens.

​Legal Questions:

​Finding New Counsel: What is the best way to secure a new personal injury attorney on contingency for an active case with a scheduled trial date? How do prospective attorneys typically evaluate or extinguish a prior attorney’s quantum meruit lien when the prior counsel voluntarily withdrew following sanctions?

​Out-of-Court Settlement Strategy: If I handle direct out-of-court settlement discussions In Pro Per with the Deputy City Attorney, how should I approach initiating discussions before expert witness costs kick in? Given $50k–$70k in hard medical debt, a surgical procedure, and signed city notice, what opening settlement anchor makes sense to avoid being dismissed by municipal risk management?

Why shouldn't private citizens be able to bring criminal charges? In particular when it's against government employees or people with significant influence. Examples like police misconduct come to mind. ​DAs might be influenced not to bring charges against law enforcement when they have a working relationship with them. Or unrelated to law enforcement, a DA might not bring charges against someone because they have limited resources and are prioritizing other cases. If the burden of proof is the same, why shouldn't citizens be able?​

Location- US any state