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What is a Class Action Lawsuit?
A class-action lawsuit in a civil lawsuit that is brought by one person or a few people on behalf of a larger group of people who have suffered similar harm or have a similar claim. Class actions can be brought in either federal or state courts, though a recent federal law, the Class Action…
Is it legal for my employer to keystroke me without my knowledge?
Yes, employers have this right. Some states require employers to notify employees about monitoring. North Carolina is not one of those states. According to the federal Electronic Communications Privacy Act (ECPA), an employer-provided computer system is the property of the employer. Therefore, employers that provide you with a computer system and Internet access are…
Is sending someone a lewd gag gift by a mail order service illegal?
This is probably not a good idea. You are also evoking the Jurisdiction of the Federal Government. So, it would be ok if the person you are pranking knows you, and you are identified as a friend of this person. But if you do not identify yourself, and this person decides that this is…
Road Debris
Individuals who suffer injury or property damage, such as vehicles damaged because of a pothole or mailbox knocked down as a result of a snow plow, can file a tort claim to request reimbursement for damages. For more information, read the NC Department of Transportation’s website here. Please contact Shipman Wright & Moore today…
Worker’s Compensation
Is a North Carolina Business Required to Carry Workers Compensation? What Can I do if injured at work and they do not carry it? The North Carolina Workers’ Compensation Act requires that all businesses that employ three or more employees, including those operating as corporations, sole proprietorships, limited liability companies, and partnerships, obtain workers’…
At-Will Employment
How At-Will Employment Works At-will employment has two main purposes: It allows employees and employers to work together without long term contracts or promises from either party. If an employee doesn’t like a job or gets a better opportunity elsewhere, they are free to leave. If an employer wants to change wages, benefits, or…
How to deal with a neighbor’s bad curb appeal
Purple paint. Peeling siding. Junk. Trash. Unkempt lawns. When a house on your block commits the sin of bad curb appeal, sometimes it’s just an eyesore. Other times, it can be hazardous, impacting your quality of life. A yard piled with junk or littered with trash might attract rats, for example. Worst of all,…
Injury To Me While Allegedly Resisting Arrest
Injury To Me While Allegedly Resisting Arrest: Building a Case to Sue the Police: Difficult But Not Impossible It is common to want to sue the police after unpleasant contact or friction, especially when the conflict resulted in an arrest that seemed unwarranted, unfair, or downright abusive. Suing the police is complicated, though, even…
Boundary Disputes With a Neighbor
Encountering a boundary dispute with an adjacent neighbor is a fairly common issue for landowners. There are many ways a boundary dispute can arise. Sometimes, deed descriptions are inaccurate and have been this way for a long time. Sometimes, though the neighbors all agree that the legal description is correct, one neighbor has been…
What are the differences between libel, slander, and defamation of character?
Libel and slander are both types of defamation. Libel is an untrue defamatory statement that is made in writing. Slander is an untrue defamatory statement that is spoken orally. The difference between defamation and slander is that a defamatory statement can be made in any medium. For a more detailed definition, please visit this…