Jeffrey Patrick Bassett's Answers

Is the landlord responsible for cleaning up black mold growth under WA landlord tenant act

Though this isn't my area of law, I think most counsel would agree with me that mold, which has an ability to turn the apartment "toxic", is a landlord's responsibility. Your duty as a tenant is to notify the landlord promptly and allow a reasonable period for repair/redress. If the landlord fails to act and the apartment becomes inhabitable, you may have no option but to advise that you will seek a company to fix the problem and deduct the funds from your next month's rent. If it does get...

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What actions should I take, I haven't filed a tax return in 20 years

Mr. Nguyen is right on target. There was a recent report on NPR about the IRS and its willingness (because of the economic issues surrounding and affecting all of us AND the gov't) to deal with people (i.e., possibly agree to a compromise on your taxes, if past due). It's always best to get a tax attorney to help you with this. First, of course, you need to do the taxes for each missing year and determine where you owe and where the gov't owes you. (Needless to say, if you owe and you're...

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What actions are technically considered assault, and how can someone be charged with it.

Below is the WPIC (WA standard jury instruction) for assault (WPIC 35.50): [An assault is an intentional [touching] [or] [striking] [or] [cutting] [or] [shooting]of another person[, with unlawful force,]that is harmful or offensive [regardless of whether any physical injury is done to the person]. [A [touching] [or] [striking] [or] [cutting] [or] [shooting]is offensive if the [touching] [or] [striking] [or]cutting] [or] [shooting]would offend an ordinary person who is not unduly sensitive.]]...

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Florida child custody and visitation laws, do grandparents have rights to see grandchildren

To add to previous answers, as the children appear to be in Florida, there are no "grandparents rights" (due to a change in law a few years back) unless (1) there is an ongoing dependency proceeding and (2) the children are NOT in the home with a parent. Given the facts as you lay them out, there does not appear to be a dependency proceeding ongoing at this time and the children are with a parent. While you may wish to directly consult with an attorney, it does not appear, under Florida law,...

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I ran away a couple years ago and now im 18 and have no ID or record or papers but i want an ID. and i dont want to go back home

Mr. Nguyen brings up an interesting angle. If you had any prior juvenile delinquency cases, it's quite possible you were fingerprinted. Thus, whatever court that was would have a way in which you can confirm your identity. This is the crux of your issue. You can certainly go to the vital statistics office in the county of the state in which you were born, but you would have to have some sort of ID to establish who you are in order to get your birth certificate in order to get your ID....

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Can a sex offender live with children? Can CPS remove the children?

While it is not "illegal" for a child to live in the same home so long as there is no court order (criminal or otherwise) preventing it., that does not mean that, if DSHS (CPS) gets a call re: potential risk, it won't investigate and/or remove the child based upon the past conviction. Frankly, it's not unusual for the state to do so and then seek court approval (the alternative being doing nothing and risking front page negative press). I like to think DSHS tries its best to protect children,...

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Can a pro se defendant subpoena records from a non party without doing a deposition?

Simple answer: yes. You can do a subpoena duces tecum, authorizing delivery of the necessary papers in lieu of a depo. Of course, whether you are successful depends on what you are seeking and whether the subject is willing to respond or wishes to contest release of the requested records.

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Can an employer demote you and cut your salary when returning from medical leave for alchohol treatment

Not if due to alcohol issues. A helpful website: http://www.ncadd-sfv.org/profiles/disability.html. Alcoholism is seen as a disability and you would be protected against any such discriminatory action. The question at issue is what was given as the reason for the demotion? Were there other staff cutbacks, layoffs and/or demotions? If you were the only one demoted, you should consult with a labor law attorney. However, if others were so treated and you can't show that it was also due to...

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Relative vs non-relative placement

The first thing you should do is CONTINUE to visit the child, either through DCF or with the current custodians, so long as DCF is aware of this. Your question doesn't reveal how long the child's been in the current placement and whether you have sought visitation (custody, yes...visitation, unanswered) since DCF's intervention. While the child "could very quickly re-bond with" you, you will have little voice in court re: custody if you've taken no steps to reestablish that bond through...

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WA state criminal code, average sentence for 3rd degree theft with no prior

Adding to Ms. Brine's comments, Washington also has a provision allowing one to attempt to enter into a compromise with the [alleged] victim (if the victim is willing)--the defendant would repay for the loss of the item and/or costs and the victim can sign an agreement declining to prosecute. Some stores won't agree to do this, but many will, and it would result in dismissal.

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