Legal Research (page 1)
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Slightly Creaky does extensive research to find the links you would most likely need and provides them for you in an easy-to-find format. You can access the various categories from any of our web pages using the top or side menus. Each category has generalized headings, followed by more specific ones.
Categories
Updated May 16, 2008
We can choose our friends, but not our family. Sometimes relationships are difficult, whether between spouses, parents and children, and siblings. From advice columns, talking to your children (and grandchildren) about sex and drugs, to support groups, this area provides links that will help you understand interpersonal relationships. To simplify your research, we have several categories. Please scroll down, use the index link, or use your browser's "find" or "search" feature to get the the area you are seeking.
See page 2 for specific references to US & Canadian Laws
- Law Information
Legal Terms Documentation Mediation Legal Remedies
- International Law
- Business Law
Nonprofit General Business Issues Bankruptcy Contracts
Computer & Internet Intellectual Property Workplace Law
- Consumer Law
Sales Laws Product Liability Negligence Class Action
- Finding a Lawyer
- Estate Law
Power of Attorney Estates & Wills Asset Protection
Trusts Probate
Updates
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Additional Information
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Law Information
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Law Information
Legal Terms Documentation Mediation Legal Remedies
| A Timetable of World Law | Each section has a brief explanation. |
| What is Litigation? | "A controversy before a court or a "lawsuit" is commonly referred to as “litigation”. If it is not settled by agreement between the parties it would eventually be heard and decided by a judge or jury in a court. Litigation is one way that people and companies resolve disputes arising out of an infinite variety of factual circumstances." |
| Statue of Limitations | "Statutes of limitations are laws that set the deadline or maximum period of time within which a lawsuit or claim may be filed. The deadlines vary depending on the circumstances of the case and the type of case or claim. The periods of time also vary from state to state and vary depending on whether they are filed in federal or state court." |
| Statute of Limitations by State | " If you are hurt in any type of an accident, it’s in your best interest to get a free legal evaluation of your accident as soon as possible. If you wait, evidence that could help prove your case may be lost, damaged or even destroyed. In addition, the laws for each state put a time limit on when you can file a claim. " |
Dictionary compiled by the Administrative Office of the U.S. Courts |
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| Commonly Used Legal Terms | |
| Types of Law | A lengthy list of national, international, criminal, and civic laws explained. |
| Recent Articles About Law Issues | From "Total Lawyers." |
| Duhaime's Legal Dictionary | "The law is often esoteric, eccentric and remote. From time to time, there are movements to simplify the law, usually under the byword of "plain language". However, the task is daunting and likely impracticable given the depth and breadth of the law. At the same time, ignorance of the meaning of a legal word can have grave or very expensive consequences." |
| Law Information Index | From WrightsLaw. "Information on this page is organized by topic or key word." |
| The ExpertLaw Library | "ExpertLaw - Your Source for Legal Information" |
| Law.com Dictionary | "For the definition of a legal term, enter a word or phrase below." |
| "Failure to have a process in place that preserves documentary and electronic evidence can result in massive penalties, monetary and worse! When parties to litigation have failed to preserve evidence, or allowed its destruction, courts have been willing to impose sanctions such as default judgments or instructing the jury to draw adverse inferences against a party." | |
| Preserving Documents for Litigation | |
| Legal Forms from Rominger Legal | Legal Form Resources |
| Free Legal Forms | "The following resources provide free legal forms on a wide range of subjects. This list is not intended to be comprehensive, but is instead meant to direct you to reliable, high quality sources." |
| Legal Forms | "Access a variety of forms from child support modification requests to name changes to tax. The forms are offered for free by the federal government or by the specific state" |
| Free Legal Forms | "Please choose an Area of Law." |
| State Specific Legal Forms - Thousands Available | "U.S. Legal Forms is the original and premiere site for legal forms on the Internet. Over 36,000 legal documents and forms, including wills, name change, real estate and more." |
| Find Forms | "Thousands of free legal forms are at your fingertips with our one of the kind legal forms search engine. Search results with a $ in front, indicate premium forms." |
| Legal Forms.com | "Legalforms.com offers legal forms drafted to comply with the laws of your State. Most forms are available for downloading in Word format. Free form descriptions, previews and law summaries are available. Over 50,000 legal documents are available." |
| "You maintain privacy and control over the outcome of the dispute. It is informal and inexpensive -- attorneys may but are not required to participate. It is a quick, non adversarial approach to conflict resolution." | |
| Why Use Mediation? | |
| Reasons to use Mediation | "Believe it or not, the hardest part about mediation is getting the parties to come to the table! Once parties to a dispute agree to come to mediation, they are able to find agreement in a very high percentage of cases - at least 50% of the time in the most difficult cases and up to 95% in the easiest types of cases." |
| United States Arbitration and Mediation | "United States Arbitration & Mediation (USA&M) has provided alternative dispute resolution services throughout the United States since 1984. With its network of professional mediators, arbitrators, administrators and training staff, USA&M provides a wide range of dispute resolution services to the legal community, insurance industry, private businesses and government agencies across the country." |
| Mediation in Canada | Many in the legal and justice system swear by mediation: The success rate is very high – 55% to 85%. It cuts down on the number of cases that have to be heard by judges and the courts.The hearings are private; not public. |
| Professional Mediation Association | "The Professional Mediation Association's mission is to advocate, facilitate, encourage, and provide coordination for the development of programs incorporating ADR and Mediation as the preferred means of dispute resolution.." |
| Alternate Dispute Resolution | Ten sections explaining negotiation, mediation, and arbitration. |
| Alternative Dispute Resolution | "Alternative Dispute Resolution (ADR) is how disputes can be negotiated and resolved outside of the courtroom in a non-adversarial manner. ADR typically includes arbitration, mediation, early neutral evaluation, collaborative law (most popular in family law settings) and conciliation, among other methods. But, arbitration and mediation are the two most common methods." |
| "The Family Law Act provides a set of remedies available in the family courts. You will need to find a solicitor to help you prepare for court (contact one of the support agencies listed in ‘contacts’ for information about local solicitors) or you will need to prepare your own application" | |
| Legal Remedies (UK) | |
| Legal Remedies | "The remedy you will be able to ask for depends on the type of claim you have, the harm you have suffered or may suffer, the nature of the defendant’s conduct, and the authority of the court itself. The remedy you receive frequently depends on the relative strengths of your case and your opponent’s case, your resourcefulness and ability to get all the facts, the ability of both sides’ attorneys to spend the time and effort necessary to do the job that is required is. " |
| Damages | "Damages, in a legal sense, is the sum of money the law imposes for a breach of some duty or violation of some right." |
| Legal Remedies 101 | Remedies are of two types, legal and equitable. An example of a legal remedy is monetary damages. An example of an equitable remedy is an injunction. |
| Remedies | "A remedy is a form of court enforcement of a legal right resulting from a successful civil lawsuit. " |
Use Link to go directly to the Web site. In cases where there are many activities in a category the link will take you to a supplemental Slightly Creaky page.
International Law
| Law and Government Resources for 230 Countries | "Areas of Practice section contains over 70 primary practice areas which are further broken out into 130 additional areas. The organization and format of each topic is consistent from supra-national to local. " |
| The United Nations | The official UN web site. |
| The UN on the Internet | "The United Nations (UN) is an international organization whose stated aims are to facilitate co-operation in international law, international security, economic development, and social equity. It was founded in 1945 at the signing of the United Nations Charter by 51 countries, replacing the League of Nations founded in 1919" |
| INTERPOL | "INTERPOL aims to facilitate international police co-operation even where diplomatic relations do not exist between particular countries. Action is taken within the limits of existing laws in different countries and in the spirit of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights. INTERPOL’s constitution prohibits ‘any intervention or activities of a political, military, religious or racial character.’" |
| Germain's International Court of Justice Research Guide | "The International Court of Justice (I.C.J.), located at The Hague, The Netherlands, is the main judicial organ of the United Nations. It decides disputes between nations which have agreed to accept its jurisdiction, and gives advisory opinions." |
| Cornell Law School Collection of World Legal Materials | A guide to world law with links to international doctrine, country-by-country law, constitutions, and associated legal information. |
| An Introduction to International Law | "There is no bite to international law. As the American writer Leon Uris correctly pointed out in Exodus (1958), a novel about the creation of the state of Israel: "International Law is that thing which the evil ignore and the righteous refuse to enforce". |
| International Law | "International law consists of rules and principles which govern the relations and dealings of nations with each other. International Law, which is in most other countries referred to as Public International Law, concerns itself only with questions of rights between several nations or nations and the citizens or subjects of other nations. In contrast, Private International Law deals with controversies between private persons, natural or juridical, arising out of situations having significant relationship to more than one nation." |
| Laws & Government Resources | Alphabetical by country |
| International Court of Justice - International Water Law Cases | " Addressing the future of water law and policy in the 21st century " |
| European Union Law Links | "This page provides you with links to the different services the European Commission offers on career opportunities, education and training, traveling, your rights, possibilities for participating in EU policy making, and answering your questions." |
| International Legal Systems | " There are hundreds of legal systems in the world. At the global level, international law is of great importance, whether created by the practice of sovereign states or by agreement among them in the form of treaties and other accords. Some transnational entities such as the European Union have created their own legal structures. At the national level there are over 180 sovereign states in the United Nations Organization. Many of these are federal or confederal, and their constituent parts may well have their own law." |
| Retaining a Foreign Attorney | From the US Department of State. "When you receive a list of attorneys, consider contacting several attorneys, briefly describing the nature of the services you desire. Find out the attorney's qualifications and experience. Find out how the attorney plans to represent you." |
| International Legal Services | 170 countries. "Helplinelaw.com helps you find reliable legal aid without problems.We understand finding the right lawyer is like solving half the problem. Lawyers are the very people who represent you and liase on your behalf on issues which decide your rights, life, property and dignity." |
| Canada's Criminal Code: A History | "When the Provinces of Canada were confederated in 1867, the first Prime Minister, Sir John A. Macdonald was adamant that Canada would not suffer the disparate criminal law system inherited from England for long (at that time, each province had its own criminal law). Macdonald believed strongly in the need for a single, uniform regime of criminal law for the entire country." |
| World Intellectual Property Organization | "The World Intellectual Property Organization (WIPO) is a specialized agency of the United Nations. It is dedicated to developing a balanced and accessible international intellectual property (IP) system, which rewards creativity, stimulates innovation and contributes to economic development while safeguarding the public interest." |
| Intellectual Property Crime | "Trademark counterfeiting and copyright piracy are serious Intellectual Property (IP) crimes that defraud consumers, threaten the health of patients, cost society billions of dollars in lost government revenues, foreign investments or business profits and violate the rights of trademark, patent, and copyright owners. Fake products pose a significant safety threat to consumers worldwide. Unsuspecting customers and patients put their health, and even lives, in jeopardy each time they use fake medicines, alcoholic beverages, food products and travel in automobiles or aircraft maintained with substandard counterfeit parts." |
| Geneva Convention Relative to the Treatment of Prisoners of War | "Adopted on 12 August 1949 by the Diplomatic Conference for the Establishment of International Conventions for the Protection of Victims of War, held in Geneva from 21 April to 12 August, 1949"
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| Center for International and European Law on Immigration and Asylum | "Detailed rules governing the status of migrants have been adopted and implemented in Europe. Jurisprudence of the European Court of Human Rights has significantly constrained administrative discretion in respect of deportation and expulsion of aliens. In addition, EU policy making has purported the aim of developing a common framework of aliens and asylum law long before the Amsterdam Treaty entered into force." |
| Space Law | "Space law introduces a novelty to jurisdictional issues in that it purports to govern conduct outside of Earth's atmosphere." |
| International Space Law | " In 1959, by resolution 1472 (XIV), the United Nations General Assembly established as a permanent body the Committee on the Peaceful Uses of Outer Space (COPUOS), which today has 64 member states. COUPOS launched the five major international law instruments " |
Business Law
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Business Law
Nonprofit General Business Issues Bankruptcy Contracts
Computer & Internet Intellectual Property
Workplace Law
| How to Find the Business Attorney Who's Right for Your Company | "The legal field can be highly complex and varied, and not all attorneys are experienced in the myriad of issues affecting small businesses. When selecting an attorney to handle your company's legal affairs, don't just call the first attorney you come across in the phone book." |
| Legal Information for U.S. Business Organizations | "The following miscellaneous information may be helpful as an overview of various aspects of business law in the United States of America. Businesses requiring legal advice should contact an attorney." |
| State Specific Labor Laws | Listed by state and by category |
| U.S. Business Taxes for Small For-Profit Businesses | "This library could include thousands of links to tax-related sites. As with other topics in the library, there are enough links included below to cover the basics and help the reader find more information if needed. Regarding federal taxes (the type of taxes most written about), the most comprehensive overviews are included in IRS Publications 17 and 334 (links to these are included below). " |
| Franchise Laws | "A franchise business is a method a company uses to distribute its products or services through retail outlets owned by independent, third party operators. The independent operator does business using the marketing methods, trademarked goods and services and the "goodwill" and name recognition developed by the company. In exchange, the independent operator pays an initial fee and royalties to the owner of the franchise. " |
| "This topic in the Library provides comprehensive advice and materials for anyone who is considering starting a nonprofit organization. The reader can use the free information in this Library topic, along with other Library topics that are referenced later on below" | |
| Starting a NonProfit Organization | |
| Nonprofit Law | "If you are interested in starting a nonprofit or have general questions on nonprofit law you have come to the right place! The questions that follow will help you determine if an organization is eligible to apply for recognition of exemption from federal income taxation under section 501(a) of the Internal Revenue Code and, if so, how to proceed." |
| Nonprofit Organizations | "A non-profit organization is a group organized for purposes other than generating profit and in which no part of the organization's income is distributed to its members, directors, or officers." |
| Nonprofit Law Resources | "Links to non-profit law related websites, listservs, and research guides" |
| Nonprofit & Philanthropy Law | Frequently updated list of articles. |
| International Center for Nonprofit Law | "Our program areas include legal framework for civil society, civil society sustainability, good governance and accountability, public-private partnerships, self-regulation, advocacy and public participation, and educational initiatives." |
| "The difference between carrying on a business and a hobby is that a business has an expectation of profit, is run in a systematic, continuous and regular businesslike manner, and has ordinary commercial principles governing it (such as business and accounting records). A person who collects and sells baseball cards on a regular basis from a store is engaged in a business, while a casual collector, who will occasionally trade a card or two with friends is probably engaged in a hobby. The distinction is important for tax purposes as losses from a business are tax-deductible, while losses generated from a hobby are not." | |
| Starting A Business | |
| Obtaining a Business License or Permit | "Most city, county and state governments require business owners to obtain business licenses and permits. In some instances, the federal government may also require you to secure special licenses or permits, depending on your kind of business." |
| Local Start-Up Requirements for Small Businesses | "When you’re starting a small business, pay attention to your town, city, and county regulations. You can begin by asking city and county officials about license and permit requirements for your business." |
| Business Licenses, Permits, and Business Names | "While some of the issues regarding licenses, permits, and business names can be handled alone, some matters (including establishing your business and brand names) may require the help of a lawyer. So before you start, it's a good idea to line up a lawyer whose practice is focused on business." |
| Small Businesses and Estate Taxes | "The most important part of estate planning is minimizing the estate tax hit for your heirs. You have probably heard of this tax, also called the "death tax," which is a charge levied on a decedent's entire estate, regardless of how it is disbursed. It is a tax imposed on the transfer of property, including a business, from a deceased person to his or her heirs, legatees or devisees. " |
| Business Licenses | "Business activities are generally highly regulated by government agencies. Many local governments have information centers for small businesses to assist with compliance to local, state and federal regulations." |
| "Corporations and partnerships must have an attorney to file a bankruptcy case. Individuals, however, may represent themselves in bankruptcy court. While individuals can file a bankruptcy case without an attorney or "pro se," it is extremely difficult to do it successfully." | |
| Filing for Bankruptcy Without an Attorney | |
| Bankruptcy | "U.S. Bankruptcy Code delivers protection to people in financial jeopardy who are suffering under mountains of debt. " |
| Canada: How Not To Manage a Bankruptcy or Income Tax Case | " One of my favorites subjects are those surprisingly large number of Canadians who appear intent on challenging their personal income tax liability on the basis of religion, morality, natural or constitutional law." |
| Bankruptcy Law | "Bankruptcy law is the name given to the branch of civil law that covers federal bankruptcy and state insolvency laws and regulations as they apply to individuals, municipalities, and businesses. During bankruptcy, a court administers the estate (the property and other assets) of a debtor (a person or business who owes money to others) for the benefit of creditors (a person or business that is owed money)." |
| Bankruptcy | "Bankruptcy law provides for the development of a plan that allows a debtor, who is unable to pay his creditors, to resolve his debts through the division of his assets among his creditors. This supervised division also allows the interests of all creditors to be treated with some measure of equality." |
| Life After Bankruptcy | "You're experiencing the sense of relief that comes from having your debts discharged. The slate is wiped clean. But wait. You have a big red flag on your credit report that says "Chapter 7 bankruptcy." So, now what do you do?" |
| Bankruptcy Information | "Once the bankruptcy proceeding ends, the borrower is no longer liable. This occurs when the bankruptcy court enters a discharge order in a Chapter Seven case or the borrower has paid the debts due to the credit grantors according to a plan in a Chapter Eleven or a Chapter Thirteen case. In legal terms, the court has discharged the borrower from the debts. The borrower then starts over again with a clean financial slate, but the record of the bankruptcy will remain on the borrower's credit record for up to ten years." |
| "Contracts are promises that the law will enforce. The law provides remedies if a promise is breached or recognizes the performance of a promise as a duty. Contracts arise when a duty does or may come into existence, because of a promise made by one of the parties. To be legally binding as a contract, a promise must be exchanged for adequate consideration. | |
| Contracts | |
| Contracts | "A contract is a legally binding agreement enforceable in a court of law. However, not every agreement between two parties is a legally binding contract. The law imposes certain requirements on contracts." |
| Suing for Breach of Contract | "A contract is an agreement between two or more parties that creates an obligation to do or not do something. A breach of contract is the existence of an agreement or bargained-for exchange where one of the parties fails, without a legally valid excuse, to live up to his or her responsibilities under the contract." |
| Oral Contracts | "It's interesting to note that many powerful people have engaged in handshake deals, from Bill Clinton and Newt Gingrich to Bill Gates and Steve Jobs. But more than likely, these handshake deals were followed by large contracts that outlined key deal points and terms." |
| Contract Law | "A contract is an agreement between two or more persons (individuals, businesses, organizations or government agencies) to do, or to refrain from doing, a particular thing in exchange for something of value. Contracts generally can be written, using formal or informal terms, or entirely verbal. If one side fails to live up to his/her/its part of the bargain, there's a "breach" and certain remedies for solving the differences are available. The terms of the contract - the who, what, where, when, and how of the agreement - define the binding promises of each party to the contract." |
Articles and links |
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| Computer & Internet Law | |
| Computer & Technology Crime | "Internet-related crime should be reported to appropriate law enforcement investigative authorities at the local, state, federal, or international levels, depending on the scope of the crime." |
| The Importance of Copyrighting Your Website | "A copyright is actually automatic. As soon as you develop your site, it is immediately copyrighted. Your website copyright gives you exclusive rights to the site's content. And copyright law gives the copyright owner exclusive rights over the following: Reproduction of the work; Preparation of derivative works; Distribution of copies of the work to the public; Public display and performance of the work." |
| Information on Privacy Policies for Web Sites | "There are several organizations and companies that handle privacy issues on Web sites." |
| Internet Privacy Resources | "Once your personal information has been recorded in public records, there is no effective way to permanently or completely remove it (for example, birth certificate, marriage license, home ownership documents, court records, and in some states voter registration, etc.)." |
| Communications Law | "Communications law is concerned with the regulation of radio and TV broadcasting to insure satisfactory service and to prevent chaos. Because broadcasting by its nature transcends state boundaries, the Federal government has largely occupied the field." |
| Intellectual Property FAQs |
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| Intellectual Property Law | |
| Patents | "Patents grant an inventor the right to exclude others from producing or using the inventor's discovery or invention for a limited period of time." |
| What Kind of Business Models can You Patent? | "The rise of e-commerce brought with it new terminology, new practices, and new business models. Along with the advent of these business models came a seemingly new idea: business model patents." |
| Intellectual Property Center | "The right to exclusive ownership and use of one's inventions and the monetary rewards from giving others permission to use them complement the other beliefs of our Founders." |
| Copyright.gov. | "It is illegal for anyone to violate any of the rights provided by the copyright law to the owner of copyright. These rights, however, are not unlimited in scope." |
| Copyright | "A copyright gives the owner the exclusive right to reproduce, distribute, perform, display, or license his work." |
| Copyright Law | Articles and links |
| Is Your Great Idea Copyrightable? | "A Copyright protects an idea that is fixed or tangible. If you have ever gone on the uspto.gov website, you have certainly read that portion of the law that reads: Copyright law protects an "original work of authorship that is fixed in a tangible medium of expression." |
| Trademarks: Where to Start | "Once you have determined that a trademark is what you need, your second step should be to familiarize yourself with the general rules and requirements for applying for a trademark registration." |
| Trademarks | "Trademarks are generally distinctive symbols, pictures, or words that sellers affix to distinguish and identify the origin of their products. Trademark status may also be granted to distinctive and unique packaging, color combinations, building designs, product styles, and overall presentations. " |
| Selling Your Patent | "A patent is an important document which grants ownership to an invention. However, simply owning a patent won't generate a dime for the inventor. To profit from your idea, you must sell the patent, license usage rights, or market the product yourself." |
| Intellectual Property Law | Scroll down the page for links to the laws from many countries. |
| Patent & Trademark Glossary | "An alphabetized, hyperlinked glossary of terms used on the US Patent & Trademark office" |
| Plagiarism | "If you use another person's work and do not attribute that work to the author, including copying text verbatim, paraphrasing a phrase or summarizing an idea, you are essentially committing plagiarism. " |
| "Workers' compensation law deals specifically with workers who have been injured while at work. Workers' compensation law was created as an alternative to general personal injury law, and was meant to make it easier for injured workers to be compensated for injuries they received while working." | |
| Workman's Compensation Law | |
| Workers Compensation | "Each state has its own worker's compensation laws to handle claims from employees who are injured on the job. These laws are strict liability - fault and negligence by the employer need not be established in order to collect benefits. However, the injury or illness has to be incurred in the course of employment in order for the workers' compensation system to provide benefits to the injured worker. " |
| Hiring Practices | "The employment application is a part of the employment relationship. It may be an important document in an employment-related lawsuit. What is stated in an employment application could serve as a basis for a wrongful discharge claim, or it could give the employer a good defense for a wrongful discharge claim." |
| Employment Law | "If you would like more information on Employment Claims, please click on one of the topics below:" |
| Labor & Employment Law | "Employment law is the name given to the branch of civil law that covers the laws and regulations governing labor relations and employment issues, such as collective bargaining, discrimination in the workplace, sexual harassment, occupational safety, wage and hour requirements, and workers' compensation." |
| Drug Testing of Prospective Employees | "Although business owners have the legal right to insist on a drug-free workplace, enforcing that right can be a contentious issue. Any steps you take to maintain a drug-free workplace must respect workers´ legal rights to privacy and nondiscrimination." |
| Workplace Discrimination | "If you would like more information on Workplace Discrimination, please click on one of the topics below:" |
| Worker's Compensation | "Workers' Compensation laws are designed to ensure that employees who are injured or disabled on the job are provided with fixed monetary awards, eliminating the need for litigation." |
| Job Discrimination | "According to a January, 2000 report from the United States Department of Justice Bureau of Justice Statistics, job bias lawsuits filed in U.S. District Courts soared from 6,936 in 1990 to 21,540 in 1998." |
| Employment Discrimination | "Employment Discrimination laws seek to prevent discrimination based on race, sex, religion, national origin, physical disability, and age by employers. There is also a growing body of law preventing or occasionally justifying employment discrimination based on sexual orientation. Discriminatory practices include bias in hiring, promotion, job assignment, termination, compensation, and various types of harassment." |
| Getting Fired | "In most states of the United States all employees are considered "at will" employees. That means that the employer can terminate or change the employment relationship "at will", unless there is a contract with the employer. In general, an employer can fire an "at will" employee, or change the employee's position or compensation with no notice and no reason. Likewise, the employee can terminate his employment "at will" without notice or reason." |
| General Business Information | Coves more than a dozen topics dealing with business law |
| Employment Background Checks: A Jobseeker's Guide |
"Whether you are hired or promoted for a job may depend on the information revealed in a background check. Job applicants and existing employees as well as volunteers may be asked to submit to background checks. For some jobs, screening is required by federal or state law. The current emphasis on security and safety has dramatically increased the number of employment background checks conducted." |
| Agricultural Labor Laws | "The Migrant and Seasonal Agricultural Worker Protection Act (MSPA) safeguards most migrant and seasonal agricultural workers in their interactions with farm labor contractors, agricultural employers, agricultural associations, and providers of migrant housing." |
| Migrant and Seasonal Agricultural Worker Protection | "The MSPA requires farm labor contractors, agricultural employers, and agricultural associations who recruit, solicit, hire, employ, furnish, transport, or house agricultural workers, as well as providers of migrant housing, to meet certain minimum requirements in their dealings with migrant and seasonal agricultural workers. " |
| Sexual Harassment in the Workplace | "When the workplace is permeated with discriminatory intimidation, ridicule, and insult that is sufficiently severe or pervasive to alter the conditions of the victim's employment and create an abusive working environment, Title VII is violated." |
| Whistleblower Rights | "A whistleblower is someone who comes forward and discloses illegal activity, mostly in the workplace. The Federal False Claims Act seeks to reward whistleblowers for exposing fraud against the government." |
Consumer Law
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Consumer Law
Sales Laws Product Liability Negligence Class Action
| FDIC Consumer Alerts | From the Us Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation |
| Credit Billing Errors | "Billing errors do occur, but they are simple to resolve if you know how to use the Fair Credit Billing Act (FCBA). Under this law, you must send the creditor a written notice about the problem to avoid paying for any charges you dispute." |
| Consumers' Financial Rights | "Consumers' financial rights are protected by federal and state laws and regulations covering many services offered by financial institutions. This brochure will assist organizations which often receive complaints about banks, savings and loan associations, and credit unions in referring complaints to the proper regulatory agency." |
| A Consumer's Guide to Air Travel | From the Federal office of Aviation Enforcement & Proceedings |
| Protecting Fair-Use Rights In The Digital World | " Have you ever made a tape of your favorite songs to enjoy in your car stereo? Have you ever bought a CD and ripped it to your portable MP3 player? If so, you should know that recent changes to copyright law have been used to take away your personal use rights to the media you legally acquire. That means that activities like making mixes or copying music to a portable player are quickly being restricted or prevented." |
| Consumer Information From the FTC | "This section of the FTC website offers practical information on a variety of consumer topics. The information here can help you avoid rip-offs and exercise your consumer rights." |
| National Vonsumer Law Center | " The National Consumer Law Center (NCLC) is the nation’s consumer law expert, helping consumers, their advocates, and public policy makers use powerful and complex consumer laws on behalf of low-income and vulnerable Americans seeking economic justice." |
| Association for Consumer Research | "The mission of the Association for Consumer Research is to advance consumer research and facilitate the exchange of scholarly information among members of academia, industry, and government worldwide." |
| Food Safety A-Z | From the European Commission |
Select from list - half way down page. |
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| State-by-State Sales Laws | |
| Sales Law | "Transactions for the sale (and leasing) of goods is governed mainly by sales laws of each state. Every state, with the exception of Louisiana, has adopted, Article Two of the Uniform Commercial Code as the main body of law regulating transactions in goods. Goods are defined as all things movable and identified to the contract of the sale." |
| Grocery Store Rain Checks | "If you cannot find an advertised sale item on the grocery shelf, ask for it. If the store has run out, you can ask about a rain check. Unless the ad says quantities are limited, the grocer probably will offer you some form of compensation. The Federal Trade Commission's (FTC) "Unavailability Rule" says how, and if, you and other customers should be compensated. " |
| Auto Fraud | "The last thing an auto buyer should expect after buying a new or used car are problems that result from auto fraud, which occurs when the seller of the vehicle either fails to disclose the complete history of the car you are buying, or alters or destroys evidence pertaining to any part of the vehicle's age, condition or inherent or acquired defects." |
| Guides Against Bait Advertising | "Bait advertising is an alluring but insincere offer to sell a product or service which the advertiser in truth does not intend or want to sell. Its purpose is to switch consumers from buying the advertised merchandise, in order to sell something else, usually at a higher price or on a basis more advantageous to the advertiser." |
| Bait & Switch | "The bait and switch is a fraudulent sales tactic that is punishable by US law, as false advertising. Though the law forbids the bait and switch, it is commonly used, and one can find examples of it in virtually any advertising circular for major department stores, electronics and computer stores, and automobile retailers. The purpose of the bait and switch tactic is to get customers to visit a store or business by advertising very low prices. Once the customer is in the store, the salespeople attempt to offer the customer items at higher prices." |
| Blue Laws | "A blue law is one restricting activities or sales of goods on Sunday, to accommodate the Christian sabbath. The first blue law in the American colonies was enacted in Virginia in 1617. It required church attendance and authorized the militia to force colonists to attend church services." |
| What Constitutes False Advertising? | "Advertisements that contain representations that are false, misleading, or deceptive are illegal under state and federal laws. To be found guilty of false advertising, it must be shown that the advertisement was deceptive in nature." |
| Myths and Half-Truths About Deceptive Advertising | "The FTC is charged with protecting consumers from unfair or deceptive acts or practices. In advertising and marketing, the law requires that objective claims be truthful and substantiated." |
| How to Sue for Deceptive Advertising | "If you believe that you've been a victim of deceptive advertising, you might be tempted to take the company or individual that wronged you to court. Lawsuits for deceptive advertising can go either way, depending on the strength of the evidence collected and the degree to which the defendant protected himself." |
| Truth in Leasing | "If you are wondering whether leasing your next car would be a good idea? Would you rather lease than buy furniture for an apartment you'll use for only a year? When leasing looks like a good option, there's a federal law that will help you shop for the best deal. The Consumer Leasing Act requires leasing companies to tell you the facts about the cost and terms of their contracts." |
| Infomercial Scams Exposed | "From start to finish an infomercial must have sufficient profit margins, wide appeal, and must be easy to demonstrate on television. Products that sell for $19.95 or less will do better with a shorter infomercial. A product that sells for more than $19.95 will do better with a longer infomercial." |
| Infomercial Watch | "Except for some exercise-related items that may work if the user does not become bored with them, few if any health-related products sold through 30-minute infomercials will live up to the claims made for them. In addition, many sellers fail to honor refund requests and/or make unauthorized credit card charges." |
| "When individuals are harmed by an unsafe product, they may have a Cause of Action against the persons who designed, manufactured, sold, or furnished that product. In the United States, some consumers have hailed the rapid growth of product liability litigation as an effective tool for Consumer Protection. The law has changed from caveat emptor ("let the buyer beware") to Strict Liability for manufacturing defects that make a product unreasonably dangerous." | |
| Product Liability | |
| Product Liability | "Products liability refers to the liability of any or all parties along the chain of manufacture of any product for damage caused by that product. " |
| Defective Products | "A "defective product" is one that causes some injury or damage to person as a result of some flaw or weakness in the product, its labeling, or the way the product was used. The manufacturer of the product that caused the injury, as well as those involved in the chain of commerce, are often liable for injuries caused by defective products." |
| Product Liability Advisory Council | "A non-profit association with over 120 corporate members representing a broad cross-section of American and international product manufacturers. These companies seek to contribute to the improvement and reform of law in the United States and elsewhere, with emphasis on the law governing the liability of manufacturers of products." |
| Strict Liability | "Strict liability often applies when people engage in inherently hazardous activities, such as doing "blasting" in a city, or keeping wild circus animals. If the blasting damages you -- no matter how careful the blasting company was -- it is liable for the injury." |
| Strict Liability Products Liability - Ultrahazardous Activity |
"Strict liability in tort is the concept that in certain situations a defendant is liable for plaintiff's damages without any requirement that the plaintiff prove that the defendant was negligent." |
| Alternative Rules for Determining Tort Liability | "The doctrine of strict liability allocates the presumption of responsibility for certain types of accidents to the defendant instead of the plaintiff. This alleviates the burden of proof that usually rests on the plaintiff when trying a case." |
| "Negligence is the doing of something which a reasonably prudent person would not do, or the failure to do something which a reasonably prudent person would do, under the same or similar circumstances. It is the failure to use ordinary or reasonable care. Ordinary or reasonable care is that care which persons of ordinary prudence would use. " | |
| Negligency | |
| General Negligence | "General Negligence is the term used whenever a person is injured due to the recklessness of carelessness of another person. When we say general negligence, it actually pertains to the failure of another person to observe the necessary diligence required of him or her under the present circumstances. In reality, each one of us is obliged to be careful, mindful and always observant in our actions to avoid danger not only to ourselves, but to our neighbors as well." |
| Negligence and Malpractice Law | U.S. and international web site links |
| Negligence | "Failure to exercise the care toward others which a reasonable or prudent person would do in the circumstances, or taking action which such a reasonable person would not." |
| Proving Fault: What is Negligence? | "Generally speaking, when someone acts in a careless way and causes an injury to another person, under the legal principle of "negligence" the careless person will be legally liable for any resulting harm." |
| Legal Definition of Negligence | "Negligence may be a legal cause of damage even though it operates in combination with the act of another, a natural cause, or some other cause if the other cause occurs at the same time as the negligence and if the negligence contributes substantially to producing such damage." |
| "The Securities Class Action Clearinghouse provides detailed information relating to the prosecution, defense, and settlement of federal class action securities fraud litigation. The Clearinghouse maintains an Index of Filings of 2682 issuers that have been named in federal class action securities fraud lawsuits since passage of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. " | |
| Class Action Clearinghouse | |
| Class Action Lawsuits | "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 Action | "A class action is a procedural device that permits one or more plaintiffs to file and prosecute a lawsuit on behalf of a larger group. The class members who have suffered the same wrong at the hands of the defendant but who are too numerous for the court to adequately manage the lawsuit if each class member were required to be joined as named plaintiffs." |
| The Class Action Fairness Act of 2005 | "This legislation is an attempt to reform an area of the law often perceived as a vehicle for abuse by attorneys. The Class Action Fairness Act represents an aggressive, but logical, series of provisions that are expected to curb the enormous legal fees often received by attorneys representing the plaintiff class, provide class action litigants (including defendants) with broader access to federal courts, and offer greater protection for the individual interests of the class members themselves." |
| Class Action News | Class action litigation information |
| Class Action Lawsuits | "Almost all of us have at one time received notice from the courts that we are a member of a class action lawsuit and have wondered, "What does it all mean? What is the best course of action for us to take? What do I stand to gain or lose if I take one action or the other?" |
Finding a Lawyer
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Finding a Lawyer
| Hire an Attorney or Represent Yourself in Court? | "The only time you should always be represented by an attorney is when you appear in a criminal matter." In almost all other instances, the answer to this question is, "it depends." |
| Client - Attorney Relationships | "All lawyers are subject to strict standards of professional responsibility. These standards are set forth in codes of conduct and Privileges, ethics, rules of professional conduct that are established by state bar associations." |
| Canada: The Unrepresented Party's Survival Guide to Trial | " Even a junior lawyer in a large city makes at least $200 an hour. Obviously, for many litigants, just to retain a lawyer to defend an otherwise trivial dispute, may cause insolvency." |
| How to Find an Attorney | "It is true that lawyer advertising has made it easier to find an attorney. However, there is still a problem in finding the right attorney for one's particular needs. If the selected lawyer is inexperienced, incompetent, or lacks the willingness or ability to communicate effectively with a client, the client will not be satisfied with the lawyer's service." |
| Tips For Choosing An Attorney | "If you need an attorney to advise or represent you, ask friends and family for recommendations. You can also contact the Lawyer Referral Service of your state, county, or city bar association listed in your local phone directory." |
| How to Hire a Lawyer | "If you end up meeting the lawyer in person for a consultation, you shouldn't expect it to last any longer than 15 minutes to a half-hour. Write down all the information you get from each lawyer." |
| What Does an Attorney Do? | "The primary functions of an attorney are advising clients on matters of legal precedent and acting on behalf of a client in representing him or her in matters of the law." |
| How Much will my Lawyer Cost? | "All lawyers have different fees, and fighting a parking ticket will cost less than a complicated tax appeal. It is not always true that you get what you pay for so shop around and follow these tips" |
| Finding an Attorney | "When a family member has a cognitive impairment and cannot manage his/her affairs, legal and/or financial planning is often needed. Areas of concern to family caregivers include future health care decisions, management of assets, public benefits planning and, in some cases, litigation." |
| Information About Attorney Fees | "Fees are one of the least discussed parts of any legal case yet are often of primary importance to both the client and the lawyer. Frequently fees are not discussed early enough, candidly enough, or in enough detail. Why? Generally, because the discussion can be uncomfortable for both the client and the attorney." |
| How to Find an Excellent Lawyer | "If your legal problem is complex or involves lots of money, you might not want to attempt to handle the entire matter without a lawyer. After all, lawyers do more than dispense legal information. They offer strategic advice and apply sophisticated technical skills to legal problems." |
| Legal Ethics | "Legal ethics are the ethics rules, codes or canons which govern the professional conduct of attorneys. They differ from jurisdiction to jurisdiction in the United States," |
| Legal Malpractice | "Malpractice may arise from a professional's misconduct or failure to use adequate levels of care, skill or diligence in the performance of the professional's duties that causes harm to another. Malpractice typically occurs if a professional fails to exercise his or her professional skills at the level of care, skill and learning applied in similar circumstances by the average reputable member of the profession." |
| Complaints Against a Lawyer (NY) | "All lawy |