Maryland Recent Legal Answers from Lawyers

From time to time, courts misplace documents, some important ones, as in your case. The attorney may not have received the document which you think was served upon him or her by U.S. mail. But, you say that you have receipts. Unless you sent the attorney a copy of the document, return receipt requested, I am uncertain what "receipts" you refer to as evidence of service upon the attorney. Knowing what you can or should do next involves knowing what is the current status of the case. Since the court has located your opposition, is the matter now set for trial? Is the attorney claiming non receipt asking for some kind of delay or other relief? To anwer your question of what to do next the status of the case is of singular importance. If you do not know the status, then check with the clerk of the court, preferably in person.... Read More

Cancellation fees are not unusual, nor in most instances are they unlawful. You do not state whether you cancelled within 14 days of the surgery. You asked whether you had to pay the $900. Have you been asked to pay it. You certainly have no obligation to volunteer. The amount of the fee raises the question of whether the cancellation charge is a penalty unrelated to any cost incurred by the physician or surgery center. Ever were the charge deemed lawful, I would make every effort to negotiate a much lesser sum If you can achieve a substantial reduction, it would save you the cost of retaining counsel to defend a claim were they to file one. You might want to wait and let this claim, if one has been informally made, play out a little further. However, if suit has been filed, get advice from counsel promptly.... Read More

You can sue the company for breach of contract.  Since the claim arises out of services the company contracted for to be performed in Oregon, the Oregon courts should be able to exercise jurisdiction over it.  However, you probably can't sue in small claims because (a) the limits of most small claims courts are less than $10,000; and (b) many small claims courts are not empowerted to hear claims involving out of state residents.... Read More

U.S.C.I.S. encourages individuals to remain in legal status during the process of applying for permanent residence, even if they become married to U. S. citizens. In your situation, you can continue working for your G-4 employer during the time of your processing for permanent residence. You do not have to quit your job in order to be married and then present your documents. Due to the limitations of the Lawyers.com Forums, Alan Lee, Esq.'s (the "Firm") participation in responding to questions posted herein does not constitute legal advice, nor legal representation of the person or entity posting a question. No Attorney/Client relationship is or shall be construed to be created hereby. The information provided herein by the Firm is general, and requires that the poster obtain specific legal advice from an attorney. The poster shall not rely upon the information provided herein as legal advice nor as the basis for making any decisions of legal consequence.    ... Read More

It would be courteous to inform the embassy of your mother’s death so that her case can be closed out. Insofar as your siblings are concerned, you can sponsor them under the F-4 category for siblings of U. S. citizens, and the time for final processing would be approximately 12 years. Otherwise if they have education and/or skills which are required in the U. S., they may be able to eventually obtain nonimmigrant or immigrant visas. Also if they form an attachment with a U. S. citizen or LPR, they may be able to immigrate faster under the family based case. Due to the limitations of the Lawyers.com Forums, Alan Lee, Esq.'s (the "Firm") participation in responding to questions posted herein does not constitute legal advice, nor legal representation of the person or entity posting a question. No Attorney/Client relationship is or shall be construed to be created hereby. The information provided herein by the Firm is general, and requires that the poster obtain specific legal advice from an attorney. The poster shall not rely upon the information provided herein as legal advice nor as the basis for making any decisions of legal consequence.... Read More