New Jersey Business Legal Questions

Ask a lawyer is not a discussion or homework forum but rather for individuals and companies with actual legal problems that need analysis and guidance (not legal advice, which requires a lawyer be retained.) Theres is no "average" lawyer. Every state, every speciality, and every individual is different.... Read More

Anyone can sue anyone for anything. Your claims against the appraiser are likely not so stale as to be time-barred. However, in order to prevail on your claim, you would need to prove that the appraiser breached a duty that he owed you, not merely that another appraiser disagrees with his conclusion. To do that, you will need an expert witness (or two), whom you will have to pay, and even then the court is likely to give the appraiser the benefit of the doubt. Even ifyou recover, you likely cannot recover more than the amount you paid the appraiser. Is it worth it?... Read More

Probably not. In the absence of an agreement to the contrary, employment in Texas is on an "at will" basis. That means that the employer may terminate the employee's employment at any time for any reason or no reason at all. When an employer breaches a contract of employment, the employee's damages are limited to the wages that could be earned over the remainder of the term of the contract. Since an at-will contract has no "term," there are no damages. In any event, you do not specify that you would have earned any more money at the "new" job than what you earn at your current job. This seems to be an additional problem with your situation.... Read More

This is a trademark issue, not a copyright one. It is absolutely permissible for you to buy these figures at retail through an authorized outlet. However, when you affix the characters to products that are not manufactured by the trademark owner (such as cakes), you may falsely lead consumers to believe that your cakes are authorized or sponsored by the trademark owner. That is the essence of trademark infringement. Whether this kind of claim is capable of being wholly defeated through a disclaimer or other prophylactic measures is something that can be determined in consultation with an attorney. See an attorney to discuss this matter. You are not going to be able to obtain a comprehensive answer from a computer.... Read More

Employment in the United States is on an at-will basis. That means that an employee's employment may be terminated at any time for any reason or no reason at all, even for a bad reason or a completely "phony" reason. Your facts do not suggest that you have been dealt with in any way prohibited by law.... Read More

This is a difficult, unpleasant and relatively frequently asked question. As a general matter, an employer is free to terminate the employment of an employee who fails to report for work. This is so even if the reason for absence is a bona fide illness, whether or not the employee has documentation. There are some exceptions to this rule, but they do not seem to apply. One exception is that pregnancy must be treated like any other illness. However, it does not seem that pregnancy was the reason for this discharge. Another exception is that, under certain circumstances, an employee is entitled to insist on unpaid leave for pregnancy. It does not appear that you requested such leave, so that exception likewise would not apply. You may wish to consult with a employee-side labor attorney.... Read More

The title certificate is merely evidence of title. However, personal property can be sold pursuant to a possessory (or "mechanic's") lien, and the buyer will acquire good title. As between you and the current lawful possessor of the vehicle, who himself owns record title, you probably lose. In any event, the statute of limitations may prove to be an obstacle. See an attorney where you reside.... Read More