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It’s one of the scary things about freelancing – how do you get paid? Without a regular contract and paycheck, getting compensated for your services, and on time at that, can be a struggle. And most freelancers don’t have the money to fight a protracted legal battle just to get paid. And these aren’t small or isolated problems. A recent Freelancers Union report indicated the average freelancer had to wait 98 days to get paid, 71 percent of freelancers cited trouble collecting payment, and freelancers lost an average of almost $6,000 in unpaid income in 2014 alone....

With the holy month of Ramadan beginning this weekend, Muslims may need to give employers a heads-up about any accommodations they might need. It can be a pain to remind your boss about Ramadan every year, as the Islamic (lunar) calendar doesn’t track with the Gregorian (solar) calendar, but the law is on your side. Even if you aren’t Muslim, being aware of other employees’ religious observances at work is important....

For those who remember the disturbing 9-1-1 call, where listeners heard the final moments of four passengers in a runaway Lexus car crash, the families have begun their quest for vindication – in the form of a wrongful death lawsuit. And although the wrongful death lawsuit might never repair all the damage allegedly caused by Toyota, nor will it heal the wounds left in the hearts of the Lastrella and Saylor families, it might serve as a starting point in something bigger: auto safety reform....

A wrongful death suit has been filed over the shooting of the young Fairfield, California councilman Matt Garcia. Garcia was shot and killed on killed Sept. 1, 2008, by two men who mistook him for someone else. Garcia’s mother, Teresa Courtemanche, filed the $16 million dollar suit on Wednesday, July 14, against Henry Don Williams, Gene Allen Combs and Nicole Stewart. The Vallejo Times-Herald reports that Williams and Combs were convicted in the shooting death of Garcia; Williams for first-degree and Combs for second-degree murder....

Despite the faintly good news about the job market, the housing market and real estate prices continue to create problems for homeowners. Personal bankruptcies are at a five year high and some of the reasons behind that number are the continuing foreclosures on homes. A new study released this week finds that in a time when more than one in every five home owners owe more on their homes that they are worth, more of us think walking away from a mortgage is acceptable....

Every car accident, even the standard fender bender, is unique. And sadly, some accidents are more serious than others. So getting answers to your car accident questions may require more specifics and a conversation with a good car accident attorney. There are, however, some general principles that apply to most car accident claims. So here are ten of the most common car accident questions from our archives, and where to find the answers....

As Americans, we spend more time working than any other activity. And for many of us, even time spent away from work is time spent worrying about work – concern for coworkers, thinking about upcoming projects, or wondering if what your boss is doing is legal. Here are nine of the most common legal questions employees ponder, and where to find answers: 1. Can My Work Schedule Change With No Notice?...

‘We’re going to have strong, very strong borders but we are going to keep the families together,’ President Trump said in the Oval Office today. ‘I didn’t like the sight or the feeling of families being separated.’ After defending the policy of separating migrant children from their parents at the border for weeks – even asserting it was required under immigration law – Trump reversed course and signed an Executive Order aimed at keeping families together during detention....

Small businesses often choose health insurance policies for their employees based on the cost. Some businesses may even choose not to provide health policies because they’re simply too expensive. Enter the new “health insurance exchanges,” set to become fully online and operational in 2014. Health insurance exchanges are mandated under the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act. Of course, the constitutionality of the healthcare reform law is still at issue. The Supreme Court is set to hear arguments next year....

Planning to win the Powerball jackpot? If you’ve already picked out your lucky numbers, you should also cross your fingers in hopes that you don’t squander the winnings. Lottery winners are notorious for losing it all, as Business Insider reminds us. Since you’re obviously going to win the $600 million prize, here are five tips to make your jackpot last: Good luck! Related Resources: Powerball jackpot climbs again, reaches $550 million (USA Today) If You Win Powerball Jackpot, IRS Wins Too (FindLaw’s Law and Daily Life) Top 5 Legal Tips for Winning the Lottery (FindLaw’s Law and Daily Life) Are Office Lottery Pools Legal?...

There is a patent law case that may change the way small businesses protect their business methods. According to Inc.com, a recent case argued before the Supreme Court of the United States, Bilski v. Doll, may alter the extent to which small and large businesses are able to patent business methods. The case directly involves questions regarding the patentability of business methods, but has ramifications on the patent issues relating to computer software....

As the holidays approach, employees everywhere are dreading having to work on a handful of days. Some of them will receive a bump in pay as incentive, but that isn’t always the case. Lawmakers in California and Ohio are trying to increase that incentive by increasing holiday pay in their respective states. U-T San Diego reports that California legislators are pushing for a new bill that would entitle workers to double pay on Thanksgiving and Christmas....

Reports of home damage linked to contaminated China-manufactured drywall have been grabbing headlines in recent weeks, and it looks like the problem could impact thousands of houses that were rebuilt in the Gulf Coast after Hurricane Katrina. An Associated Press story relates the plight of Thomas Stone and his family, who rebuilt their two-story Chalmette (La.) home after Katrina, only to discover that the cheaper China-manufactured drywall they installed throughout the house was contaminated with a chemical that ate through wiring, corroded jewelry and other valuables, and emitted a foul sulfur “rotten egg” smell in the home....

Lawsuits seem to follow any tragedy. And when the person most directly responsible for the tragedy is no longer alive – as is the case in so many mass shootings – victims look for someone to hold legally accountable. Schools and movie theaters have been targeted with lawsuits after shootings before, so it’s only natural to wonder whether the hotel from which Stephen Paddock killed 58 and wounded almost 500 more, the Mandalay Bay Resort and Casino, could be liable for the mass shooting in Las Vegas....

Crew members on a Princess Cruise Lines ship violated maritime law by failing to rescue three stranded fishermen – two of whom later died at sea, a lawsuit by the surviving fisherman claims. Adrian Vasquez, 18, of Panama, is suing Princess Cruise Lines for negligence, along with intentional or reckless omission by its crew, UK’s The Guardian reports. Sightseers on board a Princess cruise spotted the three stranded fishermen frantically waving for help and alerted Princess crew members, Vazquez’s lawsuit asserts....

Shopping online on Cyber Monday avoids many of the problems with Black Friday crowds, but it has its own downside: identity theft. Sure you don’t have to jostle with the hordes of sale-crazed shoppers or look sadly at picked-over merchandise, but buying things online comes with a few risks. You’ll be sending financial information over the Internet, which means you need to be careful that it isn’t compromised. It’s good to have anti-virus protection and keep an eye out for fraudulent charges on your bank accounts, but there are some other specific steps you can take while shopping this holiday season....

DC same-sex marriage will remain legal, the D.C. Court of Appeals ruled today. In a 5-4 decision, the court ruled that because marriage is a protected right, the state cannot vote to restrict it to opposite-sex couples because such a law would discriminate. In March of this year, Washington D.C. began to allow same-sex couples to marry. The decision to allow same-sex marriage was originally made by the D.C. Council last December....

The Google polling app was supposed to be a convenient way for users to track down their nearest polling station to vote in the recent elections. Unfortunately, not all the directions were accurate, and the app ended up misleading voters, creating the potential that some (or many) were unable to vote. As many as 727,000 households in 12 states may have been misled by the polling location technology, according to Fast Company....

Dogs can be man’s best friends – that is until they bite another man. Being attacked by an animal can lead to serious injuries. And knowing what to do after a dog bites you can sometimes be unclear, particularly in terms of your rights. Who’s responsible for your medical expenses? Can you sue? What will happen to the dog? These are all common questions that people have after an animal attack....

Fortunately for the employee-victim of a senseless workplace attack meted out by his boss, a New York court of appeals has affirmed that the victim can seek damages directly against the boss. The case involves a New York golf club’s employee, who was senselessly, and for no reason, hit in the groin by his boss with a golf club while at work. While the boss maintains that contact was minimal, it is also alleged he just laughed and walked away afterwards....