I am in desparate need of help. It would be a civil suit for assault causing various damages and contracts that were written by my significant other during a 22 year relationship under threat of assault. I can not afford an attorney and I am not poor enough for legal aid. I was just abandoned in a house in the woods after being talked into giving up my home in the city where my business was. I am 66 years old Thanks for your help.

I own a taxi business in Spokane Washington. We have to get our taxi cabs inspected by a mechanic once a year. The city used to do it but we were unhappy because we wanted to choose our own mechanics to do the inspections. The city has responded by telling us we have to go to only one mechanic in Spokane and this mechanic has raised prices as a result. Does this not constitute an illegal monopoly and do we have grounds for a law suit? Thank you.

I was an independant contractor for a company and I signed a non-compete saying I can’t work in the industry for 5 years. Now they think I work for a company that is in the same industry. I don’t work for that company and their trying to sue me. Can they do that? what can I do to protect myself against a frivolous law suit?

We’re in California:

a friend of mine rec’d an email with an invoice for $17,500 from a former boss.

In the email, he states that my friend agreed verbally to 50/50 on the business and because business failed, this is her portion of the bill. My friend says she never agreed to 50/50 and never signed any documents confirming that. This business venture lasted 6 months and she worked for him. While working for him, he told her to invest in the business and she would have to supply her own…supplies, which she did and she was never paid a salary. When venture closed, he returned her minimal investment and he called it even.

So, what kind of attorney is needed? There also might be visa issues. I’m not familiar with visas but her visa status is the one where you can’t work or don’t work. Because she was working “under the table”, former boss has basically threatened to call Immigration if she doesn’t pay the invoice.

So, who should we call first? Thanks!