I signed a lease agreement with a commercial broker (dual duty), gave him a deposit check dated September 3rd, on August 28th. After 4 hours, before the landlord signed the agreement, I changed my mind and asked the broker to hold the lease agreement. Yesterday, I called and emailed the broker that we are not able to move forward with the lease. But today, we found out the deposit check was cashed. How can I get my money back, and what mistake did I make?

September 23rd, 2023

At a recent neighborhood pizza party, a resident accused me of being a liar and a thief in front of several witnesses. He claims that since he said 'I think' before the accusation, I have no legal recourse. Additionally, he sent a text to several neighbors stating 'I think .... has no integrity.' What legal actions can I take against him for these defamatory statements?

March 7th, 2024

A judge dismissed 6 of my counts 'with prejudice' instead of 'without prejudice'. What steps do I take to get a 'without prejudice' judgment? Do I need to file a Motion to Appeal to the Appellate Division, an Order, Certification, and a Certificate to verify mailing? Is there anything else I need to do, including obtaining an Appeal form?

August 26th, 2023

I leased a 2014 Ford Fusion 15 months ago on a 3-year lease. A friend has been paying the monthly lease and driving the car. I decided to terminate the lease early and gave my friend 6 weeks notice, but he is refusing to return the car. What are my options?

May 24th, 2024

A policeman threatened to arrest me or give me a citation for flipping the bird to a neighbor who has caused many problems. The police have been unhelpful with the neighbor's issues. The officer asked for my name and birthdate but refused to show his ID or reveal who made false allegations. He said he would arrest me if he got more complaints. I'm afraid to leave my house due to this threat. What should I do?

April 25th, 2023