We talked about a new Connecticut Supreme Court case involving Freedom of Speech (First Amendment issues and the exception for “true threats”); an interesting issue in Family Law (whether the non-custodial parent can be held in contempt for not exercising court-ordered visitation with the minor kids (visitation was always considered a “privilege,” not an “obligation” until this Appellate Court decision); labor law (“can I get fired for taking a vacation?”); and a Home Improvement Contractor case where the contractor abandoned a $16k job after getting $12k from the owners (by the time the Court finished with him, the Judgment against him totaled $108k).  All in all, a variety of “carefully curated” topics.  Listener calls included how to complain about a car dealer without getting arrested for doing so.

Our guest was Atty. Peter Soulsby, a former prosecutor who is a now a well-regarded criminal defense lawyer. We spoke about aspects of the law that we believe most people are more likely to encounter: DUI, license suspensions, what to do when it’s 2:15 am and you see the blue flashing lights in your rear view mirror, and whether to submit to a breath test. That brought us to per se administrative suspensions at the Motor Vehicle Department (where you lose your license even if you’re acquitted at trial in Superior Court), ignition interlock devices (been drinking? Car won’t start!), Drug recognition enforcement (using “expert” cops), the problems applying the DUI laws to driving while high on weed or other stuff, etc. Lots of very practical and pragmatic information. As Peter said in his very first minute on the air: “If you take a drink, take an Uber…”

We share a NON-POLITICAL primer on the laws governing applications for Asylum in the USA, and discuss changes in the law regarding accommodations to which pregnant workers are now entitled at work; information about a class-action lawsuit affecting payment of servers and waitstaff in Connecticut restaurants; how a North Carolina man got “off the hook” in an animal cruelty criminal prosecution; and a quick walk through the appeals process if the local police chief denies your application for a pistol permit.

We did our first show on “Weed Law,” aka Cannabis Law. Our guest was Atty. Aaron Romano, a criminal defense lawyer who is a leading expert on the topic and has testified before the State Legislature. We talked about the myths, misconceptions, and hidden traps in the law for people growing, possessing, using, or selling cannabis – along with a critical look at Connecticut’s Medical Marijuana program. It turns out there are a number of serious legal traps for the unwary in the existing law. The show was, in my view, very informative and we were mostly successful in avoiding the political aspects of the issue – per LawTalk normal practice.

LawTalk featured a nationally-recognized Consumer Law expert, Atty. Daniel Blinn of the Consumer Law Group in Rocky Hill, Ct. We spoke extensively about what consumers need to watch out for when dealing with car and truck sellers, lenders, leasing companies, and repair shops. A number of good listener calls, including class actions over vehicle defects, how to find the previous history of a vehicle, why not to rely upon social media reviews of a dealership, the diminished value of a car once damaged in an accident (even if fully repaired), and determining if the interest rate being offered you by the dealership is a good deal or not.

We talked about the legal regulation of tattoo parlors and tattoo technicians; real estate auctions, how to use (and protect yourself from) Hubbard Clauses in real estate contracts; the validity of electronic signatures on contracts; what does and does not qualify as constructive discharge from one’s job; and registration requirements for assault rifles. Listener calls included a gun control advocate, a gun rights enthusiast, a question about supplemental benefits for a person receiving Social Security Disability benefits, and an inquiry about irrevocable trusts vs. revocable trusts.

We talked about the use of Animal Trusts to care for pets when the owner is unable to care for them any longer, or dead. We also responded to listener emails about assault as a form of medical malpractice and suing a lawyer for doing a Power of Attorney for a client instead of a will.  Listener calls filled the rest of the show and included questions about evicting relatives from one’s home (landlord-tenant law), the effect of one’s spouse receiving an inheritance during the pendency of a divorce, and whether one can obtain a restraining order against one’s neighbors and their visitors.

Talked about “drone law” and all the ways that drone owners and drone pilots can get in trouble. Had a caller, an independent contractor on a construction job, who wanted to know how he could make the General Contractor pay him the balance he owed him. Also had a woman who’d been in a parking lot auto accident with another woman and was having trouble with the other woman’s insurance carrier.

On this episode, we continued our brief series on buying and selling a small business – with a focus on how to get the money for a buyer to do so. We also talked about a new development in the law regarding damage done by dogs – even if they never make contact with a person or another animal. Hint: If the dog is unleashed, the owner or keeper is going to get the worst of the deal. Listener calls included a call about collecting back wages from a non-profit employer, and a previous caller who wanted to let us know that the advice he got over the air worked “really well,” and that he was grateful for the help. It was gratifying to hear from him!

We talked about legal tips and traps when buying or selling a small business. Listener calls included questions about a Will and Power of Attorney for the caller’s mother, questions about getting money damages in small claims court for emotional distress, and complaints about indifference by the Bristol police (!) to repeated complaints of vandalism and threatening by the caller’s neighbors and their guests.