Your Guide to Understanding Legal Issues

Self Storage Agreement Template: All You Need to Know

A Guide to Self Storage Agreements

A self storage agreement is a legal document that outlines the terms and conditions of a rental relationship between a self storage company and an individual or business who wishes to store their belongings at the facility. The purpose of such an agreement is to establish clear expectations and responsibilities for both parties, thereby minimizing the potential for disputes or misunderstandings further down the line. Typically, a self storage agreement will include several key components. These generally encompass the names and addresses of both parties, a detailed description of the goods being stored, the storage facility’s name and location, the duration of the rental term, and the cost of renting the space, along with the payment terms . The agreement will also cover rules regarding access to and use of the storage unit, security provisions, and liability clauses that delineate the extent of the storage company’s responsibility for the goods stored. Importantly, self storage agreements will spell out termination procedures and conditions under which property may be sold or disposed of if the rent remains unpaid or other obligations are breached. By clearly setting these terms and conditions for the storage relationship, both parties can enjoy peace of mind and financial protection.

Oregon Motorcyclists: Learn the Ins and Outs of Lane Splitting

What is Lane Splitting?

"Lane splitting is when a motorcyclist drives between lanes of slow-moving or stopped traffic. Lane splitting is most common in heavy traffic, allowing the motorcyclist to pass cars without changing lanes. This maneuver is also used to assist with blocking uncontrolled lane changes by other vehicles, both for the motorcyclist’s safety and as a courtesy to allow more space for other vehicles to maneuver. Lane splitting makes up a small percent of all motorcycle rides, but can be a helpful tool when dealing with heavy traffic.
Motorcyclists should always be mindful of their surroundings. While lane splitting , motorcyclists should maintain the highest level of awareness of traffic conditions, allowing for proper spacing between the rider and surrounding vehicles, especially large trucks. Even while lane splitting in slow-moving traffic, the motorcyclist should maintain enough room to pull over and allow a vehicle to pass when necessary. Motorcyclists should also be cautious of sudden movements from other drivers, such as speeding around corners or passing into the same lane the rider occupies. The rider should look for markers on the road that indicate limited space or objects that could interfere with the rider, helping to increase comfort when maneuvering between lanes."

The Lowdown on California Tip Laws: Everything You Need to Know

Summary of California Tip Laws

This section provides an overview of current California tip laws and their overarching philosophical objectives. All California labor law regulations and associated wage statement analysis include certain baseline principles and philosophical objectives. In the case of California tip laws, these noted objectives include the following: California’s statutory regulation of tips is established in Labor Code §351. Labor Code §351 is the only California statute addressing the subject of this article. In recent years, there have been a few California Court of Appeal decisions added to the growing jurisprudence fielding the topic of California’s tip law regime. These publications are discussed under the points below. First and foremost, Labor Code §351 "expressly prohibits employers from participating in tip pools." (Kinney v. Court (2007) 40 Cal.4th 154, 173.) This prohibition extends to all levels of the employer hierarchy including "managers, supervisors, and other agents of the employer at any level." (Ibid., citing Coleman v. Estrellita [1996] 9 Cal.4th 1, 10.) (Emphasis in original.) The prohibition only applies, however, during hours of "direct service to the public," not "while engaging in other duties such as staffing the cash register." (Kinney v. Court, supra, 352 (disapproving of Washington, D.C. case law interpreting the Fair Labor Standard Act’s tip pool and minimum wage laws.) Labor Code §351 also prohibits employers from using tipped employees’ tips to satisfy their minimum wage requirements. (Labor Code §351.) However, the statute does not specifically address whether employers may retain any portion of the tips for their own benefit. The statutory language at issue has only been reviewed twice . The initial case upholding the prohibition language of Labor Code §351 is O’Connor v. Uber Techs., Inc. (N.D. Cal., Dec. 19, 2014, No. 13-cv-03826) 2014 U.S. Dist. LEXIS 175458, at *21-22. In O’Connor, the Court interpreted the plain terms of the statute in finding Uber liable for committing "a crime" by calculating drivers’ pay in a manner which "resulted in Uber keeping drivers’ gratuities." The second case reviewing the statutory prohibition language is Baas v. Dollar Tree Store (E.D. Cal. Feb. 11, 2021) 507 F.Supp.3d 710. In its analysis, the Baas Court articulated that a tip is personal to the employee and that the policy rationale of §351 is that "the customer has a right to determine who receives a gratuity." (Ibid. (citing Kuxhausen v. Baldonado (2013) 219 Cal.App.4th 1, 16).) Lastly, the primary objective of California tip law is to fully protect the gratuities from any arriving labor costs. This rationale can be seen by looking at a few critical details of Labor Code §351. First, the statute refers to "gratuities" instead of "tips." (Labor Code §351.) As is well understood, there is a critical distinction between a tip and a gratuity. A tip is a discretionary amount given by customers for services they deem were satisfactory, or even exceptional, given the nature of their encounters with the service staff. Tips may be scant or sometimes quite abundantly distributed. On the other hand, a gratuity is a mandatory payment from the customer regardless of whether they felt the services were satisfactory. Gratuities are enforced through service fees. Service fees are mandatory once imposed. Last, there are no statutory interpretations addressing the use or designation of tip jars. There has been no limitation or maxim set, for example, on retained tip jar amounts.

The ABCs of Contract Governance: An Overview

What is Contract Governance?

What is Contract Governance? It refers to an organization’s reporting line to ensure all of its regular business practices are aligned. The standard for which those practices are aligned influences how contract governance operates within an organization. Some businesses have much stricter standards when compared to other businesses – They are regulated by internal supportive departments specific to their own internal guidelines.
Contract governance should not be construed with contract management, both are very different. Contract governance is the nuts and bolts of contract management and signifies the ethical and accountable design, management, and operations of the whole organization. Contract governance is the internal approach on how a company manages, controls and reduces the threat of supply disruptions while ensuring long term business goals.
Contract governance should be professionally designed and effectively executed to ensure risk management and control of costs for both products and services. In effect , contract governance is reserved for monitoring conformance to an established contract standard. Contract governance is essential because it demonstrates the ability of a business to meet any contract requirements to satisfy the customer.
When it comes to compliance, there should be an expected governance capability by an organization to be able to validate it is adhering to specific contract requirements. Put differently, contract governance involves being able to determine an organization’s ability to ensure that the contract implements and executes to its obligations. This means that: (i) the organization is checking compliance rules against known conditions for each product/service the organization sells and; (ii) is counting ‘violation occurrences’ over a determined period of time.
Typically specific areas that are included in contract governance involve: assurance of service quality; supplier and product performance; customer satisfaction and compliance; risk factors analysis and; research and development programs and compliance.

Selecting the Right Contract Attorney in Phoenix

The Purpose of a Contract Attorney

Contract attorneys take on various roles in the preparation and revision of contracts. They can work on one contract until it is satisfactory, or they can spend more or less time as necessary to make agreements more formal and legally binding. In doing so, they ensure that contracts are ironclad and leave no room for interpretation or misunderstanding. Their job is to ensure that everything is in order, legal, and understood by both sides.
Contract attorneys can handle all different types of contracts and agreements, including those for:
Contract attorneys create partnerships between those entering into legally binding agreements, such as buyers and sellers, contractors and subcontractors, and employers and employees. These legal professionals also help in the management of contractual obligations, ensuring all parties understand their legal obligations .
All states have laws concerning legally binding written contracts. When someone enters into an agreement with you, that person is legally bound to perform as agreed. If there is a dispute, there are laws governing how such disputes can be resolved. Thus, nothing should be performed that could end up in court or legal proceedings unless absolutely necessary.
A contract attorney offers the assurance of a binding legal agreement. They know what constitutes an agreement and how such agreements should be documented to protect everyone involved. Incorrectly prepared contracts create loopholes that can be used to avoid responsibilities. A contract attorney ensures the requirements of both parties are clear and unambiguous.

Filing for Legal Separation in Ohio: Step by Step

Legal Separation in Ohio Explained

In Ohio, legal separation is usually the first step that a couple takes in determining what their final outcome will be: a divorce or continued marriage. It’s also, technically, a step before divorce—a significant step, to be sure—but it’s not the same as divorce, although many of the steps are quite similar. Legal separation generally refers to a formal acknowledgment and agreement that a couple will no longer share a residence or resources. However, it is important to understand that while they are separate, they are not divorced, so all obligations under marriage remain in force—such as spousal support and child support, for example. The options of legal separation and divorce are the most common methods couples use to end their union, but there are others . A couple may choose a "no-fault" marriage termination (such as the dissolution) or an annulment, both of which carry different legal effects and are often used in specific instances, but it is the traditional form of separation or divorce that remains the most common method of ending a marriage in Ohio. A legal separation is more than just a couple moving from the same home to separate homes as it has many implications under the law: custody, child support, division of property, etc. And that’s one of the reasons a couple may choose to legally separate rather than divorce. There are many specific circumstances in which a couple may choose one over the other, but most often, they may do so because a separation helps them determine if divorce is their best option.

All You Need To Know About APTA Legal Affairs Conference 2025

APTA Legal Affairs Conference Introduction

The American Public Transportation Association (APTA) is the leading voice for the public transportation industry. APTA represents a diverse array of individuals and organizations who work within the industry to provide, improve and expand public transportation systems. Each year, APTA sponsors a Legal Affairs Conference to promote the exchange of knowledge, insight and expertise across the legal industry. The Legal Affairs Conference brings together current and future leaders in the industry to discuss challenges and opportunities, as well as provide networking events to facilitate meaningful relationships.
The APTA Legal Affairs Conference 2025 will continue this tradition . This edition of the conference is expected to be a record-breaking event with over 200 in attendance, and it will offer a chance for like-minded public transportation professionals to further their collective goals and establish new relationships.
Attendees will walk away from the conference with a greater sense of the challenges and opportunities that lie within the public transportation industry. Through a combination of keynote speakers, breakout sessions and networking events, attendees can use the conference to gain insight, discover new options and strengthen their own skills. The APTA Legal Affairs Conference 2025 offers a unique opportunity to learn from some of the best within this field, and it is one that should not be missed.

Guide to Legal Aid at Fort Cavazos

Legal Services Provided at Fort Cavazos

The legal assistance office at Fort Cavazos provides a valuable resource for service members, their families, and eligible civilians. It is essential to know what type of legal services are available and who is entitled to use them. At Fort Cavazos, the legal assistance facility falls under the administrative control of the Office of the Staff Judge Advocate (OSJA) and is located curently in Building 130, 31st Street, Coursey Road. Civic Life Learning Center, Gonzales Hall. Hours of operation are currently Tuesday-Friday 0800-1600 and the service is closed for all Federal holidays and training days.
Estate planning, consumer law matters, like lemon law and fraud, landlord and tenant disputes, notary services, landlord-tenant laws, domestic law, including divorce, adoption, and name changes, wills, living wills, and advance medical directives, tax questions, and most other civil legal matters are covered by legal assistance attorneys at Fort Cavazos.
Eligibility for Army Legal Assistance Legal assistance services at Fort Cavazos are primarily provided for active-duty military members and their eligible family members. However, Fort Cavazos legal assistance offers services to a limited number of other people. Eligible classes include: All others are not eligible for legal assistance services. These classifications will be discussed further below.
Legal assistance is available to active duty service members, retirees and families when legal issues arise. That said, it is important to understand that no one is "entitled" to legal assistance. Rather, legal assistance is intended to be a "give and take" situation where the needs of the garrison are met with the availability of legal assistance.
To that end, Fort Cavazos legal assistance attornies prioritize requests for legal assistance based on two factors: First, the need for assistance, and second, the availability of an attorney or paralegal.
Priority of Legal Assistance Services The following is a list of the eligibility criteria. In other words, the staff will consider the most important first, then go down the list till full legality can be served.
Naturalized citizens who enlisted in the military as foreign nationals , and have deferred their naturalization to serve under the Immigration and Nationality Act of 1952.
Retired military personnel are eligible to utilize legal assistance within two years following their official date of retirement. If it has been more than two years since your retirement, you are no longer eligible for legal assistance. That being said, you still may have some options for help with personal civil legal matters.
Ordinarily, those who are not spouses, dependent family members, or retired military personnel are ineligible for legal assistance. There are a few exceptions, which are outlined below:
Civilian employees of non-appropriated funds may receive legal assistance as long as the legal assistance is provided during their off-duty hours.
Civilian employees of the Department of the Army, Department of Defense, and other US government agencies and their dependents may obtain legal assistance from the Fort Cavazos legal assistance office or through referral to civilian counsel, as long as the matters involved are contributing to stability and mission accomplishment as defined by the judge advocate.
Civilian employees of the Army and other government agencies who are assigned to post camps or stations which are geographically remote and which are within prescribed distance from Fort Cavazos may obtain limited legal assistance, including preparation of wills and durable powers of attorney, from the Fort Cavazos legal assistance office or through referral to civilian counsel.
Civilian employees of Army and other government agencies on temporary assignment to Fort Cavazos may obtain limited legal assistance, including preparation of wills and durable powers of attorney.
Mobilized non-commissioned officers of the Army National Guard and Army Reserve, and volunteer or retired members of the Army Nurse Corps, Army Judge Advocate General’s Corps, Regular Army, ROTC, and disabled veterans unable to secure and pay for their legal services.
Military members and their family may contact the Fort Cavazos legal assistance office directly, and should do so as soon as possible.

How to Ask for a Different Judge in Family Court: A Guide

How Judges Recuse Themselves

Judge recusal is the legal term used to describe the process of asking another, probably more senior, Judge to hear your case instead of the trial level Judge that was initially assigned. This is usually done because when a person files a family case, they are given a case number as well as a Judge. A calendar is public information in the USA. So it is easy for anyone to look up which Judge is assigned to a particular case. Sometimes these things take place behind the scenes when a new case is filed. It would not be unusual for a person filing a divorce and in a neighborhood with judges to know that their neighbor, or business acquaintance, is the division judge assigned to their case.
Few people want a local judge who knows them to preside over their case if there is even a hint of indicia of bias. Ordinarily there is nothing that can be done about this if all was well with the parties , but if you were fired from a job because of a sexual harassment claim, or if a relative was killed by a drunk driver, you may fear that that same Judge is not going to be your biggest supporter outside of a prayer session. So recusal becomes necessary.
Sometimes recusal is necessary because the Judge is having a bad day or perhaps just very tired that morning and cannot muster the energy to give your case the attention it requires. If one of the lawyers has a really good reputation and the Judge was aware of this, he may ask that all cases where this attorney appears be transferred to another Judge.
In some cases, the Judge does not want to hear the case but is unwilling to restrict the lawyer’s right to appear before the Judge in other matters. Judges do not like to run in to lawyers they have refused to hear cases for in the supermarket, so they have the option of recusal or discretion.
Judge recusal is uncommon but it does happen occasionally.

Overview of Oklahoma Animal Cruelty Laws

A Primer on Animal Cruelty Laws in Oklahoma

In Oklahoma, animal cruelty laws exist to protect the welfare of animals and to prevent their abuse or neglect. The general purpose of these laws is to prevent an individual from purposefully causing harm to an animal or allowing terminable harm (which is harm that would result in death) to come to the animal by their being in the care of the person. It also prevents any euphemisms that the individual might use to avoid being found guilty of animal cruelty, such as claiming the animal was old or sick and had to be euthanized, because if that euthanization would not have been necessary if the individual cared for the animal properly.
Animal cruelty is defined as:
Any knowing act or failure to act toward an animal resulting in or amounting to:
…Any intentional or unintentional….

(1) Killing, maiming, torturing, poisoning, shooting, wounding, unnecessaryly mutilating or carrying in any manner a household pet or livestock , or causing, procuring, or permitting a minor or animal control agency to engage in such conduct;
(2) Striking or otherwise causing bodily injury or physical pain, distress or death to a household pet or livestock, or causing, procuring, or permitting a minor or animal control agency to engage in such conduct;
(3) Beating a dog or cat or otherwise causing the dog or cat unnecessary pain or suffering;
(4) Abandonment of a household pet or livestock;

If someone is found guilty of animal cruelty, they may be charged with either a misdemeanor or a felony. The specific penalty will depend on the nature and severity of the animal cruelty that was committed. In general, a misdemeanor will carry a less severe punishment compared to a felony. A misdemeanor will most likely be a pay-only amount that can be easily paid by the perpetrator, while a felony may include a significant prison sentence.