Protect Yourself: Don't Let an Assailant Get Away With Hurting You

Legal Aid Foundation of LA.  The guy I spoke to was helpful.  He at least knew how to differentiate between civic and criminal law.  My claim against Paco--an assault--is a criminal charge.  This is what makes it so difficult to win.

Neighborhood Legal Services of LA County

Christian Legal Aid Services of LA

This page was a decent place to start.

JUSTIA Lawyers  

Another page to start on criminal advice.

Consumer Affairs: 800-952-5210

BBB: 213-631-3600

Small claims under $10k: 800-593-8222

Civil law and criminal law are two broad and separate entities of law with separate sets of laws and punishments.

According to William Geldart, Introduction to English Law 146 (D.C.M. Yardley ed., 9th ed. 1984), "The difference between civil law and criminal law turns on the difference between two different objects which law seeks to pursue - redress or punishment. The object of civil law is the redress of wrongs by compelling compensation or restitution: the wrongdoer is not punished; he only suffers so much harm as is necessary to make good the wrong he has done. The person who has suffered gets a definite benefit from the law, or at least he avoids a loss. On the other hand, in the case of crimes, the main object of the law is to punish the wrongdoer; to give him and others a strong inducement not to commit same or similar crimes, to reform him if possible and perhaps to satisfy the public sense that wrongdoing ought to meet with retribution.”

Examples of criminal law include cases of burglary, assault, battery and cases of murder. Examples where civil law applies include cases of negligence or malpractice.

Educational Malpractice? 

"On the whole, courts have rejected causes of action for educational malpractice against colleges and universities. However, courts have recognized charges of breach of contract against educational institutions when plaintiffs demonstrate that educational institutions failed to carry out specific promises.

Courts generally reject educational malpractice claims for one of three reasons. First, it is very difficult to define the duty to educate, a necessary predicate for pursuing a cause of action. In general, the courts have not recognized claims of malpractice that rest on an assertion of the general inadequacy in educational programs, although they have recognized charges for breach of contract against educational institutions when claims are pleaded with particularity. Second, causation is also difficult to determine. In fact, it is almost impossible to identify all of the reasons why students fail to achieve specified levels of education; the causes could be “physical, neurological, emotional, cultural [or] environmental (Peter W. v. San Francisco Unified School District, 1976, p. 861). Further, the persons responsible for the failure to educate could include teachers, parents, or students themselves. Thus, the courts have acknowledged the difficulty of determining whether officials or other parties, including the students, may have caused the bad educational outcomes. Third, some courts have indicated a strong reluctance to insert themselves into such a contentious issue of public policy as the quality of education. The courts almost universally express strong public policy concerns as a basis for rejecting causes of action for educational malpractice against colleges and universities. The judiciary has also expressed the fear that recognizing a cause of action for educational malpractice would open a floodgate of litigation, particularly at the level of primary and secondary schools, but also in higher education." 

U.S. Passport

Oh, brother.  A government passport (is there any other kind?) can be a pain in butt to obtain.  So many conditions.  If you lost your previous passport, then a birth certificate is required to obtain a replacement.  But I'm an American citizen!  Doesn't matter.  But I thought that there were privileges that came with being an American citizen . . . . 

Then the woman at the window who processed my forms wore leotards instead of a uniform.  Instead of GI pants or skirt, we got her own personal leotard; this, an official of the federal government.  

While my eyes assessed this performance and perhaps took in too much, another woman behind me in line stepped forward because she heard the news that the forms needed to be filled in with black ink.  A few people in line filled theirs in with blue ink.  

They take 4-6 weeks to process and arrive at your residents.  You can pay extra to expedite it in 2 to 3 weeks.  

The costs, the costs.  Always the costs.  The passport itself costs $135. Processing fee is $1.25  Photographs (two) costs $15.  And then there is .75 for something or other.  Total came to $152.  Incredible what things cost these days.    

Birth Certificates

Birth Certificates are $28.  Plus a $6 Processing fee from VitalChek.com. Shipping is $18. Total cost is $52. Not cheap.  Now I don't know if the birth certificate is required prior to applying for a passport.  The LA County Registrar's Office phone number is 866-212-1045.  

Once you order your birth certificate online, then you have to print out an order confirmation.  Print it out and fill it out.  Before you can fax it back to the LA County Registrar's office, you have to have the confirmation notarized by a Notary Public.  Once you get this, then you can fax it to the LA County Registrar's office.  Their fax number, as of this date, is 866-283-7407.

Imperial Mailbox & Notary Services.  
12325 Imperial Blvd. Norwalk, CA  90650
562-651-1620
8:30-4:30
Notary for this confirmation document was $10.  To print the page out cost me $3.  To fax it cost me $1.  A total of $14.  So for this birth certificate I have spent a total of $66.  And I won't receive it for 7-10 days.  

Social Security Card

Social Security card replacements have to be applied for at a Social Security office.  It doesn't cost anything, except time and enduring a way too friendly receptionist whose questions sounded more like CIA techniques than anything bordering on the friendly. Social Security Card.

But it is important to learn that a replacement card, though free, takes about 7-10 days to be delivered.  It is being sent from Baltimore.  Here is a list of the offices in Southern California.

Alhambra Office
900 S. Garfield Ave.
Alhambra, CA 91801
800-772-1213
800-325-0778

Glendora Office
1165 East Route 66
Glendora, CA  91740
800-772-1213
800-325-0778

Norwalk Office
12440 East Imperial Highway
Norwalk, CA  90650
800-772-1213
800-325-0778


Pasadena Office
104 North Mentor Avenue
Pasadena, CA 91106
800-772-1213
800-325-0778

Backhoe Case Controls

Ideal candidates should have experience in mini-excavator, bobcat, and backhoe. Class A license also a plus, but NOT required. Candidate should have knowledge of case controls and at least 3+ years of experience.

This job posting struck me, because there are guys who are going after this business of washing windows.  To make a business of it I would think that you have to offer washing windows as one in a series of services, like installation, replacement, and so forth--you know, buying windows.  The job info is here:

1-2 years professional experience.
Most of your own tools (bucket, wands, blades, t bars etc.)
Max weight 225 lbs.
Pass drug & background check
Great attitude
Desire to make good wages
Contract or piece work for well qualified pros
Reliable transportation

805-896-6989, Damion.  His email: 

• hntdz-4896088602@gigs.craigslist.org

Turf/Sod Cutter

Preparing to remove my turf lawn...front and back....seeking a estimate for removal and disposal of the turf....using a turf cutter so exposed soil is flat a ready to begin the installation of artificial turf. If you have experience in this field...get back to me with your experience.....references.....rate for removal........This project consists of 1,740 sq. ft. of existing turf. Job could include additional work if your experienced and interested in stalling synthetic turf and construction of a flower bed consisting of block/brick's.

Sod cutters are not cheap.  They run anywhere between $800 to $2000 to $4000.  The sod cutter pictured below ran for $2,000 on eBay.