Rule 4: Do not forget to take pictures or witnesses.

Once upon a time (way back in the 1900s) we had a saying that technology is increasingly making more difficult...

Pics or it didn't happen.

In the age before photoshop and the perfect Instagram filter (Valencia... IMHO), the school was full of tall tales of amazing feats and personal connections as everyone battled for bragging rights. As small towns fought for connection to the latest Hollywood star, the echoes rang out on the school grounds as we all wanted to be National Champions in our chosen sport.

From "Show and Tell" to "Current Events," the battle of the best in everything was at the forefront of every project, every show, and everything the American child could dream of - after all the American Dream was the rags to riches story of the underdog. Some where in between the constant drive for approval and the constant beratement of never being enough, the school yard and trails of children became the workforce and trails of adulthood. No one willing to take responsibility for their actions unless another can prove to the world that their actions caused great and unrepairable harm to another.

This is where the system begins to unfold within the context of legal actions and liability...

What is legal?

At its most basic level, something is legal if it is permitted by or done in accordance with the established rules and regulations of the government. These rules come from several places:

• Federal Laws: These are the acts and statutes passed by the United States Congress (like the ones we were just discussing—the Adoptee Citizenship Act or the SAVE Act) and signed into law by the President. These apply across all 50 states.

• State and Local Laws: Every state, county, and city has its own set of laws passed by their respective legislative bodies (like the Virginia General Assembly). These govern things like speed limits, school rules, and local zoning.

• Constitutional Law: The U.S. Constitution and its amendments (like the Bill of Rights) set the foundational boundaries for all laws. If a law violates the Constitution, it can be declared illegal by the courts.

These laws are often open to interpretation, which is where our court system comes in. Something is considered legal only if it survives the review of the judicial branch, which includes the Supreme Court.

• A court can rule that a law passed by Congress is unconstitutional (and therefore not legal) or clarify how a law applies to a specific situation.

There are also international laws and human rights that come into question when federal, state and local laws, and constitutional laws overstep their limited powers. This is where private organizations begin to compromise the integrity of governance by questioning the liability of organizations to maintain the health and well-being of workers and the surrounding communities.

Who is liable?

Financial Liability (What We Owe) 💸

This is the most common way most people use the word. It refers to a financial debt or obligation that you must pay or settle in the future. Financial liabilities reduce your net worth (your assets minus your liabilities).

Type of Liability	Family Examples
Long-Term	Your mortgage, your student loans, or any debt due in more than a year.
Current/Short-Term	Credit card balances, monthly utility bills, car loan payments, and property taxes owed this year.

Practical Tip: Financial liability isn't always bad! Taking out a mortgage is a liability, but it allows you to gain an asset (your house). Taking on student loans (a liability) often leads to a higher earning potential (an asset). The goal is to manage your liabilities responsibly.

Legal Liability (What We’re Responsible For) ⚖️

This refers to your legal responsibility for actions or omissions that cause harm, injury, or loss to another party. If you are found legally liable in a civil court, you must compensate the affected party.

Scenario	Liability Example	Why It Matters
On Your Property	A delivery person slips on an icy patch of your sidewalk and breaks their arm.	You, as the homeowner, could be held legally liable for the injury due to negligence (failure to maintain a safe environment). This is why we buy homeowners liability insurance.
Actions of Others	Your teenager accidentally hits a baseball through your neighbor’s expensive picture window.	As the parent or head of the household, you could be held liable for the property damage caused by a member of your family.
Community Work	A volunteer for a community organization accidentally damages a third party's property while setting up a local event.	Since most organizations are an incorporated entity (a corporation), it is typically the organization that is held liable, not the individual board members or volunteers, provided they were acting in good faith and within their scope of duties. This is the corporate shield protection provided by non-profit incorporation.

How do you prove laws were broken or deliberate actions (or inactions) were taken to cause harm to another?

You have to be able to provide evidence, and the larger the case - the more evidence is required. To obtain this evidence, you can beg, borrow, or steal, but you cannot get caught. Most law enforcement and lawyers will pay for evidence, but it must be worth it. This is where the trading of commodities is exchanged for the trading of information - and when it comes to information, it helps to be Queen.

More to come, but until then remember... stay alive.

XOXO, Sapiophielle