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Strategies & Market Trends : The Thread Formerly Known as No Rest For The Wicked -- Ignore unavailable to you. Want to Upgrade?

To: Stuart T who wrote (86684)	1/16/2000 10:45:00 PM
From: Carl van Rooyen	Respond to of 90042

<In this day and age, it doesn't pay to piss off the wrong people.> Such true words!! Somewhat OT, but a story in that vein: A close friend of mine out here just completed a 3 year, $12M construction project for a very high profile client (you've all heard of this client). Only the best of everything - stonemasons flown in from Europe; state of the art everything. A truly exceptional piece of work... e.g. kitchen cabinets were removed and replaced when the client examined one dovetail joint with a magnifying glass (!) and determined the fit to be greater than the 1/64" that was specified. No expense was spared. Well, last month the bill came due for the final $1M payment, per a very thick contract which had been abided by and upheld by both parties throughout the life of the project. Mind you, the architect and everyone connected with the job had not heard a single complaint, and still haven't. BUT...the clients had their attorneys send back a letter, which said: we will pay you $500K, not $1M. You have 24 hours to decide, and if we don't hear back in 24 hours that you accept this offer we will pay nothing and will wait to be sued. End of letter. No discussion, no disputes. This is not uncommon. The deep pockets know the shallow pockets have no choice but to swallow such bitter pills. And so it can go here (I stretched to make this connection, but the theme is definitely here)...piss off the wrong deep pockets, and a person could easily find themselves in dire financial straights. As you said, retiresoon, regardless of findings... By the way, my friend took the offer. It was painful, but a nobrainer. Sure, he might have gotten his million eventually had he fought it. He just couldn't afford to buy the chance...the clients had already made sure of that.

To: Stuart T who wrote (86684)	1/16/2000 10:52:00 PM
From: J. C. Dithers	Read Replies (2) \| Respond to of 90042

Some people may be annoyed at our continuing this discussion, but after all it is a quiet market time, so not much harm to it. I agree with you that The Donald Trumps of this world could cause much grief to anyone they were out to get, including using the courts. I must say, though, that this sounds awfully much like "harassment," the very thing that Tim has accused others of. I am interested in this statement you made: From what I know, there appears to be enough basis to bring a case and withstand a motion for summary judgment, thereby allowing the case to go to the jury. Are you saying that this "basis" would arise from comments or opinions expressed on an internet chat line? Within the limits of your discretion, could you expand on this a little? Could you give an example of a comment or opinion that could make one legally liable for monetary civil damages, at least to the point of sending the matter to a jury? As I said before, I think would be of general interest to a great many people who participate on sites like SI. Thanks.