Attorney musings [UPDATE]

"ImmoralMinority" (araimondo) 03/21/2019 at 11:01 • Filed to: None

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I have been doing this for a while, and have been successful enough that I do not have to take all the work that comes my way. Most attorneys would appreciate this circumstance.

Over the years, there are people I have refused to represent for reasons other than conflicts that preclude me from accepting the work. Generally, these fall into a few basic categories:

1. You didn’t pay me when I did work for you before.

2. You didn’t pay me when I did work for you before.

3. You were nasty to my staff and/or attorneys.

4. You didn’t pay me when I did work for you before.

5. You want me to do shady shit for you. (One time, a guy tried to use me to submit forged payroll records. I would not be very good at this if I had failed to notice.)

6. You didn’t pay me when I did work for you before.

7. I just don’t like you. (Only one guy so far).

Did I mention you have to pay me?

Anyway, I have an appointment later today with a lady who I apparently refused to represent, and I cannot remember why. The only client I refused recently falls into categories 3 and 7, which are somewhat related. The lady’s name is not familiar to me. I am wondering if he is sending someone in his place. I need to talk to my assistant to figure out who she is. My assistant has a late start time to get her kids to school, and I don’t like to call or text her before the official start of the day.

This is new for me. I have never turned someone away and had them want to see me for an explanation. I am very curious about how this will play out.

This is kind of fun.

[UPDATE]

I did a little research. This is a company with a bad payment history - we did work in 2018 and they did not pay us in full.

One of you expressed disbelief that they would return after not paying us. Well, here we are. This should be amusing.

CarsofFortLangley - Oppo Forever > ImmoralMinority 03/21/2019 at 10:48

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I wish I could be at a stage to turn down work, but I need the billings at this stage of my career. Some people/insurers/claims, I just don’t want to touch.

Highlander-Datsuns are Forever > ImmoralMinority 03/21/2019 at 10:49

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I recently had this conversation with an attorney friend of mine, he basically echoed what you said particularly points 1, 2, 4, and 6

WilliamsSW > ImmoralMinority 03/21/2019 at 10:52

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It amazes me that people who didn’t pay you the first time would even have the guts to call you again.

I would think that your assistant would track this so you have the reason handy- mostly so you know who to say no to, I guess.

Report back - this meeting sounds like it could be amusing! 

shop-teacher > ImmoralMinority 03/21/2019 at 11:00

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My dad is a residential contractor/carpenter.  The amount of people who refuse to pay/pay fully is stunning to me.  Unfortunately, all you can do as a contractor is put a lein on their house, but all that does is prevent them from selling it in the future.  If they stay in the house, you’re SOL.  At the height of the housing bubble, he got a call from somebody asking him to remove the lein he’d put onto their house nearly 20 years before.  Dad’s response was, “No problem, just pay me the twelve grand you still owe me.”  To nobody’s surprise, Dad never got paid.  That lein is still in place from 1988.

CalzoneGolem > ImmoralMinority 03/21/2019 at 11:06

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You should print out a bill and when she asks just hand it to her.

Ash78, voting early and often > ImmoralMinority 03/21/2019 at 11:10

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We actually have a lot in common, as I also don’t do a lot of the work that comes my way!

Ash78, voting early and often > ImmoralMinority 03/21/2019 at 11:12

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Hopefully this time around you can agree to more up-front fees based on your history with them. Make it fun.

“You know, this meeting reminds me of the time I told my dog about my bad teeth.”

“...?”

“I said BITCH I NEED A RETAINER!”

Grindintosecond > ImmoralMinority 03/21/2019 at 11:14

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Michael Caine took an award once and said something along the lines like, “When I was young I made a lot of crap but now that i’m rich, I can be more selective.”

jimz > ImmoralMinority 03/21/2019 at 11:15

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This is a company with a bad payment history - we did work in 2018 and they did not pay us in full.

maybe they thought you were doing it for “exposure.”

/s

66P1800inpieces > shop-teacher 03/21/2019 at 11:19

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In my state those liens expire after 30 years. 

OPPOsaurus WRX > ImmoralMinority 03/21/2019 at 11:20

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we have a guy who has now bounced 3 consecutive checks. He has 4 projects with us and said he would be bringing a bank check this past Tues day. He had the balls to show up with no check and ask us to do more work. He was legitimately pissed when my boss said no.

My X-type is too a real Jaguar > ImmoralMinority 03/21/2019 at 11:24

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People not paying their bills is what drove me out of the PI business. I just saved you $6000 a month on alimony payments, pay my $10,000 invoice please. 

Highlander-Datsuns are Forever > ImmoralMinority 03/21/2019 at 11:25

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I am guessing you don’t send bills to collections? That would be really nasty but the message would probably get through.

CaptDale - is secretly British > ImmoralMinority 03/21/2019 at 11:27

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Why in the world would anyone not pay you?

66P1800inpieces > My X-type is too a real Jaguar 03/21/2019 at 11:29

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You get a start for being a PI at one point. I have no clue how the business actually works but I am guessing it isn’t as glamo ro u s as it appears on TV.

MattHurting > Ash78, voting early and often 03/21/2019 at 11:33

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TheRevanchist > shop-teacher 03/21/2019 at 11:35

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There is a scuzzbucket in Fresno who hires contractors to do work, unlicensed ones, tells them they did a shitty job, and refuses to pay them for the work.  He was on an episode of Hot Bench (forgive me for watching that shitty show).  His shit was called out by the guy suing and another guy guy to whom he pulled the same shit.  Both contractors put up the money for the materials, too.  Fucking lowlife needs to pay his bills!

Future Heap Owner > 66P1800inpieces 03/21/2019 at 11:38

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It’s probably mostly looking for records on the internet or in government offices.

Roadster Man > ImmoralMinority 03/21/2019 at 12:02

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I’m so fed up with clients that I’m attempting a career change. I don’t like to charge people for yelling at me and that seems like all I’ve been doing lately .

shop-teacher > 66P1800inpieces 03/21/2019 at 12:08

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Now that you say that, I’m not sure if they do or not here.  I suppose that could be expired now.  Either way, Dad never got paid.

ttyymmnn > jimz 03/21/2019 at 12:42

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Sounds like the music business: I can’t pay you, but it’s great experience. That was kinda sorta acceptable when I was an undergrad music student, but I still get that from time to time 30 years later.

jimz > ttyymmnn 03/21/2019 at 13:08

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I recently found out that artists performing at the Super Bowl halftime show don’t get paid.  NFL pulls in billions of dollars of revenue on the event, and they still expect A-list talent to work for free.  

ttyymmnn > jimz 03/21/2019 at 13:22

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My first reaction was that such an arrangement is unseemly or even obscene, but then I read a bit about it. The NFL covers all the costs of producing the show, so the performers just have to show up and do their thing. And the show itself, with its worldwide audience, is tantamount to a giant commercial for the band. JT released an album in conjunction with his performance, and the timing of the release and his SB performance no doubt encouraged record sales. Travis Scott only said he’d perform in the NFL donated $500,000 to a charity of his choice. So it looks to be a bit more complicated than “working for free.”

jimz > ttyymmnn 03/21/2019 at 14:01

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to me, though, is that a star of Timberlake’s magnitude doesn’t really need  that level of “exposure.”  everyone already knows who he is.

ttyymmnn > jimz 03/21/2019 at 14:15

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But it all helps to sell records. I don’t know how much money entertainers make on straight record sales any more, though. But JT definitely isn’t hurting for cash.

jimz > ttyymmnn 03/21/2019 at 15:44

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for the most part, entertainers have never made much if anything on album sales.  especially less established artists.  after advances and costs, they end up with nothing.  Touring and merch is where they make money.

My X-type is too a real Jaguar > 66P1800inpieces 03/21/2019 at 21:58

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You spend a lot of time and in cars waiting for something to happen. 

66P1800inpieces > My X-type is too a real Jaguar 03/21/2019 at 22:26

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Fine, I’ll give you some of that, but in my mind it is still sleuth sleuth, intrigue, intrigue, wait in a car, get the shot, email client, intrigue - get paid plus expenses. Are sandwiches and pee bottles deductible ?

My X-type is too a real Jaguar > 66P1800inpieces 03/21/2019 at 22:49

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The stuff that pays the best are cheating spouses (you don’t get pictures through windows pictures of them leaving the hotel together are all you need) and disabilities fraud. Those you just follow the person until you catch them moving a couch or loading a jet ski in a truck bed. 

His Stigness > ImmoralMinority 03/22/2019 at 23:07

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I’ve lost two accounts at work because they were insulted when I asked for payment on outstanding bills before I would smog another car. I’m sure it will shock you to learn these were not great customers, to begin with, so I did not chase them down.

Apparently, people find it rude when I ask for payment for my services.

His Stigness > OPPOsaurus WRX 03/22/2019 at 23:10

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I’ve had that happen at work. I’ve “lost” two accounts when I respectfully asked for payment before I perform more inspections for them.