Exploiting Hollywood 1980.

Chapter 554 The Destruction of the Vulture Lawyer

"Student 'Jane' was studying at the Academy of Performing Arts and used a long leg warmer (evidence 1) produced by RTKD Company. When she was practicing dancing, the leg warmer covered her heel, causing her to slip and cause Jane's right leg to heel. Tendon exercise, diagnosed by a doctor (evidence 2) as a temporary loss of motor ability, and it will be difficult to engage in dance careers in the future..."

Ronald, who hurried back to Manhattan, browsed the case files with his personal lawyer, Miss Lindsay Dole.

"Why did this happen? Our products use large fonts and pictures, and this taboo is prominently marked on the packaging and instructions. This girl named Jane still has this problem. It should be her improper use, right? "

Ronald saw that the victim slipped and fell because of the leg warmer covering the heel, and immediately began to complain.My own factory clearly reminded me repeatedly that this way of wearing the heels is wrong, and there is a risk of slipping and injury.

"Her real name is not Jane, because she needs to use a pseudonym under the age of 16. It doesn't matter, let's call her Jane." The lawyer lady has gained a little weight in the past two years, and her skin has become fairer after always working indoors.

"You are right. I also think that RTKD should not be responsible for this. And her injury was largely caused by the teacher not being responsible enough to protect her when she was doing difficult movements. She herself Continuing to practice under the condition of fatigue did not fulfill the due vigilance responsibility."

"So we can win?" Ronald didn't understand this, so he could only ask professionals.

"It's hard to say. When it comes to the court, to a large extent, it is not about who can stand up in the law, but who can arouse the sympathy of the jury."

The lawyer lady looked at Ronald, then pointed to her nose and said, "And I don't have the ability to make the jury sympathetic."

"I think you are very professional, no way."

"My professional ability lies in the analysis of cases and the application of laws. But my face is really not liked by the jury. Bobby in our law firm is different, and he can win the favor of the jury. Sympathy vote."

Ronald took a closer look at Miss Lawyer, and it was true that she had blond hair, expensive clothes, and a lot of professionalism. It was not easy for ordinary people to get close to her when they saw her.

This is the same as film casting. A particularly beautiful actress lacks the place to communicate with the audience, and it is not easy for the audience to empathize. On the contrary, actors with some flaws are more likely to become stars.

"What?" Lindsay thought there was something wrong on his face.

"No, I'm distracted, let's continue."

"What did I say? Yes...going to court is our last step. A better way is to reach a more reasonable settlement price with the plaintiff before going to court, and then sign a non-disclosure agreement so that she will not report to the news media in the future. Disclose the case."

"How much do you think it will cost?" Ronald was also very pitiful when he heard that the little girl had a broken Achilles tendon.

"One hundred thousand dollars."

"What? Why didn't she grab it?" Ronald was furious when he heard the price. What kind of artistic future can a little girl see now?It can be said that I paid some nutrition and surgery expenses out of compassion, and the amount was [-] U.S. dollars. Bard Jr. served in the military for four years and only received one-tenth of his retirement pay.

"You're right, she's got a vulture lawyer just for legal robbery." Lindsay pushed a photo of a hook-nosed man in an expensive suit.

"This is Eli, the opposing lawyer, a typical vulture lawyer who sues the company to obtain compensation and then shares with the plaintiff. After the new economic policy of the general manager, this kind of lawyer who has almost disappeared for many years does not take advance payments and relies on high dividends to make money , started to resurface again.”

"Why are they targeting me? Our company is not big?"

"You're their best shot, and your leg warmer company doesn't have a lot of sales, but has a high profit margin. That means you generally don't have top-notch lawyers guarding the fences, but you have enough money to pay compensation.

And what they are after is not simple compensation. The jury has the power to multiply the normal compensation by several times and impose punitive damages to prevent similar negligent behavior in the future.If they succeed in convincing the jury, you may lose up to this amount. "

Looking at the number on the calculator handed over by the lawyer lady, Ronald counted six zeros, "This is going to bankrupt my company."

"So let me get in touch with the opposing lawyer first."

……

"I'm so mad, he dared to question my ability to go to court, and even offered a settlement price of 50 U.S. dollars."

The next day, lawyer Lindsay Dole came to Ronald's apartment, put down the file, and started drinking a whole glass of Coke. "Get ready to fight, this time I'm going to make Eli spit out all the money he made before."

It's scary for a lawyer to get angry, and soon she greeted her, and the partners of the law firm, Bobby Donnell, Elena, Eugene and other lawyers all came.Discuss countermeasures together.

"Eli's method is very special, he is not targeting ordinary business owners, but stars, TV hosts, or celebrities, because you value reputation very much, so the outrageous conditions he put forward have repeatedly succeeded.

If you refuse, he will launch a dark offensive in the tabloids. As long as you extract a part of the truth, and then add some words to let readers have room for imagination, it is likely that celebrities will submit. "

"Then let him spread rumors, and I will sue him together."

"Ronald, don't be impulsive, these people are very destructive. Listen to what the lawyer thinks first." The voice of the agent Nisita came on the phone. It was Bobby's attorney who insisted that Ronald's agent call on the sidelines. of.

"He will make up some sensational news, such as you are a foreign spy, to destroy the values ​​​​of America. Or you abuse drugs, or you coerce female stars, and use the role as a bargaining chip to force them to submit. Marlon Brando was caught by them before. harassed in a similar way."

"But I'm different from Malone, and I haven't really done these bad things." Ronald was furious.

Several lawyers finally discussed a plan, using the results of previous cases to achieve a rational result expected by the other party, and negotiated with the other party again.Mostly a bargain.

After the meeting, Bobby, the founder of the firm, held Ronald alone, "I trust Lindsay's ability, but she may make a mistake this time. What the other party is playing with us is not rational expectations, but testing you to fight back If you try to reason with him like this, he will think you are weak and deceitful."

"Well," Ronald felt the same way. Some people don't understand reasoning.

"In addition, there are indications that the opposing lawyer also privately contacted the employees of your leg warmer factory."

"What?" Ronald was taken aback. "I treat them well enough. The salary is higher than the average level. I also built workers' apartments to rent to them. Is there anyone else who wants to betray me?"

"Even if you give them more benefits, can you stop a few people from being greedy for profit?"

"I..." Ronald felt a little suffocated. How come there are people wanting to get more everywhere?
"For the time being, regardless of what evidence the workers in the factory will give against you, the other party's lawyer will definitely continue to exert pressure. I think you should be prepared to fight back. Once the other party disagrees with Lindsay and the others' second-round offer, the other party will definitely It will be launched in the media and let you see the effect."

"Is there anything I can use?" Ronald stared at the other party. Since it was a private conversation, it must have been some unscrupulous means.

"Do you remember that Attorney Rudy who represented the NYPD in the Michelle Pfeiffer case and Diane's kidnapping case?"

"Of course, isn't he going to be the Deputy Attorney General of the Department of Justice?" Ronald remembers donating a sum of money to the NYPD's Southern District Police Department.

"He failed in the struggle and was demoted to the Southern District of New York as chief prosecutor. Although it is theoretically a demotion, this position has great power and is responsible for the prosecution of all major cases in the entire southern part of New York State, including Manhattan."

"How can I get help?" Ronald asked, staring at Bobby.

"Maybe you still remember, he was a partner of my teacher's law firm before..."

"He is willing to help me like this, what does he need?" Ronald heard Bobby's plan and didn't know what price he should pay.

"He just took office, and he said that he would fight against organized crime in New York and insider transactions on Wall Street. This is obviously to prepare for his future political career. He likes exposure and the public's goodwill. But the New York TV circle doesn't like him. , regard him as a rule breaker, no one is willing to interview him and cooperate with his plan."

Bobby didn't say it directly, but analyzed the situation Rudy was facing.

"Let me see what I can do."

After everyone left, Ronald thought for a long time in the apartment alone. He sorted out his personal connections, although there were a lot more than when he was dealing with Diane's kidnapping case, he was no longer a helpless young man. people.

However, many relationships are still indirect. Everyone has mutual interests. To get the resources Rudy needs, you have to pay a lot of money to fight for them.

And this kind of benefit exchange that is not on the table is not suitable for the broker to know.

Finally, he picked up the phone and called Gerald Slater, vice president of PBS television.

"Mr. Slater, I have a request, and I hope you can help me."

Gerald raised his hand to let the secretary leave the office, listened carefully to Ronald's appeal, and then he took out a cigar and lit it:
"Ronald, I can help you with this. We don't intend to get too tense with Rudy, and we are preparing to agree to his request. But you have to take care of my daughter more in the film industry in the future."

"I will, Gerald."

Three days later, Gerald found Pia Lindstrom, the host of the CBS New York station, through his personal relationship, and made an exclusive interview with Rudy, the prosecutor of the Southern District of New York who had been in office for half a year. "

"My task is to protect the safety of citizens in the South Inspection District of New York. My goal is to fight against illegal drug trafficking networks and organized crime. At the same time, I also want to target those financial criminals on Wall Street who undermine social fairness, and corruption within the government... "

"I won't agree to this price. 50 yuan is a lot. Once we go to court, we can get 100 million yuan or even more. Let your client prepare a check." Eli the vulture lawyer triumphantly refused After accepting the new plan proposed by Lindsay, he didn't even want to meet in person, and directly rejected the proposal on the phone.

This tactic has always worked well against celebrity lawsuits, especially feather-loving movie stars, TV stars, and socialites who will obediently obey the threat of negative news about them.Just avoid the "rat gang" people with gangster figures behind their backs, and female celebrities who have ties to powerful political figures.

"Eli Dominguez, you have been arrested for allegedly blackmailing various TV presenters, and TV personalities. You can keep silent, but everything you say..."

"Forget it, put away your tricks, I know very well, let me guess, who tricked you this time? The young Hollywood director? When I am released on bail, some righteous people will be exposed of his evil deeds."

Eli was not afraid, but proud of himself. It is not that celebrities have used their connections to arrest him before.But because there was no evidence, more scandals were exposed after he was released on bail, which made his price even higher.

These so-called celebrities and celebrities, as long as they make up some scandals about drug abuse and coercion of actresses, they will obediently submit, which shows that they are not good people in the first place. Most of these random scandals hit the truth.

This Ronald dared to use this kind of trick to mess with himself, it seemed that he was still a little tender.Should I ask for 100 million or 150 million next?

Eli's hands were grabbed by the NYPD behind him, and he put on shiny handcuffs.

"Is the boss's account settled?" the young prosecutor asked the NYPD detective who was directing the operation.

"It's all arranged." The inspector shook his head silently, and now this bug lawyer has hit the iron plate.

"Excuse me, Eli, do you have anything to say about being accused of blackmailing a digital celebrity?"

As soon as he went out, Eli was covered by the TV cameras, and there were reporters asking questions with long microphones.

"What are you doing? This is a violation of my rights. Even if I am a criminal suspect, I am innocent until I am convicted!"

Eli, the litigator, finally became nervous. He always used the media to blackmail others, but this time Ronald used his tricks against himself.

On the TV media, the reporter is reporting his history of blackmailing several TV hostesses, and several TV stars have also been coerced by him, because of small disputes with neighbors, they paid high settlement fees.

"No one is here to convict you, go away." Two NYPDs pushed him, and the footage of Eli in handcuffs was shown on the TV media.Now even if the judge finds him not guilty, New Yorkers will remember the face of this villain who specializes in blackmailing celebrities.

"I don't accept it, I was framed," Eli denied desperately, trying to avoid being shot by the camera.

"Be good, Eli, there is a police car over there, just walk over there."

"I beg you, even bring me a hood." Eli was grabbed by both arms, had to walk the long tens of meters, and was stuffed into a police car parked on the side of the road.

The ugliness along the way was captured by the TV cameras.

"It's really relieving." Several hosts of the TV station were watching the ugly appearance of this litigator and started laughing.

"Is this kind of perp walk a violation of the First Amendment?" A host who has been running court news all year round raised an objection.

"This is Rudy's new method, and all Wall Street and government criminals will be dealt with in this way." Pia Lindstrom knows better, the Southern District Attorney General, is about to start his high-profile crime buster difficult journey.

……

"This is five thousand dollars. RTKD will give you the settlement fee. Sign here, and you will not disclose the settlement agreement to any news media in the future."

The female student who danced in leg warmers and didn't follow the instructions to look good signed the settlement.I didn't expect an excessive settlement amount at the beginning, it was all suggested by the lawyer.

"In addition, my client contacted LaGuardia Performing Arts Specialized High School. After you recover from surgery, you can continue to study in the new merged school. You can stay in the dance department, or transfer to acting or singing majors."

The reason why the victim was able to stay in the school was that Ronald donated a small sum of money to LaGuardia Performing Arts High School, which was about to merge with the New York Academy of Performing Arts.

The acting high school who refused to film "Fame" back then, now regards this movie, and the TV series of the same name, as stories that happened in our school.

At the inauguration ceremony of the new school site next door to Lincoln Center that Ronald attended, a bronze plaque with the word "Fame" was inlaid under the bronze nameplate, and a line of small characters below it read, "This is the school where the famous story happened".

The protagonists of the year, Irene Kara, were too busy with the TV station to participate in the completion of the new school site.Only a few supporting actors from the past came, and Ronald recognized the black actor Lucy who went to eat pizza with him, Antonia, and Gene Ray.

"Lucy, hello."

"Hi, Ronald. Didn't expect you to recognize me." Lucy came over and hugged him.

"How are you doing?" Ronald asked her.

"It's okay. Now I've found a job as a salesperson in a department store. My dream of being an actor is gone. Instead, I watched your break dance and Longwei boy. It's really exciting."

"I'm sorry, Ronald has to leave first, we still have something to do." Little Bard stepped forward to block Lucy who still wanted to talk to Ronald.

"It's okay, Bud. This is my good friend from the crew." Ronald smiled and asked Bud not to stop him, "Let's go eat the old Italian pizza."

"Yeah, okay." Lucy was very happy that Ronald still recognized her as a friend from the past, and went with them to the pizzeria in Little Italy, where Antonia often went, and ordered a Margherita pizza.

"Are you from the Bronx, too?" Lucy chatted with Bud.

"Yes, I'm actually a neighbor of Gene Ray. At that time, Ronald saw him as famous all over the world, and I introduced him."

"Oh, I didn't expect it to be like this. Why didn't you come by yourself?"

"I was not yet an adult at that time, so the crew didn't want it."

Both grew up in the Bronx and had a great time talking.

Everything was back to the way it was before, only the background music changed from Donna Summer's disco to MJ's "Billy King".

"Let's go back early, Bud, and send Donna to report at the university tomorrow."

(End of this chapter)