Exploiting Hollywood 1980

   Chapter 554 The Destruction of the Vulture Lawyer

"Student 'Jane' went to the Academy of Performing Arts and used a long leg warmer (Exhibit 1) produced by RTKD Company. When practicing dance, the leg warmer wrapped his heel, causing a slip and causing Jane's right leg heel. Tendon exercise, diagnosed by the doctor (evidence 2) as a temporary loss of athletic ability, making it difficult to engage in dance careers in the future..."

   rushed back to Ronald in Manhattan to browse the file with Miss Lindsey Dole, a personal lawyer.

"Why does 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, she must be using it improperly, right? "

   Ronald saw that the victim had slipped due to a leg warmer wrapping his heel, and immediately began to complain. My own factory has repeatedly reminded that this method of wrapping the heel is wrong, and there is a risk of slipping and injury.

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

"You're right, and I don't think RTKD should be held responsible for it. And her injury was more because the teacher wasn't responsible enough and didn't strengthen her protection when she was doing difficult movements. She herself was also Continuing to practice when you are tired is not doing your due diligence."

   "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 final court session, to a large extent, it's not about who can stand up legally, but who can more arouse the sympathy of the jury."

Miss Attorney    looked at Ronald, then pointed to her nose and said, "And I don't have the ability to make a jury full of sympathy."

   "I think you are very professional, no."

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

  Ronald took a closer look at the lawyer, and it was true that she was blond, dressed in expensive clothes, and full of professionalism. Ordinary people saw that she was not easy to get close to.

   This is the same as movie casting. A particularly beautiful actress lacks the place to communicate with the audience, so it is not easy for the audience to empathize. On the contrary, it is easier for an actor with some flaws to become a star.

   "What?" Lindsay thought there was something wrong with her face.

   "No, I'm lost, 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 be allowed to report to the news media in the future. Disclose the case."

   "How much do you estimate it will cost?" Ronald was also pitiful when he heard that the little girl had ruptured her Achilles tendon.

   "One hundred thousand dollars."

   "What? Why doesn't she go grab it?" Ronald was furious when he heard the price. What artistic future can a little girl see now? It can be said that I have to pay for nutrition and surgery expenses. It can be said to be compassionate. This opening is 100,000 US dollars. Bard served for four years and only got one-tenth of the retirement pay.

   "You're right, she found a vulture lawyer, just to prepare for a legal robbery." Lindsay pushed a photo of a man with a hook nose in an expensive suit.

"This is the opponent's lawyer, Eli, a typical vulture lawyer. He sues the company to obtain compensation, and then shares it with the plaintiff. After the new economic policy of the great commander, this kind of lawyer who has almost disappeared for many years without advance payment and earning money by high share , it started to revive again.”

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

   "You're their best hunter, your leg warmer company doesn't have high sales, but high profit margins. This means you generally don't have a top team of lawyers guarding the fence, but have enough money to pay the compensation.

   And what they are looking for 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 behaviors in the future. If they succeed in convincing the jury, you could lose that much. "

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

   "So let me contact the other party's lawyer first."

  …

   "I was so **** that he dared to question my ability to go to court and offered a settlement price of $500,000."

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

  It was still scary for Miss Attorney to get angry. Soon she said hello, and lawyers such as Bobby Donnell, Elena, and Eugene, partners of the law firm, all came. Discuss countermeasures together.

   "Eli's method is very special. He is not targeting ordinary business owners, but celebrities, TV presenters, or celebrities. Because you place great importance on reputation, his outrageous conditions have repeatedly succeeded.

  If you refuse, he will launch a smear campaign in the tabloids, as long as you extract part of the facts, and then add some words to let readers have room for imagination, it is likely that celebrities will give in. "

   "Then let him spread rumors, then I'll sue him together."

"Ronald, don't be impulsive, these people are very destructive. Listen to the lawyer's thoughts first." The voice of the agent Nisita came from the phone. It was lawyer Bobby who insisted that Ronald's agent listen to the phone. of.

"He'd make up sensational stories, like you're a foreign spy, to undermine America's values. Or you're abusing drugs, or you're coercing female stars, using the role as a bargaining chip to force them into submission. They've had Marlon Brando before. harassed in a similar way."

   "But I'm different from Malone, and I haven't really done any of these bad things." Ronald said angrily.

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

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

   "Well", Ronald also felt the same way, some people just can't understand and reason.

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

   "What?" Ronald was surprised, "I'm good enough for them, the wages are higher than average, and I also built workers' apartments to rent to them, is anyone going to betray me?"

   "Even if you give them more benefits, can you stop a few people's desire for profit?"

   "I..." Ronald felt a little suffocated, how come there are people who want to catch more?

"For the time being, regardless of the evidence that the factory workers will give against you, the other party's lawyers will definitely continue to put pressure on you. I think you need to be prepared. Once the other party disagrees with Lindsay's second round of offers, the other party will definitely It will be launched in the media to let you see the effect."

   "Do I have anything to use?" Ronald stared at each other. Since he was talking alone, it must have been a less upright approach.

   "Do you remember the Rudy lawyer who represented the NYPD last time in the Michelle Pfeiffer case and Diane's kidnapping case?"

   "Of course, didn't he go 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 at the time.

   "He lost the fight and was demoted to the Southern District of New York as Attorney General. Although demotion in theory, this position is very powerful and is responsible for the prosecution of all major cases throughout southern New York, including Manhattan."

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

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

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

"As soon as he took office, he said that he wanted to crack down on organized crime in New York and insider trading on Wall Street. This was obviously to prepare for his future career in politics. He liked exposure and the goodwill of the people. But the TV circle in New York didn't like him. , see him as a rule-breaker, and no one wants to interview him exclusively 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 by himself in the apartment. He sorted out his personal connections. Although it was much more than when he was dealing with Diane's kidnapping case, he was no longer an isolated young man. people.

   But many relationships are still indirect relationships. Everyone has interests and needs to pay a lot of money to get the resources Rudy needs.

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

   Finally, he picked up the phone and dialed Gerald Slater, the vice president of PBS Television.

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

  Gerald raised his hand to ask the secretary to exit the office, listened carefully to Ronald's request, then took out a cigar and lit it:

   "Ronald, I can help with this. We don't plan to get into a quarrel with Rudy. We're just about to agree to his request. But you need to take care of my daughter in the movie circle in the future."

   "I will, Gerald."

  Three days later, Gerald found Pia Linstrom, the host of CBS New York, through personal relationships, to do an exclusive interview with Rudy, the prosecutor of the Southern District of New York, who had been in office for half a year. "

"My mission is to protect the safety of the citizens of New York's Southern Inspectorate. My main goal is to combat illegal drug trafficking networks and organized crime. At the same time, I also target financial criminals on Wall Street who undermine social justice and corruption within the government... "

"I won't agree to that price, half a million, not a cent. Once in court, we can get a million or more. Get your client ready to check." Vulture lawyer Eli triumphed. He flatly rejected Lindsay's new proposal. He didn't even want to see him face to face, and directly rejected the proposal on the phone.

   This trick has always worked well for lawsuits against celebrities, especially these feather-loving movie, TV stars, and socialites, who will obediently obey as long as they threaten to expose their negative news. Just avoid the "rat gang" people behind the gangster figures, and those female stars who have ties to powerful people in politics.

   "Eli Domingos, you've been arrested for allegedly blackmailing multiple TV hosts, and TV stars. You can keep silent, but everything you say..."

"Let's save it, put away your shit, I'm very clear, let me guess, who moved you this time? That young Hollywood director? When I'm released on bail, there will be people of justice exposed. his evil deeds."

  Eli was not afraid, but rather triumphant, and it was not that there were no celebrities who used their connections to arrest him before. But because there is no evidence, he was released on bail and exposed more scandals, which made his price even higher.

   These so-called stars and celebrities, as long as they make up a few scandals about drug abuse and coercion of actresses, they will obey, which shows that they are not good people. Most of these random scandals hit the truth.

  This Ronald dared to use this trick to **** himself, it seemed a little tender. Should I ask for one million yuan next, or should I ask for one and a half million yuan?

  Eli's two hands were grabbed by the NYPD behind him, and he was wearing shiny handcuffs.

   "The head has explained things done?" the young prosecutor asked the NYPD Inspector who was directing the operation.

   "It's all arranged." The inspector shook his head silently, this time the bug lawyer was hit on the iron plate.

   "Excuse me, Eli, do you have anything to say about being accused of extortion against digital stars?"

   As soon as he went out, Eli was covered by the TV cameras, and reporters held long microphones to ask questions.

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

  The lawsuit stick Eli finally became nervous. He always used the media to blackmail others. This time, Ronald used his tricks to deal with himself.

   On the TV media, reporters are reporting on their history of extorting several female hosts of the TV station, and several TV stars have also been coerced by him to pay high settlement fees because of small disputes with neighbors.

   "No one is here to convict you, go." The two NYPDs gave him a push, and the scene of Eli in handcuffs was shown on the TV media. Even if the judge finally acquitted him, New Yorkers will remember the face of this villain who specializes in blackmailing celebrities.

   "I'm not convinced, I was framed", Eli denies it desperately, trying to avoid the camera.

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

   "Please, even if you bring me a hood." Eli was grabbed by both arms and had to walk the long dozens of meters before being stuffed into a police car parked on the side of the road.

   The ugly state all the way was captured by the TV cameras.

   "It's really relieved." Several TV hosts were looking at the ugly state of this lawsuit and began to laugh.

   "Does this perpwalk violate the First Amendment?" A host who ran court news all the year round raised an objection.

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

  …

   "This is $5,000, RTKD will pay you and the settlement fee. Sign it here, you can't disclose the settlement agreement to any news media later."

  The female student who danced in leg warmers and did not dress according to the instructions in order to look good, signed the reconciliation letter. At the beginning, I did not expect an excessive settlement amount, which was all pushed by lawyers.

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

The reason    was able to keep the victim at the school was because Ronald made a small donation to LaGuardia High School for Performing Arts, which was about to merge with New York Academy of Performing Arts.

  I refused to shoot the "famous" acting high school, and now I regard this film and the TV series of the same name as a story that happened in this school.

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

  The protagonists of that year, Irene Cara, was busy walking around on the TV station and was unable to participate in the completion of the new school site. Only a few minor supporting roles of the year came, and Ronald recognized Lucy, the black actor who went to pizza with him, Antonia, and Gene Ray.

   "Hello, Lucy."

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

   "How are you doing?" Ronald asked her.

   "It's alright. I'm now looking for a job as a salesperson in a department store. My dream of being an actor has gone. But I watched your break dance and Long Wei Kid, it was really exciting."

   "Sorry, Ronald has to go first, we still have something to do." Little Bud stepped forward to block Lucy who wanted to talk to Ronald.

   "It's alright, Bud. This is my good friend on the set." Ronald smiled and told Bud not to stop him, "Let's go eat the old Italian pizza."

   "Yeah, okay." Lucy was glad that Ronald recognized her old friend and went with them to the pizza shop in Little Italy, where Antonia often went, and ordered margherita pizza.

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

   "Yes, I'm actually Gene Ray's neighbor. At that time, Ronald took a fancy to him to be famous all over the world, and I introduced him."

   "Oh, I didn't expect that, why didn't you come by yourself?"

   "I wasn't 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 went back to the way it was, only the background music changed from Donna Summer's disco to MJ's "Billy King".

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

   (end of this chapter)