Quote:
Originally posted by Attalus:
Timber, do you have any clients that would pay $29 million to get rid of a lawsuit for
something you were innocent of?
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Unfortunately, no. But, stars do this often because of the fact their reputation and press releases
are intertwined with their business -which is their name and fame in the trade.
I do know folks who would pay 6% of their net worth ($18 million settlement - the number I heard - out of his $300 million low-estimate net worth) to do away with a lawsuit that would put their name in the nation's newspapers and television sets as a "molester." And, they're not even famous.
Look, 95% of lawsuits in the civil system settle. This is NOT because 95% of the people out there think they are wrong. It's because you can usually come up with an agreement both parties dislike equally. It is not only legally impermissible, but also illogical, to infer liability/guilt in any way whatsoever based on a settlement agreement.
MOST of my clients settle - for more than they want to pay or less than they want to get. Sometimes, it is to keep their names out of the newspaper. Just like the Judge's reduction of the award in the infamous McDonald's case, any positive outcome for Michael Jackson on the lawsuit would have been back-page news, whereas "child molester" would sit on page 1 for months.
Cerek, what "actions?" I have seen no evidence. And no, the rest of us would not have been hung out to dry for acting like he does - heck, no one would have even noticed. One finger-pointer does not make one guilty.
If all you guys are right, I need to get busy reporting all the relatives who let me sleep in a bed with them when I was young.
[ 02-07-2003, 11:43 AM: Message edited by: Timber Loftis ]