Exploiting Hollywood 1980

"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..."

Ronald rushed back to Manhattan to browse the eucalyptus with his personal lawyer, Miss Lindsay Dole.

"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 call her Jane." The lawyer has gained a little weight in the past two years, and her skin has become 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 the 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 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 compassion."

"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 really does not please the jury. Bobby from our law firm, he is different and can win the jury better. sympathy vote."

Ronald took a careful 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 a place to communicate with the audience, and it is not easy for the audience to empathize. On the contrary, an actor with some defects is more likely 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 situation."

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

"One hundred thousand dollars."

"What? Why doesn't she 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 who was going to robbery legally." Lindsay pushed a photo of a man with a hook nose in an expensive suit.

"This is Yin Lai, the opponent's lawyer, a typical vulture lawyer. He sued the company to obtain compensation, and then shared with the plaintiff. After the new economic policy of the great commander, this kind of no advance payment, which has almost disappeared for many years,

Lawyers who make money from high commissions have begun to re-emerge. "

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

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

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 negligence 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'm so pissed that he dared to question my ability to go to court and offered a settlement price of $500,000."

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

It was still terrible for the lawyer lady to be angry, and soon she said hello, and lawyers such as Bobby Donnell, Elena, Eugene, and other lawyers who were partners of the law firm, all came. Discuss countermeasures together.

"Yin Lai's tactics are 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 distill a part of the truth, and then write something to let readers have room for imagination, it is likely that the celebrity will give in. "

"Then let him spread rumors, and 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 these bad things." Ronald was annoyed.

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 couldn't understand and reason.

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

"What?" Ronald was surprised. "I'm good enough for them, the salary is higher than average, and I've built workers' apartments to rent them out. 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 fish for 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 any backhands to use?" Ronald stared at each other. Since it was a private conversation, it must be a less upright approach.

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

"Sure, 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.

"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.

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

"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 faced.

"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 a lot more than when he dealt with Diane's kidnapping case, he was no longer a helpless young man. people.

However, many relationships are still indirect relationships, and everyone's interests are exchanged. To get the resources Rudy needs, you need to pay a lot of money to fight for it.

And this kind of non-table interest exchange is not suitable for the broker to know.

In the end, 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 let the secretary 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 more in the film industry in the future."

"I will, Gerald."

Three days later, Gerald recruited CBS New York show host Pia Lindstrom through personal relationships to give an exclusive interview to Rudy, the Southern District Attorney for New York who had been in office for half a year. "

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

"I won't agree to this price, five hundred thousand, which is a lot. Once we go to court, we can get one million or more. Let your client prepare a check." Vulture lawyer Yin Lai was triumphant. He flatly rejected Lindsay's new plan. He didn't even want to meet him in person, and directly rejected the proposal over the phone.

This trick has always worked well for lawsuits against celebrities, especially feather-loving film, 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.

"Yin Lai Domingos, you have been arrested for allegedly extorting a number of TV hosts and TV stars. You can keep silent, but every word you say..."

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

Yin Lai was not afraid, but rather triumphant. It was not that celebrities 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 celebrities and celebrities, as long as they make up a few scandals about drug abuse and coercion of actresses, they will obediently obey, which shows that they are not good people in the first place.

This Ronald dared to use this trick to fuck 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?

Yin Lai's two hands were grabbed by the NYPD behind him, and he was wearing bright handcuffs.

"Have you done what the head told me?" the young prosecutor asked the NYPD Inspector who was directing the operation.

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

"Excuse me, Yin Lai, do you have anything to say about being accused of extorting digital stars?"

As soon as he went out, Yin Lai was covered by a TV camera, and a reporter took a long microphone 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!"

Litigation stick Yin Lai finally became nervous. He always used the media to blackmail others, but this time Ronald used his tricks to turn against him.

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

"No one is here to convict you, let's go." The two NYPDs pushed him, and the scene of Yin Lai wearing 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 don't agree, I was framed", Yin Lai denied it desperately, trying to avoid the camera.

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

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

The ugliness along the way was captured by TV cameras.

"I'm so relieved." Several TV hosts were looking at the ugly state of this lawsuit and began to laugh.

"Does this perp walk violate the First Amendment?" a perennial court news host raised an objection.

"This is Rudy's new approach, and 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 five thousand dollars. RTKD will pay you and the settlement fee. Sign it here. You can't disclose the settlement agreement to any news media in the future."

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 at the new combined school. If you want to stay in the dance department, you can transfer to acting or singing."

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

At that time, the high performing arts college who refused to shoot "Famous in the World" has now regarded 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.

Several protagonists of the 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 gave him a hug.

"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."

"I'm 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 okay, Bud. This is my good friend from the crew." 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 his old friend, and went with them to that pizza shop in Little Italy, where Antonia used to go, 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 make a name for himself. 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 good time talking.

It was all back to the old days, 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."