If you've never done so, I encourage you to look around Google Answers. Google Answers is a simple yet brilliant system: Ask a question, telling the person who will answer your question in advance what you're willing to pay for an answer, and wait for an answer. Anyhow, I found this interesting question:
My son destroyed a personal item of another student which was left in the hallway of his dorm. The campus police was called and they said that if he paid for the item he would not be charged with what they said would be a felony. When asked the owner said the item was worth $2000 (which we feel is quite high for an item like that - especially since it was left out in the hallway). My son agreed to pay, but the owner told him to wait until yesterday when he informed my son that he wanted $3400 for the item.
Does he have any choice but to pay the increased amount? Should we pay with a certified check? Should we demand to get the remains of the damaged item when we pay? Should we demand to have the item appraised by a third party? What if he claims to have discarded the item? What else do you recommend?
The person might overpay by thousands of dollars. What was he willing to pay for an answer that might have saved him hundreds or thousands of dollars? Ten bucks. I'm beginning to feel less and less sorry for people who talk to the police without representation because they're unwilling to pay a reasonable legal fee. This guy might get his son sent to prison, or he might lose $1,400 he didn't have to lose, because he wouldn't pay a lawyer a $100-or-so bucks to look at his case.
Free Advice:
Go ahead and pay the victim anything you like. The cops can still arrest you, and they can offer the payment as consciousness of guilt.
Keep the ten bucks.
Posted by: NormPattis | January 30, 2006 at 05:16 AM
For better or worse lawyers do not have a very good reputation with the average man on the street which may explain some of the hesitation to seek counsel. I also think that there is a lack of understanding of what lawyers can do for you.
The final cause (IMHO) is that there is a false belief that government has our best interests at heart so wouldn't screw us over.
Posted by: Chris | January 30, 2006 at 08:25 AM
You can get a lawyer to give only $100 worth of advice?
Actually, I've never actually hired a lawyer myself. I really ought to figure out how to have a lawyer "on-call" so that I can ask questions, or have someone meet me at the police station, as the case may be...
Posted by: Windypundit | January 30, 2006 at 03:48 PM
Mark, most lawyers will give you a consultation at a reasonable rate. If you had some question that was pretty important but that could be answered quickly and without research, a lot of lawyers would be happy to answer it for you for $100. Any criminal lawyer in the questioner's area would have a feel for how things go down and would have helped him.
Posted by: Mike | January 30, 2006 at 04:08 PM
Well I took the time to type out a really well-crafted question, offered $100 plus $100 tip for a well-sourced answer, created an account, entered all my personal info, etc.
"Unable to process request. Please try again later."
GEE THANKS....
Posted by: Mahan Atma | January 30, 2006 at 08:59 PM
PS - Anyone out there want to earn $100-$200 in fees to answer a wills & trusts question?
Posted by: Mahan Atma | January 30, 2006 at 11:09 PM
PS - Anyone out there want to earn $100-$200 in fees to answer a wills & trusts question?
Willes & Trusts was a reaquired course at my law school. Here's what I learned: If I have a wills and trusts question, I will pay someone to answer it -- which seems to be your approach as well. ;^>
Posted by: Mike | January 31, 2006 at 11:12 AM
Mahan: It did the same thing to me today!!!
Posted by: Mike | February 07, 2006 at 01:04 PM
I have used http://www.free-legal-referral.com in the past to find lawyers in my area!
Posted by: Anita Lott | March 30, 2006 at 11:50 AM