Ivan the Butcher
Member
My wife loves watching to old black and white episodes of "Perry Mason."
We were discussing so many of the problems our friends ended up in because the made some deal that went south, and they wanted their money back.
I had one class in college (4 credit hours), Business Law! The instructor was a shady little man that wore plaid suits. The first night of class (Yes, night school!), The first question, after his introduction, was "Who has plans on being a lawyer?" When three people raised their hands, he told them to leave, admissions was waiting to schedule them for a different class! After that last of them was gone he turned and smiled a Cheshire Cat grin and said, "We don't want their kind in this class!" His class wasn't about making a living as a lawyer, but about making a living, doing business, and getting along by knowing when to call a lawyer!
This guy had been or was doing business in some of the most cockeyed areas of business I could think of! He had several used car lots, a private utility (water company) plus some I don't remember and his law practice. His stated purpose for the class was to teach us when to call a lawyer.
After the first class, we had a Q&A session. The question was asked, Why teach this class, your time is worth more than the pay? A: You are here after a full day of work, and your spouse is getting lonely! I get one to two divorces a trimester, because I'm the only lawyer most of you know!
Our textbook was about the UCC, the Uniform Commercial Code. At the time (1975) less than half of the states had adopted the UCC, but he swore that it was the wave of the future. I have no idea if thing changed or not, because I learned the two most important things: 1) what make a valid contract is and isn't and 2) when to call a lawyer!
A third thing I learned from my dad, 3) NEVER stand before a judge without a lawyer to make sure you don't get screwed!
Some of the things have tried to do with a handshake are: 1) get divorced, 2) make a loan or collect on a loan, 3)buy, sell, or rent land, and the worst of all: 4) adopt a child!
While I have several stories about each, I'll leave you with just this one. This family from church adopted 4 children (all siblings and thought to be orphans) from Brazil. These people has their attorney go over the paper work the adoption agency tried to pass off. The were completely void of any protection for the adopting parents, and wouldn't be valid in Ohio. So their drew up a whole new set of papers and all the parties accepted and signed them. The courts involved accepted the documents and the adoption was approved.
After about 3 or 4 years, the oldest two (twin boys) conspired to murder their adopted parents, murder the 4 natural children and murder the 4 foster children in the process of being adopted. Their plan included and was inspired by their birth parents in Brazil! This was a scam to obtain the American's wealth and return with it to Brazil. Due to the good work and diligence of the family's attorney, these evil children were returned to Brazil, and the Brazilian State Agency was eventually banned from "Selling Children" in the United States.
In our society, if you are doing a transaction of over $1000 or takes over a year, a handshake isn't valid in a court! Call a Lawyer!
Let's hear some of the horror stories.
Ivan
We were discussing so many of the problems our friends ended up in because the made some deal that went south, and they wanted their money back.
I had one class in college (4 credit hours), Business Law! The instructor was a shady little man that wore plaid suits. The first night of class (Yes, night school!), The first question, after his introduction, was "Who has plans on being a lawyer?" When three people raised their hands, he told them to leave, admissions was waiting to schedule them for a different class! After that last of them was gone he turned and smiled a Cheshire Cat grin and said, "We don't want their kind in this class!" His class wasn't about making a living as a lawyer, but about making a living, doing business, and getting along by knowing when to call a lawyer!
This guy had been or was doing business in some of the most cockeyed areas of business I could think of! He had several used car lots, a private utility (water company) plus some I don't remember and his law practice. His stated purpose for the class was to teach us when to call a lawyer.
After the first class, we had a Q&A session. The question was asked, Why teach this class, your time is worth more than the pay? A: You are here after a full day of work, and your spouse is getting lonely! I get one to two divorces a trimester, because I'm the only lawyer most of you know!
Our textbook was about the UCC, the Uniform Commercial Code. At the time (1975) less than half of the states had adopted the UCC, but he swore that it was the wave of the future. I have no idea if thing changed or not, because I learned the two most important things: 1) what make a valid contract is and isn't and 2) when to call a lawyer!
A third thing I learned from my dad, 3) NEVER stand before a judge without a lawyer to make sure you don't get screwed!
Some of the things have tried to do with a handshake are: 1) get divorced, 2) make a loan or collect on a loan, 3)buy, sell, or rent land, and the worst of all: 4) adopt a child!
While I have several stories about each, I'll leave you with just this one. This family from church adopted 4 children (all siblings and thought to be orphans) from Brazil. These people has their attorney go over the paper work the adoption agency tried to pass off. The were completely void of any protection for the adopting parents, and wouldn't be valid in Ohio. So their drew up a whole new set of papers and all the parties accepted and signed them. The courts involved accepted the documents and the adoption was approved.
After about 3 or 4 years, the oldest two (twin boys) conspired to murder their adopted parents, murder the 4 natural children and murder the 4 foster children in the process of being adopted. Their plan included and was inspired by their birth parents in Brazil! This was a scam to obtain the American's wealth and return with it to Brazil. Due to the good work and diligence of the family's attorney, these evil children were returned to Brazil, and the Brazilian State Agency was eventually banned from "Selling Children" in the United States.
In our society, if you are doing a transaction of over $1000 or takes over a year, a handshake isn't valid in a court! Call a Lawyer!
Let's hear some of the horror stories.
Ivan
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