[judd_hustlebear]

I am Judd and I wrote this article.

A few points I'd like to clarify:

I'm not advocating bluffing, I'm advocating standing up for yourself. That's ultimately what this article is about, and perhaps why it's getting the reaction it has.

Attorneys are smart to intimidate people into settling large amounts of money over absolute bullshit. Because too often it works. Most people who work hard to build their life and savings are too confused and afraid of the law to adequately fight back and defend themselves.

Attorneys are hated because they're in a great position. They get to attack you with no repercussions. In fact the more fighting there is, the more they benefit. You will need to get creative to gain leverage and find their pressure points.

Once someone is attacking you and you're in a fight, you either grow some balls and take some risks, or you bend over.

I will repeat: If you've done someone wrong, you deserve to pay. This advice is not meant for someone in the wrong. This is about standing up to legal intimidation as a negotiating tool. From my experience that is what most legal action has been about. If you've ripped people off and they're suing you, I hope you get fucked, and I fully support the lawyer that will help do the fucking.

I would never tell a moderately reasonable attorney to "eat shit and go fuck yourself". I tell that to the hardcore condescending assholes. I've done it many times. It has NEVER defused the situation. They always get pissed and riled up. That's fine with me because they were already uncooperative and hostile to begin with. This is not a bluff technique, I'm making it clear that being a dick is not a productive way to deal with me. And since, in my experience, their cases have always been vague or based on bullshit, their ONLY options left after that are to pursue trial on a weak case, or become friendlier.

If you're willing to look a monster in the eyes, you just might find out he has no teeth.

[megamark16]

Thanks for writing this, it was entertaining and somewhat educational. Mostly because to those of us who have never been sued, being sued is kind of a huge scary unknown, so hearing other's stories, even anecdotal ones, sheds a little bit of light on what to expect.

The whole time I was reading your article I kept thinking about the recent stories and discussion about kids being bullied. I've tried to teach my kids not to pick fights, to play nice, but to always stand up for themselves and other kids who are being picked on. That's how I read your article; don't pick fights, but always stand up for yourself.

[judd_hustlebear]

cool, thanks! yeah, that's what I was going for

[VanL]

I found this article fascinating, as it disagrees so completely with my experience. The best lawyers I know are unfailingly courteous.

My take is that this was written from a perspective where there has never been anything really significant at stake to make a legal claim about. Small claims are usually personal; negotiating a $MM settlement is usually not.

[judd_hustlebear]

I'd also like to be clear that I don't even consider the attorney the bad guy. Someone hired him to reek havoc and terror to get his way. The attorney is just doing what he's paid to do. It is the attorney's client that is pursuing justice or injustice.

Attorneys have gone through extra years of school at considerable expense, and endured grueling hours to pay their dues. They want to get paid for it. They don't usually care if they damage or ruin your life unjustly.

That's why people need to know how to stand up to them