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> Yes, admitting wrongdoing may open you up to legal liability. But it seems to me that, in the long run, it's far better to take your licks and own up to your mistakes than to hide behind the shield of pending litigation. This is an admirable, well-intentioned perspective, but it is one that won't net you much benefit, not even in the long run. Filing legal papers -- or, in this case, raising the banner for a class-action -- is serious business. By the time it happens, the time for defusing the situation and calling a truce is long past. The only opinion that matters is that of the judge and/or jury. And let's face it, being the loser in court is going to have far more impact on the public's opinion of the defendant than any honest-from-the-heart statement or outreach. So with that said, there is nothing of substance that the defendant can say that will help them in court. The opposing attorney is not going to say, "Well, I was going to grill you, but I've had a change of heart ever since reading that impassioned, honest, salt-of-the-earth statement you released pre-trial". The judge won't care either. And the jurors aren't supposed to even be aware of it. I think a civil trial is not much different than the situation portrayed in the famous "Don't talk to police" video: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6wXkI4t7nuc The people you're facing in court don't care that you've made an effort, post-lawsuit-filing, to be upfront and friendly. Anything you say will not help you, it can only hurt you. In this case, Heroku's reticence in speaking their mind outside of court is the right one. |