Random Pensées

If I don't pay my utilities bill and they threaten to cut me off, can I call them "Greedy" and stop them? no. So I wouldn't feel too bad about it.

he was wrong.
you weren't.
though i know that sometimes knowing that doesn't help...it is true just the same.
and if that was his reaction - then i think you are far better off not having him as a client anymore anyway.

and i think...you will have better days again.
no - scratch that - i know.

do you have any chocolate?
(sorry that was the pregnant talking)

How awful! It's a nasty feeling, I can empathize.

Keep in mind that many people, when approached with something that affects them negatively, will instinctively shoot back with whatever they think will make the cause of their discomfort hurt as well. It doesn't mean he's right or that he's even reasoned out this conclusion. It's only name calling. Hurling insults are sometimes the only way in which some people can get back at you.

Some people are just ignorant assholes...pardon my redneck.

Side story to the whole Jewish expression thing: I was closing on my house and the closing attorney was explaining to the buyer that his interest rate was X. The real estate agent said jokingly, "Couldn't get them to do any better?" To which the buyer replied, "I tried to Jew them down, but it didn't work." I just let it slide although I did want to pee in the corner of our bedroom before moving out.

File this in the FWIW section:

I find the whole "entitlement" sentiment to be loathesome. Whatinhell did this client think you were doing? Working on good thoughts and special wishes? Pffft.

Hopefully, you will be let out of this entanglement soon. And good luck on suing the former client -- because it sounds to me like that's the only way you're going to get your hard-earned money out of that deadbeat.

Grr.

xoxo

You need to get off of the "greedy Jew" bit. The thought never entered my mind until you brought it up. Greedy/Greedy Jew--what is the difference? A pretty large one, I think. The fact that your client did not use the latter term counts for something, whether he wanted to say it or not.

Isn't there a saying in the law "you pay for what you break?" Well, the irresponsible client broke it and that is the name of that tune. Now, he gets to learn about responsibility and business transactions. I believe that you will be a good teacher.
Happy Holidays!

Besides being an anti-semitic moron, your customer is a thief. I don't why when it comes to services theft is looked upon in a different light, but that is what someone who doesn't pay ffor what they receive is called.

I personally wouldn't stand for anyone calling me a lawyer.

Basil, thank you for your unsolicited advice. I have no idea where you live, but I can tell you this, the four or five people in NY who I told about this immediately had the exact same reaction I had, including other non-Jews.

As for all the rest of the comments, I just wanted to say thank you. I can tell you that this incident upset me for more than I may have let on here.

Simon, I'd never call you a lawyer. Barrister, maybe, though.

Good luck with an action for fees, since those invariably come bundled with a malpractice counterclaim.

You are so right, John. But we've dealt with issues like that before. He owes us a lot of money. The reason not to sue him would be that we couldn't collect on a judgment, not that he would assert a meritless counterclaim.

What can you attach in NY? Here in Texas, we're not able to garnish wages (except for child-support), and in any case there's always the risk they'll throw themselves into bankruptcy.

The joys of the judgment-proof, eh?

Well, judgment collection in NY is not too bad. You are in a pretty powerful position as a judgment creditor under NY law. But, I can start by asserting a lien on the file.

RP-

I have lived in New York for the past 10 years and have never heard the term "Greedy Jew" used by non-Jews (except, of course, crochety people of a certain age). My point is that you brought something into the discourse which you may have imagined. Of course, what is important is that you did //hear// "Greedy Jew," which speaks to something that your client cannot be responsible for......perhaps you should take your inquiry on to that ground.

Having lived in Greenwich Village for the past ten years might have clouded my vision......but I find that the "Jew" is an idea that does not map to its reality. Jews are not necessarily (insert characteristic here). The fact that a Jew (you?) believes that words of aggression must necessarily map to the bogeyman of being a "Jew" is misguided.

By the way, I asked my partner who is a Jew (but not Jewish) to complete the thought "Greedy __" and he had no idea what I was talking about. When I revealed to him the context of your exchange he laughed and said "some people are too sensitive." Take that for what it is worth. I might add that my partner is part of your world and may be one of your colleagues (he works at 1285 Sixth).

My "unsolicited advice" is given with the best intentions.

Well, Basil, based on your explanation, I withdraw my somewhat sarcastic rejoinder. I'll just say this instead, you had to be there, I suppose. Finally, I disagree with the suggestions you make. The point was clear to any number of other people to whom I relayed the incident. Indeed, they all got it with absolutely no explanation or embellishment from me. See, e.g., the Court Attorney. So, I don't really think it was me, altough as I wrote in my first part of the post, I was prepared to at least entertain the possibility that I was being over sensitive. No more, though. His meaning was clear.

If you are unaccustomed to this sort of description or attribution, than that just speaks well of you and the people with whom you associate.

In any event, please, feel free to comment on anything you like.

Excuse me, but I have heard the term "Greedy Jew" often and I'm way out here in NorCal, supposedly the very cradle of tolerance. (HA! Right...) My husband Dan grew up in NY, is now in his thirties, and he is very aware of that term as well, both then and still today.

So we are not old geezers. We're not Jewish, either, so maybe that's why we are unfortunately subject to crass and ridiculous statements like that on occasion from people who think we might think it's funny.

It's not.

I think your instincts were correct, Random. I believe your customer got so wound up emotionally from the shame of not being able to pay his bill and being let go by your firm that he was thinking of the nastiest things he could say to strike back. It's human and it's all too common but it's surely not pleasant to be a target of.

I'm sorry it happened, but I think your instincts were right. Look at it this way; he was looking to hurt you. In any way he could. Take revenge. It wasn't personal. If you would have been a woman, he would have made some snide remark about being a "bitch". If you were black, he might have tried to use the "N" word. Who knows? He was just looking to take his own failure out on someone else and you were handy.

Take pity on him and let it go. My own unsolicited advice. :-) {{{hugs}}}