Today in Negotiations I was paired up against this kid named Don, who I went up against in Trial Advocacy class last semester. We were trying to settle a $450,000 lawsuit against my client and a $450,000 countersuit against his. Don asked me for $950,000–factored interest and inflation into the number–and, to his credit, he did it with a straight face. I offered him zero. After ten more minutes of negotiations, he dropped to $750,000. I again offered zero. And negotiations ended there. The end.
Over winter break, my parents took me to the Bahamas…for the 23rd time. We stay at West Wind II, which is next to the Crystal Palace Casino. The Casino gives away playing cards, and we’ve been collecting decks over the years. This video showcases our collection.
I haven’t yet paid my tuition. They put a “lock” on my account, meaning I can’t register for classes. I still haven’t registered for the classes I want, though. I’m signed up for this three-credit course, but I want to switch it to a one-credit course because that’s all I need to graduate. Only, if I pay my tuition, they’ll charge me for the two extra credit hours. And, like I said, if I don’t pay, the registration system won’t allow me to make the switch.
I got called on today in Wills, Trusts, and Estates class. It’s one of those huge 100-student lectures, so I probably won’t be called on again in that class.The case was about a husband who legally adopted his wife so she would stand to inherit from the husband’s mother, should the husband die. The husband died, she inherited, but the family contested. The court said that you can’t adopt your spouse if you’re just doing it to cash in on a will.Fun case, but I was totally unprepared to be called on; I was eating a Jimmy John’s sandwich.
(Maybe that’s why I got called on?)I did read the case and I did read the Legalines case brief, so I knew it…I was just unprepared at first. And here was the highlight:
Professor: We’re having some fun with this case, aren’t we, Mr. Lax?
I had my first Wills, Trust, and Estates class last week. We went over a case in which a old guy made a will that said his son, who was in college, had to marry a Jewish girl within seven years if he wanted his inheritance…
…or else the money would go to the state of Israel.
The professor asked us what we could do if a client came in to make a will and had some crazy or even unethical requests.
My father has some experience with this. He once had a client come into his office and tell him the following:
“I’ve had my dog Max for many years now. I love him more than anything else in the world, and I know he loves me too. God forbid something were to happen to me, well, I just know Max would be heartbroken. That’s why I want to put a provision in my will that says if I die, Max will be put to sleep.”
Bet you didn’t see where that story was going.
When my dad tells the story, he says that he told the client he’d need a week to think about it. Then he called him back and said this:
“I got a call from Max yesterday. He said that he does love you very much and he understands your request. He also wanted me to help him out with his will. He said that if anything were to ever happen to him, he knows you’d be heartbroken…”
LSB will return not tomorrow, but next week. My grandmother passed away last night. She was warmest person ever, and she was married to my grandfather for SIXTY-FIVE years–how cool is that?
Classes are pretty good so far. Already have some good stories. More to come…
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Bet you didn’t see where that story was going.
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