# Lateral Thinking Puzzles - third time is best! **URL:** \ **Category:** Thread Games\ **Created:** [July 18, 2023, 1:39pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/lateral-thinking-puzzles-third-time-is-best/987214 "2023-07-18T13:39:29Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 93
**Author:** ![The\_Other\_Waldo\_Pepper](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/the_other_waldo_pepper/32/12370_2.png) [@The\_Other\_Waldo\_Pepper](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/The_Other_Waldo_Pepper)\ **Post date:** [April 19, 2024, 1:10pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/lateral-thinking-puzzles-third-time-is-best/987214/1841 "2024-04-19T13:10:54Z")
> [@Peter\_Morris](#): > > Was he suing a former client of his? > > Did he violate lawyer-client privilege? > > Did his lawsuit expose some prior wrongdoing by himself? Something wrong he did before he filed the suit He was suing a former client — but, as far as I know, (a) no, he never revealed any privileged communications in doing so; and, no, (b) his lawsuit didn’t reveal anything he’d done wrong before he filed the suit. ---
**Author:** ![The\_Other\_Waldo\_Pepper](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/the_other_waldo_pepper/32/12370_2.png) [@The\_Other\_Waldo\_Pepper](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/The_Other_Waldo_Pepper)\ **Post date:** [April 19, 2024, 1:13pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/lateral-thinking-puzzles-third-time-is-best/987214/1842 "2024-04-19T13:13:14Z")
> [@Saint\_Cad](#): > > Does the fact he was his own client enter into why he was disbarred at all? No, if he’d been doing this on behalf of a client who \*wasn’t \* him, same result. ---
**Author:** ![The\_Other\_Waldo\_Pepper](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/the_other_waldo_pepper/32/12370_2.png) [@The\_Other\_Waldo\_Pepper](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/The_Other_Waldo_Pepper)\ **Post date:** [April 19, 2024, 1:26pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/lateral-thinking-puzzles-third-time-is-best/987214/1843 "2024-04-19T13:26:20Z")
(And, again: before any and all fun is wrung out of this in attempts to hypothesize procedural stuff, let me stress that, if my first post had mentioned everyone’s name while otherwise being word-for-word the same, I figure it would’ve been solved in less time than it takes to read it.) ---
**Author:** ![thorny\_locust](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/thorny_locust/32/431_2.png) [@thorny\_locust](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/thorny_locust)\ **Post date:** [April 19, 2024, 1:49pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/lateral-thinking-puzzles-third-time-is-best/987214/1844 "2024-04-19T13:49:29Z")
Did he have reason to know that, despite his having gotten a signed receipt according to proper procedure, the party who was thereby required to answer in court either hadn’t gotten the papers or would be prevented from appearing? ---
**Author:** ![dirtball](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/dirtball/32/18772_2.png) [@dirtball](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/dirtball)\ **Post date:** [April 19, 2024, 1:57pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/lateral-thinking-puzzles-third-time-is-best/987214/1845 "2024-04-19T13:57:59Z")
Should he have anticipated getting disbarred for whatever the reason was? Or was the disbarment just some weird-ass thing that, reasonably, could be characterized as coming out of nowhere? Or…did he understand that he was running the risk of being disbarred? ---
**Author:** ![The\_Other\_Waldo\_Pepper](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/the_other_waldo_pepper/32/12370_2.png) [@The\_Other\_Waldo\_Pepper](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/The_Other_Waldo_Pepper)\ **Post date:** [April 19, 2024, 2:10pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/lateral-thinking-puzzles-third-time-is-best/987214/1846 "2024-04-19T14:10:56Z")
> [@thorny\_locust](#): > > Did he have reason to know that, despite his having gotten a signed receipt according to proper procedure, the party who was thereby required to answer in court either hadn’t gotten the papers or would be prevented from appearing? Quite. ---
**Author:** ![The\_Other\_Waldo\_Pepper](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/the_other_waldo_pepper/32/12370_2.png) [@The\_Other\_Waldo\_Pepper](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/The_Other_Waldo_Pepper)\ **Post date:** [April 19, 2024, 2:11pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/lateral-thinking-puzzles-third-time-is-best/987214/1847 "2024-04-19T14:11:44Z")
> [@dirtball](#): > > Should he have anticipated getting disbarred for whatever the reason was? I’d have to say yes. ---
**Author:** ![Chronos](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/chronos/32/134_2.png) [@Chronos](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Chronos)\ **Post date:** [April 19, 2024, 2:20pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/lateral-thinking-puzzles-third-time-is-best/987214/1848 "2024-04-19T14:20:46Z")
Were any of the parties involved of dubious reality? Fictional characters, say? ---
**Author:** ![The\_Other\_Waldo\_Pepper](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/the_other_waldo_pepper/32/12370_2.png) [@The\_Other\_Waldo\_Pepper](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/The_Other_Waldo_Pepper)\ **Post date:** [April 19, 2024, 2:24pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/lateral-thinking-puzzles-third-time-is-best/987214/1849 "2024-04-19T14:24:26Z")
Nope. ---
**Author:** ![Peter\_Morris](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/peter_morris/32/359_2.png) [@Peter\_Morris](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Peter_Morris)\ **Post date:** [April 19, 2024, 3:02pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/lateral-thinking-puzzles-third-time-is-best/987214/1850 "2024-04-19T15:02:26Z")
Did he lie to the court? Did he steal something? ---
**Author:** ![The\_Other\_Waldo\_Pepper](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/the_other_waldo_pepper/32/12370_2.png) [@The\_Other\_Waldo\_Pepper](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/The_Other_Waldo_Pepper)\ **Post date:** [April 19, 2024, 3:17pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/lateral-thinking-puzzles-third-time-is-best/987214/1851 "2024-04-19T15:17:31Z")
> [@Peter\_Morris](#): > > Did he lie to the court? As far as I can tell, no, he didn’t. > [@](#): > > Did he steal something? I don’t believe that, in this case, anything in fact wound up getting stolen; I mentioned that he got a judgment recorded in his favor as a result of all of this, but, AFAICT, a motion was later made (and granted) to get that judgment put aside before any money actually changed hands. ---
**Author:** ![thorny\_locust](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/thorny_locust/32/431_2.png) [@thorny\_locust](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/thorny_locust)\ **Post date:** [April 19, 2024, 3:58pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/lateral-thinking-puzzles-third-time-is-best/987214/1852 "2024-04-19T15:58:00Z")
> [@The\_Other\_Waldo\_Pepper](#): > > > [@thorny\_locust](#): > > > > Did he have reason to know that, despite his having gotten a signed receipt according to proper procedure, the party who was thereby required to answer in court either hadn’t gotten the papers or would be prevented from appearing? > > Quite. Aha! – that’s as much as I’ve got, though. ---
**Author:** ![Rhodes](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/rhodes/32/273_2.png) [@Rhodes](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Rhodes)\ **Post date:** [April 19, 2024, 4:35pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/lateral-thinking-puzzles-third-time-is-best/987214/1853 "2024-04-19T16:35:42Z")
So, if I’m understanding correctly, the lawyer is intending to sue a corporation (that is also a former client) in such a way that the corporation doesn’t show up in court to defend itself? Is the grievance against the corporation legitimate? Is he hoping for an easy victory because the appropriate representatives of the corporation don’t realize they need to appear in court? Is he hoping the corporation will settle out of court due to difficulty in appearing? ---
**Author:** ![The\_Other\_Waldo\_Pepper](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/the_other_waldo_pepper/32/12370_2.png) [@The\_Other\_Waldo\_Pepper](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/The_Other_Waldo_Pepper)\ **Post date:** [April 19, 2024, 5:00pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/lateral-thinking-puzzles-third-time-is-best/987214/1854 "2024-04-19T17:00:51Z")
> [@Rhodes](#): > > Is the grievance against the corporation legitimate? > > Is he hoping for an easy victory because the appropriate representatives of the corporation don’t realize they need to appear in court? > > Is he hoping the corporation will settle out of court due to difficulty in appearing? As far as I can tell . . . yes, yes, and no. ---
**Author:** ![Rhodes](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/rhodes/32/273_2.png) [@Rhodes](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Rhodes)\ **Post date:** [April 19, 2024, 5:17pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/lateral-thinking-puzzles-third-time-is-best/987214/1855 "2024-04-19T17:17:26Z")
OK, so about that “signed acknowledgment of receipt of the summons and complaint.” Did he take advantage of his status of being the corporation’s former lawyer? For example, he hands the receptionist an envelope, and she files it away without paying much attention. Maybe he even tells her “don’t worry about this; it’s just a bunch of legal mumbo-jumbo that y’all need to keep in the file room in case some auditor asks.” She recognizes him, and believes he’s there _representing_ the company. But in reality, he’s suing the company for a 5 or 6 figure sum. ---
**Author:** ![The\_Other\_Waldo\_Pepper](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/the_other_waldo_pepper/32/12370_2.png) [@The\_Other\_Waldo\_Pepper](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/The_Other_Waldo_Pepper)\ **Post date:** [April 19, 2024, 5:59pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/lateral-thinking-puzzles-third-time-is-best/987214/1856 "2024-04-19T17:59:26Z")
> [@Rhodes](#): > > For example, he hands the receptionist an envelope, and she files it away without paying much attention. Maybe he even tells her “don’t worry about this; it’s just a bunch of legal mumbo-jumbo that y’all need to keep in the file room in case some auditor asks.” She recognizes him, and believes he’s there _representing_ the company. But in reality, he’s suing the company for a 5 or 6 figure sum. The person who signed the acknowledgment of receipt was paying full attention, and was in no way misled by the lawyer as to the contents and ramifications. ---
**Author:** ![Rhodes](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/rhodes/32/273_2.png) [@Rhodes](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Rhodes)\ **Post date:** [April 19, 2024, 6:05pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/lateral-thinking-puzzles-third-time-is-best/987214/1857 "2024-04-19T18:05:27Z")
Hmmm… Are “the person who signed the acknowledgement” and “the lawyer” two separate people? If so, are they in cahoots to keep the info from the appropriate company representatives? ---
**Author:** ![Rhodes](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/rhodes/32/273_2.png) [@Rhodes](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Rhodes)\ **Post date:** [April 19, 2024, 6:07pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/lateral-thinking-puzzles-third-time-is-best/987214/1858 "2024-04-19T18:07:44Z")
> [@The\_Other\_Waldo\_Pepper](#): > > serving process to the listed agent for service-of-process The “listed agent” is the lawyer himself, right? ---
**Author:** ![The\_Other\_Waldo\_Pepper](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/the_other_waldo_pepper/32/12370_2.png) [@The\_Other\_Waldo\_Pepper](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/The_Other_Waldo_Pepper)\ **Post date:** [April 19, 2024, 6:12pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/lateral-thinking-puzzles-third-time-is-best/987214/1859 "2024-04-19T18:12:04Z")
> [@Rhodes](#): > > Are “the person who signed the acknowledgement” and “the lawyer” two separate people? Ding Ding Ding! [“Central Green’s new attorney informed Felger by letter that he was no longer the company’s legal counsel. However, Freels failed to remove Felger as the company’s agent for service of process. In June 2011, Felger filed a complaint against Central Green to recover his unpaid legal fees in excess of $25,000, but he did not serve Freels or anyone at Central Green. Instead, he served the lawsuit on himself as agent for service of process for Central Green, and signed the Acknowledgement of Receipt of the summons and complaint on behalf of Central Green.”](https://www.statebarcourt.ca.gov/Portals/2/documents/opinions/Felger.pdf) ---
**Author:** ![Saint\_Cad](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/saint_cad/32/18907_2.png) [@Saint\_Cad](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Saint_Cad)\ **Post date:** [April 19, 2024, 6:12pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/lateral-thinking-puzzles-third-time-is-best/987214/1860 "2024-04-19T18:12:09Z")
> [@Rhodes](#): > > The “listed agent” is the lawyer himself, right? You beat me to this guess, [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/lateral-thinking-puzzles-third-time-is-best/987214.md?page=92) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/lateral-thinking-puzzles-third-time-is-best/987214.md?page=94)