# Ugh. Money to 'go away' **URL:** \ **Category:** Miscellaneous and Personal Stuff I Must Share\ **Created:** [April 28, 2011, 1:08am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ugh-money-to-go-away/579977 "2011-04-28T01:08:56Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![Unintentionally\_Blank](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/unintentionally_blank/32/5418_2.png) [@Unintentionally\_Blank](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Unintentionally_Blank)\ **Post date:** [April 28, 2011, 1:08am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ugh-money-to-go-away/579977/1 "2011-04-28T01:08:56Z")
I don’t care enough to raise this to Pit level, and I won’t talk specifics, but I HATE HATE HATE the legal tactic where an individual becomes a thorn in the side of an entity with a lot of money, such that, when they offer “Hey, pay me money, and I’ll _go away_!” the entity weighs their options, see how much said individual has already cost… …and writes a check. :mad: Seems kinda like negotiating with terrorists…only without that whole bombing and hostages and loss of life thing. ---
**Author:** ![tdn](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/94ad74/32.png) [@tdn](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/tdn)\ **Post date:** [April 28, 2011, 3:44pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ugh-money-to-go-away/579977/2 "2011-04-28T15:44:01Z")
A fairly large local ice cream chain was threatened with a lawsuit by a homeless man with the same name. They settled out of court by giving him a ten dollar bill. He considered it a great victory. I still see him around every now and then. I’m surprised he’s still alive. ---
**Author:** ![Unintentionally\_Blank](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/unintentionally_blank/32/5418_2.png) [@Unintentionally\_Blank](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Unintentionally_Blank)\ **Post date:** [April 28, 2011, 4:17pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ugh-money-to-go-away/579977/3 "2011-04-28T16:17:03Z")
Alas, this will cost a whole lot more than $10 to resolve. What a freeking parasitic drag on society. Sad thing is, this isn’t the first time the person’s done this. ---
**Author:** ![tdn](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/94ad74/32.png) [@tdn](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/tdn)\ **Post date:** [April 28, 2011, 4:26pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ugh-money-to-go-away/579977/4 "2011-04-28T16:26:30Z")
Oh, you’re talking about somebody specific? ---
**Author:** ![Unintentionally\_Blank](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/unintentionally_blank/32/5418_2.png) [@Unintentionally\_Blank](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Unintentionally_Blank)\ **Post date:** [April 28, 2011, 4:31pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ugh-money-to-go-away/579977/5 "2011-04-28T16:31:49Z")
Someone specific and the behavior in general ---
**Author:** ![running\_coach](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/running_coach/32/15836_2.png) [@running\_coach](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/running_coach)\ **Post date:** [April 28, 2011, 4:36pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ugh-money-to-go-away/579977/6 "2011-04-28T16:36:15Z")
Link, please. ---
**Author:** ![Unintentionally\_Blank](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/unintentionally_blank/32/5418_2.png) [@Unintentionally\_Blank](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Unintentionally_Blank)\ **Post date:** [April 28, 2011, 4:48pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ugh-money-to-go-away/579977/7 "2011-04-28T16:48:51Z")
It is still in progress and I’m near enough that I cannot comment on specifics, lest it alter the outcome. But the writing is on the wall and it’s pretty obvious they way it’s going to go. ---
**Author:** ![dangermom](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/e274bd/32.png) [@dangermom](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/dangermom)\ **Post date:** [April 28, 2011, 4:50pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ugh-money-to-go-away/579977/8 "2011-04-28T16:50:27Z")
Kipling had some words about that– IT IS always a temptation to an armed and agile nation, To call upon a neighbour and to say: “We invaded you last night - we are quite prepared to fight, Unless you pay us cash to go away.” And that is called asking for Dane-geld, And the people who ask it explain That you’ve only to pay ’em the Dane-geld And then you’ll get rid of the Dane! It is always a temptation to a rich and lazy nation, To puff and look important and to say: “Though we know we should defeat you, we have not the time to meet you. We will therefore pay you cash to go away.” And that is called paying the Dane-geld; But we’ve proved it again and again, That if once you have paid him the Dane-geld You never get rid of the Dane. It is wrong to put temptation in the path of any nation, For fear they should succumb and go astray, So when you are requested to pay up or be molested, You will find it better policy to say: “We never pay any one Dane-geld, No matter how trifling the cost, For the end of that game is oppression and shame, And the nation that plays it is lost!” ---
**Author:** ![Ravenman](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/ravenman/32/2929_2.png) [@Ravenman](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ravenman)\ **Post date:** [April 28, 2011, 4:57pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ugh-money-to-go-away/579977/9 "2011-04-28T16:57:23Z")
> [@tdn](#): > > A fairly large local ice cream chain was threatened with a lawsuit by a homeless man with the same name. They settled out of court by giving him a ten dollar bill. He considered it a great victory. > > I still see him around every now and then. **I’m surprised he’s still alive.** Not many people have gotten $10 out of the Ice Cream Mafia and lived to tell about it. ---
**Author:** ![Unintentionally\_Blank](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/unintentionally_blank/32/5418_2.png) [@Unintentionally\_Blank](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Unintentionally_Blank)\ **Post date:** [April 28, 2011, 5:08pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ugh-money-to-go-away/579977/10 "2011-04-28T17:08:07Z")
Precisely my point dangermom, I couldn’t have said it better. ---
**Author:** ![lindsaybluth](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/90db22/32.png) [@lindsaybluth](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/lindsaybluth)\ **Post date:** [April 29, 2011, 5:20pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ugh-money-to-go-away/579977/11 "2011-04-29T17:20:29Z")
Yep, I know _exactly_ what the OP is talking about. I was in a fender-bender at 17. A bronco (with those giant wheels attacked to the back of the car) stopped suddenly at a stop sign and I rolled into him at about 5mph. Our bumpers didn’t even touch; his wheel crumpled my hood. A cop was directing traffic and witnessed the whole thing. We exchanged insurance info but with no damage to his car we decided to fix my hood without the insurance. Two days later we get a call - the guy looked up my last name and bam, found my dad’s office. Big fancy doctor in a shitty town with 20% unemployment and every other person on the dole? Well, the guy had terrible neck pain, dontcha know? And needed an MRI - or equivalent sum of money to go away. The cop spoke to his attorney and insurance company and the matter died down in days. It was a truly hellish few days though, living through an extortion attempt. I would have been FUCKED if not for the amazingly kind officer, who knew exactly what was going on. My brother was hit by a car going 45mph while on his bike. There was a witness saying the driver was going 20 over the limit (and tire marks to prove it) and that my brother wasn’t at fault. The driver _tried to sue him for damages to his car_. You can’t even make this stuff up it’s so absurd. ---
**Author:** ![horsetech](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/dec6dc/32.png) [@horsetech](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/horsetech)\ **Post date:** [April 30, 2011, 4:11am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ugh-money-to-go-away/579977/12 "2011-04-30T04:11:47Z")
The corollary to this is “something bad happened, therefore somebody else must have screwed up”, followed by a lawsuit for the poor innocent schmo who didn’t do anything/was actually trying to help. Shit happens, and sometimes that shit is devastating, but that doesn’t mean you have to take it out on someone else. See: some medical malpractice lawsuits. ---
**Author:** ![etv78](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/d78d45/32.png) [@etv78](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/etv78)\ **Post date:** [April 30, 2011, 4:14am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ugh-money-to-go-away/579977/13 "2011-04-30T04:14:19Z")
> [@lindsaybluth](#): > > Yep, I know _exactly_ what the OP is talking about. > > I was in a fender-bender at 17. A bronco (with those giant wheels attacked to the back of the car) stopped suddenly at a stop sign and I rolled into him at about 5mph. Our bumpers didn’t even touch; his wheel crumpled my hood. A cop was directing traffic and witnessed the whole thing. > > We exchanged insurance info but with no damage to his car we decided to fix my hood without the insurance. > > Two days later we get a call - the guy looked up my last name and bam, found my dad’s office. Big fancy doctor in a shitty town with 20% unemployment and every other person on the dole? Well, the guy had terrible neck pain, dontcha know? And needed an MRI - or equivalent sum of money to go away. > > The cop spoke to his attorney and insurance company and the matter died down in days. It was a truly hellish few days though, living through an extortion attempt. > > I would have been FUCKED if not for the amazingly kind officer, who knew exactly what was going on. > > My brother was hit by a car going 45mph while on his bike. There was a witness saying the driver was going 20 over the limit (and tire marks to prove it) and that my brother wasn’t at fault. The driver _tried to sue him for damages to his car_. You can’t even make this stuff up it’s so absurd. The world obviously has it in for your family l **indsaybluth**! ---
**Author:** ![Unintentionally\_Blank](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/unintentionally_blank/32/5418_2.png) [@Unintentionally\_Blank](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Unintentionally_Blank)\ **Post date:** [April 30, 2011, 4:18am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ugh-money-to-go-away/579977/14 "2011-04-30T04:18:07Z")
Oh, there’s nothing innocent or mistaken here. It was a pre-meditated effort to create the conditions for a person to point the finger and say HEY! DISCRIMINATION! Lawsuit ensues…which came back completely wishy-washy. There was discrimination all right…due to a lack of competence. Add some FMLA in for seasoning (THAT’S an interesting google.) Sad thing is, I just want it over with so a large number of people can go back to concentrating on actually working. ---
**Author:** ![Todderbob](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/e47774/32.png) [@Todderbob](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Todderbob)\ **Post date:** [April 30, 2011, 4:25am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ugh-money-to-go-away/579977/15 "2011-04-30T04:25:47Z")
If it really is an ongoing case, and IANAL, your policy of not talking about it is probably prudent. ---
**Author:** ![Unintentionally\_Blank](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/unintentionally_blank/32/5418_2.png) [@Unintentionally\_Blank](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Unintentionally_Blank)\ **Post date:** [April 30, 2011, 4:36am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ugh-money-to-go-away/579977/16 "2011-04-30T04:36:09Z")
There are no googlable details in this thread. 😉 Yeah, I know, I just wanted to vent to someone…can’t do it with the coworkers, and the wife’s heard enough. ---
**Author:** ![Spice\_Weasel](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/spice_weasel/32/5435_2.png) [@Spice\_Weasel](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Spice_Weasel)\ **Post date:** [April 30, 2011, 5:09am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ugh-money-to-go-away/579977/17 "2011-04-30T05:09:58Z")
Huh. My experience with this is on the opposite side - wealthy people trying to bribe non-wealthy people to do what they want. ‘‘Here’s several thousand dollars to abort your pregnancy and not marry my son.’’ That sort of thing. ---
**Author:** ![aruvqan](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/aruvqan/32/2891_2.png) [@aruvqan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/aruvqan)\ **Post date:** [April 30, 2011, 9:41am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ugh-money-to-go-away/579977/18 "2011-04-30T09:41:31Z")
Someone tried to claim that I nailed them in a traffic accident _in a borrowed car_ as I do not drive a mercedes, so I simply got my boss to document that I was not only at work, I was on a phone call at the time, backed up with the recording of me on the phone to a police department dispatcher at the time [I was working for ADT in their Hartford Call Center at the time.] Nothing like the continuing fun of having a wallet stolen and ID used. At least the only thing in my wallet was my drivers license, it would have been hell if it had my social security card and military ID, and a bank card… and I had already reported the license stolen and had it replaced. ---
**Author:** ![Laalune](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/977dab/32.png) [@Laalune](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Laalune)\ **Post date:** [April 30, 2011, 11:35am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ugh-money-to-go-away/579977/19 "2011-04-30T11:35:03Z")
[France paid unwelcome immigrants](http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/worldnews/article-1316906/Gypsies-paid-leave-France-face-tough-new-measures-prevent-return.html) (gypsies) 300 euro to leave the country. It didn’t really work, as they kept coming back. ---
**Author:** ![Ellen\_Cherry](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/ellen_cherry/32/3600_2.png) [@Ellen\_Cherry](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ellen_Cherry)\ **Post date:** [April 30, 2011, 4:22pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ugh-money-to-go-away/579977/20 "2011-04-30T16:22:07Z")
> [@etv78](#): > > The world obviously has it in for your family l **indsaybluth**! There’s no call to twit Lindsay about her family here. It’s not the Pit. **Ellen Cherry Moderator** [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ugh-money-to-go-away/579977.md?page=2)