# We fucked up the contract..so we call the cops and say you stole it.... **URL:** \ **Category:** The BBQ Pit\ **Created:** [October 4, 2012, 12:40am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/we-fucked-up-the-contract-so-we-call-the-cops-and-say-you-stole-it/636644 "2012-10-04T00:40:02Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 5
**Author:** ![kayaker](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/kayaker/32/441_2.png) [@kayaker](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/kayaker)\ **Post date:** [October 9, 2012, 3:40pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/we-fucked-up-the-contract-so-we-call-the-cops-and-say-you-stole-it/636644/81 "2012-10-09T15:40:46Z")
> [@Really\_Not\_All\_That\_Bright](#): > > Yes, but somebody “doing his best” may not be doing whatever he’s doing as well as the standards of his profession require. Than it is malpractice. The standards of practice kind of define that line. ETA: than why is he licensed by his profession? Or stated better: > [@Mollie\_Magill](#): > > Wouldn’t it be implied that a surgeon botching an operation, or an attorney botching a case did not do his best? ---
**Author:** ![kayaker](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/kayaker/32/441_2.png) [@kayaker](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/kayaker)\ **Post date:** [October 9, 2012, 3:43pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/we-fucked-up-the-contract-so-we-call-the-cops-and-say-you-stole-it/636644/82 "2012-10-09T15:43:51Z")
> [@Czarcasm](#): > > Are you shitting me?? Car dealerships, new and used, have been getting much worse publicity for the last hundred years or so, and it has done nothing to correct the problems inherent in the system. A used car dealer doesn’t give a shit if the public thinks of him as the scum of the earth as long as somebody signs that lopsided contract. I agree wholeheartedly with what you’ve said above. _But_ there is no dollar amount, including just taking all the dealership’s money, that will change things. ---
**Author:** ![Really\_Not\_All\_That\_Bright](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/e8c25b/32.png) [@Really\_Not\_All\_That\_Bright](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Really_Not_All_That_Bright)\ **Post date:** [October 9, 2012, 3:48pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/we-fucked-up-the-contract-so-we-call-the-cops-and-say-you-stole-it/636644/83 "2012-10-09T15:48:01Z")
> [@Mollie\_Magill](#): > > Wouldn’t it be implied that a surgeon botching an operation, or an attorney botching a case did not do his best? Of course not. It’s entirely possible to do your best and botch something. I have no doubt that Mark Sanchez was doing his best to win a football game last night, for example, but he botched it. ---
**Author:** ![Boyo\_Jim](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/87869e/32.png) [@Boyo\_Jim](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Boyo_Jim)\ **Post date:** [October 9, 2012, 3:50pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/we-fucked-up-the-contract-so-we-call-the-cops-and-say-you-stole-it/636644/84 "2012-10-09T15:50:41Z")
> [@Really\_Not\_All\_That\_Bright](#): > > … I have no doubt that Mark Sanchez was doing his best to win a football game last night, for example, but he botched it. There can be a substantial difference between _trying_ his best and\* doing\* his best. ---
**Author:** ![kayaker](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/kayaker/32/441_2.png) [@kayaker](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/kayaker)\ **Post date:** [October 9, 2012, 3:54pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/we-fucked-up-the-contract-so-we-call-the-cops-and-say-you-stole-it/636644/85 "2012-10-09T15:54:17Z")
> [@Really\_Not\_All\_That\_Bright](#): > > Of course not. It’s entirely possible to do your best and botch something. I have no doubt that Mark Sanchez was doing his best to win a football game last night, for example, but he botched it. So you are saying that if a surgical patient dies, or a lawyer’s client does not win, than the surgeon and attorney have each “botched” their cases? ---
**Author:** ![Bouncer](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/9d8465/32.png) [@Bouncer](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Bouncer)\ **Post date:** [October 10, 2012, 3:02am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/we-fucked-up-the-contract-so-we-call-the-cops-and-say-you-stole-it/636644/86 "2012-10-10T03:02:54Z")
> [@Really\_Not\_All\_That\_Bright](#): > > Every civil plaintiff everywhere ever demands a trial by jury, unless the rules of the jurisdiction don’t allow trial by jury for the amount at issue, or the plaintiff is highly unsympathetic (or, very rarely, if the plaintiff’s theory of the case is “too complex” to explain to a jury). I understand that, nonetheless, it puts more pressure on the defense to settle. That’s why lawyers always do it (citing the exceptions you mention above). It’s a crapshoot for the defense to go to trial, and both sides know it. It is also a crapshoot for the plaintiff, but the odds are more in his favor. Regards, -Bouncer- ---
**Author:** ![Bouncer](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/9d8465/32.png) [@Bouncer](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Bouncer)\ **Post date:** [October 10, 2012, 3:07am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/we-fucked-up-the-contract-so-we-call-the-cops-and-say-you-stole-it/636644/87 "2012-10-10T03:07:20Z")
> [@Mosier](#): > > Alright, let’s settle this. What is the lowest amount of money that you’d accept in exchange for voluntarily suffering what the car buying guy suffered as a result of the dealership? $850,000 sounds about right to me. Plus a full page ad in all the local and at least two national papers apologizing. And a policy change at all the dealerships that under no exceptions will they ever contact a customer about this type of issue again, payable with a 5 million dollar civil bond of some sort. I’d want compensation, but I’d also want that public apology and as important, I’d want no one else to suffer the harassment and false criminal complaint. Regards, -Bouncer- ---
**Author:** ![simster](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/simster/32/1047_2.png) [@simster](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/simster)\ **Post date:** [October 10, 2012, 4:31am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/we-fucked-up-the-contract-so-we-call-the-cops-and-say-you-stole-it/636644/88 "2012-10-10T04:31:53Z")
Regaurdless of what the victim gets for compensation (can I hear new car annually in perpetuity?) - I want to see the folks that made the false statements to police charged accordingly - and police procedure should have prevented the false imprisonment as soon as the buyer provided paperwork. ---
**Author:** ![Really\_Not\_All\_That\_Bright](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/e8c25b/32.png) [@Really\_Not\_All\_That\_Bright](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Really_Not_All_That_Bright)\ **Post date:** [October 10, 2012, 1:04pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/we-fucked-up-the-contract-so-we-call-the-cops-and-say-you-stole-it/636644/89 "2012-10-10T13:04:55Z")
> [@kayaker](#): > > So you are saying that if a surgical patient dies, or a lawyer’s client does not win, than the surgeon and attorney have each “botched” their cases? No. I’m saying botching and doing one’s best are not mutually exclusive. If the lawyer had a case he should have won, but did not, then he botched it. ---
**Author:** ![kayaker](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/kayaker/32/441_2.png) [@kayaker](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/kayaker)\ **Post date:** [October 10, 2012, 2:34pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/we-fucked-up-the-contract-so-we-call-the-cops-and-say-you-stole-it/636644/90 "2012-10-10T14:34:49Z")
> [@Really\_Not\_All\_That\_Bright](#): > > No. I’m saying botching and doing one’s best are not mutually exclusive. If the lawyer had a case he should have won, but did not, then he botched it. How do you determine he “should have won”? Independent review? A rogue juror who seemed fine when interviewed before trial should have been foreseen? There is no place for chance? If we all know he “should have won”, why bother with a trial? ---
**Author:** ![Really\_Not\_All\_That\_Bright](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/e8c25b/32.png) [@Really\_Not\_All\_That\_Bright](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Really_Not_All_That_Bright)\ **Post date:** [October 10, 2012, 2:40pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/we-fucked-up-the-contract-so-we-call-the-cops-and-say-you-stole-it/636644/91 "2012-10-10T14:40:43Z")
The same way you determine if someone “did his best for you”, I guess. ---
**Author:** ![kayaker](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/kayaker/32/441_2.png) [@kayaker](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/kayaker)\ **Post date:** [October 10, 2012, 3:15pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/we-fucked-up-the-contract-so-we-call-the-cops-and-say-you-stole-it/636644/92 "2012-10-10T15:15:29Z")
> [@Really\_Not\_All\_That\_Bright](#): > > The same way you determine if someone “did his best for you”, I guess. OK, now I forget what we are arguing about.😃 If it’s worth it to you, I’m willing to refresh my recollection, otherwise, shake hands and I’ll buy the next round? ---
**Author:** ![Really\_Not\_All\_That\_Bright](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/e8c25b/32.png) [@Really\_Not\_All\_That\_Bright](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Really_Not_All_That_Bright)\ **Post date:** [October 10, 2012, 3:25pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/we-fucked-up-the-contract-so-we-call-the-cops-and-say-you-stole-it/636644/93 "2012-10-10T15:25:32Z")
I forgot too. Cheers! ---
**Author:** ![Chef\_Troy](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/85f322/32.png) [@Chef\_Troy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Chef_Troy)\ **Post date:** [October 10, 2012, 4:30pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/we-fucked-up-the-contract-so-we-call-the-cops-and-say-you-stole-it/636644/94 "2012-10-10T16:30:12Z")
> [@kayaker](#): > > OK, now I forget what we are arguing about.😃 > > If it’s worth it to you, I’m willing to refresh my recollection, otherwise, shake hands and I’ll buy the next round? > [@Really\_Not\_All\_That\_Bright](#): > > I forgot too. Cheers! You two SUCK at arguing. Where’s the tu-quoque’ing and name-calling and accusing each other of being just like Hitler? What are you – cats? You’re not supposed to just hiss and snarl and then go back to licking each other’s ears like nothing happened. 😉 ---
**Author:** ![Really\_Not\_All\_That\_Bright](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/e8c25b/32.png) [@Really\_Not\_All\_That\_Bright](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Really_Not_All_That_Bright)\ **Post date:** [October 10, 2012, 4:45pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/we-fucked-up-the-contract-so-we-call-the-cops-and-say-you-stole-it/636644/95 "2012-10-10T16:45:18Z")
Hey, fu… I mean, sorry. We’ll do better next time. ---
**Author:** ![Mister\_Rik](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/mister_rik/32/491_2.png) [@Mister\_Rik](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mister_Rik)\ **Post date:** [October 10, 2012, 5:05pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/we-fucked-up-the-contract-so-we-call-the-cops-and-say-you-stole-it/636644/96 "2012-10-10T17:05:29Z")
> [@Darth\_Panda](#): > > It’s definitely odd, but if a store asks you to leave, you need to leave - otherwise it is trespassing. When I briefly worked at a convenience store, I encountered a shocking number of people (mostly teenagers) who didn’t understand the difference between “public place” and “public property”, and who thought we couldn’t tell them to stop congregating in front of the store because it was “public property”. No, punk, it’s _private_ property. Move it! ---
**Author:** ![Really\_Not\_All\_That\_Bright](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/e8c25b/32.png) [@Really\_Not\_All\_That\_Bright](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Really_Not_All_That_Bright)\ **Post date:** [October 10, 2012, 5:18pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/we-fucked-up-the-contract-so-we-call-the-cops-and-say-you-stole-it/636644/97 "2012-10-10T17:18:15Z")
Bet you enjoyed [Snatch](http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TL9nQG9mI-4&feature=related). ---
**Author:** ![SteveG1](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/bb73d2/32.png) [@SteveG1](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/SteveG1)\ **Post date:** [October 16, 2012, 10:07pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/we-fucked-up-the-contract-so-we-call-the-cops-and-say-you-stole-it/636644/98 "2012-10-16T22:07:46Z")
> [@Enkel](#): > > Someone at the dealership should be prosecuted for filing a false complaint. That is a criminal offense and the police are not there to settle that business’ screw ups. This. Whoever made the complaint should be arrested and charged. ---
**Author:** ![Boyo\_Jim](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/87869e/32.png) [@Boyo\_Jim](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Boyo_Jim)\ **Post date:** [October 16, 2012, 10:25pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/we-fucked-up-the-contract-so-we-call-the-cops-and-say-you-stole-it/636644/99 "2012-10-16T22:25:12Z")
We don’t know how much the person who made the police report knew. It is possible they got some incomplete and/or incorrect version of what happened. Combine that with a massive ignorance of the legal system (which is not a big stretch), and it’s possible the person believed a crime was committed. Certainly there should be an investigation – hopefully not by the same dumbass cops who decided to make the original arrest. ---
**Author:** ![Mosier](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/7ea924/32.png) [@Mosier](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mosier)\ **Post date:** [October 16, 2012, 11:32pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/we-fucked-up-the-contract-so-we-call-the-cops-and-say-you-stole-it/636644/100 "2012-10-16T23:32:49Z")
> [@Monty](#): > > I think the dealership should go broke. Heck, I think the prosecutor should go after the individuals involved in the stunt. > > Okay, realistically, I think they should pay about five million. Less, if the dealership has less than that in cash and other assets. More, if they have more. And I’m not changing my stance on the prosecution. Holy shit… [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/we-fucked-up-the-contract-so-we-call-the-cops-and-say-you-stole-it/636644.md?page=4) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/we-fucked-up-the-contract-so-we-call-the-cops-and-say-you-stole-it/636644.md?page=6)