A couple of months ago.
We had done some surveying for a client who ended up in legal trouble. The neighbor and our client didn't get along at all. So we finished what we could, the client ended up in jail for a bit, we washed our hands of the whole project.?ÿ
Then the neighbor calls and wanted us to do some more, he had hired a surveyor but didn't like the answers. The entire area is rife with disputes and legal fights.?ÿ
Spidy sense was on overload.?ÿ
I said not interested.?ÿ
He didn't understand; "Are you turning me down for work?"
Yep!!! I'm too busy with not-conflicted happy people to get in a middle of a big dispute. At this point I'm not taking legal disputes.?ÿ
But, but, but.
Talked to a local surveyor about working for him and he launched into a long story about his contact with him and it was not a good story. Needless to say he's not going to do any work there.?ÿ
Down at the county for a meeting, the powers be asked if I would be interested to get involved, seems the police had been called in, the landowners are trying to rope the county into it, and everyone is lawyered up.?ÿ
NOPE!!!!
NOT INTERESTED
WHEW!!!!
There isn't going to be a good resolution to this one is my guess.?ÿ
My advice to them was to find a non-local surveyor to take it on, can't think of one that I'd wish it on.
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Never say "No!"?ÿ Say "$10,000 up front, armed guards at your expense, and $500 per hour, just like a lawyer."
Never say "No!"?ÿ Say "$10,000 up front, armed guards at your expense, and $500 per hour, just like a lawyer."
Yup, that's the proper approach.?ÿ Even assholes deserve representation be it lawyers or land surveyors but there should be a premium to guard against you being stiffed up front, and hefty contract fees to deal with the likely intransigence of the client.?ÿ Mechanic's liens are a powerful guard when surveying improvements, subdivisions but if he/she's an a*****e the best route is a ridiculous high retainer and you can back off and keep the money if you're not getting paid regularly for billable time.?ÿ Just like lawyers.
Lawyers turn down work all the time. I learned that years ago when a number of local ones turned me down on a personal matter. Money isn't everything, I have a great client base and I want to focus on them.?ÿ
In rural America, many times lawyers turn down potential clients because the person they want to go after has been a longtime client (of the lawyer's).?ÿ I have had that come up only four times over the decades.
Don't walk away, RUN!
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