Yesterday I heard this one from a good source. It seems several years ago a couple of Thames students did some work for Thames and his partner. The students presented Thames with a bill for $4,000, which he was to split with his business partner. He told the students to draw up another bill for the work, only have the new total $8,000. They were told to retain the original one as well. He took the $8,000 invoicel and got half from his partner ($4,000). He returned to complete the transaction with the students, but for the agree-upon sum of $4,000. Thus, ST got out without losing one penny in the deal.
This is very dangerous communicated to the public as mere gossip. Invistigate but don't go public with conclusions unless the facts are established unassailably. It is that the accusation was the *truth* which is a defense to a defamation action, not speculative possibilities that it might have seemed credible. First the facts, the actual truth of the matter. Then a decision as to what if anything to do with it.
quote: Originally posted by: Distant supporter of USM "This is very dangerous communicated to the public as mere gossip. Invistigate but don't go public with conclusions unless the facts are established unassailably. It is that the accusation was the *truth* which is a defense to a defamation action, not speculative possibilities that it might have seemed credible. First the facts, the actual truth of the matter. Then a decision as to what if anything to do with it."
agreed. I'd be careful about what we put out and how. Maybe we should agree to post these kinds of stories as inquiries for information to confirm/disaffirm rather than as anecdotes. I worry about what appears here as an anecdote might be repeated as gospel on the street. I think we have some responsibility to not allow this board to be used (by the casual or careless reader) to slander people. They do such a good job of doing it to themselves.
not being critical Distant Supporter . . . . just cautious. We only discover things when stories such as these are shared and then someone pursues them, so thanks!
You are both so correct. Of course, the business partner will know, assuming the amounts jibe, if the story is true, and that could be interesting in itself. These students should get certified copies of any documents, stash the originals in a safe-deposit box, and make their way post-haste to the district attorney. Same for any other such stories, as Distant so wisely cautions. Nuthin like a little paper trail . . . but keep the paper safe.
quote: Originally posted by: present professor " not being critical Distant Supporter . . . . just cautious. We only discover things when stories such as these are shared and then someone pursues them, so thanks!"
ooops . . . my little apology for sounding critical should have been addressed to odder, who originally filed the story. Sorry!