After paying their dues, should hobbyists who committed fraud be allowed back ?

[BobC]

Originally Posted by Peter_Spaeth

So Bob, if someone who truly had no idea what they had offered you a nice 311 Mantle for $50, would you just pull out your wallet?

How often have we heard people on here talk about some of the great deals they've come across, or finding that rare variation that no one knows about and getting it for a song? Isn't that why many of us still go to flea markets and garage sales, hoping to come across that rare item no one knows about that we can purchase for a song. Heck, I remember threads here on the forum where it was discussed how you don't even try asking some advanced collectors about the rare cards or variants in certain sets, they wanted to keep that to themselves so as to keep down demand and competition, and if they did come across such rare and valuable cards, get them for as cheap as they could.

Over time, I've asked a lot of people questions on here they don't want to respond to and answer for whatever reasons, and that includes you. So instead of letting you blindside me and maybe try to put me down or belittle me in some manner by answering your question, lets first wait to see what the person I originally asked my question of has to say in response first. I wasn't the one implying anyone was morally bankrupt or possibly some kind of criminal for taking advantage of a deal that was offered to them, especially in a situation that we don't really know all the facts about either. Wouldn't things possibly be better served by you directing your question to that person making such implications, rather than deflecting and trying to change the narrative somehow. Or is that poster another friend of yours you somehow think you have to defend?

Here's a related question back at you then while we wait to hear back from this other person so I can then answer your question. You're a lawyer, so how about explaining to everyone about how contingent fees work. You, or some other attorney(s), agree to do work for someone not for your typical hourly rate or set fee, but for a specified percentage of whatever the client ends up getting. And let's say you have a client involved in a horrific accident that they will have life-long medical bills and issues from, and will need every cent they can get. An attorney, like yourself, takes the case for, what's a typical contingent fee rate attorneys charge these days, 30%, 35%, 40%? Let's say they take it for 35%, and low and behold, not too long after filing suit the other party caves and settles for $1MM, meaning you (or whatever attorney took the case) just made $350K. But here's the thing, you knew the defendant had no real assets to speak of, but did have a liability policy for $1MM. So you knew pretty quick from the start that you wouldn't really be able to get the client any more than that $1MM settlement, and also knew the defendant and their insurance company would likely settle quickly to minimize additional legal costs and expenses. But the thing is, they ended up agreeing and settling so quickly, even at your highest hourly rate you've ever charged, your bill would have only come to $35K, not the $350K contingent fee you're going to collect. And yet you know the client is going to need every penny they can get to help with their injuries for the rest of their life. So what do you, or most other attorneys that belong to your profession, do in such a case so you/they don't get accused of being morally bankrupt, or possibly even some kind of criminal?

And I'll give you an option for not waiting till after I hear back from the other poster first before I answer your question. Go and get an actual '52 Topps Mantle and actually offer it to for me $50, and I'll answer by how we go forward with the deal or not.