It Never Hurts To Ask

 My late boss Ed taught me so many lessons -- about law and life. As to the latter, he taught the concept of "you can't afford NOT to," when I would ask him about spending a lot of money on a great bottle of wine, or meal, or hotel. He was raised VERY working class in Brooklyn and Miami Beach, and achieved a very high level of success -- yachts and airplanes and a Lear Jet level of success. He NEVER passed up the opportunity to travel for a fishing or hunting trip, or Paris for Cordon Bleu cooking. He lived large, and when sometimes I doubt going first class, I hear his booming, slightly lisped voice.

He also taught us the concept of "it never hurts to ask" when negotiating. He would sometimes make what most thought absurd demands to settle cases, and because of his skill and force of will, the defense lawyers and carriers would pay! He was proud that I learned quickly -- he asked me to handle a "small case" for a friend of his wife DeeDee.

It was an older lady who traveled to Disney with her grandkids, and was knocked over by a young Mom pushing a stroller. The old lady ended up with a fractured elbow, but a simple fracture -- healed fine with no surgery -- I think her total medical bills were about $5K.

The stroller pusher was nice -- she hung around and gave the old lady her information -- turned out she had a $100K liability policy through her homeowner's coverage. Ed handed me the file and said "Have fun."

I interviewed the client. She had, other than the medical bills, ZERO economic damages. She was retired and lost no work time -- she said she even had very little pain -- hell, her arthritic knees bothered her more. Still, I sent a demand package to the out of state carrier, demanding they pay the policy ...or else! Or else...what? I would try the case and get, on an amazing day, $25K? But I guess the adjustor was afraid of the Dade County verdicts, and called me and said "David, I have 85 for you to get things started." I honestly was going to ask "Eighty five HUNDRED?" as that would have been a reasonable first offer. But I played tough, and said "No -- this is a policy case." He ended up asking for a "discount" off the policy and we settled for, I think, like $97.5K. Ed was proud -- it didn't hurt to ask, and I got a great result for the lady -- she was rich and nonplussed when I told her she was getting a big chunk of tax free money for her "little elbow crack." And I guess I paid to gas up Ed's plane and boat for a bit...

Ed's spirit was with me today when I spoke to the "advisor" who oversees my online brokerage. I had done this once before, a few years ago, and decided to try again: ask for a nice cash bonus for keeping my account with them, as opposed to switching to ETrade or Fidelity. Barry from JVille called me, and this time we spoke for awhile -- he was a Miami boy who went to FSU and stayed with his Minnesota wife from college in North Florida -- but his parents still live in Kendall. We talked all about the 305 -- he remains a staunch Fins fan "Who can truly LIKE the Jaguars?" and his South Dade childhood. He was just here for Passover, and took his family to Knauss Berry Farm for some of the last cinnamon buns of the season. I told him next time to take his kids to Frost Science and the Children's Museum -- as well as Pinecrest Gardens.

I told him maybe it was time to get paid again -- and he agreed! He has to speak to his bosses, but I expect tomorrow he will call and tell me that so long as I keep my accounts with the brokerage until next Spring, there'll be a nice credit to my account. I think a few years ago it was $3500 -- this time I asked for more.

And why not? They make nice money on the holdings I keep in my MMA there, for fear of investing more in the market in these volatile Trumpian times. So we'll see if Ed's advice gets me paid again.

On a more somber note, yesterday was my Mom's yahrzeit -- she died April 27, 2013 -- a dozen years gone by now. I savored a day with D1 and the boys at ZooMiami -- Sunny would have smiled down, I know.

Kenny is on his way back from Connecticut, following his Dad's passing. We have plans to go out with Joelle and him Friday, now that he has joined Wifey and me in the Orphan's Club. Joelle still has one surviving parent -- her Mom.

I guess it also never hurts to ask the Big Man for more time. I have a strong sense, thought, that He gives us just the correct number of days. I plan to toast our late parents Friday...