THE SMETHURST FILES - 2. An attempt to extract money from an unrepresented litigant
The Complete Mystery of Madeleine McCann™ :: Team McCann :: Information: Kennedy / Smethurst / Halligen / PI's
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Re: THE SMETHURST FILES - 2. An attempt to extract money from an unrepresented litigant
roy rovers wrote:They will have automated office management software that keeps track of timesheets / billing and spews out 45 fully costed pages without much human input.
Come on! Automated Office Management Software does not chuck up man hours for a fat bill to line their pocket!
Manual and slow labour, the slower the better, to expand the size of their cost, better for the pocket, hence the human input 45 fully itemised pages. What betting that is how law firm prepare their bills.
Automated Office Management Software is not used by law firms, it is used by big corporations like Chain Stores for example.
aiyoyo- Posts : 9610
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Re: THE SMETHURST FILES - 2. An attempt to extract money from an unrepresented litigant
I'm afraid this is how legal firms bill. You are charged for almost the air they breath whilst 'dealing' with a case. Every call (incoming and outgoing) is charged for at a rate. The time spent on those calls are charged for per minute...the list is endless of what is chargeable. You are charged per page for a document (double line spacing is the norm for legal outfits). It used to be that the legal bod and his 'team' would have a pen and pad to note activity, time etc for billing, so I can believe a slick outfit would indeed have software to cover this.
Just my opinion.
Just my opinion.
Liz Eagles- Posts : 10944
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Re: THE SMETHURST FILES - 2. An attempt to extract money from an unrepresented litigant
When you select a law firm for whatever reason you are given their costs straight away. I had reason to select one for a divorce. I was amazed that I could get a partner for x pounds per hour, a junior partner for x pounds per hour etc. I asked a simple question 'do I get more law for my money if I spend more' that question was asked to an administrator handing me a list of costs. Of course she couldn't answer the question. I selected a medium (though ludicrously expensive) solicitor and was escorted into his office. He spent 15 minutes explaining his costs. I believe I was charged for those 15 minutes.
I came away thinking 'if I could afford a more expensive solicitor would it be better for me?' After receiving documents that were essentially re-typed documents I had prepared and given to this firm with the exception of double lined spacing and typos galore as obviously some junior on very low pay had done it, I received a bill that made me understand that what I considered legal representation was in fact just a vulturesque way to take away the very few assets I had.
So, back to the libel cases. It really is imo a case of 'my dad's bigger than your dad' when selecting a law firm. What I take exception to in the McCann case is that they are able to afford the 'biggest dad' without risking their assets. It has never been made clear if the McCanns are paying for this from personal funds or whether the Fund is footing the bill. There is mention that people are helping them behind the scenes for very little.
I think it only right that the McCanns should declare fully how they are paying for their legal representation. No ordinary family could afford CR. If the Fund is transparent and the McCanns are innocent as they claim to be what's the problem with declaring how they are paying for their legal representation?
I came away thinking 'if I could afford a more expensive solicitor would it be better for me?' After receiving documents that were essentially re-typed documents I had prepared and given to this firm with the exception of double lined spacing and typos galore as obviously some junior on very low pay had done it, I received a bill that made me understand that what I considered legal representation was in fact just a vulturesque way to take away the very few assets I had.
So, back to the libel cases. It really is imo a case of 'my dad's bigger than your dad' when selecting a law firm. What I take exception to in the McCann case is that they are able to afford the 'biggest dad' without risking their assets. It has never been made clear if the McCanns are paying for this from personal funds or whether the Fund is footing the bill. There is mention that people are helping them behind the scenes for very little.
I think it only right that the McCanns should declare fully how they are paying for their legal representation. No ordinary family could afford CR. If the Fund is transparent and the McCanns are innocent as they claim to be what's the problem with declaring how they are paying for their legal representation?
Liz Eagles- Posts : 10944
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Re: THE SMETHURST FILES - 2. An attempt to extract money from an unrepresented litigant
I've just discovered this forum after being pointed here by a good friend and the content has amazed me. I have followed the case with interest and it has always astounded me how the McCanns have been given an easy ride by the press, but seeing the lengths they have gone to to attack and try and discredit those who are unconvinced about their version of events is astounding. It appears to be a witch hunt and it comes across as satisfaction will not be gained until they have totally crushed those who do not share their viewpoint, incuding the detective in Portugal who has written a book and is now being sued by them.
I hope the truth will come out one day but I am not convinced the Met Police investigation will be deep enough to ask the searching questions that need to be asked and it will end up as a monumental waste of public money at a time when police resources are stretched tight.
I hope the truth will come out one day but I am not convinced the Met Police investigation will be deep enough to ask the searching questions that need to be asked and it will end up as a monumental waste of public money at a time when police resources are stretched tight.
Bob Southgate- Posts : 161
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Re: THE SMETHURST FILES - 2. An attempt to extract money from an unrepresented litigant
Bob Southgate.
Sadly, your second paragraph reflects my views exactly.
Sadly, your second paragraph reflects my views exactly.
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Re: THE SMETHURST FILES - 2. An attempt to extract money from an unrepresented litigant
Thanks for the welcome Jean. I am using my real name as I have nothing to hide and now that I have retired from the Met Police (March this year) I have more freedom to express myself without worrying about the (un)professional standards department putting me under the microscope for having the audacity to voice my views and opinions.
Bob Southgate- Posts : 161
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Re: THE SMETHURST FILES - 2. An attempt to extract money from an unrepresented litigant
candyfloss wrote: Bob
Thank you Candyfloss
Bob Southgate- Posts : 161
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Re: THE SMETHURST FILES - 2. An attempt to extract money from an unrepresented litigant
I too wish to say welcome Bob Southgate and look forward to reading your posts.
____________________
Not one more cent from me.
Nina- Posts : 2862
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Re: THE SMETHURST FILES - 2. An attempt to extract money from an unrepresented litigant
Nina wrote:I too wish to say welcome Bob Southgate and look forward to reading your posts.
Thank you Nina
Bob Southgate- Posts : 161
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Re: THE SMETHURST FILES - 2. An attempt to extract money from an unrepresented litigant
Hi Bob! It would be great if you could point some of your Met colleagues towards the wealth of info on this forum.
I just cannot believe how long this review is taking. I realise the wheels of justice grind slowly and there may be plenty of painstaking action behind the scenes that, obviously and quite rightly, we're not privy to. What does amaze me is that the t7 + 2 have not been taken in for questioning. (Unless they have and it's been leaked or spun in any way.) There doesn't seem to be any point in a paper exercise supposedly looking at leads missed or false when the people involved could barely remember what they had done and when they'd done it. Never read such a load of inconsistencies and errs and ums from educated people.
There are more and more Tweeters questioning the actions of the parents and their friends. Sue-ing non believers has made a lot of people search the net for info and are now aware of the discrepancies in the story.
I just cannot believe how long this review is taking. I realise the wheels of justice grind slowly and there may be plenty of painstaking action behind the scenes that, obviously and quite rightly, we're not privy to. What does amaze me is that the t7 + 2 have not been taken in for questioning. (Unless they have and it's been leaked or spun in any way.) There doesn't seem to be any point in a paper exercise supposedly looking at leads missed or false when the people involved could barely remember what they had done and when they'd done it. Never read such a load of inconsistencies and errs and ums from educated people.
There are more and more Tweeters questioning the actions of the parents and their friends. Sue-ing non believers has made a lot of people search the net for info and are now aware of the discrepancies in the story.
jay2001- Posts : 117
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Re: THE SMETHURST FILES - 2. An attempt to extract money from an unrepresented litigant
Hello Jay,
It does seem to me that the actions of team McCann and some of their supporters are counter productive and are making people who may previously have been sympathetic question their version of events and start to do their own research. Some of what I have seen today (thanks to a good friend giving me some very interesting links) has astounded me and the use of CR to sue anyone who expresses themselves in such a way which is not to the satisfaction of the McCanns is utterly disgraceful. It seems to me that their approach is bullying and it reminds me of good old Captain Bob Maxwell and how he used threats of suing for libel, slander, defamation etc to prevent the truth about him and his dodgy practices being revealed. The truth about him did eventually come out, but only after he died.
I would dearly like the truth to be revealed, especially as it seems many have forgotten that at the heart of this is the disappearance of a 4 year old girl, a fellow human being.
It does seem to me that the actions of team McCann and some of their supporters are counter productive and are making people who may previously have been sympathetic question their version of events and start to do their own research. Some of what I have seen today (thanks to a good friend giving me some very interesting links) has astounded me and the use of CR to sue anyone who expresses themselves in such a way which is not to the satisfaction of the McCanns is utterly disgraceful. It seems to me that their approach is bullying and it reminds me of good old Captain Bob Maxwell and how he used threats of suing for libel, slander, defamation etc to prevent the truth about him and his dodgy practices being revealed. The truth about him did eventually come out, but only after he died.
I would dearly like the truth to be revealed, especially as it seems many have forgotten that at the heart of this is the disappearance of a 4 year old girl, a fellow human being.
Bob Southgate- Posts : 161
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Re: THE SMETHURST FILES - 2. An attempt to extract money from an unrepresented litigant
Bob Southgate wrote:
I would dearly like the truth to be revealed, especially as it seems many have forgotten that at the heart of this is the disappearance of a 4 year old girl, a fellow human being.
I hope the truth will come out one day but I am not convinced the Met Police investigation will be deep enough to ask the searching questions that need to be asked and it will end up as a monumental waste of public money at a time when police resources are stretched tight.
Yes, Madeleine is at the heart of this saga and most of us believe her parents and T7, possibly to a lesser extent, know exactly what happened to her. So why have they not been interviewed by the Met? People have been posting various theories as to the true purpose of Operation Grange but I would be very interested to find out why you think the Met's investigation won't be deep enough.
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There is a taint of death, a flavour of mortality in lies... Heart of Darkness by Joseph Conrad
Ribisl- Posts : 807
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Re: THE SMETHURST FILES - 2. An attempt to extract money from an unrepresented litigant
Ribisl wrote:Bob Southgate wrote:
I would dearly like the truth to be revealed, especially as it seems many have forgotten that at the heart of this is the disappearance of a 4 year old girl, a fellow human being.I hope the truth will come out one day but I am not convinced the Met Police investigation will be deep enough to ask the searching questions that need to be asked and it will end up as a monumental waste of public money at a time when police resources are stretched tight.
Yes, Madeleine is at the heart of this saga and most of us believe her parents and T7, possibly to a lesser extent, know exactly what happened to her. So why have they not been interviewed by the Met? People have been posting various theories as to the true purpose of Operation Grange but I would be very interested to find out why you think the Met's investigation won't be deep enough.
I believe it will hinge on the terms of reference they have been given to conduct their own investigation and I would be very surprised if the investigation team have been given carte blanche to carry out a full investigation. Section 9 of the Offences Against the Persons Act 1861 does allow for a UK citizen to be dealt with in the UK for offences of murder or manslaughter so if there was evidence that the McCanns did kill Maddie then they could be prosecuted in the UK.
But given who ordered the Mets investigation (Cameron) I think there will be huge amounts of egg on face if the investigation did reveal any evidence that the McCanns are culpable for Maddies death, assuming that she is dead of course. Knowing how the Met operates and protects its senior managers I am not hopeful. Do a google search on Detective Sergeant Howard Shaw for a good example of offences of misconduct in public office by his so called superior officers when he blew the whistle on dishonest practices within his own unit.
Bob Southgate- Posts : 161
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Met whistleblower forced out by officer he exposed
Tribunal rules that police colluded at top level to destroy the career of junior detective who reported one of them for cheating
http://www.independent.co.uk/news/uk/home-news/met-whistleblower-forced-out-by-officer-he-exposed-2052883.html
Thanks Bob
http://www.independent.co.uk/news/uk/home-news/met-whistleblower-forced-out-by-officer-he-exposed-2052883.html
Thanks Bob
____________________
There is a taint of death, a flavour of mortality in lies... Heart of Darkness by Joseph Conrad
Ribisl- Posts : 807
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Re: THE SMETHURST FILES - 2. An attempt to extract money from an unrepresented litigant
Hello Bob, welcome!! I will be most interested to follow your posts, any perspective from a police point of view enhances the discussion IMO.
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The truth will out.
Smokeandmirrors- Posts : 2458
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Re: THE SMETHURST FILES - 2. An attempt to extract money from an unrepresented litigant
Smokeandmirrors wrote:Hello Bob, welcome!! I will be most interested to follow your posts, any perspective from a police point of view enhances the discussion IMO.
Thanks for the welcome and I look forward to being able to freely express my opinions, now that I am retired, without having to worry about the Department of (Un)Professional Standards pursuing me for daring to express myself.
Bob Southgate- Posts : 161
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The Complete Mystery of Madeleine McCann™ :: Team McCann :: Information: Kennedy / Smethurst / Halligen / PI's
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