Hollywood Tycoon [US Entertainment + Business War]

"Of course we're interested in the 'duck' (American Family Life's trademark has a duck), but Mr. Sherman, we regret to tell you that we're very uncertain about this lawsuit." Jones Day Attorney After receiving the invitation from Old Bell, Xing sent a capable team to Los Angeles overnight.Lawyers have always been a very controversial profession in the United States. Many people don't like lawyers, but they can't deny that lawyers are a profession they must contact.American people often tease lawyers on various occasions, but once something happens to them, they are the first thing that comes to mind.

Jed is not disgusted with lawyers, and feels that there is no need to set too high a moral standard for a certain profession. After all, lawyers are just a commercial profession in the United States.Therefore, American lawyers attach great importance to "fame" and "profit", and "Jed Sherman v. American Family Life Insurance Company" is not only famous, but it is a case that is concerned by all media in the United States, even the New York Times and Columbia The broadcasting company has already driven the live broadcast car to Jed’s house; and the profit is very high, not to mention that the compensation that American Family Life Insurance Company had to pay would be very high. In that case, some media estimate that if Jade wins the lawsuit, American Family Life Insurance Company will pay at least 700 million to 800 million US dollars in compensation, and Jones Day Law Firm will be able to share at least 150 million in legal fees.This was 1989, when prices hadn't soared, and $800 million was enough to buy two more houses in Beverly Hills.Although Jones Day coveted the legal fee, their professional ethics still led them to decide to urge Jed to settle out of court with American Family Life Insurance Company, because in court, a "contract fraud" is enough to make the insurance company lose money. Completely voiding the contract would also land Jed Sherman in jail.

As for the "Jed Sherman v. Todd et al. case", Jones Day would not have a headache. Even without the intervention of Deloitte, they would have a [-]% chance of winning the case.It's just that with Deloitte's accounting report, it's almost a certainty.However, what puzzled Jones Day was that the contract between Deloitte and Jade has not been finalized until now.Of course, Jones Day didn't know that Jed was on the verge of bankruptcy.

The only thing that made Jed feel a little bit good news was that his debt problem with Bank of America was quickly resolved. After all, the deposits and bonds left by the old Sherman are still relatively large, and it is not too big to pay short-term debts. trouble.But what annoyed Jed was that Bank of America didn't say anything about their switch to Wells Fargo, and even the key account manager didn't show a hint of "consolation".Thinking about it, Bank of America has removed the Sherman family from the rich family in the bottom of my heart.

However, Wells Fargo was quite happy with the arrival of the Sherman family. It not only arranged for a dedicated investment manager and account manager, but also made a relatively loose evaluation of the debt level of the Sherman family, so that Jed could at least find a way to go to the Sherman family. Facing the current daily expenses.Even with such a tight schedule, Jed still has no intention of letting go of American Family Life Insurance Company.Those who stand by and watch, Jed doesn't hate them, and there is no reason to ask everyone to help the Sherman family; "American Family Life Insurance must be sued."

"Okay." The lead attorney in charge of the case shrugged, "You're the boss, we'll do what you say."

So the Sherman family once again became the object of attention of the whole city of Los Angeles after the "car accident and murder case". After all, the lawsuits against the large life insurance companies in the United States by upstart American families are not seen every day.Many people know that this case was caused by American Family Life Insurance Company's refusal to pay the Sherman family's insurance money, but the more detailed reason is unclear because it has entered the litigation process.But even so, the live broadcast trucks of the major TV stations were still stuck in front of the court to grab first-hand news.But to the regret of the reporters, "that dude" of the Sherman family did not show up for the trial.

Jed Sherman didn't know until now that he was actually a famous figure. Although he had good grades, otherwise he would not have been able to enter the film school of the University of Southern California.But the news about his flirtatious nature often appeared on the cover of the tabloids, and the young Sherman was not a female model or a female star. Everyone knew that the young Sherman loved a man.This was a relatively conservative period in the 90s and [-]s, and Sherman's "sleeve breaking habit" naturally became the target of the media.In addition, it has not been long since AIDS was discovered at this time, and the public did not know enough about it, so soon there was news in the newspaper that "Jed Sherman was denied compensation because he suffered from AIDS", which made Jed dumbfounded .Jed actually knew his sexual orientation since he woke up, but he didn't reject it.Because I was also a "comrade" in my previous life, but I never came out because of family pressure.

So Jed admires himself for being able to disclose his sexual orientation in such a conservative age.And as far as Jed's memory is concerned, his parents have always supported him. I have to say that Jed is really a happy person.However, the rumors about AIDS still shocked Jed. People in this era are not so high in unclean sexual behavior.However, the results of my anonymous hospital examination showed that I was not infected with any bad diseases, even AIDS.While there are no quick and reliable HIV tests in this day and age, there are methods that can be clumsy but effective in detecting HIV.So seeing his inspection report, Jed let out a long sigh of relief.

But Jed was not happy for too long. Just as he was suing others, he suddenly received a subpoena from the Los Angeles District Court. The "Sherman Family Development Fund" he controlled was sued by the Los Angeles government for alleged "monopoly" up.Jed hurriedly invited Jones Day's lawyers to study the subpoena, and the final result was that the "Sherman Family Development Fund" had indeed "monopolized".Because the "Sherman Family Development Fund" controls three TV stations and a film company in Los Angeles.Having three independent TV stations is enough to be sued for monopoly. What makes Jed feel that the original "Sherman Family Development Fund" is a jerk is that after they acquired a film production company and a film distribution company, they actually put The two companies merged into one company.

"Don't these bastards know about the 'Hollywood Antitrust Act'!" Jed was so angry that he slapped the table in the study, "A company can't own a production company and a distribution company at the same time, how stupid would it be? Wrong? Mr. Madison, what I want to know is that I am only a passive beneficiary of the 'Sherman Family Development Fund,' and I will be sued for it?"

"Mr. Sherman, although you are only a passive beneficiary of the 'Sherman Family Development Fund', and even we have evidence to prove that you are completely ignorant of the acquisition and normal operations, this does not hinder the 'Sherman Family Development Fund' monopoly facts." Madison shook his head pessimistically, "I suggest you negotiate with the government to sell these companies within the specified time limit to avoid high 'antitrust' fines. Apart from that, I have nothing else to do Law."

After sending Madison away, Jed called Old Bell in, and he asked, "Do we have anything to do with the government?"

"No more, sir." Old Bell naturally knew what Jed was worried about. Originally, the "Sherman Family Development Fund" was tossed about by Todd and others. The Erman Family Development Fund was really on the verge of bankruptcy.Seeing his old master's painstaking efforts come to an end, Old Bell felt inexplicably sad.

"We haven't reached the time to cry yet." Jed sneered, "Old Bell, do we have anything to do with the union?"

"The relationship between the master and the trade union has always been good, and the current trade union leader even owes him a favor."

"Go and invite him, now it's time for him to pay back the favor." Jed already had a plan in his mind.Although this plan is not above board, it is the only way to save yourself. "Also, if you hint to the people of Jones Day Law Firm, many insurance companies have an organization called the 'Department of Internal Risk Supervision of Major Insurance Policies', which is a breakthrough."

Although Old Bell had some doubts about these orders, he still carried them out without any doubt.Soon Old Bell replied that the union leader named Tom would like to have a short meeting with Jed tomorrow.As for Jones Day Law Firm, they have not responded yet, but said they will investigate and understand the "Department of Internal Risk Supervision of Major Insurance Policies".

As an investment bank manager, Jed read a lot of materials in his previous life, among which he mentioned that American insurance companies all have a "major insurance policy internal risk supervision department".They exist to isolate certain policies with large compensation amounts for investigation, so as to avoid the need to pay these amounts in the future.For example, he enthusiastically invites you to participate in insurance now, but when you need a large amount of compensation, the insurance company can produce a lot of evidence to prove that you have deceived them on certain issues.Often the client will be overthrown by such evidence, and the client can be forced to compromise even without going to court.Although such an institution is not illegal, it violates morality.After all, as a contracting party, no one wants to be secretly investigated by the other party.Especially if one party is a huge commercial insurance company, the customers of the other party will be very vulnerable.Once this is exposed, even if the insurance company can win the lawsuit in the future, their business image will be completely ruined, which means that they are not far from bankruptcy.

Now Jed only hopes that Jones Day's lawyers can have more evidence, so American Family Life Insurance Company will have to pay a high settlement fee to ask Jed to forgive him.As for TV stations and film companies, Jed picked up the relevant information and began to look it up.None of the three stations are directly affiliated or affiliated with a major network, nor are they cable stations.They are just local TV stations that broadcast programs in a small area, and they are basically in a loss situation.And that distribution company is about to go bankrupt, no wonder it merged with a well-capitalized film production company.But the type of film production company surprised Jed because it turned out to be an adult film production company.Because California law recognizes and protects adult films, in addition to having a huge film production industry, California is also home to the largest adult film industry in the world.And what surprised Jed the most was that this adult film company actually produced male-male romance action movies!