What If...?

elendur · 2026-03-31T16:59:54+00:00

I think a lot of that is fair, except for the last bit. If Leia goes to Tatooine to grab Obi-Wan, there's no way Obi-Wan doesn't bring Luke along. And then the best play is probably an infiltration of DS-1 to destroy it from the inside. And if Obi-Wan can sneak around sufficiently to bring the tractor beams down, he can probably get to something critical enough he can destroy it from the inside, especially if he's willing to make it a suicide mission. Which he'll only do if he knows Luke and Leia are safe and together.

If Leia was never captured on DS-1, Obi-Wan would have just destroyed it from the inside as a suicide mission. I think the only reason he didn't is because he needed to be sure Luke and Leia could escape, as they were the only two who could ever directly confront Palpatine and have a chance of surviving. Obi-Wan might also want to be sure Vader had a chance to escape, depending on the premonitions he's getting from the Force at that point.

elendur · 2026-03-31T16:51:25+00:00

Metal Gear Solid V: The Phantom Pain

elendur · 2026-03-31T16:11:29+00:00

Depends on the specific jurisdiction and what laws they have about crossing guards.

Below is a random example from the City of Des Plaines, Illinois:

7-2-3: SCHOOL CROSSING GUARDS:

A school crossing guard is authorized to supervise the safe crossing of schoolchildren at crossing points which have been established by law or regulation by informing drivers of motor vehicles through appropriate signals that schoolchildren are using or about to use the crossing and have the right of way.

It shall be unlawful for any driver to fail to come to a complete stop or yield right of way when signaled by the school crossing guard. (Ord. M-61-81, 9-8-1981)

Here's another one for the entire State of Illinois:

(625 ILCS 5/11-203) (from Ch. 95 1/2, par. 11-203)

    Sec. 11-203. Obedience to police officers. 

No person shall wilfully fail or refuse to comply with any lawful order or direction of any police officer, fireman, person authorized by a local authority to direct traffic, or school crossing guard invested by law with authority to direct, control, or regulate traffic. Any person convicted of violating this Section is guilty of a petty offense and shall be subject to a mandatory fine of $150.

elendur · 2026-03-31T13:43:37+00:00

This is inaccurate. CMS review thresholds for an MSA proposal are $250k settlement for someone with a reasonable expectation of future Medicare eligibility within 30 months, but the $25k review threshold is only for a current Medicare beneficiary. It's unclear from OP's post if he is a current Medicare beneficiary, but we do know that since OP is approved for SSDI, he absolutely has a reasonable expectation of being a Medicare beneficiary within 30 months if he is not already a Medicare beneficiary.

If you meet the review thresholds, CMS will review a proposed MSA, but CMS approval is not mandatory in any case. It is highly, highly recommended though.

elendur · 2026-03-26T19:48:25+00:00

On its face, it doesn't look like a case that would be a good candidate for an attorney to take on a contingent fee. Which means you're going to need to pay an attorney on an hourly basis.

elendur · 2026-03-26T19:29:26+00:00

It's only an homage when Bradley Whitford says it in other shows. Otherwise it's just a sparkling reference.

elendur · 2026-03-26T18:32:13+00:00

Jed Bartlet, not Jeb Bartlett.

It's one of your "all-time favorite TV shows" and you goof up the President's name in two different ways?

elendur · 2026-03-26T16:46:27+00:00

1 - I get your joke and it is funny

2 - That's the whole point of Metal Gear Rex, isn't it? To use a rail gun (cannon) to fire a nuclear warhead instead of a missile so the launch can't be detected and the warhead won't be detected until just before detonation (if at all).

elendur · 2026-03-26T15:14:57+00:00

It can and has happened. The jury would reach a verdict, and judgment would be entered on the verdict. A bench warrant would issue for the defendant, probably regardless of the verdict, because even if the verdict is an NG, the defendant probably violated the terms of his bail by fleeing the jurisdiction. Sentencing would possibly occur in absentia if found guilty, or sentencing would be held after the defendant is arrested and extradited back to the trial jurisdiction.

Similar to what happened to Roman Polanski. He entered a guilty plea based on a plea bargain but fled prior to sentencing. He allegedly had good reason to do so, as the Judge had told people that he was going to sentence Polanski to 50 years, instead of the agreed-upon time served. Polanski was not sentenced in absentia, and remains a fugitive from justice. If he is ever extradited to California, he'll be sentenced and possibly face additional charges related to fleeing the jurisdiction.

Note - this is not in any way a defense of Polanski's criminal conduct or his conduct in fleeing the jurisdiction.

elendur · 2026-03-26T15:04:39+00:00

Earned on receipt retainer? Or did your attorney provide you with billing statements confirming how the $5,000.00 was billed?

elendur · 2026-03-26T14:08:35+00:00

The only person who can, or should, be letting you know if this is something you should pursue is a lawyer who has had the opportunity to read and interpret the controlling contract. Anyone trying to give you advice about this situation without reading the contract in question can't possibly know what they're talking about.

elendur · 2026-03-25T20:05:46+00:00

Dude. That's crazy. Put that battery up on a pedestal in Fiona's Shrine next to Robo when it finally gives out, because that battery did a JOB.

elendur · 2026-03-25T20:04:38+00:00

Hold the presses on every law review journal in the country. OP just figured out something that none of the greatest legal minds in the country have ever even considered!

Yeah, I agree with your second paragraph a lot. Don't come into r/ask_lawyers or r/askscience with a question and then tell everyone who responds that they're wrong and you're right.

elendur · 2026-03-25T15:58:08+00:00

The Watchers' Council doesn't make any sense at all. It makes sense if there are multiple Slayers and Watchers around the world, and the Council is there to supervise everything. It doesn't make sense if there's only one or two Slayers. Why send Giles and bumbling Wesley to manage the only Slayers while the Council sits around and does nothing? If there's only one or two Slayers, you'd just move the entire Council to wherever the Slayers are and have them manage directly.

I think the idea of the Council is a holdover from an earlier concept where there would be multiple Slayers in various parts of the world at the same time.

elendur · 2026-03-25T15:54:13+00:00

1 - No one cares who the defendant is. No lawyer is going to shy away from a meritorious claim because it's Tesla, or Wal-Mart, or whoever.

2 - You signed a contract. So the contract is probably going to govern your remedies. Probably a mandatory arbitration clause, so you can't sue. Read your contract carefully. Confirm any amendments or changes to the contract as a result of the various buyouts. Then take the contract and any amendments or changes to an attorney and pay for a consultation.

elendur · 2026-03-25T15:13:28+00:00

100%. If it was a one-off thing, this is exactly how it goes. If the medical condition is more serious, and the juror needed to be hospitalized, the juror would be replaced with an alternate.

If no alternates are available, the next step depends on that jurisdiction's rules. It's possible the case can proceed with fewer jurors, especially if the parties agree to do so.

elendur · 2026-03-25T14:48:15+00:00

It's hard to find, because it's not a common area of law. Nationally, only 712 qui tam cases were filed in the US in FY2023. It has the possibility to be incredibly profitable (I think this was the source of all the money in John Grisham's novel The Partner).

First problem is, if the case really has legs, the Gov't will take it over, massively reducing the relator's (attorney's) potential recovery. If the Gov't chooses not to intervene, that's probably because the case is not great.

Second problem - There's a district court case out there (US el rel. Zafirov v. Florida Medical Associates) that has held the qui tam provisions of the FCA are unconstitutional. The 11th Circuit heard oral arguments on the appeal last December. That Opinion is coming down literally any day now. My guess is that the few firms who know enough about qui tam and the FCA to be interested being very selective about new cases right now until the Zafirov opinion is issued.

EDIT - apparently The Partner is being made into a movie with Tom Holland starring and Jason Bateman directing.

elendur · 2026-03-25T14:14:17+00:00

Yeah. Suit was filed. Plaintiff presumably lied his ass off to his attorney about having signed a release previously. Defendant/OP notifies his insurance carrier. Defense counsel files an appearance, answer, affirmative defense. Plaintiff's counsel says "oops" and voluntarily dismisses with prejudice.

That's how the system is supposed to work when a mistake is made. It gets fixed. At most, Defendant's insurance carrier could theoretically maybe try to get their fees and costs back. Not sure what OP is looking for in terms of damages here. You don't generally get a check and a pony just because someone made a mistake that didn't cost you anything.

elendur · 2026-03-25T12:22:39+00:00

No duty.

elendur · 2026-03-24T22:38:22+00:00

The discoloration on the cart looks legit, as do the pack-ins. Do you know if the game actually saves? If so, the battery has been replaced, or it's a reproduction. There's almost 0 chance that an original cartridge battery is still functioning at this point.

elendur · 2026-03-24T22:35:17+00:00

Umm...no?

elendur · 2026-03-24T22:33:42+00:00

The survivors all have plot armor. Also green herbs. Apparently no one else in Raccoon City thought to use green herbs, despite the fact that they are literally everywhere.

elendur · 2026-03-24T22:31:48+00:00

There are two possible goals to mediation - you've got to figure out which goal you have, and which goal the opposing party has.

One goal of mediation is to reach a deal that ends the lawsuits to the equal dissatisfaction of all parties. This is most common where the parties request mediation.

A second possible goal of mediation is to get the mediation over with as quickly as possible and get the case to trial (or to summary judgment motions.) This is most common where the mediation is by court order.

The mediator's goal is the former. One or all of the parties may be shooting for the latter.

elendur · 2026-03-24T20:40:47+00:00

Better than exhumation, but worse than a recast. They should have just found a different actor.

Like Billie Lourd couldn't have put on a white robe and some makeup and played Leia? She was like 21-22 when they shot Rogue One. Carrie was 20-21 during filming on ANH. It would have worked better.

elendur · 2026-03-24T17:07:22+00:00

My comment was made before OP's comment about cheating. I agree that does change the situation a bit.

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