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Upside Down Fax Costs 100 Million Euros
from the whoooops dept
People make mistakes all the time, but how often can you think of a simple mistake that cost in the range of a 100 million euros? It's even more impressive when you realize that mistake was putting important documents into the fax machine upside down. A lawyer (you wonder how much he was paid per hour) trying to fax a 100 page document outlining the European Commission's case against a bunch of banks for running a cartel couldn't be bothered to look at the instructions, and put the document in upside down. Since the court ended up with 100 blank pages instead of an argument, they ruled for the banks.
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Let he who is without sin...
I'd call the person in question a moronic idiot if I hadn't made the same mistake myself... of course mine wasn't a 100 page legal brief nor was it worth 100 million euros...
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Errr
I'm not so sure about this. My wife has been working as a legal assistant, and had to take documents to the court in person (or registered mail I suppose, but it's only 10 miles away from the office) because they wouldn't accept faxes.
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Re: Errr
I agree, what nitwit doesn't fedex or courier the documents as well...
Chris.
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Commission VS Cartel
Possibly he did it on purpose. I imagine the banks/cartel would pay a handsome sum to cause this "error".
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That reminds me of a joke
A judge has heard a long and complex commercial case, and retires to his country cottage to write up his verdict - which is suitably long and complex itself. He returns to London to deliver it. However, as the court convenes he realises with horror that he's left the verdict on the table back in the rural retreat.
"I'm terribly sorry," he says to the courtroom. "I'm unable to continue as I've not brought the verdict back with me. It's stuck down in Dorset, and I'll have to recess until I can retrieve it."
One of the solicitors has an idea. "Fax it up, m'lord?" he says, helpfully.
"Yes, I'm afraid it does rather." says the judge, sadly.
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