So angry my stomach hurts.
I guess I don't have much experience dealing with unreasonable / downright hostile people, so it always comes as a shock that there are people out there willing to be unpleasant for no sensible reason.
Am involved in negotiations as part of my "fake work", and from the start I felt like I've been bulldozed over by the "lawyer" on the other side. We agreed for her clients to pay mine $3,000.00 to settle a claim, but unfortunately, I got my instructions mixed up and have no actual authority to accept that amount (too low).
Other people in my group had the same problem, but all of their parties agreed to re-negotiate and pay out a higher amount. EXCEPT MINE.
A catalogue of her reasons:
1. "We've already signed the Terms of Settlement."
Yes, we were the ONLY ones who signed because she told me she was going to be away next week and is pressed for time, so I spent an hour on Monday night typing out the 3-page document so we could sign it immediately after negotiations. If I had been lazy and just waited a day or 2, she wouldn't have anything to go on! Friends, behold the benefits of being lazy!
2. "I asked a 'litigation expert' and he said the Terms are valid, so I don't see why I have to go back on it."
Yes, sure, it's valid from YOUR point of view but I have NO BLOODY AUTHORITY TO SIGN so where does that leave me you selfish person?
3. "I don't have time to redo it again."
*Deep breath* The ONLY thing that has to be changed is the actual figure on the settlement. I'd like to know exactly how long it takes to change "$3,000.00" to "$5,600.00". Besides, if you have time to go and consult a "litigation expert", HOW COME you don't have those measly seconds to retype those figures?
4. "I don't have instructions from my client to settle for that amount."
Amazing that she can say that with a straight face when EVERYONE in her group is settling for that amount - including her instructor, who negotiated with my friend. One person in my group managed to negotiate a settlement for $15,000.00, but kindly agreed to reduce it to $5,600.00 upon request because she didn't want to cause trouble for the other side. If only my person would be so courteous...
5. "If I do it again, I might not get it done in time and I'll get marks taken off."
First, it's another 24 hours till the file is due (a few seconds to change the figures would suffice). Second, I get the sense that it's not okay for YOU to get marks taken off but it's somehow okay for ME to get marks taken off or even fail my file because I can't close my file without your bloody cooperation thank you very much.
Whew~~~
I wish I could videotape my expression while talking to her... it'd make good entertainment.
But in the meantime, wish me luck (I really need it) so that I can close my file and submit it without any additional drama!
*wishful thinking*
