Some legalese translated


Everybody knows that in the courthouse words do not mean what they actually mean. Here is a nice example of how far it can go.

Summary of the case: the defendant (a contractor) never paid back the deposit he took to do the work and never did the work either. Instead of filing a civil suit the customer managed to get him charged criminally; prosecutor and I agree to have the case dismissed upon payment of the money back to the customer. We go in front of the judge for disposition.

Judge: The court would be much more content with a continuance without a finding!
(translation): Prosecutor, come on, could you not press her to make the defendant actually plea? That would have made it easier for me: I could later threaten him with a jail sentence if he does not pay on time, or if I feel like punishing him further for it!
Prosecutor: Well, the Commonwealth is more concerned with rapid return on the money and the proposed disposition seems to address this exact issue.
(translation): Judge, by God I tried my best to scare the bitch into it! If I press more she will just take it to trial and she will win it too, because my case is not great at all, and the victims will be left without money altogether. This way at least they will have their money returned at some point...
Judge: Well, if that's what Commonwealth wants, I will accept that...
(translation): Screw you both and the horses you rode in on too...
Prosecutor: Thank you, your Honor.
(translation): Oh, whatever, can I go now? I have seven more cases today.
Me: Thank you, your Honor.
(translation):

 
Notio: standing with the fist
Закладки: :
15 June 2009 ; 06:38 pm
 
 
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From:[identity profile] luzhin.livejournal.com
Date:2009-06-16 04:39 am (UTC)
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...have the case dismissed upon payment of the money back to the customer

Is contractor going to be actually punished?
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From:[identity profile] ikadell.livejournal.com
Date:2009-06-16 01:41 pm (UTC)
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No. He has to return the money and if he does it on time, the only punishment will be the court fee - $150.
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From:[identity profile] yurymakarychev.livejournal.com
Date:2009-06-18 12:44 am (UTC)
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А если не вернёт? Или будет тянуть время?
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From:[identity profile] ikadell.livejournal.com
Date:2009-06-18 04:06 am (UTC)
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Тогда дело вернется на предыдущую стадию, то есть его снова попробуют судить. Лучше бы ему вернуть все своевременно...
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From:[identity profile] yurymakarychev.livejournal.com
Date:2009-06-18 04:39 am (UTC)
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Как интересно: получается, что, "from a layman's perspective :-)", совершил ли человек преступление, зависит от его будущих действий. Если он вернёт деньги -- то не совершил, если не вернёт -- может оказаться, что и совершил. Не думал, что такое возможно.
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From:[identity profile] ikadell.livejournal.com
Date:2009-06-18 02:24 pm (UTC)
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Юрка, внимательнее.
Если вернет деньги, которые по собственному признанию неправедно удерживал - дело закрыто. Если денег не вернет - дело возвратится на стадию, когда судья будет решать, закрыть ли его. Может быть, что и до суда с присяжными доцарапаемся.
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From:[identity profile] yurymakarychev.livejournal.com
Date:2009-06-18 03:02 pm (UTC)

Это я понимаю :-)

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Под "может оказаться, что и совершил" я имею в виду, что потенциально (и, скажем, в аналогичном деле) может так произойти, что если человек не заплатит, его будут судить и признают виновным. А если бы заплатил, был бы невиновным (с точки зрения юристов, конечно, "case dismissed" ≠ "not guilty"; но с точки зрения layman-ов большой разницы нет :) )
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From:[identity profile] ikadell.livejournal.com
Date:2009-06-18 03:17 pm (UTC)

Re: Это я понимаю :-)

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Да, так правильно
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