One farmer visited a lawyer's office for advice.
“Your honor,” he said to the lawyer, “I came to you on a matter that worries me greatly.”
“Well, put everything in order,” the lawyer suggested.
“Suppose a river flows on someone’s property,” the plaintiff began. “And his neighbor, the one who lives downstream, blocks the river with a dam, and the water floods the first farmer’s plot. What can be done in such cases?
“There’s nothing to think about prosecuting him.” Take him to court! - exclaimed the lawyer, becoming, as always, in great excitement from resentment for his client. “We will demand compensation for the losses incurred, and the court will make him pay in full.” Entrust this matter to me, and I will be able to extract money from it!
- Stop, stop! - the complainant, who came for advice from a lawyer, was frightened. - After all, it was I who built the dam. The river is flooding the property of neighbor Jones, and he is threatening to sue me.
The lawyer froze only for a moment and swam further on his course: he was a flexible man.
“Well, well, sir, so you built a dam across the river.” What kind of dam is this?
- Well, you know, a dam for a mill.
- So, so, a dam for a mill to grind grain?
- That's right, your honor.
– And your neighbors found your mill useful, right?
- Yes, sir, that's right.
– Do they bring you grain to grind?
- Yes, sir, everyone brings it, except neighbor Jones.
- So, your dam serves to benefit people, right?
– Of course, otherwise I wouldn’t build it! And I invested heavily in it. No one in the area has such a mill!
“So, sir,” the experienced lawyer concluded, “they bring grain from all over the county to grind grain at your mill, and neighbor Jones wants to sue you just because there is more water in his stream because of your dam, right?” Well, let him serve. Just let him try, and he will curse the day he does it, I give you my honest, noble word...
Translated from Russian · original on wisdomlib.ru