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I read this article series with sympathy, as this sort of thing is always painful to hear about, and there's always a sense that shady businesses are often able to skirt the bounds of decent behavior under approving eyes of the law. Sadly, the law is not often easily interpreted or utilized. Judge Merrick is actually a family friend of mine and despite his raspy smoker's voice and harsh demeanor, he is a warm, knowledgeable and fair man. If there is a lesson to be learned, I think it might be that a person should hire a lawyer to represent them in this situation. Especially since legal fees can be repaid by the defendant in the event the plaintiff wins....