Sued [rp with claire_simms ]

[neo_beethoven]

Schroeder couldn't believe it. Seven years of harassing people from behind a counter never landed him in this position. Neither did making his opinion a little too well known at times. No, it was his passion for music, something he never thought would land him in trouble that lead him to this position. He frowned as he read the letter in front of

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[claire_simms]

Claire looked at the phone on her desk as it rang. She was beginning to think the secretary pool forgot she worked there. Could this mean she finally had a new case?

Claire picked up the phone, "This is Claire Simms....how can I help you?"

[neo_beethoven]

Claire Simms... that wasn't a Chang, Poole, or a Schmidt, but he didn't think he would have gotten that lucky. She had to be good if she worked there, right?

"I am being sued. In my opinion the claims made are absolutely insane, but I'm no lawyer. I need legal advice at the very least, can you help me?"

[claire_simms]

"I'm sure I can" she paused briefly "I am an attorney."

[neo_beethoven]

"Good to know you aren't a receptionist. I'm certain that they are competent at transferring phone calls and make excellent coffee, but that's not quite what I'm looking for."

He wasn't sure how much to say or even where to begin. "A woman is claiming that I am using Beethoven for personal gain. She says it isn't about the music copyright, but because of the name of my band and use of his image on shirts."

[claire_simms]

Claire thought about what he said before responding,

"I thought everyone used Beethoven for personal gain. I guess according to her those little plastic busts of him they sell at concert halls have the same problem?"

"Who is she? And why does she feel she has authority to file a complaint Mr.---?" She could tell she was out of practice with new clients, she forgot to ask this one's name.

[neo_beethoven]

"I think she is just trying to scare me into giving her money because I must be some desperate musician. Please tell me that she is full of it."

He stopped to address her hanging question. He hadn't thought about introductions. "Schroeder. I don't have a first name so I assume I would still be a Mr. Schroeder."

[claire_simms]

"It sounds like she is. I mean, using Ludwig is easy enough to get around. There are other Ludwigs. I don't think she has any authority over his image either considering painting and photograph copyright is usually held by the person that painted the portrait or took the photo. As long as they're dead at least seventy years, you should be ok."

[neo_beethoven]

"We all know that he has been dead for well over seventy years. I doubt there's anything left of him to decompose."

He drummed his hands on the table in front of him, thinking. "She keeps threatening with the suit, how do I make her go away other than telling her to stuff it?"

[claire_simms]

"I could send her and her attorney a letter. Though that would cost money."

[neo_beethoven]

"If you sent the letter would she pretty much be guaranteed to stop?"

OOC: Sorry for the late tag! RL has been nuts lately!

[claire_simms]

"No, it wouldn't guarantee much of anything really. Though, it might scare her into stopping. We aren't exactly a little known firm."

[neo_beethoven]

"That would be sufficient. How would I pay you? Do you ah, take checks?"

[claire_simms]

Claire remembered a few of the musicians that she knew growing up in New York, no one had money, even the slightly successful ones.

"Only ones that aren't rubber." She paused, "I'll write the letter, and send it off. If I get a response from her attorney, that says they're going forward with the suit, then we'll talk money. If she's going to drop the suit, let me into one of your shows free."

[neo_beethoven]

Schroder felt himself exhale, not realizing how loud it was until he took a few moments to process.

"Done. That's easy." He lifted a hand to his glasses, adjusting them against his nose. "...you're certain about this?"

[claire_simms]

"Yeah" Claire said simply enough. "Just hope she drops everything."

[neo_beethoven]

"Cool. Thanks, Claire Simms. I'll look you up and send a gig schedule your way." Feeling like things were settled, Schroeder hung up the phone and grinned. Everything was going to be ok.

OOC: End here?