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 Post subject: Photographer sued
PostPosted: Mon Aug 06, 2012 9:44 pm 
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Wedding photographer sued for $300k for doing a great job, did this happen to anyone you know?

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5dUplt-h ... ure=g-vrec

pretty disgusting if you ask me.


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 Post subject: Re: Photographer sued
PostPosted: Mon Aug 06, 2012 11:31 pm 
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Sounds like the client just plays the part of a lawyer on tv.

Actually that initial letter sent to the photographer sounds very much like the definition of blackmail. Give me money or I'll ruin or harm you. I'd be giving those documents to the police and letting them investigate the guy for blackmail and hopefully charge the idiot.


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 Post subject: Re: Photographer sued
PostPosted: Mon Aug 06, 2012 11:51 pm 
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Hahaha...no pictures were taken of the bar or buffet line...

https://dl.dropbox.com/u/8185/SUMMONS%26COMPLAINT.pdf


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 Post subject: Re: Photographer sued
PostPosted: Tue Aug 07, 2012 12:07 am 
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I can understand someone being angry about this, but Gary Fong is supposed to be a professional speaker...don't think much of him anymore! If the judge saw this video he/she wouldn't think much of him as an expert witness. It' one thing to say you were disgusted by this is one thing, but to keep using those finger gestures in the video...


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 Post subject: Re: Photographer sued
PostPosted: Tue Aug 07, 2012 9:25 am 
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Where's Judge Judy?!

Suing for 300k is just ridiculous. Poor photographer will be in the news no matter if at fault or not, that's the sad part. I'd sue back for defamation if it actually went to court.


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 Post subject: Re: Photographer sued
PostPosted: Tue Aug 07, 2012 12:21 pm 
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Remember the lawyer who sued the dry cleaners a couple of years back...and do a Google search on SUES HIMSELF for more laughs (and how sad society is).


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 Post subject: Re: Photographer sued
PostPosted: Sun Aug 12, 2012 4:03 am 
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Lan Nguyen with
LAKE WASHINGTON LAW GROUP, PLLC
11625 RAINIER AVE S #302
Seattle, WA 98178
Tel: 206.834.6698 Fax:206.420.6858



Sounds like blackmail to me, though I'm no expert.


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 Post subject: Re: Photographer sued
PostPosted: Sun Aug 12, 2012 11:04 am 
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Wow. This must have really bothered Gary Fong if he couldn't stop himself from giving the finger. MANY, many times.
I think that although this touches all photogs on a personal level, specially those of us that do wedding photography, he could have perhaps controlled his finger puppetry a little, since it feels like he's giving anyone who's watching the video the finger, instead of lame-o lawyer.
However, I feel Nelson was a sitting duck for this one. Anyone should know that there's always someone out there out to to "fudge" with your livelihood, professional scammers that live and get rich suing individuals and businesses with good intentions and bad judgement. ( By bad judgement I mean, how can you do a wedding w/o a contract? And how can you be a professional and still agree to hand over you raw images to anyone, including the outtakes? That baffles me, that people are so naive and trusting, and careless with their business.)
If I was Nelson Tang, I would simply draw up a counter proposal, suing this lawyer for millions for defamation of character, blackmail, emotional distress, financial distress, etc etc etc. That would probably shut him up right away. I would also petition the BAR to have his license taken away for wrong usage of it. Further, I would definitely open a police file, going on record that he got threatening mail from this lawyer, where he blackmailed him for money without cause as well as threatened his entire life, including home, all income, business, etc etc. He could get away with even getting a restraining order against this d-bag.
Sadly enough, this happens more often than not, and not just on the wedding business.
I'm ashamed to say that I also fell for the NO CONTRACT scam. When I first started as a photog, I had problem with a client because I didn't get a signed contract. I actually had a bride say after the event that she thought it was a "gift" because I was friends with whoever indicated me (O>O) and didn't feel she had to pay me, since It was my first time shooting a wedding by myself ( where I wasn't the second shooter) .Basically, I had to do the job for practically nothing, not wanting to go to court or ruin my rep, and up to this date, I still shudder everytime I think of that. Lesson learned : always put everything down on paper. Specially the agreed price, and what it entitles the client to.
Nowdays, I don't take the lid off my camera without a consent form and a contract when it comes to weddings.


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 Post subject: Re: Photographer sued
PostPosted: Mon Aug 13, 2012 3:03 am 
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My jaw dropped when I saw this on petapixel...


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 Post subject: Re: Photographer sued
PostPosted: Mon Aug 13, 2012 12:32 pm 
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Two things to take away from this mess. The first, as everyone else has said, is GET IT IN WRITING. The second, which might not be quite as evident, is FORM A CORPORATION. This can be used to limit your exposure, in a case like this. Operating as a sole proprietorship means that you are personally exposed. If this is really how you make your living, and not just a sideline, then you MUST operate as a separate legal entity.


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 Post subject: Re: Photographer sued
PostPosted: Wed Aug 15, 2012 9:39 pm 
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Instead of starting a new thread for this nonsense I thought here works...

Nutjob model doesn't read or understand contract


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 Post subject: Re: Photographer sued
PostPosted: Wed Aug 15, 2012 9:55 pm 
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ions wrote:
Instead of starting a new thread for this nonsense I thought here works...

Nutjob model doesn't read or understand contract


First rule - always READ the contract before you sign.


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 Post subject: Re: Photographer sued
PostPosted: Wed Aug 15, 2012 10:10 pm 
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And you've read the TOS for your Apple devices? ;) Nonetheless, good advice.


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 Post subject: Re: Photographer sued
PostPosted: Thu Aug 16, 2012 1:13 pm 
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I've seen the photographer's work, it's not exactly award winning.


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 Post subject: Re: Photographer sued
PostPosted: Thu Aug 16, 2012 1:40 pm 
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jordanfaust wrote:
ions wrote:
Instead of starting a new thread for this nonsense I thought here works...

Nutjob model doesn't read or understand contract


First rule - always READ the contract before you sign.


Well 'unlimited use' doesn't give license for defamation. If she can make that case......


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 Post subject: Re: Photographer sued
PostPosted: Thu Aug 16, 2012 2:54 pm 
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hollysayso wrote:
I've seen the photographer's work, it's not exactly award winning.


After reading this, I looked up his work and I have to agree...his work is not the type that is breathtaking, amazing, Supercalifragilisticexpialidocious and all that.
But it's passable, decent, and definitely not bad enough to become a lawsuit.
I think the reason the photography community needs to take up this suit has not much to do with just how good ( or not) he is, but the principle. The bullying and outright blackmail. If something like this passes in court, every photographer out there becomes vulnerable to money grabbing scam artist that can cite this as precedent, whether they have fudged up, or not.
also, it is a warning to all photographers starting out and building their business...It emphasizes learning how to protect yourself, your business, and your reputation.
But yeah, I wouldn't give Nelson Tang a medal.


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 Post subject: Re: Photographer sued
PostPosted: Thu Aug 16, 2012 7:36 pm 
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The moral of the story. Always have a written contract. There are tons of examples available on the web you can grab and customize to suit your needs. It protects you and the client. It may not stop all whack jobs from suing you, but it will help make short work of the lawsuit (in most cases) and allow you to recoup legal fees.


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