When people get scammed, they understandably want their money back yesterday. But scammers are sociopathic animals, not imbeciles. They do a good job of hiding what they are doing. Doing this in a way that gives victims the best shot at recovery takes work and a lot of it. We're happy to do the work for you at bergpc.com       Music: Cybertrooper [the better version] by Sascha Ende Free download: https://filmmusic.io/song/12240-cybertrooper-the-better-version License (CC BY 4.0): https://filmmusic.io/standard-license

When crypto is stolen in a pig butchering scam, it doesn’t disappear, though it certainly seems that way. Crypto is traceable. But how that’s done is difficult to explain. Chris Roberts is a forensic investigator focusing on cryptocurrency tracking. He joins the show this week to break down what crypto is, what the blockchain is, and how he finds the assets taken from clients who have fallen victim to this devastating crime. For more information, go to https://bergplummer.com/cryptocurrency-fraud-recovery/        Music: Cybertrooper [the better version] by Sascha Ende Free download: https://filmmusic.io/song/12240-cybertrooper-the-better-version License (CC BY 4.0): https://filmmusic.io/standard-license

At bergpc.com, we represent victims of crypto scams. The rage our clients feel at the person who defrauded them is natural. But it is likely the person they’re so angry at was lured from their country of origin by the promise of a good paying job, only to be kidnapped, tortured, starved, beaten, and held against their will in a remote corner of Southeast Asia – forced to steal. They do not profit and in fact they're lucky to survive. The people who get rich aren’t the same people who conned our clients – they’re overseas slaveholders. It is these depraved sociopaths we’re trying to sue out of business.           Music: Cybertrooper [the better version] by Sascha Ende Free download: https://filmmusic.io/song/12240-cybertrooper-the-better-version License (CC BY 4.0): https://filmmusic.io/standard-license

Mike Engelhart, judge of the 151st District Court in Harris County, Texas is about to find out. Before taking the bench 16 years ago, Judge Engelhart was a formidable plaintiffs’ lawyer, trying all kinds of personal injury cases. On January 1, he returns to the practice at Kherkher Garcia, the Houston-based, nationally recognized plaintiffs’ firm. How has his time on the bench changed his approach? What’s he learned? Who is his favorite lawyer, and can I guilt him into saying it’s me for the work I do at bergpc.com?          Music: Cybertrooper [the better version] by Sascha Ende Free download: https://filmmusic.io/song/12240-cybertrooper-the-better-version License (CC BY 4.0): https://filmmusic.io/standard-license

Some of the most wretched humans on the planet have figured out there’s a ready pool of people likely to fall for crypto scams – the people who’ve already fallen for it once. After stealing as much money as they can, they contact the same people under a different name, this time posing as lawyers able to help the victims recover what’s been stolen. For a small fee, of course. They’ve set up phony websites with AI images of lawyers, ready to get right back to stealing from the people they’ve already stolen from. For more on how to fight these scammers go here: https://bergplummer.com/cryptocurrency-fraud-recovery/     Plus, writing a letter to the judge explaining that you “misspoke” at the last hearing in order to correct the record and not leave the impression you were lying about something you got very, very wrong. Awkward.       Music: Cybertrooper [the better version] by Sascha Ende Free download: https://filmmusic.io/song/12240-cybertrooper-the-better-version License (CC BY 4.0): https://filmmusic.io/standard-license

When you mess up, you apologize – at least that’s what you do if you want to lose when you get sued. Why doing the morally normal thing is the worst choice you can make according to the Texas Rules of Evidence. Plus, Kamala Harris perfectly summarizes last week’s hour-long podcast in 29 seconds just to spite me and what it’s like to act as a judge for new lawyers (they are impressive as lawyers, I am impatient as a jurist). Note: A previous version of this edition indicated that the Texas Legislature sets the Rules of Evidence. That's incorrect and the episode has been updated. Thanks very much to an astute listener who pointed it out.            Music: Cybertrooper [the better version] by Sascha Ende Free download: https://filmmusic.io/song/12240-cybertrooper-the-better-version License (CC BY 4.0): https://filmmusic.io/standard-license

Other than lawyers and corporate executives, almost nobody really knows (or cares) what a fiduciary duty is, but everybody knows what betrayal means. When someone you trust turns on you, it can send you reeling. The same is true in business: Employees take your business’ secret information and start a competing company, a broker trades on your account just to earn a commission, a lawyer inflates a bill. In life, this is called “cheating.” In law, it’s breach of fiduciary duty. We deal with cases like this all the time at bergpc.com. Faithlessness is red meat for a jury – just about every member of the panel will have some experience with being betrayed in one way or another. Tying that feeling to the business equivalent and taking it to trial on today’s podcast.       Music: Cybertrooper [the better version] by Sascha Ende Free download: https://filmmusic.io/song/12240-cybertrooper-the-better-version License (CC BY 4.0): https://filmmusic.io/standard-license

After decades of insurance company propaganda about “lawsuit abuse” designed to get people to vote to deny themselves the right to recover if they’ve been hurt, jurors are now conditioned to believe injuries are exaggerated or even fabricated by the lawyers who represent victims. Houston injury lawyer Katie James (you know her as CarwreckKatie.com) joins to explain how she’s done it so successfully – how she picks juries, tries cases, presents and cross examines witnesses, and recovers for her clients. Stay tuned to the end to hear a follow-up Second Amendment discussion prompted by Vice President Kamala Harris’ warning that if you break into her house, you’re getting popped. And as always, check out all our shows at bergpc.com/podcast        Music: Cybertrooper [the better version] by Sascha Ende Free download: https://filmmusic.io/song/12240-cybertrooper-the-better-version License (CC BY 4.0): https://filmmusic.io/standard-license  

Dan Aykroyd is on the podcast. Do you really need more information? Ok, Aykroyd owns Crystal Head Vodka, which sued a competitor for stealing the bottle’s design. The design was created by Crystal Head’s other owner, legendary artist John Alexander. The case was tried, lost, appealed, sent back down. Then a new trial lawyer – one of the top 4 in the Berg family, David – took it to trial and won. Aykroyd, Alexander, and the other Berg join to tell the story – complete with an actual Perry Mason twist at the end.

George Clooney opines about politics – again – despite my previous ruling that he is not to be taken seriously pursuant to Tex.R.Evid. 702. I thought I made that clear. Trump, just one week after the episode on this topic, gives the perfect example of a rambling, incoherent, nonresponsive answer to a simple, direct question. His response is stricken. Next, the “get back to the constitution” crowd melts down when the copyright clause of the constitution is gotten back to and the Trump campaign is ordered to stop infringing on Shaft’s music. Finally, another week, another mass shooting; full text of the Second Amendment, not the NRA’s abridged version, is read and discussed.       Music: Cybertrooper [the better version] by Sascha Ende Free download: https://filmmusic.io/song/12240-cybertrooper-the-better-version License (CC BY 4.0): https://filmmusic.io/standard-license

If a politician is asked whether they voted yes or no on a bill and starts rambling about what an honor it is to be there and how a middle class kid from the Midwest never imagined they’d be in this position, there’s not much a reporter can do except ask the question again. But if a witness gives an answer like that, the judge will point his or her finger and order the witness to answer it with the threat of contempt (and, theoretically, anyway, jail time) backing up the order. All of life should be this way.

Every four years, Donald Trump whines about what people are “allowed” to say. But even Walter Sobchak knows prior restraint is unconstitutional. General rules, though, are made to be broken. A court could, for example, order a competitor to stop publishing ads saying the queso at Mar-A-Lago is made with greasy used bronzer and Aqua Net particulates (unless it’s true, and the makers of this podcast have no reason to believe it is, though it certainly sounds right). Business disparagement is a real and sometimes very damaging thing. Commercial speech is speech, but it isn’t exactly free. We handle many of these cases at bergpc.com.

Donald Trump thinks Kamala Harris’ huge Detroit rally was AI and nobody was really there, which is something a person says out loud in public if they’re not not mentally ill. If this was a lawsuit, Trump’s lawyers would be in front of a judge begging that he not be required to submit to a psychiatric evaluation - a fight they would lose. Plus, we hit a big milestone this week in the fight to recover stolen crypto for our clients at bergpc.com. A judge in Harris County, Texas entered an injunction freezing the wallets we identified – one more critical hurdle cleared before we find out whether we can get victims their money back.

Saying Trump "does things outside the guardrails" is understated at best. But what does that actually mean? Why does it matter when a candidate concedes and why does lying about an election harm customs and norms? You’d think the answer would be obvious – and you’re probably right, but what does that have to do with jury trials? A lot, actually. Let's discuss how democratic norms translate to courtroom conduct and respect for the rule of law as it relates to the case you’re going to email me about at gberg@bergplummer.com.   

Minnesota Governor Tim Waltz’s observation that “these guys are just weird” is making Trump act even weirder, which seemed impossible just two weeks ago. Is demeaning and humiliating your opponent through pithy and dismissive observations as effective in court as it is in politics? Well, yeah unless it turns out you're the weirdo completely lacking in self-awareness. But Trump and Vance aren’t the only freaks. Self-righteous leftwing aholes are on the attack against potential Democratic VP candidate Josh Shapiro because a lot of the people who say they’re interested in equality and justice for everyone actually hate Jews.

When the president exited the race, Trump argued Republicans should be reimbursed because Biden defrauded them into spending millions of dollars running against him. This, of course, is imbecilic but it raises the question: How do you prove fraud in court? Glad you asked! We also have a crypto update. This week, my team and I got a court order freezing wallets containing assets belonging to victims of "pig butchering." And radio legend Scott Braddock joins to hear me complain that Evan is more popular than I am.   bergpc.com   Cybertrooper [the better version] by Sascha Ende Free download: https://filmmusic.io/song/12240-cybertrooper-the-better-version License (CC BY 4.0): https://filmmusic.io/standard-license

After a worldwide IT outage blamed on Crowdstrike, the company’s CEO says it was a problem “we’ve caused,” which is an admission that makes lawsuits against the company that much easier. So how to deal with trying those cases? As in any trial, an attorney should address your worst evidence in your own case. That's something Geoff’s brother and sister liberals would be well advised to keep in mind when they start spouting hippie nonsense in response to the attempted assassination of Donald Trump. Don’t just make up things because there are facts you’d rather not face. And you'll hear from legendary trial lawyer David Berg (yes relation) on why trial lawyers should speak up in defense of democracy.   bergplummer.com   Music: Cybertrooper [the better version] by Sascha Ende Free download: https://filmmusic.io/song/12240-cybertrooper-the-better-version License (CC BY 4.0): https://filmmusic.io/standard-license

Now that Beryl has passed, insurance companies are going to be sending armies of adjusters to Houston eager to write checks. Paying you everything you’re owed makes them no money, so that’s not why they’re coming. They’re there to pay you as little as you’re willing to take while you’re desperate, which is going to lead to a metric ton of Beryl-related litigation. How and when to sue your chintzy insurer – discussion from an expert. And speaking of expertise: How expert testimony is admitted in court vs. how random loudmouths opine via their rectums in society at large.   bergplummer.com   Cybertrooper [the better version] by Sascha Ende Free download: https://filmmusic.io/song/12240-cybertrooper-the-better-version License (CC BY 4.0): https://filmmusic.io/standard-license  

When crypto scammers con you out of your money, it’s almost always gone and never coming back. Working with a team of extremely sophisticated investigators using technology understood only by indoor people, Geoff may have found some and is filing suit to find out. How (maybe) to get your stolen money back. And, in honor of the 4th, Geoff explains how we didn’t throw the baby out with the British bathwater.     Music: Cybertrooper [the better version] by Sascha Ende Free download: https://filmmusic.io/song/12240-cybertrooper-the-better-version License (CC BY 4.0): https://filmmusic.io/standard-license  

If the 'Hawk Tuah' girl lived in Texas, could she be fired for her enthusiastic endorsement of thang spitting upon? Geoff explains how free speech could cost you a steady paycheck. Plus, Geoff talks about what might happen if the City of Galveston tried to ban the kind of comments NBA legend Charles Barkley made about "America's Greatest Resort Destination" and illustrates the fundamental problem with Texas' attempt to curb online porn. Check Geoff out at bergplummer.com