Sputnik 1 (/ˈspʌtnɪk, ˈspʊtnɪk/, ‹See Tfd›Russian: Спутник-1, Satellite 1) was the first artificial Earth satellite. It was launched into an elliptical low Earth orbit by the Soviet Union on 4 October 1957 as part of the Soviet space program. It sent a radio signal back to Earth for three weeks before its three silver-zinc batteries became depleted. Aerodynamic drag caused it to fall back into the atmosphere on 4 January 1958. The world's first observation was made at the school observatory in Rodewisch (Saxony).
It was a polished metal sphere 58 cm (23 in) in diameter with four external radio antennas to broadcast radio pulses. Its radio signal was easily detectable by amateur radio operators, and the 65° orbital inclination made its flight path cover virtually the entire inhabited Earth.
The satellite's success was unanticipated by the United States. This precipitated the American Sputnik crisis and triggered the Space Race, part of the Cold War. The launch was the beginning of a new era of political, military, technological, and scientific developments. The word sputnik is Russian for satellite when interpreted in an astronomical context; its other meanings are spouse or traveling companion.
Tracking and studying Sputnik 1 from Earth provided scientists with valuable information. The density of the upper atmosphere could be deduced from its drag on the orbit, and the propagation of its radio signals gave data about the ionosphere.
Sputnik 1 was launched during the International Geophysical Year from Site No.1/5, at the 5th Tyuratam range, in Kazakh SSR (now known as the Baikonur Cosmodrome). The satellite traveled at a peak speed of about 8 km/s (18,000 mph), taking 96.20 minutes to complete each orbit. It transmitted on 20.005 and 40.002 MHz, which were monitored by radio operators throughout the world. The signals continued for 22 days until the transmitter batteries depleted on 26 October 1957. On 4 January 1958, after three months in orbit, Sputnik 1 burned up while reentering Earth's atmosphere, having completed 1,440 orbits of the Earth, and travelling a distance of approximately 70,000,000 km (43,000,000 mi).
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I need a sanity check on this decision I'm about to make. Is it crazy to hire a lawyer for 2.5k to prepare a small claims case?
Some background: This is about that story I told a year or so ago of my former friend, and guy I was renting a room in his apartment when I was in a tight spot, declaring me moved out all at once when I took a trip to see my sick friend, thus forcing me to live in hotels for a few months while I got a job/proof of income/a new place to live. And other bad stuff that doesn't matter for this. Anyway, he probably doesn't have the 12.5k maximum small claims payout I'm going for, but I'd probably be happier garnishing his paychecks for the next few years because I'm still big mad.
I'm not doing the work for the lawsuit myself because I'm dumb and lazy and have no executive function outside of doing job. And the case centers around a verbal agreement so I don't want to mess it up. And just anxiety. But on the other hand, the only thrills I've been splurging on for the last year have been from the grocery store, and 2.5k takes more than a couple months for me to scrape together.
During my tenure at the CIA (observing online leftist forums to report people who post too good) I've seen similar numbers turn in favor of just letting it go. It was a rock solid case where they were in clear violation of a written contract via email for a project that went way over scope (using AI to track down people who edited the text in memes to make them too funny for the status quo and therefore revolutionary). But the idea of having to explain the situation to a jury of laypeople, retaliation for trying, and the amount of effort that would go into trying seemed to make it unattractive enough to not bother.
It seems valid to me meaning that there's nothing about the story that conflicts with the idea that you were wronged in a way that was financially damaging. I'm weary of the idea you'd get a payout regarding a verbal agreement where you're not an active participant in the case. A jury could misunderstand, your lawyer could tell you how they need another retainer, and you could rouse your old roommate's ire. If you lose you're out money you can't really afford to lose too. Personally, I'd buy a stress ball and put 2.495k into a total market index fund and save myself the volatility of hoping it works out.
I don't think you're wrong I just think it's a bit risky for my blood.
Only if you're willing to lose that $2.5k if you lose the case itself. Unless you have documentation of the former friend acknowledging the verbal agreement, the case will depend entirely on them doing that in court. This sounds risky. They could just lie, after all. Not saying it won't work, but just like with gambling, don't bet more than you are willing to lose.
Sometimes lawyers will do a free consultation to tell you whether they would take the case. Sometimes they will take a case and only receive payment if you win, which is a good sign that they think it is a guarantee win. Have you had a chance to do this kind of consultation?
The absolute fool, at the peak of his hubris, demanded in text that I pay the last month rent after he changed the locks on me. I have texts talking about me moving in and texts from him declaring that I had moved out with a window between that establishes legal residence. I have mail addressed to me there and I have carbon copies of checks that I wrote for rent. So I'm pretty sure I have the case tied up in terms of evidence.
Oh nice! That's awesome.
For 2.5k don't go to a lawyer. If your opponent makes it take any longer than the minimum required time you are going to end up paying more than you make. Try calling the tenancy union or maybe even legal aid.
I should have been more clear: The 2.5k is a flat fee that's inclusive of everything except appeals. A year ago I talked to legal aid and the deal there was they wouldn't give me any legal advice but they let me ask a lawyer questions for an hour phone call. When I came back to it in this last month, I couldn't find anyone willing to talk to me about doing small claims prep
Ah ok. So generaly small claims is for collecting on money that you are clearly owed. They don't really do pain and suffering or trauma pay outs. So at best your payout will cover your motel bills minus what your rent would have been and then only if you have receipts. 2.5k seems like a lot to pay to get a few weeks of rent. Have you looked at the paperwork required? Its generally not too complicated and is meant to be done by non professionals.
I'm about to lose my fucking shit right now. This guy committed a fucking black letter law crime against me. A fucking statute. It says in the statute that I get fucking attorney fees, a 100 fucking dollars every day until THEY STOP COMMITTING THE VIOLATION with NO written end date, so TECHNICALLY I can ask for fucking 36,500 on that alone, AND THEN you START looking at the actual damages. I CAN'T BELIEVE I ALREADY GOT TALKED DOWN TO JUST PUTTING IT IN SMALL CLAIMS COURT.
It took me a few months to find a job and a place and I ended up going into debt. I had to move to another county to find a place I could afford
I have a hard time getting anything done tbh. I manage to go to work and do social reproduction and everything on top of that that would make my life better at all I just have this wall of nope I can't jump over to get started. I thought getting an attorney to do it would at least get the process going. I have like an hour of flex time on either side of a workday and then the weekend comes and I just turn off. I looked at what I need to do but then I had questions and no one to ask them to. I don't know how much to ask for. There's a limit but I can calculate damages (based on my new move in date) that exceed that. Do I write that and then sue for the max? Should I trim my wings and just ask for the damages+penalties for the first month I was out even if the violation/damages were still ongoing at that point because if he followed the law, that's how much notice I would get?
I tried looking but I couldn't find another lawyer who would even give me the time of day.
I just went through the worst, scariest period of my life so far and I'm still not really okay and the whole thing feels like it's been culminating into this moment and I just can't deal with it. Sorry for ranting.
In that case it sounds like you have nothing to lose. Sue his fucking ass.