Hello.
First and foremost, I could explain my situation, how I lost a career due to my manager’s actions (stealing, forgery, embezzlement) and suffered a tarnished reputation as a result, but the details of that is somewhat unimportant to this article. What is important is what I learned from the experience: I am happy with what I have, and thank God for those things everyday, but that is not what this is about.
This article is about is something else:
You should not rely on too many people. Those who you might help one day may not be there for you tomorrow, as they have their own concerns. One should not concentrate too much on that however, for it is those people who will never know peace or a life of contentment. They may not even be aware of how empty they are, for certainly those that treat others poorly often do so because they do not know joy themselves.
Further, just as you never know how far an act of kindness may go, the ramifications of anger, hate or distasteful conduct may go well beyond the deed itself. Finally, this page is about why you should always pay attention to your online reputation and respective online presence.
So let me tell you a story.
The man on the screen is Rodney Lapidus. He is a personal injury attorney in Bohemia, NY.
I do not own the picture, as it is owned by its publisher. It appeared in a publication regarding a matter of public interest.
Some time ago, when I was a lawyer, I referred clients to Rodney Lapidus. Rodney Lapidus would evaluate the client’s claim, and then bring an action on the client’s behalf. If he received an award, he would send me a referral fee. This is common among lawyers, and he did just that in or around 2010.
Since that time, Rodney Lapidus handled a serious action of a client that I had referred to him about five (5) years ago. I met the client during a dinner event, spent a few hours speaking with him and then asked Rodney Lapidus to examine the case. It was during this five years that I had the aforementioned trouble with my former manager. He was accused of serious white collar crimes and found guilty. I was never arrested, charged or faced the threat of criminal prosecution, as it was clear that I was unaware of my manager’s actions. Nevertheless, many, including members of my own family, believed I was responsible for my manager’s actions and those relationships were lost. Fast forward to 2016.
I had heard that Rodney Lapidus had settled the case I referred to him around 2010. I realized that Rodney most likely spent many hours on the action compared to others, so I was not expecting to receive a large referral fee. When I did not hear anything from Rodney Lapidus, I thought this odd, as he had called me immediately upon settling the other action I had referred to him. I decide to check with him myself. I asked him if the case was settled, and he gave a very curt “yes” without anything more. With silence hanging, I asked if I could receive a small referral fee. Rodney Lapidus hung up on me. Rudely. I immediately called him back, asking why he had hung up on me in such a manner. Without anything more, he said “I did all the work, you did nothing, you’re a fucking crook,” and again hung up.
This man, who is supposed to act like a lawyer, a professional, hung up on me twice.
I will not say Rodney Lapidus is a bad lawyer. I will not accuse him of some lecherous act or deviant practice, but I will say this:
Rodney Lapidus, thank you. I am somewhat enlightened. I never knew how good it could feel NOT to care about getting money. However,
Rodney Lapidus, I’m sorry. I’m sorry that I offended you in whatever I did. I’m sorry that I called you after hearing nothing about your success. I’m sorry that, even if you chose to explain your reason for not even buying me lunch (as any professional would do as a ‘thank you’), you chose to act like a child, avoiding any civil discourse. I am sorry if you are miserable.
Is this why you work alone? Is this why I have never seen you smile? Is this why you acted so rudely to me? (you know, every page on the internet recommends doing one thing to those who refer you clients: saying "Thank you")
Finally, Rodney Lapidus, I’m sorry that you do not understand certain things like courtesy (like how I understand how I have not defamed you, because truth is the ultimate defense). If you want, I can name myself on this page, but I know you would not want to be linked with me, since you know how people judge you based on your online reputation. I know that merely putting someone on a page like Ripoffreport.com or scamalert.com or pissedconsumer.com can permanently damage their reputation (regardless of the complaint’s truth), but I will not do so. If you do not think so, just observe the case of Justin Romano of Blue Point, NY.
Rodney Lapidus, this page is about your rudeness. You didn’t pay a referral fee, yes, but the merits of that choice is debatable. There was no debate of course, because you cannot have a debate on the telephone when one person rudely hangs up.
You called me “A FUCKING CROOK”. There was nothing civil about that.
I would discuss this matter with you, but you have already said that you don’t want to talk.
And as you wish that others would do to you, do so to them.
Luke 6:31
"He who fights with monsters should be careful lest he thereby become a monster. And if thou gaze long into an abyss, the abyss will also gaze into thee."
Friedrich Wilhelm Nietzsche
This website is not owned by Rodney Lapidus nor has Rodney Lapidus contributed to its content. This website does not have any commercial value nor has it been created for any commercial purpose. The events described herein all occurred on or about May, 2016, and are of public interest. For informational purposes only. This page will update periodically and as necessary.
Mr. Lapidus' Contact info on Avvo.com is as follows:
Mr. Lapidus' Contact info on Avvo.com is as follows:
