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This is no more than just another amusing story about lawyers, judges, and foreign litigants. A foreign litigant kept asking his solicitor in the middle of a somewhat long and difficult case how he weighed the chances of an ultimate victory. The solicitor time and again responded with the same answer, namely, that it was impossible to gauge the prospects because everything depended on whom the trial judge would more likely believe and, so far, he had given no indication whatever as to how he felt about the matter. Meanwhile, the trial continued on its normal course and there was no end to the conflicting evidence led on both sides. The weeks and months went slowly by and soon Christmas was approaching. One day, the foreign litigant discreetly enquired of his solicitor whether it might be a good idea to send a nice Christmas present to sweeten the trial judge. The solicitor was horrified, and after warning his client to do nothing of the sort, added, ‘I do not know what people do in your hometown. But the surest way to lose a case in this country would be to try to bribe the judge. Mark my word, and don’t do anything stupid. Leave the judge alone, and I’m sure justice will be done.’ The foreign litigant listened in utter silence and merely nodded to indicate that he understood. In the course of time, the lengthy trial came finally to an end and judgment was pronounced by the trial judge who readily found almost everything in favour of the foreign litigant. The solicitor was taken by his client to lunch to celebrate the longawaited victory. Champagne flowed and a gourmet’s meal was ordered. After warming up, the solicitor could not help saying, ‘See what I mean The Case of the Foreign Litigant Who Wisely Refrained from Bribing the Trial Judge 10 10 128 TALES FROM NO. 9 ICE HOUSE STREET about leaving justice to take its own course? I dread to think what would have happened if you had not hearkened to my advice against bribing the judge.’ The foreign litigant sipped his champagne and replied, ‘I sure listened to you. I sent the judge a huge present in the other fellow’s name!’ ...

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