Is that accurate? Being charged with a crime but then having charges subsequently dropped shouldn't show up in a background check. Plus, given their line of work, I think in their profession it would basically be a badge of honor.
This isn't a felony case. In fact, I'm not sure it ever was? It's not clear from their amended complaint, but they were ultimately charged with simple trespassing, a misdemeanor. Those trespassing charges were themselves dismissed a few months later.
What we're talking about today is the resolution of what looks to me (not a lawyer) mostly like a defamation case. Were they defamed? Absolutely. The problem is, to get anything useful out of a defamation case, you need to demonstrate damages. They were accused of a crime --- per se defamation --- but the point of the suit is to recover damages.
I don't want to be glib, and I'm very prepared to be wrong, but the Dallas County Courthouse Incident is likely one of the top 3 world events to have happened to both these pentesters. They've been cause celebres in the field for years and years. It might be pretty tricky to actually demonstrate damages.
They were arrested, arraigned and bonded for felony charges. Those were later reduced to misdemeanor charges and the case was eventually dropped/dismissed (can't remember which) - so they were facing felony charges for a while.
The 6 year, $600K lawsuit was something they initiated against the county.
The initial charges against them were initially dropped to misdemeanors and then dismissed entirely, but that was a separate matter resolved earlier.
Even being charged without conviction can result in a serious reduction in job opportunities.
Is that accurate? Being charged with a crime but then having charges subsequently dropped shouldn't show up in a background check. Plus, given their line of work, I think in their profession it would basically be a badge of honor.
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Probably not in this case though.
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how much did those lawyers cost to get the criminal charges dropped?
600k would certainly be on the high end, but 50k wouldn't be crazy.
and then impacts for their career, sheer ineptitude of the gubmnt, etc.
It seems like a lot. It's not like they were in court full time.
This isn't a felony case. In fact, I'm not sure it ever was? It's not clear from their amended complaint, but they were ultimately charged with simple trespassing, a misdemeanor. Those trespassing charges were themselves dismissed a few months later.
What we're talking about today is the resolution of what looks to me (not a lawyer) mostly like a defamation case. Were they defamed? Absolutely. The problem is, to get anything useful out of a defamation case, you need to demonstrate damages. They were accused of a crime --- per se defamation --- but the point of the suit is to recover damages.
I don't want to be glib, and I'm very prepared to be wrong, but the Dallas County Courthouse Incident is likely one of the top 3 world events to have happened to both these pentesters. They've been cause celebres in the field for years and years. It might be pretty tricky to actually demonstrate damages.
They were arrested, arraigned and bonded for felony charges. Those were later reduced to misdemeanor charges and the case was eventually dropped/dismissed (can't remember which) - so they were facing felony charges for a while.
Lost clearances at least must count for something.
Did they lose clearances? If they did, it's not in their civil complaint.
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I'd gladly take such a payout.
Split 2 ways, that is still 300k.
Parked in an investment at 5% a year, that's an easy +$15,000/year for the rest of your life.
Once the lawyers take their cut, you could probably split a ham sandwich between the two of you.
Don't forget Uncle Sam's cut as well
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Which investment is that?
There are plenty of stocks, REITs, or ETFs that offer such returns.
Me, personally, I'd dump it into $O aka Realty Income or JEPI or JEPQ.
If you are risk adverse, just park it in VOO or SCHD.
World stock index funds yield something like that
Are you actually Michael from the channel?
How much did they spend on lawyers?
I would guess this would be a contingency case, which would typically be 40%.
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