Better Call Saul, Season 1

[Jimmy and Chuck arrange a meeting with Sandpiper's lawyers]

Rich:
Well, let's get started. We've read your revised demand; it's quite a laundry list, very creative.

Jimmy:
Yeah, creative. Like the way your clients have been billing my clients? Because that's, like, Salvador Dali creative.

Rich:
That's cute–you know you're not gonna make this stick. Setting aside evidentiary concerns–

Jimmy:
Whoa, your guys couldn't afford ten bucks for a padlock? That's on them: public property.

Rich:
Maybe a judge sees that your way, maybe he doesn't, but the damages for elder abuse? The statute requires proof that there was some undue influence. Someone threatening the residents of Sandpiper Crossing.

Alvin:
As far as I understand it, no one has claimed that there was a guy with a knife telling them to hand over their lunch money.

Rich:
There are a lot of assisted living facilities out there that may be disreputable, but that's not the case with our client, not even close. All their facilities, all 12 of them, every single one, five-star rated. You go to any one of them right now, and you know what you'll see? You'll see happy, healthy residents. Sandpiper takes care of these people, they don't bilk them...but, we looked into it and some of your clients have, in fact, been overbilled. It's a–it's an accounting error. It doesn't rise to the level of fraud–not even close.

Phil:
We've calculated the damages. All told, it's $46,320.

Rich:
Mhm. So, here's what we're prepared to do: we're gonna make your clients whole. A check for the 46 and change right now, and on top of that, we'll give you another 46K to cover your expenses. So what's that, 92? Let's call it $100,000, even. We admit to no wrongdoing, and your clients release all claims. [leans back in chair]

[Jimmy glances at Chuck, then retrieves the syringe invoice]

Jimmy:
I think you're gonna need to do better than that.

Rich:
Ah. This was in your demand letter. They're syringes. So? I-I don't know if you know this, but that's a pretty standard item in an assisted living facility.

Jimmy:
Correct, but it's not what it is that matters. It's where it's from.

Rich:
Lincoln, Nebraska?

Jimmy:
Go Cornhuskers. [beat] Well, since you're not picking up what I'm putting down, I'll explain it to you. Nebraska, although they both begin with the letter N, actually turns out to be a different state than New Mexico, so your client accepted shipments across state lines for its enterprise. I-in the U.S. mail, no less!

Rich:
Are you trying to make this a RICO case?

Phil:
Like our client is John Gotti, or something?

Jimmy:
Well, you know as well as I do, RICO's used mostly for business beefs. Sedima establishes a pretty low threshold for RICO provisions to kick in. Interstate commerce is a bitch, huh? As soon as we establish a pattern to–what was your word–uh, "overbillings?" I prefer the classic term of fraud. You're looking at treble damages, so your 100 grand? I think you know where you can stick it.

Rich:
...Will you give us a moment?

[Sandpiper's lawyers whisper to each other]

Rich:
Well, what number exactly did you have in mind?

Chuck:
Twenty million.

Rich:
Excuse me?

Chuck:
You heard me.

Rich:
Oh, you can't expect-

Chuck:
Twenty. Million. Dollars... or we'll see you in court.