Proper Living (3)
Piles of documents towered high. Lawsuits against the LAPD—City of Los Angeles Police Department—and related legal details, plus various attached documents on Anglo-American law interpretations.
I'd lived in the US long enough to know Anglo-American law, but the time difference meant it was handy to brush up on stuff like this.
Man, these are full of holes... Plenty of angles to exploit.
I was salivating over the legal loopholes when a familiar voice broke in.
"...Things are getting bigger than expected."
Ha Young-il, handling Alpha Fund management and the LA riots fallout, looked utterly exhausted... Eh, tough it out for a bit. Everyone else is busting their asses.
"Good. A mess this size means we can cozy up even tighter with the law firm, right?"
Insurers pegged the property damage at about $700 million. Of that, around $400 million hit the Korean community.
That's serious enough. If someone tried to make me cough up $400 million right now, I'd smash their skull.
Normally, victims get zilch in compensation. Even with insurance, riot damage is usually excluded—and it's way too big for the state to cover.
The surefire way? Track down every rioter who trashed property and squeeze them dry. Yeah, right, like that'll happen.
"Got any ideas on how to handle it?"
I shook my head.
"If I did, I'd be a lawyer."
That's what law firms are for.
May 3rd.
We'd made contact with LA's Korean community, seized the reins, and headed to the law firm.
"Our estimate puts it at $400 million... Can we get compensation?"
Quinn Emanuel's managing partner, John Quinn, smiled and nodded.
"Ah, of course, ma'am. Didn't expect a director from that famous Alpha Fund to grace us."
His face lit up with subtle delight, like he'd landed a prized client—though he was holding back out of respect for the riot victims.
"Sure, I studied in the US, but roots are roots, you know? Feels personal... Plus, some folks I know got hit in the riots."
"Ooh, makes sense. Heard Alpha Fund has in-house legal counsel as partners. Mind if I ask why our firm?"
Makes sense—he knew Ha Young-il's rank: Director. Second only to the figurehead CEO in our startup, where titles were fluid but impressive from the outside. The kind you pull in for private company advice now and then.
"Haha, wanted to keep this separate from the company. And... firms have different vibes, right? Alpha's counsel lacks class-action experience."
The partner nodded with a sly grin.
"Spot on. You've come to the right place."
I'd suited up for the first time in ages, flashing my killer business smile as we shook hands.
"Here representing a friend who got hit by the riots. Might be amateur hour to you pros... but wanted to get some experience."
A touch rude—could piss off a sensitive type. But he kept his pro smile and probed.
"Ah, got it. Considering your fund manager isn't from LA... Are you here repping the Korean community?"
"You could say that. Not LA-born myself, but my family and friends? We carry weight in Koreatown."
It was the '90s. Koreatown was mostly first- and second-gen immigrants from Korea. Their armed self-defense during the riots? Thanks to mandatory service and Vietnam scars—Koreatown vibes weren't far from Korea's.
Unlike average Americans, drop "Daeha Group heirs" and they'd be awed.
Perks of name value.
Scream that the chaebol daughter nearly died here, and even thugs back off. The firm, thorough as ever, had pre-researched the community and knew it well.
"Yoo Ha-yeon... Ah, I see. Daeha Group—the ones heating up the semiconductor market?"
"Haha, glad I picked this place. Yep, Daeha Group."
Fun talking to sharp minds. Semiconductors and Asia? Not on most radars yet.
Showed how meticulously he'd prepped—no internet era, and he'd gathered this in a day.
"Heard Korea's civil law... Know the difference between common law and civil law?"
"Common law: precedent and unwritten law. Civil: codified statutes. That's why this case matters—no real precedents."
Even in civil-law Korea, you memorize precedents. Judges play conservative to set them sometimes.
US common law? Precedents rule harder. Stakes high here—big precedent, big rep boost.
"Oho, you know your stuff. I can keep it brief then."
He nodded approvingly and dove in.
"Figure you're not after criminal or cop punishment stuff, right?"
"Yeah, repping Koreans, not Blacks. I'd love to gripe about everything, but sticking to property damage."
Ha Young-il spouting bullshit. Truth? Just wanna extract cash on the side. Even a slice of $400 mil is huge.
"Three main paths to compensation: Prep insurance claims right, declare riots a national disaster for aid, or sue the state for protection failure."
"First one's a bust."
"Yup. If Korean shops had proper docs..."
Tax dodges mean underreported inventory. Not everyone's saints in Koreatown.
Claims might fly straight, but full payout? Nah.
"Second's too late given the mess. Leaves the state suit."
The partner confirmed.
"Solid legal ground. Prove police protection failed, invoke federal 42 USC 1983 for civil rights. Class action: pick a rep, hit equal protection and public safety duties."
"Proving it legally... and the media."
Press was anti-Korean now. Closed community vs. mainstream white cops—predictable.
He nodded understandingly, ticking off points.
"Yep. State court handles that. Judge's a Dem—prep well, get most compensation. Honest taxpayers get extras too."
Dem judge... I pondered.
Dems hit race issues harder than GOP, but... something off.
Recalling LA riots from my US days... better way...
Ah, right.
"Quinn, California courts have judge recusal, right? Civil cases, once unconditionally."
"Pardon? Oh, yeah. But this judge is decent... Recusal means next one's GOP."
"Gun rights issue."
Second Amendment. Right to bear arms. NRA's holy grail—not my fave, but...
Use everything available.