Ben Edelman, Harvard’s terror-emailer – and the very embodiment of this blog’s signature category BEWARE THE B-SCHOOL BOYS – turns out to be a serial threatener of small businesses.
Four years ago, when a sushi restaurant wouldn’t honor his Groupon vouchers, he did it again, threatening to go after their license, etc., etc., etc., etc.
This time, though, the restaurant called his bluff, wished him luck with his complaints to the authorities, and told him that if he ever got near the place they’d call the police.
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Naturally, we’re all wondering what’s next. Will Korean Korners release a 2010 email exchange in which, in response to having been charged twenty-five cents for a second trip to the jasmine tea dispenser, Edelman promises to “take this right to the top, to my good friend, Harvard colleague, and current head of the Consumer Protection Agency, Elizabeth Warren”?
December 12th, 2014 at 7:35AM
There’s scope for a reality-TV series here.
Ben Edelman threatens the busboy with legal action for giving him a dirty fork.
Ben Edelman sues the paperboy for getting the NYT Magazine damp.
Ben Edelman takes the dry cleaner to the Supreme Court because he asked for light starch on his shirts, dammit.
December 12th, 2014 at 7:37AM
Alan: Yes. I’ve already updated the post with my idea along those lines…
December 12th, 2014 at 9:32AM
For someone who is supposed to be a Harvard law school graduate and admitted to the bar in Mass. he misread the statute. Treble damages are imposed only by the judge after a trial if the judge finds, first, that the defendant committed an unfair business practice and, second, failed to make a reasonable offer. The restaurant offered to refund his $4. Hard to see what was unreasonable about that offer. If he had filed suit it is likely that the judge would find hi suit frivolous.
December 12th, 2014 at 1:10PM
http://rwer.wordpress.com/2014/12/12/a-case-study-of-harvard-business-school-ethics/
December 12th, 2014 at 1:14PM
De minimis non curat lex… How come a Harvard law school grad doesn’t get that, and why is he teaching at Harvard?
December 12th, 2014 at 3:44PM
Harvard really needs a charm school for some of these prima donna types. Everyone with an h-index of some level should attend classes in how not to be a jerk.