Hacker News Board Hacker News, browsed like a classic message board
Live data from Hacker News

Ask HN: Founder claims I never purchased options, but I deposited checks

news.ycombinator.com

Post reply on HN
Print view View original

21–30 of 34 posts

Re: Ask HN: Founder claims I never purchased options, but I deposited checks

#21

Post by unstatusthequo »

hamandcheese wrote: post #19
jedanbik wrote: post #18

Find an attorney. Don’t give us any updates. Consider deleting this. This posting could be considered legally discoverable. Not hard to figure out who you are from your submission history. Best of luck.

Why would it matter if this was discovered?

Attorney here. Specialize in e-discovery.

Because he said something at all. Though, HN is probably not akw hanging fruit for anything. Unless your founder is here and knows you are. Or if you re-use that username then when they look for your social media they will find it.

Re: Ask HN: Founder claims I never purchased options, but I deposited checks

#22

Post by bradleyjg »

unstatusthequo wrote: post #21
hamandcheese wrote: post #19

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Why would it matter if this was discovered?

Attorney here. Specialize in e-discovery. Because he said something at all. Though, HN is probably not akw hanging fruit for anything. Unless your founder is here and knows you are. Or if you re-use that username then when they look for your social media they will find it.

Okay, suppose they discover this post. So what? How does that prejudice his case in any way?

Re: Ask HN: Founder claims I never purchased options, but I deposited checks

#23

Post by pnmahoney »

this shit happens - don't work with founders who show even the slightest sign that they are there to fuck you, because that means they are. not a lawyer/doctor/veterinarian etc - but if you have the discretionary cash get a consultation with an attorney, even if (and it may end up that) the value of your options does not exceed the cost of that initial look

Re: Ask HN: Founder claims I never purchased options, but I deposited checks

#24

Post by javajosh »

unstatusthequo wrote: post #21
hamandcheese wrote: post #19

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Why would it matter if this was discovered?

Attorney here. Specialize in e-discovery. Because he said something at all. Though, HN is probably not akw hanging fruit for anything. Unless your founder is here and knows you are. Or if you re-use that username then when they look for your social media they will find it.

Isn't it too bad that he doesn't name names? Isn't that what reputation should mean, that we fear having it tarnished by our bad behavior? If victims aren't even willing to go that far, then why believe them?

Re: Ask HN: Founder claims I never purchased options, but I deposited checks

#25

Post by hnmullany »

By the way, don't necessarily attribute bad intentions to the founders. Many startups do a terrible job keeping track of who executed what, and it's not uncommon to find cap tables that have significant errors and omissions.

Note that even if your shares are worthless - you can take the tax writeoff, but you do need to get documentation from the company that the common stock had no value so you have something to show the IRS if you're audited.

Re: Ask HN: Founder claims I never purchased options, but I deposited checks

#26

Post by tudorw »

If you get in the situation where you think you might need a lawyer/attorney, talk to one, they are generally approachable sorts, if you don't trust one, talk to a few, as others have pointed out, this is the first and only step to take if you are considering action.

Re: Ask HN: Founder claims I never purchased options, but I deposited checks

#27

Post by adventured »

bradleyjg wrote: post #22
unstatusthequo wrote: post #21

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Attorney here. Specialize in e-discovery. Because he said something at all. Though, HN is probably not akw hanging fruit for anything. Unless your founder is here and knows you are. Or if you re-use that username then when they look for your social media they will find it.

Okay, suppose they discover this post. So what? How does that prejudice his case in any way?

They'll attempt to find a mis-statement, a slip up of any kind that doesn't jive with any part of the rest of the picture / claim in question. They may look at the post for anything negative directed at a given person or the company, or slander generally (eg second line from end). Even if it's a stretch. From there it's a short hop to tossing around a few legal threats to end or substantially complicate the entire thing for most people on the other side.

Re: Ask HN: Founder claims I never purchased options, but I deposited checks

#28

Post by avinium »

bradleyjg wrote: post #22
unstatusthequo wrote: post #21

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Attorney here. Specialize in e-discovery. Because he said something at all. Though, HN is probably not akw hanging fruit for anything. Unless your founder is here and knows you are. Or if you re-use that username then when they look for your social media they will find it.

Okay, suppose they discover this post. So what? How does that prejudice his case in any way?

You're right - I can't see anything that would possibly prejudice his case.

While it's typical for lawyers to instruct clients "don't say a word" - making it easier for them to control the narrative - in this instance, it's entirely unnecessary.

In other contexts, I'd go further and say it might even be risky to do so, given there are laws around deleting/preserving evidence when litigation is anticipated.

Here, though, it's just a fairly innocuous request for advice.

Re: Ask HN: Founder claims I never purchased options, but I deposited checks

#29

Post by justin66 »

hnmullany wrote: post #25

By the way, don't necessarily attribute bad intentions to the founders. Many startups do a terrible job keeping track of who executed what, and it's not uncommon to find cap tables that have significant errors and omissions. Note that even if your shares are worthless - you can take the tax writeoff, but you do need to get documentation from the company that the common stock had no value so you have something to show…

> Many startups do a terrible job keeping track of who executed what

It's not just the startups. The companies that handle the finance side for companies that experience liquidity events are fully capable of screwing up.

Post reply on HN