Some Teeter, Some Tip.

There's a fine line between artistic talent and insanity, and some cross the line rather spectacularly.

I had a potential client come in on what had been described to me as a copyright problem and accompanying litigation, and they had been referred to me from another person who had been represented by another attorney that I know.

Well, it really wasn't a copyright problem as described.

The potential client comes in, lugging a tone of stuff including a huge box full of large prints of paintings.

The first clue something is amiss is that she wants to meet in a room without a computer and no cell phones because people can listen in on them.

Then it gets better.

You see, she's not just being sued for not paying for prints from a printer for a couple grand in small claims court and he's withholding the original print images from her.

No, instead the printer is in fact the mastermind behind a CIA/NSA/Mafia conspiracy that is surveying her, including overflights of her house by low flying aircraft, surveillance bugs in her walls, clicking sounds in the house and they are watching her through her TV, and following her wherever she goes.

And that's just for starters.

It gets better including random people approaching her on the street saying they know what she's been doing in her house, or even when she's in her hotel, to the printer being able to make people disappear, to having the TV newscasters repeat things back to her that she says.

Understand that she solidly believes this and is absolutely convinced this is actually happening.

Can you say Paranoid Schizophrenia or the very manic stage of Bipolar Disorder boys and girls?

Gently asking as to whether she's seen a psychiatrist she answers she doesn't like them and the medication prevents her from painting. That's another pretty good clue right there.

Apparently she wants to counter-sue the printer for her damages from this grand conspiracy against her.

Ok then. I point out that we don't practice the kind of law she wants and really can't assist her in her quest.

Needless to say I'm not representing this person and gently and repeatedly indicated to her that we can't represent her, and she's not happy about that and expects us to do it anyways.

Eventually it gets through to her that we're not going to do so and she should seek help elsewhere.

Sadly, she clearly needs help, not of a legal nature but rather of a psychiatric kind. But, as she's not overtly threatening or a danger to herself or others there's nothing I can do.

Hopefully someone that knows her intervenes and gets her the treatment she very clearly needs.