昨天公司搞团队建设活动（team　building　activity）。好久不见的黎巴嫩人佳米尔来找我聊天。他曾经和我在一个小组工作过几年，去年调到别的部门。他经常向我讨教关于房地产投资的问题。他现在的房子就是在我的指点之下买下的。所以一见面，很自然就聊到了房子的事情。下面是我们之间的对话：

Do you know what happened to my house lately?
听说过我房子的事情了吗？

No.  What happened.
没有。房子怎么了？

I had a law suit against the builder and I won, I made some good money.
我告了我房子的建筑商，而且赢了官司。发了一笔大财。

Good for you!  how and for what?
不错呀！怎么弄的？凭什么？

A couple of months ago, this lawyer approached me and asked me if I am interested in participating a lawsuit against my builder.  Because there might be defects on your house.  And they said it costs me nothing if we loss the case, and we will split the money if we win.  I thought in that case, why not, then I said sure, I am in.  Then they asked other people in the community to participate . They found a bunch of professionals and made their case,  I never thought they indeed won the case.  we get a judgement of 104,000 bucks and I got 52 grants.
几个月前，一个律师找到我，问我是否有兴趣加入一场官司，控告我的建筑商。因为我的房子可能有建筑问题。他们说如果官司输了，我分毫无损。但是如果赢了，我就可以和他们五五分账。我想，既然如此，干嘛不？所以我说，当然。我干。然后他们又要求社区里的其他住户加入。他们找来一些专家，居然把案子做成了。我从来没有想到他们居然赢了这场官司。我们得到十万零四千元赔偿。我分得五万二千元。

So they filed a classic action against the builder?  How much the other home owners got in this case?
看来他们进行了一场针对建筑商的集体诉讼？其他参与的房主分得多少钱？

They got different money, some 1000, some 2000, I got the most of it.  But I am worried about it, do you think I did a right thing or not?
多少不等。有的一千块，有的两千。我得的钱最多。但是有点儿担心。你认为我是做对了还是做错了？

What the problem they found and what the compensation is for?
他们找到了什么问题吗？赔偿是因为什么？

They found my house foundation is one and half inch uneven.  and the professionals made the case in court saying this is a serious problem.
他们找出我房子的地基一边比另一边高出一点五英寸。专家们在法庭上说这是严重问题，并使法官相信了他们的结论。

How much money is needed for you to fix the problem?
你需要花费多少钱来维修以纠正这个问题呢？

Nothing.  the professionals say your house is fine.  you do not need to do anything.
一分钱也无需花。专家们说我的房子没事。我不需要做什么。

Well, if there is nothing wrong for now, how could they make there case in the court?
哼，如果没有事，他们怎么可以在法庭上如是说？

They are professionals and the judge takes their word.
他们是专家，法官相信他们的话。

Well, I guess you did a good thing for yourself because you had financial gain. But it is not necessary moral and it may be a desaster to the builder if they are small.  Do they have good reputation or had problem with other communities?
哈，我猜你为自己做了一件好事。因为你为此发了一笔小财。但是是否合乎道德就难说了。这事情对于一家小的建筑商可能是一场灾难。 他们声誉如何？在别的社区有过同样的建筑质量问题吗？

They are big company and have good reputation.
它们是一家大建筑商，名声也不错。

OK.  I guess they do not care about this small case, then.  The only thing I think might be that by getting this money, you loos your right to sue them in the future if your have really get problem and you have to fix it later.
既然如此，我猜他们也不在乎这样的小案子。另外一件事是，你得了这笔钱之后，以后如果你的房子真的有事需要维修时，你却没权告他们了。

The house have been built for 10 years soon so the warrant is expiring anyway.
这房子已经快满十年保修期了。

OK.  The other thing that might be a problem is when you sale you house, you have to disclose all the legal cases related to your house, which might cause concerns to the buyers and they may be discouraged to buy your house.
噢。还有一件事可能也会是个麻烦。就是当你需要卖你的房子时，你需要向买方坦白所有与房子相关的官司情况。 这个官司可能使买方不愿意购买你的房屋。

I asked the professionals and they said no problem, at that time, they can provide report and say this is not an issue.
我也问过那些专家了。他们说，没问题。来找我们好了。 到时候，他们可以为我出具房屋地基没有问题的证明文件。

听了这个故事，我感到无语。这可是民主美国下的法制。把这个故事写出来，恐怕也是个见仁见智的问题。我想要说的是，人们，我是爱你们的，你们可要当心啊。。。