A man walking along the street of a village stepped into a hole in the sidewalk and broke his leg. He engaged a famous lawyer, brought suit against the village for one thousand dollars and won the case. The city appealed to the Supreme Court, but again the great lawyer won.
After the claim was settled the lawyer sent for his client and handed him one dollar.
“What’s this?” asked the man.
“That’s your damages, after taking out my fee, the cost of appeal and other expenses,” replied the counsel.
The man looked at the dollar, turned it over and carefully scanned the other side. Then looked up at the lawyer and said: “What’s the matter with this dollar? Is it counterfeit?”