"This isn’t a waste of money. This is the law."

Leo’s voice became as solemn as a judge delivering a verdict.

"Under certain specific circumstances, local governments enjoy sovereign immunity. This means that, ordinarily, you can’t sue the government just because the roads are in poor condition."

"But!"

Leo’s finger tapped heavily on the clause in the document.

"The law also provides for exceptions."

"According to Section 8542 of this state law, if a government agency has received ’actual notice’—meaning the government is explicitly aware of a danger—and fails to act despite having sufficient time to take measures..."

"Then sovereign immunity is waived."

"The government must bear full liability for damages."

Leo put away the document, his gaze piercing.

"Just a few days ago, the City Council, led by Speaker Thomas Moretti, formally signed for and received four thousand ’Hazardous Condition Notices for Pittsburgh City Public Infrastructure’ from the Department of Public Works."

"They signed for them, stamped them, and sent back receipts."

"What does that mean?"

"It means that, legally speaking, the City Council has been notified."

"They know Pittsburgh’s streetlights are broken, its manhole covers are missing, and its guardrails are busted."

"They know everything."

"But what did they do? They formed a verification committee and announced they were shelving the appropriations to conduct an ’investigation.’"

"What is that? That’s willful negligence. That’s deliberate ignorance."

"So."

Leo said, "Now, these four thousand hazards are no longer ordinary municipal problems."

"They are black holes of legal liability."

"Speaker Moretti has personally torn the government’s protective umbrella to shreds."

"Right here, in this pothole, Madam Gaiter broke her leg. Because the City Council refused to approve funds for repairs, the City Council must pay."

"If they won’t approve a few hundred US Dollars for repairs, then they’ll have to approve tens of thousands in damages!"

"This is the law! This is justice!"

Leo turned to the camera and extended an invitation to all the citizens of Pittsburgh.

"Citizens, if in the recent past you’ve sprained an ankle in a pothole, had your car damaged by a falling branch, or been robbed because of a broken streetlight..."

"Please, don’t just chalk it up to bad luck."

"I urge you to check our public records and see if the location where you were injured had been previously reported to City Hall."

"If it was, then you have the right to claim compensation."

"The Mayor’s Office has established a special legal aid fund. We will provide free legal services to every victim who qualifies."

"Since the City Council is unwilling to spend money to fix the roads, we’ll make them spend money on compensation."

"We’ll make them pay until it hurts, until they’re bankrupt, until they’re willing to pick up a pen and sign that damned budget bill!"

The room erupted.

Leo wasn’t just stating a legal fact; he was handing out weapons to every lawyer and victim in the city.

He was telling everyone: there’s a free lunch to be had! The government’s treasury doors are wide open, so come and get it!

"Madness."

"Utter madness."

Deep in Leo’s mind, Roosevelt’s voice was filled with admiration.

’Leo, you’re like a madman standing at the gates of a powder keg with a torch.’

’You’re not just attacking your political enemies; you’re attacking the unwritten rules of the entire administrative system.’

’You’ve turned the law into a weapon, into dynamite.’

’You’re telling all those greedy lawyers: Come and get it! Here’s a huge, juicy steak, and a government payout is a sure thing!’

’Do you have any idea what this will trigger?’

’It will unleash a tsunami of lawsuits.’

’It puts Pittsburgh’s finances at risk of collapsing overnight.’

’This is a suicide attack.’

’But...’

Roosevelt chuckled.

’Brilliant.’

’Against an old bureaucrat like Moretti, who just hides in his turtle shell, this is the only way—you have to set the whole house on fire to force him out.’

’Since he wants to play a stalling game, let’s show him what a total collapse looks like.’

「Less than ten minutes after the press conference ended.」

In several office buildings in Pittsburgh City Center, the atmosphere suddenly grew frenetic.

This was where the city’s sharpest, greediest, and most keen-nosed group of people gathered—personal injury lawyers.

They were commonly known as "ambulance chasers."

They made their living by taking hefty commissions from compensation awarded in car accidents, workplace injuries, and medical malpractice cases.

Normally, suing the government was the last kind of case they wanted to take on.

With the major roadblock of "sovereign immunity," these lawsuits were difficult to win, dragged on for ages, offered low payouts, and were often more trouble than they were worth.

But today, things were different.

In one law firm, senior partner Jack Stevens was staring at his television screen, oblivious to the coffee from his cup that had spilled all over the floor.

He heard the phrase: "actual notice."

He also heard the key piece of information: "public records."

As an old rogue who had been knocking around the legal world for thirty years, he understood in an instant what this meant.

It meant a reversal of the burden of proof.

It meant the government’s shield hadn’t just been shattered—the government had thrown the shield away itself.

As long as they could prove their client’s injury occurred at a location on the public record, the case was a guaranteed win.

This was like making a withdrawal from a bank.

"Quick!"

Stevens leaped to his feet, roaring at the open-plan office outside.

"Everyone! Drop what you’re doing!"

"Get on the Department of Public Works website! I want the detailed list of the ’Hazardous Condition Notices for Public Infrastructure’ that City Hall released!"