what does "figures as figures" mean?

Quit being obnoxious, Dale.

A life in journalism, knowing nothing about figures and facts, how sad..

Dale, stop being a jerk.

Figures refers to numbers. They don't change because someone doesn't like what they show.

Cen, Tim, isn't that pretty much what I had said

Treating "figures as figures" is a legal term used in disputes between parties in a civil court action, such as one company suing another. It means that both parties agree on money amounts attached to issues in the case, even if the liability is disputed. Often the complexity of cases can be reduced, and the issues narrowed, if the expert witnesses appointed by each side of the dispute can agree in this way. Meetings are held, and the more that can be agreed, the less there is to be argued in court. Thus savings in costs can be made for both sides, and the court can concentrate on the essential issues of legal principle and liability, rather than getting bogged down in arguments about money values. E.g. company A constructs a building for company B which is later found to have defects. Company B says it will cost $X to put them right. Company B sues company A, which denies liability either in part or in full. Expert witnesses appointed by both companies meet and come to an agreement about the cost, leaving the argument about who is to blame for the court to decide. Often the money to settle this type of claim comes from insurance companies, who have no desire to add pointless legal costs to their liability. If a case proceeds on a "facts as facts" basis then, in a like manner, essential facts in a dispute are agreed by both sides.

Thank you for the clarity.

My day job is in legal finance.

That means we are total opposites, I say, cheerily. Actually, not so, as I oft agree with you.

Well Cen I did indicate I was just guessing

You work in illegal finance? I should keep that quiet if I were you.

That's where Cen and I are also total opposites. He always seems to know the answer while I'm almost always guessing

No need to, I guess it's pretty obvious

The obvious inference is that you should shut the **** up..

Gee thanks Tim

Dale, why don't you write in threads where people don't have specific questions and not hopeful for a correct answer? Especially in ESL threads where mostly Chinese learners ask questions and have a limited time available on the internet, it is very rude and contra productive to give wrong answers and more importantly waste their time and everyone else too! It's a matter of respect and decency towards the person asking.

We all realize that you're 86 year old, but age doesn't give you the right to be so blatantly ignorant. There are plenty of thread topics where you can talk without hindering people from getting a right answer. Be a little bit more considerate!

Well said, CalamityJane.

I am fairly lifetime not interested in the world of finance as a way to live a life, and, subsequently, am on the poor side. Not sorry.

Oh right. I'm not rich, I meant I work in the finance part of a legal organisation. I sit at a desk juggling spreadsheets of other people's money, fees mainly, and sit in meetings about financial policy.

I consider Dale as the most passive aggressive person I've ever run across.

Not re this thread, but all of his threads.