As a professional cynic, I'd hold the happiness until the money is in hand.
Peter, you are so right on that point. CA does not allow for the recovery of attorneys' fees in civil cases unless there is a contract or a law that provides for it. That makes any lawsuit a self-funded war of attrition with PSA and its wealthy owners. Which is probably why PSA is not concerned with being sued over most altered cards it missed.
If it was my card, I would do one of three things:
1. Sue representing myself and put PSA through a financial meat grinder to force a settlement. Doesn't matter how rich they are if my costs are just my time and some filing fees.
2. Crack the card and resubmit it in person at a National or other show. I would video every step of the process--chain of custody--to prove where the card went every second from in the holder to PSA's custody. if PSA rejects it as altered, it would put PSA in a very uncomfortable position defending the original grade and that might get the case settled quietly and quickly.
3. Sell it as-is with a disclosure to the AH of what happened. Let's be honest here: there is a significant percentage of collectors who do not give a damn what anyone except PSA says and who will simply buy the card for the number on the holder. To them, the rest is just internet trolls stating opinions.
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