exception, not the rule here.
gieco showed with a check that was to your liking. to me that's a done deal. what if geico showed with a check for $1000?
the reason you don't release the car is because it takes away all of your leverage. once they have it you can gar-un-gawd-dammn-tee that they are gonna wear your *** out trying to pay you as little as possible.
