The suit nodded.
“I think you and your company are in a whole lot of danger if we go back into the courtroom, don’t you?” Stan asked.
The suit wavered, then responded, “Who knows what the jury will do? We can’t pay you that amount, but I can offer you one and a half million.”
Stan enjoyed watching the suit sweat. Bemused, he took his time before saying, “We both know that number is nowhere close to where it should be, so I am going to ignore it. Our client has been more than reasonable since being stopped by your company and you never wanted to stand up and do the right thing. So here is the final demand. My client will accept three million dollars for the punitive damage portion of the case.”
Stan stared unflinchingly into the eyes of the suit and continued, “I want you to speak with Ed alone. I’m sure Ed will tell you how reasonable the demand is. But before I walk out, there is one more condition to the settlement. You will have three minutes to let me know if you accept and if not we tell the judge to get the jury back down here.”
After telling his adversaries the parameters of the additional condition, Stan left the room to await their decision.
Five minutes later, Stan and Wagner returned to Jeri’s chambers with Wagner’s face flushed with relief.
“Are we ready to get back to the trial?” Jeri asked.
Wagner held up his hand and said, “Your Honor, I am pleased to report the parties have reached a settlement on all claims.”
Stan jumped in. “In addition to the jury verdict already rendered, Wendell’s has agreed to pay three million in punitive damages and has also agreed to change its shoplifting policy and forego the use of handcuffs.”
“Congratulations, I’m always happy when the parties can reach a resolution. Mr. Wagner anything else you would like to add?”
“One thing Your Honor−sometimes you think you are the best dancer, but then you realize other people know a lot more about dancing than you do.” Wagner started to gyrate his hips, but stopped and walked out of the courtroom.
Stan rushed out to go the hospital. Jeri yelled her congratulations and best wishes to Mike as Stan hustled to the door.
Martha Gebbert gathered her coat and slowly walked out of the courtroom with Stacey and Tanner at either side. She waved at Stephanie Regalski, who mouthed, “Congratulations,” while flashing a thumbs-up. “I hope you feel vindicated,” Stephanie yelled from across the courtroom. “I think tomorrow is going to be a better day for you.”
Epilogue
June 24, 2022
THE SUN SHONE brightly along the hills as Mike and Jeri pushed strollers through the park. Dogs ran in the field and kids played on the nearby swings.
“Soon that boy is going to be running all over the jungle gym,” Mike remarked while gesturing toward the toddler in Jeri’s stroller.
“Just look at how happy Ethan is,” Jeri replied, as she pointed to her husband happily pushing a giggling three-year-old on the nearby swing.
“Things certainly change quickly, don’t they?” Mike said wistfully.
“I suppose, but I’m sure there is a reason for everything.”
They walked further without talking. Jeri stopped and faced Mike. “Are you ever going to make it to Geneva?”
The baby in his stroller cooed. “I don’t know,” he said. “I love working with my uncle. Right now, it seems like the work we are doing is more important than the work I would have been doing in Geneva. I can’t believe I am saying this, but sometimes we make a difference in people’s lives. When we were in school, I thought going to Geneva was the most important thing ever. Now it feels different.”
“A lot of things aren’t like they seemed in law school. Maybe we were too close to things, but I don’t think we knew anything or anybody back then.”
“I know. Sometimes change is good. At least now my kids have a chance of getting to know their grandfather.”
“I hope so.”
Mike leaned on his stroller, faced Jeri, and asked, “Do you ever see Jack?”
“No. Not for a long time. I saw him being walked through the courthouse in cuffs sometime after everything happened. He pled out. That made me glad so neither one of us had to testify. He got out of jail after twenty-two months. Would’ve been a lot sooner except you aren’t supposed to hit a judge.”
“I heard he got disbarred.”
“That’s going to happen under those circumstances. Sometimes you’re going to lose a case. You have to learn how to deal with the unexpected. He never figured that out, I guess.”
Mike nodded and replied, “I thought the three of us were going to be friends forever. We were all going to be such successes. The future seems so much rosier before it gets here.”
“You and I have survived. You are doing well with your uncle. I’m still a judge. A little older and perhaps a little wiser, maybe, but we’re doing okay.”
“Remember what they told us first year in law school−’Look to your left. Look to your right. One of you won’t be here at the end.’ I guess that one person was Jack.”
Jeri nodded in agreement as she and Mike stood watching the kids on the swings. She slowly put her head on Mike’s shoulder. He gently reached up and stroked her hair.
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