Page 115 of Maddy's Justice

Marc made a show of looking at his notes. “No, we’re done for now. But I do reserve the right to recall if new facts or evidence comes to light.”

When the stenographer left, Lori told Connie, “Thanks for the discovery. My girls we’ll get through it in a couple of days then I’ll let you know what’s missing and what more I want.”

When Quinn said they would get through it in a couple of days, Marc was impressed. This morning, playing the games lawyers do, Connie had enough documents delivered to fill two large filing cabinets. More than Marc could get through in six months.

“When do you want to do the next depo?” Quinn asked.

Connie looked at Marc who said, “We’ll get back to you.”

“Okay,” Lori said.

Marc leaned forward, both arms on the table, looked directly at Quinn and said, “Lori give us a figure. A reasonable one that we can take back to our client.”

“Thirty million,” she quickly replied. “And another fifty put in a trust account for future…”

“Forget that,” Marc said. “They’re never going to agree to it, and you won’t get it in court with the case you now have.”

“There are already women they’ve done this to and settled with…”

“So what? This isn’t a prescription drug case with hundreds of thousands of people who used the drug. You have a very limited number of possible future claimants.”

Quinn knew he was right. This was not a potential mass torts class action case. She would be lucky to find another six or eight women to sue Stafford, Hughes for harassment.

“Get me the thirty-million and I’ll drop the trust fund claim,” she said.

“What do you base the thirty million on?” Connie asked.

“Five million each.”

“I can do the math,” Connie replied. “How did you arrive at that figure? Did you just pluck it out of the air?”

It was clear that Connie was becoming annoyed dealing with Lori Quinn. So far, Marc had done little of it. It had all been on Connie and she was tired of Quinn’s condescending attitude.

“What difference does it make? You asked for a number, there it is. Are we through? You can see yourselves out,” Quinn arrogantly added, stood up and left without another look.

Marc looked at Connie whose lips were pursed, jaw locked, and he expected flames to shoot out of her eyes.

“Well, that was interesting. I guess you and Lori Quinn aren’t gonna be pals after this, huh?”

Connie drew in a large breath of air through her noise then slowly exhaled. “You haven’t had to deal with her as much as I have,” Connie calmly said.

“It always helps these things go more smoothly when the lawyers can’t stand being in the same room with each other,” Marc said needling Connie.

“Hey, it’s not like you haven’t had your problems dealing with prosecutors,” Connie threw back at him while packing to leave.

“That’s different. Prosecutors see themselves as holy warriors out to throw my poor, misunderstood, totally innocent clients in jail.”

“You should do a comedy routine with that bleeding-heart drivel.”

“What do you think?” Connie asked Marc.

They were standing in the parking lot of the building where Quinn had her office. After four hours, Connie needed a nicotine fix and Marc would not let her smoke in his car.

“I think if the rest of them are half as good as Stephanie Chapple, Ken Jacobson will crucify us if we bring this into his court without settling it.”

“Yes, he will,” Connie agreed.

“I have to admit though, I can’t really blame Troy for taking a shot at her,” Marc said.

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