Seated behind all the lawyers were their associates and clerks. Diane Krug had already ingratiated herself with Judge Salazar, and came and went as she pleased. She took a ringside seat in the jury box, a move no other underling would dare to try. Beyond the bar, several spectators waited. Sid Larramore of
Because it would be a bench trial with no jury, the atmosphere was more relaxed. Scheduling would be far less complicated. Judge Salazar entered from behind the bench, without a robe, and greeted everyone. She asked each lawyer, all six of them, to remain seated, turn off their phones, and introduce themselves. She welcomed them and made them feel at home.
The first matter was a discussion of discovery and how it was progressing. There were no complaints, so far. The usual pile of interrogatories and requests for documents were making the rounds. Depositions had yet to start. Mayes Barrow said, “Your Honor, we would like to begin with the deposition of the plaintiff, Lovely Jackson. It seems only fitting that she goes first.”
“I agree. Mr. Mahon?”
“Sure, Judge. May I suggest next Thursday at nine a.m.?”
Everyone lurched for their calendars. Busy people. Soon they were all nodding, primarily because a quick resolution to the title fight was wanted all around. If Tidal Breeze was getting sued, which happened all the time, its lawyers wrote the book on stalling and delaying. Monty Martin, though, was under strict orders from Wilson Larney to push hard for a trial.
Steven watched them for a moment and said, “And Your Honor, I’d like to borrow the courtroom for Ms. Jackson’s deposition. My office is on the second floor and not that, shall I say, spacious.”
“I see no problem, Mr. Mahon. The courtroom has been used before for depositions. There’s plenty of room and I’ll arrange security. Any objections?”
There were none.
Judge Salazar surprised them with the idea of a trial date. Discovery was just beginning. A trial seemed too distant. However, she had a one-week opening beginning on Monday, May 18, and set aside three days. Since they had plenty of time, she would not tolerate delays and requests for more time. In other words, get busy and let’s get it over with.
After the hearing, Diane drove to The Docks and parked on the street in front of Miss Naomi’s. She and Lovely were waiting on the porch, enjoying a beautiful day and a gentle breeze. It was time for tea.
From a brown bag, Diane removed a plastic bottle of herbal tea, with sugar, and three large coconut cookies from a downtown bakery. She cracked the seal and poured it into three tin cups, the same ones every time. Lovely really liked coconut cookies, and the bigger the better.
Lovely knew the lawyers were meeting with the judge that morning and was eager to hear what happened. Diane covered the status meeting from top to bottom, said things went well, and that her deposition was set for Thursday next week. Diane had already explained the purpose, formality, and importance of depositions — sworn testimony from potential witnesses that allowed the lawyers to learn more about the case. They could, and would, ask almost anything, regardless of the relevance. Depositions were often fishing expeditions, but they were nothing to worry about. Preparation was important, and Lovely would be ready. Steven would be there by her side. He’d sat through a thousand of them and would keep the opposing lawyers in line.
“Can we talk some more?” Diane asked.
“We’re talking now,” Lovely said with a smile.
“With the recorder on?”
“I suppose. You do ask a lot of questions.”
“That’s my job. We’re preparing you for the deposition and all those lawyers. That in turn will prepare you for the trial, which Judge Salazar wants to have next May.”
Lovely bit her cookie and kept smiling. She nodded and said, “Go ahead, dear.”
Diane pulled out a slim digital recorder and placed it on the small round table. “Now, last time, we were discussing your grandparents. You remember all four of them.”
“Oh yes. My father’s parents were Odell and Mavis Jackson. My mother’s were Yulie and Essie Monroe. Their people came from a big farm in Georgia called the Monroe plantation.”
“And they were slaves who’d escaped?”
