Attorney-Client Privilege by Pamela Samuels Young Read Free Book Online Page B

Vernetta Henderson during that trial you just had, she’s not going to take peanuts to drop the case.”
    This was only Girlie’s second case for Big Buy and she was still learning the quirks of her new clients—an important element in maintaining a successful lawyer-client relationship. She had quickly picked up on the unspoken hostility between the two women.
    Decades earlier, Rita had been a secretary with the company. Once Big Buy founder Harlan Kimble laid eyes on her, Rita had become his lover and soon thereafter, his wife. She’d gained control of the company five years ago, after he died unexpectedly from a heart attack.
    “I’m sure I can get it resolved,” Girlie promised.
    “Just make it happen sooner rather than later,” Rita ordered.
    “You seem unusually concerned about this case,” Girlie said. “Is there anything I need to know?”
    Rita reached for the wine bottle and refilled her glass.
    “I’ve been chosen Woman of the Year by the Anaheim Rotary Club. My general counsel is a woman. In light of our positions of power in the company, an allegation that we’re discriminating against women would be extremely embarrassing. For both of us.”
    What should have been embarrassing was the company’s deplorable record when it came to promoting women. Despite a sprinkling of female floor supervisors, Big Buy’s management was overwhelmingly white and male. Rita wasn’t smart enough to recognize the existence of a glass ceiling at her stores. Nor did she even care. The sexist culture at Big Buy had been firmly entrenched by Harlan Kimble, a crusty Neanderthal who didn’t think women had the hutzpah to manage a retail operation. When Harlan had passed on the company to his wife, he had assumed she would tap one of his vice presidents to step in as CEO.
    During her first two years at the helm, Rita had nearly run the company into the ground. But by year three, Big Buy’s profits had started to rise and had been on an upward track ever since.
    “We also can’t risk this case turning into a class action,” Rita said. “Plaintiffs’ attorneys are out there trolling for companies like us to sue.”
    Girlie glanced at Evelyn who did not meet her eyes. The CEO was not telling the whole truth about why this case was so high on her radar. But Girlie always did her homework. She knew exactly why Rita wanted the case to disappear as soon as possible and it had nothing to do with her precious reputation.
    “If you’re that concerned about getting rid of it,” Girlie said, “I suggest we throw some real money at the plaintiffs.”
    “I’m not sure we should offer significant money this early on,” Evelyn said, finally sounding like a real general counsel. “If we do, every woman in the company will be lining up with their hands out.”
    The general counsel had little legal experience outside of Big Buy. Harlan Kimble had hired his sister as general counsel just three years out of law school. Nepotism at its finest. They’d been very close, up until the time he’d married Rita.
    “We can open with a nuisance-value settlement offer,” Girlie said. “If they reject it, I’ll take their depositions for several days and hit them with boatloads of discovery. I’ll make it so tough that they’ll want out of the case just to get me off their backs.”
    Girlie smiled at the thought of all the hoops she planned to have Vernetta and her clients jump through.
    “I like it,” Rita said. “But I want this case resolved in weeks, not months. And do everything you can to keep it out of the media.”
    “That shouldn’t be a problem.” Girlie repositioned herself on the couch. “I doubt that a two-plaintiff discrimination case would be of much interest to the media.”
    “Oh, I forgot to mention something else.” There was a phony casualness in Rita’s tone. “One of our regional managers says there’s a rumor that Judi Irving had some documents with damaging information about the