Sheer Gall by Michael A. Kahn Read Free Book Online

see.” Judge Williams turned to Milton Brenner. “And how does this incident become a libel claim, Mr. Brenner?”
    â€œVery simple, Judge. When Mr. Contini refused to take back the dress, there was an argument.” Brenner shook his head, feigning indignation at the very thought of it. “He accused my client of fraud. He accused her of dishonesty. He accused her…of theft. These scandalous charges were overheard by three other women in the store, all three of whom knew my client on a social basis.” He paused to shake his head sadly. “Judge, my client’s reputation, her most precious asset, her most treasured possession, has been maliciously trashed by Mr. Contini’s false and defamatory accusations.”
    Judge Williams snorted. “Please, Mr. Brenner, let’s save the violins for the jury.” She turned to me. “Settlement prospects?”
    I shook my head. “It doesn’t look promising. We have a pair of stubborn litigants, both of whom believe their honor is at stake.”
    â€œHonor.” The judge shook her head impatiently. “That’s what makes lawyers rich. Well, let’s pick a trial date, folks.” She opened her calendar. “Is this on the jury docket?”
    I turned to Brenner. “Milt?”
    â€œJudge,” he said, “our first priority is to get this case to trial. My client desperately needs to clear her name as soon as possible. If that means waiving a jury, so be it.”
    Judge Williams turned to me. “Rachel?”
    â€œWe’re prepared to do that as well, Your Honor.”
    Given the size of the jury verdicts in several recent libel cases, I was more than willing to try the case solely to Judge Williams and without a jury. Although I had obtained Vincent Contini’s consent to waive a jury, I hadn’t thought the opportunity would arise, since libel plaintiffs tend to love juries and juries tend to love libel plaintiffs. However, upon reflection I could see why Brenner’s client, whose net worth easily exceeded $20 million, might choose speed over greed. Cissy Thompson was an indefatigable social climber. She certainly needed the money far less than she felt she needed to remove this blemish from her reputation.
    Although I had never tried a case before Judge Williams, she had a reputation as an impartial and thoughtful jurist. Moreover, she was far more likely than a jury to resist Milton Brenner’s closing-argument histrionics.
    â€œLet’s see,” Judge Williams mused as she studied her calendar, “this case is only two months old. You won’t get on a jury docket for at least twelve more months, and I can’t promise it’ll be reached then.” She looked up. “How long will this case take to try?”
    Brenner rubbed his chin. “Oh, two days?”
    Judge Williams turned to me. “Rachel?”
    I nodded. “Two days.”
    â€œTwo days,” the judge repeated. “Well, you’re in luck. I have an opening a week from next Thursday. How’s that?”
    â€œWell,” Brenner stammered, “that’s fine with me, Judge, but I’m sure Rachel could use a little more time to get her case ready.”
    He was right. I could use a little more time, but I also couldn’t ignore that momentary hitch in Brenner’s voice. That seemed far more important than additional time.
    â€œNot at all, Your Honor,” I said with an easygoing wave of my hand. “A week from next Thursday is perfect. We’ll be ready.”
    â€œExcellent,” Judge Williams said, entering the date on her calendar. She looked up with a smile. “We’ll start at nine. I’ll see you then.”
    Out in the hall a somewhat uneasy Milton Brenner said, “Are you going to want to take Cissy’s deposition before trial?”
    I smiled and shook my head. “What for, Milt? We’re already loaded for bear.”
    We