Justice Hunter Read Free Page A

himself.

F OUR
     
    Z ane was in her element. Cross-examination of Hunter’s witness was in full-bore. The tension in the courtroom mounted like a medieval guillotine.
    “Do you recognize that document?” Zane demanded as she casually passed a copy to Hunter.
    “Objection.”
    “On what basis?”
    “Relevance.”
    “Not so fast, counselor.”
    “You can answer the question,” she said, snidely.
    “Oh, that was a question?”
    “Answer it,” ordered the judge.
    “It looks like court papers.”
    “Excellent, Mr. Chablis. Now we’re making some progress.”
    “Objection.”
    “All right, Ms. Zane. You’ve made your point.”
    “Thank you, Your Honor.”
    “It’s actually an answer to a lawsuit filed against your company. Isn’t that right?”
    “Apparently.”
    “Now turn to the last page, what is entitled, ‘˜Verification.’”
    Chablis flipped through rebelliously.
    “Now do you recognize that signature?”
    “Yes.”
    “That’s you, Mr. Chablis, right?”
    Chablis nodded.
    “We’ll need a verbal response, sir. We’re making a record here.”
    “Yes.”
    “Do you recall what this litigation concerned?”
    “You’ll have to excuse me. I don’t. There are dozens of frivolous suits filed against our company every year.”
    “Is that so?”
    “Of course it is.”
    “Must be the deep pockets, huh?”
    “You got it.”
    “And they’re all frivolous? To use your words.”
    Hunter knew where she was going with this, and he sure hoped his witness wasn’t taking the bait. “I mean that’s my perception,” he added, reassuring Hunter with a fleeting glance. “You’d have to ask legal, though.” Good boy , thought Hunter.
    “But I’m asking you , right?”
    “Obviously. But I’m just saying if you want to be a hundred percent sure.” He paused, making sure the judge was with him. “That is important to you, isn’t it, Ms. Zane?”
    Offended, she rifled back, “I’m the one who gets to ask the questions, Mr. Chablis, not you.”
    “Apologies,” he said insincerely after he made his point.
    “Now let me ask you again. Take a look at those papers and tell me what that case was about. Take your time.”
    Chablis subtly shook his head no as he appeased her.
    “You did read them before you swore to the factual averments under penalty of perjury, didn’t you, sir?”
    “I must have,” he replied, playing dumb.
    “Well, let me refresh your memory. This was a suit filed by another former manager at your company. Someone who coincidentally was employed at the same level as my client,” she said, gesturing to hers.
    “And?”
    “He sued for bonuses after he was terminated.”
    “Objection, Your Honor,” said Hunter, getting to his feet. “Clearly, this is unrelated litigation, which has no bearing on this case.”
    “Ms. Zane?”
    “I’m getting there.”
    “I’ll allow it. But you’re on a very short leash.”
    “Of course. Now when you responded to the suit, you counterclaimed on the theory that that plaintiff had been engaged in funneling clients away from Mediacast,” she continued.
    “I still don’t…”
    “Let me make it crystal clear for you sir,” she interrupted. “Your allegations were virtually identical to those before the court today. Isn’t that true?”
    “This is prejudicial,” objected Hunter.
    “Ms. Zane. Please. Your client isn’t anything special. The sales world is replete with characters just like your client. If I had a dollar for…”
    “That wasn’t my question, though, Mr. Chablis!” she exclaimed. “And I’ll remind you again that you’re under oath.” Slowly, she asked, “Are the allegations, or are the allegations not, virtually the same?”
    Hunter considered objecting but decided she was hanging herself. No need. Russo’s bound to slap her for badgering at this rate. She’s making this too personal, beating up on the witness. She’ll wind up undermining her own argument by garnering sympathy for the guy.
    “You