Timothy - 33. Chapter 33

Wednesday morning, Stephen drove me to the airport. The commuter plane left on time. Arriving, I took a cab to the lawyer’s office. I was early, so I stopped at a cafe for a cup of coffee. I had an orange juice with a bagel instead.

My appointment was at 10:30 am. I took my time at the cafe. At 10:15, I entered the office and told the receptionist my name, and I had an appointment with Mr. Morris. I gave her my card. I waited 25 minutes before the receptionist said Mr. Morris would see me now.

Walking into his office, I noticed that it was quite elaborate. I got the impression it was more for show. If he was Ann Marie’s husband’s lawyer, maybe this office decor guaranteed him a high-paying clientele. It reminded me of the good old boy attitude where people are more impressed by gadgetry than knowledge.

“Mr. Morris, I don’t wish to take up your time, so I’ll get to the point. You drew up a pre-nuptial agreement between Ann Marie Walkins and George Struthers. When you did that, were you aware they were already married?”

“No, the question never came up. George called me and asked I draw up an agreement.”

“Do you have a copy of that agreement?”

I waited while he asked his secretary to bring in the Struthers file. “Do you mind me asking why the interest in this agreement?”

“Mrs. Struthers is my sister. I reviewed her paperwork and noticed that the prenup was dated after her marriage. This would nullify the prenup and permit her to go after the Struthers estate as the wife of Mr. Struthers and exercise her rights to his estate.”

His secretary brought in the file he requested. I watched as he looked through the file. “I don’t have a copy of their marriage license.”

I opened my briefcase and gave him a notarized copy of the marriage certificate. I waited while he looked the document over. “If this is correct, then the prenup is voided.”

“You may keep that marriage document for your files. You can reach Mrs. Struthers at this address. I would appreciate you advising her on what action she should take. I believe she will ask you to represent her. Thank you for your time, but I must leave. I have a plane to catch.”

Saying goodbye to the receptionist, I walked outside to catch a cab to the airport.

While I waited, I called Stephen, briefed him on my conversation with the lawyer, and told him what time I’d be landing.

“Let’s have lunch at home, and then we can go to the plant. I’ll update you on what I think will happen then we can send an email to Randy. I’ll ask him to give a copy to Dad.”

“I hope you will bill her for all of this.”

“I will and remind her of the previous bill.”

“Do you think she will pay it?”

“No, but as soon as she is settled, I’ll go after her. Probably end up in court.”

We arrived at the plant at 2:30, Stephen headed to Gramps’s office, and I headed to my office. Gramps wanted to reopen the one case they lost. I would have to appeal the first verdict, and I had six months to do it. I needed to review the questions and responses, looking for a reason to request a new court date. I noticed that Andrew introduced a presentation of the two circuit boards. They appeared to be identical. I needed Stephen’s opinion.

Walking home after work, “Stephen, I have a project for you. I have the files from that one legal case Gramps lost. I’m going to reopen that case. I need to show cause for reopening the case. For that, I need your opinion. I need you to look at the two circuit boards and find a difference.

“If you do that and win, Gramps will be very proud of you. I’ll help you all I can.”

I knew if there were differences, even a tiny difference, which could have been easily overlooked, Stephen would find it.