Adventures of Devon Carlton - 3. ADC Chapter 3

“Wow that is quite an eventful couple of days son, I guess I better get you to work on the farm, can’t have your brain shrinking away with no activity can we” Devon’s father – Hugh said, “give him a chance to shower and eat first, he hasn’t had anything since dinner time last night” his mother added, and she turned around and began to make some scrambled eggs, bacon, tomatoes, toast and orange juice.

Once Devon had eaten, having showered and changed while breakfast was cooking, rinsing out the hair dye, he followed his father out of the house and down to the hay shed, where Devon’s younger brothers where unloading the truck and stacking the hale bales into the shed, as soon as they saw Devon, they stopped and jumped down and gave him a giant twin brothers bear hug.

Once he had recovered from losing all his air momentarily, he greeted his younger twin brothers with a hard slap on the back, and a crushing handshake, as payback, while their father just watched on from nearby, “Are we going to get some work done around here or not? Dev, get in the truck and lift the tray, the twins can sort the bales out, while we go and collect another load” Hugh said Devon nodded and did as his father instructed, and by 1.00pm they had another load of hay brought in, and the men walked down to the house for some well-deserved lunch.

Grace was seated at the kitchen table looking a bit flustered when the men walked in, and Hugh noticed something was wrong, when she looked up and saw her husbands concerned look, she smiles, “I had a call from your Barrister lawyer, he said that he had received a call from the Federal Attorney General, offering a compensation sum of $500,000, plus a further $35,000 for the use of the plans for the prison, which is what they paid to the USA Architecture from in Boston,” she said nervously, and everyone stood still totally stunned at what they heard.

“He said he recommends that you do not accept the offer, as they are trying to sweep it under the carpet as quickly as possible” Grace added, as she stood up and went to the fridge to get the cold meats and salads that she had prepared earlier.

Devon went to the phone and taking the business card out of his wallet, he called the Dean of Law back, “Hello Sir, Devon Carlton here… yes, sir, I received the message, and I agree with your recommendation, let’s fight this to the end… wow really, that is interesting, is there anything we can do about that?

Ok I will leave it with you, thank you, goodbye”, Devon said and he hung up the phone and sat down at the table where the meal was waiting. Devon dished out a small portion onto his plate, as he had such a late and large breakfast, and he ate slowly, thinking about what he had just learnt.

When Devon had finished eating and the rest of the family had hardly eaten and where looking at him for more information, he blushed a bit, “Sorry I had to think about some stuff first, as it’s a new development, apparently there are five prisons in the USA that have already been built and are fully operational, using my design, apparently they are operating so well, there are four more being planned to be built with construction starting in the next six months.

He said there is more news but he needs to get more information first” Devon said, “Well sounds like you are a successful architect already before you have even finished University,” Hugh said with a big smile.

Over the next week, Devon received a daily call from his Barrister, and he was told that the Federal Attorney General has agreed that he will not fight this issue, that the proof of ownership is definite, and that all plans for building a prison using Devon’s designed have been terminated, also he has sent a letter to the USA Attorney General, via the Australian Embassy.

He stated that the blueprints that Australia purchased from a Boston Architecture firm are copyright protected, where stolen from an Australian university two years ago, and that this firm is liable for receiving stolen property, fraud and breach of Copyright, plus the five prisons that were constructed from these designs are also in breach of Copyright.

The last call Devon received this past morning, he was informed that the FBI had raided the Architecture Firms head office in Boston, where a copy of the plans was found, he was also told that the Dean of Law had contacted a colleague in Washington DC, who is acting on Devon’s behalf to claim back the property that is rightfully his, and compensation for committing Copyright breach, receiving the stolen plans and selling them on to state governments in the USA.

On Saturday morning, a Federal Court judge in the USA has made a very quick decision, freezing all assets of the Boston Accountancy Firm, and awarding the legal owner of the design plans, a sum of $18 Million US, plus a further $4 Million for Damages.

Also, the design plan owner is awarded $7 Million from each state that has built a prison using those design plans and ordered all other projects that were going to use the same design to permanently terminate the use of those plans.

After that phone call, Devon went back to his room and locked the door, going to his desk he found a pen and started to add up the numbers that he had scribbled on a piece of paper when on the phone. “$57 Million Dollars US, holy shit,” Devon said out loud to himself, just as his mobile rang, making him jump.

“Hello, I just worked that out, that’s $57 Million US in total, that’s a hell of a lot of money” Devon said to the Dean of Law, “and that’s not the end of it, the Australian Government has agreed to pay $15 Million AU for the breach of Copyright, plus $7 for use of the design for the planned construction of a Prison in WA, they also want to make a formal offer to buy the designs for $2 Million for each time they want to build a new prison in Australia, using this design.

I have received via fax from the Australian Embassy in the USA, a letter of unreserved apology from the US President, for what has happened, he also asks if it is possible to continue to use the prison design for future prisons, if a fee is paid for each time the design is used, and the fee suggested was $1.85 Million US”, the Dean said and there was total silence at the other end.

“This is Grace, Devon’s mother, what did you say to him, he just fainted but he’s waking up now” a worried Grace said, knowing it was probably the Barrister on the other end of the line, the Dean of Law said he would come down and visit to give all the details, and said he would be there after lunch at about 2 pm.

When Devon had recovered enough, he told his mother to sit down, and once she had he told her that he had been awarded a total of $57 Million US for damages and copyright breach, plus the Australian Government was paying a total of $22 Million AU, that’s $83.5 Million Australian in total, plus I get $2 Million AU for every prison build using my design, with both countries requesting permission to be able to go ahead with planned construction work on new Prisons,” Devon said to his shocked mother.

“I can see why you fainted, and thank-you for making sure I was seated before you told me,” Grace said to her oldest son, who she was extremely proud of. Grace suggested they keep the amount of compensation between them for now, so as to not cause any issues in the family, Devon agreed and hugging his mum, he offered to help prepare the lunchtime meal. Hugh and the twins came in just after midday, as they had lots of work to do, before the end of the day.

Grace said “Devon’s lawyer was coming over this afternoon, so he better stay close to the house’. “Good, he can mow the lawn and prune some of those big shrubs while he’s waiting,” Hugh said as he walked out of the house after lunch, with the twins close behind. Devon groaned at the chores he had been given, but he just kissed his mum on the cheek and went out to start mowing the lawn.

Devon had finished the lawn and was halfway through pruning when his lawyer arrived, and he was glad of the interruption.

Sitting at the kitchen table with a cup of tea each, Grace and Devon listened as he went through what he said over the phone, but in a bit more detail, The Dean recommended the request for the use of his design, but suggested that the fees be indexed to tie in with inflation, which is about 5% each year.

The Dean also mentioned that a junior department secretary was sacked for her part in the fraud, as she is a 2nd cousin of a partner of the Boston architecture firm, and she could possibly be facing serious criminal charges, the department executive manager also resign in shame, for not being more careful with overseas contracts, and five others were reprimanded.

Finally, the Dean said he had set up a Trust Fund account in Devon’s name, at the bank to accept all the large cheques that will be arriving soon, and the other cheques that will come in every now and then. Devon turned to his mum to ask a question, “How are things on the farm financially, mum? Please be honest with me about this, I want to know.”

After a short pause, and looking deep into her son’s eyes, she sighed before answering, “Well son, it hasn’t been too good lately, we are in a bit of debt, and could possibly lose the farm if we can’t start making repayments on the bank loans” she said worryingly. “How much is the bank loans mum?” Devon asked,

Grace looked at the Dean of Law who smiled and nodded then answered “$1.8 million and some change”; there was another pause before the Dean spoke.

“I have a good guess what Devon what’s to do, and as soon as funds are available, I will arrange for all the loans to be paid off, plus, if you give me your bank account details, I will deposit some funds to cover repairs and maintenance that is required on the family home and other buildings, but I suggest that we keep this between the three of us”. Devon was so happy that he could help his parents, and he just smiled and nodded, while his mother had some tears in her eyes and also nodded in agreement.

The Dean suggested that Devon returns to university at the start of next week, so as not to get too far behind in work before the exams, and Devon said he would return to the city on Sunday, and thanked the Dean for all his hard work with helping him deal with this complicated matter. The Dean wished Grace a good day, shook Devon’s hand and made the return journey back to the city.

Grace and Devon remained seated at the kitchen table in silence, processing everything that had been said and discussed, “Son, I don’t know how your father and I can thank you for saving the farm like this, it has been such a big concern for your father over the last few months” Grace said and Devon smiled and just gave her a big long hug.

Arriving back at the townhouse just after 3 pm on Sunday afternoon, no one was home so Devon went to his room to unpack, surprisingly the house was clean and tidy, and the fridge and cupboards were full of good quality food, with hardly any junk food included.

Once settled in back home in his townhouse, Devon sat on the lounge and began looking at the architecture magazines on the coffee table, and he spotted a large sketching folder on the lower shelf.

Placing it on top of the table, Devon opened it and saw all the newspaper articles about the news of the corruption that had been discovered by the university, and everything else that had been discovered since the story broke.

The last two stories to be placed in the folder are from yesterday’s statewide weekend paper and the Financial Times, both pretty much identical in content.

“Over $57 million USD, compensation for copyright breach and damages from the USA, is been awarded to an unknown Australian after the local University discovered corruption and fraud had occurred when the Australian Government publicly announced the planned construction of a new SuperMax Security Prison in Western Australia.

It is believed that the Australia Government will be awarding $22 Million AUD to the same person, for their part in breach of copyright and damages.”

Leaving the folder open, Devon went back to his room and laid down for a while, as he was tired from the travelling when he woke up to the sound of a knock on the door, Devon saw that it was already getting dark, as the sun was setting.

“Dinner is ready” came Gary’s voice from the other side of the door. Devon jumped out of bed and walked out into the lounge room, where he saw Mitch placing plates of Chicken stir fry onto the dining table.

Devon smiled and sat down, he noticed that his housemates were unusually quiet, as they started eating, keeping their eyes on the plate, “Ok guys, what’s with the silent treatment?” Devon asked Mitch, looked up with a concerned look on his face.

“We are sorry about the scrapbook of news articles, we were going to tell you once things had died down” he said quietly, “Can I have a loan please” Gary asked, and Mitch had a look of horror on his face, and Gary’s cheeky grin changed to a sad look, “I’m sorry I was only joking” Gary said Devon just laughed and the other two joined in.

“So, what are you going to do, with all that money I mean? Mitch asked, after finishing his meal, Devon smiled and thought for a moment, “Maybe I might have a pyramid and a sphinx built in the back yard” he said cheekily, “what back yard, we don’t have one! Gary said right away before thinking. Mitch and Devon started laughing again and Gary just blushed.

“I am helping out with some financial problems with the farm first, then I thought when the exams are all over, I would take a Architecture graduate, an Engineering graduate and a Business graduate on a small holiday somewhere” Devon said, and he waited silently as his two housemates took in what he said, and finally it clicked that Devon was talking about them.

“Woohoo, we are going on a holiday” Mitchell shouted out loud, and Devon smiled as he watched his two-house mates jumping around the lounge in the joy of going on their first real holiday as adults.

“Oh, by the way, there is a postcard for you from Toby, arrived last week,” Gary said and he went searching for the postcard, coming back into the lounge once he found it.

“Dear Devon, just a quick note to let you know I have landed a job on a fishing trawler in the Gulf in far northern Queensland, I am happy and the job is great. Thank you so much for being there for me when I needed someone, I will never forget your kindness. Your Friend always, Toby”.

Devon smiled and placed the postcard on the table, then said “Now guys where are we going to go for our holiday? After a short silence and with a cheeky grin Gary replied “Egypt” which made everyone start roaring with laughter.

“You decide bro, it’s your money, we will go along with what you decide”, “Ok then, get your passports because we are going to Egypt” Devon replied and the look of horror on both of his housemate's faces made Devon start laughing again.

For the next three weeks, all three housemates were cramming in as much study as possible before the final exams, so there was no time for socialising or sports, except when Devon received a message from the Dean of Law.

“All the funds have arrived, congratulations, I have sorted the financial situation with the farm, and deposited $1.5 m into their account for repairs and maintenance, I’ve also organised with the bank to place 0.5% of the annual interest from your fortune, to be deposited into your regular bank account, so you have some spending money, no doubt you will want to go on a holiday once the exams are over. Good luck with them, I’m sure you will do very well”

When Devon checked his bank account and saw the balance, “Holy shit” he said a bit too loudly, which brought his two-house mates to his open bedroom door, Devon showed them the screen of his smartphone, “That’s just 0.5% of the annual interest, which is available as spending money. Great timing for our holiday eh” Devon said with a smile.