I SIT IN A COURTROOM and watch as Billy tries to convince the judge that he’s insane. “I shore didn’ mean to hurt Jim Ray, I just say things and I don’ even remember what I say. If I said somethin’ that hurt Jim Ray, I shore am sorry,”
The judge says, “What you said, under oath, was that Jim Ray didn’t develop software that he did indeed develop. Your statement cost Jim Ray well over a million dollars. I am finding for Jim Ray in the amount for which he sued, plus legal fees.”
“You can find all you like judge, I ain’t got no million dollars.”
The judge looks at Billy and says, “I doubt that you do have over a million dollars in funds. However, your insurance company will. As for you, William Paint, you have thirty days in jail for contempt of this court.”
The scene then dissolves into some confusion as the Bailiff attempts to lead Billy away and his lawyer attempts to plead with the judge.
The judge isn’t having any.
I then meet with the insurance people. They try to tell me that it’s all a mistake, that they didn’t really have William Paint covered. I tell them, “I have seen the insurance documents, during William Paint’s trial, and you did indeed have William Paint covered. If you think that you can starve me out, think again.”
The insurance company then pays my lawyer and transfers one point two million dollars into my brokerage account.
* * * * *
I THEN HAVE TO meet with Ralphy and the boys from Scientific Ventures.
Ralphy is his usual insulting self. “Well, Jim Ray, it looks like you can get Linda back, now that Billy is in jail.”
“Linda is likely really busy, since the apartment and the fancy stuff that Billy leased for her is now being repossessed, by the providers. Even if Billy gets out of jail, he’s likely to have some problems. He provided Linda to one of your Vice Presidents. The VP’s wife is really angry and she just might have some of the jailbirds work Billy over.”
Ralphy sneers, “You thinkin’ about getting back at Billy?”
“Billy showed me what Linda really is. She wants the high life and she’ll give anyone, who can provide her with what she thinks that she wants, what they want, as far as girl goes. I feel a little sad that Linda’s life is crashing, but not so sad that I want to involve myself in Linda’s life. I also don’t want to involve myself with a boy like Billy, who rents out his girlfriend.”
“You think that your current job is gonna last? I can get you fired, anytime I want.”
“When the software that you claimed that I didn’t write crashed, what with the new hardware suite, I was the only one who could cure the problems. You lost the court case and now you’re trying to appeal. Your former customer is impressed with my work. Someone, claiming to be you, and using your telephone, has called Aardvark Technical and tried to get me fired. I have served your lawyer with another lawsuit.”
“You think that the personnel people at Aardvark Technical are gonna testify against me?”
“That’s something for you to think about. Something else for you to think about is that I got a phone call from your wife’s lawyer. Your wife’s lawyer wanted to know if I was aware that you were sampling the high life, with Linda. I told him that I was unaware. Your wife’s lawyer then wanted to know if I was aware that Linda was pregnant. I told him that I was unaware. It’s something for you to think about.”
“You think that I’m afraid of you? You take a date into the high life and I’ll take her from you.”
“Ralphy, I know that you’re not afraid of me. If I were you, I’d be afraid of your wife’s lawyer. It takes quite a bit of money to enjoy the high life. Your wife’s lawyer wants to take all your high life money from you.”
“Yeah, I’m a little busy, with personal affairs. However, I’m not so busy that I can’t take a little time to step on you.”
“Ralphy, William Paint tried to step on me. He did cost me my job. Now his insurance company has paid me a lot of money. He can tell you about it, once he gets out of jail.”
