Chapter 6: The Federal Deposition Room
Friday morning arrived with gray skies and a steady downpour drumming against the glass windows of the federal courthouse downtown. I walked through the security scanners wearing a sharp, bespoke charcoal St. John suit, my silver hair styled with understated elegance. Ethan walked by my side as my legal proxy and primary witness, holding a leather portfolio containing the master file of the lawsuit. Flashbulbs popped blindingly outside the courthouse steps as paparazzi swarmed around our legal team, shouting rapid-fire questions about the impending deposition. Inside the climate-controlled chambers, the atmosphere was thick with tension and the distinct scent of old paper and polished mahogany.
Vanessa walked in ten minutes late, flanked by two nervous-looking defense attorneys who looked as though they hadn't slept all week. She looked hollowed out, her designer makeup failing to conceal the dark circles under her red, swollen eyes. When her gaze finally met mine across the conference table, she visibly flinched and looked down at the carpeted floor. Federal Magistrate Judge Patricia Vance presided over the preliminary discovery hearing with a stern, unyielding expression. "Let the record show that all parties are present and accounted for," the judge announced, her voice echoing off the paneled walls. "We are here today to review the plaintiff’s motion for summary judgment regarding the charge of physical assault and battery."
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Vanessa’s lead attorney stood up nervously, attempting to argue that the garden hose incident was merely an unintended misunderstanding during a private celebration. "Your Honor, my client was under immense emotional strain and mistook the plaintiff for an uninvited trespasser seeking financial handouts," the lawyer pleaded. Judge Vance raised a single eyebrow, adjusting her spectacles as she looked down at the video evidence cued up on the monitors. "Counsel, I have reviewed the high-definition security footage and the victim's personal phone recording," the judge stated coldly. "There was no misunderstanding; there was deliberate, malicious dousing of an elderly individual followed by verbal abuse."
Ethan leaned forward, sliding a certified copy of the property deed across the table toward Vanessa's legal team. "Furthermore, the property where the assault occurred is legally registered under Carter Global Holdings, making her actions an act of criminal trespass and property violation as well," Ethan added smoothly. Vanessa buried her face in her hands, letting out a choked sob of pure despair as her lawyers realized they had zero defense. Judge Vance didn't hesitate for another second before banging her gavel with sharp, final authority. "Motion for summary judgment granted in favor of the plaintiff," the judge declared. "Damages are set at five million dollars, payable immediately, alongside mandatory community service requirements."
