This case which started out as a simple sexual assault trial had blown up into a much huger affair...
Ms. Yvette nicknamed it "The Jurgens Affair."
Nathan Jurgens, a wealthy Real Estate Mogul, represented a company that not only owned a lot of properties , but had a lot of city contracts...He himself was friends with the Mayor and the District Attorney and his company had recently taken our firm, MCCLUSKEY/COZEN/CONNOR & PRATT on as his company's law firm of note had the dubious position of being sued by a client for sexual assault by attorneys from that same firm....Us.
Bee Bee, Myself, Sofia and Kahlil, representing an old law school chum, and cousin of our investigator Jade Lee
...Jessica Lee, now an attorney, but a one time exotic dancer and escort in the Hustler's club where Mr. Jurgens frequented...
Ms. Yvette had our back of course but this put her in an almost winless situation... If we lost this case and this big clients business...It wouldn't look good for her campaign to become partner....and even though it wasn't said...It might also lead to all five of us , six if you include Jade, being dismissed from the company....
I wouldn't put it past cut -throat Connor, even though he said he had our backs and to carry on the suit...I didn't trust him....He had brought Jurgens to us after all..
II-
Yvette was just getting out of the shower...
She smiled at Gary....
"Don't get yourself too excited...I've got a big case today...And it's not in my office ..It's in a new building called the "Bridge " down near Penns Landing.."said Yvette..
Gary smiled..
"I know...I know baby..." he said..
He kissed her passionately....
She returned his passion.....
"I am sooo grateful to you baby..." she said....
"I fixed you breakfast." he said as he eased out of her embrace...A first...It was usually she..
who eased out of his embrace...
While she showered...Gary had fixed her an Omelette, Hash Browns, Sausage and Coffee..
"Awwwww baby thank you..."laughed Yvette as she sat down and began to eat....
"I'll drive you there...I know where that building is... and uh by the way did you uh pick up anything else from Bridget Jones's store or Victoria's Secret the other day?" asked Gary, smiling raffishly..
"You are such a horndog....No I didn't...but how bout I take you next time I go and let you pick something you'd like to see me in?" laughed Yvette.
"That'll work.."laughed Gary...
Miles away at Sam Mother's Diner... Bee Bee and I , Sofia and Kahlil sat with Jade in a booth..
"I called Jessica four times last night...Her phone just kept going to voicemail...I left messages telling when the hearing started and when to arrive...I just hope she got my messages and doesn't go to our office."said Beatrice "Bee Bee" Evans, my girlfriend, now in full attorney mode..
"God..You think she was at Lt. Tragg's house all night, doin the Hibbity Bibbity?" I asked , trying to lighten the mood..
"Ewwww and I thought she had good tastes." said Sofia..
''Whether or not..This is going to be an important case....All four of the Partners are going to be at this hearing today....It's going to be a kind of referendum on us.."said Kahlil..
"I'm sorry I got you guys into this...I really am...My cousin...She got herself into this mess...She didn't have to go back to that club to visit...She was an Attorney now...That life was behind her...Had she of never gone to that club that night, none of this would have ever happened."said Jade..
"It's alright Jade...We all have family that makes us cringe sometimes...We are all we got ..We rise together, we sink together."said Bee Bee.
"That's right." I said..
"Yes."said Sofia.
"Yes."said Kahlil..
as our breakfasts arrived..
Pancakes
Waffles
Hash Browns
Sausages
and hot coffee...
Lt. Tragg and Jessica Lee walked in...Jessica looked well rested. Lt. Tragg looked like his usually grouchy self.
"Hey Guys....Bee Bee...I got your messages....I was home sleeping off a night of drinking..Lt. Tragg brought me here, but he has to work...Can I catch a ride with you guys?" asked Jessica.
"Sure" said Bee Bee.
"Your usual Artie?" asked Sam Mother. who could see that Lt. Tragg was in his usual sour mood..
"Yeah Sam...Fry the yolks a little harder today okay?" said Lt. Tragg.
He had Fried Eggs..
Jessica had an omelette… They both had
Hash Browns
Sausage
and hot coffee...
"What does she see in him?" asked Bee Bee..
"That's what I would like to know."said Sofia..
Ms. Jade shook her head in disgust...
I whispered to Kahlil...
"I don't know what she sees in him, but I sure know what he sees in her...She is a straight up babe." I said.
"No doubt." agreed Kahlil.
What we didn't know at the time was that apparently the romance was over..
After he finished his meal... Lt. Tragg paid his tab... He didn't pay for Jessica,
She had to pay her own tab this morning...
He got up and left without saying goodbye to any of us..
"Hmm must be trouble in paradise."I said.
''Jessica was telling the truth, She really did go home alone.....You know how grouchy you guys get when you don't get any...You even get grouchy some time...and I give you plenty.." said Bee Bee ,looking at me and smiling.
She was right on both counts.
Sofia cracked up laughing..
" I don't know whether to be sorry for him or celebrate your cousin's good tastes and judgement."said Kahlil.
"The latter "said Jade, smiling...
Sam Mother overheard our comments and cracked up laughing.
III-
The "Bridge" was a brand new building...It had only recently opened three weeks before...Nathan Jurgens Real estate firm had rented out an Ultra modern conference room for this hearing..
It was huge and very intimidating...
"Never seen anything like this...It's so big so threatening..."said Ms. Yvette..
"Wow this conference room could swallow both of ours." I said.
Sofia said nothing..
Neither did Jessica, who was clearly intimidated..
If anyone among us wasn't intimidated , it was Bee Bee....She walked in like a boss...
Even Kahlil looked a little put off...
Jade's face and demeanor betrayed no emotion at all....I imagined she was good at Poker.
That was the idea. To Intimidate....Jurgens smirked as he sat with his two attorneys,
Wallace Payton, a ruthless heavy hitter who seldom lost...One of the most feared litigators in the city
and his investigator, Burt Vandenberg, an ex-FBI agent
Representing HUSTLER's gentlemen's club was Attorney Jasmine Jenkins
A No-Non sense litigator who seldom lost...She too was known to be ruthless..She had been a Public Defender and an Assistant District Attorney before she went corporate. She was Black, but she made no attempts to be cordial to Ms. Yvette and the rest of us..
In fact....She looked at us with almost total disdain..
It was quite obvious whose side she was on...
All four of our partners were there as observers...
Mr.McClusky, one of two of the partners who was an ally..
Mr. Cozen....He went which ever way the wind blew...We could never be sure..
Mr. Connor...We had done him a big favor a year ago and he seemed warm to us...but I didn't trust him...He didn't want to lose The Jurgens account..
And Mike Pratt, our friend, who was definitely in our corner and enjoying seeing Connor's boy Jurgens taken down...
They were watching....
Our Arbitrator was former Common Pleas Judge, William Pierce...Now an Attorney with a private firm in Bucks County...
The Arguments began-
Wallace Payton is a brilliant attorney and one who always comes prepared..
His investigator, Bert Vandenburg , an ex-FBI agent makes sure of that....
He argued that Jessica Lee
was an opportunist looking to make a quick buck and take the easy way out... He knew her life story...the child of a Chinese Mother , who married an American Merchant Marine...Who gained her citizenship when Jessica, born in New York City was 12 years old... Jessica attended New York and Philadelphia Public schools where she excelled ...Then she attended Temple University....Tired of paying student loans..she began working as a stripper, exotic dancer and high priced escort at Hustler's Gentleman's club, pulling in huge amounts and earning the jealousy of some of the other dancers...She paid off her student loans and was able to go to Penn Law School, buy herself a nice car and a nice apartment...all on what she made at HUSTLERS and on the side as an escort..
He produced three men who slept with her and paid her huge sums to go on dates to Atlantic City, Las Vegas, Cancun et al....Earning sums her law school counterparts-
Namely Me, Sofia, Bee Bee and Kahlil could only dream about... He brought up how she may have quit too soon...Right before graduation and had taken a job as an Associate Attorney at a Cherry Hill law firm...but it didn't pay the kind of money she had been making, so she ventured back to HUSTLERS for one last score.. She wasn't assaulted he argued...She was trying to hustle and get more money...He said.. This whole thing was a farce..
He had done his research and came loaded for bear....His seemed like a hard argument to beat...
In making her case for HUSTLERS, Jasmine Jenkins piggybacked on Wallace Payton's argument and said that there wasn't any complaints from any of the other girls who worked at Hustlers about an unsafe environment...and that our whole case against the club was baseless..
She even brought in people from L& I who backed up her safety assertions...Not exactly what we were talking about, but a brilliant ploy just the same..
She like Wallace Payton was good...
They both sat down congratulating themselves...
Our turn....
"We are dealing only with facts in this case "said Ms. Yvette... "My client, Ms. Jessica Lee, regardless of how she earned her money was sexually assaulted by this man, Nathan Jurgens and we can prove as much...." she said..
"Mr. Jurgens...You have said and I have signed affadavits supllied by your own attorney that you can't remember if you were even in the club on the night of the alledged event... You have also said that you don't recall meeting my client..."said Bee Bee..
Kahlil showed a video on a 62 inch Monitor of the night in question...Of Nathan Jurgens and the now deceased Jackie Shannon talking to a visiting Jessica Lee and Nate Jurgens of him buying several drinks for both girls and of Jackie giving Jessica the baby doll, which she changed in and retired to the private room with him..
Nathan Jurgens was stunned and livid... He couldn't understand how they got that footage..or from who...He had paid everybody off or so he thought..
"So You lied...You lied about knowing her, you lied about being in the club that night and you lied about having any contact with her.."said Kahlil..
"He was in the club, you still have no proof of an assault..."said Wallace Payton, who produced the Police report from that night which said a rape was inconclusive..
Sofia produced the actual Babydoll she was wearing and the ripped panties...She called Dr. Hazel Baylor, Deputy Coroner and Forensic Investigator and Dr. Goggins of Goggins DNA Laboratory...
Both women had a loaded condom that tested positive for DNA matching Nathan Jurgens...including a latent fingerprint...Seminal fluids from Jessica Lee was also on the condom and semen stains ,matching his DNA were also in her ripped panties...
"I think that proves sexual contact that night...The Police officer who took the report didn't want to do a thorough investigation once he realized who was being charged."said Sofia..
I had a list of bank account information from several employees ,including the Manager and chief bouncer that showed thousands of dollars deposited into their bank accounts from Jergens Real Estate company in the days after the assault...
''So tell me Mr. Jurgens...All these people suddenly decided to put a ten thousand dollar deposit down on a house? Sounds to me like this was more like hush money.." I said..
Since we weren't in court and this was being tried by an arbitrator, Another Attorney....I could get away with saying things like this..
Jurgens looked like he had swallowed a canary and got caught... He was not expecting us to have this kind of ammunition...
Partner Mike Pratt was cracking up...He was clearly enjoying the way we had dismantled Wallace Payton's case so thoroughly....
Yvette called 5 young ladies....5 young ladies who were former employees...5 young ladies who complained about the fact that there were no cameras in the Private room and no bouncers...They said the customers were free to do whatever they wanted, with no one to stop them...They stopped short of saying they were sexually assaulted , but said that men had held them longer than they wanted to be held...Had exposed themselves and had even ejaculated all over them during sessions, which forced them to quit...
Yvette closed...
"I think we have proved beyond a shadow of a doubt that not only was a crime committed here, but that conditions in this club made it damn near impossible for the young ladies to redress any grievances...It's just a miracle more women weren't actually sexually assaulted." she said in closing..
Mr. McCluskey stood up....He smiled at us and quietly left...
Mr. Pratt was beside himself with glee, laughing and almost applauding...He gave us the thumbs up and he left..
Mr. Cozen stood up...He smiled and shook his head and he headed out too...
Only Mr. Connor stayed... He looked as if he'd swallowed a canary....
IV-
Before an arbitrator could make a decision...
Jasmine Jenkins settled for HUSTLER's GENTLEMEN's CLUB..
HUSTLER's GENTLEMEN'S CLUB settled with Jessica for $400K in her suit......They paid 100K a piece to the other 5 young ladies before they could sue..
In all they lost close to one million dollars...Jazmin explained to them that it could have been worse!
The Arbitrator, Former Common Pleas Judge, William Pierce ruled in Jessica's favor..
Nathan Jurgens had to pay her 2.5 million dollars for her pain and suffering...
Wallace Payton, visibly disturbed at losing to us again...had Jessica sign a non-disclosure agreement and receive an additional 1.5 million dollars from Nathan Jurgens...
"Why do I always get these loser cases?" he muttered as he and his investigator,
Burt Vandenburg walked out of the building..
"Nice job loves...We won...We proved that arrogant bastard was indeed a rapist ."said Yvette.
"It looks like the main partners, Mr. McCluskey, Mr. Pratt and Mr. Cozen were in our corner at least." I said..
"You never know..but the truth won out..."said Sofia..
"Yeah ,this time it did.."said Kahlil..
"She wins again....Another big payday...Some people have all the luck."said Bee Bee, who looked a little disgusted.
"Well we won you a big settlement...That's what you wanted...What will you do now?" asked Jade..
"You won't believe this Jade...but I was fielding job offers throughout this entire ordeal and I uh actually got one..There was a letter waiting for me when I got home last night...I've decided to accept a job offer at the Women's Law Project...It's in an office building right here...the Women’s Law Project is a state-based public interest legal center devoted to protecting and expanding the rights of women, girls and LGBTQ people in Pennsylvania and beyond
I start in two weeks....I'm going to find me a condo first..Then I'm going to start working there...I think I've found my passion...I see what a lot of money changing and corrupt and powerful men can do to women...I need to be on the front line...Fighting that, representing other women.."said Jessica.
''Wow, that's great" said Sofia..
"I'm really impressed..I'm happy for you.."said Bee Bee...
"Good Luck." I said..
"Yeah...Good Luck." I said..
"It sure was nice seeing you guys again...and thank you for helping me...Maybe we'll all work together one day......Thank you all..."said Jessica..
"Be Well Cousin." said Jade..
"Good Luck to you and stay out of HUSTLERS!" joked Ms. Yvette..
"After all the money I've cost them....I'm certain I'm persona non grata there."laughed Jessica.
Nathan Jurgens was not a happy camper...He had four million dollars less in his pockets ,plus Wallace Payton's huge legal fee missing from his bank account...He had expected to win big today...He got blind sided... He had no idea how we got all of that information...
"Of course you realize that I plan to end my association with your firm....It appears I have lost more money than I could have saved working for this outfit..."he said.
"You know what? We are better off without being associated with people like you....You're a rapist, a common criminal...and you're lucky this wasn't a criminal case or you'd be on your way to jail...be gone.."said Mr. Connor..
He walked over to us...
"GREAT JOB GUYS...I'M PROUD OF YOU....YOU'RE ALL ASSETS TO OUR FIRM....I'M taking you all out to lunch....On Me.. You too Jessica." he said..
We all were shocked, but we all took him up on his offer...
Jasmine Jenkins, the Attorney who represented the Strip Club approached us in the hallway...
"Hi...I -I just wanted to say....I thought you guys were incredible....I was very impressed...My law firm is in this building...Here is my card...I would love to work with you guys on a case sometime in the future..And if you guys ever need this huge conference room for a meeting or a hearing ,you just call that number and I'll book it for you....It was so nice meeting you guys." she said.
"Well thank you."said Ms. Yvette..."You were pretty good in there yourself.." she said.
''Yes indeed." I said..
"Thank You."said Bee Bee.
"Yeah Thanks." said Kahlil.
"Thank you.."said Sofia..
Jasmine Jenkins waved as we left....She was alright after all... It was nice to make a new friend.
It was a beautiful day... A beautiful day after all..
EPILOUGE-
News of Nathan Jurgens sexual assault hearing and the payout of over 4 million dollars didn't sit well with his shareholders..They voted him out of his Presidential seat and off the Board of directors...They gave him a pay out package and cut ties with him completely.. HUSTLER's GENTLEMENS CLUB rescinded his membership and he was banned from the club....I imagine now of days..He's not a happy camper.
Within a month, the new representatives from his company came back to McCluskey/Cozen./Connor and Pratt and re signed with us...
Partners Connor and Cozen were ecstatic to still have that big contract...
And at Gary's house..
Gary came to the door...
"Heyyyyy baby...I heard you guys did the damn thing today...Won big at that hearing.." he said..
''We did...It was a win win....The Partners are happy...We didn't lose any business...Me and my kids are safe...We live to fight the good fight another day.."said Yvette as she walked in..
She kissed Gary passionately...….
"Gary have you at least got your boxers on under that robe?" she asked.
"No.." he said..
"What am I going to do with you?" she asked..
She had her briefcase with her ,her pocketbook and a suitbag….She put her briefcase and her pocket book down and walked into his bathroom...
"What's in the suitbag...New Lingerie?" he asked..
"No...but you'll see."said Yvette.. She headed to his bathroom...She took a nice hot shower and lotioned down...Gary could hear her getting dressed in something..
Within minutes she walked out in a Black Playboy Bunny uniform with Black thigh high stockings..and stiletto heels..
"Remember the night I wore this in Josies at their Halloween party?" she said..
Gary's eyes bulged out of his head..
"Do I? Every guy in Josies was offering to buy you a drink and trying to take you home..." he said..
"Ohhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhh Gary ouuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuu" Yvette cooed..
"OUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUU!" he moaned loudly.
"OHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHH MY godddddddddddddd Gary
OHHHHHHHHHHHHH MY godddddddddddddd!!"she cried out!!!
EIGHT TO NINE HOURS smoothly passed by as they made love under the moonlight...
Tears and sweat ran down the sides of both of their faces...Yvette's legs began to shake furiously and she began to move her head from side to side and cry like a little girl...
"OHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHH MY GODDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDD GARY!" she cried out.. "Ouuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuu Yvette...MS. YVETTE! OUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUU!" he moaned..
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