Chapter 8 - The Hammer of Justice
Judge Holloway picked up his pen and shook his head, a look of profound disgust washing over his face.
""This is one of the most disgraceful abuses of the judicial system I have witnessed in my twenty-eight years on the bench,"" Judge Holloway declared, his voice ringing with cold fury. ""The plaintiffs have brought an action entirely devoid of legal merit, evidentiary support, or moral credibility. Parents do not own the future wages of their children simply because they birthed them. A sibling does not hold a lien on the accomplishments of another sibling simply because he failed to apply himself.""
Richard Sterling looked like he wanted to crawl underneath the defense table and vanish into the floorboards. ""Your Honor, if we may withdraw the petition—""
""You may not withdraw it, Mr. Sterling!"" Judge Holloway barked. ""You filed it, you subjected this court and this defendant to this circus, and now you will receive my ruling on the record.""
Holloway turned the page of his order and began writing with sharp, deliberate strokes.
""As to the plaintiff's petition for an equitable lien and claims of unjust enrichment: dismissed with prejudice. That means this claim is dead permanently. It cannot be refiled in this or any other court in this state.""
Mom let out a soft, broken wail, hiding her face in her hands. Dad stared straight ahead, his skin gray and lifeless.
""Furthermore,"" Holloway continued, looking directly at Marcus Vance, ""the court finds this action to be frivolous and brought in bad faith for the sole purpose of harassment and financial extortion. Pursuant to Civil Practice and Remedies Code, I am ordering the plaintiffs, jointly and severally, to pay all reasonable attorney fees and court costs incurred by the defendant, Lucas Walker, totaling twelve thousand four hundred dollars, payable within forty-five days.""
Sterling flinched. Dad’s eyes snapped wide in horror. ""Your Honor! Twelve thousand dollars? We don't have that kind of money! We're already in debt!""
""Then I suggest, Mr. Walker,"" Judge Holloway replied, staring down at my father with eyes like frozen iron, ""that you sell one of the three vehicles registered to your household, or perhaps tell your younger son to take off that new tweed jacket, put on a pair of work boots, and get a job at the warehouse like his brother did. Court is adjourned.""
The gavel came down with a thunderous crack.
Judge Holloway rose and vanished into his chambers. The bailiff immediately stepped between our tables, motioning for my parents and Ryan to clear the room.
As I packed my papers into my briefcase, Dad rushed around the perimeter of the barrier, his face contorted in desperation and rage.
""Lucas! You can't do this to us!"" he hissed, his voice cracking. ""Twelve thousand dollars will break us! We'll lose our credit! Call your lawyer off! We're your family!""
I snapped the brass locks on my briefcase shut and stood up tall, looking down into my father's eyes. For the first time in my life, I didn't see an intimidating authority figure. I didn't see a father whose approval I needed to chase until I dropped dead of exhaustion. I saw a bitter, manipulative, broken man who had spent decades enabling one son while exploiting the other.
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""You aren't my family, Dad,"" I said quietly, without an ounce of anger in my voice. ""A family protects you. A family rejoices when you build something. You didn't come to my house to celebrate me. You came to rob me. Pay the judgment, or Marcus will place a lien on your vehicles.""
I turned my back on him, walked past Ryan who was staring at the floor in humiliated silence, and walked out of the courtroom into the bright afternoon sun.
