I remember thinking my legal struggles had to be over by 2014....
just had to be.
it seemed so far away in 2010.
And here I am, on the tail end, not quite out, but I can smell the barn.
My youngest sib just endured a very painful civil trial...
such a sad Christmas.
On another legal front, I shared with the board the outcome of the Custody suit brought by my IL's in 2009 against me.
It was dismissed in 2010, appealed successfully in 2011, and went to trial the summer of 2012. That was a very difficult summer for my children. They'll likely flinch every time they hear the word "therapist" again.
At the end of that insane trial.... I'm talking nutsy rocksy koo koo krazy....... the pd's lost by a long shot, got punished and called out for being who they are by the Judge, and hit with paying my legal fees.... a very large sum indeed.
It;s just like Brother Mud said....
the pd's can;'t withstand the light of a the final courtroom.
I've seen it a couple times, now, and it may not be true in all the hearings leading up to that final courtroom, but it's true at the final trial, IME.
::nodding::
I can picture my MIL, running to her attorney's table from the witness stand,
bent over like she was scampering for a foxhole,
whispering out loud....
"Help me out here, I'm getting killed up there."
And so she was.
Argumentative. Refusing to follow instructions. Talked over the Judge.
Not.
Good.
There are hours and hours and hours of damaging testimony against both ILs. The disordered tell their story so often, to so many sycophant yes men, they have no idea how it's going to play to an impartial Judge. Those, used to bullying to get their way, really have a hard time..... you just don't tell a Superior Court Judge what to do, and have it go well.
You could feel that Judge bow up.... hear her amazement when she asked pointed questions of the IL's herself, and get back these hostile, selfish, unbelievably inappropriate responses.
Honestly, I had to pull my hands from my face, more than once, when I found myself watching that testimony through fingers.
I digress...
So, the IL's waited till the 30th day following the Order to file their intent to appeal... the last day they could file it.
Standard operating procedure.
It's been a year now, and still no formal appeal docs with their reasons laid out for for the appeal. Whatever are they going to cite as cause?
What gives?
Ok, they did ask for an extension on time bc of that monster sized transcript they had to order.... that sucker;s a foot high.
So, where's the Appeal already?
A couple weeks ago opposing counsel calls my attorney and extends an invitation to make an offer of settlement.
My attorney tells opposing counsel "she already has a Judgement, why should she settle anything?"
"To get her money sooner," says he.
When I'm asked what I think,
I think........
I'd rather stab my eyes out than send the message they can continue leveraging me with threats and the justice system.
"The interest is running", says my attorney to opposing counsel, and "I think the Judge;s Orders are bullet proof... they're not getting reversed."
Opposing counsel pretty flabbergasted over lack of interest to settle.
We don't call him back with an offer, and his clients give him marching orders to offer a deal.... a little more than half the fees in question.
My attorney tells him "I've already been hired to handle the appeal, our copy of the transcript is on my desk, and, unlike you, I don't have to read it....
I was in the courtroom, and I know what's in it... nothing good for your clients."
He doesn't want to have to read that transcript. It's clear.
Opposing counsel going back to clients with our best offer.... we come down what we think it would cost us to fight the appeal.
Not much.
I think my IL's play this "game" a lot, and are used to getting what they want.
But not this time.
On to more important updates.....
My lovely, blue eyed, optimistic Mother continues to be a pillar of resolve and strength in her battle with breast cancer.
It's been almost 3 years, and she's struggling with her third chemo...
very effective with the cancer, but knocking the stuffing out of her as well.
Her tumor count went from 2000s to 300s, and still dropping, but side efffects, weight loss, and headaches very serious.
She's been active, involved with her Grandchildren, and working as she can, keeping up with friends..... enjoying life, and connecting with her loved ones in what can only be described as a very meaningful act of living her every moment.
She's amazing, and I'd appreciate any prayers or tsunamis of healing pink light you'd be kind enough to send our way.
Lighter
