Stone approached Bill’s desk.
“I just met with Randall Westley,” he said. “He’s ready to move all of Westley Dynamics’ business to us.”
Randall Westley was the company’s CEO, founder, and chairman of the board. Westley Dynamics had started out making airplane parts for Boeing, before venturing into computerchips. The latter business had done so well that, a decade ago, the company had sold off its aeronautics division to concentrate on the chips. Two years earlier, they’d come out with one of the most advanced central processing units on the market, solidifying their position as an industry leader.
“All of it?” Bill said, surprised.
Stone nodded. “That’s what he told me. Apparently, they had a falling out with their former firm, Willard, Donovan & Cole.”
Bill winced. “What kind of falling out?”
“One involving a partner’s son, gross incompetence, and the unwillingness to take responsibility.”
“Ouch! Please tell me Westley doesn’t want us to get involved in any suit against them.”
“He does not. He was very clear that he wants to keep any actions the company takes against Willard separate from the day-to-day handling of the company’s business.”
“Thank God for that. What are we looking at in fees?”
“Last year they paid out over twenty million.”
“Twenty?”
“Randall said it will likely be more this year.”
“We’re going to have to hire a few more attorneys.”
“I’ll leave that to you.”
Stone turned to go.
“Wait,” Bill said. “I have something for you.”
He grabbed a manila envelope off his desk and carried it to where Stone now stood.
“Terry Adams sent over copies of everything he received from Cory Whittaker.”
Stone took the envelope. “Thanks, Bill. And please let Terry know I appreciate it.”
Stone waited until he returnedto his Turtle Bay office to open the envelope.
Inside was a letter and a copy of the lawsuit for pain and suffering. As Bill had told him at lunch on Friday, the plaintiffs of the lawsuit consisted of the three surviving crew members.
At the top of the other document was the letterhead for the Law Offices of Cory Whittaker. In the letter, Whittaker wrote that his clients had no intention of settling for less than they deserved, which he determined to be twenty million dollars each. Next, he mentioned the wrongful death suit he planned to file on behalf of the families of the missing and presumed dead crew members.
Attached to the letter was a handwritten note from Terry Adams.
Bill mentioned you were curious about which family Whittaker isn’t yet repping for the potential wrongful death suit. I’ve been told by someone I trust it’s that of Samuel Jones, one of the stewards.
Stone pulled up Whittaker’s website. It featured a picture of the lawyer grinning and holding up a stuffed bag with bundles of money sticking out. Just below Whittaker’s logo was the lawyer’s ubiquitous slogan:Get What You De$erve.
Stone took a deep breath, then made the call.
He was answered by an automated voice that directed him to push one if he’d been in an accident, two if he’d been a victim of unfair workplace practices, three if he’d suffered a differenttype of personal injury, and four for existing clients. There were no other options.
He pressed four and was presented with another set of choices. Three minutes and several button pushes later, he finally reached a real person.
“Cory Whittaker Attorneys-at-Law. This is Ann.”
