Chapter 4

The following weekend my place was pretty empty, Beth and I went to get furniture for my new house. That was when I got the call, "Mrs. Rivers," a woman's voice said. "Yes," I answered skeptical. "My name is Janice Watkins, I'm the attorney for Connor and Sons Trucking," the voice said. I stopped and took a sharp breathe in, Beth stopped and stared at me confused. "Mrs. Rivers?" The voice questioned. "Yes, I'm here," I replied. "I apologize for calling, what seems like out of the blue, however Mr. Connor says he has made several attempts to contact you about settling," she stated. I searched my brain, "I haven't received anything, if fact I'm not entirely sure what you're talking about, settling what?" I asked. "The lawsuit, you're named as a beneficiary in the lawsuit filed by a Mr. and Mrs. Thomas Rivers?" She explained. I closed my eyes, "Tell Mr. Connor, I can't put a price tag on my family, but I will talk to my in laws and remove my name," I told her. "Mrs. Rivers, off the record, might I suggest you get your own counsel in this matter. I'm not going to attempt to pretend to know how you feel or to know the dynamics between you and your in laws, but please get yourself a lawyer before approaching them on this matter," she urged. "Thank you, I appreciate that," I told her and hung up. "Who was that?" Beth asked. "Connor and Sons trucking company lawyer," I said. "What? Are you suing them?" She asked. "No, Tom and Barbra are and they put my name on it," I explained. "They can't do that," she almost shouted. "Shhh, I know. Apparently Mr. Connor has been trying to contact me to talk about a settlement," I told her as we walked out of the furniture store. "Have you gotten anything?" She questioned. I shook my head, "You think they are tampering with your mail?" she pushed. "Beth, I had no clue this was even happening. It's Saturday I can't talk to any lawyers until Monday," I told her a little irritated. "This is insane," she replied. I took a deep breath and went back in to the store, there was nothing I could do. Tom and Barbra were going after a mom and pop trucking company for a truck drivers negligence. We were probably entitled to something, but how could I put a price tag on the death of my husband and daughter. This was just like my in laws, Barbara probably put Tom up to this, because Tom just meandered through life. I didn't want to talk to them, because I would probably scream at them, for making it look like I did this. So I shopped to keep myself from blowing up on people who were seeking to profit off my husband and daughter.

When Monday rolled around I walked into Mr. Jury's office, "I'm sorry for the intrusion but I have a legal problem, I was wondering if you could help?" I asked. "Sure, if I can," he answered. I explained the phone call I had gotten on Saturday, "Well, they can't use you as a beneficiary unless you agree. So first things first, do you want to sue the company for wrongful death?" He asked. "I want the driver held accountable, but I don't think I can put a price on my family," I explained. "Ok, I'll reach out to Mrs. Watkins and ask her to fax over the paper work she has received. I'll look it over and we will see what we can do," he paused, "Whit this is a civil matter, you're going to need an attorney that deals with civil cases," he told me. "Do you know anyone?" I asked. He thought for a minute, "Brian Hill, he's young but he's a pretty damn good civil attorney. Mr. Young used him for his case against his neighbors," he explained, "I'll give him a call and see what we can do," he finished. "Thanks Chris," I said and headed back to my office. This was really going to drag things out and I did not want to do that. I couldn't focus on anything but what was going on. They never even told me, how can you file something with someones name on it and not tell them.

I didn't hear from Brian Hill until Thursday, when he called my office, "Mrs. Rivers?" He asked. "Yes," I answered. "This is Brian Hill, I spoke with Chris Jury about representing you," he explained. "Yes," I replied. "Can we meet in person? I would like to go over what's going on and how I think I can help," he explained. "Sure, um what day works for you?" I asked. "Well, given this is going to court next week and some other things that complicate the case, I would like to meet as soon as possible, do you have lunch free?" He asked. "Yes, I can meet you in thirty minutes," I suggest. "Prefect, how about 312 Chicago?" He asked. "Ok, sounds good," I replied.

I was nervous walking in, I saw a man stand up when I walked in. I told the hostess who I was and she lead me to the table when the man was standing. We shook hands and we sat down, he was close to my age, with light brown hair, striking blue eyes, average build. We ordered some lunch and he dove into it which I appreciated, "Alright, so I looked at the paper work and your in laws have filed wrongful death and they claim you are so distraught they are filing on your behalf, and you will receive some sort of a percentage. They aren't clear how much, they also tried filed an injunction to stop the sale of your house," he explained. "They can't do that," I said. "The injunction didn't get through, I can tell you that. It's was weak and a clear attempt to slow down the sale, in hopes buyers will not want to wait," he told me. I closed my eyes, "It's because his sister wants the house, I wanted it to go to a family. They feel it's his house," I explained. "I'm guessing you're trying to move past the tragedy and they don't want you to. I filed an immediate injunction of harassment against them and that will help when we go to court next week about this law suit against Connor and Sons. I filed a motion to get your name removed from the suit, here's where you have options you can file a suit against your in laws for adding your name and not telling you or you can be removed and leave it at that," he said. "I don't want to do this, I just wanted the driver held accountable that's it," I told him. "He was, I can assure you," he insisted. "Then I just want to be left alone, it's been six months I was starting to feel great and now this," I said. "I understand," he said as our food came. We ate and talked about the case, how I had to be in court, just for presents and the judge might call on me to verbalize that I want nothing to do with this lawsuit. He walked me back to my office, "I'll call you if anything new turns up. In the mean time don't talk to them, no text, calls, or messages of any kind," he instructed. I nodded and went back to my office, Beth came in behind me. "What happened?" She asked. I explained everything that Brian had said at the lunch, "I can't believe they are doing this," she said. "I can," I started, "He was Barbara's baby, she won't let any of this go," I finished.

I was right she did not let it go, when we showed up to court on Thursday, she was scathing. Tom wasn't there, instead Casey and another woman. I sat next to Brian on the opposite side of the court room, while Mr. Connor sat at a table in the middle with his lawyer, Janice Watkins. The judge came in, he looked about in his late sixties tall and thin, and addressed us first, "Am I to understand, there's a motion to sever?" He his deep voice boomed. "Yes, your honor," Brian replied standing. "Mrs. Rivers, it is your statement that the other Mrs. Rivers filed a wrongful death suit without your knowledge on your behalf?" He asked. I stood and said, "Yes, sir." "Mr. Owen, that does not speak well, of your client in this case," the judge said turning to Barbara's lawyer. "We sent notification to Mrs. Rivers, but she was distraught and not responding to messages," Mr. Owens told the judge. "Is that true Mrs. Rivers?" The judge asked. "No your honor, I haven't received any messages about this from them," I answered. "If necessary your honor we are willing to provide all cell phone records," Brian told him. "Not necessary Mr. Hill, your client isn't on trial. Motion granted," he said. "Your honor may I ask you to remove my daughter's name from the wrongful death suit as well?" I asked. Brian looked at me. I didn't tell him I was going to do this, "Your lawyer didn't file a motion," he replied. "I only just saw her name on the paperwork. I don't want her memory tainted this way," I explained. He sighed, "You still have to file a motion, once Mr. Hill gets on my desk, your daughters name will be taken off the suit," he assured. "Thank you," I squeaked out as tears flooded my eyes.

Brian and I sat down, "I've also seen there was an attempt to settle, that was rejected. Care to elaborate, Mr. Owen?" He asked. "My clients feel that the loss of their loved one cannot be settled with some money thrown at them," Mr. Owen stated very haughty. The judge sighed again, "Mr. Owen, I would ask you to advise your client this could get very drawn out and expensive," the judge tried clearly annoyed with them. "Your honor, we have a witness to the crash. Mr. River's girlfriend was in the car behind them," Mr. Owen said without hesitation. My mouth dropped open, that's who that woman was, Brian grabbed my hand. "Mr. Owen do you mean to tell me, I just granted a motion to sever to Mr. River's wife and you have his girlfriend here to testify," the judge recapped. "Yes your honor," Mr. Owen answered. He looked at me. My face was probably red with anger, anger at the fact that I didn't know if this was really his girlfriend or a trick Barbara and Casey planned to hurt me more. "Objection your honor, what she witnessed was horrific driving of a driver who fell asleep at the wheel and has been tried and sentenced already," Mrs. Watkins said standing. "Agreed," the judge said. "The point of the trial, your honor, is to prove Connor and Sons Trucking knew this diver, driving their trucks was fixing his books and fail to take him off the road, which cause the death of her son and granddaughter," Mr. Owen's verbally outlined. "I understand what the point of the trial is, Mr. Owen don't attempt to inform me," the judge said annoyed.

He set a trial date for one month from now and everyone walked out. "Let's go grab some lunch," Brian suggested. I heard Casey call my name but I didn't want to stop, we went to a restaurant near the court house. "Are you ok?" Brian asked. "I'm just angry," I said as we sat down. "Did you know he was having an affair?" He asked. I shook my head, "To be honest I'm not sure they didn't bring who ever that woman was in just to hurt me," I told him. "It would be a low blow, that's for sure," he responded as the waitress came and took our order. "I'll get that motion drafted as soon as I get back to the office and I will have it messengered over before the end of today," he assured. "Thank you," I said. "I still don't think it's a good idea for you to talk to them as long as this case is going," Brian informed me. "I won't don't worry," I answered. We ate and made small talk, I was just glad my part in all of this was done and over. Barbara could drag out however long she wanted and I had nothing to do with it.

Over the next few weeks I ignored several phone calls and text messages from Barbara and Casey. Barbara was attempting to get me on her side to "strengthen her case" as she put it. Casey on the other hand was apologizing for me finding out about the affair that way. She claimed she didn't know until, she ran into them at dinner on Valentines Day. The problem with her story was that the day she claims she ran into them at dinner was the same night we were making pizzas together. Greer's school had sold pizza kits so for Valentines day before the accident we were home making dinner all three of us.

I still didn't know who was lying, was this woman lying to Casey and Barbara or was Casey lying to me. I did what Brian told me to and never answered. Casey showed up at my office one day, "I know you're mad," she said. "Casey, you shouldn't be here, I'm not talking to you all because of your case," I explained. "Hear me out?" She asked. I rolled my eyes sat my brief case down and sat in my chair, "I know you want to think your marriage to Caleb was wonderful, but neither one of you were happy," she began. "I know you don't want to believe it, I didn't either. I thought Caleb knew better than to hurt you like that," she said. "But you're dates don't match Casey, when you saw them at dinner on Valentines he was at home making pizza with me and Greer," I told her. "I didn't tell you which Valentine's day," she said. I starred at her, "It was three years ago. I thought it had stopped I really did, until she showed up at the funeral and then I knew they were still together," she finished. "Did you come down here to tell me my marriage was fake?" I asked seething. "No, I came down here to remind you that he stayed married to you. Please don't forget that, he could've left and had shared custody, but he chose you," she said and got up and left.

I sat there stewing in this revelation of hers. I shook the thoughts out of my head, of him and her. No our marriage wasn't perfect and maybe we should've gotten divorced but for whatever reason he did stay and I needed to move on.