One for the Ladies

[JR Gabbard]

   Something happened in court today, and it's got me rather disgusted.  It is actually not the first time I have had this experience, and it just blows my mind that it should ever happen at all.

   Today, my client was a little old lady living alone in a residence hotel who got behind in her rent.  I was talking to opposing counsel, working out a deal, and he was giving me the usual spiel "We've worked with her and worked with her....she's always late with rent.....she can't afford to stay...."  All BS, and none of it relevant.  And then it comes:  "....And we think she is involved in prostitution in there, and drugs...."

   My client, in case anyone was wondering, is nearly 70 years old.  Her ankles were so swollen that she had trouble wolking around the courthouse, poor thing.  Prostitution?  BS.

   Since I've encountered this before, I know that the only way to address this one effectively is to say, calmly, "I don't believe that."  Instead of beating the shit out of him, which was one thought among many that occurred to me.  Him and his conspicuopusly rich and smug client.  That is not acceptable behavior 

     At least this time the client wasn't close enough to hear it.  One other time the other side went so far as to raise the charge in writing, enter it into the official court record, and threatened to present evidence of it to a jury if we went forward with a trial.  My client nixed the trial and settled the case, but not before she went OFF on the other side in open court (no judge) with the reporter and clerk (both female) listening and slightly nodding along with her.  The writings were ordered striken by the judge.  But still, was justice done?  I don't thinks she felt it.

   It just galls me that he and others should think that saying something like that would work, and that they should feel so free to raise the charge so recklessly.   I just don't fucking get it.  Or maybe I do, which makes me really sad.

Peace and Love,  JR

[Queen Tokelove]

I've read this a few times and actually have some questions....

1.) Did the other side have proof of their accusations? I find it hard to see a 70 yr old being a prostitute as well but I can see a 70 yr old smoking some weed.

2.) If they are saying she is always late with rent, then where is your client's money going? I can't see her spending her rent money on weed. Have you asked her about this? I'm assuming you have, so what is she telling you?

3.) Why did she settle the last time if she believes she was innocent? That doesn't make sense to me, she is admitting guilt somewhere or at least that is how it appears to me. If she was truly innocent, it should've been a slam dunk if it went to trial. Who would believe a 70 yr old was having tricks coming to her room? And I think a jury could even accept a 70 yr old partaking of the green for medicinal purposes although it may be illegal where you are, if anything they'd prolly admit she would be guilty of that and give her a fine.

I feel like I am missing some vital information here but that's my take on it.....

[Iggy]

Why is it one for the ladies?

I've seen the drug/prostitute argument used as an attack on many gay men too.

[JR Gabbard]

 Hey y'all

Sorry to have left you all hanging with questions on this one.  Life got busy for a few days.

Majesty (Queen A)--Nope, not a shred of evidence for either charge, on either client (these were 2 separate clients/cases entirely)  It came up while I was trying to keep her housed.  Landlord didn't want her to stay, and those were just the "excuses" he was rattling off as to why she should leave.  The only real allegation they made against her was that she got behind in rent. 

   Their paperwork was very bad, I pointed it out (that's my job), so she stays in her very-low rent unit.  The allegation of prostitution and drug use are forgotten, except by me. 

Iggz--This one is for the ladies because, every time this has happened, all of the players, except for my client, have been MEN.  I think it happens because MEN don't think, necessarily, about the consequences of the little things that they say "just to get things done."  I don't think any one of them thought twice about what it might mean to my client to hear herself called "whore" in a court of law.  I want the ladies to know that at least one of us DOES think.

   I've never heard a female attorney level the same false charge.  Never expect to, either.

   Also, curiously enough, none of the male prosititues who have been clients have EVER been accused of it by their landlord. 

   How do I know they were male prosititues then, you ask?  That's a rhetorical question for another day   

[Queen Tokelove]

Ooooh, I didn't know it was 2 different cases. I am still curious though to why the one is falling behind in rent. Have you gotten to the bottom of this? Does she have a bank acct? Maybe her rent can automatically be taken out and paid to the landlord....Is this unit run by the state? If so, they should be able to do this if she has an account.

The landlord should've known that the accusation wasn't going to fly w/o any kind of evidence...Sheesh...I know that much from watching Judge Judy and People's Court. But then my Daddy said I should've been a lawyer..