Sycamore Row - John Grisham

What do you think?”
“I’m sure the church will take it,” Jake said.
“It kinda leaves us high and dry, Your Honor,” said Zack Zeitler, the attorney for
Herschel’s children.
“Same here,” said Joe Bradley Hunt, the attorney for Ramona’s kids.
“Of course,” Judge Atlee said. “But it’s safe to assume the children will get no small
benefit from such a settlement. Their parents get a windfall; surely it will trickle down.
Perhaps, you could stipulate that a portion be held in trust for the kids. Just an idea.”
“Perhaps,” Zeitler said, cutting his eyes around at the other attorneys as if his throat
was in danger.
“Interesting,” Wade Lanier mumbled. “I think my folks would consider it.”
“Same here,” said Stillman Rush.
His Honor chewed on his battered pipe stem and looked at Jake, who at the moment
was stewing because of the ambush. He had not been forewarned of this impromptu
settlement conference, and he certainly had no clue that his old pal was planning to
throw some numbers on the table. Judge Atlee said, “Jake?”
Jake said, “You all have copies of the letter Seth Hubbard wrote to me when he
mailed along his last will and testament. His instructions to me are rather explicit. His
wishes and desires regarding his two adult children could not be clearer. I suggest you
all read the letter again, and the will. I represent the estate, and I have my marching
orders. My job is to uphold Mr. Hubbard’s will and see to it that his children get nothing.
I have no choice. I will not be a part of any compromise or settlement.”
“Should you discuss this with your client?” Stillman said.
“My client is the estate, which is represented by Mr. Quince Lundy, the
administrator.”
“I’m talking about Lettie Lang.”
“And I don’t represent Lettie Lang. We have the same interests—the validation of the
handwritten will—but I’m not her lawyer. I’ve made that clear to everyone, especially
to her. As an interested party she has the right to hire a lawyer, which she tried once but
he wound up in jail.”
“I kinda miss ol’ Booker,” Wade Lanier said, and again got a few laughs.
Jake pressed on. “My point is that I’m not her lawyer.”
Stillman said, “Sure, Jake, technically, but right now you have more influence with
her than anyone else. Hell, her daughter is your paralegal, or secretary, or whatever.”
“I have quite a staff.”
Wade Lanier said, “You can’t tell us, Jake, that if you went to Lettie and told her she
could walk away with over three million bucks in two months, hell, two weeks, she
wouldn’t grab the deal and run.”
“I don’t know what she would do. She’s a proud woman who feels scorned by the
community. She wants her day in court.”
“Three million bucks might ease some of the scorn,” Lanier said.
“Perhaps, but I will not be a part of a compromise. If the court wishes, I will resign as
the attorney for the estate, but as long as I’m here I’m not authorized to settle.”