“Harvey?”
“I’m just saying, your honor.” He sits back down.
The judge turns to the plaintiff’s table. Smiles again. “Please proceed, counselor.”
“Thank you, your honor. Now, as you know, what is most important in a hearing such as this, is establishing that my client is in immediate need of the protection that would be provided by the permanent restraining order.”
Here the lawyer turns to her client.
“Mrs. Oppenheimer, can you tell us why you fear further violence from Ms. Lemonopolous?”
“Certainly,” says Shona, sitting up straight in her chair, just like they probably rehearsed it. “Because Christine is a ticking time bomb. She has what they call ‘PTSD.’ Post Traumatic Stress Disease.”
“Do you mean Post Traumatic Stress Disorder?” coaches her lawyer.
“Yes. Christine is extremely prone to angry outbursts and crazy flashbacks.”
Harvey stands. “Objection, your honor.”
Judge Guarnery gets a squeamish look on his face and says, oh so politely, “Mrs. Oppenheimer, this is a very serious accusation. Do you have evidence to substantiate your claim?”
“Sure. I talked to a doctor friend and he told me …”
“Hearsay, your honor,” says Harvey, tossing up both his arms.
“Yes. I’m afraid we can’t admit hearsay evidence, Shona. Objection sustained.”
“Your honor,” says Trybulski, her lawyer, “those with PTSD engage in self-destructive behavior such as alcohol abuse and …”
“Whoa,” says Harvey. “Again with the PTSD?”
“Did you have difficulty understanding my ruling, Mr. Trybulski?” asks the judge, sounding like a kindly old uncle. “If so, I would be happy to elucidate …”
“No, that’s okay,” says Trybulski. “Allow me to rephrase.”
“Kindly do.”
“My client desperately needs the protection this restraining order will provide because she is currently living her life in constant fear of what Ms. Lemonopolous might do next. Need I remind you: Ms. Lemonopolous is a highly trained medical professional. She understands the pharmacology of drugs. She knows how to hurt people. She is a menace to my client.”
Trybulski strides to his chair. Sits down.
“Is that it?” asks the judge.