get away. “That’s my specialty. Big-truck cases. Eighteen wheelers. Dump trucks. Tankers. You name it, and I go after them.” He thrust his hand across the table. “Name’s Gill Teal.”
Luckily for the guy, his good arm was his right
one, and he lamely slung it over the table to shake hands with this hustler. “Joe Farris.”
Gill pumped it furiously, and eagerly moved in for the kill. “What you got—two broke legs, concussion, coupla puncture wounds?”
“And broken collarbone.”
“Great. Then we’re looking at permanent disability. What type work you do?” Gill asked, rubbing his chin in careful analysis. The card was lying on the table, untouched by Joe. They were unaware of Mark.
“Crane operator.”
“Union?”
“Yeah.”
“Wow. And the Exxon truck ran a stop sign. No doubt about who’s at fault here?”
Joe frowned and shifted again, and even Mark could tell he was rapidly tiring of Gill and this intrusion. He shook his head no.
Gill made frantic notes on a napkin, then smiled at Joe and announced, “I can get you at least six hundred thousand. I take only a third, and you walk away with four hundred thousand. Minimum. Four hundred grand, tax free, of course. We’ll file suit tomorrow.”
Joe took this as if he’d heard it before. Gill hung in midair with his mouth open, proud of himself, full of confidence.
“I’ve talked to some other lawyers,” Joe said.
“I can get you more than anybody. I do this for a living, nothing but truck cases.. I’ve sued Exxon before, know all their lawyers and corporate people locally, and they’re terrified of me because I go for the jugular. It’s warfare, Joe, and I’m the best in town. I know how to play their dirty games. Just settled a truck case for almost half a million. They threw money at my client
once he hired me. Not bragging, Joe, but I’m the best in town when it comes to these cases.”
“A lawyer called me this morning and said he could get me a million.”
“He’s lying. What was his name? McFay? Ragland? Snodgrass? F know these guys. I kick their asses all the time, Joe, and anyway I said six hundred thousand is a minimum. Could be much more. Hell, Joe, if they push us to trial, who knows how much a jury might give us. I’m in trial every day, Joe, kicking ass all over Memphis. Six hundred is a minimum. Have you hired anybody yet? Signed a contract?”
Joe shook his head no. “Not yet.”
“Wonderful. Look, Joe, you’ve got a wife and kids, right?”
“Ex-wife, three kids.”
“So you’ve got child support, man, now listen to me. How much child support?”
“Five hundred a month.”
“That’s low. And you’ve got bills. Here’s what I’ll do. I’ll advance you a thousand bucks a month to be applied against your settlement. If we settle in three months, I withhold three thousand. If it takes two years, and it won’t, but if it does I’ll withhold twenty-four thousand. Or whatever. You follow me, Joe? Cash now on the spot.”
Joe shifted again and stared at the table. “This other lawyer came by my room yesterday and said he’d advance two thousand now and float me two thousand a month.”
“Who was it? Scottie Moss? Rob LaMoke? I know these guys, Joe, and they’re trash. Can’t find their way to the courthouse. You can’t trust them. They’re
incompetent. I’ll match it—two thousand now, and two thousand a month.”
“This other guy with some big firm offered ten thousand up front and a line of credit for whatever I needed.”
Gill was crushed, and it was at least ten seconds before he could speak. “Listen to me, Joe. It’s not a matter of advance cash, okay. It’s a matter of how much money I can get for you from Exxon. And nobody, I repeat, nobody will get more than me. Nobody. Look. I’ll advance five thousand now, and allow you to draw what you need to pay bills. Fair enough?”
“I’ll think about it.”
“Time is critical, Joe. We must move fast. Evidence disappears. Memories fade. Big corporations move slow.”
“I said I’ll think about it.”
“Can I call you tomorrow?”
“No.”
“Why not?”
“Hell, I can’t sleep now for all the damned lawyers calling. I can’t eat a meal without you guys bargin’ in. There are more lawyers around this damned place than doctors.”
Gill was unmoved. “There are a lot of sharks out here, Joe. A lot of really lousy lawyers who’ll screw up your case. Sad but true. The profession is overcrowded, so lawyers are everywhere trying to find business. But don’t make a mistake, Joe.