Chapter 4
The driver hired to chauffeur them from the airport to the office of attorney Princess Alvarez, who was representing the Guaranty National Bank, was waiting for them with a sign near the luggage carousel when they arrived.
“Here’s our guy,” Beau Lee said as they headed his way.
“Greetings, sir,” the driver said. “I’ll take those.” He took hold of Beau Lee’s and Nellie’s rolling bags. Capes politely rejected his offer to carry his garment bag, as he was managing fine with it over his shoulder. “Welcome to Chicago,” the driver said. “I’m parked this way.”
They followed him outside and were hit with the chilly Northern air.
—
Beau Lee put on the earmuffs that Gigi had insisted he take. “I know they said it was going to be cold, but this is no joke,” he said.
“You’re preaching to the choir, boss,” Capes said, rubbing his hands together to keep warm.
They quickly climbed into another black SUV, this one was heated. The driver put their luggage in the rear, closed the hatch, and got into the driver’s seat.
Capes called to the driver, “How far to the destination?”
“Depending on traffic, I should have you there within thirty minutes.”
“Good,” Beau Lee said. “Nellie, that gives us enough time to review the police reports again on our three women. After the opening session, Capes, I’ll need you to follow up with your contact in the police clerk’s office.
See if you can get your hands on the documents mentioned in the report.
It could be just what we need to blow this case wide open. ”
Nellie was quick to interject, “Beau, I’m not following you. What could be more explosive than the videos we already have of them being arrested at the bank?”
“I don’t know if those documents exist, but I got a hunch, and I want Capes to follow up on it. Work your magic, Capes.”
“I got you covered, boss.”
—
When they arrived in the city, it was frigid, far beyond what they had imagined.
Beau Lee, Nellie, and Capes were taking the elevator in an office building in Hyde Park to meet the defense attorney, and Capes was still trying to keep warm despite the heat from the car ride.
When the elevator doors opened, they stepped out onto the fourth floor and faced two double doors leading to the lobby of a beautifully decorated law office that didn’t skimp on elegance.
Nellie scoffed and said, “With all the mahogany and gold embroidery throughout this office, Guaranty National Bank is certainly paying Princess Alvarez a healthy rate.”
“Oh, she’s getting bank for sure,” Capes said, admiring the marble floor with hints of gold flakes.
As they approached the receptionist’s desk, a young woman in a cream blouse greeted them. “Good morning, gentlemen. May I help you?”
“We’re with the Beau Lee Cooper Law Firm,” Nellie said. “We’re here for the settlement conference with Attorney Alvarez and Guaranty National Bank.”
“Certainly,” the receptionist said, “right this way.” She escorted them down the hallway into a boardroom that seemed fitting for a president or the CEO of a Fortune 500.
“There’s water on the table, and I could get you coffee if you’d like.”
“We’re fine, thank you,” Nellie said.
“Let me know if you change your mind. I’ll be right out front, but you can use the intercom there…” She pointed to a device on the wall. “You just push that button, and I’ll answer.”
“Well, I’ll say,” Capes said flippantly. “All it takes is a push of a button.”
“Otherwise, Attorney Alvarez will be right with you,” she said, and left the room.
The men took a seat at the long wooden table. Capes leaned back in the high-back leather chair. “Can you please try not to look so brand-new,” Nellie said. “It’s just a chair.”
“Well, it might be just a chair to you,” Capes said, “but it’s the nicest one I’ve ever sat in. You know, we should ask her where she purchased them.”
“No point,” Beau Lee said. “It’d take three months of your salary for us to afford one.”
Capes gasped. “Not happening. It doesn’t even have a built-in massager.”
A Latinx woman in a navy business suit entered.
She was petite, and her makeup was soft, but her presence was commanding.
Beau Lee thought she was in her mid-thirties or younger; she was trailed by two older white men in business suits.
“Attorney Beau Lee Cooper,” she said, extending her hand, “I’m Attorney Princess Alvarez, outside counsel for Guaranty National Bank. ”
Beau Lee shook her hand. “Pleasure to finally meet you in person.”
“And these gentlemen are Mr. Cluse, the General Counsel, and Mr. Wachowski, the Midwest regional director from Guaranty National Bank’s main office.” Cluse and Wachowski firmly shook Beau Lee’s hand.
“Great to meet you all,” Beau Lee said. “Let me introduce you to my team. My partner, Attorney Nelson Rivers, and my chief investigator, Brent Capers.”
“Hello, gentlemen,” Attorney Alvarez said.
“How about we all take a seat so we can get started.” She opened her leatherbound notebook.
“Mr. Cooper, we received the demand letter, and the bank has enough respect for you and your clients to try to resolve this matter without engaging in protracted litigation. However, there seems to be great disagreement on the value of the claims. But of course we’re here to listen to your explanation as to why you think they’re worth so much. ”
“Well, we feel that we’ve made a reasonable demand and encourage you to counteroffer.”
“Okay, then…” Attorney Alvarez started, taking a deep breath.
“But please keep in mind, the most damning fact in this case is that the Guaranty National Bank checks that were said to have been fraudulent were actually authentic checks issued in Atlanta, Georgia,” Beau Lee said. “There was never any fraud to begin with.”
“Yes, we understand that, and your claims may have some validity, but we are not without defenses to those claims.”
“Some validity?” Beau Lee looked to Cluse and Wachowski and said, “Gentlemen, no jury will be convinced that the bank shouldn’t be held accountable for the arrests and false imprisonment of these three Black women who were innocently banking in your branch.
We think these are very meritorious claims and that our ten-million-dollar demand is fair and reasonable, especially considering all the extenuating circumstances. ”
“As I said, we’re not disputing that you have some valid claims,” Attorney Alvarez said.
“However, Guaranty National has major defenses in that the teller violated bank policies. Before calling law enforcement, tellers are trained to first call the company that issued the check for verification. If they’re unable to verify it with the issuing company, then they’re supposed to call the Guaranty National Bank regional call center manager.
Of which she did neither. Therefore, we think it’s not completely out of the realm of possibility that the bank could win a motion to dismiss on summary judgment. ”
“I agree, Attorney Alvarez, that there is nothing outside of the realm of possibility in a court of law when you’re fighting on behalf of marginalized minorities in America”—he gave her a look—“but the problem for Guaranty isn’t what will transpire in a court of law, but what will transpire in the court of public opinion when we file our lawsuit and the videos are released. ”
Capes perked up upon hearing the mention of the video. He gestured to get Beau Lee’s attention. “Excuse me, Attorney Cooper. I’ll need to excuse myself to run the errand we discussed.”
“Certainly, Mr. Capes,” Beau Lee said. “Pardon the interruption, Attorney Alvarez. I believe you were about to respond?”
“Attorney Cooper, we indicated when we set this settlement conference that we were attempting to resolve these claims amicably without a lawsuit being filed. But your demand for such a grand sum is preposterous.”
“It’s far from it.”
“We conducted a focus group, and the highest verdict returned in the mock trials for each of your clients was two hundred thousand dollars. I’d add that we discovered that two of your clients had previous arrests.
So how does this differ from their past arrests?
How is this more traumatic, given their criminal histories? ”
Nellie was slow to counter. He cleared his throat and began: “Attorney Alvarez, we’re aware of those arrests.
Ms. Camille Abernathy was arrested as a juvenile, stemming from a high school function with a dozen other youths, and all the charges were dismissed.
As for Ms. Juanita Crumity, she was cited after her car was rear-ended when she failed to furnish proof of insurance.
It had lapsed two months prior, and she’d been unable to pay it.
It’s important to note that she was given a notice to appear and was not taken into custody. ”
Feeling compelled, Beau Lee chimed in: “Attorney Alvarez and gentlemen, my mission is to raise the value of Black lives. So, before we go any further, maybe you all should meet privately and determine what your counteroffer is. And then we’ll respond, presuming we can make progress versus this continual back and forth.
We’re happy to step out and give you all some privacy. ”
“Why, Attorney Cooper, you’re our guest,” Attorney Alvarez said. “Please stay, and we’ll confer in my office.” She got up from the table with her clients and exited the boardroom.