The Greatest Lie Part 12

"Why do they want to do that?" I asked.

"Who knows? But based on who the Church’s lawyers are, most likely it’s hardball litigation tactics. It’s more expensive to try each case separately, and the Church has more money than the victims. Also, each victim’s story tends to corroborate that of the others. If you separate the victims cases from one another, the story makes less sense, and Roarke’s actions and the Church’s lack of response don’t make such an obvious pattern. Plus, they probably are hoping to intimidate Tran into dropping her claim"

"Do I have to go to the Court?" Tran asked nervously.

"If we don’t agree to produce you voluntarily, they’ll subpoena you. Then, you have to go."

"What did you get me into?" she asked accusingly. "I told you the priests are too powerful."

"Wait a minute. Why would the Court sever the claims?" I asked.

Mark replied "They’ll say it’s lack of common issues of law or fact; prejudice to a party; or judicial efficiency. But I think it’s just they think they can beat the plaintiffs down better if they take them on separately. The plaintiffs lawyer told me she’s got twenty-three cases against this creep, and the more publicity the case gets, the more victims come forward. She keeps trying to add the new victims to her case, and the Church keeps trying to split them up. Typical game of litigation chicken, to see who’s got bigger cojones."

Tran looked puzzled. "Balls," Mark clarified.

"So is the church going to pay me? I don’t want to go to Court. I don’t want anything to do with lawyers. I just want money."

"They have ten more days to respond to the letter you sent them."

"I want my money before I go to Court," Tran insisted.

"That might look bad," Mark cautioned.

"I don’t care how it look, as long as money is green. Twenty five thousand dollars; then I go to court."