Huge thanks and update from Patricia-LONG
My God!!! For anyone that doubts the existence of sisterhood, they should come here. One reason I chose to come here, and discuss this more than at the club I work at in Dallas, is there are so many drama queens. I felt that I would have more support here. I am also a little afraid of what a few of my fellow dancers may do...as far as talking to people.
I am also sorry that some have thought I am not real. I can understand this, but although I have been reading for a while; I didn't know that my not replying would cause this question. Please know that I am real. I have danced for 3 years at various clubs in Dallas.
Now for the update:
My attorney had thought that an attorney would probably not take the wife's case as she felt that it did not meet the rule 11(?) or (13)? standard in Texas. That is a standard that lawyers use to make sure that they are not presenting a frivolous lawsuit (as interpreted by the judge) as they are personally sanctioned. So that was the first suprise. We had hoped that would happen.
Now we have found out that she had one of the top lawfirms in Dallas, and this was done with much vengance. The law firm hired a "top notch" (my lawyer's words) private investigator that followed me for quite a while. In addition my whole life seems to have been investigated..I am not kidding here..down to my elementary school!! She hasn't contacted people in my small hometown. But I know she will, and the waiting is killing me. I moved a state away to hopefully not ever let my family know what I did. I don't have the support of my Bible belt family as many of you do.
As far as the intentional infliction--this is her argument. Her husband was a regular at my club. He spoke of his wife to dancers, and not in a mean or degrading way. He told us all about the horrible chronic disease she suffers from--much like Lupus. He also said he was very careful as he explaned-stress makes this disease become far less manageable and dangerous. We all have heard this from him. during the course of this very good PI, he taped a lot of girls telling him about this regular as he nonchalantly would ask about the guy spending so much money.(Shit shit shit!!!) So there is no way I can deny that I did not have knowledge that being discovered would affect her.
After she did find out, she was hospitalized for several days. My lawyer said the worst part of this is that there are several *objective* tests that affirm that she greatly worsened at this time.
So knowing these facts, that is where the intentional infliction comes in. So she can empirically prove damages. Not only monetarily from medical bills but she can add on as much as a jury could award for pain and suffering.
It is here that I got two other legal opinons. both agreed. Both basically said I am fu**ed. Dallas, as I said before, is in the middle of a mayoral race. One of the issues is cleaning up of the SOB district. The wife, as one poster stated, is a powerful woman and friends with Laura Miller-our mayor. This suit will help Miller's race. In fact it is evident that the wife is well connected and far as we can determine, could give a SHIT about the money she spends in legal fees..she wants a pound of flesh.
I am not certain if I put in my former post or not..there is a newly formed group of women that are giving her all kinds of emotional support..as they (and her ovbviously) want this to be a high profile as they can muster. Wife is also connected with our newspaper, so I know it will be.
As far as the comments about my motivation--as it really doesn't matter anymore as so much is known about me-yes I did play him. Yes I got as much from him as possible. He is the kind of customer most of us love to have. Drops a ton of money. However, he is also the customer that is middle-aged, fat, and 20 years older than me. I have gotten sick of these men, and IN THE MOST IRONIC part of all of this; was just ready to get back at these gropers that cheat on their families. That is what got me in trouble sistahs..my own attitude. By getting back at them, I mean just taking as much as they are willing to give.
So for example, he paid at least a thousand to buy me out of the club for the night. And on top of that I would suggest shopping-and he would always say yes. I kept stringing him along with..."I don't want to cheat with you, as that happened to me and it hurt so bad." or "I am looking for a long term relationship, something that you can't give me" (He always told all the dancers he would never leave his wife or kids-that he still loved her, and that she was a fine woman. It was her disease that brought him to the club) And you know what? I did and do believe him on that one. Two times I used the "I am on my period crap." And as time went on, and I wanted more things..I guess you could call it raising the bar..I began the whole "I think I am falling in love with you shit" and he sure fell for it.
No, I didn't love him. I actually thought it would be like screwing my father. GROSS! But yes I played him. And yes I am paying the price. And when I see all of this stuff written out in black and white, I can actually see how bad I look. It really makes me sick. Seriously. Knowing this will be said in open court. It was morally wrong, I agree. But I truly didn't care. I rationalized it by thinking if you want to be another cheating man, fine, you WANT to give me all this stuff? Great. I didn't care, in fact I really felt to be the more powerful. God! What guys will do for pussy. And now I have to say-God what I will do for money. I grew up fairly poor(not really an excuse) but never want to go back there.
As you can see..I am feeling humiliated, I am throwing up almost everyday, and the stress is incredible. I have to keep dancing to pay bills and now legal bills. But I am so differnt, I keep thinking "is this another PI?" No more mileage for me in the back othe club, where the big money is..and my other regulars ARE catching on. But I will be damned if I ever see anyone outside of the club!!
Finally, as far as suing the husband, I have been told that is a "seperate action." And as for spending her money; if it is not a joint account...ie, an inheritance that is seperate property: he can be charged. but it dos nothing for me.
Thanks for reading this far. A huge humongous thank you for all the support and advice. It is so nice to count on someone. Be careful out there!
Patricia
Re: Huge thanks and update from Patricia-LONG
Well, Patricia, I had secretly hoped that my comments in your original thread were overblown. Unfortunately, it appears that they were not. I have also had a bit of vicarious experience with the Dallas criminal justice system, and can tell you with confidence that if this matter comes before a jury and if it's left up to the jury to decide on the amount to be awarded for damages, its pretty clear that you should be looking for a bankruptcy attorney as soon as this case is over. A 1 Million dollar damage award for the supposed pain and suffering you caused the wife is something that you simply can never pay off even if you keep dancing till you're 50!
Dallas has to be the most hypocritical city I've ever seen. The same fine upstanding citizens who will condemn a stripper during daylight hours will also be forking over major bucks in the back rooms of clubs after the sun goes down. However, the fact remains that public sentiment will be against you.
At this point, I still think that your best option (and perhaps your ONLY effective option) would be to create a media circus. This is the only effective way that you can counteract the wife's "back door" influence with local politicians (which of course also indirectly trickles down to local civil servants like cops and judges). However, if you can manage to get a media circus started, if nothing else it may result in a change of venue to a different city where you can get a less unfair deal. Having the case moved to a different city would then vastly reduce the wife's "back door" influence with the local newspaper.
Re: Huge thanks and update from Patricia-LONG
Melonie - what an excellent idea, the change of venue idea - you are a smart cookie babe.
I just gotta knock on wood none of this stuff goes down here in Canada. We have a cap on lawsuits and the amount you can sue for up here. Not too generous in the "pain and suffering" line of complaint, you're damn lucky if a court will even give you the time of day up here on that one.
Patricia - I for one think that its just pathetic that everyone's gotta blame someone else for what goes on in their lives. That man should take responsibility for his actions, no one put a damn gun to his head to fork over ANY cash. His wife thinks her man is innocent and feels it neccessary to chase you? BAH....sounds like a whole lotta monkeys on everyones backs.
Then thru multiple postings we hear feedback about guys whining about being promised sex. Oh grow the f*ck up. You act like you are all powerless in the high-beams of lust and cant control your actions, therefore whatever goes down in the name of lust is the woman's fault. Bah what hodgepodge.
The very least you can do is own up to being took. . . quit your bellyaching.
Bah.
Re: Huge thanks and update from Patricia-LONG
Leigh is right - it is disgusting how this man isn't being held responsible for his own actions - he's mentally capable of making his own decisions (which he did), so why are you being held accountable for this?
I have a hard time believing that you'd still be held accountable though - i mean, he *told* you these things about his wife, but how did you know beyond a shadow of a doubt they were true? Customers lie to us as much as we lie to them - all the time! ..for whatever reason - sympathy, attention, living out a fantasy, etc. All you knew about his wife was by hearsay, correct? did you meet her or see her hospital bills or something? How were you to know if this customer was telling the truth about his wife? Customers will say things all the time that aren't true - "i'm not married" " I have no kids", even to the hilarious " I never go to strip clubs"...so how much of what customers say are to be taken as truth? I don't know if that's much of an argument.
By the way, I don't know about Dallas, but I thought that taped conversations weren't admissible in a court of law.
Gosh, girl - I really hope this turns out to be a dropped case, though I don't know much about legal issues - I wish the best for you -
Jax
Re: Huge thanks and update from Patricia-LONG
I still feel that with a good lawyer you could beat this thing, too many variable's and too much hearsay. People often lie about there relationship's and there S/O's in an effort to manipulate other's. I have a had women tell me what a jerk there boyfriend's where or how they get beat on and abused only to find out later that he's a really decent guy that love's her very much and none of it was true, ulterior motive's noted here.
As for the money and the moral issue here, hell for that kinda cash he could easily planted seed in half the hooker's in Dallas for the money he doled out. At least he didn't have sex for cash, hell he paid for companionship and he got it. If he wanted sex that bad he could have gotten it easily, the excessive cash he dropped prove's that.
I personally have trouble believing that this thing can't be beat. As for your family, maybe it's time you told them. If it's that eminent that they are to find out, I'm sure they would rather hear it from you then a stranger. If nothing else out of respect for them.
Re: Huge thanks and update from Patricia-LONG
I know, i just don't get this one. After mentioning this to a cutomer/lawyer. (i know states vary) He worked in Texas! Dallas! before coming to Florida. He said from what you will be going through, this seems like an odd case indeed.
(don't worry just said a friend had a problem with a customer, and went on).
The husband is the responsible party. Of being sound mind, he knew what he was doing. He can't be tried as a child, not knowing or aware. He is/was!
I don't get it. Strange case, perhaps.
Lotsa luck, just wanted to say "it should, may fall on him, and you are a third party to *crap* soooo many guys do, you are not the first, won't be the last. But going after you, is too wierd. I don't know, he did also say tape recordings of conversation 'are' admissible in Dallas. I don't know, maybne i was not really talking to a man who was a lawyer in Dallas at one time....But know of his practice in Florida. He is a prosecuting Attorney.
Pamela
Re: Huge thanks and update from Patricia-LONG
Damn, you are learning the Laws of Karma the hard way, Patricia.
I'd still rather have you as a friend than any hundred of the kind of guys that wanted to lynch you.
The husband was a worthless, two-timing fat schmuck, begging to be played, so you did--like untold thousands of other women would have if they had the sex appeal and (admittedly misguided) smarts to do as well as you did. And I stand by my statement that he might have gotten his wife's money's worth, for all we know. To the very rich, 30,000$ is pocket change, though obviously a man who can't take his mind off his dick can't be expected to figure that out.
And by the laws of ultimate responsibility, I repeat-- the wife is also at fault for choosing to marry him and letting him use her money in this way. She is obviously an extremely vindictive person, so I don't have much sympathy for her. That's also very bad Karma.
But you know, if you used that fiendishly clever brain of yours, you'd write a book about this, and sell the movie rights for several million dollars, before someone else does. You're not laughing now, but this has the makings of a great black comedy, especially with a little judiciously applied creative license You might well be able to make enough to pay off the old lady, and laugh your way to the bank.
Maybe in addition to a lawyer, you should get a ghost writer, and an agent.
Re: Huge thanks and update from Patricia-LONG
This is exactly why dancers should NEVER accept money or "see" customers OUTSIDE the club. Inside the club, its accepted as business and dancers are somewhat shielded from litigation but when it extends to outside the club ..... that protection is gone. Money/Items recieved outside the club (and promises made or impiled) can be held in court as a contract. Giifts are at the least TAXABLE and there have been cases of dancers convicted for tax evasion for not reporting "Gifts". It's a very bad situation when it goes wrong. KEEP IT IN THE CLUB LADIES.
Leigh: From a strictly legal point of view ....The basis of any legal contract is the promise (or implication) that certain goods/services will be delivered in exchange for payment. This guy IS owning up to being "Taken" and that is the problem. She (Patricia) admits to "taking" him. (In writing and in a public forum with her IP logged ...BAD Move). In the past, many men were ashamed/scared to Admit to this and it was just written off. Not the case anymore though.
Lying (while always immoral) is NOT Illegal outside a courtroom (not Under Oath). Men lie to get sex ...and women lie to avoid/postpone it (usually). The real issue here is not the lying but the exchange of money for ?. If some of the money was recorded as LOANS ...then she is liable to repay those loans. If it was Gifts ...she is liable for the Taxes. Since the guy never had sex with her ....he is (in the eyes of the LAW) ...totally (legaly) innocent of anything other than spending his wifes money without her permission which does not involve the dancer at all. Apparently he didn't even lie to Patricia as he told her he was married. Legally (at least according to the info we have) all he expected was consensual sex and since he never recieved this ...he's not even guilty of adultery.
In Patricias case .... the real question has to be ... DID she imply that sex was available for the money/gifts recieved? The actual SEX doesn't have to take place.....Just the Implication that it will upon an exchange of "Value" even if she is Lying. This can happen both inside and outside the club so be VERY Careful what you IMPLY Ladies. It's NOT Fantasy in the eyes of a Judge.
Bottom line: Inside the club, certain actions (like the exchange of money for a performance) is accepted as business. Just like gong to a movie...you can't get a refund because you didn't like the show (after the fact). OUTSIDE the club it's quite a bit different. There is NO specified (or expected) transaction and leaves the door open to all sorts of litigation. It's a BAD Idea all around. Legally ...OUTSIDE the club, a dancer is better off to actually HAVE consensual sex with her "Sugar Daddy" because then SHE Becomes the injured party in any litigation. Best though to just KEEP IT IN THE CLUB.
Re: Huge thanks and update from Patricia-LONG
It's damn ridiculous that she wants to hold you accountable. He is the one who married her, he is the one who is obligated to her and yet betrayed her trust. As strippers are we all supposed to turn down married customers? The men are the ones who are married and choose of their own free will to seek us out. Are we supposed to tell them all to go home to their wives and be good little boys? No, they are grown and make their own decisions. Us strippers didn't take any vows, THEY did.
If she wants to make this a circus, then by all means I agree with Djoser. Keep notes, let the media pick up the story and get a book deal. Hell Fox loves these kind of stories. Next thing you'll know you'll be in People magazine and months later on the cover of Playboy. Fuck it, it's going to hurt now but the only thing you can do is make the best of a bad situation. I'd take good care of myself, make sure you look damn good and see what the hell you can get out of it.
Re: Huge thanks and update from Patricia-LONG
Everybody is STILL focusing on a very unimportant part of the actual charges against Patricia. The ONLY thing which she is being sued for is doing SOMETHING which upset the wife and in the process made her medical condition worse. Patricia could just as well have thrown bags of dog shit through the lady's kitchen window. The fact that Patricia had a "relationship of some sort" with the husband and had "financial transfers of some sort" took place between them are not important in themselves, and are only raised because this was the route by which Patricia allegedly caused the wife pain and suffering. If any issues actually are raised in regard to the nature of the"financial transfers", it will come up as a totally separate legal matter which really has nothing to do with the "intentional infliction of emotional harm" case.
"As strippers are we supposed to turn down married customers ?" - well, if this case winds up setting a legal precedent it will be technically possible for lots and lots of wives to also sue lots and lots of dancers who have "relationships of some sort" with their husbands - on the same basis that, knowing the guy was married, the dancers still decided to enter into that "relationship" and in the process inflicted "emotional distress" or "psychological harm" (or whatever the particular charge happens to be called in a specific state) upon the man's wife. It's bad enough to have to worry about $1000 fines for excessive contact in clubs - this precedent could force many dancers to have to worry about $ 1 million lawsuits. Ridiculous ? certainly! Possible ? definitely - especially when the wives' lawyers are salivating to collect 25%-33% of those 1 Million dollar pain and suffering awards as legal fees! Do these other housewives have a chance of winning a 1 Million dollar award ? probably not. Will the lawsuits the wives bring against the dancers cause the dancers to have to pony up legal fees to defenc themselves, will it create anti-dance club publicity, and will it make profitable dancing less likely, you bet it will!
I'm not sure whether or not the "relationship of some sort" would be mitigated if any interaction between the dancer and husband had taken place only inside a club. On the surface it would seem logical to assume that a husband walking into a dance club of his own free will and interacting with dancers who are there to "do their jobs" would imply a strictly business transaction i.e. the dancer would have known nothing in particular about the customer's wife and would have accepted money from the customer based on standard prices for standard offerings. Taking the "relationship of some sort" outside of the club setting makes it more personal. Accepting non-standard amounts of money in exchange for special attention makes it more personal still. Doing both as Pamela did makes it extremely personal. Doing both plus knowing that a particular husband's wife had a particular medical condition which would be exacerbated by stress is what will cause her to wind up losing this lawsuit.
Re: Huge thanks and update from Patricia-LONG
Quote:
I still feel that with a good lawyer you could beat this thing, too many variable's and too much hearsay. People often lie about there relationship's and there S/O's in an effort to manipulate other's. I have a had women tell me what a jerk there boyfriend's where or how they get beat on and abused only to find out later that he's a really decent guy that love's her very much and none of it was true, ulterior motive's noted here.
As for the money and the moral issue here, hell for that kinda cash he could easily planted seed in half the hooker's in Dallas for the money he doled out. At least he didn't have sex for cash, hell he paid for companionship and he got it. If he wanted sex that bad he could have gotten it easily, the excessive cash he dropped prove's that.
I personally have trouble believing that this thing can't be beat. As for your family, maybe it's time you told them. If it's that eminent that they are to find out, I'm sure they would rather hear it from you then a stranger. If nothing else out of respect for them.
I hate to say it but I think the wife has a really strong case, and when you open the door to punitives it is scary. That said, it is beatable. The main issue I see hurting you is that she can prove you knew about the disability and that stress etc would aggravate it. Because you knew this they can say that you acted with intent, as there is no negligent infliction of emotional distress in texas (i think i posted an article/link on the other page).
NYCJAq hit the NAIL on the head (giving out legal props... maybe you are in the wrong profession). IN order to prove specific intent (which I believe is required for IIMD) you had to KNOW the baove. HOWEVER, if you DIDN'T BELIEVE him, and asumed he was talking BS and just trashing his wife to create a story for why he was, at least emotionally (because this post has led me to believe that some hanky panky was going on, just not sex/below the belt) cheating on his wife. If you didn't believe it, I think your atty can make a good arguement that you did not specifically intend (or act with reckless disregard) to injure the wife, as it is clear you did.
Good luck and I'll think more about this, but I am off to Music Midtown (3 days 100 bands kind of thing in atlanta) Keep your chin up. I think this could be discharged in abankrupcy, as could a lot of other bills. Believe me bankrupcy sounds a lot worse than it really is. But that is a WHOLE nothere discussion, and I'm out the door. PM me if you want. Ciao
Re: Huge thanks and update from Patricia-LONG
wow I really do type for shit :)
Re: Huge thanks and update from Patricia-LONG
Texas has a lot of laws and ideals that other states just don't, so I can't be of much help legally, but you did know she existed, and that her stress could cause her pain. It seems like her connections, PI, and lawyers have a pretty good case against you, not to mention that in your first post you stated that these were given as loans (which appears to be checks written to you with loan written on the check??) and then you would be responsible to pay them back regardless of "pain and suffering"
My advice to you-
Start a diary, write down everything you remember, all conversations with him, any conversations with her, what you know about the PI, and anything your lawyers know. This is going to be real confusion soon, keep things documented personally.
Talk to as few people as possible, try to keep your story accurate (memory makes things fuzzy, you may be exaggerating and not even realizing or listen to others and confusing facts)
If this does make it to court, don't start a media circus, if possible, keep it out of the public....Texans are white collar middle americans (you could get away with it in Cali), and it WILL hurt your case and possibly your whole life. Writing a book and doing talk shows would be interesting, but do you think Monica Lewinski is EVER going to be taken seriously...NEVER. No immediate recognition will make anything easier.
Talk to your family NOW- before they "find out", you'll be surprised how much less approving they'll be if they hear it on TV, or from someone in town.
I understand that this is a hard time for you, and you're searching for someone to share you pain and frustration with....use a counselor or talk to your lawyers. None of us know all the facts, or the area. We can't help you, and you may even be hurting your case by recording your feelings on a public forum. Take your lawyers advice, they will let you know what your best actions would be.
xoxo,
ANGEL
Re: Huge thanks and update from Patricia-LONG
I would argue the point that blind belief in a particular Dallas lawyer's advice and recommendations is not automatically the "best thing" to do. You have to keep in mind that this case, because of the wife's connections, has many more aspects involved than a simple case between two normal people. Apparently the wife is connected to the mayor of Dallas through a "rich idle housewives support morality and the mayor who will bring it to Dallas" group, which undoubtedly provides financial support to the mayor's campaign. The wife is also connected to the major local newspaper.
These developments mean that any Dallas attorney who vigorously takes a position in support of Patricia and slams the wife is in effect also slamming the mayor - a fact that will be widely publicized in the local newspaper when the case goes public. Since the mayor and her cronies determine who gets appointed/nominated as local judges, district attorneys etc., a Dallas lawyer being on record as slamming the mayor may have to deal with that fact in many future cases long after Patricia's is over. An attorney winding up on the mayor's "shit list", and therefore the "shit list" of every court in Dallas, can make a difference in the outcome of this attorney's future cases (future judges' decisions like evidence disallowed or objection overruled can make the difference between a case being won or lost) and therefore future earnings and promotions potential (no judicial appointments, "established" law firms and corporations won't work with this attorney etc.). This creates a strong incentive for an attorney to be "less than aggressive" in regard to Patricia's defense, for fear of having to work night court traffic cases for the rest of his career as a result of the political fallout aimed in the attorney's direction by the mayor's office, the local newspaper, and local courts and legal establishment! Anybody who truly believes that "justice is blind" has never visited Texas!
IMHO, keeping quiet about this only plays into the hands of the wife and the mayor. This leaves them in total control of the public perception created about this case via the wife's newspaper connections. This leaves the door wide open for a "good ol' boy" arrangement being made when Patricia's case comes before a Dallas court, insuring that the wife will receive her "pound of flesh" without anybody 'outside the local judicial system' being aware of what's really going on in regard to influence peddling etc. Trust me, nobody in the local Dallas establishment or judicial system is going to care one bit if one stripper gets "hung out to dry" to make one well connected wife happy thus furthering the mayor's re-election campaign. However, I care a lot because A. Patricia or any dancer doesn't deserve this kind of devastating financial retribution for just "doing her job" with the "wrong guy", and B. because the legal precedent which Patricia's case may set has the potential of widespread negative consequences to every dancer in the USA who has a 'relationship of some sort" with regular customers.
The best way to avoid this scenario is to bring some media attention to bear which is beyond the reach of the mayor's office and local establishment. If the mayor is forced to think twice that supporting the wife's position might result in an "influence peddling" story showing up on network news during the height of a re-election campaign, it's entirely possible that Patricia's case might come out quite differently. There isn't enough campaign contribution money in the world to make it worth a re-election candidate risking that sort of negative publicity!
The second best way to avoid this scenario is to somehow request and have granted a change of venue such that Patricia's case is heard by a court which is not IN Dallas, and therefore not subject to as much influence from the Dallas mayor's office.
On the subject of Monica Lewinsky, it's fairly obvious that the publicity she received helped her rather than hurt her. If Monica had been more physically attractive as Jessica Hahn was, and Patricia is, I am certain that Playboy offers, TV & movie offers etc. would have followed. It's actually ironic that by bringing this case in the first place, the wife has actually created a scenario where Patricia could actually earn enough money to pay the pain and suffering award with a few million of her own left over, if Patricia has the "balls" to play it for all it's worth as Jessica Hahn did! But this would only be possible if her case takes place under the same sort of media circus as the Jim Baker case did, with a mayoral political scandal substituted for the preacher sex scandal! This can only happen if Patricia's attorney is "into it" as much as Patricia is!
Re: Huge thanks and update from Patricia-LONG
Okay, here's an attempt:
Step one, have every dancer, particularly every one the PI got on tape, write down every instance they can recall of a customer lieing to a dancer. Especially cases where the customer did so in an attempt to "see" a dancer outside the club. This establishes a precedent that dancers in general can't be expected to take the BS of a customer at face value, and because of this you had *no way* to be sure the "gentleman" in question wasn't lieing to get into your pants. Men have done worse.
Step two, if it goes to trial, make sure to have asked several different times why every other dancer the PI talked to wasn't also charged, since it is obvious you weren't the only one he spent money on. Other girls didn't cause distress, but you did?
Step three, demand to see **all** of their financial transactions for the last seven years; both of them. The reasoning behind this is you are looking to prove you aren't/weren't the only person he'd been friendly with. Plus you may find she's found out about others before. Make sure your lawyer tells her lawyer that as a good member of the court, he'll be obligated to tell the IRS about any ilregularities in their tax returns. And a subtle reminber that she is as legally responsible as her hubby for that. The vague implication that he may have fiddled with the returns (which he probably did to hide his "loans" and "gifts") could cause her financial problems like siezure of assets will help some.
Step four, the second a suit is formally filed against you, sue the husband. If he had been faithful to his wife, this would not have happened, so make sure he is part and parcel to any lawsuit. If you ever mentioned not wanting to cause his marriage trouble at any time, try and recall any witnesses to it, again, particularly any dancers the PI talked to about the case. Paint him as a jerk who used his wife's money to try and seduce a younger girl.
Step five, find out who the PI is and have him arrested if possible. Not sure about Texas, but WV has a nice state law that prohibits a customer from bringing "any recording device" into a club. I'm also not sure about Texas law regarding taping without knowledge or consent. Some states say it is okay as long as one of the parties involved know. Then, demand his notes on the case, everything. Plus any case involving the family, in case there is a link (like a previous sugar baby that the wife knew about.) Plus any case involving any member of the support group. You never know what will help your case, and your lawyer can probably scare the hell out of the PI. Depending on his methods, he may even lose his license, making him a much less than credible witness, no?
So, your defense is: You didn't know whether he had a wife or not, you thought he was playing a sympathy card to get a little action. He *did* know, however, and by his own statements knew the harm it would cause. He offered a ton of money for your company; and what poor, young girl can resist that, even if you never actually let him commit adultery? The support group is trying to make a mountain out of a molehill to advance their own political agenda.
Make sure her lawyer knows that if you win the case, you will be counter suing for pain, suffering, intentional emotional distress, lost income and court costs. In fact, win or lose, file a counter claim the second she files. "Society Dame hires PI to ruin reputation of young Lolita after she catches husband cheating." Yup. Good looking headline, especially if you can make sure a nice picture of her with her hubby looking all fancy and have it next to say, your highschool yearbook picture... Make sure they know that you may have to deal with family, but that they won't be able to go out in public in all of Texas, much less Dallas once the papers latch on to the story. And wouldn't it be a shame if it got taken up by national papers?
I'm not a lawyer, I'm just a normal guy. But I'd present some of these ideas to your lawyer. I'm pretty good about coming up with ways to make people drop stupid lawsuits.
Re: Huge thanks and update from Patricia-LONG
I would deffinitely opt. for a change of venue, there's no way in hell those jurors are going to be sympathetic if they're from Texas. Your gonna have all those PTA mothers after you. [beat]
Re: Huge thanks and update from Patricia-LONG
In order to be granted a change of venue, there has to be a REASON - Patricia must prove to a Dallas court that it's impossible for her to get a fair trial in Dallas such that her case should be heard in and different city. One of the best ways of doing this is by creating a media circus, so it can be argued that every citizen of Dallas has already seen local press coverage of the case and has thus already formed mental preconceptions based on the "spin" provided by the local Dallas newspaper, to which the wife has connections. The case won't be moved out of Texas, though, under any circumstances.
Re: Huge thanks and update from Patricia-LONG
WOW. I never saw this before. OMG Patricia I am sorry to see this happening to you, regardless of any attempt to 'play' the guy that you 'might' have made. I think regular customer has some good points, as well as Melonie. You should try to make this as big as possible. Get together with your lawyer and call a press conference. Make sure there are lots of pictures taken. Get this thing above and beyond the little steam-roller this bitch is making it to be. Make references to how she seems to be coping quite well with all the stress of a pending court battle....maybe the thought of revenge helps heal her pain.
What is that saying about a woman scorned? This case is a perfect example. Rich woman's husband out playing the field and spending her money on other women, and she decides to get a little revenge. Of course, if she's making life this miserable for you, imagine how miserable she must be making the husband's life!
And I also agree with Melonie that you should call as much attention to this as you can, and play it for all it's worth. The stripper who got kicked off her track team because of her job wound up in Playboy. Monica has had several TV jobs, at least one good book deal, and no telling what else. Maybe this will give you a huge pain in the ass, but it could also wind up making you a celebrity with more earning power than you would ever have in a strip club! And as for your family, well, maybe they won't support you, but you might be surprised at what they'll do. This is your life, and no one else is going to take care of you, so grab a heapful of guts and spin this thing into something you can bank on later. I wish you well girl.