Instantly the reporters reacted, looking at each other, scribbling more hastily, or starting their cell-phone video cameras if they hadn’t already. Judy stiffened in her chair, and Mary kept her face front and her lipsticked smile plastered on, as Bennie continued.
“Unfortunately, the procedures under the Pennsylvania Human Relations Act do not provide for a counterclaim by defendants or a mechanism for dismissing a lawsuit brought in bad faith. However, we are putting Nick Machiavelli on notice. We will defeat him before the Human Relations Commission and if he continues to pursue this matter in Common Pleas Court, we will file a counterclaim against him for fees and damages.” Bennie paused, eyeing the reporters directly. “And we will defeat him, and soundly.”
Mary swallowed hard. She didn’t know if Bennie was right that they would be able to prove that Nick had manufactured the case, but they were going to devote themselves to the case for the foreseeable future, or at least until she gave birth to a child, whichever came first.
“Ladies and gentlemen, that’s our statement, so I open it up to a few brief questions at this time.”
The reporters all shouted at once, “Bennie, I have a question!” “Bennie, who’s counsel for the defense and why isn’t he or she here?” “So this is a vendetta?”
Bennie raised a hand to silence them. “Counsel for the defense is Roger Vitez, and he isn’t here because we could handle it ourselves. And no, this is not a vendetta, not on our part. If anything, we’re on the receiving end of the vendetta, and if it was anybody but us, I would say we were victims. But anybody who knows this firm knows that we’re no victims.”
A few of the reporters chuckled, and a woman nodded in approval. Somebody from the back yelled out, “Bennie, any comment about the statement that John Foxman allegedly made to one of the plaintiffs?”
Bennie held up a hand again. “Yes, that’s an excellent question and needs to be addressed. So I’ll turn it over to my associate John Foxman, because he can speak for himself.” She gestured to John. “John, would you like to take that question?”
Mary held her breath, knowing that it was risky, even though they had discussed verbatim what he would say. She felt Judy nudge her under the table with her clog, which was kind of scratchy.
John cleared his throat, facing the reporter. “Yes, I can answer that succinctly. First, I do not believe that this firm or any of its partners discriminate against men. I do not believe they ever discriminated against me and I do not believe that they discriminated against the individual plaintiffs, as the Complaint alleges. I agree completely with Bennie that this lawsuit is a vendetta brought for personal reasons by opposing counsel Nick Machiavelli. I myself have personal knowledge of the facts that support our position, but I am not going to discuss that today.”
John spoke firmly and confidently, his tone ringing true, and Mary could see the reporters reacting positively. She began to feel a glimmer of hope that this press conference had paid off, in addition to getting her a free dress and shoes. Getting out in front of the allegations was the right move, but she knew it was only the beginning of a long, difficult battle.
John continued, “That said, I did interview the plaintiff in question and I did make the statement that he alleged. However, in the Complaint, the statement is taken completely out of context. As you can see, I’m the only male lawyer at this firm. And occasionally, yes, I do feel out of place. In fact, this morning we held a baby shower in this very room, and I felt out of place. Way out of place.”
The reporters laughed, taking notes and snapping pictures of John, who forced a smile, and Mary gave him a lot of credit. This couldn’t have been easy, but he was hitting a home run, just by being honest. She felt a sudden swell of pride for truth, justice, and the American way. Or maybe it was the hormones.
John heaved a final sigh. “So I think that’s all I should say at the present time. As a trial lawyer, I hate to give the other side free discovery. But like Bennie, I felt compelled to respond to these allegations and explain them. Before I finish, I’d like to take a moment to apologize to my colleagues at the firm, whom I like and respect so very much. I’m sorry I spoke so imprudently, and I’m sorry I gave Nick Machiavelli ammunition to use against us.”
Mary looked over in surprise and so did Bennie and Judy. They hadn’t rehearsed any of this before the conference, and John was clearly speaking from the heart.
Bennie didn’t hesitate. “John, thank you very much.” She returned her attention to the reporters. “Any last questions before we get back to work?”
“Just one!” a female reporter yelled from the back. “John, if you like it so much here, why are you looking for a new job?”
“Wait, uh, well—” John didn’t finish the sentence, turning red under his fair skin. Mary had no idea that John was looking for a job and she was pretty sure that nobody else knew either. John seemed completely flustered, so it must have been true.
Bennie rallied. “Thank you for your question,” she called to the reporter, without missing a beat. “John’s future employment isn’t relevant to the allegations in this lawsuit, nor is it anyone’s business but his.”
“But did you know he had his resume out, Bennie?”
Bennie kept her smile firmly in place. “As you know, Rosato & DiNunzio was founded not as an all-female firm, but as a firm that represented those seeking justice and vindication for individual civil liberties. As such, we have no problems with anyone who seeks to change or even better their lot in life. And equally, we value the privacy of those that do so, as I assume you will too.”
“John, why are you telling people that ‘you’ll never make partner at Rosato because you’re not a woman’?” The question came from the same reporter, a scruffy woman with spiky gelled hair, in the back. “Doesn’t that support the Complaint? Or is that bad faith, too?”
John recoiled as if absorbing a blow. Mary froze, in stunned disbelief. Judy couldn’t hide her frown, and Anne’s eyes rounded with shock.
“That’s enough for now.” Bennie rose quickly, despite her new high heels. “We’re not going to examine every single statement John may or may not have made, nor are we going to try the lawsuit in my conference room.”
“John, answer the question!” the scruffy reporter called out, and the others joined in, making a minor uproar. “Mr. Foxman, any comment?” “Is that true?” “Who’d you say that to?” “Mr. Foxman, look over here!”
Bennie ignored them all. “Ladies and gentlemen, thank you so much for coming. We appreciate your attention and we look forward to never seeing you again.”
The reporters burst into laughter, closing their notebooks, pocketing their cell phones, shutting down the cameras, picking up their messenger bags, and getting ready to go. Mary, Judy, Anne, and John remained seated while Bennie did some glad-handing, then stopped the woman with the gelled spiky hair, who had asked the last question.
“Excuse me,” Bennie said, touching the woman’s arm. “What’s your name? Who are you with?”
“I freelance,” the reporter answered, hurrying ahead, bolting out of the conference room ahead of the others, then they left, and Bennie closed the door behind them. They were finally alone in the conference room, but nobody said anything. Mary sensed that partly they were waiting for the hubbub to die down on the other side of the door—and partly there was nothing to say. The press conference had been a resounding success until it turned into a disaster. Mary was still processing what she had just heard, and Judy looked as stunned as she was, now that they had let their game faces slip.
Bennie leaned against the back of the closed door. “Foxman!” she said, her blue eyes flashing with cold fury. “What the hell!”