triple beat. “No. Renee invited me for chicken fingers with the kids, but I’ve had my fill of those recently.” She was more than a little hungry herself, but she didn’t want to appear so totally available. “I have to go to the office to get some work done tonight since I didn’t get there today.”
“Well, you have to eat, don’t you? It’s still early and there should be no wait anywhere. How about Wineapple’s?”
She grinned at his persistence. “Sounds good.” Perfect, actually . A popular bar restaurant within walking distance that was casual, but just right for an impromptu date.
As expected, they were seated immediately, and Charlotte agreed to have one glass of wine in the spirit of spontaneity. While they ate, they chatted amiably about their respective families and the great weather and commiserated over taxes due and the hours they put in at work.
“What has you working on a Saturday night?” asked Clay after they had finished their meals.
No, no, no. We can’t talk about work. She chose her words carefully, making sure she didn’t say anything that would get him started on the evils of malpractice cases. “I’m working on a big case and I want to finish reviewing the file.”
“What hospital or doctor are you suing?” His tone held no sarcasm or malice. Was he just curious?
“I thought we agreed not to talk about work. Nothing good can come from answering that question, so let’s just change the subject.” Charlotte bit her lip and lowered her lids, trying to avoid Clay’s laser-like scrutiny of her face. She felt the heat blaze in her cheeks as he continued to study her.
“Is it the case against Nassau General? The one with Dr. Gallway?”
She nodded, unable to lie, but refusing to engage in conversation.
Clay averted his gaze and stared at the wall, his jaw tightening and his hand practically squeezing his beer bottle to death. She had to diffuse this situation or at best, they’d be arguing heatedly, and at worst, leaving in a huff.
“Clay.” She spoke softly, feeling her emotions pour through her. “I am so happy we’ve been able to reconnect. I don’t want my job, or yours, to ruin what we have, whatever that is. That may be naïve. But I am representing Gina Belton. She’s a quadriplegic because of a medical mistake. She’s only twenty-four. She’s a spirited, beautiful, blond-haired sports junkie who had just received her master’s degree in sports medicine. She had a dream job lined up as a trainer for the women athletes at Rutgers. She won’t be able to do that now. She won’t be able to physically do much of anything.”
Charlotte watched Clay’s expression as she talked, praying he’d soften after hearing about the human being whose former life was now gone. Forever. She reached across the table and placed her hand on his, trying to ease the tension out of it. At least he didn’t flinch or pull away.
He took a pull on his beer, his eyes never leaving hers. “I know you’re passionate about your cases, Charley. But don’t you see that these types of lawsuits are paralyzing the medical community? Absurd multi-million dollar verdicts lead to huge insurance premiums. More and more doctors are leaving the practice because they can’t afford to pay those premiums. That, coupled with the health insurance carriers who are limiting payment on our services, are interfering with the quality of medical care. Everyone loses.” The calmness in his voice belied the underlying current. “Doctors aren’t God. We can’t cure all. And we’re subject to human error.”
“I understand that. But people with catastrophic injuries need compensation. Maybe, just maybe, they could have a better quality of life if they have the money to help with their ongoing care. And hopefully, these lawsuits will affect the hospitals and doctors enough to assure that a similar negligence will not happen in the future.” She felt like she was arguing to the jury.
“We are
“Well, you have to eat, don’t you? It’s still early and there should be no wait anywhere. How about Wineapple’s?”
She grinned at his persistence. “Sounds good.” Perfect, actually . A popular bar restaurant within walking distance that was casual, but just right for an impromptu date.
As expected, they were seated immediately, and Charlotte agreed to have one glass of wine in the spirit of spontaneity. While they ate, they chatted amiably about their respective families and the great weather and commiserated over taxes due and the hours they put in at work.
“What has you working on a Saturday night?” asked Clay after they had finished their meals.
No, no, no. We can’t talk about work. She chose her words carefully, making sure she didn’t say anything that would get him started on the evils of malpractice cases. “I’m working on a big case and I want to finish reviewing the file.”
“What hospital or doctor are you suing?” His tone held no sarcasm or malice. Was he just curious?
“I thought we agreed not to talk about work. Nothing good can come from answering that question, so let’s just change the subject.” Charlotte bit her lip and lowered her lids, trying to avoid Clay’s laser-like scrutiny of her face. She felt the heat blaze in her cheeks as he continued to study her.
“Is it the case against Nassau General? The one with Dr. Gallway?”
She nodded, unable to lie, but refusing to engage in conversation.
Clay averted his gaze and stared at the wall, his jaw tightening and his hand practically squeezing his beer bottle to death. She had to diffuse this situation or at best, they’d be arguing heatedly, and at worst, leaving in a huff.
“Clay.” She spoke softly, feeling her emotions pour through her. “I am so happy we’ve been able to reconnect. I don’t want my job, or yours, to ruin what we have, whatever that is. That may be naïve. But I am representing Gina Belton. She’s a quadriplegic because of a medical mistake. She’s only twenty-four. She’s a spirited, beautiful, blond-haired sports junkie who had just received her master’s degree in sports medicine. She had a dream job lined up as a trainer for the women athletes at Rutgers. She won’t be able to do that now. She won’t be able to physically do much of anything.”
Charlotte watched Clay’s expression as she talked, praying he’d soften after hearing about the human being whose former life was now gone. Forever. She reached across the table and placed her hand on his, trying to ease the tension out of it. At least he didn’t flinch or pull away.
He took a pull on his beer, his eyes never leaving hers. “I know you’re passionate about your cases, Charley. But don’t you see that these types of lawsuits are paralyzing the medical community? Absurd multi-million dollar verdicts lead to huge insurance premiums. More and more doctors are leaving the practice because they can’t afford to pay those premiums. That, coupled with the health insurance carriers who are limiting payment on our services, are interfering with the quality of medical care. Everyone loses.” The calmness in his voice belied the underlying current. “Doctors aren’t God. We can’t cure all. And we’re subject to human error.”
“I understand that. But people with catastrophic injuries need compensation. Maybe, just maybe, they could have a better quality of life if they have the money to help with their ongoing care. And hopefully, these lawsuits will affect the hospitals and doctors enough to assure that a similar negligence will not happen in the future.” She felt like she was arguing to the jury.
“We are
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