"Best way to clear the air is to have it all out in the open." Atticus Finch
An exit into the hallways outside Courtroom Number Two in Yarmouth, Nova Scotia, and a cursory view of the rumple-suited lawyers and down-on-their-luck defendants huddled in small cadres throughout the airy, but still stifling space, was in sharp contrast to the makings of a rarified and refined southern gothic courtroom drama I had been witnessing for almost three hours inside the cloistered chambers.
The hearing was one for damages in a rambunctious defamation case brought by two former New Orleans businessmen against a political blogger based in Mississippi, but known for his merciless pursuit of corruption in the political cesspool of modern day New Orleans. The current scandal involves shamed politicians, political cronies, legal hacks, shameless self dealing and more federal indictments than could be readily numerated in this short tome.
Since 2010, the scandal has been increasingly lapping the banks of the Tusket River, on the edges of the Tobeatic Wilderness, in an area commonly referred to as Trout Point, largely as a result of the luxury eco lodge and culinary school created fifteen years ago by the fore mentioned gentlemen and an eponymous road which delivers vacationers to the smaller lodges and cottages owned by swells from the Big Easy. Recent court filings in New Orleans identify the region – but not necessarily the lodge - as probably implicated in a disjointed web of fraudulent misdeeds.
The pair, who seemed to represent themselves to the court – and be accepted by the court - as a romantic couple, were the sole witnesses and parties to the suit present and Justice Suzanne Hood, who has a reputation for no-nonsense in her court, presided for the Supreme Court of Nova Scotia. Charles Leary, who prefers to be called doctor Leary, is a former university professor, cheese maker and mushroom expert, but played both the part of lead attorney and lead witness in the drama.
Vaughn Perret, on the other hand, told the court he had once been a practicing attorney, but, other than leading a obediate Leary through the landscape of his admittedly voluminous testimony, his main effect on this day appeared to be in high dugeon about the alleged antics of the Southern blogger.
Perret would be considered knock-dead handsome in most circles, with his chisled bones, dark eyes, perfect coiffed, jet-black hair and thousand-dollar designer suit. He oozed Southern charm, when questioning his partner, co-plaintiff and witness, when addressing Justice Hood and when chatting amiably with the courtroom staff. He might be what Doris day – or Rock Hudson – would refer to as a “dreamboat.”
He appeared less dignified and emotionally wrought when thrusting a handful of papers at the judge as he suggested that his blogging nemesis had caused the recent death of a friend, or tried to entice the judge to look at photos of his fever blisters, or petulantly referred to a reporter in the room or, with lips appearing to quiver, told Justice Hood that he just could not testify with that reporter in the room about the affidavit he has submitted for the hearing. A cynical observer might think some exaggeration was at play.
Justice Hood seemed to abandon her no-nonsense reputation, cautioning Perret in a gentle way when he repeatedly tried to lead or provide answers to Leary and to attempt to introduce hearsay into the mix of volumes of evidence presented to encourage a maximum damage award.
For the third-act and denouement of this dramatic courtroom episode, during the discussions of financial damage awards and level of injunctions sought, Hood seemed more a kindly aunt than a stern justice, as she appeared to be coaching the pair in their demands on the court, which they uncharacteristically seemed muddled and confused about.
When the three appeared to have reached agreement about what was being asked of the court, the session abruptly ended, with Hood inviting the pair back to court the following day to hear her decision.
With that, I imagine we will now see true Southern drama writ large on a true Southern landscape which is likely to be far less entranced by stylish suits, well-combed hair, university degrees and affable, corn pone charm. Perhaps the real civil war has yet to begin.
