I'm
Christopher Mason. The road to Justice is often a bumpy one where
the opposition tries to throw obstacles in the way. It usually
doesn't pay to be a hothead in a courtroom where a cool head usually
prevails.
I'm
Candice DeLong. Sexual harassment is many times more common than
anyone wants to believe. It's not just something that happens in
Hollywood, either. It happens anywhere men decide they they are
entitled to women who don't welcome their attentions.
Mexico:
Ricardo was looking over photos and other documents related to
the murder of Patricia. He suspected that Carlos had something to do
with it. Roberto said that the only thing about Carlos was that he
was intolerable. He invited Ricardo out to dinner but he declined.
He said he would be alright in the morning; he was just tired.
Roberto said to count on him for help if he needed it.
New
York: Sofia, Olivia, and Leonardo were preparing Cristina for
her day in court. They told her to listen very carefully to the
questions before answering. Their own questions will be ones easily
answered because she will be sure of the answers. Adrián was on a
call from the DA's office and the case was on the docket for the next
day. Leonardo said that this was because the DA was concerned at
being caught out and wanted to get this over with as fast as
possible. Adrián said this would also work in their favor. They
went to work with questions they could anticipate and instructions on
how to respond.
Mexico:
Ricardo spent the entire night in the office looking at police
reports, crime scene photos, and other documents.
The
next morning Paula was sitting in the garden on the steps of a
child's slide with a castle-type structure supporting it. It had
been Alejandra's birthday gift when she turned six. She was clearly
depressed.
Jaime almost began crying himself. However, he was there
to tell her that Gilberto had been apprehended in Miami and would be
extradited to Mexico within a few days. The problem was he had no
money. In order not to lose the house Paula had to file the fraud
charges and Gilberto would likely end up in prison.
Sonia
was reviewing a case, disgusted with the crime and saying she wants
to deal with it quickly and not let it become a cause. Ricardo came
into talk about Carlos, saying he had never trusted him.
She
reminded him that it was his firm that got him declared innocent. He
told her that it was his firm's duty to present as good a defense as
they could for each client and that there had not been any solid
evidence that he was guilty of the murder. What he wanted to know
was why she didn't trust him. At first she said it was none
of his business, but he asked again, she thought about it for a
second, and told him to take a seat.
Paula
didn't like how this situation would hurt Alicia. Jaime tried to
assure her that none of this was her fault, that the fault was
entirely Gilberto's.
We
don't know yet whether Gilberto's actions were malicious or merely
incompetent. Either way Alicia was still stupid enough to marry him
and Paula should feel no guilt about prosecuting him.
Sonia
told Ricardo that she didn't like the kinds of clients Carlos
defended. She was also convinced that they had bought testimony
because there had been witnesses who had made no previous statements.
Their answers to questions were also too perfect. She was also
suspicious about the connexion to Benjamin Acosta and the foundation
ad how there always seemed to be money for defending juvenile
delinquents. Those included many felonies including drug trafficking
and arms smuggling. They're arrested and he got them out right away.
She wished him better luck than she had on getting anything on
Carlos. She had some restrictions as a DA that he didn't have so she
encouraged him to continue investigating. He thanked her and left.
Corruption
is a major epidemic among narcotics officers so it can't be any
surprise if lawyers involved with dealers are not immune.
New
York: Cristina and her lawyers met in Central Park at the
fountain. [Why there?] and headed to court.
Guadalajara,
Jalisco: Alonso and Gustavo delivered the documents to Josefina,
who was still upset that she had to file a suit against her own sons.
Gustavo suggested she think of this as filing against employees so
it would be less emotional. She was upset that this couldn't be
resolved in a better way.
Josefina
was very wise to call in the Vega firm. Without them her family
could have ended up as a story on a true-crime program. Both of her
sons are very hot-headed and not open to expert opinions.
Mexico:
Roberto entered Victoria's office to ask how her studies were
going. She told him they were going well. He said he could ask
Leonardo to help and she finally asked him what his problem was with
Adrián. He replied that he couldn't trust him. He thought he had
secrets. Victoria accused him of thinking that all men were like
himself. She asked whether he was jealous and he still would not
admit it as he left her office.
Guadalajara,
Jalisco: Josefina talked about how her husband had hoped that
the company would do well and support their sons in the future so
they could live comfortably. Instead all that's happened is
fighting. Gustavo talked about how it isn't easy to manage a
business and a family at the same time. She needed to deal with each
issue separately. She then decided to do what she had to do.
Mexico:
Michelle entered Carlos' office claiming she didn't have all the
necessary papers. Carlos told her not to worry; he would take care
of it. She smiled at him.
Carlos
obviously never got much information about El Gringo, whose cold
blood easily trumps El Ciego's hot head. He won't like being in this
squeeze play.
Not
to mention that Michelle is looking to be the next Griselda Blanco.
New
York: The case was heard in Supreme Court. Adrián
cross-examined Blums about Cristina's termination. Blums claimed
that she was incompetent. Adrián asked whether that was the reason
or was he looking to avoid accusations of sexual harassment. Blums
claimed to have told the truth. Adrián made him read the message he
sent Cristina. It was “Be careful what you do if you want another
chance.” Blums' lawyer objected on the grounds that it wasn't in
the evidence file. The judge sustained the objection and Adrián said
that the DA had refused to admit this evidence. He told the judge
she could not admit that evidence now. Adrián didn't push that but
he did ask Blums if he had written that message.
Blums' lawyer
objected, but the judge overruled and directed Blums to answer.
Blums said that he had.
Mexico:
Michelle told Carlos that her partner made mistakes that made
things complicated so she had to come back to Mexico. While not
playing the femme fatale or the damsel in distress she was attempting
to appeal to his baser nature. And succeeding. She asked if he's
care to dine with her and he took a raincheck, claiming that he had
things to finish up first.
She kissed him on the cheek before
departing.
Juan
went home early and told his mother he wanted to take her somewhere.
She asked whether she should change and put on cosmetics and he told
her she didn't have to.
New
York: Blums' lawyer objected, saying that the message could have
been edited but the judge overruled, saying that Blums admitted
having written the message. She told Blums to continue. He
continued to lie, saying that Cristina couldn't cut it in the office
and he was frustrated by her failure to perform. Adrián asked
whether it was because she rejected his advances. Blums shook his
head but did not meet his gaze. Adrián said “No further
questions.” Leonardo looked back at Olivia to see if their witness
came, but she had not yet arrived. She stepped out of the courtroom
to call her. Mr Brown, Blums' attorney, declined to question his
client. The judge allowed Blums to step down. Brown called Cristina
to the stand.
Cristina
was sworn in and took the stand. Brown asked her about the nature of
her personal relationship with his client. She replied that there
had only been a professional relationship. He then asked whether she
thought it strange that she would meet him in a hotel room. “Why
did you go with Mr Blums?” She replied that it was to discuss a
business plan that would help the company. “So, you didn't mind
seeing Mr Blums in his hotel room?” Leonardo objected and was
overruled. Brown asked whether anyone forced her to meet Blums in
the hotel room. She said “Well, no.” Brown jumped on that
saying that she agreed to go to the hotel room alone with Blums and
then claimed sexual harasssment. “That sounds pretty convenient to
me.” She told him that Trevor took her there and that she was not
supposed to be alone with Blums. “I don't know how many women have
gone through this with him.” Right on cue, Olivia entered with
their witness. The judge asked Brown if he had any more questions and
he said, “No, Your Honor.” He looked apprehensive at best.
Leonardo
stood up and indicated the new witness, whose name was Lucia
Castillo. The judge allowed him to call her to the stand. Adrián
stated that she had been Blums' assistant for three years before
resigning. She took the stand and testified that Blums had raped her
several times. She didn't go to the police because he had her
threatened.
Leonardo addressed the jury, saying that it appeared
that Blums did this to everyone. “And you were afraid.” Brown
objected but was overruled. Lucia said that she didn't report it and
told no one until she saw Cristina. She knew that it was time to
stop this man who thought that money and power entitled him to do
whatever he wanted. The judge asked if there were any more questions
and Brown declined. Closing arguments were requested. Brown tried
to paint a portrait of a successful man who had jobs for many people
and an immigrant woman who claimed abuse when she was looking for
money for her family.
Adrián started by mentioning the symbolism of
the Statue of Liberty and the immigrants who come to New York with
hope, and who together make the state the land of justice. His
client worked hard at her job and lost it to the rage of one man. He
spoke to the jury, telling them to continue to be the example. With
their decision they could deliver the message that all people –
rich and poor – must respect the law. “More importantly,
demonstrate that we all deserve justice.”
It
looked like the judge already made her decision.
Mexico:
Juan took his mother to a house and asked how she liked it. She
said it was beautiful, but asked whose it was. He showed her the
garden and said that he has just rented it for her. He could not be
where he was if she had not done everything she had done for him. He
gave her the keys and she cried.
New
York: The jury found Blums guilty of sexual harassment. Blums
threatened his lawyer and tried to leave the courtroom. The judge
rapped for order and told him that this was a Class A Misdemeanor and
punishable by up to a year in prison or a fine up to one million
dollars. She said that she was going to make sure that he got both.
She directed the police officers to take him away. They tried to
cuff him in front of the entire room, but he shoved one of them away.
His lily-livered lawyer promised him he would get him out. The
judge ordered him to be quiet.
The judge then told Blums that due to
the hardship his company had caused Miss Valero she ordered punitive
damages of one million dollars. He left the courtroom cursing.
“This case is closed.”
One
can hope that it wasn't too late to file rape charges against Blums,
which could seriously extend his prison stay. This investigation
should not be over.
Mexico:
Juan and Susanna looked at the garden and he asked her if she
like it. She said it was lovely but wasn't the house expensive? He
told her not to worry; he would take care of it. If she liked it
enough he could buy it. Shouldn't he be thinking of his future? She
asked. Etc., etc. They both looked happy.
New
York: On the way out of court Leonardo expressed concern about
the possibility of an appeal. Adrián was not unaware of that but
was satisfied with their win. Cristina told them she would have to
think about her next steps. She wasn't sure yet what she wanted to
do with her life but looked relieved for the first time. She hugged
everyone, including their witness, who said that nobody back in the
day was willing to help or believe her. There was talk about how this
is a world problem, then Olivia suggested they all go out and
celebrate.
Mexico:
Ricardo asked Javier if he had found anything new. Javier said
he had not so far so they had to wait for the criminal organizations
to make a mistake. Ricardo got impatient and said they didn't have
the time for that. He told Javier of his new theory and Javier told
him to keep his personal feelings out of this.
Blums
definitely showed himself to be a malignant narcissist in front of
the New York Supreme Court. That needs to be said at his appeal, if
that happens.
Absolutely.
He has no remorse for his actions and is very likely to reoffend
when he gets out of prison. Such is the extent of his sense of
entitlement. He needed to be made an example of. However, so do all
his many accomplices. That will be the New York Bar Association's
problem. Until next we meet Behind the Walls of Justice, I'm
Christoper Mason.
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