The court case had lasted five months. It had cost them several thousand dollars despite one of the barristers being pro bono on the side of the dissenters to Mengle's renovation plans.
The lawyers for Mengle pointed out that their client had had a similar project recently approved in the Caribbean. And as was the case there if any neighbours, accompanied by a long stare in the direction of Harry and Sue, were vehemently unhappy with the project they could always move.
The judge appeared to be on Sue and Harry's side when he pointed out that the attorneys for Mr. Mengle were in Seattle now not the Carribean. Some of the neighbours piped in about the effect the tower would have on their children. That it presented a situation where their privacy and that of their children as well as their friends for that matter would be breached for no good reason.
The judge considered this argument and then said that the people most affected were Harry and Sue Moran being the only neighbouring property with a direct boundary near the proposed tower.
Therefore I am interested to know Mr and Mrs Moran, how many children would be playing in your backyard? The lawyers for Mengle turned towards Harry and Sue, each with a leering smile.
Harry dropped his head, "We have no children, Your Honour."
"I see"
Sue dug Harry in the ribs. "But we are trying, Your Honour. We have been for quite some time."
"I'm afraid that your sex life has little to do with the case at hand Mr Moran."
"No, Your Honour, I meant we have issues getting pregnant and are thinking about the IVF program now."
"I see, be that as it may, Mr Moran. I cannot make a ruling in law based on some future event that well may not happen. That said, I wish you luck with your IVF treatment but find in this case that a case to restrict a resident from capital improvement to his own property has not been sufficiently made on either of the stated grounds of environmental or public nuisance. I, therefore, find for the defendant and order that court costs be awarded against the appellant. The legal team appearing for Mr. Mengle are therefore at liberty to inform their client that he may proceed with the construction forthwith. With that, he lowered the gavel and banged it loudly.
Harry turned to Sue and exclaimed, "Fuck me. There goes our privacy. He'll be able to see right into my man cave probably. Bet the prick's got a telescope."
"Your Honour!" Crazy Joe's lawyers piped in, in unison.
"Mr. Moran do you have something to add for the record?" the judge asked with a frown?
"No Your Honour."
"Then I suggest you refrain from any further comments until you are outside my courtroom, unless, of course, you would prefer to spend the night in custody for contempt?"
"No Your Honour. Sorry Your Honour."
"Very well. We shall leave it at that. I understand you are upset but the law is the law, I'm afraid. He banged the gavel again. "This case is closed, and this court is adjourned."
#Word Count: 2767#
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The Facilitator© First Published 2023
Mistero / ThrillerA new neighbor moves in. He is reclusive. He seems to never leave the house. He causes trouble in the neighborhood He turns your life upside down. Then he is gone, replaced by a handsome relative. A well known doctor who promises to fix all your pr...
