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    Dirty Doctors
    Dirty Doctors
    Dirty Doctors
    Ebook163 pages1 hour

    Dirty Doctors

    By John Fleer

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    About this ebook

    For a psychotherapist, there is almost nothing more damaging to reputation and career than a claim of sexual misconduct with a patient. You are a lawyer who represents these endangered mental health professionals. Unfortunately, you are no better than anyone else at distinguishing the innocent from the guilty. You also have your own problems of maintaining professional boundaries and managing your addictions. DIRTY DOCTORS chronicles the trial of a dead psychiatrist whose estate is being sued for damages by a former patient, Lois Sutcliffe. Ms. Sutcliffe claims to have been the victim of the doctor's sexual misconduct over many years. You attempt to reconstruct the dead doctor's practice and come to wholeheartedly defend him before a judge and jury. Is your judgment impaired by the fact that you are attracted to the doctor's widow? This book is a cautionary tale for those who seek easy answers to allegations of sexual misconduct by people in positions of power and trust. Ultimately, the truth is often difficult — if not impossible — to find. If you read only one novel this year, for God's sake, don't let it be this one.
    LanguageEnglish
    PublisherJohn Fleer
    Release dateDec 23, 2018
    ISBN9780960068715
    Dirty Doctors

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      Book preview

      Dirty Doctors - John Fleer

      habits.

      A YEAR AGO

      Y ou’re late! Again!

      Jesus, Kate. If I wanted to start the day being yelled at for my lax personal habits, I’d have stayed married.

      Excuse me for worrying that Dr. Thomas has been waiting in the conference room for half an hour. He might actually be a paying client. And the California Physicians’ Trust (CPT) has called with a possible case assignment, which I thought you cared about since you have been schmoozing their claims people for months, begging for work. And, according to Lawrence, the first bill collector of the day has already called.

      Good comeback. I’ll see Dr. Thomas first. Do I have a tie around here somewhere?

      You are just another middle-aged white guy with a solo law practice. Dime a dozen. You previously worked in law firms big and small. There seems to be some kind of problem in working well with others. You recall such a comment being made on your grade school report card. You need to improve your attitude and your wardrobe. You need a haircut.

      Your office is on the ground floor of a converted Victorian building located in a somewhat seedy Oakland neighborhood. You have clients and try cases throughout the San Francisco Bay Area. Oakland is conveniently located in the middle of those venues, and the rents are cheaper than in the city across the bridge. The Victorian building is owned by an old Chinese couple. They look more worn and torn every time you see them. The building needs an upgrade too. It wouldn’t hurt to have the yard mowed or the vines trimmed. Fortunately, the rent is commensurate with indifferent maintenance in a crappy locale.

      You employ a sassy paralegal. Kate is mid-30s, smart as the proverbial whip, and fashionable in a way that you remotely appreciate. She has short, spiky black hair and a good figure. She is sometimes a definite pain in the ass. But you appreciate that as well. You know that you do your best work when someone keeps you on your toes. You sometimes sort of flirt with each other. Neither seems interested in taking it further. You are aware that, at this point in your life, any woman willing to risk emotional entanglement with you would have extremely poor judgment. Kate does not suffer from that.

      Your other employee is Lawrence, a competent and corpulent secretary. You never think of him as having any age. He is meticulous but refrains from commenting on your disorganization and slovenly habits. He does, however, look at you like you are a retard. He also rolls his eyes when you say words like retard.

      When in a positive state of mind, you think of your legal career as having evolved to a simple and efficient state. More often, you recognize that you are progressively hanging by a thinner and thinner thread. The preacher Jonathan Edwards referred to that thread as hanging with the flames of divine wrath flashing about it. God can cut it when he pleases. A humanities-rich education has its insecure downside.

      You have a reputation with other attorneys as a guy who represents doctors with delicate problems. Translation: You defend doctors who get in trouble for sexual misbehavior, drugs, alcohol, and psychiatric disorders. You have and always have had plenty of work. You also are pretty good at it. But you don’t always send bills for your services, you don’t always get paid when you do, and you suck at running a business. You know that, if you just got it together, you could take care of ex-wives, children, employees, and bill collectors — not to mention the tax authorities. Getting it together is perpetually elusive, even if occasionally in sight on the horizon.

      One foot in front of the other, you tell yourself.

      Let’s start with the new guy in the conference room.

      Kate, what’s the story with Dr. Thomas?

      "Marin County psychologist in private practice. He is being sued for sexual misconduct with a client. I don’t have any information yet on his financial status. Let’s hope he turns out to be a paying customer."

      Hope springs eternal.

      I’m serious. Have you seen the accounts receivable report for the past two months?

      I love it when you go all CPA on me.

      Kate drops her voice an octave. There are times when I question the unusual business niche that you’ve been nurturing. Maybe you should give some consideration to the fact that no other lawyers seem to be lining up to do this kind of work. I have my own job security to worry about too.

      We are pretty busy, you lamely reply.

      Busy working for people who can’t or won’t pay doesn’t count!

      Man, she is getting worked up. You decide to take diversionary measures.

      You can’t make an omelet without breaking a few eggs!

      That has nothing to do with what I am talking about!

      I know. But you can’t.

      Can’t what?

      Make omelets without egg-breaking. I’ve tried. It was a mess and inedible.

      I can’t believe I am working for someone who talks like that!

      "It is different, isn’t it?"

      Lawrence pokes his head in the doorway, arches his eyes, and points (pointedly) to his fat, freckled wrist as if he were wearing a watch. You march into the conference room. Kate follows.

      Dr. Thomas is another mid-40s white guy. Unlike you, he looks energetic and fit. He also looks worried. You know lots of yuppie professionals like him. He undoubtedly is a regular at the gym (probably has a long-time personal trainer), believes himself spiritual because he once went to a weekend meditation retreat, and makes a point of staring in your eyes when he talks to convey how earnest he is. Or maybe he is a depraved, methamphetamine junkie who somehow has kept his teeth in really good condition. No, you’ll bet on option one.

      You exchange introductions and some small talk concerning the weather, the traffic today, and the office artwork. The doctor gets credit for accurately recognizing the framed Quicksilver Messenger Service poster. Finally, he gets around to the reason for the journey to Oakland and to you.

      I’ve been sued. I still can’t believe it! Loren Patagorkis, my former patient, claims that I had sex with her. It’s a lie! I asked around, and several people told me that you were the person I should retain to represent me.

      You ask for the complaint and scan it.

      Meanwhile, Kate cuts in. Do you have professional liability insurance?

      Never dreamed I would need it, says (the now slightly less energetic) Dr. Thomas.

      Kate looks at you wearily.

      You do your economics lecture: The defense of a case like this is always expensive. It might be cheaper to just pay off the plaintiff and move on with life. The attorney who filed this complaint on behalf of Ms. Patagorkis is represented by one of the best plaintiffs’ attorneys in California. We have had plenty of experience with Mr. Lewis. He is not cheap either. It is going to take a lot to get him off your back. My rate is $300 an hour, and I require, I say while looking at Kate, a $10,000 retainer.

      Kate returns your look with something resembling admiration. You have seen that look on women’s faces before. It both scares and

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