"Leonard Speaking"
'Leonard Thinking'
Hofstadter Residence
A knock was heard on the front door. Jane quickly got up from the couch, opening the door in a smooth motion. A greying man stood in the doorway, wearing a dark brown coat, a thin maroon sweater and a bow tie. He looked straight into Jane's eyes and asked, "Where is she?"
Jane quickly led the man into the living room. Beverly sat on a sofa, lost in thought. Michael on the other hand paced around, clearly agitated. Alfred Hofstadter approached the two, sitting at Beverly's side. He asked, "How are you holding up?"
Beverly remarked, "It is quite surprising. Leonard seems to have changed, despite my studies indicating otherwise."
Michael interjected, "That is not even the worst of it. He is clearly disrespectful and cares nothing for this family. Even minor Family Torts can ruin reputations, yet he did not hesitate to accuse Mother of defamation."
Alfred looked at Michael, "Did he tell you why he is doing this?"
Michael shook his head, "Unclear. He recently won a case in the federal court. That may have given him confidence that he can beat me."
Jane asked, "What about the case he just won? Any news about it?"
Michael spoke, "Well, the DOJ is keeping a lid on it. But I have asked some of my connections for the details. Maybe we'll learn something."
Suddenly his phone rang. Michael, who was already strung tight, quickly pulled out the phone, receiving the call. For a minute he did not speak, yet his face conveyed both shock and apprehension. After another moment, he solemnly disconnected the call.
Jane asked impatiently, "Well, what did you find?"
Michael exhaled and explained, "Leonard was accused of insider trading. He was being prosecuted by Charles Rhoades. He is one of the more ruthless ones among the prosecutors. Yet, Leonard's lawyers proved that there was no insider trading involved. Leonard even traded in the open court, earning millions in just two hours. My colleague told me that it was practically a masterclass in understanding the stock market."
Jane questioned, "So, he can earn a lot of money. Is that his entire advantage?"
Michael explained, "In our country, money is the greatest advantage. With his money, he can hire many capable lawyers to defend himself, or persecute others. I am a great lawyer, but even I cannot claim to be the best. And he can hire lawyers equal to my capability. Whatever the case, we cannot let this lawsuit proceed. Even if we win, Mother's reputation will suffer."
Alfred sighed, "Let me talk to him. I will try to talk some sense into him."
MacLaren's Pub, Manhattan
Leonard sat in a corner booth, nursing a gin and tonic. Last night, he received a call from his father, asking to speak to him. Normally, Leonard would not have agreed, but he had not seen his father for a long time. In his heart, he was hoping this visit wasn't to convince him to drop the case, but he knew his hope was misplaced.
Alfred entered the bar surreptitiously. His eyes took in the surroundings, narrowing slightly with displeasure at some of the patrons, loudly cheering for the game, guzzling beer with abandon. He looked around the bar, before finding Leonard sitting in the corner booth. While he was somewhat prepared for the changes, they were truly eye-catching. Height, musculature and presence enhanced by sharp, inquisitive eyes. For a second, he even had the idea to keep observing Leonard for a new anthropological research, but he quickly quashed the feeling.
Alfred approached Leonard's booth and whispered, "Good evening Leonard."
Leonard nodded his head, as his father sat opposite him. He flagged a waitress and instructed, "A dry Rob Roy for him, and another Gin and Tonic for me."
Alfred smiled, "You remember my preferences."
Leonard shrugged, "It isn't a big deal. I remember most of the things around me, if not all. So, why did you want to see me?"
Alfred smiled, "Do I need a reason to see my son?"
Leonard looked him dead in the eye, "We haven't seen each other for almost seven years. Let alone talk, I don't remember the last time we had a cup of coffee together. For eight years, we barely talked, and you never visited me."
Alfred was flustered, "Well, Pasadena is quite far away."
Leonard snorted at that, "True. But the point stands. You have been distant for a while. I did not even know that you divorced Mother till it was almost finalized. So, what did you want to talk about?"
Alfred sighed. Leonard had really changed a lot. Michael and Beverly may not have noticed, but Alfred saw it clear as a day. He explained, "While I don't like your mother too much, a court case can severely affect her."
Leonard looked him straight in the eye, "So?"
Alfred tried to reason, "Our family may be dysfunctional, but it is a family after all. What you are doing may shake its foundation. What would happen if you need your siblings later on. Families can have minor disagreements, but major conflict damages the support systems we rely on. You may fight this battle, and even win in court, but you will alienate everyone you love."
Leonard burst out in laughter, his body shaking slightly. Alfred was bewildered at that, but he did not stop Leonard. After a minute, Leonard was able to control himself. He spoke, "You know this well, Father, but our family doesn't love people. Mother has despised me my entire life, Michael has picked on that and followed her lead. Jane is distant at best, dismissive at worst. And you have never been close to me, despite your charm and understanding. The same goes for our extended family."
Alfred interjected, "Floyd was quite close to you…"
Leonard interrupted, "And he is dead. As for the rest, I would rather live on the street than in their homes."
Alfred felt sad at that, "They do care about you."
Leonard took a deep breath, "They might, but that doesn't change years of favouritism and scorn."
Alfred tried another angle, "So, that's what it is, anger."
Leonard smiled and replied, "Not at all, this is protection. Just now, you said that my court case will harm Mother's reputation. But tell me, would you rely on a scientist who has books published about him, calling him unreliable, greedy, emotionally dependent on others. And these words come not from a hack but from a renowned neuroscientist and the mother of the scientist."
Alfred opened his mouth, before closing it. Beverly might say otherwise, but Leonard's situation was true and a result of Beverly's actions. Leonard quickly downed his drink and got up.
Leonard spoke, "It was nice that you came to talk. I just hoped it was about something better."
With that, Leonard left the bar, paying for the drinks on the way out. Alfred sat there, his back hunched with exhaustion as he realized, there was no way to stop this wreck.
Hofstadter Residence
Alfred entered the house with a defeated expression. Jane took one look at him and realized the case was inevitable. For the first time in her life, Leonard won her respect. She never thought her brother could bear the pressure and go through with it.
Michael entered the living room and saw his father slumped on one of the sofas. He asked, "Did he drop the case?"
Alfred sighed and answered, "That won't happen. He is adamant on his decision."
Michael started pacing in the living room. Beverly entered the room, holding a cup of tea. She saw her son pacing and said, "It doesn't matter anymore. Since he has sent the notice, we will respond to it. You just have to defeat him in court."
Alfred asked, "Will that even be possible? Beverly did write her bestselling books using his name and exact details. Anyone who has read those can tell who she is referring to."
Michael interjected, "But he has not suffered negatively due to this. He will not have grounds. If that is all he has going for him, he is unprepared. If the process is expedited, we can minimise reputational damage."
Jane asked, "You can do that?"
Michael smirked, "It helps when your wife is a judge. This is not even abuse of power since he has already filed the case. We can easily ask for an expedited trial."
Beverly spoke flatly, "Then do so. As soon as he is defeated, we can get a semblance of order in this house. A sudden visit to the court has deeply disturbed my usual schedule."
The Dolphin, New York, Next Day
Leonard was watching Star Wars, while enjoying a seafood platter in his room. Suddenly his phone rang. He picked it up and accepted the call. Mike was on the other end.
Mike informed, "Leonard, the case has been filed. But Judge Erika Hofstadter has asked for an expedited trial. She wants this thing to be over with as soon as possible. Apparently, it is hard on the family."
Leonard hummed and asked, "Who is the opposing counsel?"
Mike answered, "Your brother."
Leonard was quiet for a second. Slowly, a soft smile spread across his face. He said, "Michael is quite cunning. He used his wife's influence to not only suppress the news, but also make sure that the case doesn't have enough time to ferment."
Mike asked unsure, "Should we reject the request?"
Leonard excitedly said, "No, no, no. We will accept it. But we will not ask for time. I want this case to end by the end of the week. Ask for a Bench Trial. I believe Judge Marx will be happy to see us again."
Mike was quiet for a moment, before he answered with exasperation, "Very well. Should I look for an attorney specialising in defamation suits?"
Leonard smirked, "No, Michael will have to face the last person he expected."
Mike asked, "Who will that be?"
Leonard answered, "That will be me."
Civil Courthouse, Manhattan, Four Days Later
The courtroom was quiet in a way only bench trials were. No restless jury. No murmuring gallery. Only the soft shuffle of paper and the occasional scratch of a pen.
Judge Marx presided from the bench with a file already open before him. Over his long career, he had presided over many civil cases. He had seen the best and the worst, from cases as simple as slipping on a banana peel to violations and damages ranging in millions. As a civil judge, he had seen his fair share of family disagreements. From basic property disputes to heinous abuse of power. Now, another case lay before him, and the plaintiff was someone who had made a great impression on him.
At the plaintiff's table sat Dr. Leonard Hofstadter. Beside him sat his attorney, Mike Ross, serving as his co-counsel, managing filings and notes. He was dressed in a sharp, all-black suit, with a red tie. He sat back in his chair with confidence, as if nothing in the world could shake him. At his side, Mike was arranging various evidence files.
Across the room, Michael sat straight-backed, a neat stack of files before him. Beverly sat beside him, calm and unreadable.
Judge Marx adjusted his glasses, a recent addition due to old age, and said, "Dr. Leonard Hofstadter, as per your request, you want to represent yourself in the case. Is that correct?"
Leonard stood up from his seat and nodded, "Indeed Your Honor, in my opinion, I understand enough about this trial to argue for it."
Michael stood up from his seat and addressed the judge, "Your Honor, while we are willing to accept the Plaintiff's request, we will not be lenient to the Plaintiff for any inexperience with law."
The judge considered the argument and turned to Leonard, "Dr. Hofstadter, you understand that in a bench trial, the court is concerned only with points of law and fact. Not sentiment. There is no jury to sway here. So please, keep this trial professional."
Leonard nodded. "That is precisely why I requested it, Your Honor."
Judge Marx nodded and announced, "Very well then. Commence the trial."
The judge banged the gavel and the trial started.
Leonard began with his opening statement, "Your Honor, I am a scientist. I have been one for about eight years. Over the years, I have worked on multiple research projects, collaborated with multiple experts in a variety of fields. However, Dr. Beverly Hofstadter, my mother and a renowned Neuroscientist, has labeled me a disappointing child, a greedy and unreliable individual. And she did not label me with these in our home, she labeled me a disappointment through parenting books and psychology books. We constitute this as defamation and ask for the immediate stop on any of the books where my name is used. We also ask for a no contact restraining order due to a pattern shown by Dr. Beverly Hofstadter in utilising the private lives of the people around her as research material."
Michael was flustered at the accusation, but he began his own statement, "Your Honor, Dr. Beverly Hofstadter's books are clinical works. They fall under academic freedom and professional publication. There have been precedents where important subjects are named in scientific studies to honor their contributions. His mention in Dr. Hofstadter's books should be taken as a compliment. For this reason, we ask to dismiss any claims by the plaintiff and claim compensation for emotional and reputational harm."
Judge Marx nodded once and looked at Leonard. "Proceed."
Leonard stood, and said, "Your Honor, I would like to bring Dr. Beverly Hofstadter to the stand."
The judge nodded as Beverly stood up from her seat and sat in the Witness Chair. Leonard approached her with measured steps. He asked, "Dr. Hofstadter, you are a scientist, so you must be familiar with the scientific method. The studies you published should have a lot of data involved. Am I correct?"
Michael suddenly stood up, "Objection, Your Honor, asked and answered."
Leonard reiterated, "What I mean to ask you is, how was the data for your study collected?"
Beverly heaved a sigh, as if talking to Leonard exhausted her, "Most of the data was collected from my experiments on you. A lot of it has been verified in other individuals. It is quite fascinating…"
Leonard interrupted, "I am sure it is. Do you realize that your experiments were performed on a minor?"
Michael stood up again, "Objection Your Honor, the Plaintiff was a minor, but Dr. Hofstadter, as the parent, was well within her legal rights to consent in his stead."
Judge Marx considered the statement, before nodding, "Sustained. Dr. Hofstadter, get to the point."
Leonard nodded with deference before looking at Beverly sharply, "You have published five books based on the experiments. Two of those were published after I turned eighteen, well within my right to consent. So the question is, why wasn't I asked if I wanted my name in your book? Moreover, if this data was verified, why are the names of those subjects kept hidden, yet mine was not?"
For once, Michael had nothing to say. He seemed to realize that they had taken his consent for granted. It was an oversight on his part. He tried to rebut, "Your Honor, it was an oversight on behalf of the Plaintiff, not Dr. Hofstadter. If the use of his name bothered him so much, he should have sent a Cease and Desist notice at the time the books were published."
Leonard turned to Mike, who handed him a file. Placing the file in the hands of the bailiff, Leonard explained, "Your Honor, this file is a timeline of publications and revisions in Dr. Hofstadter's books. As you see, the books were published when I was twenty-four and pursuing my higher education. Dr. Hofstadter has revised her books every six months to one year. And each new edition includes new information. All of this information was obtained and used without consent. It shows that Dr. Hofstadter doesn't value the personal boundaries and privacy of others."
Judge Marx looked at Beverly, who seemed unfazed at the accusation. He asked, "Do you have something to say about that, Dr. Hofstadter?"
Beverly answered in a flat tone, "The discovery was very important. It is one of those achievements that can follow you throughout your life. Leonard's experiment could change how we view child psychology and parenting. As a psychiatrist, I could not let such an opportunity go."
Leonard suddenly spoke, "That brings another angle to this case, Your Honor. As a psychiatrist, sharing patient information is a major ethical breach. Yet you did not hesitate a second, to publish that information into a parenting book. As a psychiatrist, would you agree that such a breach of trust should normally result in loss of a practice license?"
Michael objected, "Objection Your Honor. Just now, Dr. Hofstadter has already claimed Leonard as a subject instead of a patient. So, the information gained is not protected under the Doctor-Patient Confidentiality."
Leonard spoke, "Redefining me from a patient to a subject does not negate the ethical concern regarding the use of a minor in a scientific experiment as a test subject. As a subject, I was subjected to psychological manipulation, withholding affection, constant competition and comparison, ridicule, and dismissive behavior. Dr. Beverly Hofstadter, as a renowned psychiatrist, you should know that these experiments can permanently cause cognitive issues, communication problems, anxiety and other problems. Yet, you not only subjected me to these experiments, but published this data, with obvious bias, in parenting books. Do you deny these claims?"
Michael stood up with a start, and shouted, "Objection Your Honor, the plaintiff is leading the witness."
Judge Marx looked at the two before announcing, "Overruled, please answer the question, Dr. Hofstadter."
Beverly looked at Leonard, and for the first time in her life, she did not dismiss him. While she did not feel bad for subjecting Leonard to the experiment, for the first time, she considered the impact it had on Leonard. Maybe, if she had raised him like Michael, he would have achieved great things early on. He was her son after all. But the past cannot be changed.
Beverly answered, "In hindsight, the experiments may have led me to place too many expectations on you. You never lived up to those. Withholding affection may have resulted in your emotional dependence. I spent a lot of time, trying to break your habit, but it never went anywhere. I never considered my own confidence in my genes when I conducted the experiment. It may have skewed the results against you. But the experiment was helpful in understanding what should and should not be done regarding parenthood. I used your data to raise Michael. I kept my expectations low, and gave him space to grow as a person. Maybe I could have done a better job with you, but I don't regret the experiment."
Michael stiffened as he heard his mother. As a child, he always felt his older brother was treated with contempt for his actions. Apparently, he was an unwitting part in the experiment. Leonard, on the other hand, had much clearer vision.
Leonard looked deep in Beverly's spectacled eyes, knowing well that despite her deeper feelings, she is incapable of change. Truly ironic, considering the fact that she had labeled him as incapable of change.
Leonard asked, "So you agree that you used my name without consent in a publication you now admit was biased and potentially skewed. While the data may have ballooned into a better study later on, publishing the data with my name, was a violation on your part."
Leonard looked at Judge Marx, "No more questions, Your Honor."
The case went on for two more hours, discussing the various aspects of the violation, compensation and other details. These two hours were the most nerve-wracking hours for Michael. He argued the case from different angles. When he tried to argue for a lack of measurable damages, Leonard presented various letters where he was rejected for projects, citing a lack of reliability based on the books. His claim on the Public Figure Doctrine was systematically dissected by Leonard in a similar way.
As time went on, Michael's arguments became shorter and quieter. By the end, Michael found himself unable to speak. After two hours, Judge Marx, having listened to the closing statements decided to issue his verdict.
The judge said, "From the evidence presented and the witness testimonies, I come to the conclusion that Dr. Beverly Hofstadter has used the name of Dr. Leonard Hofstadter, her son, without his consent, in a manner that created a false and professionally damaging characterization. While I can understand the importance of scientific experimentation, The court finds Dr. Beverly Hofstadter committed defamation. She will cease any new publications using Dr. Leonard Hofstadter's real name and descriptions. Consequently, the Plaintiff has refused any compensation and has refused to involve the AMA and Ethics Committees, but he has asked for a no-contact restraining order against Dr. Beverly Hofstadter, and the other adults in the family. Given Dr. Hofstadter's pattern of behavior, I have decided to grant the order. The case is closed."
With a final bang of the gavel, Leonard and Mike stood up from the seat. They quickly packed their files, and moved towards the exit. As Leonard was leaving, he saw Jane standing near the door, eyes filled with unsaid words, lips pursed as if she did not trust herself to say anything. Finally, she said, "So, you are leaving forever?"
Leonard told Mike to leave first, before answering, "That is the idea. I was never truly welcome in your family."
Jane insisted, "That is your family too."
Leonard stopped for a moment, looking down at the floor, before his eyes rose to meet Jane's, "No, it is not. You have a family, I was more of a guest you tolerate. But now, I have a family too. A family I made myself. So, this is pretty much a goodbye."
Jane asked, "What if the children want to meet you? The older ones might now, but Richard is still young."
Leonard sighed, before answering, "You will know where I live. Goodbye Jane."
Jane asked, "Aren't you going to see Mother one last time before you leave?"
Leonard, who was walking to the door, turned back, his eyes filled with emotion, "No."
With that, Leonard turned back and left the courtroom. About ten minutes later, Michael comes out, with Beverly walking beside him. Beverly noticed Jane and asked, "Has Leonard left?"
Jane answered, "Yes, he did. Did you want to talk to him?"
Beverly looks in the distance, as if remembering the times Leonard spent, trying to reach her. Now, he stopped running towards her and walked away. She closed her eyes and said, "No. I spent years, telling him that my validation doesn't matter. Now, he has learned it. Let's go home."
Outside the courthouse, Leonard found Mike waiting for him. As soon as he came out, Mike asked, "You okay?"
Leonard smiled slightly, "Never better. Now, Chaldea will be my life."
As he sat in his car, the golden Jaguar, he turned to Mike, "You can leave first, I want to drive in the city for a while."
With that, under Mike's watchful gaze, Leonard's car sped away, merging with the traffic around it.
AN: And that's a wrap on Arc 2. I hope you all enjoyed the story so far. The next arc will focus on Chaldea's growth and how certain people, who feel threatened by it, try to stop it.
AN2: I wish to thank all my Patrons for their continued support. Thank you for giving me the drive to write this story. I will continue to bring other stories as well. Stay tuned.
Support me on Patreon at patreon.com/SparksNFlames