Chapter 148 The Lawsuit
CAITLYN'S POV
I was sitting in a lawyer's office with Jason next to me. We were meeting with a civil attorney named Rebecca Moore. She specialized in defamation cases and DA Walsh had recommended her.
"Thank you for seeing us," I said. "I know this is complicated."
"It is complicated," Rebecca said. "But it is also straightforward. Vanessa Cory made false statements about you. Those statements damaged your reputation. You suffered harm. That is defamation."
"Can we really sue her?" I asked. "Even though she is already being prosecuted criminally?"
"Absolutely," Rebecca said. "Criminal prosecution is separate from civil litigation. She can be charged with crimes and also be sued for damages. In fact, it often happens that way."
"What about the tabloid?" Jason asked. "Can we sue them too?"
"Yes," Rebecca said. "They published false information. They did not properly verify their source. They have journalistic standards they are supposed to follow. They violated those standards."
"How much could we get?" I asked. "If we win?"
"That depends," Rebecca said. "We would sue for actual damages which include lost wages, therapy costs, moving expenses, and anything you can prove you lost because of the defamation. And we would sue for punitive damages which is meant to punish the defendants."
"Punitive damages can be substantial," Rebecca continued. "Especially against the tabloid. They have deep pockets. They knew what they were doing. We could potentially get millions."
"Millions?" I said. "Really?"
"It is possible," Rebecca said. "If we can prove they acted with malice. That they knew or should have known Vanessa was lying. That they published anyway because it would get clicks and sell papers."
"They definitely knew," Jason said. "Or they should have. Rourke gave them evidence that Vanessa was lying. They ignored it and kept publishing her stories."
"That is good," Rebecca said. "That shows malice. That strengthens our case."
"What do we need to do?" I asked. "To move forward with this?"
"First you need to decide if you really want to do this," Rebecca said. "Lawsuits take time. Sometimes years. They are emotionally draining. You will have to relive everything. Give depositions. Possibly testify in court again. Are you prepared for that?"
I looked at Jason. He squeezed my hand.
"I am tired of being a victim," I said. "Tired of letting people hurt me and getting away with it. I want to fight back. I want to take control."
"Then we fight back," Rebecca said. "We file suit against Vanessa Cory for defamation. We file suit against the tabloid for defamation and negligence. We make them pay for what they did."
"How long will it take?" Jason asked.
"Hard to say," Rebecca said. "Could be a year. Could be two years. Depends on how much they fight it. But I think we have a strong case. I think we can win."
"What about the criminal case against Vanessa?" I asked. "Does that affect the civil case?"
"It helps it," Rebecca said. "If she is convicted criminally that makes it easier to prove she lied in the civil case. The criminal conviction can be used as evidence."
"So we wait for the criminal trial?" I asked.
"We can file the lawsuit now," Rebecca said. "But we might wait to go to trial until after the criminal case is resolved. That way we can use the conviction to strengthen our case."
"Okay," I said. "Let us do it. File the lawsuits. Both of them."
"You are sure?" Rebecca asked. "This is not a decision to make lightly."
"I am sure," I said. "I am tired of being attacked. Tired of having my reputation destroyed. I want justice. Real justice."
"Then you will get it," Rebecca said. "I will start drafting the complaints today. We will file by the end of the week."
After we left the lawyer's office Jason and I sat in the car for a minute.
"You really want to do this?" he asked. "Sue them? Go through more legal battles?"
"I do," I said. "I know it seems crazy. I know we have enough going on with the criminal trials. But I need this. I need to fight back. To take control of my life instead of just reacting to what other people do."
"Okay," Jason said. "Then I support you. One hundred percent."
"Thank you," I said. "For always supporting me. Even when I make decisions that make our lives harder."
"This is not making our lives harder," Jason said. "This is standing up for yourself. That is always the right choice."
That night I could not sleep. I kept thinking about the lawsuits. About what it would mean. More court appearances. More testimony. More reliving the trauma. But also more control. More power. More justice.
"You awake?" Jason asked. He was lying next to me.
"Yeah," I said. "Just thinking."
"About the lawsuits?" he asked.
"About everything," I said. "About how different my life is now compared to a year ago. A year ago I was married to Collin. Trapped. Scared all the time. And now I am married to you. Free. Fighting back."
"A lot has changed," Jason said.
"I am glad I left him," I said. "Even though it led to all of this. All the trials and media attention and harassment. I am still glad I left. Because now I have you. And Emma. And a real life."
"I am glad you left too," Jason said. "Even though it has been hard. It has been worth it."
"Has it?" I asked. "Been worth it? All the pain? All the fighting?"
"Yes," Jason said without hesitation. "Because I have you. And Emma. And that is worth everything."
The next morning Rebecca called. "I filed the complaints," she said. "Both of them. Against Vanessa Cory and against the tabloid. They should be served today."
"That was fast," I said.
"I told you I would move quickly," Rebecca said. "Now we wait. They have thirty days to respond. Then we start discovery."
"Discovery?" I asked.
"That is when we gather evidence," Rebecca said. "Request documents. Take depositions. Build our case. It is time-consuming but necessary."
"Okay," I said. "What do I need to do?"
"Nothing right now," Rebecca said. "Just live your life. Let me handle the legal stuff. I will keep you updated."
That afternoon the news broke. Multiple outlets reported that I was suing Vanessa and the tabloid. Some were supportive. Some were critical. Some accused me of trying to silence the media.
"Look at this headline," Jason said. He showed me his phone. "Caitlyn Cross Sues to Silence Critics. They are making it sound like you are trying to suppress free speech."
"Let them say what they want," I said. "I know why I am doing this. That is all that matters."
My phone started ringing. Reporters want comments. I ignored them all. Blocked the numbers. I was done talking to the media. Done explaining myself. Done defending my choices.
"You seem different," Jason said. "Calmer. More confident."
"I feel different," I said. "Like I finally have some power. Some control. I am not just reacting anymore. I am taking action."
"I like this version of you," Jason said. "This fighting back version."
"Me too," I said. "I wish I had found her sooner."
Detective Rourke called later that day. "I heard about the lawsuits," he said. "Good for you. About time someone made that tabloid pay."
"You think we can win?" I asked.
"I do," Rourke said. "They screwed up. Published lies. Damaged your reputation. You have a strong case."
"What about Vanessa?" I asked. "Will she fight it?"
"She does not have much choice," Rourke said. "She is already facing criminal charges. A civil lawsuit on top of that? She is going to have a hard time defending both."
"Good," I said. "She deserves everything that is coming to her."