Chapter 17 - THE VERDICT
The jury deliberated for less than two hours,
a record time for a complex civil case involving millions of dollars.
When they returned to the courtroom,
the silence was so profound you could hear the clock ticking on the wall.
The foreperson stood tall,
reading the unanimous verdict with a clear,
steady voice.
They found Marcus Holloway fully liable for battery,
intentional infliction of emotional distress,
and gross negligence.
The judge ordered him to pay twenty-five million dollars in compensatory damages to Zuri,
ensuring her financial security forever.
Furthermore,
the jury tacked on an additional fifty million dollars in punitive damages,
aimed at completely breaking his financial back.
It was a historic judgment,
one that effectively wiped out his remaining personal wealth.
Marcus did not react when the numbers were read,
staring blankly at the polished wood table in front of him.
His high-priced lawyers looked defeated,
knowing there were no grounds left for an appeal.
Eleanor squeezed my hand tightly under the table,
a victorious smile gracing her lips.
"We did it,"
she whispered,
her eyes shining with pride.
"He is completely ruined."
I looked back at Marcus,
May you like
feeling no pity,
only a profound sense of closure.
