lum. For every submission, there was a filing fee, hours
of research and multiple law-firm billings. For each batch of
documents sent to the court, copies were made to send to the opposing
attorney, the file and sometimes, even the plaintiff.

Occasionally, a hearing on one or another of the various motions was
called. When this happened, the lawyers and the plaintiff were joined
by the judge, his clerk and the court stenographer.

Each attorney blew smoke--substantial as ghost poop. The judge sat in
the air high above the arena and pondered. At times, he would
interrupt and admonish. Periodically he would ask a question and these
were the interesting moments as each attorney had a different answer.

The lawyer for the defense only knew what he had been told by Henry
Tarbuck and Henry only knew what he had been told by Lyle.

Diana's attorney knew only what she had told him and it was obvious
there was a lot that he hadn't remembered. How little the truth
counted in these proceedings, Diana thought as she listened to the
screw up. Neither of these men, who are being questioned and are the
only ones allowed to speak, were at Belmont when these events were
occurring. Most of the time they are way out in left field with their
answers. And here I sit, mute because the system demands it, unable to
clear up the confusion. All this money spent and the judge still
doesn't understand what the SmurFFs are. He asked for clarification
and got gibberish.

There's the gavel. One more useless hearing is over with.

Then, just as winter was getting a firm grip on the land, the Attorney
General released her report. Diana and her supporters were jubilant.
The local paper printed and the TV and radio blared: "A strongly worded
report from the A.G.'s office to President Pope maintains that
professor was fired unjustly."

The A.G.'s thirty page comprehensive Letter of Determination (LOD),
made it clear right at the beginning that the Belmont administration
had refused to cooperate in the investigation. It emphasized that,
"The University declined to make available people and information." At
the end of the LOD, it reiterated Belmont's non-cooperation.

The LOD went on to state that the University had held Termination for
Cause Hearings. Sworn testimony was taken which had been completely
transcribed by a court reporter. This transcript and the court records
relating to the illegal termination suit were used in thi