Page 16 of The Lawyer’s Quandary
“I see. This is unusual….” He took a step aside, and they all walked into the room with a large, polished table and comfortable chairs.
This was something he understood, a projection of strength and control.
Greg had Steven and his mother sit, and he took the chair next to Steven, while Mark, the provost, and Bates all took chairs across the table.
“This is a session to ascertain the facts regarding an incident in Coach Bates’s office.
” He folded his hands on the table. “Coach Bates has reported that while he was taping your ankle in preparation for practice, you struck him. As you know, this is a very serious offense.”
Steven opened his mouth, but Greg stepped in. “My client will admit to nothing and confirm nothing,” Greg said. “However, if my client did strike Coach Bates—and I stress if —then he was provoked.”
“I was taping his ankle,” Bates said forcefully.
Mark flinched slightly, and even the provost blinked at the vehemence of his reaction.
“I see. Is that all you were doing?” Greg asked, watching the provost carefully.
“We are not here to make baseless accusations,” the provost said, and for a second, Greg wondered if this was part of a college cover up.
Greg opened his bag. “They are not baseless. I have five signed and notarized statements, including one from Steven, detailing inappropriate behavior by Coach Bates over the last three months.” He set the papers on the table.
“These are all players on his teams who have come forward with similar claims against him.” He pulled out his iPad and set it on the table.
“This is video that I have obtained of the so-called incident in Coach Bates’s office.
” He brought up the enhanced view. “And I want to know when taping an ankle involves groping a player, forcing him against the chair, and kissing him?” he asked, filling the room with his voice.
“So if Steven did strike Coach Bates, he was fully justified in warding off a predator.”
The provost was shocked and sat with his mouth open, eyes bulging.
Finally, he reached for the iPad. It was pretty clear that this was a total shock, which told Greg some of what he wanted to know about what the college might have been aware of.
Greg let him watch the video again. “Coach Bates, you are suspended until a full investigation is completed. You are not to return to the college until we have completed the investigation.” He set down the iPad.
“Thank you. We will deal with this.” He stood, but Greg shook his head.
“I don’t know what world you live in, but this is not for you to handle or to decide what is going to happen.
” Greg patted the table for emphasis, and he sat down again.
“I want to make it clear that Steven is blameless and that he is free to return to class without a blemish on his record. Am I clear?”
“Yes. Judging by what I saw, his actions were justified. He was only defending himself.” He blinked and then released a breath. “Is there anything else?”
“Actually, there is. You see, copies of these reports, as well as the video, were sent to the Adams County district attorney, and he along with the police, issued a warrant for Bates’s arrest about an hour ago.
Steven, please open the door.” Greg turned back to Bates, watching as a police officer entered the room, cuffed him, and read him his rights.
“Are the handcuffs really necessary?” the provost asked.
“Actually, they are, and he is to be cuffed,” Greg told the officer.
“Rumors have been circulating through the college, and now when he is taken out in cuffs, there will be no doubt as to who should be believed. Coach Bates is a predator, and predators deserve to be behind bars.” He waited while Bates was escorted from the room, but Greg didn’t stand.
“Is there more?”
“Oh, yes. A copy of the story has been sent to local and national news outlets. I suspect that his victims are going to be coming out of the woodwork. So you better have your ducks in a row, and if Adams was aware of Coach Bates’s behavior and covered it up, I’d say you will be in more trouble than you can handle.
” He watched the provost, who moved back slightly.
“There is no way that we would ever cover this up.” He turned to Bates with a look of complete disgust. “We believe in the academic excellence of our students and in their social and physical welfare.”
In a way, Greg hoped it was true, because if it wasn’t, he was sure as hell going to find out.
“I suggest the college figure out how much it can pay, because we will be filing suit, and part of that discovery will be determining just how truthful your statement is and how much people at the college may have known. Penn State ended up paying more than a million to each of their abuse victims.” Now, he stood and left the room with Steven and his mom.
“Jesus,” Rachel said as soon as the door closed behind them. “You don’t take any prisoners, do you?”
“Not if I can help it. I have no idea if people at the college were aware of him, but we will find out, and with the players’ permission, I will be filing a lawsuit against the college. This sort of behavior should have been guarded against in the first place.”
“Do you think they knew about him?” Steven asked.
“I don’t know. The college is going to deny any knowledge, but once we file the suit, then we will be able to request information from the college, and at that time, we should be able to get some answers.
Also, once this story hits the news, we will hear from other victims, and we’ll know how long this has been going on.
In the meantime, you and the guys need to do your best to go back to your lives.
Live it the best you can, and know that no matter what he did to you, you stood up to Bates and brought him down.
You and the guys stopped him from hurting anyone else. Always remember that.”
Steven held out his hand, and Greg shook it. “Thank you for believing me and in us. I know we’ll be in touch.” He and his mom left the building, and Greg stood with Mark.
“I guess it’s time for us to go too,” Mark said softly. “I know you probably have plenty to do, but you just won a big victory for a lot of people today.” He glanced around and then tugged him into a stairwell and kissed him hard against the wall. “We could go somewhere quiet to celebrate.”
Mark’s offer was enticing. “I wish I could right now. But I have appointments in the office in a few hours, and I had to juggle my schedule so I could be here this morning. But how about I come back this evening, and we can celebrate then?” There was nothing he wanted more.
“And maybe once we’ve celebrated a few times, we can start to hammer out a longer-term agreement. ”
Mark growled and leaned closer. “I love it when you talk legal to me.”
Greg groaned. “Habeas corpus, corporate indenture, unlimited liability….” He might have gone on, but Mark kissed away the words, as well as just about anything else, and Greg wound his arms around his neck. Legalities be damned, he wanted this for a very long time.