Free Special Circumstances by Sheldon Siegel Page B

while,” he says. He’s polite, butsomewhat distant. He introduces us to Diana’s mother, Ruth Fink. Joeltold us Diana’s father died when Diana was in her teens. Mrs. Fink isalso polite, but brief.
Doris and Jenny Fontaine join us. Skipper, Arthur Patton and CharlesStern arrive as the service is beginning. A television cameramanstands about a hundred yards away, by the gate to the cemetery. Noreporters or minicams this afternoon.
As Rabbi Friedman begins the service, I notice Roosevelt Johnsonstanding next to the gate. He nods to me. The rain becomes heavierand Mrs. Fink loses her composure. The rabbi intones the kaddish, theJewish prayer of mourning.
It’s been a helluva week.
CHAPTER 7
I’VE GOT TO GO BE A LAWYER FOR A COUPLE OF HOURS
“We are looking forward to the new year with great optimism.”
—simpson AND gates managing partner arthur patton. san FHANCISCOlegal JOURNAL.
friday, january 9.
“The firm is starting to implode, Mike. Twenty labor lawyers announcedthey’re leaving. They’re talking about staff layoffs and bigcutbacks.” Joel is describing the state of the firm three days later,at six o’clock on Friday evening. We’re having a beer on his backporch as a light mist falls on the small houses built back-to-back inthe Richmond District. This is his going-away party for me from S&G.Rosie and Grace and my mom are here. So are Doris and Jenny Fontaine,and Wendy Hogan, a part-time tax attorney at S&G, and her six-year-oldson, Danny. Joel’s parents are supposed to stop by on their way totemple for Friday-night services.
“That’s fast,” I reply.
“Sounds like I got out just in time.”
“The firm must be in worse shape financially than anybody let on. Iguess we really needed the cash from Vince Russo’s deal. I’ve heardFirst Bank may foreclose on our equipment loans. They may hit up thepartners.
It may turn out to be a good thing I didn’t make partner.”
“Joint-and-several liability is a nasty thing when you’ve got a bunchof creditors out there.” Although most states now permit law firms tobe organized as “professional corporations” or “limited-liabilitypartnerships,” many firms, S&G among them, are still set up as generalpartnerships, which means each partner is fully responsible for firmdebts even if the partner didn’t sign the papers or incur the debt onbehalf of the firm. It’s an anachronism. Professional-service firmsare the only large businesses still organized as partnerships. GeneralMotors wouldn’t be structured in a similar way.
“I heard they found Vince Russo’s car,” I say.
“They found his car, keys and wallet in the parking lot at the VistaPoint at the north end of the Golden Gate Bridge. They think he mayhave jumped. Nobody saw him.”
“Any chance he’s still alive?”
He shrugs.
“No body has turned up. He could have planted the car and driven awayin another one. He could have walked to Sausalito and taken a cab.Hell, somebody could have picked him up and driven him to the airport.It wouldn’t surprise me if he’s in a warm climate sipping a fruitydrink by the beach.”
“Did he stash any cash?”
“He probably had some money in a foreign bank account.” My mom walksout from the kitchen.
“Hello, Joel,” she says. She’s having a good night.
“Have things settled down at the office?”
“Nice to see you, Mrs. Daley. Things have quieted down. We’re hopingthings will get back to normal in a few weeks.”
Joel’s son Alan marches outside with the bravado of a six-year-old andgives my mom a big hug. Little kids can spot a grandmother a hundredyards away. He is holding a piece of challah in his right hand.
“Uncle Mike,” he says, “Mommy says it’s time for you and Daddy to comeinside for dinner.”
“Are you sure, Alan?”
Still clutching the challah, he points his index finger toward me foremphasis.
“Uncle Mike, Mommy says you and Daddy have to come in right now, oryou’ll have to take a time-out.”
“Okay,” I