And she was right.
The judge, a gray-haired man named Judge Holloway, who'd been on the bench longer than Clare had been alive, adjusted his glasses and looked at both sides. "All right," he said, voice gravelly. "Let's make this quick. Mr. Rogers, you're bringing a civil action for trespassing, property damage, and harassment, correct?"
"Yes, Your Honor," Mara said smoothly.
"And Ms. Phillips, you're countersuing for emotional distress, vehicular damage, and, uh..." He squinted at the paper. "...loss of social standing?"
Clare straightened. "That's correct, Your Honor! I have been publicly humiliated, defamed, and physically endangered by Mr. Rogers' reckless and malicious construction of an illegal booby trap!"
The courtroom murmured. Someone in the back chuckled.
Judge Holloway sighed. "Ms. Phillips, you're alleging that the plaintiff built a booby trap?"
"Yes!" she barked. "A hidden pit designed to destroy my vehicle!"
The judge raised an eyebrow. "Ma'am, this isn't Home Alone. Do you have any evidence?"
Doug puffed up his chest. "Your Honor, we have photographic documentation of the vehicle and witness statements confirming the trench's malicious intent!" He shuffled through papers for a solid thirty seconds before dropping half of them on the floor.
Mara leaned toward me and whispered, "He's an unlicensed amateur. Watch this."
She rose from her seat. "Your Honor, if it pleases the court, I'd like to submit a notarized easement document dated 1976, proving that the Whispering Pines HOA has no legal right of access to Mr. Rogers' road."
She handed it to the bailiff. The judge scanned it for a moment, then nodded slowly. "This looks legitimate."
Clare's face went red. "That's ancient paperwork! It doesn't apply anymore!"
Mara smiled sweetly. "Actually, Your Honor, it's still valid under County Code 119.4.1, unless Ms. Phillips can provide evidence of a superseding agreement."