Camille stood. Marcus followed her lead. Wait, Douglas said. Let's not be hasty.
We can negotiate. Then negotiate, Marcus said. You have our number. When you're ready to make a serious offer, call us.
They walked out. In the car, Camille exhaled. Was that too aggressive? Not even close.
They opened at 25,000 with a confidentiality clause. That's an insult. They're hoping you're desperate enough to take it and go away quietly. So, what happens now?
Now, they go back and panic. Realize we're serious. Come back with a better offer, probably in the next 48 hours. Marcus was wrong.
The call came in 24 hours. Jennifer Low this time, not Douglas Reed. Ms. Booker, the county would like to continue settlement discussions. Would you and Mr. Chen be available for a call tomorrow?
We can make ourselves available. The next day, conference call. Same players from the county side. Jennifer took the lead this time.
We've reassessed our position. The county is prepared to offer $75,000. No confidentiality requirement. Officer Mundy will be terminated.
Miss Puit will be permanently reassigned. We'll implement the training programs and policy changes you've requested with quarterly public reporting of security screening demographics. Marcus looked at Camille. She shook her head slightly.
That's closer, Marcus said. But we still need independent monitoring. Someone outside the county reviewing compliance with the new policies. Otherwise, you'll just go back to business as usual once the media attention dies down.
We can agree to monitoring, but it can't be open-ended. We'd propose a 12-month monitoring period. 18 months, Marcus countered with the option to extend if compliance issues are identified. Silence on the other end, muffled conversation.
We can do 18 months, fixed term, no extension option. Marcus looked at Camille again. She considered it. Mundy terminated.
No, wait. What does terminated mean? She asked. Fired or allowed to resign with benefits.
More silence. Officer Mundy would resign, effective immediately. No further employment with Durham County in any capacity. Does he keep his pension?
Union rules require that we can't take his pension for administrative violations, but he would not be eligible for rehire. So Travis would walk away with his pension intact. 20 years of service, six complaints ignored, pattern of harassment documented, and he'd still get to retire on the taxpayers's dime. What about Elliot Chandler?
Camille asked. Mr. Chandler is being investigated by the state bar. That process is ongoing. We have no control over the outcome.
And Judge Hargrove? Judge Hargrove has recused himself from all cases involving Duke Law clinical students. He submitted a disclosure to the Judicial Standards Commission. Any further action is up to them.
Translation: Hargrove would face no real consequences. Maybe a private reprimand. Maybe nothing. Camille looked at the notes she'd been taking.
75,000. Mundy resigns. Sharon reassigned. Policy reforms.
Monitoring for 18 months. Public reporting. It wasn't everything she wanted. Travis kept his pension.
Hargrove stayed on the bench. Elliot might beat the State Bar complaint, but it was something more than most civil rights plaintiffs got. We need one more thing, she said. What's that?
A public apology from Durham County. Acknowledging that I was subjected to discriminatory treatment and that the county failed to prevent it. Long silence. We can issue a public statement acknowledging that our procedures fell short of the standards we expect and committing to do better, but we can't admit legal liability.
That would expose us to I don't need you to admit liability, Camille said. I need you to acknowledge that your employees treated me differently because of my race and that you're taking steps to ensure it doesn't happen again. More muffled conversation. We can include language in the settlement agreement stating that Durham County acknowledges concerns about disparate treatment and is committed to ensuring equal access for all courthouse visitors regardless of race.
Will issue a press release with similar language. Marcus looked at Camille. Your call. She thought about Mrs. Hughes, still in her apartment, case still pending, but safe for now because Camille had fought for her.
She thought about the other attorneys who'd reached out after the news story broke. The ones who'd experienced similar treatment, but never filed complaints because they thought nothing would change. She thought about Travis Mundy's face when she handed him the complaint. Sharon Puit's panic.
Elliot Chandler's stammering realization that he'd underestimated her completely. I'll take it, she said. But I want the settlement agreement to include specific policy details, no vague promises, actual requirements with measurable outcomes. We can do that.
And I want to approve the press release language before it goes out. Agreed. And Mr. Chandler's State Bar complaint. I want the county to cooperate fully with that investigation.
No legal maneuvers to protect him. The State Bar investigation is independent. We can't interfere either way. Then don't interfere.
Don't provide him with county legal representation. Don't fight subpoenas. Just let the process work. We can agree to that.
Marcus pulled out his laptop. Let's draft the settlement terms now while we're all on the call. I want this in writing before anyone changes their mind. 3 hours later, they had a settlement agreement.
11 pages of terms. Payment $75,000 to Camille Booker. Travis Mundy resignation effective immediately. No rehire eligibility.