Opinion ID: 1720308
Heading Depth: 1
Heading Rank: 3

Heading: mrs hitchcock: direct examination

Text: Mr. Neiman came out of the meeting between the attorneys and the judge in a very disturbed state. He explained to Mrs. Hitchcock the judge was not going to consider the value of the business. Upon hearing this she became very agitated. At the meeting with the parties the judge explained he thought the business was a male type achievement. He explained to her she had no right to anything except to live as she had been accustomed. She was dumbfounded and shocked to hear this. She felt he was not listening to her and had prejudged her. The judge explained he did not care to learn how a brokerage business was run. He thought the lawyers and parties should try to work out some sort of agreement. After the meeting Mrs. Hitchcock returned to the corridor. She was shocked and felt frustrated, trapped and under duress. Some of her agitation was caused by things her husband had told her. Mrs. Hitchcock could not remember what happened next. During the negotiations between the attorneys, she told Mr. Neiman what she wanted but did not recall whether he had kept her informed. The judge came out about 3:00 p.m. and told the parties he did not want to be there all night. Mrs. Hitchcock then asked for another five minutes and the judge went back into the courtroom. She had agreed to a settlement but had not approved the final figures agreed upon by the attorneys. She did not know the details of the settlement until after the court's decree was entered. She was not satisfied with the settlement.