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

Heading: mr neiman: direct examination

Text: In chambers Judge Missildine said he did not wish to sit and listen to how to run a brokerage business. He felt the attorneys knew more about it than he did. From what he had observed the parties appeared to be only a couple hundred dollars apart and he thought they should get together and try to work out a settlement. The judge offered to speak to the parties if that would help. Mr. Neiman then stated he and Mr. Hansen had been working on the case for 18 months and they would both welcome any outside help. He could not remember the judge having said anything about not wanting to know the value of the Davis Company stocks. After the meeting he returned to his client and told her the judge would like to speak with the parties. He explained to her he had the impression the judge was not going to give her any part of her husband's business. At the meeting with the parties and their attorneys the judge repeated what he had said to the attorneys about the possibility of settlement. Mrs. Hitchcock stated she felt that after twenty-eight and one-half years she was entitled to some part of the business. The judge explained she was not entitled to any part of the business because the business was personal to her husband. It was the business that had afforded them the life to which they had become accustomed and it was the business which would produce the money with which Mr. Hitchcock would pay the alimony. The judge intended to give her the same standard of living as that to which she had become accustomed. Upon conclusion of this meeting, Mr. Neiman met with his client again. She appeared shocked, was trembling and was almost to the point of tears. He explained to her he did not believe the judge's comments were grounds for a mistrial. He thought they should settle the case because if they went on she could possibly get less alimony than he thought her husband was willing to pay. He based this conclusion on an earlier offer of settlement and on his impression of the attitude of the court toward giving Mrs. Hitchcock a part of the business. Mr. Neiman then entered into negotiations with the other side. After one and one-half hours a settlement was reached. He did not know why Mrs. Hitchcock had agreed to settle the case but he surmised it was because of the attitude of the court.