Chapter 9 - The Stolen Patent Clause
While Richard and Evelyn were being loaded into the back of separate federal transport cruisers, Richard’s personal corporate attorney, Gregory Vance, pushed his way through the courtyard crowd.
Dressed in a three-piece pinstripe suit, holding a leather briefcase, Vance attempted to project an aura of legal intimidation.
"Dr. Hayes, a word before this circus proceeds any further," Vance said, his tone dripping with polished corporate arrogance.
"I am the senior managing partner of Vance & Associates, representing Sterling Global Capital."
"Regardless of any pending criminal probate irregularities regarding your grandmother's estate, the original Sterling Family Charter contains a binding intellectual property clause."
"Section 14B explicitly states that all biomedical discoveries, patents, and clinical revenues developed by biological descendants of Margaret Sterling are legally assigned to the family foundation."
"Your ten-million-dollar CAR-T cell therapy endowment belongs to Sterling Capital under New York contract law."
"If you do not agree to a confidential financial settlement that covers Mr. Sterling's legal defense fund, we will file an emergency injunction freezing your research laboratory tomorrow morning."
Dean Kensington and Dr. Bennett stepped forward, their faces darkening with fury, but I raised my hand to stop them.
I smiled calmly, pulling out the final legal decree from my portfolio—a certified order from the New York Supreme Court dated precisely twelve years ago.
"You should have reviewed the adoption registry before drafting your extortion threat, Mr. Vance," I said smoothly.
"On June 18th, 2014, when Hannah Hayes finalized my full legal adoption, the family court executed a complete severance of all biological filial ties under New York Domestic Relations Law Section 117."
"Furthermore, the court issued an absolute annulment of the Sterling lineage covenants due to felonious parental abandonment."
"In the eyes of the United States government, the State of New York, and the World Intellectual Property Organization, I have zero biological or legal connection to Sterling Capital."
"My patent is registered exclusively under the name Dr. Sophia Hayes, sponsored by the Hayes Medical Research Trust."
"And if you attempt to file a single fraudulent claim against my laboratory, my litigation team will file a Rule 11 sanctions motion that will have your law license permanently revoked by Friday afternoon."
May you like
Vance’s smug expression collapsed into ash.
He looked at the certified court seal, snapped his briefcase shut without uttering another syllable, turned on his heels, and sprinted toward the subway station.
