Chapter 27: Legal Shakeup

On Friday, Helena decided to attend the legal practice that Mrs Romano had used to administer her property portfolio. She rang the practice requesting to speak to one of the partners secretaries. The receptionist was very off putting and explained that they would ring her back at their convenience. Helena stood her ground saying, forget the secretary get a partner NOW or you will loose the total Romano business. The girl put Helena on hold for over 8 minutes. When a partner did answer in a stand off way, Helena demanded that all staff that had anything to do with Mrs Romano property holding had to be available for a meeting at 1pm today or all of the business would be transferred to another legal practice without delay. He ask her who she was, telling him that she had inherited Mrs Romano estate and all of her share portfolio. She will bring a colleague around at 1pm today with copies of her last will. Helena repeated any staff member including clerks, trainee, administration, solicitors and all of the partners had better be there at 1pm. She hung up the phone.

Ringing Ben, she explained the telephone call she just made and ask him to attend with her but he was not to give his name or occupation. “I will call you my colleague.” Ben knowing who she was dealing with agreed. Ben was not known to that solicitor firm of BASR.

Arriving at the solicitors office at 12.59pm she demanded to see the partners for her 1.pm appointment. The receptionist, same one who answered the telephone, asked her name. “Helena is all you need to know and you had better be in that meeting girl!”

Rushing to the partners board room she advised Helena was at reception. “Bring her in now and stay at the reception desk until we call.”

“She told me I had to be in on the meeting?” she explained.

“We pay your wages, you do as we tell you!” The partner Bruce said out loud.

On Helena hearing this walked to the board room saying “I believe I pay your fees and if I want something you had better jump to it now. Girl lock the front door and come into this meeting.”

“Who are you, what makes you think you can order us about girl.” Bruce asked rudely.

Harry mentioned ‘This is going to be good, keep calm Helena.’

Helena asked “Who are the senior partners of the business, please stand up?”

Three men stood up. Helena immediately spoke over their voices. You three come here and view my colleague paperwork before you open your mouths any more to change feet.”

Ben showed then the will and share transfer papers and confirmed Helena’s identity and sole heir to the estate. Three men never groveled so much apologising for their remarks.

“First thing is everyone who has any dealing with my business here in this room?” Asked Helena.

“All except 3 junior girls who are doing paperwork outside.” replied one of the partners.

Looking at the receptionist Helena said “Get them in here now please.”

The receptionist collected the three girls.

“Now I will start and if you have any questions, you put your hand up and await my pleasure before asking. My name is Helena. I am the sole beneficiary of Mrs Rita Romano estate. This is my sweet colleague and at this stage that is all you need to know.” Ben smiled.

“I want to meet everyone who is handling any part of my estate so when I come in here again, I will get any, that is any information about my affairs. We will start with the junior staff and work up.”

Helena was introduced to every staff member by the receptionist. They were told that could either return to work or stay in the room on the other side. Harry was busy checking each one out. The good ones left except one and the three partners. Three other senior solicitors also remained

Helena addressed the group left in the board room “Now in Mrs Romano notes she was a bit upset that returns from some of her properties were below the previous years returns. I have now obtained information at to why this has occurred. You increased your take from 4% to up to 12% in the last few years. This will now return to the previously agreed 4% and a full refund including your penalty interest rates will apply. You will effect the payment within the next 30 days. Understood.”

One junior partner butted in saying “What proof have you got?”

“Proof, you want, lets see, you have a house in Tweed Heads purchased at $900,000. The finance money you obtained from this firm, at Zero percent interest rate, is funded from my account. Todate you have not paid one cent in any repayments. So you have 5 days to refinance or I take the house from you. The documents you used to obtained the finance were forged. One of the partners here agreed to the loan and he will be dealt with, the other partners signature was forged by you. Is that proof enough for you?” Helena replied.

The silence in the room was deafening.

“I can’t refinance in 5 days.” he replied.

“Well then the house is mine.” replied Helena.

Looking at the junior solicitor Jane, “Go out and get a contract of sale and property transfer paperwork for him to sign please.” Jane retired to get the paperwork.

Helena called for silence until Jane returned. Jane returned with the paperwork and placed it in front of the junior solicitor. He signed the forms in blank. Helena advised “He is not to work on any dealing with my portfolio from now and due to the fact he forged a partners signature, it up to you to have him as an employee. Please leave the premises I believe you are sacked and get out of my house today.” he left slamming the door.

“Now I will continue. You have another two junior solicitors who have between $100,000 and $250,000 of my monies due to the partners neglect. These two have been getting repair work done on the cheap then via the incompetent/corrupt management issuing a new invoice for up to 300% higher than the quoted job price. Not the actual job price. Monies were paid back to the management person and not the company doing the work. Then cash handed over to your junior solicitors with one of the senior partners taking 25% commission in cash. That senior partner was the same that signed over the interest free loan. Do you wish to confirm what has happened or do we take the matter to the fraud squad and Queensland law society?”

One of the juniors said “Are you threatening us?”

“No.” Helena replied “Do you really want me to prove it, if I do it will be in front of the Police so I do not have to repeat myself? I am giving you a choice?”

The two juniors looked at the senior partner involved then said “No.”

“Do you confirm I have told the truth?” Helena asked of them.

Looking at each other they said “Yes.”

Jane can you get two blank pieces of paper please and give to them. Jane opened her legal pad and tore off 2 sheets passing them over. “I suggest you make your resignation immediate boys, it will be accepted.” advised Helena.

They signed the paper resigning on the spot. Calling in the receptionist and a guard, they escorted the pair off the premises advising any personal belongings will be forwarded at a later date. If they have any company property then return tomorrow morning, and leave your car keys as they are company property. They wanted to say something but kept their mouths shut.

The guard was asked to go to the juniors car and remove all items from the car and bring into the office. Now Just the 6 of us left. I have trust in my colleague, That leaves you four. One of the partners has been ripping you others off for quite a few years in gambling debt. That’s why my price went up and the company profits lower. “Is that correct, Bruce?” Helena asked.

Bruce looked at Helena “How do you know all of these things? Are you a witch or something?”

“Are you going to resign on the spot or do we drag you through the courts? Your choice?” Advised Helena.

“I resign.” He stated. Jane handed over her note pad. He signed the note blank. Jane looked at Helena who advised “Just put ‘I resign immediate and hand over all of my entitlements etc to my partners and will have nothing else to do with this firm’.” Jane wrote the letter and dated it.

The guard arrived with three boxes from the company cars. Asking for Bruce keys which he handed over to the guard. “Now get out thief.” Helena demanded. He left with the guard who was again asked to empty the car.

“Well gentlemen you have a problem to clean up. You need to get working again and stop playing golf/bowls all day. You need another partner, in terms of our agreement from the 60’s, And you have quite a few dollars to pay over to me. What are you going to do?”

“We will have to talk it over and get back to you.” Adrian said.

“OK start talking. I’ll listen in and await your decision.” Helena replied.

They looked at Helena. “What?” they asked.

“I cannot leave this practice without three partners in place in terms of our original agreement.” Advised Helena. “After all the R in the name is Mrs Romano.”

“We are at a loss of what to do? What do you suggest?” They both asked together.

Well there is another employee in this room who has done some great work and did try and report what was happening to you in the past but it was blocked by Bruce every time. She was not aware that he was involved. She has been passed over 5 times as a senior solicitor because of the other three and Bruce. And no, I have not met or know of Jane before today.”