The Past Isn't Dead

said the great Falkner, it isn't even past. That truth came back to me yesterday with striking clarity. Stuart and I were strategizing cases, efficiently and aggressively moving them along, when we decided to call our old former boss, Barry. Barry had the name of a consultant we wanted to reach, and the call gave us the opportunity to catch up with him. Stuart worked for the firm from '85-'87, and I was there from '97 to '88. Our overlapping year was the start of our friendship. We caught up about old lawyers, and then Barry brought up his long time receptionist, Linda. Linda was a lovely lady, with one of the sweetest and engaging voices ever. She was of Jamaican background, and had a hint of educated, British lilt. Midwestern male clients were charmed by her, and painted mental pictures of a lithe, elegant, James Bond-type lady. When they'd meet her they were a bit put off to see she was easily 100 pounds overweight. Still, Linda was there in the 80s, and, according Barry, still there until recently. He told us she left to join the Yahwehs -- a group of black militants who claim to be the only true Jews. She asked for over 100 vacation days -- including all regular days, as well as even the most obsure Jewish holidays. Since a law firm can't have a receptionist who's there only part time, she and the firm parted ways... But the Yahwehs! I thought they were long gone. They made big news here in the 80s -- led by the former Hulon Mitchell, a velvet tongued orator with piercing blue eyes from Oklahoma, who started a black supremacy cult in Liberty City. In true Miami fashion, they became darlings of city government for rehabbing old buildings, until it came out that they also were serial killers, who targeted white drifters who they considered devils. The firm I worked for after I left Barry's sued them -- on behalf of a woman and her kids whose husband was murdered when he refused the Yahwehs' orders to vacate an apartment building they had taken over. The Yahwehs actually settled, but during the case I got to take the most memorable deposition of my life: Robert Rozier's. Rozier was a UC Berkely grad who played in the NFL, got into drugs, and became a Yahweh elite soldier. He killed 7 people to prove his loyalry, but then was arrested and became the star witness against the group. He was sentenced to 5 years!!!! When I had to depose him for the civil case, it was my brush with true legal drama. He was in the prison protection program, and I wrote to the US Marshall, along with the Yahweh's legal team, led by Ellis Rubin -- another only in Miami guy. Ellis sent a young associate... We got a call from the Marshall's office, and told to be at the Center Street courthouse in NYC in 2 days. We went into a room (The City of Opa Locka's lawyer was also there -- they were being blamed, too) and I was expecting to encounter a Charles Manson-like guy. Instead, Rozier was led in by 5 US Marshalls, who all looked like former Nebraska offensive linemen --huge and white -- and Rozier sat across from me, smiled, and welcomed us all. He wanted to chat about the Hurricanes -- he had becmoe a fan -- and we did. He was charming, articulate, and engaging. I remember coming away thinking he was a bigger, stronger version of Bryant Gumbel. He matter of factly recounted the details of his murders -- including one that hit close to home because after they stabbed to death a "white devil" in a South Miami parking lot, he and his accomplice calmly went to Canton for dinner (a place Wifey and I frequented). A few years later, he called me, about to be released from prison, and asked if our firm needed any paralegals -- he had become certified in custody. Fortunately, we didn't have any openings for a guy who admitted killing 7 people... I read about him later. He was living in protection in California --near Sacremento, and was arrested for passing bad checks. Under Califoria's Three Strikes law, he was sentenced to life! He served 6 years for 7 murders, but got life for the accrued charges. I checked this am -- he's still in custody in LA. The Yahwehs disbanded, and I thought it was the end of them, but apparently not. I did some research --- they exist in North Miami now, with a former young member from the 80s (he's my age now) the new savior. Better -- they preach that gays and DEMOCRATS are the devils to the black people -- and ally with the Tea Party. Apparently the leader was at the U when President Obama spoke, and unfurled a Democrats caused the KKK banner. As Carl Hiassen noted -- you can't make this stuff up. I was just amazed to see the Yahwehs were still at it, and an old, old acquaintance was now among their number. Oh well -- back to the office today -- we have some justice to seek! Just like we used to...