Cartwright & Associates Defending Justice in a Superpowered World

  A Law Firm Built for Supers

  Barry Cartwright never expected to become a legal champion for the superpowered community, but his firm, Cartwright & Associates, had quickly become the go-to place for supers in legal trouble. Discrimination cases, wrongful terminations, property damage claims—his workload grew every day as the world adjusted to the sudden presence of people with extraordinary abilities.

  With the firm’s success came the need to expand, and Barry had recently hired two new employees:

  Daphne Langley – A telepath in her early forties who could pass for mid-twenties. She had initially come to Barry as a client, seeking a divorce after discovering—without a doubt—that her husband was cheating on her. The case had been simple: she had read her husband’s thoughts, confirmed his infidelity, and had the evidence to back it up. Now, with her legal troubles behind her, she had taken on the role of Barry’s secretary, proving to be both efficient and endlessly entertaining.

  Tyler Bishop – A former pizza delivery guy with super speed. Tyler had no legal background, but he had an incredible ability to get things done fast—which was exactly what Barry needed in a paralegal intern. With Tyler on the team, documents were filed in record time, court filings were delivered within minutes, and coffee never went cold.

  Barry had always worked well under pressure, but now, with his firm growing and new cases piling up, the pressure was on a whole new level.

  And his latest case was a big one.

  Detective Isaac Ford vs. The City of New York

  Detective Isaac Ford, one of the leading officers in the NYPD’s newly formed Superpower Task Force (STF), had found himself in legal trouble. A recent arrest had gone viral—a superpowered criminal accused Ford of excessive force, claiming the detective had brutalized him during an altercation.

  Barry had seen the footage. It was a lie.

  The suspect, a pyrokinetic named Darren Chase, had nearly burned an entire apartment complex down in a standoff with the STF. Ford had subdued him with minimal force—enhanced reflexes and durability allowing him to take the fire blasts without serious injury. Chase had been apprehended without so much as a broken bone.

  Yet, here they were.

  The city, under mounting political pressure to prove they weren’t giving superpowered cops free rein, was letting the lawsuit proceed rather than dismissing it outright. If Ford lost, it would set a dangerous precedent—one that could cripple the STF’s ability to do their jobs.

  Barry wasn’t going to let that happen.

  Office Banter and a Lawsuit Strategy

  Barry sat in his office, reviewing the case files. Across from him, Daphne Langley smirked as she leaned against his desk, arms crossed.

  “You know, Barry, I could sue you for sexual harassment,” she teased, tossing her long auburn hair over one shoulder.

  The story has been illicitly taken; should you find it on Amazon, report the infringement.

  Barry blinked, caught off guard. “Excuse me?”

  Daphne grinned. “You keep checking me out. Not that I mind, but legally speaking, I could build a case.”

  Barry exhaled, shaking his head with amusement. “Good luck with that.”

  “Oh? You don’t think I’d win?”

  “I think I’m your lawyer,” he countered smoothly. “You’d have to find representation elsewhere.”

  Daphne chuckled. “Touché.”

  Before Barry could fire back, Tyler zipped into the room at superhuman speed, holding a stack of papers.

  “Boss! Got the latest reports from the DA’s office,” Tyler announced, dropping the papers on Barry’s desk before plopping into a chair. “Also, grabbed coffee. You’re welcome.”

  Barry took a sip. Still hot. Tyler really was efficient.

  “Alright,” Barry said, flipping through the documents. “Ford’s case is straightforward. We have security footage, multiple witness accounts, and the fact that Chase has a long history of violent offenses. This should be a slam dunk.”

  Daphne raised an eyebrow. “Should be, but you know how this city works. The public wants a scapegoat, and Ford’s a high-profile target. You’re going to have to sell this case, Barry.”

  “I know,” Barry admitted. “That’s why I need to meet with Ford. We need to prep for cross-examination.”

  Tyler grinned. “You want me to zip over and grab him?”

  Barry smirked. “No need. He’s already on his way.”

  Case Preparation with Ford

  Detective Isaac Ford arrived an hour later, dressed in plain clothes, looking tense but composed. He sat across from Barry, arms crossed.

  “You really think this case is gonna hold up in court?” Ford asked.

  “No,” Barry replied confidently. “Which is why we’re going to tear it apart before it even gets that far.”

  Ford exhaled. “Good. Because if I lose this case, it won’t just be my job on the line—it’ll be the entire STF. The department’s already hesitant about us. If this lawsuit paints me as some kind of power-hungry enforcer, they’ll start pulling us from cases. That means supers running unchecked.”

  Barry nodded. “I understand. Which is why we’re going to prove that the accusations against you are nothing but an attempt to discredit the task force.”

  Daphne, standing nearby with her arms folded, added, “We have evidence on our side, but we need to control the narrative. Public opinion matters.”

  Ford sighed. “I hate politics.”

  Barry smirked. “Then you’re really going to hate the media interviews I’m setting up for you.”

  Ford groaned. “You’re kidding.”

  Daphne grinned. “Nope. We’re putting your face out there, getting ahead of the story. If people see you as the hero instead of the aggressor, the lawsuit loses traction.”

  Ford muttered something under his breath but relented. “Fine. Whatever it takes.”

  Barry leaned back. “Good. Now, let’s go over everything one more time.”

  Trial by Public Opinion

  Over the next week, Barry worked around the clock.

  ? He arranged interviews for Ford on multiple news outlets, allowing the detective to tell his side of the story.

  ? He compiled a dossier on Darren Chase, highlighting his history of arson and past confrontations with law enforcement.

  ? He gathered character witnesses from within the police force and the community to testify on Ford’s behalf.

  Meanwhile, the opposition’s case began falling apart.

  ? The security footage showed Ford using only necessary force.

  ? Chase’s past violent crimes weakened his credibility.

  ? A leaked report from the District Attorney’s office suggested that the city was pursuing the lawsuit for political reasons, not because Ford had done anything wrong.

  By the time they walked into the courtroom, the public was already on Ford’s side.

  The judge saw through the weak case and dismissed the lawsuit.

  Ford was cleared.

  The STF remained intact.

  And Barry Cartwright had just won the biggest case of his career.

  Victory and the Road Ahead

  After the case was closed, Ford shook Barry’s hand firmly. “I owe you one, Cartwright.”

  Barry smirked. “Just doing my job.”

  Daphne, standing nearby, gave Barry a knowing smile. “You know, Barry, you’re starting to sound more like a superhero than a lawyer.”

  Barry chuckled. “Nah. Just a guy making sure the law works for everyone.”

  Tyler zipped into the room, grinning. “So, celebration drinks? First round’s on me.”

  Barry shook his head, laughing. “Why not? We’ve earned it.”

  As they left the office, Barry knew that this was just the beginning.

  The world was changing.

  And Cartwright & Associates was ready for whatever came next.