“You stole my life.”
Brother calls me a thief after I outshine him with no help from parents.
The process server found me on my front porch. I had just returned from the hardware shop to replace some drywall anchors in the guest bedroom.
The house was still in progress, but it was mine. I bought it eight months ago at the age of 24 using money I had saved since I was 14.
“Jack Thomas.”
I set down the bag.
“Yeah.”
He handed me the envelope.
“You’ve been served.”
He then strolled away as if he hadn’t just landed a bomb on my Tuesday afternoon.
I stood there holding the envelope, which appeared to be official and legal in weight.
I opened it slowly.
Karen and Carl King versus Jack Thomas.
My parents were suing me.
I read the first page, then the second, and then went back and read them again to be sure I wasn’t misunderstanding anything.
Claim: tortious interference with a potential economic gain.
Additional arguments include unjust enrichment, fraud, and breach of familial obligation.
Translation: They sued me because I was successful while my older brother Nathan was not.
The accusations were absurd.
Defendant Jack Thomas purposely manipulated family relations to get an unfair advantage.
The defendant concealed critical business advice and mentorship from his brother, Nathan King, causing Nathan’s business ventures to fail.
Defendant utilized his family name and reputation to grow his business while hindering his brother’s attempts.
Defendant obtained secret financial assistance from extended family members, which he falsely claimed to have acquired independently.
They demanded $300,000 in damages and the transfer of my residence to Nathan as payment for lost possibilities.
I sat down on the porch stairs. Read it again.
The phone was already ringing.
“Mom,” I replied, “what the hell is this?”
“Don’t you dare use that language with me.”
“You’re suing me.”
“We left us no choice.”
“You’ve been selfish and cruel to your brother.”
Selfish.
“I worked three jobs throughout college while you paid for Nathan’s private school,” Dad said in the background.
“Let me talk to him.”
The phone was swapped.
“Jack, this is happening. You can either settle reasonably or we’ll see you in court.”
The story doesn’t end here –
it continues on the next page.
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