A businessman brings a lawsuit against an unusual defendant.  His lawyers believe that they've found a path to fame and fortune, but once the trial begins, all bets are off.

 

     Henry Klinbald smiled smugly as he scanned the mob of journalists squeezing into the back of the courtroom.  "We’ve got a big crowd today.  They always show up to observe strokes of legal genius."

     Jeanne Olsworth also turned and surveyed the press section, though her gaze was far less confident.  "Or perhaps great legal folly," she said.

     "Nonsense," Klinbald said, carefully pressing down a crease in his five-thousand-dollar suit.  "This will be the greatest triumph in our firm’s history.  Our client ran a fair and honest business.  Then a series of malicious untruths was spread concerning his ethics and past behavior, causing many of his customers to depart.  He unquestionably suffered harm, and it’s clear who’s responsible.  It’s an open-and-shut case."

     Olsworth smiled in spite of herself.  "I wish I had your confidence.  Don’t forget that all your previous experience has been with suits against people and corporations.  No one has ever sued an abstract concept before."