Don Winslow - While Drowning in the Desert

Sincerely yours,

Eugene Petkovitch, Esquire

Ms. Pamela A. HolmstrumClaims SuperintendentWestern States Insurance Co. 801 Flower StreetLos Angeles, CA

Craig D. Schaeffer

Attorney-at-Law

3615 Monterey

Palm Desert, CA

27 July 1983

Dear Craig,

Please see attached correspondence from Attorney Eugene Petkovitch on behalf of his clients, our policyholders, Heinz Muller and Amin “Sami” Abdullah.

FIFTEEN MILLION DOLLARS!!!???

He sends us form letters demanding fifteen million dollars?!

Who does this guy think he is?!

Pam

Craig D. SchaefferAttorney-at-Law3615 MontereyPalm Desert, CA

Ms. Pamela A. Holmstrum

Claims Superintendent

Western States Insurance Co.

801 Flower Street

Los Angeles, CA

29 July 1983

Dear Pam,

You’ve never heard of Eugene “The Wolverine” Petkovitch?! Where have you been?

Eugene Petkovitch is the most despised, loathed, feared and respected plaintiff attorney in California, if not the known litigious world. Over the past ten years the Wolverine has hit every major insurance carrier in the state for seven- and eight-figure punitive damages awards.

When that security guard in mid-Wilshire shot the big toe off the would-be bank robber and the bank robber got $2,000,000? Eugene “The Wolverine” Petkovitch.

When the security guard sued the company that made the gunsight and won $3,000,000? Eugene Petkovitch.

When the would-be bank robber sued his insurance company for failing to pay his legal costs, citing “Chronic Recidivist Syndrome” and won $5,000,000? Eugene Petkovitch.

When the security guard sued his insurance company, the bank’s insurance company, and the would-be robber’s insurance company, citing “Severe Post-Victimization Stress Disorder” and won $6,000,000? Eugene Petkovitch.

These are just a few of the judicial highlights of the Wolverine’s recent career.

The guy’s cross-examinations are brutal. I’ve seen them. I remember. I wish I could forget.

I’ve seen hardened insurance executives break down and sob on the stand during one of Gene’s cross-exams. I’ve seen homicide cops blubber like babies. I’ve seen guys develop permanent eye twitches and stutters. In fact, one of Gene’s victims was a claims superintendent who happened to be a deaf mute. Gene crossed him in sign language and I swear the guy’s hands were shaking. The jury concluded he was lying.

Eugene Petkovitch is Satan.

He rarely even has to go to trial anymore, everyone is that afraid of him. He just writes the demand letter, fills in the amount, and the insurance companies pay.

Pay the money, Pam. I’m begging you.

You don’t want this trouble. I don’t want this trouble.

Sincerely,

Craig

Ms. Pamela A. HolmstrumClaims SuperintendentWestern States Insurance Co. 801 Flower StreetLos Angeles, CA

Craig D. Schaeffer

Attorney-at-Law

3615 Monterey

Palm Desert, CA

1 August 1983

Dear Craig,

Where have I been?

I’ve been in Nebraska, Craig, where-naive and old-fashioned as this may seem-we still take a dim view of extortion. I’ll admit that I’m just the new kid here in sophisticated California-a hayseed, a hick, a corn-fed farm girl with the mud barely dry on her clodhoppers-but I guess I just don’t think that the best way to start my job as the regional claims superintendent for Western States Insurance is to fork over $15,000,000 of the company’s hard-earned money to a Nazi money-launderer, the male, Lebanese counterpart of Imelda Marcos, and an extortionate, blackmailing shyster with a candy-assed name like Eugene who embodies everything that I feel is currently wrong with this country.

I just ain’t a-going to do it.

In the ringing words of Thomas Jefferson, “Millions for defense, not one penny for tribute.”

Get to work.

Sincerely,

Pamela A. Holmstrum

Craig D. SchaefferAttorney-at-Law3615 MontereyPalm Desert, CA

Ms. Pamela A. Holmstrum

Claims Superintendent

Western States Insurance Co.

801 Flower Street

Los Angeles, CA

4 August 1983

Dear Pamela A. Holmstrum,

Realizing now that you have recently emigrated from the unsullied moral purity of the prairie, I understand just how shocking and offensive you must find the corrupt stench of the former Bear Flag Republic. How awful it must be to emerge still fresh-faced and dewy-eyed from your white clapboard Methodist Church, hymnal clutched in your firm hand, to find that not all the world is as honest as the yeoman tillers of the land who were your plain, straight-shootin’ kinfolk in Omaha.

Nevertheless, when in Sodom and Gommorah…

Pay the money, Pam. Pay it now. Without an eyewitness to this arson we are hosed.

You are a small insurance company. I am a small-time lawyer. And even Thomas Jefferson was never cross-examined by Eugene Petkovitch.

Sincerely,

Craig D. Schaeffer

P.S.: Doubtless you are a tall, blonde, blue-eyed right-wing Christian conservative who reads National Review, is a member of the NRA, voted for Reagan and sits around her house watching John Wayne videos. Am I right?

Ms. Pamela A. HolmstrumClaims SuperintendentWestern States Insurance Co. 801 Flower StreetLos Angeles, CA

Craig D. Schaeffer

Attorney- at-Law

3615 Monterey

Palm Desert, CA

7 August 1983

Dear Craig,

Small is as small does.

Western States Insurance Company is small in the sense that it does not have $15,000,000 to give away. I’m afraid we are saving this money for foolish things like hurricanes, tornadoes, earthquakes, and accidental fires.

The question is: Are you a small lawyer? We need proof? Get proof. We need an eyewitness? Get an eyewitness.

Cheers,

Pamela

P.S.: As a matter of fact, I’m a short, brown-eyed brunette. Yes, I am a Methodist, no I am not a member of the NRA, and yes I voted for President Reagan. And yes, I do from time to time like to watch the Duke. You are probably short, have black hair, bottle-thick glasses, read The New Republic, are a member of the ACLU, voted for that loser Carter, and go to Woody Allen movies. Just curious.

P.P.S.: And it’s Lincoln, not Omaha.

Craig D. SchaefferAttorney- at-Law3615 MontereyPalm Desert, CA

Ms. Pamela A. Holmstrum

Claims Superintendent

Western States Insurance Co.

801 Flower Street

Los Angeles, CA

8 August 1983

Dear Pamela,

As the Muller household was built in a failing real-estate development, he had only one neighbor, a Mr. Nathan Silverstein. Mr. Silverstein is eighty-six years old and, when I contacted him in my initial investigation, claims to have seen “nothing-bubkus.” Nevertheless I have tried to recontact Mr. Silverstein but he does not seem to be in town. I shall keep trying.

But I must still recommend that you lower your testosterone level and settle this file.

Sincerely,

Craig

P.S.: Thank you for your characterization of me as your stereotypical “Jew lawyer.” Sorry to shatter your dearly held illusions, but I am six-three, blue-eyed with straight black hair. Yes, I am a Democrat, a proud member of the ACLU, and voted against Ronald Reagan numerous times. I liked Woody Allen before he decided that he was Ingmar Bergman.

By Fax

Dear Craig,

If I get rid of some excess testosterone as you suggest, shall I send it to you? Sounds like you could use some.

Pam

By Fax

Dear Pam,

I am the Palm Desert triathlete champion in the 35-43 age bracket.

Craig

By Fax

Dear Craig,

I could run, swim, and bike you into the ground.

Pam

By Fax

Pam,

Want to meet for lunch Monday and discuss it?

Craig