The room stirred, with few murmurs rising from the back.
Lucy turned toward Ethan with a widened expression of her eyes. Ethan’s expression remained calm, but his gaze sharpened towards them.
Tyrwin continued.
"The agreent is unambiguous. Isaac Hargreeves agreed to transfer the patent to Crypco in exchange for employnt and financial compensation. The transfer was complete upon signing. The docunt bears Mr. Hargreeves’ genuine signature, as Your Honor will see."
He gestured toward the docunt now in the Court Warden’s hands.
"Additionally," Tyrwin said, lifting another docunt, "we have submitted a copy of the sa agreent, along with supporting docuntation, to Mr. Stark and Miss Hargreeves for their review."
The clerk approached Ethan’s table and set down a stack of papers. Ethan reached for them imdiately, scanning through the pages.
Lucy leaned in, reading over his shoulder.
Her breath caught when she saw that the signature at the bottom of the page was her father’s.
The handwriting, the way he looped the "H" in Hargreeves, the slight tilt to the "I" in Isaac. It was his.
Her hands trembled slightly as she pulled back, dropping her gaze to the table and wondering if she had been the one wrong all these while.
Had her late father done this without letting her know?
Ethan’s face remained calm as he flipped through the rest of the docunt, reading quickly.
The terms were exactly as Tyrwin had described. Isaac Hargreeves agreed to transfer all rights, title, and interest in the patent to Crypco, effective imdiately upon signing. In exchange, Crypco agreed to provide employnt and paynt.
Ethan set the docunt down carefully and returned his attention to Tyrwin, who was still speaking.
"This transfer of ownership, Your Honor, supersedes any claim Miss Hargreeves may have through inheritance. You cannot inherit sothing that was no longer part of the deceased’s estate."
"The injunction is baseless. Crypco is the legal owner of this patent. We have every right to produce and sell the cha. And we ask this court to lift the injunction imdiately."
He stepped back from the podium and returned to his seat.
Court Warden Halvern looked down at the docunts in front of him, then looked up at Ethan.
"Mr. Stark, you may respond."
Ethan rose again and approached the podium.
This very act had surprised Tyrwin as he sat and watched Mr Stark. He was pretty sure that Ethan would only co here to repeat the things his counsel had asked him to morize, so how was he trying to respond even further?
"Your Honor," he began. "I find it convenient that this docunt only surfaces now, after Crypco has already unveiled the cha to the public."
He let that hang in the air.
"For two years, Miss Hargreeves has held this patent without challenge. No one from Crypco has co forward to claim ownership. And yet, the mont Stark Industries files an injunction, suddenly this agreent appears."
Ethan’s gaze shifted briefly to Tyrwin, then back to the Court Warden.
"This raises serious questions, Your Honor. Questions about authenticity, questions about timing. And questions about intent."
He picked up the docunt that had been handed to him.
"Let us examine the terms of this agreent. It states that the transfer was complete upon signing, but it also states that Crypco agreed to provide employnt and paynt to Isaac Hargreeves in exchange."
Ethan looked up.
"Isaac Hargreeves never worked for Crypco. He was never employed by them, and as far as we can determine, he was never paid. He died before any of that could happen."
He set the docunt down.
"So I ask this court, Does an agreent remain valid when one party has completely failed to uphold their end of the bargain? If Crypco owes paynt and employnt, and neither was provided, does that not void the agreent?"
He paused, then continued.
"But more importantly, Your Honor, if this transfer was legitimate, why isn’t it recorded with the Patent Office?"
The courtroom went quiet and the Court Warden Halvern’s gaze sharpened as he made a note on the paper in front of him.
Ethan pressed on.
"Patent transfers are required by law to be filed and recorded with the Patent Office. It is not optional nor a formality. It is a legal requirent to establish clear, public ownership. And yet, according to the records available to us, no such transfer exists."
He gestured toward Tyrwin’s table.
"Crypco presents a piece of paper. A docunt that, yes, bears Isaac Hargreeves’ signature. But where is the official record? Where is the proof that this transfer was ever made public and legal?"
"That is all, Your Honor."
He returned to his seat. Lucy glanced at him, with a shaken but hopeful expression. Even Hayley watching from behind was sohow hoping Ethan would just win at the end.
Tyrwin hadn’t expected this question to be asked from a one who wasn’t an advocate but regardless, they were prepared too.
Court Warden Halvern set down his pen and looked toward Crypco’s table.
"Counsel for Crypco, I’d like to address Mr. Stark’s point regarding the Patent Office records. Can you clarify?"
Tyrwin rose up.
"Of course, Your Honor. The assignnt agreent was properly filed and recorded with the Patent Office as required by law. The records reflect the transfer of ownership from Isaac Hargreeves to Crypco."
He said it with complete confidence.
The room reacted. Murmurs rose from the benches. Lucy’s face went pale, and Ethan’s eyes narrowed slightly, but he said nothing.
Court Warden Halvern made another note, then looked between both tables.
"Very well. I will give counsel for Crypco one final opportunity to address the court before I issue my ruling."
Tyrwin inclined his head. "Thank you, Your Honor."
He stepped forward again.
"Your Honor, The transfer of patent ownership was complete the mont Isaac Hargreeves signed the agreent. That is how assignnt agreents work."
"The fact that Crypco owes his estate compensation is a separate matter, one that can be resolved independently of this case."
He gestured toward the docunts.
"Furthermore, as I have stated, the Patent Office records confirm this transfer. The assignnt agreent was filed and recorded as required. There is no ambiguity here. Crypco is the legal owner of this patent."
He returned to his seat, confident in his position.
Court Warden Halvern leaned back in his chair. He was silent for a long mont, his gaze moving between the two tables.
Then he spoke.
"There is no question that a transfer of patent ownership, if properly executed and recorded, supersedes any claim based on inheritance."
Lucy’s face fell. Ethan remained still.
Halvern continued.
"However."
The room held its breath.
"Mr. Stark has raised a compelling argunt regarding the timing and authenticity of this transfer. The fact that this docunt only surfaced after the injunction was filed is notable."
He tapped his fingers on the desk.
"And most importantly, the question of whether the Patent Office records truly reflect this transfer is a matter that must be verified."
He looked directly at Tyrwin.
"I will not take your word for it, Counsel. I will verify it myself."
Tyrwin’s expression didn’t change from the confident look.
Halvern turned toward the clerk. "I am ordering an official review of the Patent Office records regarding Patent Number P-4782//19 "
He glanced down at the docunt. "regarding the patent filed by Isaac Hargreeves. I want confirmation of whether a transfer of ownership was recorded, and if so, when."
He set the docunt down and raised his gavel.
"Given the complexity of the issues involved, and the need for further verification, I am sending this matter to trial. A date will be set within the coming weeks."
"Until then, the injunction stands. Crypco is prohibited from producing or selling the cha in question."
He brought the gavel down with a sharp crack.
"Court is adjourned."
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