Without surgery right away, this becomes a life-threatening emergency.”

The courtroom went completely silent.

Richard stared up at the screen.

He read the words to himself, his lips moving silently over Dr.

Vance’s blunt assessment.

“I didn’t know,” Richard said quietly.

“You didn’t know because you canceled the diagnostic scans,” the judge said.

The judge shut the manila folder in front of him and looked straight at the respondent’s table.