Patricia Dawson had lost her notary commission eighteen months before the date on that document.

She had not been a notary, legally, for a year and a half when she supposedly notarized my forged power of attorney.

I did not have to speculate about what that meant, because I had done the simple, patient work of tracking her down.

“Yesterday,” I told the court, “Ms.

Dawson provided a sworn statement confirming that she never notarized this document, that the notary block bearing her name and seal is fraudulent, and that she has no knowledge of it whatsoever.” Michael shot to his feet.

“This is insane!” The deputy near the wall moved a step closer.