Rating: 3 stars

Derek Dover is an associate at the law firm of Nibble & Kuhn. Poised to become partner, Derek is handed an unwinnable case that has been firmly and expensively driven into the ground by one of the inept senior partners now up for a judgeship. The office is being run by pompous, out-of-touch dinosaurs, who are $20 million in debt after financing a new, faux-lush building in the hopes of landing bigger fish.

The Morganic case is the guinea pig Nibble & Kuhn hopes will launch them into the environmental arena making their name synonymous with toxic torts. Although five kids are sick and two have died, there is not one shred of evidence that Morganic's plant -- which makes chromed plastic pieces for toys, cars and household items -- leaked cancer-causing chemicals uphill into a swimming hole. Given that previous counsel has already wasted thousands and thousands of dollars, deposed everybody and anybody and used third rate "experts," it's no surprise there isn't a shred of useful information. Now with a zero dollar budget and only the carnage to work with, Derek is faced with the impossible.

Seeming to have a penchant for unwinnable things, Derek embarks on a relationship with Maria Parma; junior associate from a very affluent, traditional, Spanish family and who is engaged to Alfonso, a boy she has known since childhood. In an effort to spend more time with her, Derek has Maria assigned to the Morganic case which not only angers her, but only serves to put their illicit union under a spotlight and Derek further into the line of fire. When Derek finally has his day in court, his career, love life and whatever shred of dignity he has left hangs in the balance as he tries to turn a train-wreck into a win.

I have not had the opportunity to read Schmahmann's previous book, so I wasn't sure if the dead-pan voice of Nibble is his usual style or just the author's choice for this satirical plot. In addition to the voice, the character interactions really stuck outl; Derek's friend and fellow associate, Stan Lioce, reminded me of a John Lovitz character. Stan was good for comic relief although usually at the expense of Derek's last nerve. In direct contrast were Derek's interactions with Maria; listening to Maria was like watching an old Audrey Hepburn movie. During a disagreement she called him a "ninny" and after a hard day in court consoled him with "you poor duck". Maria's antiquated vocabulary, added to her petulance and immaturity, renders her quite unsympathetic. Meanwhile you're sympathizing with Derek but at the same time, you want to smack him in the head for allowing Maria to manipulate him.

Nibble & Kuhn isn't a fast paced courtroom drama. You won't sit on the edge of your seat or wonder who did it. It's just good, tongue-in-cheek entertainment that will make you wince at times, laugh at others and induce an eye-roll or two, but even those are lighthearted.
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Hardcover: 279 pages
Publisher: Academy Chicago Publishers (November 2009)
ISBN-13: 978-0897335928