The Purity of Judgment
A Short Story
By Maryanne Peters

They were about as unalike as two men can be. Milo Laconda was tall and dark, powerfully built and with a swagger and deep throated laugh. He was recently divorced and that had knocked him back financially, but he was up and running again with the business and product that had he had developed – Laconda Plumbing Supplies – suppliers of the “Laconda Flush”.

Neil Quinn on the other hand, was small and fair, and quite new to plumbing. He had no supply organization, but some would say that NQ22 was a superior product. Neil had his alternative flush mechanism manufactured and he was distributing through all plumbing supply companies except Laconda.

“Take your piece of garbage out of here!” Neil remembers being shouted at the first time he met Milo. “And just so you know, it looks like you have stolen some of my technology, so expect to hear from my lawyers.

Sure enough, Neil heard from those lawyers, and he was compelled to hire his own to head them off - Ken Halstead of Kitto, Schlaum and Halstead.

“These cases are notoriously difficult,” said Ken. “Lawyers love clients fighting on principle where the facts turn on detail and the question of who copied who is wide open. Pay me a decent retainer and we will work our way through it and then come back to you.”

Neil reflected that Milo must have the same words ringing in his ears. Neither wanted to see their personal wealth eroded by this lowest of urban life forms. He was casting around for alternatives when he happened on an ad in a commercial magazine.

The future of Alternative Dispute Resolution!
Will you get Justice in the Courts?
In particular in technical areas, how can you believe an ex-lawyer judging it will get it right?
And even then, the men in front of him will argue from opposing points of ignorance?
How much time will it take? How much money will you spend? How much will your opponent spend?
It’s a Game. It’s legal hockey … and you are the puck!
But there is an alternative! PURE JUDGMENT.
PURE JUDGMENT is an artificial intelligence uninfluenced by argument.
PURE JUDGMENT will gather data about those in dispute and the facts.
PURE JUDGMENT is independent, Impartial, thorough, timely and inexpensive.

Surely Milo Laconda could see the sense in trying something else? It was certainly worth making the call to his business rival.

“I never thought that you would have the balls to call me,” said Milo. “But yes, I have it up on my screen now – the PURE JUDGMENT thing. I guess we can agree on one thing – we both hate lawyers.”

“At this price and promised speed to conclusion, we should at least try it,” said Neil. “We could always go back to those hungry hounds if it does not work.”

“Except the terms of this “ADR” thing is that we need to contractually bind ourselves to the final determination made by this AI,” Milo pointed out. “Are you ready for that?”

“If you are, I am,” said Neil. “I just don’t want lawyers getting a single nickel from me.”

The system called for them both to download all written material and to submit to a series of questions asked by the machine. Both Milo and Neil already had the material on their technologies including patent applications and history of the inventive process. They also filed material about their respective businesses. The questions were presented in a private one on one session (man and machine) for each of them, answered by typed replies but also a series of verbal responses.

As promised, the final result was available the next day, and for the first time Milo and Neil were required to attend the offices of PURE JUDGMENT to hear the outcome and confirm compliance. They met in the waiting room only because they were both early. A time for the determination had been allocated and neither wanted to miss it.

“What were all those questions about?” asked Milo. “They were nothing at all about the technology or the business. They were personal questions.”

“I guess they are about assessing credibility,” said Neil. “People can still lie. I was as honest as possible in my replies although some of the questions seemed overly intrusive to me. What about you? Were you honest?”

“More or less,” said Milo. “Some of the questions were just weird. How do you answer a weird question? Just the first thing that comes into your head – right?”

“I guess so.”

A faceless voice announced – “Disputants may now enter the judgment room and take their seats.”

The room was a screen facing several seats. The screen displayed a plan of the seats with the two in front carrying the names of Milo and Neil, directing where they should sit. They took their seats. The door to the room closed behind them.

The screen began to display certain material from what they had supplied, and a series of numbers – perhaps a business analysis with projections into the future.

The computer generated voice spoke – “PURE JUDGMENT has gathered all relevant data in connection with this dispute and has drawn conclusions from this information and also from the character profiles of the disputants. The conclusion reached is logical and is independent and impartial, and considered in the best interests of both parties – in fact to their considerable benefit. Are the parties agreed that they are bound to accept the directives of PURE JUDGMENT?”

Milo looked at Neil and Neil looked back. They seemed to shrug in unison. “Sure”.

“The technologies are not the same thing and neither party has copied the other. In fact, the technologies are complementary. Both are part of a perfect system and simply require the other to achieve that.”

“Interesting,” said Milo.

“In addition, the businesses of the parties are also complementary. One in more focused on the quality of manufacture and the other on selling. This is reflective of the personalities involved. Milo is inclined towards selling and organizing sales, and Neil is more inclined to focus on details and quality control.”

“Is a merger being suggested here?” said Neil.

“In addition, that attention to detail would assist the business financially. Milo has a tendency to misapply funds and effort. Milo needs an influence in his business and his life that can restrain his worst impulses.”

“I need an influence in my life now?” Milo sniggered.

“Milo needs a woman in his life who can provide him with the balance he needs and who complements his skills and abilities. Neil can be that woman and is ready to be her.”

Neil looked at Milo staring at him. “I just spoke the truth,” said Neil. “I have a fantasy. The question was asked, and I answered. It was not about you … as such.”

The computer voice continued despite the interruptions – “And Milo would clearly be attracted to Neil as the woman he wants to be.”

“I never said that!” fumed Milo. “I just said that … “. He stopped.

The screen displayed the numbers, and the voice said – “These are the projected figures for a merged business and include contributions that would be available if you were to share a household. This assumes that Neil transitions to female over the next quarter and there is provision for the company to advance the costs of corrective surgery in the following quarter.”

“It is just a fantasy,” whispered Neil, sinking into his seat.

“You have contracted to accept the judgment now given. There are penalties for failing to do so. But to accept the remedy determined by pure logic and based on the facts will result in great wealth to the parties as the move forward together.”

Milo was looking at the screen. The numbers were impressive. “On a commercial level, a merger of our businesses looks like it makes solid sense,” he said.

“I do need distribution,” said Neil. “And I can see now how our technologies when put together will be something very special – possibly a world beater.”

“So, what is this about you wanting to be a woman?” said Milo.

“Not just a woman – a wife,” said Neil. “I just said to somebody like you. I knew it was about credibility. I needed to be honest to make it work – right?”

“Someone like me, huh?” mused Milo.

“You are a bit aggressive and stubborn, but that is what a man should be … in my opinion.”

“Not like you?” Milo smiled.

“What did you say that could make this machine think that you might be attracted to me?” asked Neil.

“Never mind that,” said Milo. “It was something about seeing you in a dress. It was just a smart-ass remark really. But it does leave me curious. It did then. I am still wondering. Could I? See you in a dress I mean, with hair done and makeup and stuff. Would you be prepared to dress up for me? To be honest, I might be prepared to go along with this whole judgment thing, but I would need to know just what kind of woman you might turn out to be if I am going to propose a marriage on top of a merger.”

The End

© Maryanne Peters 2022

Erin’s s seed: “Two businessmen are in a dispute; they go to an automated mediator who tells them that to solve the conflict. The resulting direction seems outrageous, but it is binding arbitration…”.
The funny thing is that robot arbitration is a thing, although this level of detailed analysis of the parties interests, not yet!