Need 11th hour advice re. settlement with NPDh

[stuckinbetween]

The trial is coming up but it'll be soo hard because there is no way I'll be able to participate by video conferencing.  The courthouse in Fla.  doesn't even has Skype capabilities.  I'm tearing out what's left of my hair!  This after a 30 yr. marriage, 2 days of my testimony, and 4 days of trial starting on Feb. 6th.  I'll only be able to listen by speaker phone from the judge's bench, which I doubt I'll even be able to hear!  Even if I weren't disabled, I'd be unable to travel because of weather conditions up here.

Does anyone have ideas on how to prod my NPDh into a reasonable settlement?  For those of you who have knowledge of my case know,  I've got a lot of stuff on this man that's going to make him look very bad.  And an attorney who is very aggressive and would love to have at him.  I've asked my attorney to show him enough of how badly he'll look at trial so he'd consider settling.  She says not to bother because after she read, "Splitting," has decided that with NPD, h will never settle, plus his L. is a Negative Advocate.

Help!  I need the help of other's experience.  I'm pacing holes in the carpet!  Any experience with this?

Stuckinbetween

[Matt]

I think your lawyer is not giving you the help you need.  She is saying that a settlement isn't possible, and for you to come to the trial is difficult - so what's the plan she is offering?  It's her job to help you!

Your idea about getting information out in the open if you go to trial - I think that's a good strategy.  Maybe you and your lawyer can assemble that information - very quickly of course! - and she can sit down with the other attorney and go over it.  You'll need to be careful - no accusations you can't stand behind, but it may be OK to say, "We will show that... .  " if it's something that's true, even if you don't have as much evidence of it as you wish you had.

"If we go to trial, we will show that Mr. Between did X, and Y, and Z.  We will show evidence and we will bring witnesses.  These are all relevant and appropriate to the case.  But we would prefer to settle now because the travel will be difficult for my client."  (Maybe don't tell them just how difficult, or that you might not come down at all.  It's none of their business.)  "So if you make us a settlement offer, we'll respond quickly."

"Splitting" doesn't say that you can't come to a settlement with someone who has NPD, it just says that it's difficult, and usually happens at the last minute.

So... .  what kind of stuff are we talking about?  Is it really relevant to the case?  And do you have evidence?