Real-Life Decision Making -- Solution
You accept the check and testify that the mother should have sole custody.
You decide to go along with the arrangement, telling yourself that if you don't, someone else will. When the time comes for you to testify in court, you state that the children would be better off in their mother's care.
Secretly, you're hoping that the father's lawyer will tear apart your testimony. For example, he could bring out the fact that you didn't interview the father or the children.
Unfortunately, this does not happen. The father did not have the same type of money as the mother to spend on legal representation. Not only does your testimony go unchallenged, but the father doesn't produce any experts of his own to testify in favor of shared custody.
With most of the evidence supporting the mother, the verdict is a foregone conclusion. The judge awards the mother sole custody. You feel guilty for lying on the stand.
Over the next few weeks, you receive several calls from lawyers seeking your services. You're developing a reputation as a "hired gun" who, for a price, will say whatever the lawyer wants. You turn down all the cases, but the damage to your reputation is already done.