In the novel, “The Runaway Jury,” John Grisham uses the protagonist, Nicholas Easter, to provide the greatest verdict for whoever is to end up on the losing side of the courtroom. Also, he is being used to persuade his fellow jurors into collaborating with him in doing so, as well as to successfully accomplish his mission of starting a series of tobacco litigation trials across the U.S., with numerous verdicts and compensations in punitive damages. Having already completed 2 years of Law School, Nicholas knows how things operate in and out of the courtroom, as he notices undercover agents spying on not just him, but the jurors around him. He also understands how severe the tobacco litigation trial is and hopes to deliver the greatest verdict that will cause much devastation to the tobacco companies, as he and Marlee work together in an effort to upset the defense.

Marlee, which is this woman’s alias, has known Easter ever since they met in college, where they have continued to date each other to this day. Working hard together, Marlee and Nicholas aren’t working single-handedly, as they are coming together to create their own verdict, with the help of the other jurors to vote in support of their postulated verdict. On the outside, Marlee makes daily calls to the courtroom to inform the judge of what Nicholas will wear for the day, including some hints as to what he’ll demand, too. On top of contacting the judge, Marlee also contacts Rankin Fitch, a jury consultant with a bad rep for manipulating and deceiving others. Everyone is supposed to be a part of this “always honest” and “Bible Belt” state, yet they’re constantly lying to others in hopes of achieving exactly what they want, whether it’s for good or bad. She informs him of where they will meet up to make exchanges and even commands him to do certain things, or else he “will never see [her] again.” This contributes to the mysterious persona that Marlee has and how Rankin Fitch and his associates are striving to uncover the pieces and find out all that they can, in order to antagonize her with something against her. Unfortunately for Fitch, he is unable to do this until it’s too late and Marlee is gone with his money that he was demanded to fax her.

Even though Fitch loses in the end, he is able to at least find numerous files of information over all of these jurors, including Nicholas and Marlee. He also is faxed the money back to him, that is, after Marlee has fled the country and he is practically turning himself in for all of the illegal acts that he has been committing against the state and the courtroom. Altogether, Fitch’s deception has led to his own deception, as he is now going to possibly be facing jail time for all of the tort laws and sworn oaths that he has openly defied. His own ignorance has allowed him to fall under Marlee’s trap who, with the help of Nicholas on the jury, has allowed them to create a 4oo million dollar verdict for the plaintiff’s side that will ruin the defense and their fellow tobacco companies.