'Toppleton's Client' Summary

Hopkins Toppleton, Jr., an amiable but incompetent young man, is hired by his late father's pre-eminent legal firm simply to maintain the illustrious family name on the company masthead. As a strategy to keep him out of trouble, the firm's partners resolve to send him to the UK to lead a non-existent European branch. Undeterred, Hopkins Jr. attempts to make his mark by initiating ridiculous lawsuits and engaging in other absurd antics. Unexpectedly, he finds success by leveraging his wealth to fund his frivolous endeavors. Along the way, he exposes the firm's unethical practices and challenges the legal establishment. The novel culminates in a trial that pits Hopkins Jr. against the firm's senior partners, where the outcome hinges on the ability of the legal system to handle the absurd.