The first two years of Fred Wildman's legal career were filled with strange surprises. Surprises included his close involvement in three hanging cases, one as prosecutor, one as defense attorney, one as mediator. His accidental law firm was peopled by an intrusive disbarred mentor, a felonious legal assistant, a mental challenged researcher, a boisterous black partner, and an investigative team he had recently prosecuted. His cases, ranged from serious, to semi-humorous, to zany. Through it all, most people he encountered recognized him as the 'Smiley-Face' lawyer. A dubious distinction, but one he embraced as his legal persona.