with the one his father filed against the government before the legal bills were adding up. wayne jr. couldn't afford to pay lawyers and keep the ranch a float. >> you decided to go to-- law school to do this. >> i knew it would be cheaper than hiring an attorney. i locked myself in the office and devoted myself to litigation. >> 13 twiel weeks 100 plus depositions, 41,000 pages of documents 1,230 trial exhibits. do you feel your life has become a courtroom drama? >> certain times it does feel like it, yes. >> on june 6 2008, the court of federal claims established to hear monetary claims against the u.s. government ruled on the case first brought by wayne hage