All language subtitles for the_practice_s03e15_lawyers_reporters_and_cockroaches

Previously, on The Practice. We'd be
looking for you to handle litigation in

Massachusetts, state and federal. Your
firm, particularly you, come highly

recommended. Well, that's nice to hear.
My recommendation is that we don't take

this client at all.

Excuse me? Eleanor, it's asbestos
defense work. I mean, this company

lot of innocent people. I'm not crazy
about... The only difference between

and half our other clients is that this
one didn't intend to kill anybody, and

they're willing to pay us 20 times the
amount to defend them. I decide,

tiebreakers, we reject the client.

You're getting two votes, okay, but
you're also getting to be tiebreakers.

in the partnership agreement, Rebecca.

Maybe so, but this alliance with Lindsay
is... Lindsay's free to vote her way,

and I'll vote mine. That new client is
exactly our ticket to admission to the

other world that you want.

And by you voting to turn it down tells
me that you are either more concerned

with your own success than that of the
firm, so you are suddenly under the

influence of Bobby's bedcovers. I
understand your disappointment in our

taking your new client, but to accuse
Lindsay... Oh, what? She go running to

boyfriend? I'm entitled to some respect
from you.

Not just because I'm seeing your
partner, but because I think I've earned

I'm sorry.

This should be a two -day trial, tops.

Two days? We're putting up two
witnesses. They're calling one.

We'll be going to a jury by the end of
the week.

Listen, closing argument. I think I
should do it. Why?

Well, you're doing the witnesses, and
I'll have more time to... That's not

you meant.

Sorry? No, you said you should do it,
like you'd be better. Not like you'd

more time to prepare.

No, I didn't mean it like that. Yes, you
did. No, I didn't. Lindsay, I know

you're a little inflexionist. I know
when you said that, you meant you'd be

qualified to do the closing.

Now, you could either tell me why you
think you're more qualified or not.

And if you don't, I have to take that as
a lie.

That was really good.

You're just...

Such a clever lawyer.

So good, it's just hard to imagine that
I can believe that I'm more qualified to

do the closing.

But I am.

You know,

maybe it's not smart to try cases
together.

He's Swedish, blonde, doesn't speak a
word of English, and he's going to deep

tissue my thigh.

Don't rub it in, Helen. You can still
come with. Facial following, the

seaweed wrap.

I'm in trial. You know I'm in trial.
Settle it.

Sorry, there's a little more involved
than somebody's dead pet.

Supposedly this guy gets a standing
massage, too. You move with it.

Funny. I get that rub from Bobby.

Funny.

They tell me it's because of our
popularity, because of the cuisine,

everybody in the city wants to eat
there.

That was the nature of the piece, and
that's why I gave them full access to do

the piece.

And what happened?

Instead of doing a positive feature, as
they promised, they ambushed me with

this big story on bugs.

Bugs? Bugs in the kitchen.

Bugs on the floor.

They condemned my restaurant as
unsanitary. It's the lead story on the

My restaurant.

It's closed.

My reputation is destroyed by those
liars.

Objection. Sustained.

Mr. Jacobs, had they not represented to
you that this would be a positive news

story, would you have granted the
interview and let the cameras in? Of

not. Their ticket to admission was a
lie.

Thank you.

Do you deny that they discovered bugs?

Any restaurant has bugs.

You got food, you get bugs.

It's not like we serve them.

And if I'm a patron sitting in your
restaurant and I ask if you have bugs,

that the answer you'd give? I haven't
been asked that question in 20 years.

And if you were my restaurant, sir, you
wouldn't ask it.

You'd only be thinking about how good
the food is.

You could be more humble for God's
sakes. It would be false.

Humility isn't something I do. Once in
20 years, you could try it. Oh, don't

talk to me like that, Pamela. This is
our life's work. She's right. Don't you

talk to me like that.

Listen to your wife, Mr. Jacobs. We need
those jurors to

feel sorry for you. I don't want pity
for me. I want anger against that news

station. They're not going to punish the
news station if you behave like an ass.

He doesn't mean to...

It's the restaurant.

We leave everything to our family.

I know.

I...

I

got a B &E. It's gonna go fast.

You want it?

You mean, can you dump it on me?
Rebecca, it is a trial. There are six

associates across the street still
waiting for their first jury trial. Do

have any idea? I can hear the sweet song
of the Lou Jacks. It'll be good

experience. I have to finish this
payroll crap, which I was supposed to

by the first of the year, which I would
have finished, but for a few Lou Jacks

dumped on me with the best of
intentions.

Does that Lucy take care of all this
stuff now?

Do we really want Lucy to know how much
we all make? I heard that.

Well, how much money do we all make?

I'm a partner. I get access to the books
now, remember?

I have to run that by Bobby.

Rebecca, I'm a partner. Of course I can
see what people are making in my

partnership.

Okay. That salary plus partnership draw
doesn't include benefits or insurance.

Is that right?

Yeah. Why?

Lindsay makes twice my salary?

Well, Eleanor, she brings in a lot of
business. Her percentage should...

Eleanor, she makes almost as much as
Bobby. You should know that...

Where's Bobby? He's in trial. Lindsay.

What's the matter?

Nothing. I don't believe you.

It'll have to wait till tomorrow. I'm
off to enter a plea, then I'm having a

day. Yeah, I'd love to meet my first day
off in a year.

All right, bye.

Hello.

Uh, Ms. Gamble?

I'm Sylvie Tyler.

It was my cat who was killed.

Oh, I'm terribly sorry. Please.

I was curious.

You don't plan to call me as a witness?

Well, there's not going to be a trial.
The defendant's pleading guilty.

I see.

So he'll go to jail?

No, he'll probably be put on probation.

What does that mean?

That, uh... He'll be on probation,
probably for a year.

So nothing will happen to him?

I don't mean to sound like a doddering
old loon, Miss Gamble.

But I was widowed 13 years ago.

For the past 11 years, Candy... That was
her name,

Candy.

She's been my dearest friend.

The boy knew that.

He was a neighbor.

He knew what...

It's

not so bad to murder somebody's cat.

Have a massage.

Instead of balsamic vinegar and paprika,
we found these little guys. Or I should

say these big guys. And they were
everywhere.

Wondering what gives the clam chowder
that little extra tang?

Well, it just might be his sister.

After this aired, business went down?

It died.

Our gross went from $70 ,000 a week to
$23 ,000. After two months, we had to

close our doors.

Had you made any other changes? The
menu, the chef, anything else that could

possibly account for your sudden plunge
in popularity?

There were no changes in personnel or
substance.

It was that broadcast.

It destroyed us.

You are the manager.

I am.

As well as the son of the chef.

It's a family business.

Yes. And you don't actually deny the
allegations contained in that broadcast,

you?

Objection.

Argumentative. Sustained.

In the broadcast that we just saw on the
monitor.

Were there any factual inaccuracies to
your knowledge? The statements were

exaggerated. Why didn't you sue for
defamation?

Objection. Your lawyer told you you had
no case for libel or defamation.

Objection. Sustained.

You are not here today disputing the
truth of my client's broadcast, are you,

sir?

No.

Thank you.

That's all.

Counsel.

The plaintiffs rest, Your Honor.

Now the witness may step down.

Your Honor, at this time we move for a
directed verdict in favor of the

defendant. I'll hear arguments after
lunch.

Adjourned.

What's going on? What is this directed
verdict? They're basically arguing that

we haven't made a case and they
shouldn't even be forced to put on a

We haven't made a case? That's a First
Amendment problem. Which Lindsay will

address? I don't expect this to set us
back, but we only have an hour, so we

need to prepare and we'll meet you right
back here. Come on.

I want time.

Excuse me? I'll give you a year. Six
months suspended, six served. Ha, ha,

Best offer, Billy. Best offer?

Last night we had a deal. You were going
to spend the day in seaweed.

I changed my mind. Helen, it was a cat.

I met the owner. When I said probation,
I had trouble looking her in the eye.

I'm giving you a guilty. At trial, you
could lose, and then you'll really...

Billy, six months served or no deal. He
starts college in the fall. I'm not

about to agree to six months. Then we go
to trial.

It was a cat.

$242 ,000? Am I overreacting?

I mean, I know she brings in business,
but to be making twice what we do? Well,

the partnership agreement is pretty
clear. The formula is... Yes, the

favors who brings in the business. But
when we vote...

on new business, and Lindsay getting one
vote, and Bobby getting two, plus the

tiebreaker, with only three other voting
partners, the two of them control...

Eleanor. They sleep together, Eugene.

Who are we kidding? She makes twice what
we make. You forget that we became

partners because of her power play. It
went to our benefit that... You're

forgetting that it was a power play.
Look at these numbers.

Numbers are numbers. They are not
subject to interpretation.

I am not... having this conversation.

Why? I did not show you those salaries
to start up some revolt.

It's not a revolt. We have an issue
here. Are we all going to just ignore

Look, Eleanor, I don't like making half
of what she earns either, but the idea

that there's some evil conspiracy going
on... I'm not saying that. Yes, you are.

That's why we're having a secret
meeting.

It's not secret, Rebecca. Okay, all
right, then where's Bobby? Where's

In trial. Well, then why can't we wait
till then?

I mean, if you have a problem with
somebody, go face to face.

I don't like the smell of this meeting,
and I'm no longer in it.

She's going to back Bobby no matter
what.

I'm backing him too, at least until I
speak to him.

As for Lindsay, you're making her into
something that she isn't.

She's good.

Am I making her into that?

Nothing in the broadcast was untrue.
This isn't a libel case. It's fraud.

The truth of the broadcast isn't the
issue. It's the truth of the promise

got them access to the rest... You
cannot decide whether that promise was

without first evaluating the content of
the broadcast.

This is a complete end around the First
Amendment.

This has nothing to do with the First
Amendment. Have you read the Bill of

Rights lately?

Yes, and I've also read the Food Line
case.

And ABC made the same freedom of the
press flag -waving defense.

It didn't work there, and it's not going
to work here because the issue here is

fraud. Did the defendant commit fraud
against the plaintiff? Did the plaintiff

sustain... as a result of the fraud. The
answer to both questions is yes. Come

on, counsel.

Whichever way you phrase it, you are
suing a news station over the content of

broadcast. The conduct for the basis of
the suit is a misrepresentation. Yes,

yes, you continue to frame the issue
very nicely, but the net result is the

same. A news station is being sued.

For undercover reporting.

They can do undercover work, but they
just can't commit fraud against somebody

when they're... I suppose they snuck in,
uninvited, and filmed the cockroaches.

Then you sue for trespass and claim harm
from trespass. Nothing to do with the

First Amendment, right? These are good
questions from an appellate court judge.

But you're a trial court judge. The only
question you should be asking is, have

we set forth facts to support our claim?

And under existing law, under Food Lion,
we have. First of all, this is not Food

Lion. Here we have an assault on the
freedom of the press.

Not to mention the integrity of
journalism. Gee, I'd hate to attack the

integrity of journalism. Your client
should have saluted those cockroaches

of professional courtesy.

Oh, you're very clever. All right, all
right.

Look, I'm not going to pretend I like
this case.

But for now, I'll let it continue.

Let's bring in the jury.

Mr. Weiland, you may begin your defense.

Ready for trial?

Yes, Your Honor.

This is the dead animal case?

Yes. I thought there was going to be a
plea. We couldn't come to an agreement

sentencing, Your Honor. She wants time.

What do you mean, she wants time?

She wants time.

Time served?

Yes, for extreme abuse towards a
domestic animal.

Yes, Your Honor, I believe time is
warranted.

Serious? Serious.

All right.

Let's impanel them. Your Honor, the
defense is still willing to plead

we can go right to sentencing now.

Excellent.

Wait a second.

I'd like a trial.

What? I'd like to go forward with a
trial.

Forgive me, counsel. I skipped my ganko
this morning. I got a defendant wanting

to plead guilty and a prosecutor
demanding a trial. What the hell is

He wants to proceed to sentencing
because he detects a predisposition on

part not to give time.

I sense the same predisposition. I'm
confident after you hear eyewitness

testimony of what actually happened,
that predisposition will change.

You want to inflame me.

I want you to get a true picture.

I get the picture.

The defendant killed a cat.

If he's pleading guilty, we're not going
through the charade of a trial for

color commentary.

A guilty finding is entered.

I'd like to be heard on sentencing
before you rule, Your Honor.

One hour. We're back in.

My intent was to do a positive piece,
that it's not something that I was just

saying. But at some point, you obviously
changed the focus.

That point came when we discovered how
unsanitary the kitchen was.

This was a revered North End family
restaurant. The chef was practically an

icon, and that's the story we wanted to
tell. But when I saw how filthy it was

back there, it became a bigger story.

And a more important one for people to
hear, given the health issues.

But to be clear...

After you were given permission to come
in and film, your intent was to do the

positive story?

Yes.

You never would have lied to get access?

No. When you decided to switch the focus
to attack the restaurant on sanitary

grounds, did you tell anybody at the
restaurant?

No. You just continued to film? Yes.

Were you being honorable?

When you changed the focus and didn't
tell my client you were now out to trash

his restaurant?

I'm a news reporter, Mr. Donald. You're
a news reporter.

Does that mean you were being honorable,
or is that the justification for being

dishonorable? Objection.

Overruled. At the time you changed your
focus, why didn't you tell my client?

He would have thrown us out. You didn't
want him to know the truth.

At that point...

No. Do you know whether my client's
restaurant received any code violations?

To my knowledge, they have not. Did you
mention that in your broadcast?

Just because a restaurant hasn't been
cited doesn't mean that... Question

you is, did you report in your broadcast
that my client's restaurant has never

been cited for any sanitary code
violation?

We did not report that.

What did you think would happen to my
client's restaurant after you aired this

piece? I knew it would be detrimental.

You knew it would be detrimental? Did
you consider?

That it might destroy his business?

Of course.

I had to consider that.

So you knew you were being deceptive,
and you knew they'd get hurt by relying

your deception. That's pretty much it,
right, Mr. Sawyer?

Exposé reporting is a tough business,
Mr. Donald.

Yeah.

Tougher on some than others, I guess.

Basically, I'll just ask you to talk
about the loss you feel.

You can do it in a narrative, but I
think I can make it more effective with

Q &A.

Okay.

And then with the witness, Mr.

Patterson, I'll ask him to describe how
he saw the cat killed.

Okay. You might want to leave the room
for that part.

This judge, he doesn't seem to care
much.

These judges deal with rapists and
murderers on a daily basis.

She was ruining the fabric.

Some of my friends said, get her
declawed.

I couldn't do it. I thought, what if she
gets chased by a dog and wants to

defend herself?

I never thought to protect her against
teenagers.

How you doing, Jimmy?

Not bad.

How's things with you?

Good.

Good.

Listen, I think the time is right to
bring you up for partner.

Bobby said to wait a year. It's been a
year. And with your big win over Tommy

Silva, you know, timing's everything,
they say.

So I just wanted you to know I fully
support it.

Thank you, Eleanor.

Sure. I think you did some damage.

I hope.

So all closed, right?

Why? Because I've been preparing it. I
thought we discussed that.

I mean, you keep dodging my question.
Why do you think that you're better at

closing than I am?

I'd really like to know.

Okay.

Okay, your strength when it comes to
closings is passion. My strength is more

like clinical persuasion.

And? And standing up and banging the
righteous sympathy drum isn't going to

the jury. I mean, they saw all those
bugs. No, I don't bang the sympathy

mean, that's not my style. I meant that
as a compliment. It's very persuasive.

That's a compliment? Banging the
sympathy drum? Why are you so sensitive?

Well, because, you know, you make me
sound like I'm Johnny Cochran or

Johnny Cochran's a good lawyer. If you
like pulpit -thumping closings, I don't

do that. All I'm saying or trying to say
is neutral legal reasoning works best

here. You mean dry?

Excuse me?

Nothing. You think I'm dry?

No, I don't. My closings are not dry.

Lindsay, you're a great lawyer, but
Clarence Darrow, you're not. Oh, and you

are? The jury is bored by the time
summations roll around. If you don't

things up... Bored? It's a one -day
trial.

I'm talking in general.

I'm talking here. If you go in there and
rant out of anger or outrage, we'll

lose. A velvet glove is better here,
damn it, and I am not dry.

Is this the velvet glove I'm hearing?
Oh, shut up. Fine, you do the closing.

Fine.

What are you doing?

Well, I was about to knock.

I never know what I'm going to
interrupt.

What's up, Eleanor?

Um, there's some partnership issues.

I'd like to talk, maybe after this trial
is over, or whenever you come up for

air. What's that supposed to mean?

Nothing.

I think she needs a big vacation, Bobby.
With three votes, we can give her one.

This is a sentencing hearing.

And you can call witnesses at a
sentencing hearing. This is a cheap

exploit your sympathy, Your Honor. I
object to the insulting accusation that

would be manipulated by a witness.

A judge should get a little more credit
than that.

Thank you for your support, counsel.

I'm touched.

I won't take up much of the court's
time.

I'll hear from one person only. The
owner of the pet or the eyewitness. Your

pick. If I promise to be brief with...
One witness only.

I was in the middle lane. I was probably
traveling around 60 when this green

station wagon passed me. Did you see who
was inside?

Not then. When the car pulled into my
lane in front of me, it looked like

kids, high school age about. I never
really saw their faces.

Could you tell us what happened next?

The driver reached out his side window,
holding something.

I thought it was a stuffed animal. It
was orange colored.

Then... I saw its legs moving. I could
tell it was alive. I thought, what's

going on?

Then after five or ten seconds, he let
it go.

And it hit my windshield and it stuck
there for a few seconds.

Could you tell what it was then?

Yes.

It was a cat.

What happened then, sir?

Well, I swerved. My windshield was
broken.

I managed to get into the breakdown lane
and stop.

I got out of my car, and it was still
kind of plastered to my windshield.

What was?

The cat.

What happened next, sir?

Called the police, gave them a
description of the car, plus the first

numbers of the license, and then I
removed the remains from my car.

Hey, Jimmy.

Eleanor. Do you have any thought to what
I said before?

Actually, I've done nothing but think
about it.

Mainly my thought is, to what do I owe
this lightning bolt of goodwill?

Sorry? A sixth partner would tip that
little power scale, wouldn't it? The

Lindsay block would no longer control,
and you being my champion, I'd have

pulls of loyalty, wouldn't I? It isn't
about that.

Really?

Timing really is everything, I guess.
You know what, Jimmy? Forget it. And

forgive me for looking out for you.

I don't want to be partner here,
Eleanor.

Too much politics for me.

When I got my first apartment, I had
cockroaches all over.

Gross. I hate cockroaches.

Don't we all?

I mean, who here would go into a
restaurant if they were told the kitchen

infested with those gross bugs?

It was a no -brainer. That broadcast
would put my client's restaurant under.

They knew it. They aired it anyway.

Freedom of the press.

They had a duty, they might argue, warn
the public.

But this case, it's not about free
speech. It's about fraud.

They made a promise. They breached that
promise. As a result of that breach, a

family business has been destroyed.

You want to wrap an American flag around
their conduct, stand up and salute the

Constitution, you can do that.

But freedom of speech is never a defense
to fraud.

Never.

And let's ask ourselves that dirty
little question we've all secretly been

asking.

Do we really, really believe they went
in there to do a puff piece?

We don't have any evidence to the
contrary. The truth lies in their minds

But when you look at the landscape of
news today, you see a lot of fluff

features on restaurants?

Say it's about scandals and hidden
cameras and catching people.

Every kitchen has bugs.

It's not a big deal, really.

But add some good copy, some dramatic
reporting, vivid footage, throw in a

health scare, tease it during prime
time. Could you be eating a cockroach

tonight?

That's a great hook.

Easy to manufacture a story like that if
you've got the footage. And if you

don't, well, lie to get it. Lie proudly.
Declare journalistic integrity.

Look what's happening today.

Forget the tabloids. We have reporters
at major newspapers, including the

Globe, right here.

Getting caught making up stories.
Writing stories about people who don't

exist.

Plagiarizing. CNN, Time Magazine
reporting about tailwind and germ

Don't let the facts spoil a good story.
You can just print the retraction on

weekends or put it in a footnote.
Anything to get the story and to get it

Who cares who gets hurt?

These people got hurt.

They were defrauded.

It cost them everything they had worked
their whole lives for.

Hail, hail freedom of the press.

I think it's time to send a little
message to all the cockroaches.

It's just open season on the press these
days, isn't it?

And why shouldn't it be? I mean, look at
what the press has done lately.

We all know that it was the media that
planted that intern in the Oval Office.

We know that it was the press that
caused all those Republican

to have that sudden explosion of
conscience.

And it was the journalist who convinced
Kenneth Starr that his true calling was

pornography. I'm sorry, but we've
wandered a little off the path, haven't

You went into tailwind. All right.

Mr. Weiland.

Journalism is like every profession.

Some of it's good, some of it stinks.

But for it to be good, it has to be
unflinching.

Yes. There was a representation made
here that the article would be

But that was based on the assumption
that the kitchen was not bug -infested.

Should we have written a puff piece
anyway?

The place is crawling in germs, but we
promise to be nice, so.

Is that the kind of press we all want?

What if we'd found body parts?

Promise to be kind, don't air it.

Who are we kidding?

They made a discovery, and it was news.

They would have you believe that some
deal was made here, a deal which should

prioritized over the truth.

Who are we kidding?

When news is uncovered, reporters report
it. That is the essence of a free

press. What if you bit into a cockroach
one night and then found out that we

sat?

On that story.

Yes.

Send us a message.

I was showing off for some friends like
I was cool.

And I did a terrible thing. And I know
that it was cruel. I know that it was

stupid. I just... I'm so sorry.

I'm sorry.

What were you thinking?

Just that my friends were all laughing
and daring me, and I

guess I just felt that I... Like they
were all looking at me like, like, wow,

you're crazy, you're... You know that
woman over there, Miss Tyler?

Yes. She your neighbor?

Yes. You knew that was her cat, her pet?

Yes.

Counsel, statements?

I'd like to address the court briefly,
yes.

Tomorrow morning, 10 o 'clock.

Hey, how'd it go?

Okay, I think. Wow, look at you.

I have a date with the Celtic.

A Boston Celtic? Mm -hmm. Now they're
getting paid again and looking to date.

Closing was good.

Thank you.

So, we're still fighting?

Bobby, I wasn't putting you down. I was
talking about styles.

I know. And you called me dry. You said
I give dry closing.

I didn't say that. You did. Don't deny
it. Lindsay, as arguments go, this is a

silly one.

Maybe my feelings got hurt a little.
Then I hurt yours. Whatever.

But this really isn't worth a grudge.

Okay.

Let's go home, get some sleep.

That summation made me drowsy.

Funny.

Hey!

How's things?

Jury's deliberating. Can't really tell.

When are you going to deal with Eleanor?

I'll get to her.

Bobby, she is still reeling from losing
the asbestos client. She learned how

much Lindsay makes. Okay, that was my
fault.

She's now urging Jimmy to make a play
for partners so you two won't be able to

control the votes. We have a little
cancer growing here.

I think you need to get to her now.

Let's schedule a meeting. I want
everybody.

Okay.

Okay, I guess we should just open it up.

I'm not a partner. I don't think I
should be here. This is more like a team

meeting, Jimmy. I want you here.

Eleanor, let's begin with you.

Bobby, sorry, um, Stephen Weil is here.

Um, excuse me a sec, Lindsay.

How was your date with the Celtic?

Slam dunk.

I'm seeing him again.

You're dating a basketball player?

They're the most law -abiding of all
professional athletes, Eleanor.

Yeah, but doesn't your head come up to
his, you know, knee?

Nice. If somebody makes the slightest
remark about your weight, you're quick

jump. But it's okay to make fun of the
short stature.

I was making fun of the tall stature.

Absolutely sealed.

No admission of liability, not even a
hint of it.

I think my client's going to want a
public apology, otherwise... Your client

going to turn down $400 ,000.

They put him out of business.

Which means he must need money.

$400 ,000.

Something tells me he's going to take
it.

We'll bring it to him.

Yesterday, I just wanted to plead this
out and get to a spa and have some

Swedish sex god rub the cellulite out of
my glutes.

But then I met Mrs. Tyler over here, and
suddenly I became horrified at

my not being horrified over this.

That young man grabbed her pet and
hurled it out of a car going 60 miles an

hour on a highway.

Imagine, and imagine you, me, and Mr.
Marino not even batting an eye.

It was somebody's pet.

And if he gets to just...

throw on a tie, stand contrite, say he's
sorry, and that's the end of it, well,

who are we?

What he did was depraved.

It was sick.

And if we don't punish him, well, maybe
we get the society we deserve. I'm not

saying lock him up forever, Your Honor,
but for everybody's sake, even his,

lock him up some.

I'm not going to stand here and defend
what Brent Jones did.

It was thick.

And we should be horrified.

But, as Ms. Gamble admitted, she changed
her mind and decided against probation

only because she met the owner of the
pet.

And suddenly this case has a human face
on it.

But let's be honest.

This is not a case about a crime against
a person.

It was an animal.

I don't mean to sound cold, and again,
let me reiterate my own personal

condemnation for this young man's act of
cruelty.

But this is about killing an animal. And
the killing of animals, we slaughter.

Cows, pigs, in cruel ways.

Nobody gets arrested.

A cat is an animal.

Yes, a companion animal, one that's more
loved by humans.

If this was a bobcat, caught and
tortured in a spring trap, we wouldn't

But a domestic cat?

We have to recognize the hypocrisy,
don't we? We're here not because of some

unusual act of cruelty, but because it
happened to a person's pet.

However much we might want to look at
this as a crime against humanity, it

isn't.

This is a good young man.

No record.

Honor student from a good home. And he
did something very stupid for which he

hugely sorry.

But we have to keep things in
perspective.

$242 ,000.

That's my problem. You know the pay
structure.

Percentage of the business brought in. I
know that we take her clients, not

mine. I know that. You voted on that
asbestos client. Right. Three hands for,

two against, and since yours count
double... Is that what you want to do,

To put a hand in your pocket?

$242 ,000.

Since when did you take such a strong
interest in math, Eleanor? Certain

equations fascinate me. Try adding two
plus two. You couldn't do that with your

asbestos clients.

What is that supposed to mean?

They're good people. They didn't know
their stuff was killing people.

That's crap.

They knew at the turn of the century
that asbestos kills.

But if they paid illegal bills, we'll
just ignore it. All right, you can't

let us follow anything.

Bobby. What?

Hey.

You know, it's a small head, and you can
all bite it off, but there's just not

enough to go around.

The Jacobs family's here.

Let's pick this up in ten. I'm not
picking this up. I'm sick of this.

What's your problem? The problem is this
partnership.

We used to be lawyers just taking the
cases we felt like taking. Ever since we

became partners, splitting up pieces of
the pie, it's all about that. All about

money. Nobody's forcing you, Gene. You
can divest.

But the rot is already in the wood. So
you might as well take your cut. You

pissy little bitch. Oh, come on. I've
been trying to defend you, but it's

getting harder and harder.

Defend me against what, her? Help
somebody who needs it. Is this what

women when you insert your penis? I'm
just curious because it becomes... Hey!

It's fine.

They're just strategizing.

table. We can discuss it on the way.
Let's go.

None of my business, but you've got a
big morale problem here.

Mr. Marino's point is well taken.

We drop live lobsters in hot boiling
water, chop off chickens' heads, and

happily enjoy the meal.

To actually put a person in jail for
killing an animal is...

But I agree with Ms. Gamble.

This was an act against decency.

And to trivialize it would be a crime
against humanity.

There has to be a consequence.

For the sake of society, for the sake of
Ms. Tyler, for the sake

of an innocent cat.

I sentence you to one year in county,
nine months suspended, the remaining

to be served.

Starting now.

Bailiff, take the defendant into
custody.

Adjourned.

It's still not too late.

I said no.

Joseph, it's $400 ,000. Take it. I want
them to say that they are wrong.

They won't do that. Then we don't
settle.

Members of the jury, you've reached a
verdict.

We have, Your Honor. Your Honor, one
second to confer with counsel. One

Hurry up.

1 .5. Still no admission.

No. I want the admission.

Unsealed.

Okay.

If it's unsealed, the public sees the
amount. That's the same as an admission.

1 .5, Joe.

Take it. They're afraid it'll be more.
Maybe. But they're kind of money.

No.

Counsel.

Go ahead.

Thank you.

What say you?

Jacobs versus WIPR Broadcasting Company.

On the grounds of fraud, we find in
favor of the plaintiff and order the

defendant to pay damages in the amount
of $200 ,000.

We further order the defendant to pay
punitive damages in the amount of $18

million.

You gotta be kidding me.

You jackasses.

Your Honor, I'm not sure that's
appropriate.

Eighteen million dollars. What the hell
is that?

You're fine for the plaintiff? Okay.

Personally, I disagree.

But I was prepared to let it stand.

But eighteen million?

That sounds to me like there's bias
going on.

You seem like very nice people, but...
I'll let the verdict stand.

Tempted as I am to vacate it.

But I'm cutting the damages to two
million. You, sir, should accept it and

smile. Yes. Now, I'm going to go for a
walk.

If I need luck, I'll be nicked by a bus,
sprained a knee, file a claim, get

rich, and retire to the Bahamas.

Adjourned.

Two is nice.

Eighteen is better, but two is nice.

It sure is.

We can open up a new restaurant now.

Oh. Mahogany tables, curtains.

Bun spray. I don't know how to say thank
you.

Congratulations, Lindsay.

Thank you.

A toast.

Wait, wait, wait, wait.

Can we take a picture?

I'd like to take a picture of us with
our lawyers. Come on. Ms. Washington,

please. Sure.

You got it, Ms. Washington. Two million.

Unbelievable. Tell me about it. That's
almost 700 ,000 to the firm on

contingency. You realize that? Wow.

And Lindsay's client, too.

She can make over a million this year.

Yep.

Smile. All right.

Great, great.

Good.

Oh, boy.

Oh.