Original subtitles

PREVIOUSLY ON "THE GUARDIAN"...

OUR PHILOSOPHY HERE AT CHILDREN'S

LEGAL SERVICES IS QUITE SIMPLE.

WE--WE REPRESENT THE CHILD'S WISHES.

WHAT DID YOU DO, SOMETHING BAD?

I GOT ARRESTED FOR DRUGS.

THERE WILL BE NO MORE CONFLICTS, MR. FALLIN.

DO YOU UNDERSTAND ME?

I CAN REMOVE YOU FROM YOUR POSITION

AT THIS CLINIC AT ANY TIME.

LOOK, JUST BECAUSE YOU'RE MY SON

DOESN'T MEAN YOU'RE GONNA GET

SPECIAL TREATMENT AROUND HERE.

DO YOU UNDERSTAND THAT?

THESE CASES, I CAN'T JUST PHONE THEM IN.

I UNDERSTAND THAT, BUT YOU'VE GOT TO FIND A WAY

NOT TO LET THEM PULL YOU UNDER.

MAN, IT'S HOT.

MY--MY APARTMENT?

I--I FORGOT TO TURN ON THE AIR CONDITIONING.

I MEAN, NOT IN LATE OCTOBER, RIGHT?

AND NOW, IT'S--IT'S-- IT'S LIKE A SAUNA.

YEAH.

HOW ABOUT YOUR PLACE?

WHAT ABOUT IT?

IS IT, UH...

IS IT HOT?

NO, NOT REALLY.

SOUNDS--SOUNDS NICE OVER THERE.

HI.

I WAS SITTING OVER THERE BY THE, UH, THE PLANT.

THE DEAD ONE, AND...

I SAW YOU SITTING OVER HERE.

DO I KNOW YOU?

NOT YET.

I'M DINA.

I'M NICK.

WHAT ARE YOU DOING?

I'M WORKING.

WHAT ARE YOU WORKING ON?

I'M WORKING ON A CASE.

YOU'RE A LAWYER.

YEAH.

DO YOU--DO YOU HAVE ANY, UM,

PETS TO KEEP YOU COMPANY?

YOU SEEM LIKE A-- LIKE A DOG PERSON.

BUT, I MEAN, I COULD BE WRONG ABOUT THAT.

I'VE NEVER HAD A DOG OR A CAT.

REALLY? WELL, ISN'T THAT INTERESTING,

HOW 2 PEOPLE CAN WORK TOGETHER

AND NOT-- AND NOT TALK ABOUT

THEIR--THEIR PETS OR--OR--

OR THEIR LACK OF PETS.

YOU LOOK LONELY.

DO I?

MM-HMM. WELL, I'M NOT.

DO YOU WANT TO GO SOMEWHERE?

WITH YOU?

THAT'S THE IDEA.

WOW.

WELL...

OK.

OK.

SO, UM,

YOU--YOU WANT TO MAYBE GO SOMEWHERE?

I--I'VE GOT AN EARLY MORNING TOMORROW.

YEAH. ME, TOO.

GOOD MORNING.

A COUPLE OF KIDS WERE ABANDONED

OUT OF STATE A FEW YEARS BACK.

THE FOSTER PARENTS THAT TOOK THEM IN

WERE GONNA ADOPT THEM BOTH,

BUT THE OLDER SISTER WAS PROBLEMATIC.

HOW LONG IS THIS GONNA TAKE?

'CAUSE I GOT TO GET BACK

TO FALLIN AND ASSOCIATES BY 10:00.

THEY'RE JUST GONNA ADOPT THE YOUNGER ONE.

HOW OLD ARE THEY?

ONE'S 16. THE OTHER'S 8.

AND WE REPRESENT BOTH OF THEM?

YES.

WELL, ISN'T THAT A CONFLICT?

NO. YOU JUST NEED TO BE SENSITIVE

TO THE OLDER SISTER'S ADJUSTMENT.

WELL, YOU'RE TELLING ME SHE NEEDS A SOCIAL WORKER,

NOT A LAWYER.

ALL I KNOW IS SHE ASKED FOR YOU.

THIS IS NICK FALLIN.

HE'S GONNA BE YOUR ATTORNEY.

THANK YOU.

YOU'RE WELCOME.

HI.

I AM SENTENCING YOU TO 1,500 HOURS

OF COMMUNITY SERVICE,

USING YOUR SKILLS AS A CORPORATE ATTORNEY

TO WORK AS A CHILD ADVOCATE.

WHEN I TOLD YOU I WAS 25,

YOU SHOULD HAVE ASKED TO SEE MY I.D.

YOU'RE, UH...

IN HIGH SCHOOL.

WHAT WE DID...

IT WAS AGAINST THE LAW.

THIS--THIS ISN'T A COINCIDENCE.

I--I WAS HERE A FEW DAYS AGO

WITH MY SISTER.

I SAW YOU SITTING IN HERE.

YOU FOLLOWED ME?

YEAH. WELL, FIRST,

I ASKED AROUND ABOUT YOU.

I HEARD ABOUT YOUR, UM, PROBATION AND STUFF.

WHY?

THE HALLERS, MY FOSTER PARENTS,

ARE SEPARATING US.

WE'RE ALL THE FAMILY WE'VE GOT,

AND THEY'RE SEPARATING US.

WELL, I'M SURE THEY'LL LET YOU

SPEND SOME TIME WITH YOUR SISTER.

YOU DON'T UNDERSTAND.

THEY HATE ME. THEY WON'T LET ME.

I USED TO LIVE WITH THEM.

THEY--THEY-- THEY KICKED ME OUT.

WHAT DO YOU WANT ME TO DO?

STOP THIS FROM HAPPENING.

BUT I CAN'T. YOU COULD TRY.

I CAN'T.

MAYBE I COULD.

MAYBE I COULD TALK TO THE POLICE ABOUT US...

ABOUT WHAT WE DID LAST NIGHT.

ABOUT WHAT YOU DID TO ME.

OLDER SISTER.

WHAT ABOUT HER?

WHAT'S HER STORY?

LIKE I SAID, THE GIRLS WERE ABANDONED.

WHEN?

THE FILE DOESN'T SAY.

THEY LIVED ON THE STREET FOR 2 YEARS

BEFORE ENDING UP IN A HOMELESS SHELTER.

WELL, WHY SPLIT 'EM UP?

DINA JAMESON IS HARD TO HANDLE.

THE FOSTER PARENTS SENT HER BACK

TO CATHOLIC CHARITIES

4 TIMES OVER THE LAST 12 MONTHS.

THIS ONLY GOES BACK A FEW YEARS.

WELL, THAT'S WHEN WE GOT THEIR CASE.

SO THERE'S NO RECORD OF HER BIOLOGICAL PARENTS?

HEY, THE AGENCY PERFORMED A DILIGENT SEARCH,

PUBLISHED NOTICE IN THE NEWSPAPERS

FOR THEIR PARENTS' LAST KNOWN ADDRESSES.

PEOPLE DON'T DISAPPEAR.

WELL, THESE PEOPLE DID.

ALL THEY FOUND WAS A RECORD OF SALE OF A MOBILE HOME

5 YEARS BACK IN THE STATE OF MINNESOTA.

NAMES?

JOHN AND MARY JAMESON.

HEY, NICK. NICE.

I PICKED THESE UP ON THE WAY IN.

OH, THANKS. I FORGOT.

OK, WEAR THIS TIE,

AND BRING THE SECOND SHIRT

IN CASE YOU SHOULD SWEAT THROUGH THE FIRST.

I DON'T KNOW WHY I'M SO NERVOUS.

YOU'LL BE GREAT.

YOU'VE DONE THIS FOR 24 YEARS STRAIGHT.

YOU'VE ALWAYS GOTTEN THE FUNDING.

YEAH, BUT USUALLY I DON'T HAVE ANY COMPETITION.

WELL, THAT NEW CLINIC

DOESN'T HAVE ANY TRACK RECORD.

WE AT THE PITTSBURGH CHILDREN'S PROJECT

HAVE A LOFTY MISSION.

WE INTEND TO FIGHT FOR EACH CHILD

IN THE ALLEGHENY COUNTY COURT SYSTEM

TO ENSURE THAT EACH AND EVERY CASE

GETS THE THOROUGH ATTENTION

OF EVERY AGENCY IN THE CITY

TO MEET THE FULL RANGE OF SERVICES

THAT MEET EACH CHILD'S NEEDS.

EVERY CHILD.

ONE AT A TIME.

MAKING THEIR LIVES BETTER.

LIGHTS, PLEASE.

THANK YOU, MS. MOORE.

AND NOW WE'LL HEAR FROM MR. ALVIN MASTERSON

FROM CHILDREN'S LEGAL SERVICES.

YOU GUYS KNOW ME.

I'VE BEEN DOING THIS FOR 25 YEARS,

AND I'LL BE--

AND I'LL BE DOING IT FOR 25 MORE.

AND I KNOW IDEALISM WHEN I SEE IT.

FUNDING FOR PUBLIC INTEREST LAW FIRMS

IS PRECARIOUSLY LOW.

LESS THAN 20% OF THE LEGAL NEEDS

OF CHILDREN OF LOW-INCOME AMERICANS

ARE BEING MET.

PUBLICLY FUNDED CLINICS LIKE MINE

ARE REALLY THE ONLY WAY THAT CHILDREN--

WHAT IS IT, MS. MOORE?

UH, PRESIDENT RAPKE, I WAS JUST WONDERING

WHAT MR. MASTERSON'S PHILOSOPHY IS.

IS IT THE CHILD'S WISHES

OR THE BEST INTEREST OF THE CHILD?

CURRENTLY, WE REPRESENT THE CHILD'S WISHES.

DO YOU THINK THAT CHILDREN ARE PREPARED TO MAKE

SUCH IMPORTANT DECISIONS FOR THEMSELVES?

SOME ARE, SOME ARE NOT.

MOST STATES REPRESENT BEST INTERESTS.

THAT'S A COSTLIER APPROACH, MS. MOORE,

BECAUSE YOU HAVE TO GO OUT AND DO THE WORK

AND FIND OUT WHAT THE BEST INTERESTS

ACTUALLY ARE.

BUT YOU CAN DO THAT, CAN'T YOU, MR. MASTERSON?

WE COULD, BUT NOT

WITH THE FUNDING LEVELS WE HAVE NOW.

SO WHAT IS YOUR PHILOSOPHY, MR. MASTERSON?

MY PHILOSOPHY DEPENDS

ON THE SIZE OF THE COUNTY CONTRACT.

GET ME THE ARNOLD FILES

AND WHATEVER DUE DILIGENCE

YOU'VE COMPLETED.

ALSO, RUN A SEARCH ON A 16-YEAR-OLD GIRL,

DINA JAMESON, HER YOUNGER SISTER LISA,

AND THEIR PARENTS, JOHN AND MARY JAMESON.

WHAT AM I LOOKING FOR?

ANYTHING YOU CAN FIND.

WE ARE TALKING ABOUT REFUNDS, MR. GOETZ,

NOT WAR REPARATIONS.

IT'S STILL $450,000.

SORRY I'M LATE.

LOOK, ALLEGHENY ELECTRIC

HAS ALREADY REFUNDED $17 MILLION.

NOW, IT WILL COST US

ABOUT $300,000 TO FIND THE PEOPLE

THE REST OF THE MONEY IS OWED TO.

IF YOU'RE NOT GOING TO DISTRIBUTE

THE ENTIRE AMOUNT,

WE'RE GONNA ASK THE COURT TO TURN OVER YOUR RECORDS.

WELL, THEN...

WE'LL SEE YOU IN COURT.

GENTLEMEN.

I'D RATHER ANYBODY GOT THE MONEY THAN THESE GUYS.

SELF-RIGHTEOUS BASTARD--

SO HOW WAS IT?

HOW WAS WHAT?

LAST NIGHT WITH THE GIRL.

OH, COME ON,

AT LEAST LET ME LIVE VICARIOUSLY HERE.

NO RECORD AT ALL FOR THE PARENTS,

AND I ONLY FOUND RECORDS

DATING BACK TO 1998 FOR THE GIRLS.

WHAT'S IT SAY?

THE OLDER GIRL BROUGHT A STATUTORY RAPE CHARGE

AGAINST A MAN IN HIS EARLY FORTIES.

DID IT STICK?

YEAH, THE GUY SERVED 50 DAYS.

WHAT'S HIS NAME?

FLETCHER SACHS.

FLETCHER SACHS.

WHEN WILL THIS THING GO AWAY?

I SERVED MY TIME, MY WIFE LEFT ME.

WHEN I MOVED INTO A NEW APARTMENT,

SIGNS WENT UP ALL OVER THE NEIGHBORHOOD SAYING

A REGISTERED SEX OFFENDER HAD JUST MOVED IN.

I'M SORRY TO HEAR THAT, MR. SACHS.

IF YOU WANT TO TALK TO ME ABOUT DINA,

YOU SHOULD CALL MY ATTORNEY.

Y-YOU DON'T UNDERSTAND. I'M REPRESENTING DINA

IN HER SISTER'S ADOPTION CASE.

WELL, THEN YOU SHOULD TALK TO MY PARTNER,

NOT ME.

YOUR PARTNER.

JUST A MINUTE.

WAYNE?

SOME LAWYER'S HERE TO TALK TO YOU

ABOUT DINA AND LISA.

COULD YOU JUST TALK TO HIM?

YES?

MR. HALLER.

YES.

WE MET BRIEFLY AT CHILDREN'S LEGAL SERVICES.

I'M DINA'S ATTORNEY.

OH, RIGHT.

WHAT DO YOU WANT WITH FLETCHER?

YOU FAILED TO DISCLOSE THE FACT

THAT YOUR BUSINESS PARTNER WAS HAVING A RELATIONSHIP

WITH A MINOR UNDER YOUR CARE?

LOOK, MR. FALLIN,

I UNDERSTAND DINA'S UPSET ABOUT THIS,

BUT YOU DON'T KNOW DINA.

AND MAYBE IF YOU DID, YOU'D UNDERSTAND

WHERE WE'RE COMING FROM

AND WHY WE'RE PREPARED TO FORGIVE FLETCHER.

I SPOKE WITH FLETCHER SACHS.

YOU GOT A HABIT OF DOING THIS.

THAT--THAT WAS DIFFERENT WITH FLETCHER.

WE--WE LOVED EACH OTHER.

YOU LOVED HIM SO MUCH,

YOU TURNED HIM INTO THE POLICE.

THE HALLERS TURNED HIM IN, NOT ME.

WHY ISN'T THERE ANY RECORD

OF EITHER YOU OR YOUR SISTER

PRIOR TO 1998?

WE, UH, WE LIVED WITH MY PARENTS

IN A--IN A MOBILE HOME MAINLY IN AND OUT OF STATE PARKS.

WE SOLD, UM, POSTCARDS AND, UH, T-SHIRTS--

CRAP LIKE THAT.

THEY DIDN'T EVEN, UH, PUT US IN SCHOOL.

ONE DAY...

LEFT US AT A REST STOP...

NEVER CAME BACK.

I CAN'T FORCE THE HALLERS TO ADOPT YOU,

AND I CAN'T STOP THE STATE

FROM TERMINATING YOUR PARENTS' RIGHTS.

OK, WHAT DO I DO?

I COULD TRY AND EMANCIPATE YOU.

HOW WILL THAT HELP ME GET MY SISTER BACK?

YOU'LL HAVE TO GET A PLACE TO LIVE,

FIND A JOB, PROVE THAT YOU DON'T

RELY ON ANYONE ELSE FOR SUPPORT.

YOU DO THAT, AND IT'LL INCREASE YOUR CHANCES

OF GETTING CUSTODY OF YOUR SISTER.

JUST KEEP ME WITH MY SISTER

OR MAKE THE HALLERS TAKE ME.

NO JOBS, NO TRAINING SCHOOLS.

JUST GET IT DONE.

DID WE GET THE CHILDREN'S CONTRACT?

YOU KNOW LARRY HICKEY?

RUNS LEGAL AID OVER IN HOMESTEAD?

HE'S RETIRING NEXT MONTH.

WENDELL?

SO THE LEGAL AID FUNDS FOR INDIGENT ADULTS ARE STILL--

YOU'RE GIVING THE CHILDREN'S CONTRACT

TO THAT GIRL?

OH, GOD.

THE COUNTY FUNDING BOARD STILL HAS THE LEGAL AID CONTRACT.

JUST TAKE IT.

THEN WE'D BE REPRESENTING ADULTS.

WELL, YOU CAN STILL WORK WITH CHILDREN'S ISSUES.

BUT WE'D BE REPRESENTING ADULTS.

WHY DON'T YOU WANT THE LEGAL AID CONTRACT?

BECAUSE I DID THAT.

YEARS AGO. WHEN I FIRST GOT

INTO THIS SIDE OF THE BUSINESS.

I HAD A CASE WHERE I FOUGHT FOR MONTHS

FOR A COUPLE TO REGAIN CUSTODY

OF THEIR 7-YEAR-OLD DAUGHTER.

A WEEK LATER,

THEY FOUND HER DEAD IN THE ATTIC.

OK, BUT WE'VE ALL HAD CASES LIKE THAT, ALVIN.

I REPRESENT KIDS.

COME ON, WENDELL.

THAT--THAT GIRL HAS NO IDEA

WHAT IT'S REALLY LIKE TO DO THIS KIND OF WORK.

SHE JUST WANTS TO PUT A HAPPY FACE ON IT

AND FIGURE OUT HAPPY ENDINGS.

WELL, BELIEVE ME, IT'S NOT THAT SIMPLE.

YOU CAN'T BE RECKLESS HERE.

WELL, YOU CAN ALWAYS RAISE YOUR FUNDS PRIVATELY

AND COMPETE FOR THE WORK.

BUT THE CHILDREN'S CONTRACT HAS BEEN AWARDED

TO MS. MOORE'S GROUP.

MAY I HAVE EVERYONE'S ATTENTION, PLEASE?

EXCUSE ME? ATTENTION?

I HAVE JUST LEARNED THAT OUR COUNTY CONTRACT

HAS NOT BEEN RENEWED.

SO, YOUR PAYCHECKS...

IF YOU DEPOSIT THEM, THEY WILL BOUNCE.

SO...

DON'T DEPOSIT THEM.

WHAT HAPPENED?

THIS DOESN'T AFFECT

YOUR COMMUNITY SERVICE, MR. FALLIN.

THAT WASN'T MY CONCERN.

I LOST THE COUNTY CONTRACT TO ANOTHER CLINIC.

WITHOUT IT, I CAN'T AFFORD TO KEEP THIS PLACE OPEN.

HOW MUCH MONEY DO YOU NEED?

$300,000.

WERE YOU AWARE THAT MR. HALLER'S

BUSINESS PARTNER HAD A SEXUAL

RELATIONSHIP WITH DINA JAMESON

AND WAS CONVICTED OF STATUTORY RAPE?

SO?

WELL, THIS CLEARLY IMPACTS

THE HALLERS' CHOICE

TO ADOPT ONE SISTER AND NOT THE OTHER.

IT COULD.

WELL, IT ABSOLUTELY DOES ONCE THE COURT FINDS OUT--

YOU'RE NOT GONNA ATTEMPT TO STOP THIS ADOPTION?

THEY WERE ENTRUSTED WITH A TEENAGE GIRL

WHO HAD A SEXUAL RELATIONSHIP

WITH A 45-YEAR-OLD MAN WHILE IN THEIR CARE.

THERE'S AN 8-YEAR-OLD GIRL

WHO STANDS A CHANCE OF HAVING A GOOD HOME.

ALL AT THE COST OF HER SISTER.

HEY.

HEY.

IF YOU'RE LOOKING FOR A JOB...

I'M NOT.

WELL, IF YOU ARE...

AMANDA NEEDS A LEGAL ASSISTANT.

AMANDA... THAT RED-HEAD?

YEAH. YOU SHOULD TAKE IT.

WE COULD TRAIN YOU TO BE A CORPORATE PARALEGAL.

WELL, THINK ABOUT IT.

ALL RIGHT.

THE MISSION

OF CHILDREN'S LEGAL SERVICES IS SIMPLE.

WE PROVIDE QUALITY LEGAL REPRESENTATION

FOR CHILDREN WHO ARE ABUSED, NEGLECTED,

OR OTHERWISE AT RISK.

WE HOPE TO PROTECT THESE KIDS FROM FUTURE HARM

OR FROM DOING FUTURE HARM TO OTHERS

BY FINDING THEM A SAFE AND PERMANENT HOME.

SOUNDS LIKE IMPORTANT WORK, MR. MASTERSON.

WELL, WE RECENTLY LOST OUR COUNTY CONTRACT.

HOW MUCH DO YOU NEED?

NEARLY $300,000.

THANK YOU.

NOW, YOU MIGHT WANT TO TALK TO BERNICE EDELSTEIN

OVER AT THE MONONGAHELA FUND.

SHE'S USUALLY INTERESTED IN GUYS LIKE YOU.

SHE DOES THE BIG ANNUAL BACHELOR AUCTION.

MAYBE SHE CAN PENCIL YOU IN TO THAT.

BACHELOR AUCTION?

YOU KNOW, LOCAL CELEBRITIES,

PROFESSIONAL ATHLETES.

WOMEN BID ON THEM FOR DINNER DATES,

AND THE MONEY GOES TO CHARITY.

BERNICE, IT'S JANE.

I GOT A WONDERFUL GUY FOR YOU.

OH, ME? NO. NO.

HE'S READY TO BE AUCTIONED.

WE HAVE AFFIDAVITS THAT SAY THAT ALLEGHENY ELECTRIC

HAS BEEN FUDGING CLAIMS

AND SENDING CHECKS TO FICTITIOUS ADDRESSES.

SORRY.

WELL, WE CAN WEATHER THIS, BELIEVE ME.

THE MONEY'S STILL OWED, MR. FALLIN.

BY LAW, YOUR CLIENT'S COMPANY CANNOT KEEP IT.

SO, WE CAN GO AROUND AND AROUND LIKE THIS

FOR MONTHS, OR WE CAN COME UP

WITH ANOTHER SOLUTION.

CY PRES DOCTRINE.

EXCUSE ME?

CY PRES DOCTRINE.

ASK THE COURT TO DISTRIBUTE THE FUNDS

TO A CHARITABLE ORGANIZATION IN PITTSBURGH.

WHO?

WELL, I'VE BEEN WORKING WITH CHILDREN'S LEGAL SERVICES.

WHAT?

UH, I DIDN'T REALIZE

YOU WERE RAISING A LIBERAL, MR. FALLIN.

GOOD FOR YOU.

NICE PLACE.

ISN'T IT?

REAL NICE PLACE.

SO, UH...

WHAT'S IT LIKE?

WHAT? HAVE A SEAT.

WORKING HERE?

IT'S ALL RIGHT.

YOU HATE IT.

KIND OF.

YOU LIKE NICK?

WHAT DO YOU MEAN?

WORKING WITH HIM.

HE'S ARROGANT, HE'S RUDE.

DO YOU KNOW WHAT HAPPENED TO HIM?

I KNOW HE GOT ARRESTED FOR DRUGS.

I KNOW HE PLEA-BARGAINED

DOWN TO A MISDEMEANOR IN EXCHANGE

FOR COMMUNITY SERVICE AND PROBATION.

YOU EVER PARTY WITH HIM?

NO, BUT THERE ARE STORIES.

INCREDIBLE STORIES.

YOU THINK HE'S AN ADDICT?

I DON'T KNOW HIM.

YEAH, BUT HIS PERSONALITY,

ALL BUTTONED UP AND TENSE,

WON'T SMILE.

I DON'T KNOW HIM. I JUST WORK HERE.

BUT YOU'D LIKE TO.

SO, DO YOU WANT THE JOB?

AH, MR. FALLIN.

I HAVE A CLASS ACTION SUIT,

UTILITIES COMPANY.

DIDN'T CUT THE RATES FOR THE INDIGENT.

SO?

NEARLY HALF A MILLION LEFT OVER.

AND?

THE COURT CAN ALLOCATE UNDISTRIBUTED FUNDS

FROM A CLASS ACTION TO ANOTHER CLASS

THAT MIGHT BENEFIT.

C.L.S. COULD QUALIFY.

I SUGGESTED THAT THEY LISTEN TO YOUR, UH...

PITCH.

YOU DID?

YES, I DID.

YOU SHOULD COME IN.

OK.

GOOD.

WHAT?

BUT DON'T PUSH TOO HARD.

DON'T DEMAND IT. JUST BE HUMBLE.

THE HALLERS ARE HERE.

WE NEED TO DISCUSS WHAT TRANSPIRED

BETWEEN DINA AND YOUR BUSINESS PARTNER,

FLETCHER SACHS.

AN UNFORTUNATE SITUATION.

YOU CAN'T BLAME A TEENAGED GIRL FOR WHAT HAPPENED.

NO, I BLAME MY PARTNER.

UH, CAN YOU TELL US WHAT HAPPENED?

WE DIDN'T KNOW ANYTHING ABOUT IT AT ALL.

ONE DAY AT DINNER, SHE JUST BLURTED IT OUT.

SHE SAID, "FLETCHER AND I ARE HAVING AN AFFAIR,

AND I'M TAKING LISA. WE'RE GOING TO LIVE WITH HIM."

SO WE CONFRONTED FLETCHER, AND HE CONFESSED.

WHO FILED CHARGES?

WE DID.

ONE OF THE HARDEST THINGS WE'VE EVER HAD TO DO.

AND YET YOU REMAIN IN BUSINESS WITH THIS MAN?

HE'S HUMAN. HE SLIPPED.

DINA CAN BE, UM...

LET'S JUST SAY HE'S NOT THE ONLY ONE RESPONSIBLE

FOR THIS HAPPENING.

BUT YOU DECIDED TO PUNISH HER

FOR SOMETHING THAT HE DID?

NO. NO, WE'RE NOT ADOPTING HER

BECAUSE SHE'S IMPOSSIBLE TO CONTROL.

BESIDES, SHE'S SO PROTECTIVE OF HER SISTER THAT

SHE MAKES IT IMPOSSIBLE FOR US TO DO OUR JOBS.

HOW SO?

WELL, EVERY TIME WE TELL LISA TO BEHAVE

OR TO FOLLOW THE RULES, DINA TELLS US TO BACK OFF.

AND SHE ONLY LISTENS TO HER SISTER,

SO WE'RE LOSING CONTROL OF OUR OWN HOUSEHOLD.

UH, WOULD YOU MIND IF I WENT AND SPOKE TO LISA?

OH...

HI, LISA.

HI.

I KNOW YOU'VE TALKED TO A LOT OF PEOPLE

ABOUT WHAT YOU REMEMBER OF YOUR PAST.

I GUESS.

CAN YOU TELL ME ANYTHING ABOUT YOUR PARENTS?

YOU LIKE DOLLS?

YEAH.

YEAH.

DO YOU REMEMBER ANYTHING AT ALL?

WE LIVED IN AN OLD SCHOOL BUS.

WE PARKED IT UNDER A BRIDGE.

A BUS?

YEAH.

NOT A MOBILE HOME?

NO.

A SCHOOL BUS.

A SCHOOL BUS UNDER A BRIDGE?

YEAH.

OK.

HI.

NICK, THIS IS KEVIN, MY BOYFRIEND.

KEVIN, THIS IS NICK. HE'S MY LAWYER.

HEY.

YEAH.

SO I GUESS WE HAVE SOME LEGAL STUFF

TO TALK ABOUT, DON'T WE, NICK?

YEAH.

I LEFT MY BOOK BAG IN MY LOCKER.

I'LL BE RIGHT BACK.

YOU TWO BEEN GOING OUT LONG?

7 WEEKS.

SHE'S MY FIRST... REAL GIRLFRIEND.

HOW'S IT GOING?

GOOD. GOOD.

WE--WE, YOU KNOW,

WE, LIKE,

GO TO THE DOLLAR CINEMA OVER IN MOON TOWNSHIP.

SHE LIKES TO BRING HER SISTER.

WHAT ELSE?

I DON'T KNOW.

WE LIKE TO WATCH TRAINS DOWN BY THE OHIO RIVER.

DOES SHE LIKE TO BRING HER SISTER ALONG

WHEN YOU TWO WATCH TRAINS?

OK, NICK, I'M READY.

BYE, SWEETIE. I'LL SEE YOU TOMORROW.

JEALOUS?

YOU SHOULDN'T BE.

HE DOES NOT KNOW THE TRICKS THAT YOU KNOW.

SO IS IT A MOBILE HOME OR A SCHOOL BUS?

WHAT ARE YOU TALKING ABOUT?

YOUR SISTER SEEMS TO BELIEVE

YOU LIVED IN A SCHOOL BUS

UNDER A BRIDGE.

SHE'S TOO YOUNG TO KNOW THE DIFFERENCE.

SHE DOESN'T REMEMBER ANYTHING.

YOUR NAME.

IT'S NOT YOUR NAME.

YEAH, IT IS.

WHO ARE YOU?

JUST THE GIRL YOU SLEPT WITH THE OTHER NIGHT, MR. FALLIN.

I CHECKED THE RECORDS ALL OVER THE COUNTRY.

I CHECKED THE RECORDS.

THERE'S NOTHING, REALLY, NOTHING.

SO IF YOUR MAKE-BELIEVE PARENTS' RIGHTS

TERMINATE NEXT WEEK,

YOU HAVE NO CHANCE TO STAY WITH YOUR SISTER.

BUT IF YOU JUST HELP ME TRY AND FIND

YOUR REAL PARENTS, THEN WE CAN STOP

THE ADOPTION PROCEEDINGS LONG ENOUGH

TO SEE IF THEY WANT TO GET INVOLVED.

MY PARENTS' NAMES ARE JOHN AND MARGARET CUNNINGHAM.

THEY LIVE IN LINCOLN, NEBRASKA.

OK.

WHY DIDN'T YOU TELL ME THAT

IN THE FIRST PLACE?

BECAUSE... THEY WERE SICK, OK?

BOTH OF 'EM.

THEY WERE DRUG ADDICTS AND DRUNKS.

AND WHEN LISA WAS BORN, WE DIDN'T HAVE A THING.

THEY JUST NEGLECTED HER.

SO...I TOOK HER.

YOU KEPT IT A SECRET?

NOBODY EVER BELIEVED ME

BECAUSE THEY NEVER ABUSED US, SO...

BUT YOU KNOW WHAT?

NOW THAT WE TALKED ABOUT IT, I MEAN, WHO KNOWS,

MAYBE THEY CAN...

THEY CAN GET BETTER AND WE COULD GO BACK HOME.

YEAH, WELL, LET'S JUST FIND THEM.

I FINISHED DUE DILIGENCE

FOR THE ARNOLD CASE. YOU'VE JUST GOT

TO BRING 'EM THE CONTRACTS.

GREAT. RUN A CHECK ON JOHN AND MARGARET CUNNINGHAM

OF LINCOLN, NEBRASKA.

WE HAVE OUR FUND-RAISER TOMORROW.

IT'S A BIG DEAL--

THE ELIGIBLE BACHELOR AUCTION.

YES, I KNOW.

YOU'RE SINGLE, RIGHT?

YES.

I'LL MAKE YOU A DEAL.

PARTICIPATE IN THE AUCTION,

AND I WILL GIVE YOU

ALL THE PROCEEDS YOU GENERATE.

I NEED $300,000.

WELL, MR. MASTERSON,

FOR THAT YOU'D HAVE TO BE SOME KIND OF DATE,

NOW, WOULDN'T YOU?

NO MARRIED COUPLES BY THOSE NAMES

CURRENTLY RESIDE IN NEBRASKA.

THERE'S NO RECORD AT ALL?

NOTHING.

DO YOU HAVE A SECOND?

YEAH.

I LOVE YOUR STEREO.

I CHECKED YOUR STORY OUT.

THERE'S NO RECORD OF THE CUNNINGHAMS.

IF YOU WANT ME TO HELP YOU,

YOU GOT TO TELL ME THE TRUTH.

THAT IS THE TRUTH.

OK, WE'RE DONE. YOU'RE ON YOUR OWN.

DON'T LIKE ME, MR. FALLIN?

'CAUSE YOU LIKED ME A LOT A FEW NIGHTS AGO

WHEN WE MET AT A BAR LATE AT NIGHT.

PEOPLE SAW US THERE, DIDN'T THEY?

THEY SAW US LEAVE TOGETHER,

AND I KNOW AN AWFUL LOT ABOUT WHERE YOU LIVE,

YOUR APARTMENT, YOUR CAR...

YOUR UNDERWEAR.

YOU DIDN'T HAVE A PROBLEM WITH ME

WHEN YOU THOUGHT I WAS 25, NOW, DID YA?

CAN YOU GET PRINTS?

NICK, THESE THINGS TAKE TIME, THEY COST MONEY.

WELL, I'LL PAY.

I CAN'T JUST WRITE YOU A BILL

FOR DUSTIN' YOUR CAR FOR PRINTS.

YOU'LL DO IT, RIGHT?

YOU'LL DO IT.

YEAH.

GOOD. OK.

HERE HE IS, LADIES,

STRAIGHT FROM THE FOOTBALL FIELD

TO YOUR TABLE-- JOHN MORTON.

HE GAINED A THOUSAND YARDS LAST YEAR,

SO WE'LL START THE BID AT $1,000.

1,000 HERE.

1,500! 2,000!

2,500!3,000! RIGHT HERE!

3,000 HERE. HERE...

5,000! 6,000! 7,000!

$10,000!

$10,000.

DO I HEAR ANOTHER BID?

GOING ONCE, GOING TWICE.

SOLD TO MS. HANNAWAY OF SHADY SIDE.

HAVE FUN, AMY.

ALL RIGHT, LADIES.

WE'VE GOT PLENTY MORE WHERE THAT CAME FROM.

THIS IS ALVIN MASTERSON.

ALVIN.

ALVIN. COME ON, ALVIN.

DON'T BE SHY. IT'S FOR A GOOD CAUSE.

LADIES, THIS IS ALVIN MASTERSON.

NOW, HE'S NOW, UM...

HE'S NOT YOUNG, OK? I ADMIT THAT,

BUT HE'S GOT A SWEET FACE,

AND HE WORKS HARD FOR CHILDREN.

HE'S HERE TO BENEFIT LEGAL AID.

CHILDREN'S LEGAL SERVICES.

CHILDREN'S LEGAL SERVICES, YES.

ALVIN. Alvin.

UH, DO I HEAR A BID?

ANYONE?

ANYONE?

$100?

$100? COME ON.

ANYONE?

Woman, drunkenly: $1,000!

DO I HEAR ANOTHER BID?

GOING ONCE, GOING TWICE. SOLD!

♪ YOU BETTER STOP...

THE MISSION OF CHILDREN'S LEGAL SERVICES IS SIMPLE.

WE PROVIDE QUALITY LEGAL REPRESENTATION

FOR CHILDREN WHO ARE ABUSED, NEGLECTED,

OTHERWISE AT RISK--

DO YOU HAVE PARTIES?

PARTIES?

YOU KNOW, FUND-RAISERS?

LIKE, UH, WELL, WE COULD DO A DINNER DANCE

OR A CRUISE DOWN THE RIVER

OF MAYBE A SHOW AT THE BENEDUM.

OH, WE DON'T SPEND OUR RESOURCES

ON THAT SORT OF THING.

OH, BUT YOU REALLY SHOULD.

YOU'D MEET SOME GREAT PEOPLE...

IF YOU HAD A PARTY.

UH, UH, WELL--

YOU, UH, YOU DO LIKE PARTIES, DON'T YOU?

I MEAN, THEY CAN RAISE...

OH...

SO MUCH MONEY...

THOSE PARTIES.

WHY, UH...

WHY DON'T WE DISCUSS THIS...AT YOUR PLACE?

I GOT TO GET GOIN'...

TO THE CLINIC, TO WORK.

I'LL SEND YOU A CHECK.

YOU READY FOR THIS?

YEAH.

WHAT?

LOSE THE JACKET.

WHAT'S WRONG WITH THE JACKET?

THE, UH, THE MISSION OF CHILDREN'S LEGAL SERVICES

IS, UH, QUITE SIMPLE REALLY.

UH, WE PROVIDE...

QUALITY LEGAL REPRESENTATION AND, UH, ADVOCACY ASSISTANCE

TO CHILDREN WHO ARE ABUSED, NEGLECTED, OR, UH...

OTHER--

YOU'VE ALREADY MADE YOUR MINDS UP, HAVEN'T YOU?

YOU'RE NOT GIVING THIS MONEY TO ME.

OK, THEN. I, UH...

I THANK YOU FOR YOUR TIME.

YEAH.

THE PRINTS CAME BACK

CONNECTED TO A HOMELESS TEENAGER IN ERIE.

SHE WAS ARRESTED?

NO. SHE WAS INVOLVED IN A RAPE CASE.

WHEN?

ABOUT 6 YEARS AGO.

6 YEARS AGO, SHE WAS--SHE WAS 10.

IT'S A SICK WORLD.

OK. YOU GOT A NAME?

AVIS DONALDSON.

PARENTS' NAMES ARE

CHARLES AND EDWINA DONALDSON.

THEY LIVE ABOUT 90 MILES NORTH OF HERE IN ERIE.

MR. AND MRS. DONALDSON...

THANK YOU FOR TAKING THE TIME TO COME DOWN.

PLEASE, TAKE A SEAT.

IT'S ONLY AN HOUR AND A HALF.

THE REASON I CALLED YOU IS, UH...

I FOUND YOUR DAUGHTERS.

YOU FOUND AVIS.

YES.

WHERE IS SHE?

SHE'S LIVING IN A GROUP HOME IN THE CITY.

OH...GOOD.

I WAS AFRAID SHE MIGHT BE DEAD.

NO.

LAST WE HEARD, SHE WAS IN MARYLAND.

PITTSBURGH, HUH?

SO CLOSE.

YEAH.

YOU MUST HAVE BEEN SEARCHING FOR THEM

FOR A LONG TIME.

FOR AVIS? WE USUALLY KNOW WHERE SHE IS.

REALLY?

SHE'S BEEN GOING AROUND USING DIFFERENT

IDENTIFIES, GETTIN' WELFARE.

SHE TALKS A GOOD GAME.

SHE LEFT HERE WHEN SHE WAS 14.

SHE HAD SOME TOUGH TIMES,

ENDED UP IN AN INSTITUTION.

SHE RAN AWAY FROM THERE.

ALL THOSE YEARS LOST, YOU SEE, JUST LOST.

YOU--YOU NEVER WENT AFTER HER,

TRIED TO BRING HER BACK HOME?

WE HAD A SORRY BUNCH OF KIDS.

NONE OF 'EM TURNED OUT SO GREAT.

BUT IF YOU SEE AVIS,

TELL HER I SAID GOD BLESS HER,

AND TELL HER GOD BLESS HER DAUGHTER, TOO.

HER DAUGHTER.

H-HOW OLD IS AVIS?

29 NEXT MONTH.

YEAH.

AVIS DONALDSON.

COME ON. YOU HAD TO KNOW THAT WAS

GONNA COME OUT.

WHO IS THE FATHER OF YOUR DAUGHTER?

HOW THE HELL SHOULD I KNOW?

WHY DID YOU LIE?

I WAS LIVING ON THE STREET.

THE STATE WOULD HAVE JUST TAKEN HER AWAY.

AND YOU JUST BEGAN TO MAKE A HABIT OF IT.

WE LIVED TOGETHER IN...

OH, LOTS OF FOSTER HOMES,

AND WHENEVER THEY'D GET CLOSE TO FIGURING US OUT,

YOU KNOW, WE'D RUN.

AND WE GOT TO PITTSBURGH,

THINGS GOT KIND OF GOOD, YOU KNOW?

I, UH, ENROLLED IN HIGH SCHOOL.

THE PEOPLE WERE SO NICE.

WE GOT PLACED WITH THE HALLERS.

AND THEN THAT THING HAPPENED WITH HIS PARTNER,

AND THE NEXT THING YOU KNOW--

JUST KICKED ME OUT,

SENT ME OVER TO CATHOLIC CHARITIES.

I JUST WANTED A CHANCE TO DO

WHAT EVERYBODY ELSE DID--

FINISH HIGH SCHOOL,

GO TO COLLEGE,

BE A TEENAGER.

I NEVER GOT TO BE ONE, YOU KNOW?

SO I JUST...

I BECAME ONE.

I DIDN'T THINK I WOULD HURT ANYBODY.

YOU UNDERSTAND THAT A MAN WENT TO JAIL

FOR STATUTORY RAPE

BECAUSE OF YOUR DECEPTION?

HE--HE THOUGHT I WAS 15.

YEAH.

YOU'RE 28 YEARS OLD.

BUT HE THOUGHT--

IT WAS--IT WAS IN HIS MIND.

DON'T--DON'T YOU SEE?

IT'S IN EVERYONE'S MIND.

IT'S JUST LIKE-- LIKE A LINE, A NUMBER.

IF PEOPLE THINK I'M REALLY 16, THEN...

MAYBE I REALLY AM.

WHAT ARE YOU GONNA DO?

HE RAPED ME.

YOU RAPED ME.

HE HAD SEX WITH ME!

AT HIS APARTMENT!

I DROVE IN HIS BMW!

HE HAD SEX WITH ME 2 TIMES!

HE HAD SEX WITH ME!

HE GOT ON TOP OF ME! HE HAD SEX WITH ME...

DID YOU?

MR. FALLIN, SHE WAS A CLIENT.

YOU KNOW THE LEGAL RAMIFICATIONS OF THIS?

YEAH.

THE CLINIC COULD BE SHUT DOWN.

YOU WOULD BE IN DIRECT VIOLATION OF YOUR PROBATION

AND WOULD SPEND YEARS IN--

IT HAPPENED BEFORE I KNEW SHE WAS A CLIENT.

YOU CAN PROVE THAT?

YES.

IT WAS LATE.

YOU EVER HAVE ONE OF THOSE NIGHTS

WHEN YOU'RE JUST WEAK?

NO, MR. FALLIN.

I ASSUME YOU CAN PROVE SHE'S 28.

YEAH.

SO...

YOU CONSIDER WORKING WITH HER

PART OF YOUR COMMUNITY SERVICE?

THE D.A.'s OFFICE IS FILING CHARGES.

THERE MAY ALSO BE A CIVIL SUIT.

YOU KNOW, UH...

WHEN YOU GET OUT OF JAIL...

AND HAVE A JOB,

YOU CAN TAKE PARENTING CLASSES,

AND MAYBE YOU CAN--

PLEASE.

MR. FALLIN, PLEASE DON'T TELL LISA.

SHE ALWAYS THOUGHT--

SHE DOESN'T EVEN KNOW I'M HER MOTHER.

SHE'S, UH...NEVER KNOWN.

OK.

WHEN WE WERE TOGETHER THE OTHER NIGHT...

YOU LIKED ME, DIDN'T YOU?

YOU LIKED ME?

YEAH.

UH, YOU KNOW, UH, I'M SORRY.

YOU--YOU DIDN'T GET THE MONEY.

I KNOW.

THEY DECIDED TO BUILD...

A HOMELESS SHELTER. I KNOW. I HEARD.

WHAT ARE YOU GONNA DO?

YOU GONNA TAKE THIS STATE GRANT

FOR LEGAL AID AND REPRESENT ADULTS?

YOU'RE A GOOD LAWYER.

YOU RUN A FAIR CLINIC.

TAKE THE GRANT THEY'RE OFFERING YOU

AND DO THE WORK YOU DO.

THAT, UH...

THAT KID LAST WEEK,

THE, UH, 10-YEAR-OLD BOY

WHOSE MOM DIED IN THAT APARTMENT FIRE?

WE FOUND HIS DAD LIVING IN OREGON,

AND HIS DAD SAYS TO ME

HE DIDN'T WANT THE KID BACK

BECAUSE HIS NEW FAMILY WOULD BE UPSET.

THEY'D BE UPSET.

AT LEAST WE FOUND THAT KID A FOSTER HOME

CLOSE ENOUGH SO HE CAN STAY IN HIS OLD SCHOOL.

AT LEAST WE THOUGHT TO DO THAT.

TAKE THE LEGAL AID CONTRACT. WAIT AND SEE WHAT HAPPENS.

I GOT THE JOB.

SO I HEARD.

YOU GONNA TAKE IT, RIGHT?

I'M, UH, STILL WAITING TO SEE WHAT HAPPENS HERE.

HERE ARE THOSE REPORTS

YOU REQUESTED FOR THE HEARING.

THANK YOU.

WHAT ARE YOU GONNA TELL LISA?

WELL, NOTHING RIGHT NOW.

WE'LL--WE'LL WAIT TILL SHE GETS A BIT OLDER

BEFORE WE LET HER KNOW THE TRUTH.

CAN I HAVE EVERYONE'S ATTENTION, PLEASE?

I, UH...

AHEM...

I JUST ACCEPTED THE STATE CONTRACT.

SO, THE MONEY'S BACK IN THE BANK.

YOU CAN CASH YOUR CHECKS.

WE WILL, HOWEVER, BE CHANGING OUR MISSION.

EFFECTIVE IMMEDIATELY,

CHILDREN'S LEGAL SERVICES

WILL BECOME LEGAL SERVICES OF PITTSBURGH.

SO...

THERE YOU HAVE IT.

THANK YOU.

A PLEASURE.

BYE, LISA.

BYE.

CHILDREN'S LEGAL SERV--

LEGAL SERVICES OF PITTSBURGH.

BARBARA LUDZINSKI SPEAKING.

PLEASE HOLD.