All language subtitles for LA Law s05e18 As God Is My Co-Defendant

Previously on L .A. Law. Grace, we're
going to be parents.

We owe it to the child to be living.

You've never even told me you love me.
But now you suddenly want to make this

lifetime commitment.

They are things! They are just property!

No matter how expensive it is! No matter
how much you love it! They will never

love you back!

Since the firm has been operating so
efficiently and profitably over the past

two months, I've decided to extend
Douglas' term as pro tem senior partner.

For how long?

Indefinitely.

I love Leland McKenzie. I think we all
do. But he's not bringing in new

he's not practicing law much, and he has
vested our future with Douglas.

I don't believe I'm saying this, but I
think the time has come for a shift in

leadership. To whom?

To me.

That was a betrayal. To go to the others
behind my back, that was a betrayal,

you son of a bitch. I got two choices
here. Either I can walk away from this

firm or I can stay here and fight for
it. I chose the latter. You chose to

me. What's this?

Oh, this is security.

Never knowing you might need it.

By the way, you're fired.

What? Don't throw a person out of his
job like that. The partnership agreement

does not allow you. Hey, the decision's
been made.

And if any of you don't like it, I
suggest you quit.

This is my firm, and don't you forget
that for a second.

Victor, we can be an elite litigation
shop, plus which we will decimate the

litigation department at Mackenzie
Brackman.

Mike, you really want to take down the
firm?

Douglas and Leland declared this war. If
they're not me, I'm just going to be

the one who wins.

Morning. Morning.

Excuse me, sir. You need a clearance
badge.

I'm a partner. I'm sorry, sir. Take your
hands off of me. Now.

Nobody enters without clearance.

There are two of you. I got four. I
don't think you really want this to get

physical here. Excuse me, Michael.

I don't think you want this to get
physical.

I have personal things in my office. Not
anymore, you don't.

Everything's boxed. Take them and get
out. Now, you listen to me, you son of a

bitch. No, you listen. All right. You
don't work here anymore.

You're not allowed on these premises
until April 28th when you're officially

finally voted out. So pick up your
things and take them down to the parking

garage, and I suggest you hurry because
there's a tow truck on its way as we

speak to haul your illegally parked car
out of the building. What's going on?

Michael and his friends were just
leaving.

Say goodbye.

Get the boxes.

I'll be back, Douglas.

No, I should see what happened to the
guards. Okay, let's all settle in. Never

mind settling in, Douglas. Things are
very unsettled. This whole business with

the guards is completely out of control.
As I've explained over and over again,

if Michael's intention is to steal
files... He is not trying to steal

He's not sneaking in here at night. He
attempted lawfully to enter these

premises during business hours. Sounds
like you've been talking to him, Victor.

I have been talking to him, Doug, and I
know for a fact that he only wants

access to his office...

Honestly and openly. All right, look. We
don't like having to hire guards. Using

security to stop partners from coming in
is... I'm ashamed.

But Michael is trying to get files and
client phone numbers.

While I respect the fact that he's doing
it openly without sneaking in or

without raiding our computers, we still
have to stop him. Move along, Douglas.

In re C .J. Lamb.

She's in Palm Springs most of the week
giving a seminar to visiting East Block

trial lawyers.

What? It's Zoe's thing, really. She got
invited as a guest lecturer, and she

roped in C .J. because she didn't want
to do it alone.

$6 ,000 for lecturing a few Bulgarians
and Russians.

This is not a bad deal. Moving on.
People versus Morrison.

Trial starts today. I'm still trying to
push the plate. Is this the Christian

Science couple? Yeah, I'm looking to cop
down a child endangerment, but the D

.A. wants manslaughter. Why shouldn't
he? It's murder. Oh, now let's not

They let their three -year -old child
die. They didn't want him to die.

I agree with Douglas. It was their fate.
They knew the kid was sick. You don't

even know the... All right, all right.
Do we always have to fight for God's

sakes? Why can't we support one another
on something?

What the hell is wrong with us? We
just... What the hell is wrong with us?

Welcome. Over the next few days, we will
be focusing on the adversarial system

of the American judicial process, which
you will find contrasts sharply with

that of your Eastern Bloc countries.

After we go through some basic advocacy
drilling over the first two days, we

will then actually conduct a moot court
mock trial where one of you will get to

show off your skills in a courtroom
setting. Isn't that exciting?

Okay, first, the opening argument.
Excuse me, just one second.

First, we have to warm up.

What are you doing? This is death,
though. These people have paid $7 ,500

this. They've got to have a little fun.

Good morning, communists! My name is C
.J. Lamb. I am your co -host.

And the first thing that we have to
learn about the American system, it's

We jump up. We object. We call each
other names.

It's a circus.

Okay, now, after three, I want you all
to say, I object, and be right out there

with it. Okay.

One, two...

Three. I object.

Are you lawyers or librarian?

My God, you object in an American
courtroom. You have to be heard.

Louder. Okay.

I object.

I object.

Hang your hand on the table. Say it like
you mean it. I object.

I object.

Again. I object.

Again and again. Keep doing it.

I've got to make one more stab before we
go in there, and I want you to listen

good. In 21 cases over the past 10
years, parents like yourselves have been

charged with manslaughter.

In all 21, they argued that freedom of
religion guarantees them the right to

refuse medical treatment for their
children, and in all 21, they lost.

You've got to let me argue some kind of
insanity.

We'll just say the church had you
brainwashed. We are not going to attack

church. Mr. Morrison, the jury is going
to need somebody to blame here. If it

ain't the church, it's going to be you
and your wife. The choice we made for

Kevin was ours.

No one forced us to do it. If we argue
that, you're going to get convicted.

We're not going against our faith.

No.

Would you mind if I had a word alone
with your wife?

Karen and I do agree.

Just give me one minute, please.

I don't think you're with him on this.

So I think maybe you should go for a
separate trial. At least let's get

lawyer in here. I'm with my husband, Mr.
Mullaney.

Karen, this is a murder trial.

I know that.

I also know there's no way I'd survive
any of this.

Not without Greg.

The child was brought into ER about
midnight. At that time, his temperature

104, and his breathing was extremely
weak.

Did you make a diagnosis?

He was suffering from acute bacterial
meningitis. The membranes covering his

spinal cord and his brain were inflamed.
What did you do?

By that point, there was really nothing
we could do. We injected him with

massive doses of antibiotics. We tried
to stabilize his breathing, but...

It was too late.

He died?

He died.

Based on your examination, doctor, how
long had Kevin been ill?

At least three days, maybe longer.

And had his parents sought medical
attention for their child earlier, would

have made a difference?

Absolutely.

Bacterial meningitis is curable. In most
cases, all you need is penicillin. Is

it possible that Mr.

and Mrs. Morrison didn't realize their
child was sick?

No, that is not possible.

This child had a disastrous fever. His
sheets would have been soaked. He also

would have been vomiting terribly.

This kind of illness can cause massive
pain.

He had to be suffering, and they had to
know it.

Thank you, doctor. Nothing further.

Doctor, this massive pain or sweating or
vomiting, you didn't

see it.

No, but I can assure you... You can
assure me? Let's talk about assurances.

it your testimony that penicillin and
medical care would have guaranteed

recovery? We can never guarantee it. In
fact, many children die from bacterial

meningitis despite proper medical
treatment. Isn't that right?

It does happen, certainly. Certainly.

And, Doctor?

Do you believe that the mental state of
a patient can affect his recovery?

It can be a factor. In fact, many
doctors believe that the immune system

compromised by stress and depression and
fortified by hope and optimism.

That's anecdotal. There's no scientific
evidence.

But you do believe that there is a body
-mind connection in healing, don't you?

As I said, it can be a factor, but I...
Yes.

And doctor?

During the course of this emergency and
its aftermath, you had occasion to meet

with my clients, didn't you?

Yes. And did you find them to be
anything other than loving, devoted

cared desperately for their little boy?

No, I did not.

Thanks, Doctor.

That's all I have.

Michael's fired his first two scuds,
Leland, and they both hit. What are you

talking about? He went into court this
morning with Earl Williams, ex parte,

dissolved our attachment in his house, a
$300 ,000 attachment.

How the hell could he do that? By
representing to the court that the value

his legal services tended to Earl was 20
,000 tops. Then he went to Brentwood

Federal, the bank that gave us the half
-million line of credit because of the

attachment, showed them the court
papers, told them who knows what about

solvency. The bottom line is, the bank
recalled the loan. We have to come up

with $262 ,000 immediately.

Bastard! He also withdrew $50 ,000 out
of a cash reserve, which practically

empties it. Now that is larceny. He
claims it's an advance on the $150 we

him in capital.

Excuse me. Do you have a minute?

No, it's important.

Come on in.

These are our respective resignations.

Michael Kuzak has opened up a law
office.

And the four of us have decided to go
with him.

We don't mean for this to be an
abandonment.

We'll stay here and work for you as long
as you want.

Until you can find replacements.

How can you do this? Leland, Victor,
Michael, and I would be name partners in

litigation specialty firm. It would be
White Collar, Rico.

It's something we've always wanted. It
would be a challenge we want to accept.

Abby and I have been offered junior
partnerships.

Like Victor said, though, we will stay
and work.

as long as you want us.

Oh, now, come on. Can't we all just sit
down and discuss this?

You're all fired.

Effective immediately.

Come on now, Doug.

You need this place to operate. It has
to be the same for you as for Michael.

We can't allow you to stay and cultivate
clients.

It would ruin us.

Please collect your things and be gone
by the end of business tomorrow.

Excellent. Very good indeed.

Shake that pencil.

Tongue slightly out over top lip. This
may feel silly, but you really are doing

something. Now, this tells the jury that
your wheels are spinning.

You've thought of something important.

American trial law is 50 % performance.

Never forget that.

Okay, when I say now, the witness will
have just said something you believe to

be a gross exaggeration.

Now.

Perfect. Okay, I'm going to ask the
witness something about your client.

And she responds, that man is a complete
idiot.

But the judge says, overruled.

But the judge, he is a horrible judge,
and he says no.

Mr. Orwalski, what do you do? Please,
Your Honor, prejudicial.

You're firing spitballs at a tiger tank.
You have to be more aggressive.

Show, Mr. Chang.

Your Honor, chambers now.

No, no, no, no, no, no.

Bastard.

Impeachment.

Excellent,

excellent. I think we're way ahead of
schedule.

Let's go to the pool.

Pool time, everybody.

Mr. Morrison, how long have you been a
Christian scientist?

All my life.

I was raised that way. And would you
explain for the jury why it is that

of your faith refuse medical treatment?

Well, basically we believe that healing
should be accomplished spiritually, that

the presence of God and the power of
prayer should break hold of the disease.

Well, that's fine, but why not take a
little medicine anyway just to be safe?

Because resorting to medical technology
is seen as a distrust of the faith.

Now, I want you to tell us what you did
after Kevin got sick.

Well, we, of course, prayed.

And when he seemed to get worse, we
called a practitioner.

What's a practitioner?

Somebody licensed by the church to treat
others with spiritual healing.

And what did the practitioner do?

She, uh... She assisted us with our
prayers.

Over the next couple of days, Kevin got
worse.

We called the practitioner again, and
she gave us the same advice.

Karen wanted to take him to the
hospital, but I resisted her.

But eventually she did take him to the
hospital, didn't she? She couldn't bear

it any longer.

Kevin was in so much pain.

Mr. Morrison, why did your son die?

Because we were weak.

Because we didn't trust God enough to
heal him.

Do you have any other kids?

No.

I have nothing further.

Two years ago, you were admitted to
Sinai Hospital with a broken thumb.

You were treated, your thumb was set in
a cast, and you left. Is that right?

The church permits receiving treatment
for broken bones. Oh, is that a

Objection. You had a bone broken in your
thumb, and you went running to the

doctors. Your son is sick with a life
-threatening meningitis, vomiting, in

pain, and you just let him lie there? He
had had fevers before, and he had been

healed by prayer. How is your thumb, Mr.
Morrison?

You're a very intelligent man, Mr.
Morrison.

You run a small publishing company,
extremely well -read. Is there a

here? Oh, yes, there is. You had to
know, you had to, that medical treatment

could have saved him, and you did
nothing.

If you had it to do all over again,
would you take your boy to the hospital?

I don't know.

Oh, God.

You don't know?

I have nothing further.

These court officers obviously want to
admit these pinnacle others into

evidence. What do we say?

Ms. Commons, could I talk to you?

Sure. What the hell is going on?

This is supposed to be an intense three
-day workshop.

You've got your entire class out here in
the pool.

Well, Tom, they've come a long way.
They're in California. They should have

fun. These people are lawyers who paid a
lot of money and traveled a great

distance to learn about American
jurisprudence.

Now, the other 260 students are doing
that. They're in marathon classes,

tests, getting lectures.

Yours are out here in the hotel pool
drinking pina coladas. We feel they are

learning. Well, you better hope so.

Tomorrow, you're going to have to put
one of them in front of three California

Supreme Court justices who plan on being
tough.

What? The moot court. Your section goes
tomorrow.

I thought I would be playing the judge
in the moot court. I don't know where

got that.

We have three high court jurors here to
do it. It's a serious thing.

Have you got your class ready? Of
course.

They're ready.

Nobody will lose their jobs.

Payroll will not be interrupted.

Business will continue in its normal
course. Management anticipated and

for this contingency. And the situation
is well in control.

Pay no attention to that man behind the
curtain. We are in the process of

interviewing new lawyers, which process
has been ongoing for several weeks. So

everybody relax. This is not a big deal.

Douglas, please.

Not a big deal at all.

I've set up a hearing in front of Judge
Lobel tomorrow afternoon.

I want to get an injunction, prevent
them from working for any of our

I also want a $3 million lawsuit filed,
breach of contract, fiduciary duty.

Let's shut them down before they even
get started.

Who do you want handling the motion?
Outside counsel. I want the heaviest

we can get. I want them. I'm out.

I've headed up the Department of
Oncology for the last seven years at the

University Hospital San Diego.

And, Dr. Leb, do you employ or consult
with spiritual healers?

No, I do not.

Why not?

Because I'm a doctor.

I believe in Western medicine.

Okay. Have you ever had a patient who
benefited medically from prayer and

alone? Yes, I have.

Could you tell us about him?

He was a 45 -year -old man, heavy
smoker, diagnosed with inoperable lung

What was his prognosis?

We gave him six months maximum.

We tried radiation on him, but it didn't
have any effect.

Three months later, he came in for an
examination.

The cancer was completely gone, no
evidence of it whatsoever.

How could this be?

I have absolutely no idea.

He said he had been treated by a
spiritual healer, that he had prayed a

this got rid of the cancer?

I'm as dumbfounded as you are, Counsel.

I did some research after this, and I
found thousands of documented cases

diseases, some of them fatal, had been
cured by prayer.

As a scientist, I wanted to dismiss it,
but we cannot.

So, as a physician and an oncologist, it
is your professional opinion that

spiritual healing can be successful.

It's not just my opinion.

It's the majority opinion in world
societies.

And more and more Western doctors are
now recognizing that you cannot separate

the state of the body from the condition
of the spirit.

You simply cannot.

Thank you, doctor.

Nothing further.

Doctor, if you were confronted with a
patient with cancer that was operable,

would you ever send them to a spiritual
healer in lieu of surgery?

No. How about as an alternative to
chemotherapy or radiation?

No. And given the sentence that Kevin
Morrison was experiencing due to his

meningitis, do you find it acceptable
for his parents not to have sought

attention?

I ask you a question, Doctor.

Do you find their refusal to seek
medical attention acceptable?

No, I do not. Thank you, Doctor.

I have nothing further.

Mr. Mullaney? The defense rests at your
honor. Mr. Gold? Your honor, I exercise

my right to recall Mrs.

Karen Morrison.

Ten o 'clock tomorrow.

We are adjourned.

Why didn't you tell me?

How could we?

We couldn't. You're a partner.

You have the fiduciary responsibility.

You know the spiel, Ann.

You, um... You guys didn't want Stuart
and me to come with you, huh?

It's strictly a litigation firm.

We wanted you, but we didn't think you'd
come without Stuart.

But there really isn't enough cash flow
for a lot of partners.

Uh -huh.

I'm so sorry, Anne.

I feel so betrayed.

I know.

How in God's name can you go into a
private practice with Michael and

You're involved with the one you used to
be involved with the other.

Well, the truth is, I'm only going to be
there until the baby's born.

They just need my name for marquee value
just while they set up.

Ex -judge, ex -DA.

And I'll get ownership interest for life
for just six months' work.

So when the baby's born, you're out?

Basically.

I want to take at least a year, maybe
two, and this deal

allows me to do that.

He could have cut a deal here.

And there's going to be a war here, and
Victor

will be one of the enemies.

I sleep with him.

I'm going to have his baby.

We could even get married.

How could I possibly work here with all
of you going against him?

I've really loved working with you.

DJ, wake up.

DJ, DJ, wake up.

We have overslept. It is 9 o 'clock. We
are in trouble.

Why? Because we had an 8 o 'clock class
set up. We're an hour late. We have moot

court at 1 o 'clock and our class knows
nothing except how to get jailed for

contempt. Calm down, Sally. I can't calm
down. And what have you done to these

men? Nothing.

That's Joel and Rowan, two of us Jews.

The Bulgarian brothers?

Yeah, Joel left his key in his room,
Rowan lost his, and there was nobody at

desk, and we got back from the clock.
Which was when?

5 a .m.

Trust me, Zoe, nobody showed up at 8 o
'clock.

Great. We have a moot court in front of
three California Supreme Court justices,

and you keep the class out dancing till
dawn.

They said it was hammer time. What could
I do?

Who are we going to put up there? Who
the hell knows enough to bluff it in

of three Supreme Court judges?

Me, that too.

What? Mm -hmm.

They don't know me, including that
Wodkin, so I'll put on a suit, my best

accent, I'll be brilliant, and you'll
get the prize for best teacher.

Do you have any O .J.? We cannot do
this. This is fraud. This is wrong. It's

lie. We have no choice. Not only do our
students not know anything, they're also

completely hungover.

And that one looks dead.

I am never taking you on another trip.

Never.

We've got to move, Douglas.

Tommy just called from court. He found
out from the clerk's office that Michael

Kuzak is bringing an ex parte motion to
dissolve this firm. What?

11 o 'clock, Division 3. He must have
found out about our motion this

and he decided to hit first. Yeah,
notify all the partners. I want

my office now.

Well, Arnie's got his therapy session
this morning. Get him the hell out of

therapy. We've got to block that motion.

I'll try to keep this very brief, ma
'am. I know this whole ordeal is...

Difficult.

Why did you take your three -year -old
son to the emergency room that night?

Because he was dying.

But if you truly believed he could be
healed spiritually, why did you take him

to a hospital?

Because... Because the prayers weren't
working. He wasn't getting

better. No, he wasn't.

In fact... you didn't think the prayers
were working two days before that, isn't

that right?

Didn't you have a yelling argument with
the Christian science practitioner in

which you screamed at her, this isn't
working?

Didn't you?

Yes. And you told her this child needs
to be hospitalized.

And she told me to just keep praying, to
have faith.

But you didn't have faith.

And you just sat by as he got worse. His
temperature climbed to 104. You did

nothing. As he got closer to death, you
did nothing to save your own son.

Do you believe you did the right thing?

I have nothing further.

Miss Lambroski, you are the class
representative of... Section 14, Miss

class. How would you define hearsay? Out
-of -court statement offered to prove

the truth of the matter stated. Any
exception to the rule?

Confessions, admissions, former
testimony, judgment... Former testimony,

admissible. The declarant must be
unavailable.

The party is being offered against must
have had opportunity to cross -examine.

All right, Ms. Lambroski, you may sit
down.

I would like to speak to Mr.

Lee Chang.

Objection. Ms.

Lambroski was the designated
representative.

Yes, and she's very clearly in command
of the rules of evidence, so I'd like to

give another student a chance. I wasn't
told this. Ms. Clemens, we want to give

somebody else a try.

Step up, Mr. Chang.

God help me.

Now, how would you go about crossing,
say, an expert pathologist who has

testified against you in a mad
malpractice?

Foundation fast.

attack his skill, whip him up, move in
for kill, confront him with my own

reports, move to strike his chief
report.

Your Honor,

these were teaching techniques used to
expedite... Is that right?

Maybe we should go back to meet.

Sit down. Sitting down, here I go. Mr.
Chang, explain exactly what you've

learned from these cute little
limericks. No rhymes.

Just tell us.

Basically, Your Honor, approach witness
on foundation first, impeach his

expertise. Then I show him my report to
establish and give evidence to the jury

of existence of contradictory opinions.

Finally, I try to establish his bias or
predisposition to undermine his

credibility with the jury.

And if none of this succeeds in
discrediting the witness?

I have a nice rap number.

A rap number?

Your Honor, under the agreement, if any
partner leaves, the firm is deemed to be

dissolved. Here we have two partners who
have left. Why are you here, ex parte,

counsel? Why couldn't you have given
your other partners notice?

I had no guarantee that they wouldn't
liquidate their assets, Your Honor, in

which case... Your Honor, Jack Sellers
appearing for Mackenzie Brackman

Mr. Cusack's motion.

Let me go on record first by stating our
position that Mr. Cusack has breached

his fiduciary obligation owed to this
firm. They fired me. Suspended, not

Second, his suggestion that this firm
has intent to liquidate is a lie for

he should be sanctioned. I'm not saying
they would willingly liquidate. I'm

saying they would... The doors will stay
open. This firm is viable and can

easily withstand this man's
backstabbing, gutless sabotage. Not so.

that. Your Honor, he's seeking
dissolution only because that would

solicit Mackenzie Brackman clients.

The litigation... This department is
practically wiped out. Ann Kelsey's a

litigator. Tommy Mullaney's a litigator.

Stuart Markowitz has litigation
experience, as does C .J. Lamb.

And then, of course, there's me.

You? Yes, Your Honor. As of this
morning, I've signed on with Mackenzie

for a two -month period, during which
time I will perform the duties as head

litigation and assure that clients'
needs are met. And I'm much better than

guy, Your Honor. All right. Objection,
with all due respect to this man's

arrogance. This isn't about my
arrogance, Cusack. It's about your

Your criminal attempts to undermine...
All right, both of you, both of you, be

quiet.

Mr. Cusack, I want your stated reasons
why you think this firm should go into

receivership. Because I don't trust
them.

An independent receiver... Oh, listen to
you, the model of trust. Both of you,

be quiet.

Ten o 'clock tomorrow, we'll conduct an
evidentiary hearing.

Mr. Cusack, you can take the stand and
give your reasons.

Mr. Fowler, you can cross -examine.

Oh, boy.

See you all tomorrow.

Hi, Grace. Good to see you.

You look great.

I don't feel great.

This is not the way I wanted to do this.
We told you, Michael. We didn't want to

do anything that betrayed us. I told you
this was going to be a war and you were

going to have to let me fight. I didn't
know they were going to slap an

injunction on us. Look, I know you guys
don't want to be heavies. I appreciate

that. But somebody's got to be. We're
going to get pasted here.

So just let it be me.

It's over, isn't it? We've lost.

Well, not yet. The doctor's testimony
went a long way for us. Don't forget

How could you admit those things?

How could you renounce the church like
that? I didn't renounce the church. I

just... That I had doubts, that's all.
Doubts are enough, Karen. You should

that by now.

My doubts? Is that it, Greg? I didn't
say that. My lack of trust is what

Kevin. Distrust and... I didn't say
that. But you think it! Karen, you don't

know what I... I can't do this anymore,
Greg.

I can't. I can't go on hating myself,
being blamed by you. I can't. I don't

blame you, Karen.

I blame myself.

When you grabbed him and...

Took him to the hospital. I... I was
relieved. I was...

I was glad.

Why didn't we take him to a doctor?

Please, honey.

He would be alive.

Why didn't we take him to...

More and more, doctors admit every day
the connection between the spirit and

body, it's something.

Now, the Christian scientists have
believed this for years. This isn't a

voodoo religion, ladies and gentlemen.
We're talking about a church that is

established in 37 countries with almost
2 ,000 functioning congregations

in this nation alone.

The Christian science religion is very
real.

And it is very much on trial here today.

Now, the prosecution wants you to
convict because he says this religion is

unreasonable.

Oh, boy.

Does anybody here know of a religion
that's reasonable?

I mean, the whole thing about faith.

It starts up where reason leaves off.

Now, when little Kevin got sick...

They did not sit by and do nothing.

They simply refused Western medicine and
resorted to their own form of healing,

prayer. They called the practitioner to
their house. They were active. They were

reactive. They wanted this little boy to
live, and every one of us knows that.

It didn't work.

They lost their child.

It's a tragedy, of course.

But they are not criminals, ladies and
gentlemen.

You know that.

The only question you have to ask
yourselves, was it reasonable for them

do what they did? To exalt their own
religious beliefs at the expense?

of an innocent child.

Both these defendants are college
-educated people. They know full well

taken Kevin to the hospital when he
first got sick, he'd be alive.

By her own testimony, Karen Morrison
says she had doubts that prayer would

She even argued those doubts, and she
still, she still didn't take her child

treatment until it was too late.

How can she stand here and say that her
religious beliefs are reasonable when

deep down she didn't entertain those
beliefs at all?

A little boy got sick with a very
curable disease.

It progressed to be life -threatening,
and they let him die.

How can anyone, human or divine, ever
forgive that?

Management is no longer capable of
operating the firm's affairs.

A receiver must be appointed to protect
its assets.

Miss Van Owen and I have over $200 ,000
of capital in the firm. Naturally, we

want to see that capital preserved.

And why is this firm in so much danger?

Well, first off, the cash crisis. The
bank has just called in its line of

credit.

Also, there are several major clients,
such as Ricky Davis, Jefferson

Properties, and Miles & Associates, who
are refusing to pay their bill. And

there are other clients, such as Dallas
Smith, Fred Stanfield, and Donald

Margot, who are all threatening to
leave.

What else, Mr. Cousin? The litigation
department has been decimated, and 70 %

the current caseload is in that
department.

Well, they still have seven lawyers
left.

This law firm is in total chaos, Your
Honor.

The senior partner is handing over his
authority to the managing partner while

claiming to still be in charge.

Then you have C .J. Lamb, an associate
who is getting 40 % of her business.

that's like having a one -person firm
functioning within the firm. Have you

heard of anything like this? They claim
that deal is beneficial to the firm.

It's like putting Band -Aids on bullet
wounds.

And the head divorce lawyer has just had
a psychiatric breakdown. He's

undergoing therapy.

There are security guards running all
over the building. The place is a mess.

Your Honor, the court has got to appoint
an independent receiver to take control

here. Thank you very much, Mr. Kruzek.
Nothing further, Your Honor?

Well, well, well, the firm is a mess.

Isn't it true, Mr. Cusack, that the
reason Brentwood Federal called in its

is because you went to this bank and
told them they better do that? I had

certain concerns about the firm's
solvency. I was very candid with the

went before a court. You got a real
estate attachment dissolved, which

attachment was critical.

to the McKenzie -Brackman line of
credit, then you went to the bank. Isn't

right, Mr. Cusack? Right. You also
represented in a court of law that a

legal work performed by you for one Earl
Williams should be reduced from $400

,000 to $20 ,000? I did the work. I
determined its value.

It was a major murder trial.

You exhausted every appeal all the way
to the California Supreme Court for $20

,000? What were you charging?

Nickel and Allen? Well, it was my case.
I was the billing attorney.

You lied about the value of your work in
order to make Mackenzie Brackman lose

its line of credit.

Objection. Overruled. And now these
clients who are supposedly refusing to

have you talked to any of these clients,
Mr. Cusack? I didn't solicit them. They

called me. I'll bet.

You'd never try anything underhanded,
would you, Mr. Cusack?

Objection. Sustained. Your Honor, this
man's already been suspended by the

bar once.

Objection. He's been held in contempt
more times than I can count. He's

devoid of any ethical responsibility.

Mr. Sellers.

Objection. Withdrawn.

Will you identify this for me, Mr.
Cusack? It's a piece of stationery.

Cusack, Van Owen, and Cifuentes, a
partnership at law.

Grace Van Owen and Victor Cifuentes left
Mackenzie Brackman Tuesday, and here

you are with new stationery for another
firm already?

How can you not be guilty of tampering?
Move to strike. You better watch it,

Jack. Careful, Mike. I'm facing you. Let
me put my back to you.

Here, go on. Get me now. Mr. Sauter,
that's enough.

Your Honor, I'm only just beginning. I
said I've heard enough.

I want a list of both sides' prospective
candidates for receivers.

If I decide to go that route, I'll make
my decision by 2 o 'clock.

Until then, take it outside.

Oh, God.

Oh, well, uh, keep me informed, won't
you, Abby, eh?

Yeah. All right, love.

Just take care of yourself and don't
worry so much.

Bye.

The entire firm is under siege and
they're all in court today. Oh, God.

Well, well, well.

Miss Lambraski now speaks with a British
accent.

I know who you are, Miss Lam. I saw the
hotel register and I did some checking.

Tom, I'm sorry. You don't understand.

I'm very pleased.

I beg your pardon?

Your 30 students, every one of them,
have already re -enrolled for next

workshop. You've got to be kidding.

Oh, you've hit on something.

Rambo litigators.

Poolside classes. We can sell it as kind
of a vacation package.

But, uh, we need you.

We would be paid more money, of course.

It's negotiable.

Yes, well, before we even consider it, I
think we need a little R &R.

So, the sun is out, drinks are in hand,
but you're still sitting there making

shadows.

Enjoy your day. And let me know.

You said you'd never take me on another
trip.

Huh.

Considering all the evidence, plus a
little information from independent fact

-finding, I find that most of the chaos
at this firm was in fact created by

Michael Cusack.

Going to the bank, going to court,
willfully misrepresenting the value of

legal services, tampering with lawyers.
I know now why you win most of your

trials. And it's for life on the home
front.

The musical chair stuff with a senior
partnership.

The loss of all your litigators as
private profit -sharing deals.

It is a mess.

I don't know whether the place should be
put into receivership. The only way I

can know is to appoint a temporary
receiver for ten days and let him make

determination.

I've gone over the two lists of
independent lawyers and businessmen

you both as prospective receivers.

But I'll tell you.

I've decided to go with my own man.

Now, this person, unfortunately, has a
past relationship with your firm. He is,

however, in possession of the best
business sense that I have ever

And I don't think his past association
will pose any insurmountable conflicts.

Bring him in, please.

Now, you're going to give him an office,
and you're going to give him access to

every letter, every file, every bill,
every computer disk in your firm.

And I present to you your new leader,
Mr.

David Meyer.

I don't think this is wise, Your Honor.
It's very wise.

I trust him. For the next ten days, this
man will run McKenzie, Brackman,

Cheney, Cusack, and Becker. That's all.

We're adjourned.

People, people, people.

Madam foreperson, has the jury reached a
verdict? We have. What say you? In the

matter of the people versus Gregory
Morrison on the charge of involuntary

manslaughter, we find the defendant not
guilty.

In the matter of the people versus Karen
Morrison on the charge of involuntary

manslaughter, we find the defendant
guilty.

Oh, my God.

Your Honor, move to poll the jury on
Karen Morrison's verdict.

Members of the jury.

When the clerk calls your name, please
state your own finding.

Adelstein.

Guilty. Cameron.

Guilty. Feldman.

Guilty.

Massey. Guilty.

Miller.

Guilty. Plin.

Guilty.

Norvette.

Guilty.