1 00:00:01,179 --> 00:00:02,540 Previously on L .A. Law. 2 00:00:02,920 --> 00:00:07,100 What happened between us was one of those things that occasionally just 3 00:00:07,100 --> 00:00:08,280 between two people. 4 00:00:08,760 --> 00:00:10,640 Gee, I was kind of looking forward to it happening again. 5 00:00:11,040 --> 00:00:12,120 I don't think it will. 6 00:00:12,580 --> 00:00:13,580 I've left my husband. 7 00:00:13,820 --> 00:00:18,380 We got into a fight about his drinking, and when I told him that I would leave 8 00:00:18,380 --> 00:00:22,320 him if he didn't stop, he became abusive, and he threatened me. 9 00:00:22,580 --> 00:00:24,600 The thing is, I'm engaged. 10 00:00:24,860 --> 00:00:26,420 I'm getting married in three weeks. 11 00:00:26,760 --> 00:00:28,920 What about these feelings that we have? 12 00:00:29,680 --> 00:00:32,420 It's the nice thing about being a grown -up, Mr. Cusack. 13 00:00:33,580 --> 00:00:35,840 Having them doesn't mean we have to act on them. 14 00:00:37,680 --> 00:00:42,420 Good morning, Mr. Rathman. Miss Melman. 15 00:00:48,120 --> 00:00:49,120 Victor! 16 00:00:49,260 --> 00:00:50,260 How goes it? 17 00:00:50,480 --> 00:00:51,520 Good. Good. 18 00:00:51,880 --> 00:00:52,880 Very good. 19 00:00:53,700 --> 00:00:55,400 How long have you been with us now, Victor? 20 00:00:56,060 --> 00:00:57,800 Well, it's closing in on eight or nine days now. 21 00:00:58,080 --> 00:00:59,080 Getting acclimated? 22 00:00:59,520 --> 00:01:00,780 So far, so good. Good. 23 00:01:02,100 --> 00:01:07,540 I was thinking, it might be nice if we got to know each other outside the 24 00:01:07,540 --> 00:01:08,540 office. 25 00:01:08,620 --> 00:01:10,960 Maybe come to the house for dinner sometime. 26 00:01:11,740 --> 00:01:12,740 That'd be nice. 27 00:01:12,840 --> 00:01:13,840 How about tonight? 28 00:01:14,240 --> 00:01:16,540 Tonight? I'd have to check on my calendar. 29 00:01:16,760 --> 00:01:17,760 Try. 30 00:01:18,600 --> 00:01:19,600 7 .30. 31 00:01:20,680 --> 00:01:21,680 Come alone. 32 00:01:22,640 --> 00:01:25,040 Be there, or be square. 33 00:01:31,050 --> 00:01:31,929 Hi there, kid. 34 00:01:31,930 --> 00:01:32,768 Hi, Rox. 35 00:01:32,770 --> 00:01:33,770 How we doing? 36 00:01:34,010 --> 00:01:35,150 Oh, I'm surviving. 37 00:01:35,450 --> 00:01:36,570 You hang in there, honey. 38 00:01:36,870 --> 00:01:39,650 You may not realize it yet, but you're better off without him. 39 00:01:39,950 --> 00:01:41,310 Thanks, Roxanne. Really. 40 00:01:44,410 --> 00:01:49,530 Men, take away the sex part and the security part, and they're the total 41 00:01:50,370 --> 00:01:55,750 In consideration of which, we will be substantially reducing our purchases of 42 00:01:55,750 --> 00:01:57,590 Perrier and other soft drinks. 43 00:01:58,170 --> 00:01:59,170 Therefore... 44 00:01:59,580 --> 00:02:04,700 I strongly urge you to limit consumption to one refreshment per client. 45 00:02:05,200 --> 00:02:06,440 God, Douglas. 46 00:02:06,660 --> 00:02:11,180 This firm's monthly beverage bill has leapfrogged into the low four figures. 47 00:02:11,560 --> 00:02:15,240 A dehydrated clientele is an unhappy clientele, Douglas. 48 00:02:15,460 --> 00:02:16,480 Let them drink water. 49 00:02:16,860 --> 00:02:21,180 Now, if you don't mind, status re Lewis tax audit. 50 00:02:21,440 --> 00:02:25,960 He's coming in at 11 .30. I continue to advance the notion of postponement. 51 00:02:26,340 --> 00:02:27,380 Stewart is ready. 52 00:02:27,820 --> 00:02:28,960 Irving is adamant. 53 00:02:29,280 --> 00:02:33,200 No postponement. So be it. What about Rosen versus Rosen? 54 00:02:33,580 --> 00:02:38,840 Settling. Galloway versus Galloway. Substantive issues resolved. They're 55 00:02:38,840 --> 00:02:41,520 beefing over the custody of Squeaker. 56 00:02:41,800 --> 00:02:46,640 Squeaker? They're Yorkie. Mrs. Galloway refers to it as Squeaker of the house. 57 00:02:47,000 --> 00:02:52,820 Snyder versus Snyder. Mr. Snyder claims that Mrs. Snyder was unfaithful on 14 58 00:02:52,820 --> 00:02:55,120 separate occasions one weekend in Vegas. 59 00:02:55,720 --> 00:02:59,860 Mrs. Snyder essentially agrees, but alleges it was at the request of Mr. 60 00:02:59,860 --> 00:03:04,220 who desperately needed immediate cash to save his floundering go -go bar in Long 61 00:03:04,220 --> 00:03:07,940 Beach. I know I shouldn't touch it, but it's a classic in its genre. 62 00:03:08,520 --> 00:03:10,480 Perkins versus Perkins. 63 00:03:12,540 --> 00:03:16,560 Mr. Perkins is under a TRO pending the court's ruling on custody and visitation 64 00:03:16,560 --> 00:03:17,600 of their mother's son, Eric. 65 00:03:18,580 --> 00:03:22,340 We wish you well, Ms. Perkins, during your time of emotional travail. 66 00:03:22,620 --> 00:03:23,620 Thank you. 67 00:03:23,940 --> 00:03:24,940 Moving on. 68 00:03:25,310 --> 00:03:26,209 Lachlan v. 69 00:03:26,210 --> 00:03:27,910 Peer Amusement Park, Inc. 70 00:03:28,710 --> 00:03:30,150 Proceeding to trial when? 71 00:03:30,490 --> 00:03:31,490 This afternoon. 72 00:03:32,190 --> 00:03:34,630 That's pretty short notice. Are you fully prepared? 73 00:03:34,890 --> 00:03:36,070 Does a chicken have lips? 74 00:03:36,850 --> 00:03:40,430 Stepping in for a deceased attorney, you're certainly entitled to a 75 00:03:40,650 --> 00:03:43,250 This case has been dragging on for four years. 76 00:03:43,470 --> 00:03:44,970 We wait for a new court date. 77 00:03:45,450 --> 00:03:46,450 That's another year. 78 00:03:47,120 --> 00:03:49,300 Aren't the issues rather clear -cut, anyway? 79 00:03:49,680 --> 00:03:55,900 Young boy suffers devastating neurological damage due to negligent 80 00:03:55,900 --> 00:03:56,900 amusement park ride. 81 00:03:57,120 --> 00:04:01,940 Jury empathizes copiously. Comes back with large award. 82 00:04:02,380 --> 00:04:06,380 I know the lawyer was a friend of yours, Leland, but his pre -trial preparation 83 00:04:06,380 --> 00:04:07,700 is inexcusably sloppy. 84 00:04:08,020 --> 00:04:12,660 Minimal discovery and a low -rent Dr. Feelgood is his expert witness. 85 00:04:13,440 --> 00:04:15,520 Frankly, I find that surprising. 86 00:04:16,519 --> 00:04:20,060 In his day, Donald Erlinger was the best there was. 87 00:04:20,440 --> 00:04:21,839 May I ask a question? 88 00:04:22,240 --> 00:04:24,840 And? Does a chicken have lips? 89 00:06:12,910 --> 00:06:19,890 No, no, no, I see. The point is, when a client is present at an IRS appeal, it's 90 00:06:19,890 --> 00:06:23,710 another wild card. Yeah, I agree with Leland. We give up a lot in the way of 91 00:06:23,710 --> 00:06:28,510 leverage. Irving, if Leland or I were to accompany Stewart down there, would 92 00:06:28,510 --> 00:06:29,570 that make you more confident? 93 00:06:29,810 --> 00:06:31,350 What's the big tenet here, anyway? 94 00:06:31,610 --> 00:06:32,950 Three million dollars, Mr. Lewis. 95 00:06:33,210 --> 00:06:36,970 If the IRS determines that Mrs. Lewis' show business career constituted a hobby 96 00:06:36,970 --> 00:06:40,050 rather than a legitimate business... That's two million eight plus penalties. 97 00:06:40,170 --> 00:06:43,750 I'll be my tuchus. When they see her new video, they're going to wind up owing 98 00:06:43,750 --> 00:06:44,489 us money. 99 00:06:44,490 --> 00:06:46,550 This woman is a white Whitney Houston. 100 00:06:47,650 --> 00:06:49,270 I'll go to the Supreme Court if I have to. 101 00:06:49,530 --> 00:06:50,530 Hopefully, 102 00:06:50,710 --> 00:06:51,710 that won't be necessary. 103 00:06:52,190 --> 00:06:55,450 You see, the appeal officer in this case is a gentleman named Marv Fletcher. 104 00:06:56,130 --> 00:06:57,250 Marv's got a drinking problem. 105 00:06:57,970 --> 00:07:01,310 Well, we'll bury him in paper. Then around 4 or 4 .30, when his mouth starts 106 00:07:01,310 --> 00:07:03,770 feeling dry, we'll come in with a lowball offer. 107 00:07:04,330 --> 00:07:06,430 I postponed four times till we got him. Good. 108 00:07:06,880 --> 00:07:11,320 I like that kind of thinking, but trust me, this baby is the clincher. You 109 00:07:11,320 --> 00:07:13,200 fellas got a VCR machine here anywhere? 110 00:07:14,100 --> 00:07:15,520 You're in for a treat. 111 00:07:45,180 --> 00:07:46,180 Sorry, I left the phone. 112 00:08:28,840 --> 00:08:29,880 Is this woman a petal? 113 00:08:37,480 --> 00:08:39,860 Good afternoon, ladies, gentlemen. 114 00:08:41,820 --> 00:08:44,920 With your indulgence, I'd like to tell you a once -upon -a -time story. 115 00:08:46,620 --> 00:08:49,240 Once upon a time, there was a little boy named Jamie Laughlin. 116 00:08:49,960 --> 00:08:51,280 He was 70 years old. 117 00:08:51,740 --> 00:08:54,340 He was happy and healthy and normal in every way. 118 00:08:55,260 --> 00:09:01,190 His favorite things were Rocky Road ice cream, his little dog Misty, the Dodgers 119 00:09:01,190 --> 00:09:05,370 baseball team, and the amusement park that was less than a mile from his 120 00:09:06,410 --> 00:09:11,890 One day, as a reward for sweeping up all the leaves in the backyard, Jamie's 121 00:09:11,890 --> 00:09:12,930 mother gave him $5. 122 00:09:13,270 --> 00:09:18,050 He took the money, ran to the amusement park, rode the merry -go -round twice, 123 00:09:18,310 --> 00:09:20,510 played skee -ball in the Penny Arcade. 124 00:09:21,210 --> 00:09:25,550 But what Jamie really wanted to do was ride the bumper cars. 125 00:09:26,830 --> 00:09:30,670 only as long as he could remember, he'd been turned away from the bumper car 126 00:09:30,670 --> 00:09:33,870 ride because there was a sign outside that said how tall you had to be. 127 00:09:35,230 --> 00:09:38,590 And little Jamie's head never reached anywhere near the top of the sign. 128 00:09:39,770 --> 00:09:41,750 Only on this day, there was a new guy working there. 129 00:09:42,210 --> 00:09:46,430 A teenager, actually, who was too busy trying to make a date with a pretty 130 00:09:46,430 --> 00:09:48,890 blonde girl in shorts to pay much attention to Jamie. 131 00:09:50,070 --> 00:09:54,830 So, Jamie paid his 50 cents, and happy as could be, he climbed into a bumper 132 00:09:54,830 --> 00:09:55,830 car. 133 00:09:56,720 --> 00:10:01,760 Now, I know that in a good once -upon -a -time story, this would be the happy 134 00:10:01,760 --> 00:10:02,760 ending. 135 00:10:03,160 --> 00:10:09,360 But, unfortunately, in our story, this is where it gets dark and ugly, 136 00:10:09,480 --> 00:10:11,620 the way real life sometimes does. 137 00:10:12,640 --> 00:10:17,200 You see, on this particular day, there was a gang of high school boys at the 138 00:10:17,200 --> 00:10:22,220 park. When they saw little Jamie in the bumper car, they decided, the way 139 00:10:22,220 --> 00:10:23,440 bullies often do, 140 00:10:24,190 --> 00:10:27,410 that it would be fun to gang up on someone who couldn't fight back. 141 00:10:28,210 --> 00:10:34,670 The sport was to get Jamie, to hit him and then hit him again, smashing into 142 00:10:34,670 --> 00:10:40,670 this undersized boy in this inadequately cushioned bumper car over and over 143 00:10:40,670 --> 00:10:47,550 again, head on, blindside from the rear, making him shriek and cry and beg 144 00:10:47,550 --> 00:10:48,550 for them to stop. 145 00:10:48,990 --> 00:10:50,110 Only they didn't stop. 146 00:10:50,650 --> 00:10:52,770 So they just kept hitting Jamie. 147 00:10:54,120 --> 00:11:00,520 He remembers 20, 25 times his little body and neck 148 00:11:00,520 --> 00:11:06,160 whipping back and forth until finally he doesn't remember anything at all. 149 00:11:07,460 --> 00:11:10,120 Until the next day when he woke up in a hospital room. 150 00:11:11,980 --> 00:11:17,140 Now, I know that we are asking for a lot of money today to compensate Jamie for 151 00:11:17,140 --> 00:11:18,660 the injuries he suffered in the bumper car. 152 00:11:19,880 --> 00:11:21,040 A million dollars. 153 00:11:21,600 --> 00:11:22,960 A fortune, you might say. 154 00:11:24,240 --> 00:11:25,240 But is it? 155 00:11:26,060 --> 00:11:30,960 How do you measure compensation for the kind of searing, bone -gnashing, 156 00:11:31,160 --> 00:11:35,460 blinding pain that this little boy suffers every day of his life since the 157 00:11:35,460 --> 00:11:36,460 bumper car assault? 158 00:11:37,460 --> 00:11:42,620 The truth is, there isn't any amount of money adequate enough to compensate for 159 00:11:42,620 --> 00:11:43,620 so much pain. 160 00:11:44,740 --> 00:11:49,360 But unfortunately, money is the best we can do toward addressing Jamie's 161 00:11:49,360 --> 00:11:50,940 grievous injuries and... 162 00:11:51,450 --> 00:11:55,110 toward punishing the amusement park so that this sort of thing never happens 163 00:11:55,110 --> 00:11:56,110 again. 164 00:11:57,770 --> 00:11:59,790 Unfortunately, not exactly a fairytale ending. 165 00:12:00,970 --> 00:12:05,270 But in real life, the best we can do. 166 00:12:08,490 --> 00:12:09,930 Thank you. 167 00:12:11,330 --> 00:12:16,690 It is nearing 4 p .m. We will recess for the day, and we shall reconvene at 9 a 168 00:12:16,690 --> 00:12:17,690 .m. 169 00:12:29,520 --> 00:12:31,220 It's just the Fuentes I presume. 170 00:12:31,680 --> 00:12:32,399 Yes, Bracken. 171 00:12:32,400 --> 00:12:34,160 Sheila, come in, come in. 172 00:12:36,620 --> 00:12:37,620 You? 173 00:12:39,620 --> 00:12:44,220 They're lovely. It's such a pleasure to meet you. Douglas has spoken so highly 174 00:12:44,220 --> 00:12:46,640 of you. Oh, thank you. And you're so tall. 175 00:12:47,260 --> 00:12:48,260 Amigo. 176 00:12:49,040 --> 00:12:50,260 Welcome, Bracken. 177 00:12:50,480 --> 00:12:51,480 Come. 178 00:12:51,880 --> 00:12:52,880 Estella? 179 00:12:56,740 --> 00:12:58,040 Estella Escobar. 180 00:12:58,640 --> 00:12:59,640 Meet... 181 00:12:59,980 --> 00:13:00,980 Victor Cifuentes. 182 00:13:02,900 --> 00:13:07,140 We're not just talking your average housekeeper. I mean, Maria is an 183 00:13:07,140 --> 00:13:11,320 gem. A valued member of their family, almost. 184 00:13:11,700 --> 00:13:14,320 Trisha left to drive the Mercedes wagon, for God's sake. 185 00:13:14,640 --> 00:13:19,800 So, here they are, schlepping out of Gelson's with $200 worth of groceries. 186 00:13:19,880 --> 00:13:22,120 Maria and both Gutman children. 187 00:13:22,400 --> 00:13:24,480 When these INS goons... 188 00:13:24,920 --> 00:13:29,540 sweep down on them from literally nowhere, and kidnap this poor woman out 189 00:13:29,540 --> 00:13:30,540 parking lot. 190 00:13:30,900 --> 00:13:35,380 Thank God Tricia was home taking a tennis lesson. She rushed out and picked 191 00:13:35,380 --> 00:13:36,700 the children, but can you imagine? 192 00:13:37,380 --> 00:13:38,840 It was devastating. 193 00:13:39,220 --> 00:13:45,120 Her little ones are still traumatized. Every time, Tricia just drives Pascal 194 00:13:45,120 --> 00:13:46,640 since the children start to shriek. 195 00:13:47,400 --> 00:13:49,920 Speaking of which, Estella, darling. 196 00:13:51,560 --> 00:13:53,860 Esta... Possible. 197 00:14:19,819 --> 00:14:21,920 So, what do you think? 198 00:14:22,840 --> 00:14:23,940 Oh, she's very nice. 199 00:14:24,330 --> 00:14:26,210 You can see why we're so anxious to keep her. 200 00:14:26,550 --> 00:14:27,409 Keep her? 201 00:14:27,410 --> 00:14:28,650 A seller, of course. 202 00:14:29,030 --> 00:14:30,030 A housekeeper. 203 00:14:30,830 --> 00:14:31,890 She's your housekeeper? 204 00:14:32,130 --> 00:14:36,030 From El Salvador. And frankly, Victor, we're worried sick about losing her. 205 00:14:36,470 --> 00:14:39,090 Particularly after that nightmare the Gutmans have gone through. 206 00:14:39,630 --> 00:14:44,230 That's why we were hoping, after you met her, of course, that you'd want to help 207 00:14:44,230 --> 00:14:45,149 her out. 208 00:14:45,150 --> 00:14:49,070 Well, I'm no expert on immigration law, but I'd certainly be willing to initiate 209 00:14:49,070 --> 00:14:50,070 the paperwork. 210 00:14:50,350 --> 00:14:51,670 I could do that myself, amigo. 211 00:14:52,010 --> 00:14:56,270 But with the INS cracking down harder every day, and it takes years to get 212 00:14:56,270 --> 00:15:00,850 their green cards, actually, I was wondering if you'd be amenable to 213 00:15:01,850 --> 00:15:03,630 Strictly for convenience sake, of course. 214 00:15:04,050 --> 00:15:06,250 And I can assure you it wouldn't hurt you career -wise. 215 00:15:06,450 --> 00:15:09,290 And after a year or so, she files for divorce. 216 00:15:09,670 --> 00:15:12,670 You've got a hell of a nerve setting me up like this. 217 00:15:13,050 --> 00:15:16,250 Pimping for your housekeeper, humiliating her. No wonder she couldn't 218 00:15:16,250 --> 00:15:18,630 the eye. Calm down. Calm down? 219 00:15:19,480 --> 00:15:22,060 What have you got in between your ears anyway? It can't be brain. You're 220 00:15:22,060 --> 00:15:24,120 on them. Forget about it. No big deal. 221 00:15:25,120 --> 00:15:26,120 Ta -da! 222 00:15:26,700 --> 00:15:30,900 Victor, wait until you taste this woman's salon. 223 00:15:40,860 --> 00:15:42,340 I suppose I owe you an apology. 224 00:15:42,600 --> 00:15:46,820 You got that right. On review, it was insensitive of me not to tell you my 225 00:15:46,820 --> 00:15:47,900 before springing at life. 226 00:15:48,280 --> 00:15:50,360 Insensitivity aside, what you were trying to do is illegal. 227 00:15:50,620 --> 00:15:54,800 Shh. I regard it as a great favor, Victor. A great favor. 228 00:15:55,080 --> 00:15:56,580 If you would take on her case. 229 00:15:57,220 --> 00:15:59,880 By the numbers. No hanky -panky. 230 00:16:00,720 --> 00:16:01,740 Please, Victor. 231 00:16:01,940 --> 00:16:02,940 I'm a desperate man. 232 00:16:03,310 --> 00:16:07,390 Sheila is virtually paralyzed with fear that Estella is going to be picked up in 233 00:16:07,390 --> 00:16:08,389 one of those sweeps. 234 00:16:08,390 --> 00:16:10,550 It's all I hear about night and day. 235 00:16:13,090 --> 00:16:17,130 If not for me, then for Estella. 236 00:16:19,790 --> 00:16:21,150 I've already started the paperwork. 237 00:16:21,590 --> 00:16:23,270 It's not her fault you're such a jerk. 238 00:16:24,010 --> 00:16:28,990 Mr. Laughlin, finally would you describe, not as an expert, but just as 239 00:16:28,990 --> 00:16:31,910 father, the changes in Jamie since the accident? 240 00:16:33,840 --> 00:16:38,280 He was always, uh... You know, the happiest kind of kid. 241 00:16:40,360 --> 00:16:41,860 Big smile on his face. 242 00:16:42,600 --> 00:16:43,600 Sunshine. 243 00:16:44,560 --> 00:16:46,280 His mother used to call him that before. 244 00:16:48,760 --> 00:16:52,060 And now he's, uh... He... 245 00:16:52,060 --> 00:16:59,060 See, the doctors say that there's nothing they can do, but I know 246 00:16:59,060 --> 00:17:00,060 that that's not true. 247 00:17:00,540 --> 00:17:04,569 I read about this clinic in Switzerland, and... If we had the money, I... 248 00:17:04,569 --> 00:17:07,369 Objection! Irrelevant! Maybe we could do something for Jamie. Objection 249 00:17:07,369 --> 00:17:08,369 sustained. 250 00:17:09,890 --> 00:17:14,210 Mr. Laughlin, you will please confine yourself to answering the question as 251 00:17:14,210 --> 00:17:15,210 posed. 252 00:17:15,630 --> 00:17:16,630 I'm sorry, Your Honor. 253 00:17:17,089 --> 00:17:20,690 It's just that... It's just that he's my boy. 254 00:17:27,730 --> 00:17:31,110 The hour is approaching noon. We will recess until 1 p .m. 255 00:17:31,500 --> 00:17:33,980 At that time, we will resume Mr. Laughlin's testimony. 256 00:17:34,560 --> 00:17:36,580 We'll be going over some of the possible questions. 257 00:17:36,780 --> 00:17:37,780 Cusack! 258 00:17:38,420 --> 00:17:40,520 If you could spare a moment of your time. 259 00:17:41,160 --> 00:17:42,420 Excuse me. Catch up. 260 00:17:43,920 --> 00:17:46,020 You're really very skillful, Mr. Cusack. 261 00:17:46,280 --> 00:17:48,560 If I was on that jury, you'd have me in your pocket. 262 00:17:50,080 --> 00:17:54,900 Do I take this to be your opening move in the settlement tangle, Mr. Messler? 263 00:17:55,220 --> 00:17:56,220 Not exactly. 264 00:17:56,360 --> 00:17:58,880 I believe you to be an ethical man, Mr. Cusack. 265 00:17:59,410 --> 00:18:02,670 Accordingly, I'm going to assume you knew nothing about this. I didn't until 266 00:18:02,670 --> 00:18:06,450 yesterday. A revised list of the witnesses I intend to call. 267 00:18:06,950 --> 00:18:10,570 Under the circumstances, I wouldn't object if you asked for a contiguous. 268 00:18:11,250 --> 00:18:13,150 Who's Dr. Maxwell Rosen? 269 00:18:13,450 --> 00:18:14,510 Ask your clients. 270 00:18:15,110 --> 00:18:19,230 Somehow, during discovery, they managed to forget all about him. You might also 271 00:18:19,230 --> 00:18:22,290 want to ask about the Arnold Wexler attorney. 272 00:18:23,430 --> 00:18:27,070 Lachlan legally adopted the boy shortly after at the bumper car incident. 273 00:18:27,880 --> 00:18:30,440 Are there any other witnesses I should ask my client about? 274 00:18:30,740 --> 00:18:34,260 Several. Though I'm not certain how Judge Nisaki would feel about their 275 00:18:34,260 --> 00:18:35,260 in his courtroom. 276 00:18:35,720 --> 00:18:39,380 Foxy Lady, Rupert's Pride, Dilly Dally. 277 00:18:39,860 --> 00:18:43,320 Just a few of Mr. Laughlin's losers this weekend at Hollywood Park. 278 00:18:43,620 --> 00:18:46,060 It is not a crime to play the ponies, Mr. Reznor. 279 00:18:46,280 --> 00:18:47,280 True. 280 00:18:47,360 --> 00:18:51,320 And if Jamie's case doesn't pan out, he'll even have his own personal injury 281 00:18:51,320 --> 00:18:53,420 suit when both his legs get broken. 282 00:18:54,140 --> 00:18:59,540 Your loving, devoted, selfless daddy, Mr. Cusack, is in deep with the books. 283 00:18:59,980 --> 00:19:03,820 It's a big deal. Rosen testifies for them. We got Dr. Phillips on our team. 284 00:19:05,260 --> 00:19:09,660 According to Dr. Rosen's sworn statement, he treated Jamie after the 285 00:19:09,660 --> 00:19:11,200 accident. Diagnosis? 286 00:19:12,080 --> 00:19:14,440 Superficial abrasions and cervical strain. 287 00:19:14,760 --> 00:19:17,840 In other words, scratches and a mild whiplash. 288 00:19:18,060 --> 00:19:21,660 You're a smart lawyer, Mr. Cusack. You can trick him up on the stand, make him 289 00:19:21,660 --> 00:19:22,780 look like an incompetent. 290 00:19:23,260 --> 00:19:27,740 Dr. Rosen also treated Jamie two years prior to the bumper car incident when he 291 00:19:27,740 --> 00:19:29,740 fell out of a swing set in your backyard. 292 00:19:30,140 --> 00:19:35,860 It says here Jamie was in a coma for seven days, hospitalized for a total of 293 00:19:35,860 --> 00:19:41,260 three weeks. He needed an orthopedic brace and physical therapy for 11 294 00:19:41,500 --> 00:19:43,400 You have any idea how much something like that costs? 295 00:19:43,740 --> 00:19:45,840 Huh? Damn near broke my back. 296 00:19:46,280 --> 00:19:51,960 So, when this other thing happened, you figured you could get even. 297 00:19:52,990 --> 00:19:57,570 You adopted Jamie, legally changed his name so that the medical records on this 298 00:19:57,570 --> 00:19:59,230 earlier accident couldn't be traced. 299 00:19:59,490 --> 00:20:00,490 Look at him. 300 00:20:01,590 --> 00:20:05,210 He is never going to be completely normal. You don't think he deserves some 301 00:20:05,210 --> 00:20:06,210 of help? 302 00:20:07,130 --> 00:20:08,130 What? 303 00:20:08,210 --> 00:20:11,530 You want my heart to bleed for the insurance company? They got more money 304 00:20:11,530 --> 00:20:12,530 God. 305 00:20:13,430 --> 00:20:14,750 I mean, who is it going to hurt, huh? 306 00:20:15,390 --> 00:20:16,390 Just tell me that. 307 00:20:16,850 --> 00:20:18,430 Who the hell is it going to hurt? 308 00:20:25,390 --> 00:20:31,510 As we assess it, the taxpayer has deprived the government of $2 ,823 ,418 309 00:20:31,510 --> 00:20:32,510 uncollected revenues. 310 00:20:32,670 --> 00:20:34,250 Over my dead body. 311 00:20:34,490 --> 00:20:35,490 Irving, please. 312 00:20:36,050 --> 00:20:40,150 Mr. Fletcher, I can certainly see how at first blush you might assess things 313 00:20:40,150 --> 00:20:40,869 that way. 314 00:20:40,870 --> 00:20:44,250 Which is why I prepared a few additional table schedules and indices for you to 315 00:20:44,250 --> 00:20:45,430 peruse. Excuse me. 316 00:20:46,250 --> 00:20:47,250 Rick? 317 00:20:47,590 --> 00:20:48,590 Want to bring him in now? 318 00:20:58,120 --> 00:20:59,019 Oh, Lord. 319 00:20:59,020 --> 00:21:02,460 A journey of a thousand miles must begin with the first step, Mr. Fletcher. 320 00:21:02,840 --> 00:21:04,460 So, uh... Excuse me? 321 00:21:08,140 --> 00:21:09,140 Pardon me? 322 00:21:10,120 --> 00:21:12,660 So, uh... In no particular order? 323 00:21:14,700 --> 00:21:18,040 Yeah, here's a schedule of deductions arising from Mrs. Lewis's recent video 324 00:21:18,040 --> 00:21:21,660 set, appended to which is a discussion of the implications of the proposed tax 325 00:21:21,660 --> 00:21:25,100 revision on the investment tax credit of SANE. Before we need even consider the 326 00:21:25,100 --> 00:21:30,380 specific deductions, I must first be persuaded that Mrs. Lewis had a bona 327 00:21:30,380 --> 00:21:31,440 intent to make a profit. 328 00:21:31,800 --> 00:21:36,140 Quite frankly, in the absence of income -generating activities... In Vegas, they 329 00:21:36,140 --> 00:21:37,540 paid her $100 ,000. 330 00:21:38,400 --> 00:21:42,340 Yeah, she sang two numbers in the 1984 telethon. I'd be willing to bet $100 331 00:21:42,340 --> 00:21:46,440 was paid pursuant to her agreement that she donated back to the charity. 332 00:21:46,720 --> 00:21:49,080 By me, she makes Streisand look like amateur knights. 333 00:21:50,300 --> 00:21:54,080 Frankly, Mr. Fletcher, I anticipated you having some problems in this area, and 334 00:21:54,080 --> 00:21:55,880 that's why I prepared this schedule for your convenience. 335 00:21:57,700 --> 00:22:01,320 118 .83, good morning, Omaha. She earned $137 .50. 336 00:22:02,180 --> 00:22:07,800 325 Regis Philbin Show, 137 .50, 430 In the Kitchen with Dinah. I'm afraid not, 337 00:22:07,980 --> 00:22:14,360 gentlemen. Even if, arguendo, I am convinced there is a bona fide intent, 338 00:22:14,360 --> 00:22:18,240 so -called business expenses are completely out of line and grossly 339 00:22:18,240 --> 00:22:19,720 income. Which ones exactly? 340 00:22:21,300 --> 00:22:23,300 $127 ,000 for hairstyling. 341 00:22:23,520 --> 00:22:26,580 Well, I should point out, Mr. Fletcher, that's hairstyling and nail maintenance. 342 00:22:26,840 --> 00:22:27,880 But here it is right here. 343 00:22:28,960 --> 00:22:30,720 Hairstyling. Here we go. 344 00:22:31,639 --> 00:22:33,140 We'll start in 1983. 345 00:22:36,820 --> 00:22:38,820 1 -1, shampoo, cut, and blow dry. You with me? 346 00:22:39,720 --> 00:22:42,860 $250, and there's a $50 gratuity as well. 347 00:22:43,240 --> 00:22:45,780 1 -2, full set of porcelain nail, $75. 348 00:22:46,560 --> 00:22:50,120 By the way, my car's in the lot. It'll be okay there after dark, won't it? Now 349 00:22:50,120 --> 00:22:51,120 look at this. 350 00:22:52,120 --> 00:22:53,760 $863 ,000 for a wardrobe. 351 00:22:54,160 --> 00:22:55,540 It's over a three -year period. 352 00:22:56,120 --> 00:23:00,060 And I'm sure if you'll just be a little patient, you'll see that every dollar is 353 00:23:00,060 --> 00:23:01,620 accounted for. Here we go. 354 00:23:04,380 --> 00:23:05,380 You? 355 00:23:08,720 --> 00:23:10,840 Right, 1 ,383, Bugle Beach, you with me? 356 00:23:11,300 --> 00:23:15,880 So that's red, $312, blue, $289, gold, $371. 357 00:23:16,400 --> 00:23:17,400 Ah, no. 358 00:23:17,740 --> 00:23:20,540 U .S. versus Van Allen, U .S. versus Jameson. 359 00:23:21,020 --> 00:23:22,840 This is not a business. 360 00:23:23,620 --> 00:23:25,460 And that's it. 361 00:23:28,080 --> 00:23:32,020 Well, with all due respect, Mr. Fletcher, I truthfully don't think 362 00:23:32,020 --> 00:23:35,200 into consideration the full implications of the recent case, U .S. v. Miller, 363 00:23:35,340 --> 00:23:36,720 which is directly on point. 364 00:23:37,240 --> 00:23:38,400 Miller? Miller. 365 00:23:39,060 --> 00:23:42,420 In an appeal from a judgment from the United States District Court from the 366 00:23:42,420 --> 00:23:45,080 Central District of California, reviewing the district court's ruling 367 00:23:45,080 --> 00:23:46,180 finding of summary judgment, Miller? 368 00:23:46,960 --> 00:23:50,440 Mr. Markowitz, it's so late. 369 00:23:51,040 --> 00:23:55,840 The IRS originally disallowed deductions arising from the taxpayers' activities 370 00:23:55,840 --> 00:23:59,000 as an organizer and baritone of a barbershop group quartet. 371 00:23:59,400 --> 00:24:04,640 Citing his expenditures for wardrobe, including dry cleaning of the striped 372 00:24:04,640 --> 00:24:08,200 shirts, hair tonic, as well as singing lessons, washboard and fiddle drum 373 00:24:08,200 --> 00:24:11,200 accompaniment, and transportation to and from his friend's apartment, where the 374 00:24:11,200 --> 00:24:14,860 group rehearsed two times weekly, as grossly exceeding any income generated 375 00:24:14,860 --> 00:24:18,700 the quartet, the IRS disallowed the taxpayer's assertion of bona fide 376 00:24:18,700 --> 00:24:21,660 to earn a profit. Is there much more? 377 00:24:22,880 --> 00:24:26,480 Well, in summary, the Court of Appeals found in favor of defendant Miller. 378 00:24:27,240 --> 00:24:31,200 stating the IRS had no business in judging professional or amateur status 379 00:24:31,200 --> 00:24:35,620 professions of individuals if they earned any income whatsoever, no matter 380 00:24:35,620 --> 00:24:37,600 much their expenses exceeded such income. 381 00:24:37,840 --> 00:24:38,759 Can I have a table? 382 00:24:38,760 --> 00:24:40,400 No, please. 383 00:24:41,900 --> 00:24:42,900 I'll tell you what. 384 00:24:43,260 --> 00:24:49,120 Give me the evening to refresh my memory about the precedents that you've 385 00:24:49,120 --> 00:24:54,360 already cited, and we'll meet again tomorrow at 9 a .m., at which time I'll 386 00:24:54,360 --> 00:24:55,360 you my ruling. 387 00:24:56,660 --> 00:24:58,360 You killer, you son of a gun! 388 00:24:59,740 --> 00:25:01,280 I made it up. You made up what? 389 00:25:01,540 --> 00:25:02,279 U .S. vs. 390 00:25:02,280 --> 00:25:04,520 Miller. I made up every word of it. Somebody bought it, didn't they? 391 00:25:04,860 --> 00:25:06,880 It's fraud, for God's sakes. I could go to jail. 392 00:25:07,100 --> 00:25:08,100 Maybe, Jack. 393 00:25:08,460 --> 00:25:13,400 Irving, I... I'm sorry, but I... I gotta go back in there. Hey, listen to me, 394 00:25:13,440 --> 00:25:14,580 kid. 5 .15, right? 395 00:25:15,000 --> 00:25:16,820 10 to 1, he's in the bathroom right now having a swig. 396 00:25:17,480 --> 00:25:21,180 By 7 o 'clock, he's blotto. He drifts home by 11 o 'clock. He passes out on 397 00:25:21,180 --> 00:25:24,520 sofa. He oversleeps. He jerks a couple of beers for breakfast just to get even. 398 00:25:24,640 --> 00:25:27,480 And then he shows up at tomorrow's meeting pretending that he knew what you 399 00:25:27,480 --> 00:25:30,300 talking about because he's embarrassed to admit that he was too bummed to look 400 00:25:30,300 --> 00:25:33,560 it up. If I don't go back in there right now, I may as well bend over and kiss 401 00:25:33,560 --> 00:25:34,560 my career goodbye. 402 00:25:34,880 --> 00:25:38,100 If you do that, kid, you may as well bend over and kiss my business goodbye. 403 00:25:46,670 --> 00:25:49,150 I don't know what came over me. I mean, I've never done anything like that 404 00:25:49,150 --> 00:25:50,150 before in my life. 405 00:25:51,070 --> 00:25:52,070 What are you going to do? 406 00:25:52,650 --> 00:25:56,190 Well, I'm damned if I do, damned if I don't. If Fletcher researches it and 407 00:25:56,190 --> 00:25:57,790 discovers it's a lie, he nails me for fraud. 408 00:25:58,030 --> 00:26:01,590 But if I go in there and tell him I was just kidding, he nails Irving Lewis and 409 00:26:01,590 --> 00:26:02,910 Lewis pulls his business from the fur. 410 00:26:03,130 --> 00:26:05,590 And either way, if the ethics committee finds out, I'll be disbarred. 411 00:26:06,090 --> 00:26:07,630 I don't think they'd really disbar you. 412 00:26:07,870 --> 00:26:08,870 They wouldn't? 413 00:26:09,150 --> 00:26:11,310 Probably just an interim suspension, probation. 414 00:26:12,090 --> 00:26:13,090 Great. 415 00:26:13,630 --> 00:26:14,650 There's a third alternative. 416 00:26:14,990 --> 00:26:15,990 What? Tell me. 417 00:26:18,560 --> 00:26:19,560 Do nothing? 418 00:26:20,000 --> 00:26:22,700 Chances are you were so convincing he'll sit down and negotiate a favorable 419 00:26:22,700 --> 00:26:23,700 settlement. 420 00:26:25,020 --> 00:26:28,080 That's dishonest. I can never live with myself. 421 00:26:30,040 --> 00:26:31,080 Diogenes would love you. 422 00:26:31,660 --> 00:26:34,560 I'd probably want to deduct the cost of the lantern as a business expense. 423 00:26:36,440 --> 00:26:38,960 Anyway, look, I made my bed. I'll sleep in it. 424 00:26:42,240 --> 00:26:43,280 Speaking of which... 425 00:26:46,220 --> 00:26:48,540 How would you like to grant the condemned man his last wish? 426 00:26:50,540 --> 00:26:51,540 If I can. 427 00:26:52,840 --> 00:26:53,840 Spend the night with me? 428 00:26:58,040 --> 00:27:00,520 I like you, Jordan. 429 00:27:01,220 --> 00:27:02,220 A lot. 430 00:27:03,240 --> 00:27:04,560 I just don't want to rush it. 431 00:27:07,460 --> 00:27:12,360 Was it... Was I that bad the first time? 432 00:27:13,580 --> 00:27:14,580 I don't know. 433 00:27:16,970 --> 00:27:18,170 The truth is, I don't remember. 434 00:27:19,510 --> 00:27:20,510 So? 435 00:27:20,850 --> 00:27:23,710 Not terrible, just not memorable. 436 00:27:24,510 --> 00:27:28,210 Stuart, I'm not much of a drinker. I got drunk. I don't remember anything that 437 00:27:28,210 --> 00:27:29,730 happened after we left Leland's party. 438 00:27:30,350 --> 00:27:32,070 For all I know, it never happened at all. 439 00:27:32,630 --> 00:27:33,630 It happened. 440 00:27:36,770 --> 00:27:38,590 It was the sexiest night of my life. 441 00:27:44,970 --> 00:27:46,550 You were probably wonderful. 442 00:27:46,860 --> 00:27:48,140 I just can't remember. 443 00:27:53,020 --> 00:27:54,160 Are you sober now? 444 00:27:55,020 --> 00:27:56,020 Totally. 445 00:28:00,980 --> 00:28:02,580 Maybe I need a refresher course. 446 00:28:02,920 --> 00:28:03,920 Check, please. 447 00:28:11,640 --> 00:28:12,640 Pleasure. 448 00:28:13,260 --> 00:28:14,260 Already? 449 00:28:14,680 --> 00:28:15,940 Yeah, I, uh... 450 00:28:16,190 --> 00:28:18,210 I want to speak to you about that precedent I cited. 451 00:28:19,010 --> 00:28:20,310 Yeah, of course. 452 00:28:20,590 --> 00:28:22,430 I spent some time on it myself last night. 453 00:28:23,110 --> 00:28:24,110 Interesting. 454 00:28:24,710 --> 00:28:25,950 I can only find my notes. 455 00:28:26,630 --> 00:28:27,850 What was it you were going to say? 456 00:28:28,690 --> 00:28:31,390 Well, just that I reviewed it, so I'm sure we came to the same conclusion. 457 00:28:32,630 --> 00:28:33,950 And what conclusion was that? 458 00:28:34,830 --> 00:28:36,550 That Miller isn't really on point at all. 459 00:28:43,880 --> 00:28:45,660 And I'm sorry I misspoke myself yesterday. 460 00:28:46,600 --> 00:28:48,400 Well, as long as we caught it in time. 461 00:28:50,200 --> 00:28:52,080 So where does that leave us, exactly? 462 00:28:52,560 --> 00:28:54,320 I guess I can't convince you it's a business. 463 00:28:54,920 --> 00:28:57,440 Look, I want to be reasonable, Mr. Markowitz. 464 00:28:57,740 --> 00:29:01,800 You can tell your client that he may take as much time as he needs to pay off 465 00:29:01,800 --> 00:29:03,740 the, uh... What was it? 466 00:29:04,160 --> 00:29:05,700 2 .8 million? 467 00:29:06,640 --> 00:29:07,640 2 .8. 468 00:29:08,360 --> 00:29:10,380 I could probably waive the penalty. 469 00:29:11,150 --> 00:29:14,930 I hate to dump my personal problems on you, Mr. Fletcher, but 2 .8, huh? 470 00:29:15,790 --> 00:29:17,230 I could lose my job. 471 00:29:18,930 --> 00:29:22,190 What if I sneaked 2 .5 past my people? 472 00:29:22,990 --> 00:29:23,990 Wouldn't help. 473 00:29:24,170 --> 00:29:26,570 What do you think you could live with? 474 00:29:28,510 --> 00:29:30,010 How about 1 .4? 475 00:29:32,090 --> 00:29:33,890 Round numbers like that. 476 00:29:34,270 --> 00:29:35,270 Hmm. 477 00:29:36,150 --> 00:29:39,130 What about 1 ,700 ,000? 478 00:29:41,710 --> 00:29:42,750 $66 ,000. 479 00:29:43,910 --> 00:29:45,410 My boss will buy that. 480 00:29:45,870 --> 00:29:46,930 What about yours? 481 00:29:47,830 --> 00:29:50,910 $1 ,700 ,000. 482 00:29:52,150 --> 00:29:53,150 Let's change. 483 00:29:56,350 --> 00:29:58,930 Irving Lewis told me that you were a genius. 484 00:29:59,530 --> 00:30:01,530 That you had them bamboozled. 485 00:30:02,190 --> 00:30:07,630 Some genius. I committed a fraud. I could have been disbarred. Oh, and this 486 00:30:07,730 --> 00:30:10,250 all that happens is we lose a major client. 487 00:30:11,040 --> 00:30:12,040 Major dollars. 488 00:30:12,620 --> 00:30:17,980 Dollars that come directly out of my pocket as a partner in this firm. I 489 00:30:17,980 --> 00:30:19,740 think Irving will really pull out his business. 490 00:30:20,860 --> 00:30:22,140 You haven't told him yet. 491 00:30:22,400 --> 00:30:23,800 I can't get a hold of him. 492 00:30:24,180 --> 00:30:25,159 Oh. 493 00:30:25,160 --> 00:30:27,020 Well, you'll be sure and let me know when you do. 494 00:30:33,560 --> 00:30:35,220 And in the meantime, do it. 495 00:30:36,340 --> 00:30:37,239 Yes, sir. 496 00:30:37,240 --> 00:30:39,700 In the ecology of this firm's food chain, 497 00:30:45,360 --> 00:30:46,360 Yes, sir. 498 00:30:51,900 --> 00:30:53,240 Here are the points and authorities you need. 499 00:30:53,780 --> 00:30:57,300 Thanks. I have to pick Eric up at school and take him to the dentist, but I will 500 00:30:57,300 --> 00:30:58,400 be back by 2 .30. 501 00:30:58,840 --> 00:31:00,580 You don't have to clock in and out with me. 502 00:31:01,860 --> 00:31:03,060 Just take care of yourself. 503 00:31:03,500 --> 00:31:04,500 Okay. 504 00:31:05,280 --> 00:31:08,420 And... I'm here if you need to talk. 505 00:31:09,240 --> 00:31:10,240 Thank you. 506 00:31:10,620 --> 00:31:11,620 Really. 507 00:31:11,780 --> 00:31:12,780 Thanks. 508 00:31:31,690 --> 00:31:32,730 On Friday, she didn't even tell me. 509 00:31:32,970 --> 00:31:33,909 You are? 510 00:31:33,910 --> 00:31:35,210 Eric's mom. Abigail Pratt. 511 00:31:35,950 --> 00:31:37,030 Eric went home already. 512 00:31:38,590 --> 00:31:39,870 What do you mean he went home? 513 00:31:40,630 --> 00:31:41,770 His father picked him up. 514 00:31:42,430 --> 00:31:46,050 He can't. There's a restraining order. I told Stacy that. 515 00:31:46,250 --> 00:31:47,650 Sorry, nobody said anything to me. 516 00:31:49,490 --> 00:31:50,590 What time was he here? 517 00:31:51,410 --> 00:31:52,410 About 11 .30. 518 00:32:01,390 --> 00:32:03,070 Mr. Laughlin, who is Dr. 519 00:32:03,370 --> 00:32:04,370 Maxwell Rosen? 520 00:32:05,370 --> 00:32:08,630 He was the doctor who treated Jamie years ago after he fell off his swing 521 00:32:09,210 --> 00:32:11,230 And his injuries were quite serious. 522 00:32:12,050 --> 00:32:13,050 Is that right? 523 00:32:14,010 --> 00:32:15,710 Well, at the time, they sure seemed that way. 524 00:32:15,910 --> 00:32:17,170 To me and my wife, at least. 525 00:32:18,030 --> 00:32:20,230 But I guess that's the way all parents are. 526 00:32:20,610 --> 00:32:23,130 Anything that happens to your boy always hurts you the worst. 527 00:32:23,430 --> 00:32:27,640 And yet, Mr. Laughlin, when you were asked, in connection with this case... 528 00:32:27,640 --> 00:32:31,360 provide a list of all the doctors who had treated Jamie during any time in his 529 00:32:31,360 --> 00:32:34,400 life, you deliberately omitted Dr. Rosen's name. 530 00:32:34,700 --> 00:32:37,280 No, it was nothing deliberate. I just forgot to write it down. 531 00:32:37,540 --> 00:32:38,540 You forgot? 532 00:32:39,500 --> 00:32:43,520 Well, after the bumper car accident and worrying about Jamie, I couldn't 533 00:32:43,520 --> 00:32:47,060 remember everyone who ever filled a cavity or put on a Band -Aid. 534 00:32:47,300 --> 00:32:49,940 This was more than a Band -Aid. A lot more, wasn't it? 535 00:32:50,880 --> 00:32:51,880 Yes. 536 00:32:52,080 --> 00:32:53,080 Yes, you're right. 537 00:32:53,340 --> 00:32:56,100 And I'm sorry if it caused a problem, my forgetting it. 538 00:32:56,330 --> 00:32:59,470 Isn't it true that you deliberately omitted Dr. Rosen's name because you 539 00:32:59,470 --> 00:33:02,230 want anyone to know that it was the accident on the swing set that caused 540 00:33:02,230 --> 00:33:05,330 Jamie's neurological problems and not the bumper car ride? 541 00:33:05,530 --> 00:33:06,530 No. 542 00:33:06,950 --> 00:33:10,830 If you had seen Jamie after the bumper car accident, that's all I could think 543 00:33:10,830 --> 00:33:11,829 about. 544 00:33:11,830 --> 00:33:16,430 How badly he'd been hurt. It didn't even cross my mind to think about a little 545 00:33:16,430 --> 00:33:17,810 fall he had when he was a baby. 546 00:33:18,110 --> 00:33:22,270 Isn't it true, Mr. Laughlin, that you went so far as to change Jamie's last 547 00:33:22,270 --> 00:33:25,550 to prevent us from discovering his previous treatment by Dr. Rosen? 548 00:33:26,120 --> 00:33:27,140 What are you talking about? 549 00:33:27,680 --> 00:33:33,940 Mr. Laughlin, you testified yesterday about your son, Jamie's condition? 550 00:33:35,060 --> 00:33:38,780 Yes. Isn't it true that Jamie Laughlin is actually your adopted son? 551 00:33:39,120 --> 00:33:40,120 He's my son. 552 00:33:40,620 --> 00:33:44,880 And yes, I adopted him, but I don't see what this has to do with it. Isn't it 553 00:33:44,880 --> 00:33:47,180 true you adopted him right after the bumper car incident? 554 00:33:47,540 --> 00:33:48,600 A few months afterward. 555 00:33:49,620 --> 00:33:50,620 Interesting timing. 556 00:33:51,640 --> 00:33:52,640 What are you saying? 557 00:33:52,920 --> 00:33:56,180 Isn't it true that you adopted him because you saw the chance to make money 558 00:33:56,180 --> 00:33:57,180 of his insurance claim? 559 00:33:57,400 --> 00:33:59,260 As his father, you would get some of it, right? 560 00:33:59,460 --> 00:34:00,740 You could pay off your bookies. 561 00:34:01,300 --> 00:34:02,800 Objection. Withdraw the question. 562 00:34:03,400 --> 00:34:07,180 Isn't it true, Mr. Laughlin, that the reason you adopted Jamie and gave him a 563 00:34:07,180 --> 00:34:10,960 new last name is so that we would never discover any of his previous medical 564 00:34:10,960 --> 00:34:11,960 records at all? 565 00:34:12,100 --> 00:34:15,840 Do you really believe what you're saying, or are you just going after me 566 00:34:15,840 --> 00:34:18,300 this is your job? Just answer the question, Mr. Laughlin. 567 00:34:20,860 --> 00:34:21,860 All right. 568 00:34:25,520 --> 00:34:31,420 I adopted him because his biological father, my wife's ex -husband, 569 00:34:31,639 --> 00:34:34,980 wouldn't have anything to do with him after the bumper car accident. 570 00:34:36,699 --> 00:34:40,199 He said it made him too depressed to be around him. 571 00:34:42,500 --> 00:34:43,500 Poor little boy. 572 00:34:44,760 --> 00:34:48,620 He was in so much physical pain, he didn't need that kind of rejection, too. 573 00:34:50,580 --> 00:34:52,040 So I adopted Jamie. 574 00:34:53,239 --> 00:34:56,719 because I wanted him to know that he had a father who loved him. 575 00:35:14,430 --> 00:35:15,269 Date of birth? 576 00:35:15,270 --> 00:35:16,590 Born and stuck in 1983. 577 00:35:17,410 --> 00:35:18,510 Okay, height? 578 00:35:18,830 --> 00:35:20,330 About three foot two. 579 00:35:20,990 --> 00:35:24,550 Hair? Um, come on, it's kind of a hole cut. 580 00:35:25,710 --> 00:35:27,690 Weight? Thirty -five pounds. 581 00:35:28,310 --> 00:35:29,310 What was he wearing? 582 00:35:29,730 --> 00:35:31,690 Sneakers. They're red, high tops. 583 00:35:32,370 --> 00:35:33,370 Blue jeans. 584 00:35:33,650 --> 00:35:35,930 Um, a great night's t -shirt. 585 00:35:36,610 --> 00:35:37,650 I have a picture. 586 00:35:38,910 --> 00:35:42,150 Here's a copy of the restraining order. We've already spoken with Judge Robin. 587 00:35:42,410 --> 00:35:45,870 She'll issue a bench warrant as soon as you call. Okay, what kind of car does 588 00:35:45,870 --> 00:35:46,828 your husband drive? 589 00:35:46,830 --> 00:35:48,990 A 75 Volvo wagon, white. 590 00:35:49,350 --> 00:35:50,690 You know the license number offhand? 591 00:35:51,010 --> 00:35:52,750 No. That's okay. 592 00:35:53,130 --> 00:35:54,710 When we get it, we'll put it on the wire. 593 00:35:56,570 --> 00:35:57,650 That's it? 594 00:35:59,240 --> 00:36:01,080 Can you just put it on the wire? 595 00:36:01,300 --> 00:36:04,340 He's cleaned up both bank accounts. He's maxed out the credit cards. He's taken 596 00:36:04,340 --> 00:36:05,299 the boys' clothes. 597 00:36:05,300 --> 00:36:07,320 This is not a weekend trip to Disneyland, Detective. 598 00:36:07,660 --> 00:36:10,180 Counselor, do you know how many missing kid reports we get annually? 599 00:36:10,460 --> 00:36:12,560 It's volume one of the three -volume set. 600 00:36:12,820 --> 00:36:13,820 You want my advice? 601 00:36:14,240 --> 00:36:16,320 You get a good P .I. and you track them down yourself. 602 00:36:16,780 --> 00:36:17,780 Damn it, Detective. 603 00:36:17,960 --> 00:36:21,560 My husband violates a T .R .O., kidnapping my son, and the best thing 604 00:36:21,560 --> 00:36:25,220 tell me is to get my own P .I. Well, I'm sorry we don't have the time, manpower, 605 00:36:25,320 --> 00:36:26,800 or money to do the job for you. 606 00:36:57,629 --> 00:37:00,350 You can line on him, you give me a call, and we'll take it from there. Thank 607 00:37:00,350 --> 00:37:01,350 you, detective. 608 00:37:01,390 --> 00:37:03,750 You call Judge Robin, even as we speak. 609 00:37:26,380 --> 00:37:30,640 happened i'm terribly sorry thank you has there been any word or 610 00:37:30,640 --> 00:37:36,800 i'm sorry please sit down yes 611 00:37:36,800 --> 00:37:41,580 mr mckenzie mr lewis is here put him in the conference room tell him i'll be 612 00:37:41,580 --> 00:37:47,880 with him in a few minutes now then just tell me what we can do to help actually 613 00:37:47,880 --> 00:37:52,560 what i've been thinking under the circumstances i think that it might be 614 00:37:52,560 --> 00:37:53,880 firm's best interest if i was on 615 00:37:54,700 --> 00:37:56,380 Oh, I'll hear of no such thing. 616 00:37:57,120 --> 00:38:01,220 I won't be capable of doing the work that I... Miss Perkins, getting your son 617 00:38:01,220 --> 00:38:02,420 back is all that matters. 618 00:38:03,680 --> 00:38:07,320 Toward which end you will have the full resources of this firm at your disposal. 619 00:38:08,040 --> 00:38:09,040 Is that clear? 620 00:38:09,840 --> 00:38:10,840 Yes. 621 00:38:12,940 --> 00:38:13,940 Thank you, sir. 622 00:38:19,640 --> 00:38:22,800 But... I'm just so afraid. 623 00:38:23,290 --> 00:38:25,070 That I won't ever see him again. 624 00:38:37,830 --> 00:38:38,830 She's gone. 625 00:38:39,370 --> 00:38:40,370 Leland, she left me. 626 00:38:40,670 --> 00:38:43,990 After everything I gave her, huh? The money, the clothes, the lessons. 627 00:38:44,410 --> 00:38:46,750 She leaves me for that dancer in the video, the blondie. 628 00:38:47,810 --> 00:38:50,910 I thought he was a faggler. The agent calls me, practically gets on his knees, 629 00:38:50,950 --> 00:38:51,950 begging me to use him. 630 00:38:53,240 --> 00:38:55,900 Are you absolutely certain? She didn't come home last night. 631 00:38:56,740 --> 00:39:00,340 This morning I get a phone call. Collect, no less. She's in Hawaii with 632 00:39:00,340 --> 00:39:03,300 Yutz. She is a very young woman, Irving. 633 00:39:04,000 --> 00:39:05,280 Now, these things happen. 634 00:39:05,780 --> 00:39:08,800 A week or two, it'll run its course. Don't you think I said that? 635 00:39:11,040 --> 00:39:12,040 Sixty -six. 636 00:39:12,660 --> 00:39:13,940 I'm not the bull I used to be. 637 00:39:15,680 --> 00:39:18,660 Don't get me wrong. I mean, I function. I function plenty. Look, I can 638 00:39:18,660 --> 00:39:19,980 understand the fling I tell her. 639 00:39:20,360 --> 00:39:21,680 She says it's not a fling. 640 00:39:22,380 --> 00:39:24,440 It's deep spiritual love, she says. 641 00:39:25,040 --> 00:39:28,740 The first time she's ever... Oh, God. 642 00:39:29,500 --> 00:39:31,000 Oh, Leland. 643 00:39:31,480 --> 00:39:33,100 There's no fool like an old fool. 644 00:39:33,860 --> 00:39:34,860 I love her. 645 00:39:35,360 --> 00:39:36,360 And she left me. 646 00:39:37,020 --> 00:39:42,020 I know how you must feel, but I've got to believe that she'll come back. Oh, 647 00:39:42,080 --> 00:39:43,080 it's over. 648 00:39:43,780 --> 00:39:45,080 My life has turned to crap. 649 00:39:45,440 --> 00:39:48,100 And she says she's happy for the first time in her life. She says I made her 650 00:39:48,100 --> 00:39:49,100 sick. 651 00:39:49,430 --> 00:39:52,110 She says she wants a divorce right away. She's going to defeat him. Now, what 652 00:39:52,110 --> 00:39:53,110 the hell is that? 653 00:39:53,790 --> 00:39:57,070 I think we'd better get Becker and Markowitz onto this right away. Well, do 654 00:39:57,070 --> 00:39:58,070 you want. 655 00:39:59,330 --> 00:39:59,988 Let's go. 656 00:39:59,990 --> 00:40:01,010 The old man wants us. 657 00:40:01,250 --> 00:40:03,930 What for? He's got Irving Lewis with him. Oh, God, Mom. 658 00:40:04,950 --> 00:40:05,749 That's it? 659 00:40:05,750 --> 00:40:06,750 I'm finished? 660 00:40:06,790 --> 00:40:08,610 Well, the one who's finished is Irving Lewis. 661 00:40:09,290 --> 00:40:10,290 Bimbo wife? 662 00:40:10,330 --> 00:40:11,630 Left him for the arms of another. 663 00:40:12,610 --> 00:40:13,610 She left him? 664 00:40:15,090 --> 00:40:16,290 She left him as in divorce? 665 00:40:17,250 --> 00:40:18,250 As in? 666 00:40:25,360 --> 00:40:28,900 Mrs. Lewis will try to say it's a community business expense, of course. 667 00:40:28,900 --> 00:40:31,940 IRS already said it's no business. And is the IRS ever wrong? 668 00:40:32,160 --> 00:40:36,540 Never. It's a hobby. And all the money Irving poured into Mrs. Lewis's little 669 00:40:36,540 --> 00:40:39,720 hobby was of a personal nature. On top of which, they're on the books as loans 670 00:40:39,720 --> 00:40:40,920 anyway for accounting purposes. 671 00:40:41,600 --> 00:40:44,200 Loans. Due and payable upon dissolution of the corporation. 672 00:40:45,080 --> 00:40:46,540 We dissolve the corporation. 673 00:40:47,000 --> 00:40:50,900 Call the loans, subtract that from the community assets, as well as Mrs. 674 00:40:50,900 --> 00:40:53,720 liability for half the $1 .7 million in back taxes. 675 00:40:54,190 --> 00:40:57,830 And the way I figure it, Mrs. Lewis is going to end up owing money to Mr. 676 00:40:58,210 --> 00:41:02,110 Stuart Markowitz, you total schnauzer. I love it. 677 00:41:02,770 --> 00:41:04,290 Is it with Kosher what we're doing? 678 00:41:04,730 --> 00:41:08,910 Absolutely. Leland, I hate this whole thing. I wish it wasn't happening. 679 00:41:09,630 --> 00:41:13,210 But I feel like these boys are my own sons. They're so smart. 680 00:41:14,350 --> 00:41:15,850 That's what we're here for, Irv. 681 00:41:16,350 --> 00:41:17,350 And you! 682 00:41:18,540 --> 00:41:23,040 I thought I was going to have to give you a smack after that tax fiasco, but 683 00:41:23,040 --> 00:41:25,580 turned a cow's ear into a sheepskin first. 684 00:41:27,080 --> 00:41:28,080 Counselor. 685 00:41:29,100 --> 00:41:30,440 Mr. Ressler. 686 00:41:30,740 --> 00:41:32,240 Got your dancing shoes on? 687 00:41:33,900 --> 00:41:36,940 $150 ,000 right now. It's dead. 688 00:41:39,880 --> 00:41:42,240 What? You got me on the ropes. 689 00:41:42,580 --> 00:41:45,420 Off the record, your clients are scum. 690 00:41:45,800 --> 00:41:48,320 We both know it. But the jury doesn't, or they don't care. 691 00:41:48,660 --> 00:41:50,620 Besides, look at me and look at you. 692 00:41:50,980 --> 00:41:54,080 Juries generally don't find me particularly attractive or sympathetic. 693 00:41:54,500 --> 00:41:58,100 Whereas you're a persuasive lawyer, Mr. Cusack. A good -looking and personable 694 00:41:58,100 --> 00:42:01,600 man. And of course, there's the pitiful little boy sitting there in the 695 00:42:01,600 --> 00:42:02,600 courtroom. 696 00:42:02,780 --> 00:42:04,280 We run this through our computers. 697 00:42:04,920 --> 00:42:09,660 In cases with injuries similar to this, the awards range from a low of $400 ,000 698 00:42:09,660 --> 00:42:10,740 to millions of dollars. 699 00:42:11,880 --> 00:42:15,670 So... So $150 ,000 seems like a bargain. 700 00:42:15,950 --> 00:42:19,350 Like I said before, Mr. Cusack, I think you're an ethical attorney. 701 00:42:19,630 --> 00:42:22,790 I want to believe you don't like rewarding thieves any more than I do. 702 00:42:23,070 --> 00:42:27,190 But as far as I can see, this is the only way to make this damn case go away. 703 00:42:30,830 --> 00:42:32,770 Let me talk to my clients. 704 00:42:34,170 --> 00:42:35,830 $150 ,000? Is he kidding? 705 00:42:36,210 --> 00:42:37,310 Tell him to jam it. 706 00:42:38,310 --> 00:42:41,570 Under the circumstances, it sounds like a pretty decent offer to me. 707 00:42:42,350 --> 00:42:45,630 Circumstances? That guy's gonna get his head handed to him by that jury, and he 708 00:42:45,630 --> 00:42:47,390 knows it. There's your circumstances. 709 00:42:48,030 --> 00:42:49,030 That may be. 710 00:42:49,370 --> 00:42:50,670 Then two things are gonna happen. 711 00:42:51,130 --> 00:42:52,970 One, they're gonna appeal the judgment. 712 00:42:53,390 --> 00:42:55,270 It'll be years before you ever see a dime. 713 00:42:55,870 --> 00:42:59,710 And two, they're gonna go to the D .A. to bring charges against you for fraud. 714 00:43:00,810 --> 00:43:02,370 Oh, they can't prove a damn thing. 715 00:43:02,870 --> 00:43:04,370 You're a good actor, Mr. Laughlin. 716 00:43:04,850 --> 00:43:06,370 You really had that jury going. 717 00:43:06,910 --> 00:43:07,910 But don't kid yourself. 718 00:43:08,350 --> 00:43:10,550 There's a strong case here for fraud. 719 00:43:11,170 --> 00:43:14,030 And if you're found guilty, it could vitiate the original judgment. 720 00:43:14,330 --> 00:43:16,550 What's that mean, vitiate? 721 00:43:16,810 --> 00:43:17,810 Weaken. 722 00:43:18,230 --> 00:43:22,110 Invalidate. In short, Mr. Laughlin, you could wind up with nothing but a jail 723 00:43:22,110 --> 00:43:23,610 sentence and a pile of legal fees. 724 00:43:24,110 --> 00:43:26,370 Lawyers, you all stick together, don't you? 725 00:43:26,890 --> 00:43:29,410 What'd that guy Ressler offer you to jack us up, huh? 726 00:43:30,790 --> 00:43:35,130 Mr. Laughlin, my firm has no interest in benefiting from fraud. 727 00:43:35,950 --> 00:43:39,750 If you decide to take Mr. Reznor's offer, we intend to waive our 728 00:43:40,090 --> 00:43:47,030 If we accept, what happens to the money? The entire $150 ,000 will go into 729 00:43:47,030 --> 00:43:49,890 a trust for Jamie's special educational and medical needs. 730 00:43:50,310 --> 00:43:51,310 We'll take it. 731 00:43:51,810 --> 00:43:53,910 Hey, come on. He's my son. 732 00:43:54,330 --> 00:43:55,430 Well, what about us? 733 00:43:55,890 --> 00:43:57,110 What about our needs? 734 00:43:57,990 --> 00:43:59,870 Try getting a job, Mr. Laughlin. 735 00:44:07,280 --> 00:44:10,980 And did you state that on the Sunday morning in question, you accidentally 736 00:44:10,980 --> 00:44:15,160 Mr. Jackson on the head with a Steve Garvey model K -55 Louisville plugger? 737 00:44:15,340 --> 00:44:16,340 That's right. 738 00:44:16,580 --> 00:44:17,580 Accidentally. 739 00:44:17,740 --> 00:44:22,720 Mr. LaFollette, if in fact you were not intending to rob Mr. Jackson, what were 740 00:44:22,720 --> 00:44:25,680 you doing with a baseball bat concealed on your person in the first place? 741 00:44:26,020 --> 00:44:27,640 I play in a softball league. 742 00:44:27,920 --> 00:44:29,480 I was on my way to the game. 743 00:44:29,720 --> 00:44:32,080 At 6 .30 a .m. in a dashiki? 744 00:44:32,300 --> 00:44:34,220 My uniform was in the dry cleaner. 745 00:44:36,490 --> 00:44:37,490 I see. 746 00:44:38,050 --> 00:44:39,310 Thank you, Mr. LaFollette. 747 00:44:39,630 --> 00:44:40,910 No more questions, Your Honor. 748 00:44:41,170 --> 00:44:46,070 You may step down, Mr. LaFollette. And as the hour is growing late, let us 749 00:44:46,070 --> 00:44:47,810 adjourn until 9 a .m. 750 00:44:51,370 --> 00:44:52,690 I got that case won. 751 00:44:53,450 --> 00:44:55,050 Not exactly inherit the win. 752 00:44:55,550 --> 00:44:57,410 Careful, that's my favorite movie ever. 753 00:44:58,870 --> 00:45:00,970 Actually, I became a lawyer because of Spencer Tracy. 754 00:45:01,790 --> 00:45:03,210 For me, it was Gregory Peck. 755 00:45:03,430 --> 00:45:04,430 Oh, get out of here. 756 00:45:04,650 --> 00:45:05,650 To Kill a Mockingbird? 757 00:45:06,600 --> 00:45:10,540 Well, Gregory Peck was good, but Spencer Tracy, he was... Well, you'd get along 758 00:45:10,540 --> 00:45:12,520 great with my dad. He loves Spencer Tracy, too. 759 00:45:13,000 --> 00:45:14,000 Your dad a lawyer? 760 00:45:14,280 --> 00:45:15,700 Mm -mm. He's a milkman. 761 00:45:17,520 --> 00:45:19,460 So, has he met old what's -his -name yet? 762 00:45:21,040 --> 00:45:23,500 He meets old what's -his -name this weekend. 763 00:45:24,180 --> 00:45:25,420 I'm pretty nervous about it. 764 00:45:25,700 --> 00:45:27,560 Well, I got a good idea. Why don't you take me instead? 765 00:45:29,240 --> 00:45:30,420 You're getting pushy again. 766 00:45:30,880 --> 00:45:31,880 That's not pushy. 767 00:45:32,860 --> 00:45:34,280 If I was to kiss you... 768 00:45:35,600 --> 00:45:37,000 That would be pushy. 769 00:45:38,700 --> 00:45:42,280 There's a two -word description for what I'd be if I let you kiss me, Mr. Kuzak, 770 00:45:42,280 --> 00:45:44,260 and the second word rhymes with freezer. 771 00:45:46,520 --> 00:45:47,580 Good night, Counselor.