1 00:00:02,779 --> 00:00:04,200 Previously on L .A. Law. 2 00:00:04,420 --> 00:00:08,020 Are you at all familiar with the canon of ethics as it pertains to an 3 00:00:08,020 --> 00:00:10,880 obligation when he discovers the unauthorized practice of law? 4 00:00:11,160 --> 00:00:14,280 Your Honor. When he's made aware of the ongoing commission of a crime? 5 00:00:14,920 --> 00:00:18,280 Forgive me, Your Honor, but I didn't think that my client should be 6 00:00:18,280 --> 00:00:19,520 by this man's fraud. 7 00:00:19,880 --> 00:00:23,200 I'm declaring this a mistrial, and I'm referring you to the disciplinary 8 00:00:23,200 --> 00:00:27,440 committee of the Bar Association. You can tell them how you were trying to 9 00:00:27,440 --> 00:00:28,480 the interests of justice. 10 00:00:30,600 --> 00:00:32,439 You think there might be another way to go about this? 11 00:00:33,720 --> 00:00:34,720 Tell me how. 12 00:00:36,180 --> 00:00:38,360 Once we have the baby, does it really matter where we got it? 13 00:00:41,040 --> 00:00:43,100 Adoption. I think we ought to give it a shot. 14 00:00:46,400 --> 00:00:48,020 Can you take this good care of everyone? 15 00:00:48,460 --> 00:00:49,780 No, the truth is I don't. 16 00:00:52,540 --> 00:00:54,340 I've got a wicked crush on you, Abigail. 17 00:00:54,980 --> 00:00:56,280 You might as well know it. 18 00:00:56,560 --> 00:00:57,479 Oh, boy. 19 00:00:57,480 --> 00:00:58,480 Ms. Weiler. 20 00:00:58,960 --> 00:01:02,900 I admire your determination, but I'm wondering if you've forgotten what it's 21 00:01:02,900 --> 00:01:04,420 like to be a junior associate. 22 00:01:05,099 --> 00:01:06,180 Compared to my divorce? 23 00:01:06,700 --> 00:01:08,100 Let me tell you, it's nothing. 24 00:01:08,760 --> 00:01:11,540 Anyway, I'm sure you're not that interested in my personal life. 25 00:01:11,820 --> 00:01:13,520 Thank you for your time, Mr. Brackman. 26 00:01:14,340 --> 00:01:20,300 Ms. Weiler, I have to talk to my partners, but would you be able to start 27 00:01:20,300 --> 00:01:21,300 Monday? 28 00:01:25,520 --> 00:01:27,240 Mackenzie Brackman, Chaney and Cusack. 29 00:01:41,949 --> 00:01:44,630 What are you looking at, Waldo? 30 00:01:48,530 --> 00:01:49,770 You're making him talk. 31 00:01:51,090 --> 00:01:54,510 Oh, oh, you guys are going to get along just great. You're both dummies. 32 00:01:55,130 --> 00:01:56,130 Hey, Waldo. 33 00:01:56,440 --> 00:01:57,399 Have another donut. 34 00:01:57,400 --> 00:01:59,240 Why settle for tubby when you could be fat? 35 00:02:00,940 --> 00:02:01,960 What's the matter, Waldo? 36 00:02:02,200 --> 00:02:03,580 Huh? Cat got your tongue? 37 00:02:03,800 --> 00:02:06,920 Stop it. Stop calling me Waldo. My name is Benny. 38 00:02:09,199 --> 00:02:10,199 Sorry, Benny. 39 00:02:11,080 --> 00:02:11,999 Mr. Peterson? 40 00:02:12,000 --> 00:02:13,000 That's us, Ace. 41 00:02:13,520 --> 00:02:14,520 Come on in. 42 00:02:16,800 --> 00:02:20,440 Hey, Waldo. Did you hear about the moron who ate the refrigerator bowl? 43 00:02:20,680 --> 00:02:22,240 He wanted to have a light lunch. 44 00:04:24,180 --> 00:04:28,140 Before we begin, for those of you who haven't met her, I'd like to introduce 45 00:04:28,220 --> 00:04:31,620 Dorothy Weiler, our new associate, who begins employment with us today. 46 00:04:31,980 --> 00:04:35,380 Ms. Weiler will initially be concentrating on corporate matters, and 47 00:04:35,380 --> 00:04:37,400 assignments to her are to be channeled through me. 48 00:04:38,000 --> 00:04:42,360 First item up, a reminder to all that the Christmas party will commence at the 49 00:04:42,360 --> 00:04:43,360 close of business Thursday. 50 00:04:44,110 --> 00:04:48,970 A further reminder that business concludes at 6 .30 p .m. Ho, ho, ho, 51 00:04:49,750 --> 00:04:53,850 Feel free to invite your clients to share in the holiday chair, provided 52 00:04:53,850 --> 00:04:58,050 generated over 200 hours of business this year and their accounts are not 53 00:04:58,050 --> 00:05:02,010 60 days past due. Stuart, I trust you've taken care of catering? 54 00:05:02,990 --> 00:05:07,170 On a less jolly note, where do we stand with your inquisition, Michael? 55 00:05:07,510 --> 00:05:10,650 I'm appearing before the disciplinary committee this morning with the able 56 00:05:10,650 --> 00:05:12,590 Victor Cifuentes at my side. 57 00:05:12,890 --> 00:05:16,390 They wouldn't levy a fine against the firm, would they? They don't levy fines, 58 00:05:16,390 --> 00:05:18,990 Doc. My guess is a private censure. 59 00:05:19,230 --> 00:05:22,930 So what happens to, uh, what's his name, Mathers? He's up on criminal charges 60 00:05:22,930 --> 00:05:24,590 for fraud, impersonating a lawyer. 61 00:05:25,270 --> 00:05:28,870 Last I heard, he got an expedited trial, and he's representing himself. 62 00:05:29,290 --> 00:05:31,870 How incompetent could he be if he got himself an expedited trial? 63 00:05:32,190 --> 00:05:34,530 Moving on. People versus Peterson. 64 00:05:34,790 --> 00:05:36,010 In the Twilight Zone. 65 00:05:36,810 --> 00:05:41,260 This guy's charged with assaulting a police officer, resisting arrest... 66 00:05:41,260 --> 00:05:43,640 only talk through a nasty little dummy named Gilbert. 67 00:05:44,040 --> 00:05:47,520 The guy's a certifiable kookaboo. Well, you're gonna have to use the well -known 68 00:05:47,520 --> 00:05:48,520 kookaboo defense. 69 00:05:49,640 --> 00:05:51,640 Seriously, Leland, I don't know what to do. 70 00:05:52,040 --> 00:05:54,980 I waltz this guy into court without his dummy, I don't have a case. 71 00:05:55,360 --> 00:05:58,900 I waltz in with the dummy, they laugh me out of the courthouse. Well, I'm not 72 00:05:58,900 --> 00:06:01,440 unmindful of the degree of difficulty here, Jonathan. 73 00:06:02,560 --> 00:06:06,180 We're all aware of Kenny Peterson's extensive psychiatric history and the 74 00:06:06,180 --> 00:06:10,740 unfortunate event which precipitated it, but... His father is one of our more 75 00:06:10,740 --> 00:06:14,820 prized clients, and I have assured Peterson Sr. that his son will be 76 00:06:14,820 --> 00:06:16,980 and successfully defended in this matter. 77 00:06:17,540 --> 00:06:21,040 I trust you'll accomplish this in your inimitable fashion. 78 00:06:21,620 --> 00:06:22,620 I'll do my best. 79 00:06:22,960 --> 00:06:24,120 Mm -hmm. Good, good. 80 00:06:24,580 --> 00:06:25,580 Move along, I guess. 81 00:06:26,360 --> 00:06:28,740 Amanda Shaw versus the National Informer. 82 00:06:29,000 --> 00:06:31,020 Settlement offer was up to $300 ,000. 83 00:06:31,280 --> 00:06:32,760 Amanda takes a stand today. 84 00:06:33,020 --> 00:06:36,640 Yes, me, I'd take the $300 ,000. Celebrities almost never win libel 85 00:06:37,050 --> 00:06:40,710 We're talking about an actress with an image purer than ivory soap. An image 86 00:06:40,710 --> 00:06:44,010 completely destroyed by the lies they printed. So she should run with it. 87 00:06:44,350 --> 00:06:47,810 Enjoy all the controversy and move up to something R -rated. Get away from all 88 00:06:47,810 --> 00:06:49,110 those G -rated musicals. 89 00:06:49,530 --> 00:06:50,610 I'll mention it to her. 90 00:06:50,910 --> 00:06:53,850 Finally, Masterson versus Omni -American. 91 00:06:54,110 --> 00:06:57,750 Trial starts next week, and I'm going to need some backup on that. Whatever you 92 00:06:57,750 --> 00:07:01,430 need. Dorothy, coordinate with Michael. And Stuart, maybe you could jump in to 93 00:07:01,430 --> 00:07:02,349 crunch some numbers? 94 00:07:02,350 --> 00:07:03,089 No problem. 95 00:07:03,090 --> 00:07:04,090 Let's not blow this one. 96 00:07:04,330 --> 00:07:07,890 Aside from this case bringing in major revenue, this is a real chance to show 97 00:07:07,890 --> 00:07:11,250 that we can handle sophisticated antitrust cases as well as the big boys. 98 00:07:11,510 --> 00:07:13,250 Jack Matheson still pleased, Michael? 99 00:07:13,690 --> 00:07:14,770 Yeah, so far so good. 100 00:07:15,590 --> 00:07:16,590 He loves me. 101 00:07:16,850 --> 00:07:20,710 Yes? Well, on that megalomaniac reflection, go again. 102 00:07:23,890 --> 00:07:25,270 Ann. Stuart. 103 00:07:28,410 --> 00:07:29,810 News on the adoption front. 104 00:07:31,039 --> 00:07:34,400 I've got you in with Ross Burnett, Wednesday, 12 .30, his office. 105 00:07:34,600 --> 00:07:36,980 Kidding. I thought there was a six -month wait for this guy. 106 00:07:37,300 --> 00:07:40,760 There is, but I pulled a few strings for him on his divorce, and he owes me one. 107 00:07:41,640 --> 00:07:44,260 But it's just a meeting, right? I mean, we're not committed to anything. 108 00:07:45,960 --> 00:07:49,000 Look, I think he assumes you're ready to go forward. 109 00:07:49,880 --> 00:07:50,880 What's the charge? 110 00:07:51,440 --> 00:07:52,440 $15 ,000. 111 00:07:52,880 --> 00:07:53,880 What? 112 00:07:54,540 --> 00:07:56,360 Look, Ann, they don't give him away. 113 00:07:57,550 --> 00:08:00,890 I don't want to feel like a couple of overprivileged adults who go out and buy 114 00:08:00,890 --> 00:08:02,750 baby the way you go out and buy a car. 115 00:08:02,990 --> 00:08:05,830 Look, you're paying Ross for his legal services. The birth mother for her rent 116 00:08:05,830 --> 00:08:07,930 and medical expenses is totally legitimate. 117 00:08:09,030 --> 00:08:12,330 The other thing to remember is that she has the right to take the baby back any 118 00:08:12,330 --> 00:08:13,810 time until the consent form is signed. 119 00:08:14,050 --> 00:08:15,009 How long is that? 120 00:08:15,010 --> 00:08:16,010 About six months. 121 00:08:16,510 --> 00:08:17,510 Six months? 122 00:08:17,670 --> 00:08:20,470 Ann, we're going to take it one step at a time, okay? 123 00:08:23,670 --> 00:08:25,010 Okay. Okay. 124 00:08:25,290 --> 00:08:26,290 We're in business there. 125 00:08:39,059 --> 00:08:40,059 Thanks. Who's that? 126 00:08:41,460 --> 00:08:42,659 What are you doing here? 127 00:08:42,940 --> 00:08:44,240 I thought I'd lend you my support. 128 00:08:45,420 --> 00:08:46,900 In exchange for what? 129 00:08:48,240 --> 00:08:49,260 You doing the same. 130 00:08:49,640 --> 00:08:51,860 I testify for you, you testify for me. 131 00:08:52,280 --> 00:08:53,400 Very symmetrical, no? 132 00:08:53,700 --> 00:08:54,700 No. 133 00:08:56,310 --> 00:08:58,130 He'd be helping me out. Hey, don't look at me. 134 00:08:59,890 --> 00:09:03,670 Mike, I'm sorry, but I don't want you to be my witness, and I certainly don't 135 00:09:03,670 --> 00:09:04,670 want to be yours. 136 00:09:05,690 --> 00:09:06,950 First part of that's up to you. 137 00:09:08,050 --> 00:09:09,350 The second part's up to me. 138 00:09:10,510 --> 00:09:11,510 Here's your subpoena. 139 00:09:11,990 --> 00:09:14,090 If you could get there by 10 o 'clock, that'd be great. 140 00:09:19,310 --> 00:09:23,350 As the evidence clearly has established, Michael Cusack violated disciplinary 141 00:09:23,350 --> 00:09:26,920 rule... 3 -1 -0 -1, in aiding the unauthorized practice of law. 142 00:09:27,140 --> 00:09:28,140 If the committee, please. 143 00:09:28,760 --> 00:09:33,080 In order to assess Mr. Kuzak's ethical conduct, I believe it first necessary to 144 00:09:33,080 --> 00:09:35,260 appreciate the circumstances under which it occurred. 145 00:09:35,620 --> 00:09:37,140 In other words, you got an excuse. 146 00:09:38,440 --> 00:09:42,720 The discovery that Richard Mathers was unlicensed to practice law came more 147 00:09:42,720 --> 00:09:46,700 halfway through the trial. The issue here is that the court didn't learn of 148 00:09:46,700 --> 00:09:47,880 until after the verdict. 149 00:09:48,240 --> 00:09:49,540 Then from only Mr. Mathers himself. 150 00:09:49,980 --> 00:09:53,540 Well, if you could just stand back from the code for one moment, I think that 151 00:09:53,540 --> 00:09:56,360 you'll see that the only motivation here was a fair settlement. 152 00:09:57,100 --> 00:10:01,120 We don't stand back from the code, Mr. Cifuentes. We enforce it. 153 00:10:01,320 --> 00:10:05,360 I understand that, ma 'am. Furthermore, this isn't some nitpicking technical 154 00:10:05,360 --> 00:10:07,000 violation we're talking about. 155 00:10:07,580 --> 00:10:12,900 These charges indicate conduct in direct violation of a lawyer's obligation as 156 00:10:12,900 --> 00:10:14,120 an officer of the court. 157 00:10:14,420 --> 00:10:15,540 All my Cusack did. 158 00:10:15,910 --> 00:10:19,930 was try to avoid having Richard Mathers' fraud force his client into protracted 159 00:10:19,930 --> 00:10:21,610 litigation and considerable further expense. 160 00:10:21,930 --> 00:10:23,410 That's not the concern of this committee. 161 00:10:23,710 --> 00:10:25,750 Well, with all due respect, maybe it should be. 162 00:10:26,170 --> 00:10:30,370 Mike... If the only question here is did I or did I not violate the code, let's 163 00:10:30,370 --> 00:10:31,470 stop wasting each other's time. 164 00:10:31,690 --> 00:10:32,689 I did. 165 00:10:32,690 --> 00:10:36,350 But you only talk about a lawyer's obligation as an officer of the court. 166 00:10:36,350 --> 00:10:40,730 about my obligation to my client? Your first loyalty is to the legal system. 167 00:10:40,730 --> 00:10:42,470 purpose of which is to administer justice. 168 00:10:43,740 --> 00:10:45,940 Richard Mathers was a highly skilled practitioner. 169 00:10:46,200 --> 00:10:49,720 There's no argument about that. Mr. Cusack and he went head to head. Both 170 00:10:49,720 --> 00:10:52,640 clients received skilled, uncompromised representation. 171 00:10:53,340 --> 00:10:54,980 Tell me what that is, if not justice. 172 00:10:55,960 --> 00:10:58,980 And you, in fact, read this article on the day it was published, correct? 173 00:10:59,220 --> 00:11:01,220 It wasn't even two weeks after my daughter's death. 174 00:11:02,560 --> 00:11:09,220 I had just buried my little girl when I picked up that paper and read those 175 00:11:09,220 --> 00:11:11,980 lies. Could you tell us exactly what the lies were, Miss Shaw? 176 00:11:12,320 --> 00:11:16,720 They said, They printed that I was having sexual intercourse with Elena's 177 00:11:16,720 --> 00:11:18,700 boyfriend, her 17 -year -old boyfriend. 178 00:11:19,780 --> 00:11:24,340 And that when Elena found out about it, that's when she took the overdose. 179 00:11:25,200 --> 00:11:29,180 I know it's painful, but I'd like you to try to describe the humiliation you 180 00:11:29,180 --> 00:11:30,180 felt. Humiliation? 181 00:11:30,560 --> 00:11:34,660 They said that I was sleeping with my teenage daughter's boyfriend, that I 182 00:11:34,660 --> 00:11:36,920 helped cause her suicide. 183 00:11:38,100 --> 00:11:42,060 I know that goes way, way beyond humiliation. 184 00:11:43,880 --> 00:11:47,100 Do you think that I'm sitting in this chair right now because I feel 185 00:11:49,340 --> 00:11:51,860 Has there been any public reaction to this article? 186 00:11:52,120 --> 00:11:53,860 I get letters every day. 187 00:11:54,340 --> 00:11:57,600 Letters calling me perverted, twisted, sick. 188 00:11:59,420 --> 00:12:04,620 My friends have all backed away because they feel that if they've printed that, 189 00:12:04,820 --> 00:12:08,740 there must be something to it. What about the professional reaction? 190 00:12:09,120 --> 00:12:11,620 As far as the studios are concerned, I make people sick. 191 00:12:12,190 --> 00:12:16,130 I'm the repulsive mother who screwed her daughter's teenage boyfriend. 192 00:12:17,750 --> 00:12:19,550 Would you want me on your marquee? 193 00:12:20,010 --> 00:12:21,590 Thank you. Nothing further. 194 00:12:25,390 --> 00:12:32,290 I take it from your testimony that you did not have sex with Michael Lyons. 195 00:12:32,430 --> 00:12:37,190 Of course I didn't. Yet, you were physically attracted to him, were you 196 00:12:37,530 --> 00:12:39,210 He was my daughter's boyfriend. 197 00:12:39,790 --> 00:12:44,590 Did you not refer to him in a talk show interview as being fabulously handsome 198 00:12:44,590 --> 00:12:45,469 and sexy? 199 00:12:45,470 --> 00:12:49,870 I was talking about my daughter and how wonderful Michael and she were together. 200 00:12:50,090 --> 00:12:53,790 And you said that he was handsome and sexy, didn't you? Yes, but I... Did you 201 00:12:53,790 --> 00:12:56,010 ever kiss this sexy guy, Miss Shaw? 202 00:12:56,350 --> 00:13:02,570 Romantically, no. The question is, have you ever kissed Michael Lyons? You mean, 203 00:13:02,630 --> 00:13:04,510 have I ever kissed him hello or goodbye? 204 00:13:04,830 --> 00:13:07,990 Yes. Did he ever swim with you naked in your backyard pool? 205 00:13:09,240 --> 00:13:10,880 I'm sorry, did you not hear the question? 206 00:13:11,160 --> 00:13:13,900 You're taking that out of context. Now, that was a party where a couple of the 207 00:13:13,900 --> 00:13:17,680 kids ended up going skinny dipping. Including you and this fabulously sexy 208 00:13:17,680 --> 00:13:19,220 teenager completely naked. 209 00:13:19,460 --> 00:13:22,560 I had my suit on and I got out the minute they took theirs off. 210 00:13:22,760 --> 00:13:23,760 I'm sure you did. 211 00:13:23,940 --> 00:13:24,809 Ma 'am. 212 00:13:24,810 --> 00:13:29,830 On February 22nd, 1986, when your daughter was away on a ski trip, did 213 00:13:29,830 --> 00:13:33,010 Lyons spend the night at your house? He had a fight with his father, and his 214 00:13:33,010 --> 00:13:36,010 mother called me and asked me if I would put him up for one night. Your 215 00:13:36,010 --> 00:13:39,850 suggestion is completely perverted. Well, now, all I am suggesting is that 216 00:13:39,850 --> 00:13:41,830 possible for people to get the wrong idea. 217 00:13:42,190 --> 00:13:44,010 No, it is not possible. 218 00:13:44,210 --> 00:13:48,670 Ma 'am, you publicly declared your attraction for him on a talk show. You 219 00:13:48,670 --> 00:13:52,710 him, you hugged him, you spent the night alone with him in your house. You are a 220 00:13:52,710 --> 00:13:54,010 bastard! Miss Shaw. 221 00:13:54,430 --> 00:14:00,410 I'm sorry, Miss Shaw. I am just demonstrating how it looks to me right 222 00:14:00,410 --> 00:14:02,930 how it looked to my client when he published that article. 223 00:14:03,150 --> 00:14:05,710 Move to strike the speech, Your Honor. I'll withdraw it. 224 00:14:07,970 --> 00:14:08,970 Nothing further. 225 00:14:25,710 --> 00:14:26,750 And what happened next, officer? 226 00:14:26,970 --> 00:14:30,630 I pulled him over and started writing up the citation when this dummy strapped 227 00:14:30,630 --> 00:14:34,270 into a car seat starts ridiculing me. The dummy was ridiculing you? Well, 228 00:14:34,310 --> 00:14:37,950 Peterson, but he was doing it through the dummy. So what did you do? I warned 229 00:14:37,950 --> 00:14:41,670 him to stop. He didn't. And when he became verbally abusive, I impounded the 230 00:14:41,670 --> 00:14:45,050 dummy and attempted to place it in the trunk of my unit for safekeeping. 231 00:14:45,630 --> 00:14:47,530 That's when he jumped on me. Mr. Peterson? 232 00:14:47,730 --> 00:14:51,290 Right. He just came at me like a madman, so I said, that's it. You're busted. 233 00:14:51,630 --> 00:14:55,430 Then he really went berserk, knocked me down, and started pummeling me. 234 00:14:55,680 --> 00:14:59,340 Did Mr. Peterson injure you, sir? Chipped three teeth, 12 stitches in my 235 00:14:59,340 --> 00:15:01,860 forehead. I was on disability for two weeks. 236 00:15:02,120 --> 00:15:03,019 Thank you, sir. 237 00:15:03,020 --> 00:15:04,020 Nothing further. 238 00:15:06,440 --> 00:15:07,560 Why'd you grab the dummy, sir? 239 00:15:07,780 --> 00:15:10,820 Excuse me? You said that prior to my client attacking you, you grabbed the 240 00:15:10,820 --> 00:15:12,680 dummy. I'm asking you why. 241 00:15:12,900 --> 00:15:14,220 You should have heard what he was calling me. 242 00:15:15,220 --> 00:15:19,000 Well, I mean, I know it was Peterson, but it was through... Well, if you knew 243 00:15:19,000 --> 00:15:21,260 was Mr. Peterson, why'd you grab the dummy? 244 00:15:21,790 --> 00:15:25,850 I don't know. I was agitated. I lost my head and out of impulse, I... So, at the 245 00:15:25,850 --> 00:15:28,870 time of this arrest, you... your mental facilities were impaired and you were 246 00:15:28,870 --> 00:15:30,670 acting impulsively? I didn't say that. 247 00:15:30,890 --> 00:15:33,310 Well, what did you say? I'm saying if you had been there... Ha! 248 00:15:33,530 --> 00:15:35,270 He's got that pig squirming now. 249 00:15:35,990 --> 00:15:37,910 Objection. You see, that's what I had to put up with. 250 00:15:38,110 --> 00:15:41,830 You broke my arm, you infected grunt. I should have broke your head. 251 00:15:42,090 --> 00:15:43,069 Hey! 252 00:15:43,070 --> 00:15:47,910 Mr. Rollins, I thank you to control your client. And Officer Jordan, would you 253 00:15:47,910 --> 00:15:50,210 please refrain from addressing the puppet? 254 00:15:52,280 --> 00:15:55,460 What did you do with the dummy after you grabbed it, sir? I just put it away for 255 00:15:55,460 --> 00:15:58,780 safekeeping. You stunk me in the trunk of your car, you Nazi! 256 00:15:59,160 --> 00:16:00,160 That's it. 257 00:16:00,260 --> 00:16:01,940 Bailiff, confiscate that thing. 258 00:16:02,160 --> 00:16:03,139 Your Honor, I object. 259 00:16:03,140 --> 00:16:06,620 My client cannot communicate without that dummy, Judge. 260 00:16:07,160 --> 00:16:10,220 If you remove it from his possession, you strip his ability to confer with 261 00:16:10,220 --> 00:16:13,960 counsel, to contribute to his own defense, and he'd be incompetent to 262 00:16:13,960 --> 00:16:15,420 trial. You've got to be kidding. 263 00:16:15,680 --> 00:16:16,680 This is a joke. 264 00:16:17,220 --> 00:16:18,380 He's sane, and Mr. 265 00:16:18,580 --> 00:16:19,580 Rollins knows it. 266 00:16:19,660 --> 00:16:23,540 The idea that Mr. Peterson thinks this dummy is real is ridiculous, is it? 267 00:16:23,940 --> 00:16:27,740 In the last 20 minutes alone, we've all individualized it. You objected to it 268 00:16:27,740 --> 00:16:31,720 twice. Your witness here threatened to break its head, and you, Your Honor, 269 00:16:31,720 --> 00:16:32,800 to take it into custody. 270 00:16:33,940 --> 00:16:37,320 Imagine how Kenny Peterson thinks of it, having lived his whole life with it. 271 00:16:37,380 --> 00:16:40,700 Look, you want to plead temporary insanity or self -defense here, fine. 272 00:16:40,920 --> 00:16:44,260 But I won't have your client and his imaginary friend disrupting my 273 00:16:44,480 --> 00:16:47,880 Now, we'll adjourn until tomorrow. In the meantime, get your client to clean 274 00:16:47,880 --> 00:16:48,880 his act. 275 00:16:52,400 --> 00:16:53,400 42 and? 276 00:16:53,980 --> 00:16:54,980 And I'm 38. 277 00:16:57,180 --> 00:16:58,380 We brought resumes. 278 00:16:59,000 --> 00:17:00,820 Educational, professional, vitae, that sort of thing. 279 00:17:01,760 --> 00:17:03,140 Religion? Protestant. 280 00:17:03,540 --> 00:17:04,519 And Jewish. 281 00:17:04,520 --> 00:17:05,520 And the baby? 282 00:17:07,079 --> 00:17:08,240 How will you raise it? 283 00:17:08,859 --> 00:17:13,319 Oh, well, we thought we'd just do a, you know, menorah and a Christmas tree, 284 00:17:13,359 --> 00:17:14,079 that sort of thing. 285 00:17:14,079 --> 00:17:15,079 Is that an issue? 286 00:17:15,500 --> 00:17:19,619 Sometimes. Some birth mothers request a certain religion, others don't care. 287 00:17:20,190 --> 00:17:23,650 And do you plan on working full -time after the baby's born? Part -time, 288 00:17:23,670 --> 00:17:27,150 probably. We have the money, so... Would you consider a black baby? 289 00:17:29,090 --> 00:17:32,310 Stuart? Um... I don't know. 290 00:17:33,670 --> 00:17:34,990 How do you feel about it? 291 00:17:35,250 --> 00:17:36,650 I just want to know your requirements. 292 00:17:37,110 --> 00:17:38,810 I feed the data into a computer. 293 00:17:39,110 --> 00:17:41,550 Birth mothers tell me what they want. I try to make a match. 294 00:17:43,590 --> 00:17:44,590 White. 295 00:17:45,710 --> 00:17:46,870 We want a white baby. 296 00:17:47,340 --> 00:17:51,000 I'll get this information out to attorneys, to doctors, to high school 297 00:17:51,000 --> 00:17:53,260 teachers, to anyone who might know a birth mother. 298 00:17:54,460 --> 00:17:57,620 I'll need pictures, happy pictures of you two together. 299 00:17:58,740 --> 00:17:59,740 Do you have a dog? 300 00:18:01,740 --> 00:18:02,780 Shouldn't we get one? 301 00:18:03,000 --> 00:18:05,460 Birth mothers like dogs in the pictures, what can I tell you? 302 00:18:06,820 --> 00:18:07,820 We'll get a dog. 303 00:18:09,680 --> 00:18:13,940 When I find a birth mother who seems right for you, I'll give her your phone 304 00:18:13,940 --> 00:18:15,320 numbers and she'll call you, collect. 305 00:18:16,350 --> 00:18:18,350 Make a list of questions. Write them down. 306 00:18:18,610 --> 00:18:20,930 People tend to forget everything when the call happens. 307 00:18:21,630 --> 00:18:23,770 And take the call no matter what's going on. 308 00:18:29,010 --> 00:18:31,430 I should probably get back to court. 309 00:18:32,850 --> 00:18:34,250 Ann, the call will come for you. 310 00:18:35,430 --> 00:18:38,730 Considering the circumstances, these girls generally have no use for men 311 00:18:38,730 --> 00:18:40,190 now. Be open and honest. 312 00:18:40,510 --> 00:18:42,030 Tell her how much you want to have a baby. 313 00:18:42,570 --> 00:18:44,250 Let her know how vulnerable you feel. 314 00:18:45,610 --> 00:18:48,890 Above all, don't cut the conversation short for anything. 315 00:18:49,790 --> 00:18:52,290 Not even if you have to get back to court. 316 00:18:53,630 --> 00:18:54,630 Okay. 317 00:18:55,570 --> 00:18:59,230 Mr. Cusack, in the period of time that we were adversaries, you observed me 318 00:18:59,230 --> 00:19:01,070 conducting some 11 depositions. 319 00:19:01,770 --> 00:19:04,230 You heard me argue 11 pre -trial motions. 320 00:19:04,670 --> 00:19:05,950 You watched me pick a jury. 321 00:19:06,490 --> 00:19:09,170 You sat across from me during 15 days of trial. 322 00:19:10,950 --> 00:19:12,230 What kind of lawyer am I? 323 00:19:13,330 --> 00:19:14,570 Competent. Competent? 324 00:19:15,970 --> 00:19:20,130 Tell us, how many attorneys did Barry and Nina Toland have prior to hiring me? 325 00:19:20,930 --> 00:19:25,070 I believe they had three. Three different bona fide attorneys, licensed 326 00:19:25,070 --> 00:19:26,850 practice law in the state of California. 327 00:19:27,870 --> 00:19:31,310 What settlement offer, if any, was on the table during that time? 328 00:19:31,610 --> 00:19:34,330 None. And two months after I had come into the case, how would that change? 329 00:19:34,530 --> 00:19:38,230 Mr. Takowski's insurance carrier authorized throwing in the proceeds of 330 00:19:38,230 --> 00:19:39,770 policy. Which amounted to how much? 331 00:19:40,030 --> 00:19:41,030 Half a million dollars. 332 00:19:41,960 --> 00:19:43,800 I guess they thought I was competent, too, huh? 333 00:19:44,200 --> 00:19:45,440 Objection. Sustained. 334 00:19:46,680 --> 00:19:50,960 Mr. Cusack, around December 1st of this year, you approached me with this same 335 00:19:50,960 --> 00:19:55,380 half -million -dollar offer and one additional piece of information, namely 336 00:19:55,380 --> 00:19:57,680 you knew I was not licensed to practice law. 337 00:19:58,340 --> 00:19:59,700 What was my reaction to that? 338 00:19:59,920 --> 00:20:00,920 You turned it down. 339 00:20:01,280 --> 00:20:03,260 And what reason did I give for doing so? 340 00:20:03,460 --> 00:20:06,120 You said you wouldn't sell your client out to save yourself. 341 00:20:06,560 --> 00:20:07,519 Thank you. 342 00:20:07,520 --> 00:20:08,800 I have no further questions. 343 00:20:12,560 --> 00:20:16,480 What did you do when you found out that Mr. Mathers wasn't a lawyer? 344 00:20:16,940 --> 00:20:20,940 Objection. Irrelevant. Goes to credibility, Your Honor. This witness 345 00:20:20,940 --> 00:20:24,260 a fraud upon the court for which he is now under investigation by the State 346 00:20:24,360 --> 00:20:27,720 I move to strike that. It's prejudicial and... Both of you settle down. 347 00:20:28,000 --> 00:20:29,480 The witness can answer the question. 348 00:20:31,660 --> 00:20:33,680 I confronted Mr. Mathers directly. 349 00:20:33,980 --> 00:20:35,900 So you tried to convert it to your advantage. 350 00:20:36,600 --> 00:20:38,000 Argumentative. Sustained. 351 00:20:38,820 --> 00:20:39,840 Tell me, sir... 352 00:20:40,350 --> 00:20:42,530 What is the status of Toland v. 353 00:20:42,790 --> 00:20:43,769 Takowski now? 354 00:20:43,770 --> 00:20:44,770 It's been settled. 355 00:20:45,210 --> 00:20:46,210 Is that right? 356 00:20:46,550 --> 00:20:50,610 Did the plaintiffs engage a new counsel so soon? The parties reached an 357 00:20:50,610 --> 00:20:51,610 agreement between themselves. 358 00:20:52,210 --> 00:20:57,010 Did you have any conversations with Mr. Mathers subsequent to his arrest as to 359 00:20:57,010 --> 00:20:59,990 what that agreement might be? We set certain parameters. 360 00:21:00,350 --> 00:21:04,270 I advised Takowski. I assume he did the same with the Tolands. And how'd you two 361 00:21:04,270 --> 00:21:05,270 boys make out? 362 00:21:05,410 --> 00:21:06,430 I object, Your Honor. 363 00:21:07,100 --> 00:21:09,980 A district attorney is slinging mud against the wall and hoping something 364 00:21:09,980 --> 00:21:13,120 sticks. Well, that's funny, Mr. Mathers, because with the two of you, it seems 365 00:21:13,120 --> 00:21:14,120 that something always does. 366 00:21:14,260 --> 00:21:16,180 That's quite sufficient. Thank you. 367 00:21:17,660 --> 00:21:22,880 Tell me, Mr. Cusack, is your testifying on behalf of Mr. Mathers part of the 368 00:21:22,880 --> 00:21:23,880 settlement arrangement? 369 00:21:23,900 --> 00:21:25,380 I'm here under subpoena. 370 00:21:25,860 --> 00:21:26,860 Naturally. 371 00:21:27,140 --> 00:21:30,260 I'm sure the two of you are well -versed in avoiding the appearance of 372 00:21:30,260 --> 00:21:31,260 collusion. 373 00:21:33,230 --> 00:21:36,510 I never had any romantic thing with her mother. That was a total lie. 374 00:21:37,370 --> 00:21:41,570 Did anyone from the National Informer contact you prior to publishing this 375 00:21:41,570 --> 00:21:42,710 article? No, never. 376 00:21:42,970 --> 00:21:45,270 Michael, what was your relationship with Amanda Shaw? 377 00:21:45,470 --> 00:21:46,590 She was my girlfriend's mother. 378 00:21:47,430 --> 00:21:48,430 Were we close? 379 00:21:49,590 --> 00:21:50,590 Probably. 380 00:21:50,990 --> 00:21:52,950 Lovers? No, that's ridiculous. 381 00:21:53,350 --> 00:21:54,350 Totally ridiculous. 382 00:21:55,270 --> 00:21:56,910 Thank you, Michael. Nothing further. 383 00:22:05,840 --> 00:22:10,840 Mr. Lyons, you and Elena were boyfriend and girlfriend for how long? 384 00:22:11,080 --> 00:22:12,080 Almost two years. 385 00:22:12,360 --> 00:22:13,360 You were in love? 386 00:22:13,880 --> 00:22:16,800 Yes. Were you ever unfaithful to her? 387 00:22:17,360 --> 00:22:19,860 Once, but it wasn't with her mother. 388 00:22:20,100 --> 00:22:24,180 This was about a month before Elena's death, is that correct? 389 00:22:24,680 --> 00:22:28,080 It was one incident, and it was all straightened out. I'm sure it was. 390 00:22:28,460 --> 00:22:29,460 Mr. Lyons. 391 00:22:30,380 --> 00:22:35,040 Did you ever have private discussions with Elena's mother about Elena's mental 392 00:22:35,040 --> 00:22:36,040 well -being? 393 00:22:36,260 --> 00:22:38,040 We talked about her depression. 394 00:22:38,280 --> 00:22:41,160 She wanted me to help convince Elena to get counseling. 395 00:22:41,400 --> 00:22:45,840 And how did Elena feel about these discussions with Mrs. Shaw? 396 00:22:46,080 --> 00:22:51,040 She wasn't happy about it. In fact, she shouted at you at school one day to stop 397 00:22:51,040 --> 00:22:53,800 going behind her back to her mother. Isn't that correct? 398 00:22:54,060 --> 00:22:58,900 Elena was real upset about a lot of things. So, as I understand it, about... 399 00:22:59,600 --> 00:23:03,980 A month before Elena took her own life, she was upset about you cheating on her 400 00:23:03,980 --> 00:23:07,860 at approximately the same time that she was openly screaming at you to stay away 401 00:23:07,860 --> 00:23:09,620 from her mother. Is that a fair understanding? 402 00:23:10,000 --> 00:23:13,380 You're making it sound like something completely different than what it was. 403 00:23:13,400 --> 00:23:18,580 I see. So what you're saying is that it is possible to misinterpret the 404 00:23:18,580 --> 00:23:19,580 circumstances. 405 00:23:19,800 --> 00:23:22,960 Yes. Thank you, Mr. Lyons. Nothing further. 406 00:23:37,480 --> 00:23:42,960 And what exactly did your source tell you, Mr. Bellini? That a romantic affair 407 00:23:42,960 --> 00:23:45,340 existed between the boy and Mrs. Shaw. 408 00:23:45,640 --> 00:23:49,180 And you were satisfied that this information was accurate? 409 00:23:49,780 --> 00:23:51,700 Well, he'd been accurate in the past. 410 00:23:52,500 --> 00:23:56,720 Jibed with all the circumstantial evidence we collected, I had no reason 411 00:23:56,720 --> 00:24:00,400 believe the story was not true. And accordingly, we decided to run the 412 00:24:01,040 --> 00:24:02,040 Thank you. 413 00:24:02,140 --> 00:24:03,220 No further questions. 414 00:24:05,070 --> 00:24:07,430 Who told you about this so -called affair, Mr. Bellini? 415 00:24:07,670 --> 00:24:12,190 A reporter is not required to reveal his sources. That's my right under the 416 00:24:12,190 --> 00:24:13,190 state constitution. 417 00:24:13,310 --> 00:24:14,390 You're absolutely correct. 418 00:24:14,770 --> 00:24:17,810 But you also have the right to disclose your source if you so desire. 419 00:24:18,010 --> 00:24:22,510 And since your neck is on the cutting block of a $50 million lawsuit here, I 420 00:24:22,510 --> 00:24:25,250 would think you'd want to prove that this informant really exists. 421 00:24:25,910 --> 00:24:28,130 Or would that compromise your journalistic integrity? 422 00:24:28,550 --> 00:24:32,230 I told my source I protect his identity, and I stick to my word. 423 00:24:32,670 --> 00:24:36,850 Are you telling this court and this jury that it's your game plan to exalt the 424 00:24:36,850 --> 00:24:39,370 rights of a blatant liar over those of an innocent victim? 425 00:24:39,630 --> 00:24:40,870 You say he's a liar. 426 00:24:41,110 --> 00:24:44,150 I've put seven witnesses up here saying he's a liar. Who have you got to say 427 00:24:44,150 --> 00:24:48,350 he's not? Your Honor, I'm a professional reporter. I check my sources. I verify 428 00:24:48,350 --> 00:24:51,410 my... Did you check with Amanda Shaw before printing this article? She didn't 429 00:24:51,410 --> 00:24:54,650 return my calls. Did you check with Michael Lyons before running this 430 00:24:54,650 --> 00:24:55,650 figured he'd deny it. 431 00:24:55,810 --> 00:24:58,830 And why ruin a good story with the facts, huh, Mr. Bellini? There's plenty 432 00:24:58,830 --> 00:24:59,870 facts we didn't print. 433 00:25:00,380 --> 00:25:03,160 I was told she was pregnant with a kid's baby and had to have an abortion. 434 00:25:03,500 --> 00:25:07,860 What? Sit down, Mrs. Shaw. But I didn't print that. I couldn't verify it, so I 435 00:25:07,860 --> 00:25:11,040 didn't print it. Because you're such a decent and honorable man, right? 436 00:25:11,580 --> 00:25:14,620 Objection. Here is a file containing every article you've published in the 437 00:25:14,620 --> 00:25:15,620 two years, Mr. Bellini. 438 00:25:15,820 --> 00:25:19,600 Find me one single piece that doesn't bash the reputation of a celebrity. 439 00:25:19,600 --> 00:25:22,920 are all legitimate stories that I wrote. Find me one that doesn't bash the 440 00:25:22,920 --> 00:25:23,920 reputation of a celebrity. 441 00:25:24,120 --> 00:25:27,680 I do investigative expose work. That's what I do. 442 00:25:28,480 --> 00:25:29,480 That's what you do. 443 00:25:30,280 --> 00:25:31,280 No further questions. 444 00:25:33,400 --> 00:25:37,020 Mr. Sequentes, do you have anything to say before we render our decision? 445 00:25:37,460 --> 00:25:41,040 Only that it has never been our intention to minimize the importance of 446 00:25:41,040 --> 00:25:44,800 standards. I've simply tried to make the committee aware of the difficulty of 447 00:25:44,800 --> 00:25:45,800 Mr. Cusack's situation. 448 00:25:46,680 --> 00:25:50,900 Now, Mike's record both as a prosecutor and in private practice has been 449 00:25:50,900 --> 00:25:54,560 exemplary. I would just hope that his actions be taken in context. 450 00:25:54,880 --> 00:25:55,880 Mr. Cusack. 451 00:25:56,520 --> 00:26:00,960 Your counsel has argued that the actions of Richard Mathers justify your own. 452 00:26:01,420 --> 00:26:02,880 It doesn't work that way. 453 00:26:03,260 --> 00:26:09,080 What he did constitutes fraud. What you did constitutes devious and unethical 454 00:26:09,080 --> 00:26:11,940 behavior, utterly at odds with our code of conduct. 455 00:26:12,580 --> 00:26:16,900 Now, since Mr. Mathers isn't an attorney, he is beyond the limits of our 456 00:26:16,900 --> 00:26:19,500 authority. You, sir, are not. 457 00:26:19,980 --> 00:26:24,580 We are your peers, we speak for our profession, and we condemn what you did. 458 00:26:25,000 --> 00:26:29,080 Our recommendation to the State Bar Association is that you be publicly 459 00:26:29,080 --> 00:26:33,720 and suspended from the practice of law for a period of not less than one month, 460 00:26:33,820 --> 00:26:34,860 effective immediately. 461 00:26:36,840 --> 00:26:37,840 A month? 462 00:26:38,040 --> 00:26:40,340 That's right, Mr. Kuzak. A month. 463 00:26:42,260 --> 00:26:45,640 Well, I'm going to sleep a lot better knowing that the members of this 464 00:26:45,640 --> 00:26:48,920 are there to pass out pronouncements on the correctness of my conduct. 465 00:26:49,640 --> 00:26:53,000 especially when they don't allow themselves to be distracted by the 466 00:26:53,000 --> 00:26:53,959 the situation. 467 00:26:53,960 --> 00:26:58,620 If your contempt for the committee is any indication, sir, I fully expect this 468 00:26:58,620 --> 00:27:00,760 will not be the last time we'll be seeing you. 469 00:27:06,080 --> 00:27:09,140 We're going to fight this out with the Bar Association in court. Let's see how 470 00:27:09,140 --> 00:27:12,300 smug these fat -ass Rotarians are after they've gone a few rounds with the 471 00:27:12,300 --> 00:27:13,420 litigator. No. 472 00:27:14,480 --> 00:27:15,480 What do you mean, no? 473 00:27:16,370 --> 00:27:19,130 Bottom line, you broke the rules, Mike. Now, we tried to put the best faith on 474 00:27:19,130 --> 00:27:20,650 it that we could, and this is the way it came down. 475 00:27:20,890 --> 00:27:22,590 What are you saying? You think that they're right? 476 00:27:23,650 --> 00:27:24,650 Yeah. 477 00:27:24,750 --> 00:27:27,550 And if you want my recommendation, both as your friend and as your lawyer right 478 00:27:27,550 --> 00:27:30,010 now, I'm going to tell you to take your medicine, and I'm glad it's not worse. 479 00:27:33,370 --> 00:27:34,370 Oh, here it is. 480 00:27:35,570 --> 00:27:40,470 Kenneth Peterson was kidnapped when he was less than three years old. 481 00:27:40,910 --> 00:27:44,610 He was thrown into the trunk of a car and driven around for days in a state of 482 00:27:44,610 --> 00:27:48,650 virtually total sensory deprivation. And from that time, he has never spoken. 483 00:27:49,710 --> 00:27:54,750 But, Dr. Shale, everybody in this room has heard him talk through the dummy. 484 00:27:54,750 --> 00:27:57,050 psychologically, that's not really Kenny. 485 00:27:57,410 --> 00:28:02,350 In lay terms, that's a separate personality that he's created to protect 486 00:28:02,350 --> 00:28:04,510 real self. Protect his real self from what? 487 00:28:04,870 --> 00:28:06,230 From the outside world. 488 00:28:06,750 --> 00:28:11,130 It's called atypical dissociative disorder, and it's usually brought on by 489 00:28:11,130 --> 00:28:12,130 early childhood trauma. 490 00:28:12,390 --> 00:28:13,390 Such as kidnapping? 491 00:28:13,470 --> 00:28:16,450 Exactly. And this makes people become ventriloquists? 492 00:28:16,930 --> 00:28:21,130 When a child won't talk, we try to get him to talk through a doll. 493 00:28:21,450 --> 00:28:27,490 I've treated Kenny from about age 7 until 13, at which time he refused any 494 00:28:27,490 --> 00:28:28,490 further treatment. 495 00:28:28,870 --> 00:28:32,530 And what's the prognosis for him now, Dr. Shue? Well, it's impossible to say 496 00:28:32,530 --> 00:28:33,810 with any certainty, but... 497 00:28:34,120 --> 00:28:39,380 Unless Kenny somehow develops a greater trust in the outside world or faces his 498 00:28:39,380 --> 00:28:43,160 trauma through treatment, I'd say his chances of reconstituting his 499 00:28:43,160 --> 00:28:44,039 are slim. 500 00:28:44,040 --> 00:28:46,280 And do you think he poses a threat to society, sir? 501 00:28:46,520 --> 00:28:47,520 No. 502 00:28:48,160 --> 00:28:53,260 The only reason he became violent that night was because he felt Gilbert was 503 00:28:53,260 --> 00:28:54,260 being threatened. 504 00:28:54,660 --> 00:28:58,900 When he saw Gilbert being thrown into the trunk of that cruiser, it recalled 505 00:28:58,900 --> 00:29:01,940 own terrifying experience, and he probably just snapped. 506 00:29:02,240 --> 00:29:03,240 Thank you, Dr. Shale. 507 00:29:04,030 --> 00:29:05,030 Nothing further. 508 00:29:06,750 --> 00:29:08,230 Doctor, are you saying this guy's insane? 509 00:29:08,530 --> 00:29:13,990 No. I'm talking about a basically functional man who has withdrawn into a 510 00:29:13,990 --> 00:29:15,070 private fantasy world. 511 00:29:15,350 --> 00:29:18,010 Then he knows this dummy isn't real, doesn't he? Yes, I think he does. 512 00:29:18,410 --> 00:29:21,430 Then why did you always talk to me, you fruitcake? You know I'm real. 513 00:29:21,630 --> 00:29:23,950 Get your hands off of me. You should be objecting to this quack. 514 00:29:24,150 --> 00:29:24,909 Mr. Peterson. 515 00:29:24,910 --> 00:29:27,210 Hey, Judgey Loy, get with the program. 516 00:29:27,610 --> 00:29:30,510 Kenny's a dummy here. He's the one who doesn't talk. Your Honor. Mr. 517 00:29:30,810 --> 00:29:31,850 Peterson. Go ahead. 518 00:29:32,640 --> 00:29:33,680 Don't be such a wimp. 519 00:29:34,180 --> 00:29:35,920 Say something. I dare you. 520 00:29:41,700 --> 00:29:43,680 Show us you're not a lost cause, Kenny. 521 00:29:44,680 --> 00:29:45,740 Give us a word. 522 00:29:47,000 --> 00:29:49,840 One well -chosen word. 523 00:29:54,500 --> 00:29:55,800 I rest my case. 524 00:29:56,260 --> 00:29:57,760 This guy is hopeless. 525 00:29:58,820 --> 00:30:00,500 And so are you. 526 00:30:01,120 --> 00:30:02,260 Everyone in my chambers. 527 00:30:03,500 --> 00:30:04,500 Now. 528 00:30:09,020 --> 00:30:11,300 So how the hell did you ever get to be a judge? 529 00:30:11,540 --> 00:30:14,720 Gilbert, I swear, if you don't shut up, I'll roast your chestnuts on an open 530 00:30:14,720 --> 00:30:15,720 fire. 531 00:30:16,080 --> 00:30:19,040 It's clear to me that we're dealing with some pretty extraordinary circumstances 532 00:30:19,040 --> 00:30:22,860 here, but I can't have this guy going crazy every time the trunk of a car 533 00:30:22,860 --> 00:30:24,600 shut. He's not dangerous, Judge. 534 00:30:24,800 --> 00:30:25,719 He beat up a cop. 535 00:30:25,720 --> 00:30:28,720 You heard the psychiatrist. It was a unique and threatening situation. 536 00:30:29,180 --> 00:30:30,180 Look. 537 00:30:31,060 --> 00:30:32,060 Kenny. Gilbert. 538 00:30:32,740 --> 00:30:33,740 All right. 539 00:30:34,020 --> 00:30:35,020 Gilbert. 540 00:30:35,660 --> 00:30:39,320 If I let Kenny go, can you promise me he'll resume his treatment? 541 00:30:39,560 --> 00:30:40,620 What am I, his keeper? 542 00:30:41,040 --> 00:30:42,660 Yes, in a manner of speaking, you are. 543 00:30:43,000 --> 00:30:46,820 And I want your word that you and Kenny will go back to getting therapy. 544 00:30:47,240 --> 00:30:48,440 Otherwise, he's going to jail. 545 00:30:49,160 --> 00:30:50,160 Alone. 546 00:30:50,300 --> 00:30:51,300 Do you understand? 547 00:30:52,140 --> 00:30:54,180 All right. 548 00:30:55,920 --> 00:30:56,920 Criminy. 549 00:30:57,520 --> 00:31:00,740 Mr. Rollins, I'm going to continue this matter without a finding for one year. 550 00:31:01,440 --> 00:31:04,960 After which, I'll drop the charges if he stays with the treatment. 551 00:31:06,060 --> 00:31:07,039 That's all. 552 00:31:07,040 --> 00:31:08,040 We're done. 553 00:31:08,820 --> 00:31:10,280 I'll enter this matter in the record. 554 00:31:10,700 --> 00:31:11,700 You can all go. 555 00:31:14,900 --> 00:31:15,900 You were pathetic. 556 00:31:19,800 --> 00:31:20,800 What's up? 557 00:31:22,820 --> 00:31:23,820 Masterson pulled out. 558 00:31:24,040 --> 00:31:25,040 He what? 559 00:31:25,390 --> 00:31:27,170 He's going to Cray Lightner and Farrell. 560 00:31:28,170 --> 00:31:31,910 Why? He's afraid a federal judge who thinks he's first cousin to God Almighty 561 00:31:31,910 --> 00:31:34,810 might just be a little suspicious of whatever it is you have to say. 562 00:31:35,490 --> 00:31:36,490 And you know something? 563 00:31:36,730 --> 00:31:39,250 Under the circumstances, I can't say as I blame him. 564 00:31:42,210 --> 00:31:43,210 I'm dumb. 565 00:31:43,830 --> 00:31:48,690 Yeah, well... Before it gets any worse, assuming such a thing is possible... 566 00:31:50,320 --> 00:31:54,300 We have to take some steps. Well, I suggest you start by speaking to Victor. 567 00:31:54,300 --> 00:31:58,380 seems to think that we should go gently into that good night. I have spoken to 568 00:31:58,380 --> 00:32:01,200 Victor. I believe he is absolutely correct. 569 00:32:02,140 --> 00:32:05,440 And I intend to honor that suspension recommendation to the letter. 570 00:32:07,940 --> 00:32:08,940 Go home, Michael. 571 00:32:10,280 --> 00:32:14,080 Your very presence in these offices compromises this entire firm. 572 00:32:17,420 --> 00:32:18,920 You're not going to stand up for me? 573 00:32:20,560 --> 00:32:21,560 Damn it, Michael. 574 00:32:21,620 --> 00:32:25,400 You kept your mouth shut about Mathis without so much as a word of 575 00:32:25,720 --> 00:32:26,720 You were wrong. 576 00:32:27,260 --> 00:32:29,180 And everybody here is now paying for that. 577 00:32:30,580 --> 00:32:34,600 And if you expect us all just to fall in line behind you, well, I suggest you've 578 00:32:34,600 --> 00:32:35,900 overestimated your own importance. 579 00:32:43,480 --> 00:32:45,720 I can't come back to the office for a month? 580 00:32:46,780 --> 00:32:48,000 Not anywhere near it. 581 00:32:59,660 --> 00:33:02,740 This newspaper printed malicious, devastating lies. 582 00:33:04,240 --> 00:33:07,080 Lies that destroyed Amanda Shaw's professional career. 583 00:33:08,120 --> 00:33:11,600 Lies which caused her emotional pain that will haunt her for the rest of her 584 00:33:11,600 --> 00:33:17,740 life. And as if that isn't bad enough, they're here now standing proud, 585 00:33:17,740 --> 00:33:21,480 themselves in the First Amendment, freedom of expression, freedom of the 586 00:33:21,700 --> 00:33:24,220 the fundamental principles that America stands for. 587 00:33:26,250 --> 00:33:29,910 But the Constitution doesn't say you can disregard the truth and obliterate the 588 00:33:29,910 --> 00:33:31,670 reputation of innocent people. 589 00:33:31,970 --> 00:33:35,590 They accused her of having sex with her daughter's teenage boyfriend. 590 00:33:35,950 --> 00:33:39,350 They said that she contributed to her daughter's suicide. That's vicious. 591 00:33:39,830 --> 00:33:41,870 That's devoid of any human decency. 592 00:33:42,170 --> 00:33:45,890 And don't you dare endorse their suggestion that that is what America 593 00:33:45,890 --> 00:33:50,030 for. Don't you dare accept their notion that it's this kind of freedom that 594 00:33:50,030 --> 00:33:51,050 makes this country great. 595 00:33:51,870 --> 00:33:53,910 Because everyone in this room knows. 596 00:33:54,410 --> 00:33:58,450 that they printed that trash with the sole purpose of selling more newspapers 597 00:33:58,450 --> 00:33:59,450 the checkout stand. 598 00:33:59,870 --> 00:34:03,990 And all the flag -waving in the world won't change the fact that they 599 00:34:03,990 --> 00:34:07,970 an innocent, grieving mother for the sake of corporate profit, and that is 600 00:34:07,970 --> 00:34:08,970 abhorrent. 601 00:34:10,030 --> 00:34:12,409 They think they know what America stands for. 602 00:34:15,389 --> 00:34:17,050 Show them what we don't stand for. 603 00:34:31,310 --> 00:34:38,210 In order for Amanda Shaw to prevail here, she has to prove that the National 604 00:34:38,210 --> 00:34:42,510 Informer recklessly published that article when they knew or should have 605 00:34:42,510 --> 00:34:44,730 that it was false. 606 00:34:45,690 --> 00:34:50,929 Mike the Lion was having an affair with someone. About 20 people at school heard 607 00:34:50,929 --> 00:34:57,110 Elena scream at Michael to stay away from her mother, stay away from Amanda 608 00:34:57,110 --> 00:34:58,510 Shaw, a woman who... 609 00:34:59,020 --> 00:35:03,860 admittedly kissed him, who embraced him, who said on national television she was 610 00:35:03,860 --> 00:35:09,720 sexually attracted to him, the woman who spent the night alone with him when 611 00:35:09,720 --> 00:35:10,860 Elena was out of town. 612 00:35:11,240 --> 00:35:15,020 Did the national informer jump to a conclusion here? 613 00:35:15,660 --> 00:35:16,660 Maybe. 614 00:35:17,080 --> 00:35:20,400 Was it a reckless, malicious leap? Of course not. 615 00:35:21,740 --> 00:35:22,940 My client... 616 00:35:23,520 --> 00:35:27,260 was probing the questions that a lot of people were asking. And isn't that 617 00:35:27,260 --> 00:35:31,280 exactly what a free press should do? To ask your questions? 618 00:35:32,000 --> 00:35:34,400 To explore your curiosity? 619 00:35:34,780 --> 00:35:39,020 Oh, sure, newspapers and magazines can print nice, pleasant articles that never 620 00:35:39,020 --> 00:35:40,540 offend, anger, or provoke. 621 00:35:40,880 --> 00:35:45,260 Wouldn't it be neat if we can pick up a newspaper every day and never have to 622 00:35:45,260 --> 00:35:47,400 read anything that was, my God, inappropriate? 623 00:35:48,140 --> 00:35:52,180 Wouldn't it be swell if the press stopped being aggressive or hungry? 624 00:35:52,570 --> 00:35:58,650 I hate to stall Ms. Kelsey's momentum here, but the First Amendment exists in 625 00:35:58,650 --> 00:36:04,170 part not only to promote that kind of zeal by the media, but to guarantee it. 626 00:36:04,590 --> 00:36:09,590 So that we don't have editors telling us what is good to read and what is not. 627 00:36:09,650 --> 00:36:15,190 So we do not have to have publishers suspending our civil rights every time 628 00:36:15,190 --> 00:36:19,010 there's a chance that somebody might be bruised. 629 00:36:19,930 --> 00:36:20,970 Amanda Shaw. 630 00:36:22,140 --> 00:36:26,360 suffered real pain here, I won't ask you to believe otherwise. 631 00:36:27,520 --> 00:36:32,820 But when Ms. Kelsey steps up here and tells you that this case is not about 632 00:36:32,820 --> 00:36:37,380 First Amendment or freedom of the press, don't you believe that either? 633 00:36:38,640 --> 00:36:41,500 Not for one single second. 634 00:37:05,840 --> 00:37:07,640 Have you reached a verdict, Mr. Foreman? 635 00:37:07,860 --> 00:37:08,880 We have, Your Honor. 636 00:37:09,100 --> 00:37:10,100 I'll say you. 637 00:37:10,160 --> 00:37:14,880 In the matter of Amanda Shaw versus the National Informer, we find in favor of 638 00:37:14,880 --> 00:37:19,120 the plaintiff and order the defendant to pay damages in the amount of $1 .3 639 00:37:19,120 --> 00:37:20,120 million. 640 00:37:30,830 --> 00:37:33,370 Disgusting. Very satisfying, yes. How are you going to spend it, Amanda? 641 00:37:33,770 --> 00:37:36,890 Maybe donate it to a university that teaches responsible journalism. 642 00:37:37,250 --> 00:37:38,830 1 .3 million is a pretty big donation. 643 00:37:39,230 --> 00:37:41,510 Money isn't the issue here. I think you all know that. 644 00:37:41,770 --> 00:37:45,790 The big thing isn't that I'm finally exonerated. That verdict tells the world 645 00:37:45,790 --> 00:37:46,930 that those lies were lies. 646 00:37:47,430 --> 00:37:49,250 I'm just happy to get my name cleared. 647 00:37:49,670 --> 00:37:52,710 Then I take it you haven't seen today's edition of the National Informer. 648 00:37:52,970 --> 00:37:54,730 No, and I don't care to thank you. 649 00:37:55,390 --> 00:37:57,530 How do you feel about making the front page again, Amanda? 650 00:37:57,750 --> 00:38:01,910 Any truth in the story about your abortion, Amanda, please? I'll sue them 651 00:38:02,050 --> 00:38:03,970 You pigs. I'll sue you again. 652 00:38:04,390 --> 00:38:06,890 Amanda. You bastard. Amanda. I'll sue you again. 653 00:38:07,250 --> 00:38:09,370 Mr. Nelson. Mr. Nelson. Nice. Very nice. 654 00:38:09,590 --> 00:38:11,030 Mr. Nelson, any reaction, please? Any comments? 655 00:38:11,390 --> 00:38:12,510 She called us pigs. 656 00:38:13,090 --> 00:38:15,610 That's slander. All right. That's enough. Thank you very much. Mr. Nelson. 657 00:38:15,610 --> 00:38:20,270 you going to countersue? 658 00:38:23,040 --> 00:38:26,840 We can't sue them. What are you talking about? This one's worse than the other 659 00:38:26,840 --> 00:38:29,620 one. This just recounts what was said in court. They can print that. 660 00:38:29,920 --> 00:38:33,820 It was their reporter who said it in court. Doesn't matter. A newspaper can 661 00:38:33,820 --> 00:38:34,880 cover court proceedings. 662 00:38:35,180 --> 00:38:37,340 Then let's sue the reporter for saying it in the first place. 663 00:38:38,020 --> 00:38:39,220 We can't do that either. 664 00:38:40,100 --> 00:38:43,180 Witnesses have qualified immunity. Are you telling me that because he said this 665 00:38:43,180 --> 00:38:45,300 lie in a witness stand, he can get away with it? 666 00:38:45,520 --> 00:38:46,520 Basically. 667 00:38:48,240 --> 00:38:49,940 So is this how the system works, Ann? 668 00:38:51,009 --> 00:38:53,630 Is this what I went through two years of litigation for? 669 00:38:58,970 --> 00:39:03,050 I always felt that the beauty of the jury system was that ordinary people 670 00:39:03,050 --> 00:39:04,050 the ultimate decisions. 671 00:39:05,150 --> 00:39:08,970 Guided by their hearts, their minds, and their own humanity. 672 00:39:10,930 --> 00:39:14,770 Right now, I don't want to talk about the elements of fraud, burdens of proof, 673 00:39:14,910 --> 00:39:16,170 or reasonable doubt, or any of that. 674 00:39:17,050 --> 00:39:18,450 I just want to tell you who I am. 675 00:39:19,660 --> 00:39:23,620 In my whole life, I never wanted to be anything but a lawyer. At the time I was 676 00:39:23,620 --> 00:39:28,660 a teenager, I could recite the courtroom speeches from every lawyer movie I had 677 00:39:28,660 --> 00:39:29,660 ever seen. 678 00:39:30,240 --> 00:39:34,300 Inherit the Wind, To Kill a Mockingbird, Town Without Pity. I knew all of them. 679 00:39:36,220 --> 00:39:38,300 I went to law school for a year at night. 680 00:39:38,960 --> 00:39:41,900 When I lost my scholarship, I dropped out. I drove a cab. 681 00:39:42,340 --> 00:39:43,500 I taught high school. 682 00:39:43,720 --> 00:39:44,820 I sold office furniture. 683 00:39:45,800 --> 00:39:48,900 But the whole time I read and I worked at teaching myself. 684 00:39:49,440 --> 00:39:50,319 how to be a lawyer. 685 00:39:50,320 --> 00:39:54,380 At first, I practiced just for friends. Little by little, though, I realized I 686 00:39:54,380 --> 00:39:55,580 could really do this. 687 00:39:56,320 --> 00:39:57,520 I didn't need a diploma. 688 00:39:58,700 --> 00:40:02,860 I was going up against graduates from top ten schools and beating them cold. 689 00:40:04,880 --> 00:40:09,860 I might not have been legitimate, but I served my clients with unthinning 690 00:40:09,860 --> 00:40:14,540 loyalty. Not a single one of them came to testify against me because not a 691 00:40:14,540 --> 00:40:16,020 single one of them felt defrauded. 692 00:40:16,600 --> 00:40:20,340 Competent representation was what they asked for, and competent representation 693 00:40:20,340 --> 00:40:21,340 was what they got. 694 00:40:21,720 --> 00:40:24,180 Yes, I practiced law without a license. 695 00:40:24,980 --> 00:40:28,480 And regardless of your verdict, I will never practice law again. 696 00:40:29,740 --> 00:40:32,880 That, for me, is the greatest punishment of all. 697 00:40:34,920 --> 00:40:39,420 When I walk through those doors, when I see that reporter sitting at her 698 00:40:39,420 --> 00:40:40,420 machine... 699 00:40:40,940 --> 00:40:45,240 And I plead my case knowing that someone is depending on me to get them through 700 00:40:45,240 --> 00:40:49,360 what are most likely the most desperate moments of their life. I feel more alive 701 00:40:49,360 --> 00:40:50,960 here than I do anywhere else on earth. 702 00:40:53,600 --> 00:40:55,020 I love doing this. 703 00:40:57,580 --> 00:40:58,980 God, I love doing this. 704 00:41:01,340 --> 00:41:03,700 It's hard to imagine this is the last time I ever will. 705 00:41:19,760 --> 00:41:21,740 Thank you. Come on. Come on. 706 00:41:24,180 --> 00:41:28,660 Well, Leland, another year, another holiday season to demarcate the passage 707 00:41:28,660 --> 00:41:32,520 time. Yes, indeed. I don't know about you guys, but I've always felt the 708 00:41:32,520 --> 00:41:34,840 spiritual side and business side to be wholly compatible. 709 00:41:35,340 --> 00:41:41,760 Huh. Hmm. I mean, is a pretzel and potato chip sampler lithographed with a 710 00:41:41,760 --> 00:41:46,680 of Christ in the manger or an electric menorah with sequentially blinking bulbs 711 00:41:46,680 --> 00:41:47,680 necessarily? 712 00:41:48,270 --> 00:41:50,650 Any lesson, expression of faith and simple prayer? 713 00:41:51,290 --> 00:41:52,290 Have thee. 714 00:41:56,250 --> 00:42:00,290 If I promise to be a good little boy, can I come in and have some cake and ice 715 00:42:00,290 --> 00:42:01,290 cream? 716 00:42:04,490 --> 00:42:06,070 So what's new on the fertility front? 717 00:42:06,870 --> 00:42:08,850 We met with a baby broker yesterday. 718 00:42:09,370 --> 00:42:10,370 Ann, that's wonderful. 719 00:42:11,030 --> 00:42:12,030 Abby. 720 00:42:12,360 --> 00:42:15,500 I'm 38 years old. I've never even changed a diaper. Daisy. 721 00:42:15,760 --> 00:42:18,760 What if we get one of those colicky babies that cries all night and never 722 00:42:18,760 --> 00:42:20,900 sleeps? And what happens if they get sick? 723 00:42:21,120 --> 00:42:24,200 I mean, it's not as if they can tell you what's bothering them. What about crib 724 00:42:24,200 --> 00:42:25,460 death? Anne, stop. 725 00:42:25,840 --> 00:42:27,260 Don't worry about things you can't control. 726 00:42:27,740 --> 00:42:31,720 I guess I just always thought that I'd have nine months of pregnancy to learn 727 00:42:31,720 --> 00:42:34,860 how to accept a baby and love it. But I'm not going to be pregnant. 728 00:42:35,600 --> 00:42:36,960 What if I don't love this baby? 729 00:42:37,400 --> 00:42:40,900 You may be terrified right now, but the first time that you hold this little... 730 00:42:41,480 --> 00:42:43,160 Tiny, helpless baby in your arms. 731 00:42:43,560 --> 00:42:44,560 You'll fall in love. 732 00:42:44,920 --> 00:42:47,840 And within 24 hours, you won't be able to imagine your world without it. 733 00:42:48,480 --> 00:42:49,680 Merry Christmas! 734 00:42:51,960 --> 00:42:52,960 So, 735 00:42:56,000 --> 00:42:57,480 how do you feel about the place so far? 736 00:42:58,000 --> 00:42:59,540 Not bad. I think I'll get used to it. 737 00:42:59,760 --> 00:43:01,320 Have much experience with divorce cases? 738 00:43:01,860 --> 00:43:02,860 Only my own. 739 00:43:02,900 --> 00:43:06,640 Well, the first thing is, thanks, divorce yourself from your own divorce. 740 00:43:07,020 --> 00:43:09,740 You don't have to worry. Tell me what you want me to do and I'll do it. 741 00:43:11,070 --> 00:43:14,730 Miss Kelsey, kudos and attaboys and a big win. 742 00:43:15,310 --> 00:43:16,330 Some win, Douglas. 743 00:43:16,610 --> 00:43:20,430 All Amanda Shaw got for her troubles was another round of vicious public lies. 744 00:43:20,850 --> 00:43:23,950 Celebrities open themselves up to it, Ann, but at least through our efforts, 745 00:43:24,110 --> 00:43:26,650 maybe they'll think twice before doing it to someone else. 746 00:43:26,870 --> 00:43:30,130 Fat chance. At a million three, they probably made money on the deal. That 747 00:43:30,130 --> 00:43:34,070 aside, let us not forget the one third that swells the coffers of Mackenzie 748 00:43:34,070 --> 00:43:35,070 Brackman. 749 00:43:41,620 --> 00:43:44,080 What's the use of protecting you? 750 00:43:44,760 --> 00:43:46,100 You are useless. 751 00:43:47,180 --> 00:43:49,380 Everybody out there is on to you, boy. 752 00:43:49,860 --> 00:43:51,700 They're laughing at you. 753 00:43:52,180 --> 00:43:54,020 They know how screwed up you are. 754 00:43:54,440 --> 00:43:56,780 You're a pathetic little mole. 755 00:43:57,740 --> 00:43:59,860 Don't look away. I'm talking to you, Buster. 756 00:44:00,740 --> 00:44:01,940 Leave him alone. 757 00:44:03,760 --> 00:44:05,020 Shut up, dummy. 758 00:44:05,700 --> 00:44:08,120 Don't you pick on him. He's scared. 759 00:44:09,380 --> 00:44:10,380 Scared? 760 00:44:10,910 --> 00:44:12,310 What's he got to be scared about? 761 00:44:13,130 --> 00:44:14,410 I'm the one who takes the heat. 762 00:44:15,490 --> 00:44:18,310 I'm the one who got thrown into the car trunk when he refused to talk to a 763 00:44:18,310 --> 00:44:19,310 policeman. 764 00:44:19,490 --> 00:44:22,910 I'm the one who had to go to court and talk to the stupid judge for him. Do you 765 00:44:22,910 --> 00:44:25,710 think it's easy living my life as this idiot's mouthpiece? 766 00:44:26,090 --> 00:44:27,170 You know what I think? 767 00:44:28,770 --> 00:44:31,170 I think you don't want him to talk. 768 00:44:32,150 --> 00:44:33,550 Excuse me, doofus? 769 00:44:33,950 --> 00:44:37,030 Because if he could talk, he wouldn't need you. 770 00:44:52,860 --> 00:44:55,040 Hey. No practicing law, remember? 771 00:44:55,960 --> 00:44:59,680 Leaving instructions for a few things that have to be taken care of during my 772 00:44:59,680 --> 00:45:01,760 exile. Any plans of your own? 773 00:45:02,420 --> 00:45:04,680 Well, no more appointment book for starters. 774 00:45:05,260 --> 00:45:07,360 You could always reread Crime and Punishment. 775 00:45:08,640 --> 00:45:09,780 Well, maybe I should. 776 00:45:10,380 --> 00:45:14,000 When too many people tell me that I'm wrong, I'd be a fool not to consider the 777 00:45:14,000 --> 00:45:15,000 possibility. 778 00:45:15,420 --> 00:45:16,940 On the other hand... 779 00:45:17,520 --> 00:45:20,580 Maybe I better just find a rock and sit down and think. 780 00:45:21,900 --> 00:45:22,900 I'll join you. 781 00:45:23,320 --> 00:45:25,720 I've had a few doubts about my own ethics lately. 782 00:45:26,040 --> 00:45:27,260 You know what the funny thing is? 783 00:45:27,620 --> 00:45:29,220 Mathers doesn't have any such doubts. 784 00:45:29,580 --> 00:45:32,760 I saw his summation today. He's one of the best lawyers I've ever seen. 785 00:45:33,880 --> 00:45:37,320 He may have broken the law, but his moral center never wavered. 786 00:45:37,760 --> 00:45:39,480 Will a jury make that distinction? 787 00:45:41,100 --> 00:45:42,100 They already did. 788 00:45:42,480 --> 00:45:45,280 It took them exactly 35 minutes to come back with an acquittal. 789 00:45:46,000 --> 00:45:49,880 So he's a fake, we're for real, and it's our moral compasses that need 790 00:45:49,880 --> 00:45:50,880 adjustment. 791 00:45:51,120 --> 00:45:52,420 Well, not to worry. 792 00:45:53,360 --> 00:45:57,020 I think that between the two of us, we ought to be able to find two more. 793 00:45:58,460 --> 00:45:59,460 Merry Christmas. 794 00:45:59,760 --> 00:46:00,900 Merry Christmas, Mickey. 795 00:46:02,860 --> 00:46:04,480 Merry Christmas, Benny. 796 00:46:04,740 --> 00:46:05,760 Thanks, Victor, you too. 797 00:46:11,480 --> 00:46:12,640 Hey, Waldo. 798 00:46:14,900 --> 00:46:15,900 What? 799 00:46:20,940 --> 00:46:22,900 This dummy thinks he's got something to say to you. 800 00:46:30,180 --> 00:46:31,180 Thank you. 801 00:46:34,080 --> 00:46:35,500 For sticking up for me. 802 00:46:37,520 --> 00:46:38,520 It's okay. 803 00:46:43,960 --> 00:46:48,220 I know I have to find the strength to face people. 804 00:46:49,680 --> 00:46:50,700 Just like you do. 805 00:46:51,000 --> 00:46:52,080 Yeah, yeah, yeah. 806 00:46:52,320 --> 00:46:53,320 Big deal. 807 00:46:58,860 --> 00:47:03,140 Anyway... Merry Christmas. 808 00:47:04,740 --> 00:47:07,200 Merry Christmas to you, too. 809 00:47:07,780 --> 00:47:09,240 And Happy New Year. 810 00:47:10,420 --> 00:47:11,720 This is making me sick. 811 00:47:12,120 --> 00:47:13,320 I gotta go puke.