Original subtitles

WILSON: Previously on "The Practice"

Has anybody seen Tara?

She's with a client.

She'll be out all day.

I need a typist today, Alan.

I'm sure Jimmy can type. What'd you say?

YOUNG: Tara works for the firm, Alan, not just you.

Forgive me, but since I just brought in $750,000

on top of the $2 million before that,

on top of the $3 million before that.

The guy is monopolizing associates

like he's a partner, which he isn't.

I'm sick of this.

And I'm also sick of you

making excuses for the guy.

You bugged a hotel room

to get illicit private pictures.

You then used those pictures

to commit extortion.

You have stepped way outside the law.

I gave you my word

that I'd sooner take myself down

than this firm, I meant that.

YOUNG: Well, you're taking yourself down

and you're taking us down with you.

You're a very interesting woman, aren't you?

If you'd like to go to a nice restaurant,

share a lovely bottle of wine,

but you don't want that.

You want to do it on a conference table,

because it's debased.

Get some help,

and then ask me out to dinner some time.

I don't get it, Ellenor.

I see nothing redeeming about that man.

You have to know him, Jimmy.

Listen to me, Alan. I'm tired of listening to you.

You're not that interesting.

I'll keep completely out of your way.

You stay the hell out of mine.

He's gone. Eugene.

YOUNG: When this trial is over,

that man is gone.

WOMAN: Analyzing therapy. MARY: (moaning) Oh.

Oh, God, help me!

Just hang in there. Oh, it hurts!

You're doing great, honey.

You're doing great, baby. It hurts.

It hurts. TOM: You're doing great.

Where's the doctor? He's in with another patient.

He'll be right here-- MARY: Please get him!

How're we doing? MARY: Oh, God.

WOMAN: Still dilated to six centimeters.

Fetal heart rate?

WOMAN: Stable in the 140s.

MARY: Please do something! ROBERT: Mary--

let's retest for proteins.

Mary, you've only been here an hour.

It takes time. It hurts.

ROBERT: Well, I can start you on epidural,

but I think it's a little late for that.

Wait. The fetal heart rate's dropped.

(Mary screams) TOM: Oh, my God!

WOMAN: Looks like an abruption! ROBERT: Get her on her side!

We need two (indistinct) now! TOM: Mary!

WOMAN: She's crashing-- Get her to the OR, now!

Mary? Mary, I need you-- WOMAN: Okay. We're disconnected.

ROBERT: to stay with me. Stay with me now.

Are we ready? Let's move. WOMAN: That's it. Let's roll!

ROBERT: Mary, I need you to stay with me.

WOMAN: A little (indistinct)-- Stay with me, Mary.

Stay with me now.

Stay with me.

WOMAN: Come on, honey. Come on, Mary, hang in there.

Go, go.

Let's go. Move! Move!

TOM: "Stay with me."

That's what he said.

The nurse pushed me out of the room,

so I waited in the hallway.

Praying.

Can you tell us what happened next?

The doctor finally came out.

He said my daughter was okay,

but Mary didn't make it.

She died on the operating table.

STRINGER: Tom, when you first arrived

at the hospital--

TOM: She was in severe pain.

We told them.

They just put us in a room.

They didn't do any tests?

TOM: Yes. Some.

But they just said it's labor pains,

which Mary knew was wrong.

She kept telling them.

They just dismissed it.

SEABURY: Did your wife see a doctor

during her pregnancy or receive any kind

of prenatal examination?

TOM: we couldn't afford it.

I was an unemployed musician at the time and I--

SEABURY: Did you have health insurance?

No.

SEABURY: So she never knew

that she had an abnormal uterus?

No.

And when you arrived at the hospital,

you told them that your wife was in labor?

Yes.

SEABURY: And you didn't suspect

that anything was wrong?

At the time, I thought it was just a painful labor.

Clearly, it was not just that.

SEABURY: I understand. Thank you.

I'm all done.

Except to say that we're all so,

so sorry about what happened.

May I respond to that?

(scoffs) The--there's no question before you, sir.

TOM: I'd like to respond

to his statement that he's sorry.

I sat through four depositions

and never once did this attorney

show any remorse, contrition--

Move to strike. TOM: --but in front of the jury,

he's suddenly compassionate.

ZELDIN: Okay, Mr. Quillen.

You've made your point.

You're angry at me.

Yes, I am.

SEABURY: I'm informed that after your wife died,

you stopped going to church.

According to several of your friends,

you're angry at God, is that fair?

Maybe. SEABURY: So you're angry

at the doctor, you're angry at me,

even angry at God.

Given that you never got your wife

any prenatal care whatsoever,

when a simple checkup perhaps could have saved her life,

are you at all angry with yourself?

(music playing)

This feels uncomfortable.

LAWYER: Eugene,

if you're about to fire somebody,

you have to meet with a labor lawyer.

It would be corporate negligence

for you not to do so.

Yeah.

Even so.

LAWYER: Is this an administrative employee, or--

YOUNG: No. He's an associate,

who acts like a partner,

which is part of the problem.

What are the grounds?

Well, where do I start?

Um, he's unethical,

insubordinate,

he sexually harasses,

he's even committed criminal acts.

Problem is he's also brought in

a lot of money,

so he may try to claim

that he's a de facto partner.

When you say a lot of money?

For the last six months,

more than all the other lawyers combined.

You may have a problem.

KOBATCH: During the course of labor, her uterus ruptured,

which ultimately was the cause of death.

She bled to death.

Yes.

FRUTT: In your opinion, doctor,

could Dr. Platt have prevented Mary Quillen's death?

Could have and should have.

She was in severe pain,

she wasn't dilating,

a c-section was indicated,

and he failed to perform one.

This death was easily preventable.

SEABURY: The autopsy showed that Mrs. Quillen

had an abnormally small uterus,

which might have caused it to rupture.

Correct. SEABURY: But Dr. Platt

had no way of knowing this, did he?

Mrs. Quillen never had a prenatal exam.

Many women don't have prenatal exams.

Doctors still managed to give them adequate care.

Your client didn't. I see.

Were you in the delivery room that night, doctor?

KOBATCH: No, but your client admits

the patient was in labor for an hour,

he saw her suffering,

severe upper abdominal pain,

he knew her contractions had stopped.

He had more than enough information

to do an immediate c-section.

And failing to do so-- SEABURY: Have you been paid

by the plaintiff to give your opinion today?

My opinion is not for sale, counsel.

It's based on the facts presented to me.

SEABURY: But a lot of those facts were not available

to my client that night in the ER,

were they, doctor? Perhaps not.

Even so-- SEABURY: Thank you.

And though your opinions aren't for sale,

how much are you being paid

for today's court appearance?

$3,000.

SEABURY: And how many times have you testified

in medical malpractice? FRUTT: Objection!

This is irrelevant.

Your Honor?

(music playing)

MAN: Grab the door.

(indistinct chatter)

Now what?

I don't know.

If he's okay, it could just be a delay.

If he's not, we could get a mistrial.

Which means?

We might have to start all over again.

(sighs) The earliest I could possibly get out is 7:00.

And then probably close-- Where are you going at 7:00?

One second.

Should I come?

(whispers) This is personal.

Man trouble?

Do you mind? SHORE: Tara,

if it is a man, I could be of tremendous help.

In a prior life, I was Cyrano de Bergerac.

Well, I'll keep that in mind.

To whom am I talking?

This is Tara's uncle

from the more disturbing branch of the family.

Stop it! Have you two been kissing?

Alan!

Go to the corner and sit.

I'm just trying to help.

The advice is, "Don't tell Ellenor".

BERLUTI: She's a partner. YOUNG: She's also his friend,

and she'll tell him.

Now, if he takes clients or files, then what?

(sighs)

So how does this go down?

YOUNG: Well, as we fire him,

we send out prewritten letters

by registered mail to all our clients,

explaining the split,

inviting them to stay with us.

We also have a locksmith on standby to change the locks,

we change the passwords on the computers,

all of this has to happen as we fire him,

not a minute before, because if we jump the gun,

he can paint it as bad faith.

As opposed to being on the up-and-up.

It's a dirty business, Jimmy.

But according to labor counsel,

it's the only way we can do it.

I need two votes.

You with me?

(door opens)

Well, good news is Judge Zeldin is okay.

The bad news is...

doctors have prescribed bed rest,

and he can't continue.

So... I'll take over.

His clerk has brought me up to speed.

Do you think that's wise?

MANTLE: Why isn't it?

You've expended two court days already,

it certainly make sense to keep going if possible.

Nobody's been prejudiced.

FRUTT: We have a little problem.

(door closes)

You remember we told you

about the Massachusetts Charitable Immunity Act,

limiting damages in medical malpractice cases?

You said judges sometimes strike it.

FRUTT: I did. And Judge Zeldin

was one such judge.

Judge Mantle is not.

He seems to honor the cap.

So...

The most money we could get here

is now $20,000.

What I think we should do

is try to settle it for that.

No. Tom--

TOM: I will not settle my wife's life for $20,000.

I'd rather take the moral victory

of a big verdict

than walk away for--

FRUTT: Tom,

I cannot in good conscience expend

thousands of dollars on expert witnesses,

and expend our time--

I didn't get a doctor because I'm poor.

Now you're saying I don't get a lawyer.

FRUTT: That's not fair.

We have put in hundreds of hours on this case.

TOM: Then why quit now,

in the middle of trial?

FRUTT: Because as I said,

this judge-- TOM: I want a verdict.

I want the jury sending these people a message.

FRUTT: "These people" in this case

is an insurance company.

The only message they're equipped

to receive is numerical,

and they are immune on this.

If you want us to keep going,

we will.

Why? STRINGER: Because he hired us,

Eugene, to-- To win a judgment

that now you cannot get.

This judge is fair, and-- YOUNG: Look, she's a partner

billing out at $400 an hour. You bill out at $250.

This case could take a week.

SHORE: Pay no attention to him, Jamie.

Good for you.

I feel the mean man glaring at me.

This doesn't concern you.

SHORE: Oh, but it does, Eugene. I can tell her how to win.

How?

SHORE: I know Judge Mantle.

He's a man given to compassion.

And better yet, politics.

If you shock his conscience,

get some media down there

to shed some light on that conscience,

out of the goodness of both heart and career,

he'll probably do the right thing.

I have a reporter

from WXDE.

She owes me a favor.

It's biblical, but I'm sure she'd be thrilled

to compromise herself professionally instead.

Go! Tell your story, Jamie.

The cap is wrong.

The woman died having a baby, for God's sake.

The man deserves more than $20,000.

Be an advocate.

Fix the problem.

Go, team, go. Rah!

Tara, Jimmy,

in my office, please.

I feel like coffee and a croissant, shall we?

(door closes)

(Eugene clears throat)

This is confidential information.

It is a partner matter.

You are not to share this information

with anybody other than Jimmy and me.

Clear?

Okay.

We need to have all the computer passwords

changed by Thursday noon.

The new password, which I will give you,

you will not divulge to anyone.

Okay.

YOUNG: You will also get a letter prepared

by labor counsel,

which letter you are to type on our stationary,

and prepare to send by registered mail

to all our clients.

This, too, by Thursday noon.

Okay.

This is extremely confidential.

I will trust you to respect that confidence.

Okay.

That's all.

(door opens)

(sarcastically) Gee, I hope she doesn't suspect anything.

Well, we can't do it without her.

MILLER: We are a charity hospital.

Of course money's a problem.

But it never affects the quality of our care.

STRINGER: C-sections are about twice

as expensive as natural childbirth.

Is that accurate?

Yes, but--

STRINGER: And who pays the additional costs?

Typically, the insurance company.

STRINGER: If the patient has insurance.

What if she doesn't?

Then the hospital would pay.

But that's not why we encourage natural birth.

It's safer, the recovery time is shorter,

and frankly, too many doctors

perform unnecessary c-sections.

But at Saint Theresa's, women without health insurance

are five times less likely to have a c-section

than women with insurance, so--

That's true of most charity hospitals.

STRINGER: That's your excuse? They all do it?

MILLER: We are not forcing poor women

to have dangerous births.

And I take offense with you-- STRINGER: How many women able

to pay for a c-section

have ever been refused one?

I'm not certain. STRINGER: None!

The only women refused are impoverished.

Poverty has nothing to do with this.

Poverty is what killed Mary.

That's a lie! SEABURY: Objection.

Argumentative. MANTLE: Sustained.

STRINGER: True or false, doctor,

if Mary Quillen had the money to pay

for a c-section,

she would still be alive today.

False.

That is false!

SEABURY: Most women want to give birth naturally,

do they not? Absolutely.

In fact, the movement to encourage natural childbirth

is very much a feminist issue.

SEABURY: Has Saint Theresa's policy of reducing c-sections

been reviewed by the State Medical Board?

MILLER: Yes, our policy has been approved

as safe and appropriate.

Has your hospital

or Dr. Platt ever been disciplined

by the State Medical Board

for what happened here? No.

Because as terrible as this outcome was,

we did nothing wrong.

Did nothing wrong?

How many affluent women die delivering babies?

Even the ones that do,

at least the hospital tries to save them.

But, you know,

that's not really the point.

What is?

Doctors and hospitals make mistakes.

Mistakes happen.

But to shield them from liability,

I am all for tort reform.

But to put a $20,000 cap

on a wrongful death is just wrong.

I mean, most states wouldn't even consider this,

and Massachusetts shouldn't either.

John Kerry can't possibly support this.

Ted Kennedy, I know doesn't.

I am hopeful that Judge Mantle

will reject this as well.

SEABURY: That was a cheap shot, Ms. Stringer.

I would think you'd have the integrity

to at least try this case in a courtroom.

Is that why you asked for this meeting?

To lecture me? SEABURY: You'll be lucky

if you don't get censured by the bar,

but that's not why I called for the meeting.

Against my advice,

the client is prepared to offer you

a hundred thousand dollars, sealed.

No admission.

First of all, a woman died.

$100,000-- SEABURY: Is 80 more than

you'd otherwise get under the cap.

Then why would the hospital offer it?

ROBERT: The hospital didn't.

I'm making the offer.

Out of your own pocket?

ROBERT: Yes. And I'll tell you why.

Robert-- No, let's just deal straight.

Does that violate some attorney code of conduct?

If I lose here, cap or not,

my insurance carrier will drop me.

They do it to OB-GYNs all the time.

They will do it to me. You've said enough.

ROBERT: You represent the hospital

and the insurance company, Brian.

Nobody's really speaking for me here, I'd like to.

I have never been found

by any medical review board

to have committed any malpractice, ever.

And yet, I've been sued seven times.

Bob-- We are getting sued

out of business,

and...

(sighs)

believe it or not,

I am not in this profession for the money.

I'm a doctor,

a pretty damn good one.

My father was an OB-GYN.

It's all I ever wanted to be.

If you win in court,

the most you can get is 20.

I'm offering you a hundred.

And I'm not taking it.

FRUTT: Okay, Tom, I-- You killed my wife.

ROBERT: No, you contributed to that--

(shouting indistinctly)

Hey!

The offer is rejected.

Let's go.

I'm offering you every penny I have.

And it's not enough.

The offer is rejected.

Working kind of late? SHORE: Oh, no.

I'm just pretending so as to impress

and inspire my office mates.

(music playing)

Eugene's hired a labor law firm for something.

All the computer passwords are being changed.

It looks like someone's getting fired.

I'm sure it's nothing.

Tara?

Thank you.

(music playing)

I'm all for tort reform,

but to put a $20,000 cap on a wrongful death...

It's getting played.

I guess that's good.

You ready for the doctor?

I think so.

I gotta go hard, right?

I would. Clearly he has a button.

If you can get him to go "Howard Dean" up there,

that could help.

I just don't want to come off as a monster.

Jamie, we need to accomplish two goals here.

First, to get a favorable verdict,

which will be tough, because...

between you and me,

I'm not sure this doctor committed any negligence.

And second, even should we win,

the judge has to be outraged enough

to strike the cap.

Now, the book on this judge

is that he does rule from emotion sometimes.

So go for it.

I've got the draft letter pretty much done.

Uh, I emailed it to the labor lawyer,

he sent it back with some minor changes,

but I want you to review it, too.

(beep)

When do we tell Ellenor?

She's back from the court at lunch.

We'll tell her then, just before we tell him.

Hello, Eugene! What the--

SHORE (over laptop): Listen, I've been having trouble

getting into my computer.

I was wondering if you could help.

Almost seems as if the password's been changed.

But I'd know if there were a new password,

wouldn't I?

I mean, you wouldn't change it behind my back, would you?

That's something Jimmy might do,

but not--

oh, hello, Jimmy.

I didn't see you there at first.

I'm not surprised, though,

following closely as usual,

waiting for orders,

hoping for a few scraps.

Anyway, Eugene, forgive me

if I seem overly concerned,

but, well, it's just

people have screwed me over in the past.

And I don't like getting screwed over.

WOMAN (over TV): You've been a bad bad cowboy.

MAN (over TV): Oh--

Get him in here.

Eugene.

Get him in here, now.

I've delivered thousands of babies over my career.

I never lost a mother until this case.

You were monitoring her.

Did you miss anything?

ROBERT: I don't think so.

Had she seen a doctor during her pregnancy,

I would have known about her uterine abnormality,

and I probably would have gone with a c-section sooner.

Probably would have?

ROBERT: Natural childbirth is always preferred

for the baby and the mother.

Doing c-sections without cause

is bad medicine.

She wasn't in labor that long,

and we had no warning she was in danger.

Predicting uterine rupture in a healthy woman

who never gave birth before is almost impossible.

This was a tragedy,

but it is not one we could have avoided.

STRINGER: The Quillens told you

they didn't have the money for prenatal care.

That had nothing to do with the treatment I gave her.

My question, doctor,

did you know they couldn't pay for treatment?

Yes. STRINGER: You also knew

they didn't have insurance, correct?

ROBERT: Yes. STRINGER: So you knew

that whatever treatment they got,

the hospital was gonna have to eat it?

I did not put that woman's life at risk to save money.

She had only been in labor an hour,

it would have been inhumane

to just cut her open without cause.

Any doctor-- She was screaming in pain.

She was in labor. It's painful.

STRINGER: You weren't even there!

I was there. You weren't!

How many obstetricians were on duty

that night at the hospital?

Just me. The other obstetricians had quit, because--

Objection. Sustained.

You were the only OB-GYN on duty that night.

And in fact, you hadn't slept for two nights

before Mary Quillen came in.

You were overseeing-- I was not overly tired.

I was no busier than usual. --exhausted and overworked--

I was not! --and you made a bad decision.

I did the best I could!

She came in to have a baby, she's dead--

and you did the best?

I didn't do anything wrong!

You didn't do anything at all!

I did everything I could!

But you know what, counsel,

I will tell you this. Objection.

Doctor! When that judge went face down

the other day, I froze.

I wanted to run up,

I'm a doctor, for God's sake,

but I was too afraid of getting sued, so--

Did you freeze in the emergency room that night?

No! I did not.

But many doctors might. MANTLE: Dr. Platt!

You're the problem!

You're the problem! Dr. Platt, that is enough!

Did I go too hard?

I don't think so.

You had to go after him.

You had no choice.

Is your closing ready?

Not exactly, but I'll work on it.

May I please speak to you?

Doctor, you're represented by counsel.

I realize that,

but my counsel has a conflict.

He represents the hospital and the insurance company.

Then you need to retain another lawyer, we can't--

Two hundred thousand.

I would need time to refinance my house but--

I don't think our client is gonna move for two.

You people are lawyers.

You know what it's like to be held hostage

by insurance carriers.

If I get any unfavorable verdict,

they drop me.

Without coverage, I can't practice.

Dr. Platt, you're represented by counsel.

We cannot be having this discussion.

I'm sorry.

You need me?

Yes. Close the door, please.

Is this something sexual?

Sit.

We've decided to let you go.

Ah.

Go where?

You're being discharged.

Why?

Well,

let's call it philosophical differences.

I'd like you to leave immediately.

Is Ellenor in on this?

Ellenor doesn't know yet, but she'll be informed.

I suppose you've already managed to copy files.

I'll remind you that that's illegal, though,

I doubt you care.

Eugene, I don't need to copy files.

And most of the corporate clients here are mine anyway.

You brought them in, but once you did so,

they became clients of the firm.

Here's a check

representing two weeks' severance pay.

Hmm.

I've generated fees

an excess of $6 million,

you've handed me a check for $15,000.

You can keep it.

You're a very talented lawyer, Alan,

but you don't fit in here.

We'll be happy to give you a good recommendation.

Now, it's time for you to go.

Eugene,

is it sexual?

Goodbye, Alan.

I'm keeping checkers.

Tara.

(door closes)

Alan Shore seemed to know this was coming.

Did you tell him?

Yes.

I'm sorry.

I owe you a lot, Eugene,

and it wasn't my intent to betray you.

Really? Well, you did.

Why?

I guess I like him.

You told me he repelled you.

He so often does.

But it turns out that I consider him a friend.

Your employment here is terminated.

You'll be given two weeks' severance.

Your discharge is effective immediately.

(music playing)

FRUTT: Lucy?

Hey! Hey, Ellenor.

How are you?

Oh, I'm good. Good.

You look amazing.

Thank you. How have you been?

How's life as a rape counselor?

Well, it's not a lot of laughs, but--

God! You look wonderful.

What brings you by?

You're just saying hello?

Uh, nope. I'm just

filling in in a pinch.

Filling in?

Where's Tara?

Ellenor,

can we talk to you for a second?

Sure.

Forty minutes ago, we fired Alan.

I'm sorry?

Jimmy and I agreed that on balance,

he was a detriment to the firm so--

Whoa, whoa, whoa. You and Jimmy agreed?

Why wasn't I-- Because you're his friend.

As well as a partner, with a voting--

We were trying to insulate you from a conflict.

That's crap!

Why wasn't I told?

YOUNG: Because we feared you'd tell him,

and he'd steal clients, or files, or both.

Well, it turns out Tara tipped him off,

so she was fired, as well.

How dare you make a unilateral decision without me?

It wasn't unilateral. Jimmy and I--

FRUTT: I am a partner in this firm.

For you to go behind my back--

You're his friend. I'm your friend!

You have a duty of honesty to me!

As do you to Alan,

which we couldn't risk you honoring.

Not at the expense of the firm.

The firm?

The firm is you,

it's me, and it's Jimmy!

YOUNG: And Jamie and Tara!

Who you just fired!

Because she betrayed us! Eugene!

He had to go. I don't care how much money he brought in.

He lied, he broke all the rules.

He served every one of us.

No, he did not!

The firm Bobby Donnell turned over to us

is one of integrity.

The name on this place, its reputation,

it means something.

That man

demeans the practice of law.

He demeaned this firm.

He disrespected you,

Jimmy, and me.

I don't care if we have to scrape for rent.

This firm will always

maintain its dignity.

Character has to count for something, Ellenor,

and if it does,

that man has no place.

(music playing)

STRINGER: We need to get going.

Jamie, can you close without me there?

Um, sure.

I'm just in no emotional state to, uh.

I understand.

Uh, I'm fine.

Uh, If the judge asks, I'll just tell him

you're not feeling very well.

Thank you.

I better get to court.

Hmm.

Seems funner than before.

YOUNG: Lucy, did all the letters go out?

I checked. They're out.

YOUNG: Okay.

Uh, thank you for, uh.

No problem.

Everyone says frivolous lawsuits

are destroying medicine.

Insurance companies blame lawyers

for driving up health costs.

But you know what?

It's a lie.

Malpractice suits are down nationally,

doctors and hospitals

are making more money than ever.

The most recent study shows

that for every lawsuit filed,

there are at least 10 acts of gross malpractice

that never lead to any action.

New laws are making it harder and harder

to even bring these cases,

yet almost 100,000 Americans

died last year because doctors and hospitals

made mistakes.

One hundred thousand.

Mary Quillen died because she couldn't afford a c-section.

That's worse than negligence,

it's discrimination.

And it happens every day.

It's somehow become bad business

to treat the poor.

And health care has become a national disgrace.

A message needs to be sent.

I don't have the power.

But you do.

This country, the richest on Earth,

fails to provide

adequate prenatal care to poor women.

Had Mary been able to get a prenatal exam,

Dr. Platt would have known

that her uterus was abnormal,

and he likely would have ordered that c-section.

But because he didn't know,

he had no basis

for performing a c-section on her

until it was too late.

One reason for the state of health care in this country,

by the way, a big reason, litigation.

Your Honor? She opened the door on this.

I'll allow it.

SEABURY: Fear of litigation

is driving health care costs into orbit.

Doctors routinely order

expensive tests to cover themselves

in case they get sued.

And according to Newsweek magazine

we waste $50

to $100 billion dollars,

billion,

on what's called "defensive medicine."

Physicians are now afraid to discuss

their mistakes with each other,

because candor can be used against them in court.

But you know the worst part,

good doctors,

men and women in the business of healing,

like Dr. Platt, are being driven out,

because they can't afford coverage.

He couldn't foresee an abnormal uterus.

This wasn't his fault.

But hey, anybody and everybody

gets to sue.

The problem is,

win or lose,

he loses.

And so do we all.

(doorbell rings)

Hey. Is he here?

Oh, I've been calling him, actually.

I'm trying him again now.

SHORE (over recording): Hello, you've reached Alan Shore.

I'm currently with a prostitute.

If you'd like to leave a message--

I have left him six messages.

He's not returning.

Okay.

Listen, Tara,

I'm very sorry that it--

I deserved to get fired,

Ellenor.

I betrayed Eugene.

I'm willing to accept responsibility for it.

If I hear from him, I'll let you know.

Okay. Thanks.

(music playing)

Has the jury reached a verdict?

Yes, we have, Your Honor.

MANTLE: Question one,

was the hospital or Dr. Platt negligent

in the death of Mary Quillen?

How say you?

FOREPERSON: We, the jury, find Dr. Platt and the hospital

guilty of negligence.

MANTLE: Question two refers to damages.

Have you reached a decision on that question?

FOREPERSON: Yes, Your Honor.

We, the jury, find Dr. Platt and the hospital

jointly and severally liable,

and order them to pay the Quillen family

$3.6 million.

SEABURY: Defense moves to reduce the judgment

to the statutory cap of $20,000.

Opposed. Your Honor has the discretion to lift the cap.

SEABURY: There is no authority for that discretion

in the legislative definition--

Your Honor can rely on precedent or judgements--

Those precedents are certainly not binding, Your Honor..

The law is wrong!

Which is exactly why most states

did away with the charity caps 50 years ago.

You're right, Ms. Stringer.

The law is archaic

perhaps even immoral.

But as a judge,

I'm bound to uphold it.

The verdict of $3.6 million is vacated by statute.

The verdict is capped at $20,000.

Members of the jury, you're dismissed with thanks.

This matter is adjourned.

I'm sorry.

We'll appeal,

and we'll ask for the full judgment.

But--

It's okay.

You at least got a verdict.

I'm grateful for that.

Maybe...

it'll be heard.

Let's hope so.

I wish you well, Tom.

Thank you.

And please thank Ellenor for me.

I will.

(music playing)

(indistinct chatter)

What's new?

I'm sorry.

I didn't know.

I know you didn't.

I'm gonna try to dissuade them.

Ellenor

it's a place of work, nothing more.

It's the little things in life I...

find annoying.

If you could just get Tara's job back.

She didn't...

deserve--

Hey,

my friend,

you and I are going to see a lot of each other.

Everything's fine, Ellenor,

I promise.

I'd even go so far as to say it's all for the best, so...

let's see a smile.

(scoffs)

I didn't figure you'd go so quietly.

Who said anything about going quietly?

Ellenor, I give you my word

this is going to get very...

ugly.

Not to worry.

(music playing)

(music playing)

WOMAN: You stinker!

(music playing)