All language subtitles for L.A.Law.S04E06.Lie.Down.and.Deliver.1080p.HULU.WEB-DL.DDP5.1.H.264-BurCyg_track3_[eng]

I say this...

you hire a divorce lawyer
to represent

you against the very person
that you trusted most.

I'll give him five more minutes.
And that is it.

Come on, Arnie. Relax a little.

As soon as the photographer is
free, we can get this over with.

Becker: The sooner, the better.

Don't do me any favors, Arnie.

Let's just have our pictures
taken, shall we, guys?

So what other videos are you
promoting here tonight, Dave?

What's it to you?

I like to know the company
I'm in.

Never been to particular before.

You're right, if I had been,

I wouldn't have
gotten involved with you.

Dave, what exactly are

mood enhancement videos?

Tropical foliage and
alpine vistas mostly.

You know, I have one of
the largest selections

of bucolic imagery in
Southern California right here.

Well, between that
and your smut collection,

I'm in a real class environment.

Oh, don't put on
airs with me, Arnie.

This is Dave, remember?
I know you too well.

Oh yeah? Well, here's something
you don't know, Dave.

I don't need the money this bad.

Fine.

[Allison sighs] Arnie...

I know you can get through this.

Allison, I suffer a lot
from difficult individuals

with what I do, but
this guy is too much.

Listen to me.
Dave has a real problem.

No matter how hard he works, no
matter how much money he makes,

he'll never be sexy.
He'll never be glamorous.

Allison: He'll never be you.

[indistinct chatter]

Do you want me to stay?

Yes, I do.

Okay.

How could you ever have opted
for Sifuentes instead of me?

I don't know how many times
I've asked

myself that very same question.

I'll be back.

Is this Arnie Becker, Dave?

Yeah. Arnie, these...
This is Cheryl Flecksor.

- Cheryl, Arnie Becker.
- Hi.

Cheryl: I'm also here
promoting a video.

Oh really? What video is that?

- "For the Love of Rubber."
- Really?

Do you know what I do when I'm
not making porno films?

- Becker: No. What's that?
- I work for a process server.

One for you... and one for you.

Big smiles, everybody.

[camera shutter closes]

Photographer: Beautiful.

[theme music]

[music continues]

[music continues]

[instrumental music]

First up, you may be aware

that after last week's debacle
with the melons by mail,

I've shifted, excuse me,

the source of our dietary
supplementation

to Jocko's cereal, a crunchy
snack that's high fiber,

high protein, and, more
importantly, rodent-free.

Yes, we know, Douglas.

The office is still
buzzing about it.

- May we move on, please?
- There's more to buzz about.

Brackman: Jocko's is currently
running a cash giveaway contest,

which contest
we won this morning,

earning the firm
five thousand dollars.

- Abby: What?
- You're kidding?

Brackman: Each box contains

a batless baseball player
on the cover.

If your box contains
the missing bat,

as one fours did, see,

it slides in like this, voila!

We win five thousand dollars.

Well, that's very good, Douglas.

Brackman:
So, you see, the windfalls

of a healthy diet are endless.

Moving on, Segal v. Blanchard.

Trial starts today. Ready.

Let me reiterate
my reservation about

starting a trial at eight
and a half months pregnant.

- Forget it.
McKenzie: Oh.

I'm with Douglas on this one.

This doesn't make sense.

Kuzak: Actually, it makes

perfect sense.

Now, we're up against a grieving

mother who lost
her baby at birth.

With Ann representing
a doctor, we stand

a good chance of neutralizing
that sympathy.

Putting a pregnant attorney into
a maternity malpractice case

strikes me as being
manipulative, and I would--

It is manipulative, Leland,
but that's what we do.

The fact is, a jury's gonna
listen to me on this

more than they would Michael.

And since this doctor
is so clearly

not negligent,
I don't mind giving him

whatever advantage he needs.

Brackman: Well, well, well. Nice
of you to join us this morning.

Yeah, well, I got an unexpected
surprise last night

at my promotional,
and I was up a little late.

I got sued over the video.

Sued for what?

Malpractice. Breach of warranty.

Some crackpot hen says
she relied

on my advice
and it ruined her life.

And she actually filed suit?

You can wipe the smile off,
Doug.

She named the firm as well.

- What?
- She sued us?

- You're all co-defendants.
Brackman: I knew it.

I knew this damn thing would
end up an embarrassment.

And we're not covered.

Now look, I don't know

anything about this lady's case,

but she's gonna
have a difficult time

making malpractice stick.

- Victor, you've got any time.
- A little.

McKenzie: Alright.
Get together with Arnold.

Let's mark up a fast motion to
dismiss and nip this in the bud.

Very good, Arnold.

- Brackman: Lastly...
- Drop dead.

at this time, the partners are
very pleased to announce

the acquisition
of a new partner.

Ms. Rosalind Shays will be
joining us next week,

concentrating in the
corporate department.

[clears throat]

Well, what are we
supposed to do, clap?

Brackman: This is a major coup
for the firm, Victor.

Ms. Shays has a tremendous
client base,

and she stands to generate
substantial revenue.

Yeah, well, forgive us for not
dancing around, Douglas.

But the revenues that you're
talking about

go directly into your pocket,
not mine.

As for the associates here...
[laughs]

Well, the only thing
that's gonna change

is that the ratio is gonna
go up seven to three.

And you know what? That stinks.

Kuzak: Wait, wait,
you're not worried about

job security, are you, Victor?

Nope.

I'll tell you what does
bother me, though.

That a bunch of bottom-line
partners are going around

behind closed doors,

trying to calculate
how to make themselves richer

with no regard at all for the
other lawyers in this place.

I mean, nobody introduced
me to this lady. Abby?

- Jonathan, anybody talk to you?
- Nope.

McKenzie: You want to meet her,
Victor? Fine.

I'll set it up right away.
Dinner, tomorrow night.

- Let's move on.
- Thank you.

Brackman: That's it. We're done.

I couldn't really feel the
contractions

because of the epidermal.

I just remember pushing
as hard as I could.

And then I remember
seeing the baby.

Waiting for it to cry.

But there wasn't a sound.

What happened next,
Mrs. Blanchard?

There seemed to be this panic.

The nurses were yelling
at each other to do things.

And... they put an oxygen
mask on his head.

Haber: Your son's head?

Yes.

And then they stuck this tube
down his throat.

His face, it looked blue.

Haber: I know this is painful
for you, ma'am,

but can you tell us what
happened next?

Suddenly, everything stopped.

Nobody was rushing
around anymore.

And I saw them take
the tube out of his mouth.

And I was screaming at them to
tell me what was going on.

Dr. Segal, he said that
my little boy was dead.

Haber: I have nothing further.

Did it appear that Dr. Segal
was doing everything

he could to save your baby?

[sniffles] I guess.

But [sniffles] then I found out
after that maybe he didn't.

I see.

Did you do everything you could

to protect the welfare
of this child?

Of course I did.
What kind of question is that?

Did you ever consume
alcoholic beverages

during the course
of your pregnancy?

I think I may be had wine

on two or three occasions.

Uh-huh.

And you also drank coffee,
didn't you?

Sometimes. What's the point?

Kelsey:
The point is, Mrs. Blanchard,

you ignored the express
instructions

of your doctor to avoid
alcohol and caffeine.

That didn't kill my baby.

We don't
know what killed your baby.

Did you ever fly during your
pregnancy, ma'am?

Lucy: Flying is allowed.

But it's not recommended, is it?

Objection.

Your Honor,
I'm trying to establish

that this witness was derelict

in her prenatal care.

That's not fair!

Mrs. Blanchard, just answer

the questions.

I'll give you a little latitude

here, counselor.

Your niece Melissa came down

with a viral infection
while visiting you

during the sixth month on the
first day of your pregnancy,

didn't she, Mrs. Blanchard?

Yes.

Did you make any attempt
to isolate

yourself from her
during this illness?

I was the only one who could
take care of her.

Kelsey: So, you knowingly
exposed your unborn child

to a contagious disease,
didn't you?

Was I supposed to stay
away from Melissa?

Talk to me, Mrs. Blanchard. I'm
the one asking the questions.

You're trying to make it sound
like it was my fault.

- Maybe it was your fault.
- Ms. Kelsey, that's enough!

Kelsey: True or false,
Mrs. Blanchard?

Your doctor said no drinking,
you drank.

Your doctor said no caffeine,
you had coffee.

Your doctor said avoid flying

and contagious diseases,
and you didn't.

- Stop it!
- You also smoked cigarettes.

- Didn't you?
- I didn't kill my baby!

You also smoked cigarettes,
didn't you?

Lucy: [crying] Why are you
doing this to me?

Kelsey: Yes or no?!

Yes. I smoked cigarettes.

But cigarettes
did not kill my son.

- How do you know that?
- Objection!

Judge: Ms. Kelsey!

I have no further questions
for this witness.

[cries]

You wanna tell
me what just happened in there?

[laughs lightly]
What do you mean?

Ann, our defense is that
Dr. Segal is innocent.

It's not that Lucy
Blanchard is guilty.

She's the one who wants to
point a finger here.

I was just showing the jury that
we can point it right back

at her just as easily.

I'm sorry.

But the whole reason for
your doing this

was that you would seem
more sympathetic.

You just came off like
a monster in there.

Thank you, Abby.

But I'm the one
who decides strategy here, okay?

Ann, I'm not snapping at you.

There's no need
for you to snap at me.

I'm snapping at you because
you're undermining me

in the middle of a trial,
and I won't stand for that.

- Are you okay?
- I'm fine!

End of discussion.

Adair: Buying "Arnold Becker's
Video Guide To Divorce"

was the worst thing
my client ever did, Your Honor.

Following
Mr. Becker's instructions

she locked her husband out.

She wasn't following

my instructions!

Sit down, Mr. Becker.

Your Honor, I trust that
Arnold Becker's

arrogance will not be
imputed to me.

Judge: Sit down, Mr. Meyer.

Adair: The breach of
warranty runs to them both.

She used their videotape to work
out her separation agreement.

And as a result,
she wound up with about

a tenth of
what she was entitled to.

Arnold Becker specifically
cautioned purchasers

of this tape that it wasn't a
substitute for legal counsel.

Adair: Oh, nonsense.

What were they buying it for,

to repair their cars?

Just a minute, Ms. Adair.

Was there in fact
a disclaimer on the tape?

- Yes, Your Honor. There was.
- It was wholly inadequate.

Sifuentes: Now even assuming,
arguendo,

that the plaintiff was relying
on Mr. Becker for legal counsel,

there was no mention at all of
McKenzie, Brackman on that tape,

nor can videotape production
be deemed

as the practice of law,
Your Honor.

I'd have to agree.

Well, accordingly then,
Your Honor,

I would move to dismiss
any and all claims

from McKenzie,
Brackman, Cheney and Kuzak.

Adair: Opposed.

Furthermore,

since malpractice liability runs
only to the client,

and since the plaintiff
wasn't the client,

I move to dismiss the
claim of malpractice

against Arnold Becker
personally.

Both Mr. Meyer and Mr. Becker

had liability as sellers.

Your Honor,
Mr. Meyer was relying

wholly on Mr. Becker's expertise
as a divorce attorney

and should not be held
liable for any

legal misrepresentation
contained in the video.

Alright, I've heard enough.

The malpractice case against
McKenzie, Brackman is dismissed.

The malpractice
claim against Arnold Becker

individually is dismissed

- Thank you, Your Honor.
Ganz: Your Honor.

Ganz: Does this mean Dave Meyer
is the only one liable?

Wouldn't be the first time,
Sheldon.

The cheese stands alone.

The breach of warranty
claim stands

against Mr. Becker as well.

That's it.

Meyer: Query, Your Honor.

Why is an honest businessman
being pilloried

for that which is so wholly
outside his field of expertise?

Save your queries for trial,
Mr. Meyer.

No queries. Yes, sir.

Next case, Kerry v. Voucher.

What's up?

- Oh.
- Have a seat, Ann.

Pretty cute, Abby.
Going behind my back.

I came straight to you, Ann.

I brought my problem straight to
you and you just shut me down.

Kuzak: Alright, look.

Based on Abby's account of what

happened in court yesterday,
I'm not so sure

it's as brilliant an idea
as I thought

to have you try this thing.

Abby and I just disagree with

respect to strategy, that's all.

Well, I happen to
side with Abby.

Kelsey: Fine.
I'll try to tone it down.

- Are you prepared to takeover?
Kelsey: What? Michael.

Excuse me, Ann.
Abby, can you try this case?

- Yes.
- You can't do this.

I'm sorry, Ann. But I have
to think of the client.

- You have no right to yank me.
- Hey!

As head of litigation,
I not only have the right,

I have the responsibility.

Now you have personalized this

case beyond the point of
its effectiveness

and I can't let that happen.

Abby, you take the witnesses.

Ann, you close.

Michael, you could at
least give me a chance--

That is the way it's
going to be. Alright?

[door closes]

Hey.

Jonathan. Diana.

- Just the two I'm looking for.
- Yeah, what's up, Douglas?

Jocko's cereal won't pay,
that's what.

They say there was a packaging
screw up and bats were placed

in over a hundred boxes
instead of three.

Oh no.

They're offering a hundred bucks

as a paltry compromise.

I want you to sue them for me.

You want to litigate a five
thousand dollar claim?

It's a five hundred thousand
dollar claim.

There were a hundred and
twenty-two false winners.

I want you to file a class
action suit

on behalf of all the
victims tomorrow.

A class action?

Make Benny the named plaintiff.

We'll get a lot more mileage

with a retardo leading
the charge.

- We can't do that.
- Of course we can.

He's part of the firm. Make it
Benjamin Stulwicz et al.

Diana, I want you to put ads in
the Times and the Examiner

notifying all
prospective plaintiffs.

The distribution of their
boxes was limited

to West L .A., so the victims
should all be local.

Jonathan, schedule a motion to
certify the class post haste.

Uh, you don't think
this is a little rash?

No, I don't. Those cheap
bastards stuck a bat in my box.

They're gonna make good.

Besides,
if we certify the class,

we'll get a quick settlement and
possibly see a nice counsel fee

of about twenty
thousand dollars.

Teach those cereal
grunts to mess with me.

Stark: You can see the changes
on the monitor right there.

They indicate a--

Yes, they indicate a fluctuation
in the baby's heart rate

about thirty minutes
prior to delivery.

And what was happening
at this point, doctor?

What probably happened
was the baby compressed

its own umbilical cord,
cutting off its oxygen.

Haber: And what was the effect
of this loss of oxygen?

Dr. Stark: The effect was brain
damage so extensive

that its heart and lungs could
not function outside the womb.

This baby couldn't breathe. Its
heart couldn't pump any blood.

And that's what caused it to
die so quickly after delivery.

Can something be done to save
the child in this situation?

Absolutely,
an emergency C-section

could have easily
rescued the child

before the oxygen loss had
caused the brain damage.

- And what did Dr. Segal do?
- He did nothing.

He waited thirty minutes and
delivered the child vaginally.

Did this wait factor
into the child's death?

There's no question about it.
Dr. Segal waited too long.

Had he responded
and done the Caesarean,

this baby would still be alive.

Haber: Thank you Doctor.
I have nothing further.

[woman coughs]

Dr. Stark.

These changes in the monitor are
very minor, aren't they?

They're certainly noticeable.

They're noticeable.

But if that baby
suffered brain damage

from a lack of oxygen
during delivery,

now that would be marked
by a huge

fluctuation in the heart rate,
wouldn't it?

Not always. No.

- But typically, right, doctor?
- Yes.

Typically, the fluctuations
would be more remarkable.

In fact, this baby
suffered extensive brain damage

long before delivery,
isn't that right?

Dr. Stark: I see no
conclusive proof of that.

Do you have any proof it didn't
happen that way?

Yes, based upon my review of
the case, I concluded that

the brain damage
occurred during the delivery.

Abby: Based upon your review.

Did you speak with Dr. Segal
or read his deposition?

Dr. Stark: No.

Did you speak with the
anesthesiologist?

Dr. Stark: No.

How about any of the nurses?

I didn't have to.
I reviewed the records.

- Who sent you those records?
- Objection!

Abby: I'm offering to
show bias, Your Honor.

The objection's overruled.

Who provided you with

Mrs. Blanchard's
medical records?

Her attorney. Mr. Haber.

And how many times have you

previously testified
for Mr. Haber?

Your Honor, this is totally
irrelevant.

Overruled, Mr. Haber. Sit down.

Abby: In how many of Mr. Haber's
malpractice cases

have you testified, sir?

- I don't know.
- More than ten?

- Yes.
Abby: More than twenty?

Dr. Stark: I guess.
I don't know.

- More than five hundred?
- No.

So somewhere between twenty
and five hundred times,

you've taken the
stand to find negligence?

It's more like thirty-five
times. Tops.

Oh, so now you do know
how many times.

And you are paid for this
testimony, correct?

Yes.

And, sir, how many babies

have you delivered
in the past five years?

- None.
- None?

Abby: Well, I guess that's
certainly understandable.

With all these court
appearances,

who has time to practice
medicine?

Haber: Objection!
Abby: Withdrawn.

Nothing further.

You know, Abby and Jonathan,
they wanted to be here

but they're a little tied up
with litigation right now.

I understand. Too many lawyers
can wreck an evening, anyway.

[laughs lightly]
You got that right.

So, this place is nice. Hm.

Sifuentes: Comfortable.
Rosalind: Yes.

But I think I'll feel
more comfortable

when I know I've passed.

- Pardon?
- Victor...

Leland didn't arrange
this dinner

out of concern for my diet.

I have the ever-so-slight
feeling

that I'm being tested tonight.

Well, the scorecards
are already in, Rosalind.

You've got the job.

So all that's left is for me

to smooth the ruffled feathers

of the ranking
senior associate.

[laughs lightly]

Honey, do I look ruffled?

Maybe it's the shirt.

All kidding aside, Victor.

I know my being brought in like
this has got to make you wonder.

But if you're harboring the
slightest apprehension

about what it does
to your stock,

let me be the first
to squelch it.

From everything
I've heard about you,

your future is pretty much
guaranteed.

What have you heard?

Well, that he has the highest
winning percentage in the firm.

That Michael Kuzak
and Ann Kelsey have lost cases

that Victor Sifuentes
probably would have won.

I doubt that.

Mike Kuzak and Ann Kelsey,
they're both

first rate trial lawyers.

I know they are.
But you're better.

And the truth is, that you're
the reason I have confidence

in our litigation department.

And you're the one
that I would like

handling my clients'
needs in that area.

Well, I'm flattered.

- Here you are.
- Oh boy.

If I'm gonna get serious
about dinner, I, uh,

I have to first go
to the loo. Excuse me.

She's terrific.

- She's poison.
- What?

"You're better than Kelsey
and Kuzak.

I want you handling my clients."

She's playing you.

She's probably got
a double header

scheduled tomorrow
with Ann and Michael.

I-- I don't know. She seems,
uh... She seemed okay to me.

Trust me on this one.

That woman is trouble.

It's your video, Arnie.
You're the one who got--

Oh, suddenly it's my video.

When the money's rolling in

it's our video, but as soon as

there's a possible
judgment looming

against us, I'm on my own.

McKenzie:
You're not on your own.

We'll provide you with whatever
legal representation you need.

Big deal, you send Victor in
there to get the firm

off the hook,
you leave me dangling.

Arnie, that is
the way judge ruled.

Becker: Because that's the way
you argued it.

Hey, you don't like
the way I handled this,

you go represent
yourself next time.

You can believe me
next time I will.

Next time I'll know that I can
only count on myself.

Look, now if this were a
malpractice case,

it would be one thing.

But our insurance carrier
is not gonna

kick in for breach of warranty.

Then you kick in!

Your hands were out for the
profits, you kick in.

He's right,
we should at least

contribute to
the extent we profited.

And more.
We're sixty-forty partners.

You people should be throwing in
forty percent

of whatever the liability is.

Why don't you just
cross-claim Dave Meyer?

The truth is, you could lay this
whole thing at his door.

Boy, we all know how to be
lawyers in here, don't we?

We all know how to be shrewd
and cold-blooded

in the clutch, right?

We'll give you fifty thousand.

There's no ceiling on what
you would take, Leland.

- Why would you limit--
McKenzie: Fifty thousand.

And that's more than
we've gotten

from this thing collectively.

And on a sixty-forty split,
that covers you up to a

hundred and twenty-five thousand
dollars in a settlement.

You certainly can make this
thing go away for that amount.

And if I can't?

If it's more than that,

well, you're on your own.

Boy, isn't it great
to have partners?

It's uplifting to know I can
share my daily endeavors

with such honorable people.

[indistinct chatter in office]

The common questions don't
predominate.

This is not appropriate
for a class action.

It's the same cause of action
for everybody--

No, no, it's not!

Some of the plaintiffs
got the big bats,

and some of them
got the small ones.

- Excuse me?
- Different size bats, Judge.

Grand prize winners
got the fat bats,

and the runners-up
got the thinner model.

What's more, some got
bunters on their boxes...

hmm, instead of a
guy singing away.

You see,
if you got the big swinger

with the fat bat,
that's five thousand.

Uh, bunt with the, uh,
slimmer model,

that's twenty-five hundred.

Now some of these kids are just

you know, woofing the fat bats
into the bunters' hands,

and that doesn't win
anything at all.

For God's sake.

On top of which, you've got the
whole issue of privity.

- What?
- Privity?

Powell: Privity.

Some of the kids actually bought

the cereal, others didn't.

I'm telling you, Judge,
it's a thicket.

Look, Mr. Powell, I don't care
about privity,

or skinny bats, or fat bunters.

- But the--
- Uh, fatbats, Your Honor.

All the players are evenly
proportioned.

It's just the size of the bats
that differs from box to box.

Judge: Alright,
the point is, is that

all of the class plaintiffs are
suing your client

for the same thing.

You've got the same defendant,
and you've got the same

basic cause of action.
The class is certified.

Your Honor, there are so many
sub-issues here, you can't--

I know. It's a thicket.

The class is certified pending
notice, Mr. Powell.

Next case.

- [laughing] You were great.
- Thanks.

I want to see you do that
next time. [Moses laughs]

Mr. Rollins.

- Nice job.
- Thanks.

Look, we obviously can't afford

the negative publicity
of being sued by kids.

I'd like to see this whole
matter just go away post haste.

2 o'clock tomorrow in my office.

- We'll talk numbers.
- I'll be there.

How many of those kids have you
actually tracked down?

A little over twenty-five.

Get as many of them there

tomorrow as possible.

I don't want parents. Just kids.

And have them there by 1:00
so I can prime them.

Why? Strategy, that's why.

You think he's worried
about publicity now?

- Oh, boy. He's in for a treat.
- Alright.

What caused the baby's
brain damage, Dr. Segal?

Most likely it was compression
of the umbilical cord,

like Dr. Stark testified.

But it didn't happen
during delivery.

Abby: How can you be sure?

Dr. Segal:
Because the kind of brain

damage we're talking about.

The compression of the cord
would have to go on

at least seven minutes.

Now, that would
have sent the heart

monitor right off the chart.

Not the little blips we saw.

When do you think this
happened to the baby?

There's no way to tell.

Obviously, the baby
can't use its lungs in the womb,

and the blood supply
is provided by the mother.

So it is possible to have a
brain-damaged child

and yet an apparently
normal pregnancy.

There's just no way
to see this coming.

But since there were some
fluctuations in the monitor,

shouldn't you have performed a
C-section just to be safe?

Absolutely not.

C-sections have risks, too.

Risks that outweigh any possible
advantage in this situation.

Dr. Segal, is there
anything you could've done

to save this child that
you did not do?

Dr. Segal: No.

Thank you, doctor.
I have nothing further.

The monitor indicated some
irregularities.

- Correct?
- Yes. That's correct.

And in response to this warning,
you did absolutely nothing.

My response was exactly--

You did nothing, Doctor! Right?

I proceeded to deliver the baby!

Vaginally.

You billed my client for this

botched delivery, didn't you?

- Objection, relevance.
- Mr. Haber.

I think it's very relevant,
Your Honor.

This man had
the temerity to bill

this woman thirty-five
hundred dollars,

and he just went
through the motions.

I did everything
I could to save that child!

Did the death even bother you,
Doctor?

Or did you just go
back to your office

and just whip out the invoice?

Abby: Objection.

Judge:
Mr. Haber, you're out of order.

- You make me sick!
- Dr. Segal.

I'll tell you what's
sickening, sir.

A doctor who makes
a fatal mistake

and then refuses
to be held accountable.

- Objection.
- Objection, move to strike.

Sustained. One more, Mr. Haber,
and your in contempt.

If I make a mistake,
I expect to be held accountable.

What I don't expect
is to be blamed

for something
that isn't my fault!

A baby died, sir,

and all you can think about
is your reputation.

Babies die, Mr. Haber!

No matter how hard doctors try,

they still die sometimes.

But if you start suing us
up because we can't be God,

then soon we won't be able to
even be doctors.

Her child is dead!

And you think it's unfair
for her to sue?

I'm sorry for
your tragedy, ma'am.

But you're chasing after me as
if there were

some sort of guarantee.
There isn't.

And there never will be.

So, what now, Golden Boy?

I set up a meeting with DiNapoli
and her attorney for tomorrow.

When were you, uh, planning on
telling me about this?

- I just set it up this morning.
- Right.

I'd also rather handle this
myself, Dave.

Oh, I bet you would.
But I'm not gonna let you.

The only one I trust to look out
after my interests now is me.

Listen, we're on the same side
of the table this time, Dave.

I think I can negotiate a better
deal for both of us

if you and Sheldon
let me do it alone.

Tell me...

What's worse, Annie?

Getting sued or having
me as a co-defendant.

Neither one's a real
pleasant experience

if you want to know the truth.

Well, that'll teach you
to tie up

with a trinket salesman,
won't it?

I'm not gonna
play into this, Dave.

Meyer: Into what?

Into that tired old...

kick-me-I'm-David Meyer routine,
that's what.

You must wish I never walked
into your life.

Becker: No, I don't.

I wish I had been able to
work out a more

amicable divorce
between you and Roxanne.

I said some hurtful things,
and I...

I wish I hadn't.

You really mean that?

Yes, I do.

You know, when I first
came to you

with this idea about the video,

I wasn't even interested in
making money.

What did you do it for?

I just wanted to come to the
party, that's all.

I just wanted to hear you say,
"Hi, Dave, how's it going?

Hi, Dave. Hi, partner."

Hi, partner.

Still?

You bet, still.

However rocky it's been,
the truth is,

I'm really glad I know you.

I'm really grateful that our
paths have crossed.

And... I wouldn't give that up
for anything.

I guess it isn't just
a world of woe, is it?

No, Dave, it's not.

And something always
comes along to point that out.

Rrrrr.

[telephone ringing in office]

[clears throat]

- See ya.
- Yeah.

The gloom is lifting, Roxanne.
Of this, I feel certain.

- Arnold.
Becker: Leland. Rosalind.

Arnie, how are you?

Dave Meyer.

How do you do?

- Are you an attorney here?
- Me? No, no.

I'm in the direct mail
field primarily.

You must know Digby Burnell.

- Would that I did?
Rosalind: What do you mean?

Burnell is in the pantheon
of direct mail Gods.

He's a titan.
A war lord. He's Genghis Khan.

Roz, we should be going.

He's been my client
for about ten years.

If you ever wanna meet him,
just let me know.

Naturally,
I'm loathe to capitalize

on your relationship with him.

I expect that this firm

will realize its
appropriate share

should you and Digby
go forward with a venture.

Oh, I w-- I would offer it up
joyously.

Digby Burnell, please.

This is Rosalind Shays.

Good God!

What an extraordinary woman!

[grumbles lightly] Yeah.

Okay, they've indicated

they'll go for two hundred
and fifty thousand,

and your insurance company
will cover it.

No. No.

Dr. Segal, we can make this
whole thing go away right now.

I wasn't negligent.

I'm not going to say
I was by settling.

We can structure it with
no admissible liability.

- That way--
Dr. Segal: Oh, come on.

You fork over a quarter of
a million dollars,

you're admitting guilt.

I do have a reputation
to think about.

- Kelsey: Dr. Segal--
- Ms. Kelsey, look.

I'm a young doctor,
I'm building a practice.

I'm not going to say I screwed
up when I know I didn't.

Yes, you are a young doctor,

so let's talk about the
realities of practicing medicine

in the real world.

Doctors get sued
when they've done nothing wrong.

Doctors lose suits when
they've done nothing wrong.

You want to go into court
and fight every time

you happen to be right, fine.

You will spend
your entire career

in depositions
and witness chairs.

And no insurance company
is gonna carry you.

So you're saying I've got to
bend over and take it

because that's the
cost of doing business?

Abby: That's the big picture.

The immediate picture is we

could lose this case.

And the way your coverage reads,

you could be on the hook
personally for anything

over a two hundred and fifty
thousand dollar verdict.

I don't think
you should risk it.

I'm not settling.

If they come in at
half a million,

you're gonna have to
sell your house.

I wasn't negligent.

That baby didn't
die because of me.

No deal.

[instrumental music]

There's really no merit
to her case?

Roxanne, this woman
is a bottom feeder.

Whatever works its way
down to her, she eats.

She's a professional victim.

She wakes up in the morning,
realizes her life is trash,

and asks, who can I sue?

She collects injustice like some
people collect stamps.

I'd like to crush her
with a rock.

Ladies.

- Arnie.
Becker: Ms. DiNapoli.

How do you do, Mr. Becker?

Could I get you anything?

Cup of coffee?
Something cold to drink?

Adair: No, thank you.
DiNapoli: No.

Thanks, Rox.

In that case, why don't we get
started?

This is the figure
that I'm thinking of.

[laughs] Well, your thinking
needs adjustment.

Why don't you
show it to your client?

Denise.

- You think this is low?
- Oh, yes. I do.

Becker: I'd like you to consider
something.

That figure is payable
in full immediately

upon the signing of a release
that would cover me

and cover Dave Meyer as well.

If you accept it, we can dispose
of this matter amicably,

I'm willing to review
the agreement

that you and your
husband worked out.

I'm willing to advise you.

I'm willing to serve
as your attorney

should you choose to engage me.

[laughs] I'm her attorney.

You're not a matrimonial
attorney, Leah.

How much less is this amount

than what you would consider
a good settlement?

It's considerably less.

Becker: Forgive me, but
I would beg to differ.

If you reject that offer,
you and I will go to court.

Papers will be drawn,
depositions held.

All the while, you'll be paying
Leah somewhere in

the neighborhood of two hundred
and fifty dollars an hour.

I, on the other hand,
will represent myself.

The earliest possible date that
our dispute would come to trial

would be in, Leah,
you can bear me out on this

sometime in 1994.

After trial, if you're awarded
much more than this,

I will simply appeal.

That process should
take us into 1996.

Even if you win every
step of the way,

considering your legal fees,
the rate of inflation...

I'd be surprised if you
broke even.

Leah, I'm accepting his offer.

Mr. Becker, I'll have my divorce
file sent right over.

- Call me Arnie.
- Arnie.

I look forward to hearing
what you think.

You'll hear from me
early next week.

Leah.

Yes?

Becker: It's always a pleasure.

Mm-hmm.

I hate you both.

Oh, yes, Dr. Segal said that
they did everything they could,

and they put up all
of these other doctors

to say that he wasn't negligent.

Doctors do that for each other.

They stick together.

Because if any doctor gets sued,
it's bad for all of them.

But occasionally...

a physician is honest

and says what really happened.

Dr. Stark reviewed these
records.

He told you... that Dr. Segal
should have saved this baby.

And he didn't.

He told you that because that
man did nothing,

a little baby's life ended.

A bereaved mother
has to deal with that.

He should have to
deal with it, too.

You've heard seven independent

and objective experts
tell you that Dr. Segal

was not negligent.

The only thing they have to
counter is the honorable

Dr. Stark, a professional
witness who, for a fee,

will say anything Mr. Haber
wants him to.

No matter how much
you sympathize

with Mrs. Blanchard...

she has no case.

I got up and attacked this poor
woman the other day

because I desperately wanted
it to be her fault.

And you know what?

If it couldn't be her fault,
I secretly wanted it to be his.

Because, like her,

the last thing
I wanted to accept

was that these things
just happen.

She screwed up, he screwed up,

somebody did something wrong,
please,

because little babies
don't just die.

They can't.

But they do.

I've picked out
a name for my baby.

I've even bought clothes.

Some pink, some blue.

My husband and I have looked
forward to this for so long

that we're totally
prepared for everything.

Except for the possibility that
something could go wrong.

But the reality is... it could.

The reality is that doctors
can do everything right

like Dr. Segal did,

and mothers can do
everything right,

and an innocent little child
still doesn't make it.

I know you don't
want to accept that.

God knows, she and I don't want
to accept that.

But...we have to.

We have to.

[instrumental music]

[kids yelling]

Okay, kids,
let's settle down now.

Alright. Come on. Come on.
Get off the table now.

Off the table, please.

Please. Alright, now listen.

The cereal company
has just proposed

a new settlement offer
of eight hundred dollars.

Kids [in unison]: Boooo!

Oh, for God's sake, I can't run
a law suit like this.

They are the clients,
Mr. Powell. I can't ignore that.

This is bloody extortion.

The film crew is due here
in thirty minutes.

Good.
Help Jonathan calm the troops.

Excuse me.

This is crazy.
I mean, it's just crazy.

Brackman: There's nothing crazy
about calling a press conference

to announce a class
action of human interest.

That's crap, you're trying
to jack me up

with the threat of more
publicity,

so that I'll roll over and--

[camera shutters clicking]

What the hell is this?

The named plaintiff.

The newspapers
might want headshots.

That's blackmail.

Using kids as food
for the press.

A-- a retarded man
as a poster boy. A...

Oh, for God's sake.

Look, Mr. Powell,
you can't risk this lawsuit.

Aside from the publicity, you're
looking at protracted litigation

with a half million dollars
of exposure.

Not to mention the damage,
public relations-wise.

I'm offering you a quick out

for twelve hundred
dollars per person.

- This is totally unethical.
- Tell it to the ABA.

The press conference starts
in 26 minutes,

and this has got to
make the networks.

Photographer: Excuse me,
I'd like to get a shot

of the three of you together.

No! No!

Twelve hundred
if it's done today.

Get these kids out of here.

And the only thing that gets
to the press is a statement

from both of us
that this whole thing is over.

I have to run it by
the guardians,

but you can consider it done.

You should be ashamed
of yourself.

Rollins: So what's gonna happen
is Mr. Brackman's gonna come in

here and he's gonna help you all
get some money, okay?

- Do you like ice cream?
Kids [in unison]: Yeah!

Twelve hundred a piece.

Kids [in unison]:
[cheering] Yeah!

Way to go, Doug.

I can't believe
you actually pulled it off!

I'm good.
[Moses laughs]

Merry Christmas, kids.

Kids [in unison]:
Merry Christmas!

Judge: Foreperson, has the jury
reached its verdict?

- We have, Your Honor.
Judge: What say you?

Foreman: In the matter of
Blanchard v. Segal,

we find in favor
of the defendant.

[indistinct murmurs]

Oh, wow. [both laughs]
Oh, thank you.

Judge: Members of the jury,
thank you

very much for your service.

This case is completed.
And we're adjourned.

[instrumental
music in the restaurant]

Another knife in the ribs,
another reminder

that your partners
aren't your friends.

Arnie, enough already.

You settled.
You're done with it.

I also know more about
the people I work with.

So that's good.

Painful but necessary.

Right.

Relationships change.

That's right. They do.

What do you mean?

I mean relationships change.

You just changed the subject,
didn't you?

Yes, I did.

So what are we
talking about now?

[music continues]

[sighs]

We're talking about
the fact that

Chloe's staying with her father.

We're talking about you taking
me home and me asking you in.

We're talking about
what happens then.

What does happen then?

Well, a number
of things might happen.

We could [inhales]
remain cautious

and back away from each other.

We could rip each other's
clothes off.

Or we could rip each other's
clothes off. [laughs]

You think that would be
a good idea?

I think relationships change.

[engine rumbling]

I'll just be a minute.

[doorbell rings]

Thank you for letting me come.

I wanted to see you in person.

Okay.

I don't think
I ever let you know...

how truly sorry
I am for your loss.

I never had
any doubt about that.

You know... when it happened...

people told me,

"Better it happened like that

than after a month or a year."

Better that I never had
the chance to get attached.

How can they think... that
you can carry a life around

inside you for nine months
and not be attached?

Yeah.

[laughs] It's funny how
things go, Ms. Kelsey.

You were my enemy in there.

And still, I knew that...

you were the only one who
could understand.

[instrumental music]

I wish you the best.

I wish you the best too.

[door closes]

[sighs]

[theme music]