TV-Serie: Eli Stone - 1x7
Previously on "eli stone"...
stone,senior associate at my firm, was diagnosed with a brain aneurysm.
I thought you'd changed.
All that's changed now is that you're trying to clean up your record just in case there's a hereafter.
All-star catcher Jayson Turk hit a foul ball, which struck his third base coach in the head.
I didn't do anything.
Except find out your wife cheated on you with the guy you killed.
I weathered your hostilities when I was with Eli, but now that I work here, I have got to know, what the hell is your problem?
I don't like who Eli became after he started dating you.
You know I've been seeing things lately.
It's crazy, huh?
I can't fire you, but I'm not obligated to provide you with an office or an assistant.
We're done.
Looks good, mr.
Stone.
Check it again, Frank.
I'm telling you, I smell a gaseous substance.
Mr.
Stone, it's 3:00 in the morning.
I've been standing in your apartment for the last 45 minutes listening to you sniff.
smells like smoke, but there's like a...
fishy quality to it.
It's coming from the bedroom.
you have to smell that.
I really don't.
but I'll say anything to get back to my apartment.
Maybe something died in my closet.
do you hear that?
No.
I like this blazer.
Is it linen?
what the hell?
I'm sorry.
Sorry.
There was A...thing in the...
I tripped.
Okay.
Word of advice-- do yourself a favor and buy a plunger, 'cause the next time your pipes back up, you're on your own.
Eli, what are you doing?
I'm just making a few adjustments.
Well, you keep that up, you're gonna break your station.
It's not a station.
This is my office.
Well, your office is tilted to the right a bit.
Here...
And here.
You know, if taylor finds out you're answering my phone and bringing me coffee...
Is that cinnamon?
Nutmeg, and don't worry about taylor.
I'd like to see her try and say something to me.
Peter Johnson, Peter Johnson...
these-- these are all from the same guy.
Confirming and reconfirming your lunch today.
Apparently, mr.
Johnson is under the impression that you are much busier than you actually are.
I am busy-- with scut work.
I'm like the world's highest-paid intern.
Stone?
If, uh, I haven't said it already, I'm sorry about the whole aneurysm thing.
Tough break, man.
Does it affect your fine motor skills?
No, not really.
It's-- it's mostly- good.
I'm gonna need this redline proofed and duplicated by noon.
Thanks, buddy.
that was a quick trip to the file room.
Wasn't it, though?
We should...
I had another call go straight to voice mail while you were gone.
That happens.
And my schedule, Patty-- I need to know when my meetings are.
You mean like the wednesday morning meeting that's going on right now?
So hurry on.
Don't be late.
Was there anything else?
no.
I think we're good.
first up, if you pay attention to nothing else this morning...
pay attention to this-- Arvin Solinsky.
yes, there is somethinga bout that name that quiets the room.
Due to extenuating circumstances, we're going to need a new senior associate on the Solinsky team.
You all have the file.
Become experts.
For one of you,it won't be a waste of time.
Next item-- people vs.
Jayson Turk.
Mr.
Dowd, mr.
Bennett, what's happening with our baseball star?
I saw ESPN covered his arraignment live.
And the late night comedy shows.
Everyone snickering at the suggestion that Jayson Turk's a murderer 'cause he hit the foul ball that killed his third base coach.
Who happened to be having an affair with his wife, who happens to be a celebrity ball player, who happens to be using steroids-- allegedly using, as in doesn't.
the adage "there's no such thing as bad publicity" doesn't apply to criminal matters.
Make this go away.
We've got a sit-down with the A.D.A.
Scheduled for this afternoon to do just that.
god!
I'm sorry.
Aneurysm time-out.
Sorry.
mr.
Stone?
Peter Johnson.
Junior?
Sorry, but if I told your assistant was 15 and wanted you to represent me, I don't think you would have shown up.
Only 'cause I don't practice pediatric law.
I googled you-- big settlements, big judgments-- your name's all over the law blogs.
You're exactly the kind of lawyer I need.
So...
what's the case?
You suing the school cafeteria to put french fries back on the menu?
My mom died and I want to sue the doctor who killed her.
Sorry, Peter.
Last year, my mom Laura went in for minor surgery-- hernia operation.
The anesthesiologist, dr.
Agon, never bothered to check her charts, gave the wrong anesthesia, and...
they said she had a heart attack at the table.
It's all in the file.
Looks like you've been to a few lawyers already.
Six.
So you know what I'm about to tell you.
Malpractice is alwaysdifficult to prove.
What does your dad say?
It was just and my mom-- now me and my grandma.
That's awful, peter.
I'm not looking for sympathy.
I've got cases in the file-- about a dozen-- 7-figure settlements, 7-figure settlements, $9 million, $10 million each-- and with the right kind of lawyer behind me, with the resources of a firm like yours, I-- well, you see, that's the thing.
I mean, my firm isn't exactly...
I've been kind of demoted, and, um, they won't let me take on new cases right now, so I... "
dragon."
No, his name's Agon.
I guess I shouldget his name right if I'm gonna be suing him.
a single mom?
And she died on the operating table?
You should meet this kid.
He's all alone.
It's tragic, really.
It is to those of us actually interested in helping people.
I am interested in helping people.
Only because you're afraid of dying, and you're trying to suck up to god.
Maggie, I-I'm sitting in a cubicle.
I don't even have my own stapler anymore.
Believe me, there are far less humiliating ways I could be sucking up to god.
Besides, you're perfect for this case.
No one else has the heart, the warm compassion-- now you're sucking up to me.
No, I'm not.
We work great together.
We're like a team.
Were like a team.
My suggestion?
Go find yourself another peon to pee on.
Okay, fine.
Be pissed at me, but don't take it out on this kid-- this poor orphaned kid.
You are unbelievable.
It's like I'm a fish and you're using a kid and his dead mom as bait.
Is it working?
First year associates can't try cases alone.
It's firm policy.
It's inviolate.
Yes, but I wouldn't be trying the case alone.
Eli-- mr.
Stone is-- dead to me.
Improperly so, sir, but still alive enough to remain a senior associate, at least, technically, and since he can still practice law, thanks particularly to you, sir-- flattery and judicious use of loop holes-- clearly, you know the fastest way to my heart.
Very well.
Have at it-- with the cave at that you will first chair.
You realize that I've-- I've never first chaired a dinner party, let alone a-- mr.
Stone is on probation.
He is not to participate in this trial.
If he so much as sneezes in open court, you will be held responsible.
And by "responsible", you mean...
I can't fire mr.
Stone, but you enjoy no such protection.
Good luck with the case.
Wishing you nothing but the best.
you're late.
And you're wearing two different shoes.
I am?
Well, it's your fault.
I'm operating on zero sleep.
I'm terrified, Eli.
Of what?
Of losing this case, of getting completely and totally fired...
your fianc�e, who's been staring daggers at me ever since you and i went to hawaii together.
On a case, just like this one.
Besides that, she's my ex-fianc�e.
Besides that, the dagger's all in your head.
Helpful tip-- don't ever tell a woman, particularly the one who's a senior associate on your case, that she's paranoid Oh, yeah.
This isn't gonna get old.
First thing I want you to do is fast-track a trial date.
I did it this morning.
Great.
Excellent.
Then you can get to work drafting the subpoena for surgical records.
Uh, pre, during and post-- done.
Okay.
Good.
Good job.
Um, Agon's assets.
I got an intern looking into them.
What time is it?
Oh, 9:20.
Okay, we have to get to a depo at the hospital where Peter's mom died.
You noticed a deposition without running it past me first?
I'm lead counsel.
You're right.
With your job in danger, of course you'd want to make all the decisions without any input what so ever from me.
Well, scheduling that depo was a smart idea.
Good initiative.
Okay, then, so now I'm going to...
Borrow a pair of matching shoes, grab your notes, back here in five.
Okay.
Guys, this has been going on for too long.
Me being here-- this seems like a mistake.
I pay you to talk to the D.A.
I don't have to.
You want to give sweren some face time.
Show him that respect.
Respect?
I did nothing wrong.
This feels like I'm looking for a favor.
No, that's why we've got him traveling to us.
You're the reasonable citizen respectfully pointing out the error of his ways.
Which is why we wanted your wife here-- to show a little support.
Yeah, well, I guess she thought she was supportive enough by sleeping with my third base coach.
She's kind of moved out.
That's tough.
I'm sorry.
Wasn't exactly her choice.
I kind of packed for her.
Pragmatically, Jayson, if you guys could reconcile, that wouldn't be the worst thing, trial strategy-wise.
He's kidding, right?
I thought the whole idea behind meeting with this guy was to avoid a trial.
It is.
All I'm saying is-- this just got messengered over from the a.D.A.'S office.
Where is the A.D.A.?
He's not coming.
Put it in.
I bet you a thousand bucks you can't do that again.
All right.
All right.
Mikey, one right over the plate.
well, guess we know why the A.D.A.
Didn't come to our meeting.
He didn't have to.
Cause of that?
our defense was gonna be "who could hit a ball accurately enough to kill somebody"?
That tape's the answer.
He's gonna argue it proves means and premeditation.
That was me just goofing around.
Believe me when I tell you it's not going to play that way to 12 people in a jury box.
We need to talk about some options.
No, absolutely not.
We're going into the court with a straight not guilty defense, nothing less.
Jason, listen to me- no.
We're done talking.
I was right the first time.
I should have stayed home.
You're the lawyers.
You fix this.
I'm not going to court because I hit a damn baseball.
why are you so intent on selling out our client-- dude, I know you got, like, a Jayson Turk lunch box and everything, but wake up.
Intentionally killing a guy with a foul ball's obtuse, even for Wyle E.
Coyote.
I don't care what's on that tape.
An opinion informed by, what, your two and a half weeks of criminal defense experience?
He's your idol.
I get it, but all the jury's gonna see is a black man who killed the guy who was banging his wife.
That video's a smoking gun.
We got a meeting with the judge tomorrow.
If we can get the smoking gun excluded, will you get behind a straight acquittal?
That's a pretty huge "if".
and in your capacity as administrator of cypress memorial, were you present for work on march 26th of last year?
Are you really gonna ask me that question for every day of the past year?
Well, I-I like to be thorough.
Ms.
Dekker, let me jumpto the bottom line.
When you have a patient taking migraine medication, like ms.
Johnson was, and an anesthesiologist who pushed opiates, like dr.
Agon did, you end up with what we call a serotonin storm.
It's preventable, and it's what killed your client's mother.
And so you-- fired his ass, and then i tried to figure out why in the hell we hired him in the first place.
Why?
Is my favorite vowel.
Agon came very highly recommended.
We didn't hear any of the rumors until after Laura Johnson's death.
What rumors?
Negligence, malpractice, a mortality rate 15% higher than the normal.
The truth is, St.
Vincent's unloaded this guy on us.
They knew about Agon's track record and covered it up because they were exposed all over the place.
You can't blame another hospital for malpractice committed at yours.
You wanna sue us, go ahead.
Shut me down.
I haven't slept in three years.
Of course, you'll be depriving this community of the only E.R.
in 20 miles.
I have a better idea.
We drop our lawsuit against your hospital- what?
And you retain us as counsel.
Peter Johnson will be your co-plaintiff.
I'm sorry, ms.
Brehe, but he's really not supposed to be speaking.
Who are we all suing?
St.
Vincent's.
My client and your hospital both suffered because St.
Vincent's lied by omission.
I like the sound of that.
I'm in.
What's our next step?
I avoid getting killed by my brother.
St.Vincent's is his hospital.
dude!
What the hell?
Uh, Nate, did we have a-- you sue my hospital, my place of business, and you don't even tell me first?
I was going to.
I was.
But then I knew that you would get really mad, and there would be yelling, and obviously I was wrong.
You want to know how I spent my morning?
Golf?
I heard that doctors like golf.
In the chief of staff's office, listening to him lose his mind because some jackass is suing our hospital for malpractice committed at someone else's hospital!
Well, aren't you overreacting a little?
I mean, it's not like I named you in the suit.
That is not the point.
We don't need lawyers to keep us honest, Eli.
Someone dies on the table, no one wants to find out what went wrong more than us.
Now what we don't need is to be dragged into court because some...
because someone is looking to make a buck.
St.
Vincent's dumped this guy, nate, and a 15 year-old kid's mom died because of it.
So you can go back, and you can tell your boss that you tried your best, but the money-grubbing ambulance chaser that you're related to just couldn't be swayed.
Videotape has no evidentiary value?
Really?
That's their argument?
Not all videotape.
This particular videotape.
Well, someone should let the supreme court know, because this would certainly be news to them.
Look, now counsel's just being an ass.
Hey, I got an idea.
Why don't we exclude the entire baseball game during which coach Quesada was killed?
That was on video.
Mr.
Bennett, you were being premature.
Now the A.D.A.'s being an ass.
your honor?
You pin your case on anonymously sourced video.
Did you really imagine there wouldn't be a motion to exclude?
No, but I...
didn't imagine you'd actually grant it.
I haven't granted anything yet, but I am going to hear their argument.
Call me crazy.
Your honor, evidence is only admissible if it's more reliable than prejudicial.
And here it's not reliable because it's digital.
Bet you 1,000 bucks you can't do that again.
All right.
All right.
Mikey, throw it right over the plate.
you swing that lumber pretty good, paul.
Did you play college ball?
It's a stunt.
True, but it's a good one.
Without the author of the tape, I can't determine its reliability.
The recording's out.
Defense motion granted.
My name is trevor snyder.
I'm chief administrator for St.
Vincent's hospital in san francisco.
This is a copy of the 8-0-5 health facility reporting form received by your counterpart at cypress memorial, already admitted as plaintiff's "B."
Could you read the highlighted paragraph out loud? "
It is with great regret that I recommend Jeffrey Agon-- " regret not because I have concerns about his ability " but because a doctor of his unassailable record is impossible to replace."
And now could you read it again...
louder?
Or...
instead, could you...
tell me whose signature is at the bottom?
That would be mine.
And when you wte in the letter...
that dr.
Agon's record was unassailable, what did you mean?
It means that his record could not be attacked.
Why is it that cypress memorial heard nothing about the...
three patients who died at your hospital?
Wasn't dr.
Agon the anesthesiologist in all three surgeries?
He was cleared of any wrong doing.
Dr.
Agon himself was called to account for the incident at our morbidity and mortality conference.
Yes, the M&M conference.
I think I'd like to see the transcript.
Objection.
Under evidence code 1157, peer review conference transcripts are inadmissible.
Sustained.
Get at it another way.
So...
three patients dead in two months.
I guess the only explanation would just be what, bad luck?
Those patients died in my hospital, ms.
Dekker, on my watch.
I don't appreciate what you're implying, and I certainly don't approve of what you're doing to my colleague's reputation.
You mean attacking his record?
Yes.
Well, if I'm doing that...
it's not exactly unassailable, is it?
how awesome was I today?
You were awesomely awesome.
You signaled it.
I said it.
It was like I was inside your head.
You know, I-I made up a little song about first chairing.
You want to hear it?
Maybe later...
but, you know, probably not.
So we have dr.
Agon himself tomorrow.
Now he won't underestimate you.
You have to hammer him.
He'll say,"accidents happen".
But he's had an above average number of accidents.
Don't get into statistics.
The jury will tune out.
And keep peter in your eyeline.
Don't forget about him.
If you remember why you're there, the jury will, too.
I'm sorry.
And don't apologize before you've screwed up.
It's not encouraging.
No.
I meant...
I'm sorry for how I reacted...
to your aneurysm.
Thanks.
But...
what does this have to do with our case?
You really care about it...
not just about winning.
You care about winning it for peter.
You're right.
You're an object of ridicule, a professional pariah reduced to barely practicing law.
Thank you.
I feel better.
If you're sucking up to god, there are better ways.
Yeah, well, god and I enjoy a pretty complicated relationship.
At least now I'm starting to believe in what he wants me to do.
It's like I see things now, you know?
Things that were always there but that I just...
I never noticed before.
Like people who need help.
Including high-anxiety, borderline competent junior associates.
Well, at least I'm borderline now.
How are you?
Good.
I'm good.
How are you?
There's no way to ask this without it sounding weird, but I have a surprise that I'm sure no one would appreciate more than you.
So I was hoping that you'd be free tomorrow night?
Uh, tomorrow night.
Looking forward to it.
Me, too.
medicine's dirty little secret is that it's not an exact science.
I wish it were.
So if medicine isn't an exact science, dr.
Agon, does that mean that operational complications are never the doctor's fault?
Not never, but in this instance I was cleared by a very thorough investigation.
This thorough investigation being the M&M conference, which is shrouded behind a veil of secrecy.
Objection.
I would actually like to answer that.
I petitioned the hospital to release those transcripts.
It was my reputation on the line.
The hospital's pathology department attributed those deaths to "malignant hypothermia".
What is that?
On rare occasions, a patient will have an extreme and fatal reaction to anesthetic.
The body temperature will spike, and the heart fails.
And it's completely unforeseeable, like...
lightning.
That's right.
So what you're saying is that three of your patients just...
happened to be struck by lightning?
Your metaphor belittles the very real human tragedy here.
Your admitting and O.R.
privileges were suspended for six months last year.
Ist that right?
Yes, because I was on sabbatical, not suspension.
I took six months off to finish my book, "principles of anesthesia", which is now being taught in medical schools across the country.
I'm sorry for your loss, son.
And more than anything in this world, I wish I could bring your mom back.
Was that as big a disaster as I think it was?
No, it could have been worse.
It could still be going on.
Why didn't you tell me she was gonna do all the talking?
I hired you, not her.
Well, we're a team, and we're not done fighting yet-- either of us.
Going to court was supposed to make it all better, but I feel worse now than I did before.
I'm gonna make you a promise that I'm not supposed to.
There's no amount of money that we can win for you that's gonna make up for what happened.
That's not why you're here anyway.
You want...
justice, right?
Well, that's the promise I'm gonna make to you.
I won't stop until you get it.
Okay?
I was just calling you.
Celebration dinner tonight-- you, me and Turk.
You're paying.
No, I'm not, 'cause there's nothing to celebrate.
Sweren just delivered an updated witness list.
First addition-- carly Turk.
That's okay.
We roll with it.
She can't hurt us.
You're right.
She can kill us.
She's the murderer's wife, matt.
Think she doesn't have something to say?
Listen to you-- calling your own client a murderer?
You actually believe he killed this guy on purpose?
When are you gonna understand this?
It doesn't matter what I believe.
They're not gonna convict Jayson Turk.
You...
you ever even watch a baseball game, keith?
This guy's the greatest catcher since Johnny Bench.
He-- he's a national treasure.
Open your eyes and be a lawyer for a minute.
The D.A.
believes they have the crime of the century here.
They're prosecuting an overpaid celebrity.
They got 100,000 witnesses to the crime, and now they got his own wife testifying against him.
It is time for us to earn our keep and come up with a strategy beyond "he didn't do it".
Even if he didn't?
Ask yourself this...
you want to be his friend, or you want to keep himout of jail?
I'm glad you called.
really?
Love surprises.
At $3,000 a ticket, you better.
$3,000?
Is Jimi Hendrix playing?
It's for charity.
Don't worry.
My career took a nice upturn today.
I think I'll be able to afford it.
What kind of upturn?
I got Solinsky.
You...
are you upset?
No, I could not be happier.
You seem disappointed that I'm not disappointed.
Just surprised...
and maybe a little confused.
I-I don't know.
I was prepared for disappointed or jealous or even angry, but "couldn't be happier" throws me a little.
Well, I don't know why it should.
I guess it wasn't that long ago when you would have been upset.
Well...
I'm in a different place in my life now, I guess.
Different place from me.
ladies and gentlemen-- George Michael!
Oh, not now.
Please.
Thank you so much for coming.
'Older'--- George Michael this is incredible!
full circle.
thank you for that.
Thought you might enjoy the real thing.
Yeah, I thought I was never gonna get to see George Michael when he wasn't standing on my coffee table.
Turned out to be kind of appropriate, I guess.
George's house call marked the beginning of the end for us, so...
listen, Taylor- so I was thinking, maybe we should give each other some breathing room at work...
steer clear, you know, just until we get our bearings.
I'm sorry.
What were you gonna say?
Same thing, you know?
Breathing, steer clear, bearings, but just less concisely and with none of the right words.
Travel safe.
You, too.
Nate?
you're a knight.
No, no.
It--it is night.
It's, like, 2:00 in the morning.
You know something, Nate, and you're supposed to help me.
I had another vision!
you mean another episode.
Okay.
So I sued your hospital 'cause I was gettin' flybys from a dragon.
And now I'm gettin' nearly trampled to death by a knight on a horse.
Nate, the knight was you.
An hour ago, you were chasing a dragon down Foster street on horseback.
An hour ago I was here asleep, and my horse hasn't been ridden all night.
Can I please go to bed now?
My client's mother was killed by dr.
Agon's malpractice.
Dr.
Agon.
D-R-Agon.
Dragon.
Knights slay dragons, nate.
Do you have any idea how delusional you sound right now?
I mean, it's like watching Charles Manson on the "wheel of fortune".
What-- how did I know your patient was gonna die last month, or-- or about the song that you and dad sang on the fishing trip?
You believed me!
I believed that they were massive coincidences that totally blew my mind.
Yeah, oh, and I was hammered at the time, so if you had told meI had a third arm growing out of my forehead, I would have believed you on that, too.
You know something about my case!
Now what is it?
You were at Agon's M&M conference.
You mean the confidential proceeding that I'm not allowed to talk about even if i was there?
That M&M conference?
I need to know what was said at that meeting.
You can tell me.
No, I really can't.
That's what "privileged" means, Eli.
I would think as a lawyer, you'd know that.
Were you part of the cover-up?
No!
God, no.
And, yeah, I thought the guy was incompetent.
One of the nurses called him "a lawsuit in scrubs".
But I had no idea that they had lied about his record.
Anyway, it doesn't matter what I think.
There is no judge in the known universe who will allow me to testify about what was said in that room.
You're right...
but you just helped me anyway.
do you understand you're still under oath?
I do.
Mr.
Snyder, you testified that dr.
Agon had resigned from your hospital, that you didn't fire him?
Yes, that is right.
Is that clear enough this time?
And just before dr.
Agon resigned, he lost a patient-- a man named eric shelby.
And by "lost", I mean killed.
Dr.
Agon didn't kill anyone.
He was cleared of any malfeasance or negligence.
At your hospital's morbidity and mortality conference, right?
Specifically the one held august 11th, 2006?
Objection.
Perhaps ms.
Dekker's forgotten what's said in these conferences is privileged.
I haven't asked mr.
Snyder what was said at the conference.
Stay on the right side of that line, counsel.
Objection overruled.
Are notes taken at these M&M conferences, specifically the august 11th conference?
Yes, there was always a stenographer present.
We take detailed notes, but you must-- and don't those notes reflect testimony establishing significant negligence on the part of dr.
Agon?
Did his nurse describe him as "a lawsuit in scrubs"?
Those transcripts are privileged!
Is that a yes?
Objection, your honor!
Is that a yes, sir?
Counsel hasn't produced these transcripts to the defense.
I haven't introduced any transcripts...
yet.
Objection overruled.
Answer the question.
Was there significant negligence?
Yes.
And one lasthing-- if dr.
Agon hadn't resigned, you were going to fire him, correct?
Yes.
That might be something his next employer deserved to know...
don't you think?
$500,000, exchange of releases and a confidentiality agreement.
$500,000?
that's...
insulting.
I'm insulted.
I'm advising my clients to be insulted.
The malpractice your client's suing for wasn't committed at my client's hospital.
After what just happened, I'm not sure the jury cares, but maybe I'm wrong.
1.1, I don't have board authorization to go any higher.
Too bad, 'cause you're gonna have to go higher.
1.5 firm.
Take it or leave it.
I think we'll-- take it.
Take it.
We'll take it.
No!
It's not enough.
Could we have the room, please?
you promised.
This isn't justice.
1.5 million is a lot of justice, Peter.
You were right.
Money won't bring my mom back.
I want someone to say that what they did was wrong.
I can't promise you that.
No lawyer can.
I don't know what the jury's gonna do.
I guess...
I need to find out.
All right, Peter.
If that's what you want to do, then...
we'll do it.
I am so sorry, Tom.
No, no, no.
It won't happen again.
I-- I prom-- hello?
Patti?
Patti!
I just got off the phone with Tom Rayvert from Chaykin Technologies-- a call, I might add, I had to pick up myself-- and he was furious that I hadn't returned his five previous phone calls.
I'm sorry.
I can't imagine what could have happened.
Look, I know you think I'm the wicked witch of the west, but-- east.
She was worse.
They dropped a house on her.
But I am your boss now, Patti.
You are on my desk, which means you have a choice to make.
I get a choice?
Really?
Well, it's been nice working with you.
No, Patti, you have a choice between working at this firm or not.
When Eli was demoted, they were gonna let you go.
I intervened.
Eli loves you, and so I wanted to protect you because of that.
So here's the thing-- this is entirely in your hands.
You decide how you want this to play out.
Because after this last week, I gotta be honest with you-- either way is fine with me.
has the jury reached a verdict?
We have.
In the matter of Peter Johnson and cypress memorial vs.
Saint Vincent's hospital, we find in favor of the plaintiffs and award compensatory damages in the amount of $28,000.
Because of the institutionalize fraud on the part of St.
Vincent's, we further award punitive damages in the amount of $8 million.
$8 million is...
Remember, you have to split that with cypress memorial.
Miss Brehe said she was gonna name a wing after my mom.
That's cool, right?
Seven lawyers later, glad you hung in there.
Your mom would be proud of you.
Thank you so much.
Okay, bye.
congratulations, counselor.
I have to go kill myself.
Good-bye.
Maggie, it's only weird if we-- if this is how she reacts when she wins a case, I do not want to be here when she loses.
No, it's not about the case.
She's just...
you don't want to know.
Even if I did, my boss wouldn't approve of me wasting my time.
Speaking of which, have you seen ms.
Wethersby? "
Ms.
Wethersby"?
Yes.
Jordan wants to see her in his office-- apparently, you, too.
The day started off so well.
Life is full of disappointment, Eli.
Are you all right?
Yeah.
It's just...
it's...
it's no fun anymore.
Well, I guess that's why they call it "work".
Never used to feel like it.
Patti...
Taylor Wethersby's office No, she isn't.
May I take a message?
temporary insanity?
Are you kidding me?
It's still a "not guilty" plea.
Yeah, not guilty 'cause I'm crazy.
What happened to not guilty 'cause I'm not guilty?
Your wife happened.
I thought wives couldn't testify against their husbands.
We tell you your wife's cooperating with the D.A., and that's your response?
Man, what other kind of response are you looking for?
Uh, "she couldn't possibly have anything to tell the D.A.
I never threatened that man."
Something like that would be nice.
The dude was screwing my wife.
Of course I threatened him.
That doesn't mean I killed him.
But that's the way it looks, Jayson.
I don't care how it looks.
Look, we're not your entourage, okay?
You pay us to tell you what you need to hear, not what you want to.
This will work.
The lawsays you're not guilty if you weren't in your right mind.
Steroids tend to have that effect.
I told you, I don't do that crap.
Bottom line-- you admit to the steroid use, we can protect you on the murder charge.
You agree with him?
Jayson, listen to me, man.
The day I passed the bar, you-- you hit for the cycle against Detroit.
The day I joined this firm, you--y ou caught Balderrama's no-hitter.
I could chart my entire adult life by the things you did in yours, and I'm tellin' you...
I'm not so sure you weren't aimin' for your coach, and I'm your biggest fan.
So you tell me...
what's a jury gonna think?
If I say I'm juicin', that's it.
They'll kick me out of the league...
my sponsors...
hall of fame...
we're talkin' about your life here.
Baseball is my life.
I'll think about it.
You're not fooling anyone, mr.
Stone.
Though ms.
Dekker was the attorney of record, courthouse insiders have already been able to figure out who truly deserves the credit for this afternoon's victory in the St.
Vincent's case.
I didn't do anything special-- this changes nothing between us.
I mention the courthouse gossip only because it reached the ears of Arvin Solinsky.
Our high-profile client feels he needs a high-profile attorney, and like it or not, eli's profile keeps-- - keeps getting higher.
Solinsky doesn't need me.
Taylor's a far better choice.
Believe me, I made that case, but he wants you.
And regardless of what he wants, it would be malpractice to entrust the case solely to you.
Taylor, you'll stay onas co-counsel.
What?
What?
I recognize that the timing is not ideal, but-- sir, you have to tell solinsky that I'm unavailable.
Tell him anything.
Tell him I got hit by a bus.
Even if I got to drive it, I couldn't do that.
The firm can't afford to lose Solinsky.
But-- make no mistake.
By the end of this meeting, you will be on the Solinsky case.
So let's jump to the end of this meeting.
What is it you're looking for here-- some of your privileges back?
Your expense account?
Your company car?
Your old office?
I don't want my office back.
You have the right person in there.
All I want is four walls and a door...
no more cubicles.
Done.
And one more thing.
Eli Stone's office, please hold.
Hello, sweetie.
I'm here to see mr.
Stone.
Oh, right this way.
Mr.
Johnson's here.
Nice office.
It's...
unorthodox.
Eh, kind of goes with my practice.
Is everything okay?
The school cafeteria took french fries off the menu, so I'm thinking about suing.
my grandma told me I need to bring you a thank you gift, and the check hasn't cleared yet.
So I thought maybe I'd give you something else.
my mom used to read this to me all the time when I was little.
I know it's weird giving you a book, but...
it means a lot to me. "
MEDIEVAL TALES AND ADVENTURES" Peter, this is the biggest fee I ever got.
Wait until the $2 million check clears.
anyway...
thanks again, mr.
Stone.
Bye.
stone,senior associate at my firm, was diagnosed with a brain aneurysm.
I thought you'd changed.
All that's changed now is that you're trying to clean up your record just in case there's a hereafter.
All-star catcher Jayson Turk hit a foul ball, which struck his third base coach in the head.
I didn't do anything.
Except find out your wife cheated on you with the guy you killed.
I weathered your hostilities when I was with Eli, but now that I work here, I have got to know, what the hell is your problem?
I don't like who Eli became after he started dating you.
You know I've been seeing things lately.
It's crazy, huh?
I can't fire you, but I'm not obligated to provide you with an office or an assistant.
We're done.
Looks good, mr.
Stone.
Check it again, Frank.
I'm telling you, I smell a gaseous substance.
Mr.
Stone, it's 3:00 in the morning.
I've been standing in your apartment for the last 45 minutes listening to you sniff.
smells like smoke, but there's like a...
fishy quality to it.
It's coming from the bedroom.
you have to smell that.
I really don't.
but I'll say anything to get back to my apartment.
Maybe something died in my closet.
do you hear that?
No.
I like this blazer.
Is it linen?
what the hell?
I'm sorry.
Sorry.
There was A...thing in the...
I tripped.
Okay.
Word of advice-- do yourself a favor and buy a plunger, 'cause the next time your pipes back up, you're on your own.
Eli, what are you doing?
I'm just making a few adjustments.
Well, you keep that up, you're gonna break your station.
It's not a station.
This is my office.
Well, your office is tilted to the right a bit.
Here...
And here.
You know, if taylor finds out you're answering my phone and bringing me coffee...
Is that cinnamon?
Nutmeg, and don't worry about taylor.
I'd like to see her try and say something to me.
Peter Johnson, Peter Johnson...
these-- these are all from the same guy.
Confirming and reconfirming your lunch today.
Apparently, mr.
Johnson is under the impression that you are much busier than you actually are.
I am busy-- with scut work.
I'm like the world's highest-paid intern.
Stone?
If, uh, I haven't said it already, I'm sorry about the whole aneurysm thing.
Tough break, man.
Does it affect your fine motor skills?
No, not really.
It's-- it's mostly- good.
I'm gonna need this redline proofed and duplicated by noon.
Thanks, buddy.
that was a quick trip to the file room.
Wasn't it, though?
We should...
I had another call go straight to voice mail while you were gone.
That happens.
And my schedule, Patty-- I need to know when my meetings are.
You mean like the wednesday morning meeting that's going on right now?
So hurry on.
Don't be late.
Was there anything else?
no.
I think we're good.
first up, if you pay attention to nothing else this morning...
pay attention to this-- Arvin Solinsky.
yes, there is somethinga bout that name that quiets the room.
Due to extenuating circumstances, we're going to need a new senior associate on the Solinsky team.
You all have the file.
Become experts.
For one of you,it won't be a waste of time.
Next item-- people vs.
Jayson Turk.
Mr.
Dowd, mr.
Bennett, what's happening with our baseball star?
I saw ESPN covered his arraignment live.
And the late night comedy shows.
Everyone snickering at the suggestion that Jayson Turk's a murderer 'cause he hit the foul ball that killed his third base coach.
Who happened to be having an affair with his wife, who happens to be a celebrity ball player, who happens to be using steroids-- allegedly using, as in doesn't.
the adage "there's no such thing as bad publicity" doesn't apply to criminal matters.
Make this go away.
We've got a sit-down with the A.D.A.
Scheduled for this afternoon to do just that.
god!
I'm sorry.
Aneurysm time-out.
Sorry.
mr.
Stone?
Peter Johnson.
Junior?
Sorry, but if I told your assistant was 15 and wanted you to represent me, I don't think you would have shown up.
Only 'cause I don't practice pediatric law.
I googled you-- big settlements, big judgments-- your name's all over the law blogs.
You're exactly the kind of lawyer I need.
So...
what's the case?
You suing the school cafeteria to put french fries back on the menu?
My mom died and I want to sue the doctor who killed her.
Sorry, Peter.
Last year, my mom Laura went in for minor surgery-- hernia operation.
The anesthesiologist, dr.
Agon, never bothered to check her charts, gave the wrong anesthesia, and...
they said she had a heart attack at the table.
It's all in the file.
Looks like you've been to a few lawyers already.
Six.
So you know what I'm about to tell you.
Malpractice is alwaysdifficult to prove.
What does your dad say?
It was just and my mom-- now me and my grandma.
That's awful, peter.
I'm not looking for sympathy.
I've got cases in the file-- about a dozen-- 7-figure settlements, 7-figure settlements, $9 million, $10 million each-- and with the right kind of lawyer behind me, with the resources of a firm like yours, I-- well, you see, that's the thing.
I mean, my firm isn't exactly...
I've been kind of demoted, and, um, they won't let me take on new cases right now, so I... "
dragon."
No, his name's Agon.
I guess I shouldget his name right if I'm gonna be suing him.
a single mom?
And she died on the operating table?
You should meet this kid.
He's all alone.
It's tragic, really.
It is to those of us actually interested in helping people.
I am interested in helping people.
Only because you're afraid of dying, and you're trying to suck up to god.
Maggie, I-I'm sitting in a cubicle.
I don't even have my own stapler anymore.
Believe me, there are far less humiliating ways I could be sucking up to god.
Besides, you're perfect for this case.
No one else has the heart, the warm compassion-- now you're sucking up to me.
No, I'm not.
We work great together.
We're like a team.
Were like a team.
My suggestion?
Go find yourself another peon to pee on.
Okay, fine.
Be pissed at me, but don't take it out on this kid-- this poor orphaned kid.
You are unbelievable.
It's like I'm a fish and you're using a kid and his dead mom as bait.
Is it working?
First year associates can't try cases alone.
It's firm policy.
It's inviolate.
Yes, but I wouldn't be trying the case alone.
Eli-- mr.
Stone is-- dead to me.
Improperly so, sir, but still alive enough to remain a senior associate, at least, technically, and since he can still practice law, thanks particularly to you, sir-- flattery and judicious use of loop holes-- clearly, you know the fastest way to my heart.
Very well.
Have at it-- with the cave at that you will first chair.
You realize that I've-- I've never first chaired a dinner party, let alone a-- mr.
Stone is on probation.
He is not to participate in this trial.
If he so much as sneezes in open court, you will be held responsible.
And by "responsible", you mean...
I can't fire mr.
Stone, but you enjoy no such protection.
Good luck with the case.
Wishing you nothing but the best.
you're late.
And you're wearing two different shoes.
I am?
Well, it's your fault.
I'm operating on zero sleep.
I'm terrified, Eli.
Of what?
Of losing this case, of getting completely and totally fired...
your fianc�e, who's been staring daggers at me ever since you and i went to hawaii together.
On a case, just like this one.
Besides that, she's my ex-fianc�e.
Besides that, the dagger's all in your head.
Helpful tip-- don't ever tell a woman, particularly the one who's a senior associate on your case, that she's paranoid Oh, yeah.
This isn't gonna get old.
First thing I want you to do is fast-track a trial date.
I did it this morning.
Great.
Excellent.
Then you can get to work drafting the subpoena for surgical records.
Uh, pre, during and post-- done.
Okay.
Good.
Good job.
Um, Agon's assets.
I got an intern looking into them.
What time is it?
Oh, 9:20.
Okay, we have to get to a depo at the hospital where Peter's mom died.
You noticed a deposition without running it past me first?
I'm lead counsel.
You're right.
With your job in danger, of course you'd want to make all the decisions without any input what so ever from me.
Well, scheduling that depo was a smart idea.
Good initiative.
Okay, then, so now I'm going to...
Borrow a pair of matching shoes, grab your notes, back here in five.
Okay.
Guys, this has been going on for too long.
Me being here-- this seems like a mistake.
I pay you to talk to the D.A.
I don't have to.
You want to give sweren some face time.
Show him that respect.
Respect?
I did nothing wrong.
This feels like I'm looking for a favor.
No, that's why we've got him traveling to us.
You're the reasonable citizen respectfully pointing out the error of his ways.
Which is why we wanted your wife here-- to show a little support.
Yeah, well, I guess she thought she was supportive enough by sleeping with my third base coach.
She's kind of moved out.
That's tough.
I'm sorry.
Wasn't exactly her choice.
I kind of packed for her.
Pragmatically, Jayson, if you guys could reconcile, that wouldn't be the worst thing, trial strategy-wise.
He's kidding, right?
I thought the whole idea behind meeting with this guy was to avoid a trial.
It is.
All I'm saying is-- this just got messengered over from the a.D.A.'S office.
Where is the A.D.A.?
He's not coming.
Put it in.
I bet you a thousand bucks you can't do that again.
All right.
All right.
Mikey, one right over the plate.
well, guess we know why the A.D.A.
Didn't come to our meeting.
He didn't have to.
Cause of that?
our defense was gonna be "who could hit a ball accurately enough to kill somebody"?
That tape's the answer.
He's gonna argue it proves means and premeditation.
That was me just goofing around.
Believe me when I tell you it's not going to play that way to 12 people in a jury box.
We need to talk about some options.
No, absolutely not.
We're going into the court with a straight not guilty defense, nothing less.
Jason, listen to me- no.
We're done talking.
I was right the first time.
I should have stayed home.
You're the lawyers.
You fix this.
I'm not going to court because I hit a damn baseball.
why are you so intent on selling out our client-- dude, I know you got, like, a Jayson Turk lunch box and everything, but wake up.
Intentionally killing a guy with a foul ball's obtuse, even for Wyle E.
Coyote.
I don't care what's on that tape.
An opinion informed by, what, your two and a half weeks of criminal defense experience?
He's your idol.
I get it, but all the jury's gonna see is a black man who killed the guy who was banging his wife.
That video's a smoking gun.
We got a meeting with the judge tomorrow.
If we can get the smoking gun excluded, will you get behind a straight acquittal?
That's a pretty huge "if".
and in your capacity as administrator of cypress memorial, were you present for work on march 26th of last year?
Are you really gonna ask me that question for every day of the past year?
Well, I-I like to be thorough.
Ms.
Dekker, let me jumpto the bottom line.
When you have a patient taking migraine medication, like ms.
Johnson was, and an anesthesiologist who pushed opiates, like dr.
Agon did, you end up with what we call a serotonin storm.
It's preventable, and it's what killed your client's mother.
And so you-- fired his ass, and then i tried to figure out why in the hell we hired him in the first place.
Why?
Is my favorite vowel.
Agon came very highly recommended.
We didn't hear any of the rumors until after Laura Johnson's death.
What rumors?
Negligence, malpractice, a mortality rate 15% higher than the normal.
The truth is, St.
Vincent's unloaded this guy on us.
They knew about Agon's track record and covered it up because they were exposed all over the place.
You can't blame another hospital for malpractice committed at yours.
You wanna sue us, go ahead.
Shut me down.
I haven't slept in three years.
Of course, you'll be depriving this community of the only E.R.
in 20 miles.
I have a better idea.
We drop our lawsuit against your hospital- what?
And you retain us as counsel.
Peter Johnson will be your co-plaintiff.
I'm sorry, ms.
Brehe, but he's really not supposed to be speaking.
Who are we all suing?
St.
Vincent's.
My client and your hospital both suffered because St.
Vincent's lied by omission.
I like the sound of that.
I'm in.
What's our next step?
I avoid getting killed by my brother.
St.Vincent's is his hospital.
dude!
What the hell?
Uh, Nate, did we have a-- you sue my hospital, my place of business, and you don't even tell me first?
I was going to.
I was.
But then I knew that you would get really mad, and there would be yelling, and obviously I was wrong.
You want to know how I spent my morning?
Golf?
I heard that doctors like golf.
In the chief of staff's office, listening to him lose his mind because some jackass is suing our hospital for malpractice committed at someone else's hospital!
Well, aren't you overreacting a little?
I mean, it's not like I named you in the suit.
That is not the point.
We don't need lawyers to keep us honest, Eli.
Someone dies on the table, no one wants to find out what went wrong more than us.
Now what we don't need is to be dragged into court because some...
because someone is looking to make a buck.
St.
Vincent's dumped this guy, nate, and a 15 year-old kid's mom died because of it.
So you can go back, and you can tell your boss that you tried your best, but the money-grubbing ambulance chaser that you're related to just couldn't be swayed.
Videotape has no evidentiary value?
Really?
That's their argument?
Not all videotape.
This particular videotape.
Well, someone should let the supreme court know, because this would certainly be news to them.
Look, now counsel's just being an ass.
Hey, I got an idea.
Why don't we exclude the entire baseball game during which coach Quesada was killed?
That was on video.
Mr.
Bennett, you were being premature.
Now the A.D.A.'s being an ass.
your honor?
You pin your case on anonymously sourced video.
Did you really imagine there wouldn't be a motion to exclude?
No, but I...
didn't imagine you'd actually grant it.
I haven't granted anything yet, but I am going to hear their argument.
Call me crazy.
Your honor, evidence is only admissible if it's more reliable than prejudicial.
And here it's not reliable because it's digital.
Bet you 1,000 bucks you can't do that again.
All right.
All right.
Mikey, throw it right over the plate.
you swing that lumber pretty good, paul.
Did you play college ball?
It's a stunt.
True, but it's a good one.
Without the author of the tape, I can't determine its reliability.
The recording's out.
Defense motion granted.
My name is trevor snyder.
I'm chief administrator for St.
Vincent's hospital in san francisco.
This is a copy of the 8-0-5 health facility reporting form received by your counterpart at cypress memorial, already admitted as plaintiff's "B."
Could you read the highlighted paragraph out loud? "
It is with great regret that I recommend Jeffrey Agon-- " regret not because I have concerns about his ability " but because a doctor of his unassailable record is impossible to replace."
And now could you read it again...
louder?
Or...
instead, could you...
tell me whose signature is at the bottom?
That would be mine.
And when you wte in the letter...
that dr.
Agon's record was unassailable, what did you mean?
It means that his record could not be attacked.
Why is it that cypress memorial heard nothing about the...
three patients who died at your hospital?
Wasn't dr.
Agon the anesthesiologist in all three surgeries?
He was cleared of any wrong doing.
Dr.
Agon himself was called to account for the incident at our morbidity and mortality conference.
Yes, the M&M conference.
I think I'd like to see the transcript.
Objection.
Under evidence code 1157, peer review conference transcripts are inadmissible.
Sustained.
Get at it another way.
So...
three patients dead in two months.
I guess the only explanation would just be what, bad luck?
Those patients died in my hospital, ms.
Dekker, on my watch.
I don't appreciate what you're implying, and I certainly don't approve of what you're doing to my colleague's reputation.
You mean attacking his record?
Yes.
Well, if I'm doing that...
it's not exactly unassailable, is it?
how awesome was I today?
You were awesomely awesome.
You signaled it.
I said it.
It was like I was inside your head.
You know, I-I made up a little song about first chairing.
You want to hear it?
Maybe later...
but, you know, probably not.
So we have dr.
Agon himself tomorrow.
Now he won't underestimate you.
You have to hammer him.
He'll say,"accidents happen".
But he's had an above average number of accidents.
Don't get into statistics.
The jury will tune out.
And keep peter in your eyeline.
Don't forget about him.
If you remember why you're there, the jury will, too.
I'm sorry.
And don't apologize before you've screwed up.
It's not encouraging.
No.
I meant...
I'm sorry for how I reacted...
to your aneurysm.
Thanks.
But...
what does this have to do with our case?
You really care about it...
not just about winning.
You care about winning it for peter.
You're right.
You're an object of ridicule, a professional pariah reduced to barely practicing law.
Thank you.
I feel better.
If you're sucking up to god, there are better ways.
Yeah, well, god and I enjoy a pretty complicated relationship.
At least now I'm starting to believe in what he wants me to do.
It's like I see things now, you know?
Things that were always there but that I just...
I never noticed before.
Like people who need help.
Including high-anxiety, borderline competent junior associates.
Well, at least I'm borderline now.
How are you?
Good.
I'm good.
How are you?
There's no way to ask this without it sounding weird, but I have a surprise that I'm sure no one would appreciate more than you.
So I was hoping that you'd be free tomorrow night?
Uh, tomorrow night.
Looking forward to it.
Me, too.
medicine's dirty little secret is that it's not an exact science.
I wish it were.
So if medicine isn't an exact science, dr.
Agon, does that mean that operational complications are never the doctor's fault?
Not never, but in this instance I was cleared by a very thorough investigation.
This thorough investigation being the M&M conference, which is shrouded behind a veil of secrecy.
Objection.
I would actually like to answer that.
I petitioned the hospital to release those transcripts.
It was my reputation on the line.
The hospital's pathology department attributed those deaths to "malignant hypothermia".
What is that?
On rare occasions, a patient will have an extreme and fatal reaction to anesthetic.
The body temperature will spike, and the heart fails.
And it's completely unforeseeable, like...
lightning.
That's right.
So what you're saying is that three of your patients just...
happened to be struck by lightning?
Your metaphor belittles the very real human tragedy here.
Your admitting and O.R.
privileges were suspended for six months last year.
Ist that right?
Yes, because I was on sabbatical, not suspension.
I took six months off to finish my book, "principles of anesthesia", which is now being taught in medical schools across the country.
I'm sorry for your loss, son.
And more than anything in this world, I wish I could bring your mom back.
Was that as big a disaster as I think it was?
No, it could have been worse.
It could still be going on.
Why didn't you tell me she was gonna do all the talking?
I hired you, not her.
Well, we're a team, and we're not done fighting yet-- either of us.
Going to court was supposed to make it all better, but I feel worse now than I did before.
I'm gonna make you a promise that I'm not supposed to.
There's no amount of money that we can win for you that's gonna make up for what happened.
That's not why you're here anyway.
You want...
justice, right?
Well, that's the promise I'm gonna make to you.
I won't stop until you get it.
Okay?
I was just calling you.
Celebration dinner tonight-- you, me and Turk.
You're paying.
No, I'm not, 'cause there's nothing to celebrate.
Sweren just delivered an updated witness list.
First addition-- carly Turk.
That's okay.
We roll with it.
She can't hurt us.
You're right.
She can kill us.
She's the murderer's wife, matt.
Think she doesn't have something to say?
Listen to you-- calling your own client a murderer?
You actually believe he killed this guy on purpose?
When are you gonna understand this?
It doesn't matter what I believe.
They're not gonna convict Jayson Turk.
You...
you ever even watch a baseball game, keith?
This guy's the greatest catcher since Johnny Bench.
He-- he's a national treasure.
Open your eyes and be a lawyer for a minute.
The D.A.
believes they have the crime of the century here.
They're prosecuting an overpaid celebrity.
They got 100,000 witnesses to the crime, and now they got his own wife testifying against him.
It is time for us to earn our keep and come up with a strategy beyond "he didn't do it".
Even if he didn't?
Ask yourself this...
you want to be his friend, or you want to keep himout of jail?
I'm glad you called.
really?
Love surprises.
At $3,000 a ticket, you better.
$3,000?
Is Jimi Hendrix playing?
It's for charity.
Don't worry.
My career took a nice upturn today.
I think I'll be able to afford it.
What kind of upturn?
I got Solinsky.
You...
are you upset?
No, I could not be happier.
You seem disappointed that I'm not disappointed.
Just surprised...
and maybe a little confused.
I-I don't know.
I was prepared for disappointed or jealous or even angry, but "couldn't be happier" throws me a little.
Well, I don't know why it should.
I guess it wasn't that long ago when you would have been upset.
Well...
I'm in a different place in my life now, I guess.
Different place from me.
ladies and gentlemen-- George Michael!
Oh, not now.
Please.
Thank you so much for coming.
'Older'--- George Michael this is incredible!
full circle.
thank you for that.
Thought you might enjoy the real thing.
Yeah, I thought I was never gonna get to see George Michael when he wasn't standing on my coffee table.
Turned out to be kind of appropriate, I guess.
George's house call marked the beginning of the end for us, so...
listen, Taylor- so I was thinking, maybe we should give each other some breathing room at work...
steer clear, you know, just until we get our bearings.
I'm sorry.
What were you gonna say?
Same thing, you know?
Breathing, steer clear, bearings, but just less concisely and with none of the right words.
Travel safe.
You, too.
Nate?
you're a knight.
No, no.
It--it is night.
It's, like, 2:00 in the morning.
You know something, Nate, and you're supposed to help me.
I had another vision!
you mean another episode.
Okay.
So I sued your hospital 'cause I was gettin' flybys from a dragon.
And now I'm gettin' nearly trampled to death by a knight on a horse.
Nate, the knight was you.
An hour ago, you were chasing a dragon down Foster street on horseback.
An hour ago I was here asleep, and my horse hasn't been ridden all night.
Can I please go to bed now?
My client's mother was killed by dr.
Agon's malpractice.
Dr.
Agon.
D-R-Agon.
Dragon.
Knights slay dragons, nate.
Do you have any idea how delusional you sound right now?
I mean, it's like watching Charles Manson on the "wheel of fortune".
What-- how did I know your patient was gonna die last month, or-- or about the song that you and dad sang on the fishing trip?
You believed me!
I believed that they were massive coincidences that totally blew my mind.
Yeah, oh, and I was hammered at the time, so if you had told meI had a third arm growing out of my forehead, I would have believed you on that, too.
You know something about my case!
Now what is it?
You were at Agon's M&M conference.
You mean the confidential proceeding that I'm not allowed to talk about even if i was there?
That M&M conference?
I need to know what was said at that meeting.
You can tell me.
No, I really can't.
That's what "privileged" means, Eli.
I would think as a lawyer, you'd know that.
Were you part of the cover-up?
No!
God, no.
And, yeah, I thought the guy was incompetent.
One of the nurses called him "a lawsuit in scrubs".
But I had no idea that they had lied about his record.
Anyway, it doesn't matter what I think.
There is no judge in the known universe who will allow me to testify about what was said in that room.
You're right...
but you just helped me anyway.
do you understand you're still under oath?
I do.
Mr.
Snyder, you testified that dr.
Agon had resigned from your hospital, that you didn't fire him?
Yes, that is right.
Is that clear enough this time?
And just before dr.
Agon resigned, he lost a patient-- a man named eric shelby.
And by "lost", I mean killed.
Dr.
Agon didn't kill anyone.
He was cleared of any malfeasance or negligence.
At your hospital's morbidity and mortality conference, right?
Specifically the one held august 11th, 2006?
Objection.
Perhaps ms.
Dekker's forgotten what's said in these conferences is privileged.
I haven't asked mr.
Snyder what was said at the conference.
Stay on the right side of that line, counsel.
Objection overruled.
Are notes taken at these M&M conferences, specifically the august 11th conference?
Yes, there was always a stenographer present.
We take detailed notes, but you must-- and don't those notes reflect testimony establishing significant negligence on the part of dr.
Agon?
Did his nurse describe him as "a lawsuit in scrubs"?
Those transcripts are privileged!
Is that a yes?
Objection, your honor!
Is that a yes, sir?
Counsel hasn't produced these transcripts to the defense.
I haven't introduced any transcripts...
yet.
Objection overruled.
Answer the question.
Was there significant negligence?
Yes.
And one lasthing-- if dr.
Agon hadn't resigned, you were going to fire him, correct?
Yes.
That might be something his next employer deserved to know...
don't you think?
$500,000, exchange of releases and a confidentiality agreement.
$500,000?
that's...
insulting.
I'm insulted.
I'm advising my clients to be insulted.
The malpractice your client's suing for wasn't committed at my client's hospital.
After what just happened, I'm not sure the jury cares, but maybe I'm wrong.
1.1, I don't have board authorization to go any higher.
Too bad, 'cause you're gonna have to go higher.
1.5 firm.
Take it or leave it.
I think we'll-- take it.
Take it.
We'll take it.
No!
It's not enough.
Could we have the room, please?
you promised.
This isn't justice.
1.5 million is a lot of justice, Peter.
You were right.
Money won't bring my mom back.
I want someone to say that what they did was wrong.
I can't promise you that.
No lawyer can.
I don't know what the jury's gonna do.
I guess...
I need to find out.
All right, Peter.
If that's what you want to do, then...
we'll do it.
I am so sorry, Tom.
No, no, no.
It won't happen again.
I-- I prom-- hello?
Patti?
Patti!
I just got off the phone with Tom Rayvert from Chaykin Technologies-- a call, I might add, I had to pick up myself-- and he was furious that I hadn't returned his five previous phone calls.
I'm sorry.
I can't imagine what could have happened.
Look, I know you think I'm the wicked witch of the west, but-- east.
She was worse.
They dropped a house on her.
But I am your boss now, Patti.
You are on my desk, which means you have a choice to make.
I get a choice?
Really?
Well, it's been nice working with you.
No, Patti, you have a choice between working at this firm or not.
When Eli was demoted, they were gonna let you go.
I intervened.
Eli loves you, and so I wanted to protect you because of that.
So here's the thing-- this is entirely in your hands.
You decide how you want this to play out.
Because after this last week, I gotta be honest with you-- either way is fine with me.
has the jury reached a verdict?
We have.
In the matter of Peter Johnson and cypress memorial vs.
Saint Vincent's hospital, we find in favor of the plaintiffs and award compensatory damages in the amount of $28,000.
Because of the institutionalize fraud on the part of St.
Vincent's, we further award punitive damages in the amount of $8 million.
$8 million is...
Remember, you have to split that with cypress memorial.
Miss Brehe said she was gonna name a wing after my mom.
That's cool, right?
Seven lawyers later, glad you hung in there.
Your mom would be proud of you.
Thank you so much.
Okay, bye.
congratulations, counselor.
I have to go kill myself.
Good-bye.
Maggie, it's only weird if we-- if this is how she reacts when she wins a case, I do not want to be here when she loses.
No, it's not about the case.
She's just...
you don't want to know.
Even if I did, my boss wouldn't approve of me wasting my time.
Speaking of which, have you seen ms.
Wethersby? "
Ms.
Wethersby"?
Yes.
Jordan wants to see her in his office-- apparently, you, too.
The day started off so well.
Life is full of disappointment, Eli.
Are you all right?
Yeah.
It's just...
it's...
it's no fun anymore.
Well, I guess that's why they call it "work".
Never used to feel like it.
Patti...
Taylor Wethersby's office No, she isn't.
May I take a message?
temporary insanity?
Are you kidding me?
It's still a "not guilty" plea.
Yeah, not guilty 'cause I'm crazy.
What happened to not guilty 'cause I'm not guilty?
Your wife happened.
I thought wives couldn't testify against their husbands.
We tell you your wife's cooperating with the D.A., and that's your response?
Man, what other kind of response are you looking for?
Uh, "she couldn't possibly have anything to tell the D.A.
I never threatened that man."
Something like that would be nice.
The dude was screwing my wife.
Of course I threatened him.
That doesn't mean I killed him.
But that's the way it looks, Jayson.
I don't care how it looks.
Look, we're not your entourage, okay?
You pay us to tell you what you need to hear, not what you want to.
This will work.
The lawsays you're not guilty if you weren't in your right mind.
Steroids tend to have that effect.
I told you, I don't do that crap.
Bottom line-- you admit to the steroid use, we can protect you on the murder charge.
You agree with him?
Jayson, listen to me, man.
The day I passed the bar, you-- you hit for the cycle against Detroit.
The day I joined this firm, you--y ou caught Balderrama's no-hitter.
I could chart my entire adult life by the things you did in yours, and I'm tellin' you...
I'm not so sure you weren't aimin' for your coach, and I'm your biggest fan.
So you tell me...
what's a jury gonna think?
If I say I'm juicin', that's it.
They'll kick me out of the league...
my sponsors...
hall of fame...
we're talkin' about your life here.
Baseball is my life.
I'll think about it.
You're not fooling anyone, mr.
Stone.
Though ms.
Dekker was the attorney of record, courthouse insiders have already been able to figure out who truly deserves the credit for this afternoon's victory in the St.
Vincent's case.
I didn't do anything special-- this changes nothing between us.
I mention the courthouse gossip only because it reached the ears of Arvin Solinsky.
Our high-profile client feels he needs a high-profile attorney, and like it or not, eli's profile keeps-- - keeps getting higher.
Solinsky doesn't need me.
Taylor's a far better choice.
Believe me, I made that case, but he wants you.
And regardless of what he wants, it would be malpractice to entrust the case solely to you.
Taylor, you'll stay onas co-counsel.
What?
What?
I recognize that the timing is not ideal, but-- sir, you have to tell solinsky that I'm unavailable.
Tell him anything.
Tell him I got hit by a bus.
Even if I got to drive it, I couldn't do that.
The firm can't afford to lose Solinsky.
But-- make no mistake.
By the end of this meeting, you will be on the Solinsky case.
So let's jump to the end of this meeting.
What is it you're looking for here-- some of your privileges back?
Your expense account?
Your company car?
Your old office?
I don't want my office back.
You have the right person in there.
All I want is four walls and a door...
no more cubicles.
Done.
And one more thing.
Eli Stone's office, please hold.
Hello, sweetie.
I'm here to see mr.
Stone.
Oh, right this way.
Mr.
Johnson's here.
Nice office.
It's...
unorthodox.
Eh, kind of goes with my practice.
Is everything okay?
The school cafeteria took french fries off the menu, so I'm thinking about suing.
my grandma told me I need to bring you a thank you gift, and the check hasn't cleared yet.
So I thought maybe I'd give you something else.
my mom used to read this to me all the time when I was little.
I know it's weird giving you a book, but...
it means a lot to me. "
MEDIEVAL TALES AND ADVENTURES" Peter, this is the biggest fee I ever got.
Wait until the $2 million check clears.
anyway...
thanks again, mr.
Stone.
Bye.