A Civil Action Page #3

You get fined,

you pay it and carry on.

If you're gonna knock a guy down,

do it so he can't get up again.

What are you looking for

with this suit?

Obviously, we're seeking

compensation for the families

and punitive damages for wilful

negligence by these companies.

But is that what

this is about - money?

- No.

- Is that what matters most?

- No.

- It's about this.

And this.

And this.

Yeah.

Yeah, I know, we have

no feelings, no compassion,

no empathy for

our clients' suffering.

Can I say something?

What does that

have to do with anything?

The lawyer who shares

his client's pain

does his client

such a grave disservice

he should have his licence

to practise taken away.

It clouds his judgement,

and that's as useful

as a doctor

who's frightened of blood.

All rise.

This court is now in session.

The Honourable

Walter J Skinner presiding.

Is this the only case?

This is a lot of lawyers.

Sit down.

You're looking well.

The Red Sox must be in first place.

Roger Clemens

is the answer to my prayers.

You have some interest in this case?

I'm a co-defendant, but it's not

my motion. It's Foley-Hoag's.

- And that motion?

- Your Honour.

- I'm Jan Schlichtmann.

- I know. Sit down.

The matter before us seems simple.

- Your Honour, it isn't.

- May I hear it?

The intention here is to place me

under a cloud of impropriety.

- Really?

- Yes. What they're saying

is that they know law and I don't,

they're real lawyers and I'm not.

They're just trying to humiliate me.

You are a personal injury lawyer,

aren't you? I think you'll survive.

- See? It's starting already.

- No, you've started already.

I'm on the defensive,

they're the defendants.

Do you think

I might hear this motion

before You explain to ME

what it's really about?

- Of course.

- Thank you.

Now, Mr...Cheeseman, is it?

Your motion to dismiss

is based on?

Rule 11, Your Honour.

Specifically that Mr Schlichtmann had

no evidential grounds

on which to bring this suit -

only his knowledge that W.R. Grace

Corporation has a lot of money.

Not true.

He performed no real investigation,

did no research of any consequence,

except perhaps

to review profit statements.

And he's prepared his complaint

so inexpertly as to render it moot.

- All untrue.

- Do you know what Rule 11 is?

To be honest, Your Honour,

I had to look it up.

I'll be honest, so did l.

Do you know why, Mr Cheeseman?

Because it is so old and ambiguous

few lawyers

waste their time with it, or mine.

It's a non-issue, Mr Cheeseman.

Your motion is denied. Thank you.

Thank you.

- Anything else?

- No, Your Honour.

Set a trial date.

Excuse me, Mr Facher.

I'd like to thank you.

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