Class Action

The principle, Your Honor,

is informed waiver,

a concept deeply embedded

in the black-letter law of this state.

This is a simple case of a contract

willingly and completely executed.

Appeals to the contrary, based on emotion,

have no place in a court of law.

- Objection!

- Order, order!

This is not a court of law.

You did not enter through a doorway.

That, ladies and gentlemen, is the rabbit hole

and we, like so many Alices,

have plunged through it

directly into Wonderland.

Behold the Queen of Hearts,

Carraghan Chemical.

A company that has spewed its bile

into the Leffingwell River for 17 years.

Plants wither. Children die.

And there isn't a court in the land

that can stop them.

Finally, one man has had enough.

Frustrated, desperate, he slams

his truck into the plant manager's office

and for one bright, shining day,

that hellhole of a factory shuts down.

Do we honor him?

Do we throw him a parade?

Do we even say thank you?

No. He is put on trial.

- Welcome to the Mad Hatter's tea party.

- Objection!

Objection? Why not "Off with their heads"?

...paid him fully, according to the contract.

But now he wants more and he intends

to get it by harassing my client.

Yes, the plaintiff is

a man of moderate means.

Yes, Xydex is a very successful corporation.

But the law, not charity,

must dictate our course today.

Yes, yes.

He rammed through that wall.

And, yes, he did shut

that hellish factory down for one day.

And, yes, he is responsible

for damages in the amount of $427,000.

How high a price is that to pay

if he saved just one single life?

Madam, I will give you $427,000

for your child. Deal?

And you, madam.

Same price for your husband.

And you, counselor. How about half

a million bucks for your precious hide?

- Objection!

- Order!

- The counsel is out of line.

- Sustained.

Mr Ward, sit down.

Order, order!

Defense is prepared to mount its case.

We have witnesses,

depositions and evidence

to prove my client acted fairly.

But to what end? The plaintiff has

put no viable case before this court.

Defense moves for nonsuit.

Submitted, Your Honor.

Would you go next door and remind them

thatjustice is blind, and not deaf?

As to your motion, counsel...

12 minutes.

12 minutes!

Eight and a half days

it took those idiots to mount their case!

- Too bad you mispronounced "harassing. "

- It's too bad you didn't get a chance to.

Counselor, where will you be

spending your vacation?

- I have no vacation.

- Maggie! You must have three or four weeks.

No. I hear something big's

happening on Argo Motors.

- Do you know anything about it?

- No.

Have you?

I haven't heard.

You guys wanna be big-time lawyers,

learn to lie better.

Maggie! Lawyers never lie.

We just tell the truth judiciously

to guarantee utter confusion.

Damn, you could lose your hand

in one of this things.

Mr Ward, excuse me.

Howard Crayhill.

I've read all your books.

I've read Civil Rights on Trial twice.

Congratulations.

You found a copy they hadn't burned.

Grateful client?

No, it's a present for your mother.

Anniversary.

Hard to believe we've been together 34 years.

You're biting your fingernails again, Margaret.

Don't.

Minor flesh wound.

He didn't even draw blood.

Brian, my father always draws blood.

I was getting ready to make a left.

I had the blinker on.

I saw the other car coming towards me,

in the rearview mirror.

And I couldn't move.

I couldn't get out of the way.

I just watched him, in slow motion.

At first, I couldn't believe it was happening.

It was like watching TV or something.

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