The Practice (1997–2004): Season 6, Episode 6 - Honor Code - full transcript

Right now,
we're offering 450.

They're holding out
for six and a quarter.

You're prepared to go to trial
over $175,000?

We have to.

The insurance industry
as a whole is taking a hit

because we're paying out
too much in damage claims.

We're now perceived
as being soft,

and the truth is,
we have to be seen
as ready to litigate.

But what about
these big jury awards?

That doesn't scare you?

Oh, it does, but it means
that we can't be satisfied



with just going to trial.
We have to win.

BOBBY: And this
starts tomorrow.

Yes, but the reality is
if the plaintiff sees us

bringing you guys on
last-minute,

they'll realize that we're
serious about going to trial,

and we truly think
that they'll settle.

We're primarily criminal,
Gordon, not civil.

Understood, but we are gonna
draw a very blue-collar jury,

which is why
we want you, Mr. Berluti.

And, Mr. Young,
no disrespect
to your talent,

which we know
is enormous--

the plaintiff
is African-American,

as are
several of the jurors.

Now, we don't anticipate
any bias,



but we want
that to be covered,

so we want you
to do the plaintiff's cross.

Now, I have a videotape
of his deposition,

which I'll leave
for you to watch.

But like I said,
with you alongside,

perhaps that will
push the plaintiffs to settle.

We're so close as it is.

The plaintiff is poor,
working-class?

The plaintiff is
ten years old.

Our client ran him over
with his SUV.

But he survived.

Oh, yes. That's why
they're holding out
for six and a quarter.

If he'd died,
I think that we could have
settled for three.

I'm sorry.
That perhaps sounded cold.

Perhaps.

(music playing)

GORDON: Your brother
is older or younger?

BOY: Well, I have two brothers.

One's older--
that's Kenny.

Then I also have
a baby brother.

His name is Justin.

And the one that I go
to school with is Kenny.

(switches off)

All set?
Ready. Let's go.

We'll call in,
let you know.

Good luck.

So they didn't settle
after all?

The plaintiff came down to six,
but that was it.

Is this our new direction--
insurance defense?

No, but civil law is something
you all want to do,

and this is a good in.

Right now our civil profile
is nonexistent.

Which is unfortunate,
because I'd love to buy a house.

Me, too.

I was walking home from school
when I got to the corner.

Pembleton and Columbus?

Yes, and I waited
till the sign said "walk."

So I started to cross.

Then I saw it.

Saw what?
The car.

It was coming so fast.

I turned to look,
but it was too late.

Before I could even move,
it had hit me.

Could you see
who was driving the car?

Only that it was a man,
and he was wearing a suit,

like a business suit.

Did you see
anything else?

I saw he was looking down
where a phone would be,

and he wasn't looking
at where he was driving.

Objection.

Overruled.
It's his observation.

Can you tell the jury
about your injuries?

I had broken ribs,

my lungs was hurt,

my arm was broken,

my head was hurt,

and a bone was broken
in my shin.

Have you had any other problems
besides broken bones?

I can't learn.

You can't learn?

I don't remember anything
that they teach me at school.

Could you
before the accident?

Yes.

And you've talked
to the doctors

about these problems
you've had learning.

Yes.

Did they tell you
whether or not

these problems
would ever go away?

They don't think they will.

Thank you, Jason.

Right now,
another lawyer is going

to ask you
a few questions, okay?

Okay.

Hi, Jason.

I'm Eugene Young,
and as Ms. Turner said,

I'll be asking you
a few questions.

If at any time
you need a break,

you just tell me, okay?
Okay.

First, let me say how sorry
I am that you got hurt,

and that I hope
you get better.

Thank you.

You said you were walking home
from school that day, right?

Yes.
At the corner,

you said you waited
for the sign to say "walk."

I did.

There was a witness, Jason--
a Mr. Anthony Walker.

And he said upon hearing
the impact, he looked up,

and he said he noticed

the light was flashing
"don't walk."

Well, it said "walk"
when I started to walk.

Sometimes it changes
when you're halfway across.

Were you halfway across?

According
to the police investigators,

you got hit when you were
about ten feet from the curb.

So that would mean that
the light changed to "walk,"

you walked ten feet,

and then it changed to
"don't walk."

Is that what happened?

I don't know.

Is it possible
that when you got to the curb,

you looked up, saw "walk,"
then walked?

That's what I said.

Well, actually, you said

you waited for it
to change to "walk,"

and that's where
I'm having difficulty.

Now, if it had already
been flashing "walk"

when you arrived
at the corner,

then I can see how you might
only get ten feet or so.

Could it have
already been on "walk"

when you arrived
at the corner, Jason?

Maybe. All I know is that
it said "walk," and I walked.

You said
after the accident,

you've been having trouble
remembering things, right?

Yes.

Jason, truthfully...

...do you have a little trouble
remembering the accident itself?

When you woke up
after the accident,

and the police
asked you what happened,

did you remember?

Not right away.

Well, how long
after the accident

did you start to remember?

It took a long time.

What, you're still
expecting me to blink?

Audrey, the boy's memory
is suspect.

No skid marks, Gordon,
middle of the street.

But if he dashed--
Nobody saw him dash,

least of all your client,
who was trying to place a call.

The one and only witness saw
"don't walk."

How many times have we had
this give and take?

Many times, but I'm the only one
who seems to be giving.

You haven't--
Four-fifty for a boy

with permanent
learning disabilities.

My doctors say it most likely
isn't permanent.

The truth is it'll be years
before we know.

I am putting an extra 200
on the table for it now,

and all this assumes
that you can make on liability,

which is not a lock.

I'm not taking 450.

Why don't we split
the difference and go home:

Five and a quarter.
Five-fifty.

Five twenty-five.

I know
you've done the numbers.

It's a good offer,
and it's final.

Yea or nay?

I'll discuss it
with the family.

(door opens)
How'd it go?

Eugene was good.

Gentle, but he caught
some discrepancies.

I don't think the boy
really remembers the accident.

Eight and a half
at the time.

Well, there's
another offer out.

The feeling is
they'll grab it.

Can I help you?

Yes, I'm looking
for Gordon Keene.

I was told
he might be here.

No, we just left him.
I think, uh...

he's on his way home.

I'm Dr. Harold Manning,

Vice President
of Medical Affairs
for Brenford Mutual.

This firm, I understand,
is on the Jason Lees case.

Yes.

Could we go somewhere
and talk?

I've worked for Brenford Mutual
for almost 20 years.

I review files,
medical histories,

in part to be sure
they're not being defrauded.

You think the boy's injuries
may be a fraud?

No, certainly not.

Everything listed
in the complaint is real.

It's what isn't listed.

I'm not sure
I follow, doctor.

This afternoon,
in preparing for the case,

one of our staff physicians
went back over the file

along with
all the X-rays.

He saw something
on the MRI--

a tiny marking
at the base of the brain.

He had me look at it.

At first I assumed
it was minor bleeding.

We often see that
in this kind of trauma.

But I looked closer.

You think
it may be more serious?

I'm certain it is.

Mr. Lees has a dissecting
aneurysm of the basilar artery.

A small tear
in the lining of the artery.

In time, that tear will
likely get progressively worse,

until eventually,
the wall of the vessel ruptures.

What are the chances
that'll happen?

It will happen.
The question is when.

Maybe today,
maybe ten years from now.

Without immediate surgery
to repair the damage,

his life is
at significant risk.

Wait a second.

Jason Lees has a team
of treating physicians.

I have to believe
they're aware of this.

If they were
aware of this,

the boy would have
been rushed into surgery.

His doctors
obviously missed it.

We missed it
until today.

Have you notified his family
or his doctors?

I can't.

As an officer
of the company,

I have a fiduciary duty
to Brenford Mutual.

I cannot disclose
if it's against their interest.

So they don't even know.
No, they don't.

What about Gordon Keene?
Does he know about this?

No, that's why I've come
looking for him.

I couldn't get him
on his cell.

What you're telling us,
doctor--

that boy's life
is in immediate danger.

That's exactly
what I'm telling you.

I just got off
with Dr. Scanlon.

He agrees-- aneurysm.

Okay, whatever they counter
tomorrow,

we'll accept it.

Then we'll get the settlement
entered immediately.

Tomorrow? That kid
is in danger tonight.

We can't get a settlement
entered tonight, Jimmy.

So what?

Gordon--
I hear you, Bobby.

But the client has instructed me
to get the case settled.

If that aneurysm
bursts tonight,

Brenford Mutual will be
on the hook for ten times--

Well, they're willing
to run the risk, evidently.

I'm not.
That's not your call.

This is privileged.
It's work product.

We can't let a kid die.
Come on.

We are gonna
settle this thing

and then enter it.

Then they'll just try
to void it on fraud

as soon as we tell them.

Did you advise
the client of that?

I did.

And?

The client
doesn't want us to tell

even after the settlement.

You got to be kidding me.

Bobby...

Brenford Mutual
is hemorrhaging,

if you'll pardon
the terrible pun.

If it gets out that
that kid has an aneurysm,

it's a multimillion-dollar
verdict

even if they're able
to repair it.

And if it should come out
that we knew

about that aneurysm
and we didn't tell--

The public relations alone...
That's sick.

There's got to be
a way around this.

There isn't.

The client has given us
the instruction.

We are ethically prohibited
from revealing this information.

Now, look, I don't like this
any more than you do, but...

I'll take it from here.

I'll get this thing
settled in the morning.

Thanks.

(door opens)

(door closes)

We're just going
to sit on this?

Lucy, get me
Anderson Pearson.

I'm afraid
Gordon Keene is right.

He can't be.
If we know a client

is about to cause
serious bodily harm,

we're allowed to tell.

No. That is different
from knowing somebody's
medical condition

as a part of work product.

Why? why should it
be any different?

In both instances,
we have knowledge

somebody's about
to get hurt.

Perhaps that distinction
is a ludicrous one, Bobby,

but currently,
the law makes that distinction.

If you know your client
is about to commit a crime

and cause bodily injury,
you are permitted to tell.

But a medical condition
in a civil matter--

unless you get
the client's permission,

you are frozen.

Can't you get the client
to move on this?

No.

All I can think of--
after we settle the case,

the client
might be less panicked.

Maybe then we can
convince them to tell.

But as Keene said,
the risk there is so great.

Well, I can't think
of anything else, can you?

Jimmy?

Jimmy? Any ideas?

No.

(sighs) Where are you
in the trial?

Well, it's obviously
going to settle now.

But if for some reason
it doesn't,

are you ready
with your closing, Jimmy?

Jimmy!

Is your closing ready?

I was gonna head back
to work on it now.

I don't think we'd get there
tomorrow, but--

You've got to stay focused.

I'll be ready,
if need be.

GORDON (on tape): Any sisters?

No sisters.
Just me and my two brothers.

My parents wanted a girl
when they had me.

At least that's what
my older brother tells me.

He says that to punk me.

He punks me all the time.

(rings doorbell)

Mr. Lees, my name
is James Berluti.

I'm one of the lawyers
representing Branford Mutual.

Yeah, I recognize you.

I'm sorry
to bother you this late.

Your son...

your son has an aneurysm
at the base of his skull.

What?

Our doctors reviewed
his MRI today.

I've called an ambulance.
It's on the way.

There's been a misdiagnosis.

Your son could be in danger.

We need to get him
to a hospital.

Where is he now?

He's in bed.

You need to get him up.

(siren approaching)

Mr. Lees, you need
to get your son out of bed.

MEDIC: You got him?

(indistinct radio chatter)

It's just a precaution,
sweetheart.

You're gonna be fine.

You're gonna be fine.

Jimmy.

Dr. Manning was right.

The boy went into surgery
a couple hours ago.

Well, did--
did anything happen?

No.

I told them.

You told them?

Jimmy informed the parents.

The boy is in surgery.

Are you out of your mind?

Yeah, I am.

And you can go tell
your client, Mr. Keene,

if they want to report me
to the Bar, go ahead.

But like you said,
the negative publicity
will destroy them,

and I'll make plenty of noise,
trust me.

Is that all you thought about,
Jimmy, being disbarred?

You personally
and your firm

will be on the hook
for any damage award

above $550,000,
you think about that?

I wasn't gonna
let that kid die.

We removed the aneurysm,

clipped it
without complications.

He's gonna be fine.

(crying)

Could they tell whether
it was about to burst or not?

Not really,
but it was dangerous enough

that they had to operate
right away.

Was there any bleeding
in the brain?

No, because it never ruptured.
They clipped it.

(phone ringing)
I take it the case
isn't about to settle now.

Oh, no.

And... we were fired.

Sorry.

I'm proud of you, Jimmy.

I'll probably never get
my house now,

but I'm proud of you.

Me, too.

Jimmy, that was
the Board of Bar Overseers.

You've been summoned to appear
today at 1:00.

BOBBY: What?

They actually reported me.

I didn't think they'd dare.

Brenford Mutual
didn't report you.

Who, then? Keene?

I reported you, Jimmy.

What?

Under the Canon
of Legal Ethics,

I had a duty
to report you.

And if I had a vote,

I'd recommend
you be disbarred.

(door opens)

They're calling him in
at 1:00.

I heard.

Why didn't you check
with me first?

Did Jimmy check with you

before breaking
the client's privilege?

You revealed a pretty big
secret yourself, Eugene.

Jimmy just told the parents
that the kid was sick.

By reporting him
to the Bar,

you revealed that it was
the client's intent not to tell,

and the publicity of that
may be what brings them down.

Did you consider that?

I considered this--
Jimmy should go.

I like him, but--

Actually, right now
I'm not even sure I do.

He put us all
at risk, Bobby.

To flex his conscience,
he jeopardized this entire firm,

same as he did
when he stole client funds

to pay off
his gambling debt.

You should have
come to me before--

You...
would have done nothing.

You're a nice guy.

You would have let it ride
because Jimmy's a nice guy.

He would have cried, "I'm sorry,

it won't happen again,"
and you would have bought it.

Well, I'm not
buying it anymore.

I'm not letting him
take me down and everybody else.

Enough is enough.

He has to face
the consequences.

I don't set
a lot of rules here.

But we don't turn
on each other.

I didn't turn on him.

He turned on us
with what he did.

He put us all at risk.

By my reporting him,
I protected the firm, so--

Oh, so you were
protecting us.
Damn right.

Then why not
be open about it?

Why not come to me before--

Because you would have
protected him

and put the firm
at risk, too.

Then aren't we all lucky

to have you
to look out for us.

Imagine how safe
you make us feel.

You taking his side, Bobby?

What he did was wrong.

But I don't like
what you did, either.

And if you think you did it
the way you did to protect us...

...then you're lying
to yourself.

Obviously, we were
still processing

the new information and trying
to decide what to do.

It was an extremely agonizing
decision for all involved.

As you left it
with Mr. Berluti,

the client's decision

was not to reveal
the boy's condition.

There was nothing
to be accomplished

in the course
of the night,

so general counsel
at Brenford Mutual--

Mr. Keene, we'll be here
all day if you choose to dance.

I know you're trying to serve

the public reputation
of Brenford Mutual,

but that's not what
this hearing is about.

Yes, Your Honor.

Mr. Young
has reported to us

that the client's
unequivocal instruction

was for the attorneys
not to reveal

what the client
had told them

about Jason Lees'
medical condition.

Is that true, sir?

Personally, I believe that
that decision

was subject to change.

Answer my question, Mr. Keene.

Yes.

At the time that
Mr. Berluti chose to tell them,

the client's wishes were
that he not do so.

And from
your observation,

Mr. Berluti was aware
of the client's wishes.

We were all
acutely aware, yes.

Okay, we'll take
a short break,

then resume
with Mr. Berluti.

Okay, my opinion--

We just go with
straight emotion.

All of this
happened so fast.

You certainly did
the humane thing.

Basically, you went
on autopilot, Jimmy.

BOBBY: I agree.
You're dead on the law,

and Hiller--
we know how she is.

Just tell them you blew it.
Show some remorse.

They can't be
without compassion.

Okay.

Jimmy?

Are you okay?

I'm fine.

Is the hearing
going on now?

We're on a break.

But it's a closed session,
Mr. Lees.

You can't go in.

Where's Mr. Berluti?

He's, uh, meeting
with his lawyers.

How's your son?

Do you care, Mr. Young?

Look, Mr. Lees,
please try to understand.

In the legal profession,

there's a certain code...

...that we have to live with.

Then you live with it,
Mr. Young.

You live with it.

I think, you know,
emotion got the better of me.

I kind of snapped.

You kind of snapped.

Like insanity?

No, no.
I knew what I was doing,

and I admit
what I did was wrong.

But, uh,
let's not forget

a life was maybe saved.

That boy could have died.

I'm a little confused.

You say you admit
what you did was wrong,

then you go on
to defend it.

Do you think it was wrong
or don't you?

Well, I knew it was wrong
under the law,

but on a human level,
I guess I feel justified.

So you chose to commit
a knowing violation of the law

because you disagreed
with that law?

It was
a very emotional night.

So absent that emotion,
as you sit here today,

if you had it
to do all over again,

your reflective choice
would be

to preserve
the client's secret.

You wouldn't
tell the parents.

Do I state it correctly,
Mr. Berluti?

Mr. Berluti?

Do I state it correctly?

No, you do not,
Your Honor.

If I had to do it
all over again,

I'd do exactly
the same thing.

I wouldn't
let that kid die.

Would you?

I wouldn't even ask myself
the question, sir.

We don't consult
our personal feelings

on a case-by-case basis.

As officers of the court,
we abide by the law,

and under the law,
there is no real question here.

With all due respect,
Your Honor,

if you feel
that way, then--

It's not up to us to feel.
That's what--

But we do.

Whether the law says
we can or not, we feel.

And if you can be
that cold about it,

I don't care
how good a judge you are,

you're not my idea
of a human being.

Jimmy--
No, I don't care.

I won't be judged
by the three of you.

I won't be judged by you.

If we're a society of laws,

if we're a society that says
let that kid die,

then the society
needs adjusting.

So we should
let every lawyer act

according to his or her
own conscience

with no regard
for what the rules mandate.

The rules should have
regard for a conscience.

Yours?

Mr. Young's conscience
might tell him to preserve

the trusted confidence
of a client.

Mr. Young doesn't act
out of conscience.

Pick another example.

I think we understand
your position.

You don't believe
what you did is wrong,

and faced
with the same choices,

you'd do the same thing
over again.

Yes.

Okay, I think we're done.

How'd it go?

Not well.

Did they rule?

Under advisement.

ELLENOR: Okay, thank you.
I appreciate it.

They're willing to let me
make a brief summation

before they decide,
so I'm gonna get to work on it.

I don't have a conscience?

No, Eugene, you don't.

BOBBY: All right.

It's all too easy for you.
Jimmy.

What'd you do last night,
go home, flick on a ball game?

EUGENE: You did
the easy thing, Jimmy.

BOBBY: I don't want
to hear any of this.

Well, I want to say it.

We all wanted to tell.
Of course we did,

but we were bound
by ethical duties--

duties we swore
to uphold even when--

Tell me about ethics. You--
I am telling you.

You falsified loan documents.
You got fired from a bank.

That's how you got hired here
in the first place.

Old news.
A month ago,

you stole from a client
to pay off your bookie.

I damn well will tell you
about ethics.

You're a thief.

And last night,
you forked over a client.

Was it a popular thing to do?

I'm sure, yes, they'll probably
give you a medal for it,

but it's not what we do.

Not to the client.

And as lawyers, Jimmy,

we owe them our trust--
our trust!

You're not trustworthy.

You put no premium
on what it means
to be a lawyer.

You disgraced everybody here,

and you may have put us all

out of business
in the process.

You want to call yourself
a friend, Jimmy?

You're not my friend.

You done?

How convenient for you
I'm a gambling addict

or that I stole
that money.

Makes it so easy for you
to conclude

you got some
moral superiority going.

You're more ethical,
so, hey,

you must be right on this,
huh, Eugene?

But you're not right.

You would have
let that kid's head explode.

You're not right.

And going
behind my back--

Well, I guess
that makes you...

...friend.

Why didn't you
resign, Jimmy?

You're about
to go blow a confidence,

put the firm at risk

for a million-dollar
malpractice claim, minimum.

Why not quit first
to protect us?

Your conscience
ever give that a thought?

Nope.

But I'll tell you this--

I quit now.

...one man who scored
189 career touchdowns...

(knock on door)

...his high-powered offense,
and y'all won't believe--

(switches off)

I don't want you to quit.

I know you don't,
Bobby, but--

This was
an extreme situation.

For my money,
you took us all off the hook.

We all want you back.

It kinda begs
the question of whether

I even get to practice law.

Ellenor's been working
all night on her statement.

Let's not sell her short.

You people have been
so good to me, Bobby.

I know I haven't
lived up to...

You really believe that?

Overall, I've been
a liability.

You still think of yourself
as Jimmy the Grunt?

Do you ever stop to consider

what a great trial lawyer
you've become?

Did you pause for a second

to wonder why Brenford Mutual
hired you here?

You've become
a gifted trial lawyer.

Now you tell me.

As it's all about to end.

Suppose it doesn't end.

Will you come back?

Of course I don't want
to leave.

Working pretty late.

Just hanging out
with all my friends.

You don't think we're
your friends now, Eugene?

I don't know, Rebecca.

I just see and hear you all
cheering for Jimmy.

Eugene, we're standing by him

not because we necessarily
agree with him,

but because he's family.

You went outside of the family
on this one.

It was the right thing to do.

Clearly, you think that.

The circumstances
were extremely exigent--

a human life
hanging in the balance.

Nobody could presume
to know the vise

Jimmy Berluti was in
two nights ago.

Ms. Frutt, I'm sorry.
I have to stop you.

Lawyers are trained
to make difficult decisions.

You people, of all people,
make them daily.

I've watched you do it
in my courtroom.

Not with these kinds
of stakes.

Look, arguing his compassion
isn't going to fly.

Do I get to give my closing?

Yes, you do,
but I'm advising you

not to whack us on the head
with emotion,

especially since your client
says he'd do it all over again.

He has a problem.

You got the problem.
Jimmy.

Since you don't want
to let Ellenor talk,
how about giving me a chance?

HILLER: I thought we
heard you clearly yesterday,

but if you have more to say,
I'm sure we're all quite rapt.

I've made a lot of mistakes,

but telling those parents
to take their son to a hospital

wasn't one of them.

Yes, it was.

You don't get to decide
when you follow the rules

and when you won't.

Otherwise, what kind of anarchy
would we have?

If the rules are a lawyer
can't tell a boy or his family

that he has a life-threatening
medical situation,

an emergency that could
kill him any second,

if the rules say don't tell,
you got a problem.

You all have a problem.

This system has a problem.

I'm sorry.
Is it us on trial now?

Maybe you should be.

The adversarial process
stopped being about the truth

a long time ago.

The adversaries lie
to each other.

We lie and tell
false truths every day,

and you wonder why
nobody respects us?

It started off being about
fairness and due process,

and it's become about winning.

And now we're to sit quiet

while an innocent kid
has a time bomb in his head?

We're duty-bound to let him die
out of privilege?

And you expect the public
to admire our profession?

A person who's honorable,

a person with integrity,

a person who believes
that a human life has sanctity

doesn't let
an innocent child die.

I said this yesterday
and I'll say it again.

I will not be judged by you.

Listen...

I, uh, know I've been
stomping my foot

with a lot
of righteous indignation,

but, uh, Eugene was right
about one thing.

I should have had
the decency

to quit before I...

I just...
didn't think to do it.

I'm sorry for putting
the firm at risk.

Anyway...

May I see you a moment
in private?

I don't want to get into it
anymore with you.

May I see you
in private, Jimmy?

The reason I, uh...

My brother...

He died in prison
serving time

for something he didn't do.

The police coerced
a confession that--

The police-- they had
no regard for the system.

And if the day comes

that lawyers start
giving up their clients,

giving up their secrets,
then the system has--

I've put more murderers
back out there than I can count

in the name of the system.

I need to believe
in its legitimacy.

I went home the other night...

...and I wanted
to tell that family

just like we all did,
and, uh,

I kept telling myself
I had no choice.

The rules were clear,
I had no choice,

and I was prepared
to let that boy die,

but what you did...

was point out...

...I had a choice.

A choice you made
that I...

I didn't.

I suppose, uh...

You, uh...

you did what you did
and was acting out of emotion.

My doing what I did--

reporting you,
going outside of the family--

I was acting
on emotion as well.

Anyway, I, uh...

You're good with me.

And I hope in time
I'll be good with you.

(door opens)

They're back with their ruling.

Mr. Berluti, you touched
on a number of themes

that are very close to me.

It's true,
we no longer impose

the burden on attorneys
to be honorable,

and that's unfortunate,
if not disgraceful.

But it's also true,

which you know full well,

legal ethics and morality

are not only
two distinct concepts,

they're quite often
mutually exclusive.

And if lawyers
start letting personal morality

be their compass,

the system and all
the participants in it

are collectively lost.

So we carve out rules,
many of them quite strict.

And the strictest,
perhaps the most paramount,

goes to client trust.

What a client tells his lawyer

is sacrosanct.

The attorney
doesn't get to decide

when he'll honor the privilege
and when he won't.

You broke that seal,
Mr. Berluti.

The rule we hold most dear--

you broke it,

and your moral preaching aside,

there's no excuse for it.

None.

That having been said,

this board does have discretion

as to what we do with you.

We applied a very unscientific
test back there.

We asked ourselves

is the profession of law
better served

with you in it or out of it?

We decided...

better to have you in it.

You're suspended
for three weeks.

We are adjourned.

How about that?

I survive.

Come on, we've already blown
most of the day.

Let's get back to work.

(music playing)

You stinker!