Bluff City Law (2019) s01e01 Episode Script
Pilot
1 I hold a family's future in my hands Not in theory, not indirectly.
What I say and how I say it will determine the life they have.
This is Edgar Soriano.
And this is the high school where he worked as a custodian for 15 years.
This is his wife, Maria, who now supports the family by working double shifts since Edgar got sick.
And this is their daughter, Eva, who plans to go to medical school so she can cure her dad.
Edgar is my client.
It's my job to find him justice.
Everyone likes to talk about how this kind of work is noble or rewarding, but what they don't tell you is, if you lose, it destroys you.
[SCREAMS.]
Mr.
Davis, before we begin, would you like some water? Anything at all to make you more comfortable? No.
Mr.
Davis, in your complaint, you stated that you have chewed Kentucky Red tobacco since you were 14.
During that time, did you ever use a competitor's product? Sometimes.
But you believe that Kentucky Red is the reason for your throat dysphagia? - I do.
- Mr.
Davis, have you been tested for sexually transmitted diseases? - Hang on now - Untreated STDs are a known cause of his illness.
I just wanna know if he's been tested.
I don't need to be tested.
I'm happily married.
Mr.
Davis, are you aware your wife has had three affairs in the last ten years? Counsel, if you're planning to attack this woman - I will end this deposition - Mr.
Davis, is it possible any of the prostitutes you visited in the last ten years could've given you a sexually transmitted disease? Okay, we are done here, Ms.
Strait.
Yes, we are.
[OVERLAPPING ARGUING.]
[SOFT INDISTINCT CHATTER.]
You really do look down on us.
I thought that was just a figure of speech.
Carla, what part of "my father isn't welcome here" didn't you understand? [TENDER MUSIC.]
The part where your mother dies.
What? [BIRD CAWS.]
[INDISTINCT CHATTER.]
I don't know if I can do this.
I'm serious, Bri.
I mean, five days ago, Mom and I are having lunch and laughing at all the horrible dates I'm going on, and now she's just gone from a stroke.
When my mother passed, my best friend was with me every step of the way.
I intend on doing the same thing for her.
Okay.
My wife was my light.
[CLEARS THROAT.]
And, uh, terrifies me to think that she's gone.
I remember, I think it was our second date, I [LAUGHS.]
I just finished telling her how impressive I was gonna be as a big money lawyer.
And she gave me that stare - [GUESTS CHUCKLING.]
- That Carolyn stare that our daughter Sydney inherited.
She said, "Why measure yourself by money when you have a chance to change the world?" So, uh, that's the infamous Sydney.
You two stay in touch? Nah.
I haven't talked to her since the day she walked out three years ago.
[INDISTINCT CHATTER.]
[MUSIC PLAYING SOFTLY.]
Your mother gave me updates every week she saw you.
Me too.
She'd get a kick out of this, wouldn't she? Two of us sitting here on the porch.
Especially this quietly.
Can I show you something? What do you think? I think there's a reason Amerifarm is 66 and 0 in lawsuits against Greencoat.
68 and 0.
They won two more last week.
- Oh.
- Seriously.
You work for these companies now You mean the dark side? You know how they think.
Tell me.
How would you beat me? Part of a class-action? 86 clients.
24 states.
Okay.
First thing I'd do is avoid your client.
I'd scour the 86, find someone who plays like he's in it for the money, make him the face for the jury.
Then I'd drag you into a war of experts.
Mine would be EPA certified, and yours would be "guns for hire.
" And finally, I'd nail you on causation.
"Prove Greencoat made him sick.
" You won't be able to, and Amerifarm will be 69 and 0.
I'm sorry.
You just you can't win.
Could you win? If you were representing the Sorianos, could you win this case? I want you to come back to the firm, Sydney.
Dad.
I want you fighting for what's right.
Yes, by my side.
It's where you belong.
We both know it.
Your mom did too.
I appreciate the offer, but there's a reason it was a disaster the first time.
We're both alphas.
Two alphas just don't mix.
Not to mention we're total opposites with how we do the job You're conservative.
- I wage war.
- Strengths.
Our differences could be our strengths this time.
- You're serious.
- For 35 years, I've had some of the best legal minds pass through my office, and one of the brightest? - I let walk away.
- I don't like you, Dad.
Have you forgotten that? I can't just ignore how you treated me when we worked together.
And I'm not gonna forgive you for all the years that you cheated on mom.
I don't see a hero.
I see a hypocrite.
Well, that's no reason to become some vampire selling justice to the highest bidder.
You hate me? Fine.
You're never gonna forgive me.
Okay.
Get back in the fight, Sydney.
If not with me, somewhere else.
Because in case you haven't noticed, the world's running out of heroes.
Why would it be any different? If I came back, why would it be any different? You are Elijah Strait.
You are beloved and famous in your field.
People like you don't just change, Dad.
- [LAUGHING.]
Why would you even try? - Because, wh When you lose the love of your life, you realize that that you don't wanna miss even one moment with your incredible daughter.
[ALABAMA SHAKES' "I FOUND YOU".]
If I'm gonna love you With all of my heart And if there is no more time This always remains Even as the world spins itself apart [UPBEAT HONKY-TONK MUSIC.]
[PHONES RINGING.]
[SIGHS.]
Strait & Associates.
One moment.
Thank you.
Guess hell froze over, huh? [CHUCKLES.]
Come here.
- Aww, Della.
- Oh.
Your mom is smiling down right now, you know that? I'm gonna have to get on the horn with Vanderbilt, tell them their top two students are back on the same side.
Just so we're clear one, two.
Only 'cause I helped you in Con Law.
You keep telling yourself that.
[LAUGHS.]
Hey, I heard you had another daughter.
- Four to one.
- [LAUGHS.]
I'm outnumbered in my own house.
His girls are a delight.
You only say that 'cause you get to leave after you babysit, which reminds me, Aunt Della, is it you or your wife who's been bringing over ice cream? Anthony, I'm a sixth generation woman of the South.
Spoiling other people's children is in my DNA.
[LAUGHTER.]
- Yeah, that's her.
- Oh, Sydney.
Meet Emerson.
Paralegal, assistant, and all around in-house genius.
Yeah, it's, um, nice to finally meet you.
You too.
Anyone that He's an acquired taste.
Ah.
[KNOCKING ON DOOR.]
Have the calls started? Calls? What calls? Oh, I bet an hour after news got out, your phone was ringing off the hook.
"Elijah's bringing back his daughter.
What does that mean for a rainmaker like you, Jake?" In fairness, they weren't as eloquent as that.
Give me 30 days.
After that, if you feel Sydney being here compromises you in any way, I'll make sure you get a job at any firm you want.
Can I use the 30 days to start places bidding against each other, drive my price up? I'd be disappointed if you didn't.
But in the meantime, I found that in Carolyn's study.
It's a teacher she thought was wrongfully convicted of killing a student.
You know how she was.
Memphis Saint of Lost Causes.
Why me? I mean, I haven't done a criminal case since before I worked for you.
I don't know.
But if there's one thing my wife was a genius at, it was matching people to a purpose.
- The Sorianos are here.
- Mm.
Mean a lot if you took a look, Jake.
[DOOR CLOSES.]
And in the final phase of the trial, we'll present evidence as to loss of quality of life.
We'll call on your friends, Maria, and Eva, if you're still up for it.
Okay, then.
That's everything.
The trial itself will take about ten weeks, but still on track for a Spring 2020 start.
Edgar, something we should know? My tumors have spread faster than the doctors anticipated.
They've revised their timeline.
We're very sorry to hear that.
Is there any way we can move the trial to this year? Unfortunately, trials like this can only move so fast Unless we switch to the alternate strategy.
[SOFT DRAMATIC MUSIC.]
The alternate strategy.
We start by breaking from the class action and file individually for an expedited trial due to your new prognosis.
Then we pare the case down.
Instead of telling our story in three months, we tell it in three weeks, focusing on three keys.
Key one is you.
I think a jury will love you.
I want them to hear your story in your words.
In politics, they say it's not the crime that gets you.
It's the cover-up, so We show that Amerifarm engaged in deliberate, and malicious cover-up of debates, reports, anything at all that suggests that they knew Greencoat was dangerous Am I going too fast? No.
Once the jury is convinced there's been a cover-up, we call our expert witnesses and we keep our message simple.
Greencoat can cause cancer.
Amerifarm hid that.
Let's the jury connect the dots.
And I would get to testify? If we break from the class action, your trial could start in a matter of weeks.
Without all the resources and protections that a class action brings, including bargaining power for a settlement.
Do we wanna settle, or do we wanna win? [SIGHS.]
- Thank you.
- Thanks again.
Of course.
We'll talk soon.
- Sydney, a word in my office.
- Sure.
[SOFT TWANGY MUSIC.]
How bad? Two hours.
She's been here two hours, and already she's upended two years worth of work.
Mr.
James, as head of research for Amerifarm, you oversaw 143 safety studies of Greencoat.
But you presented only 80 of those to the FDA when applied for approval.
Why not present all the studies? Well, some were inconclusive.
The data in others contained errors - How'd you know it was an error? - Excuse me? How did you know it was an error? - Not really sure I - Well, when you say "error," what you actually mean is a result that didn't fit your mandate to show Greencoat was safe, is it not? You're twisting my words.
No, sir.
Your words are twisted.
On the right is the paper presented by you, a world-respected biopharmacological researcher, in which you declare the active ingredient in Greencoat to be harmless to human beings.
And on the left is the same paper, written eight weeks earlier not by you, but by Mrs.
Sally Jenkins, a marketing executive for Amerifarm.
Is it fair to say she wrote this report for you? She gave input.
In fact, the only change you made was to add your signature.
Wasn't it? That's correct.
Hm.
"If I can get this one thrown out, they'll have to save me a corner office.
" Then you added a little smiley face there at the end.
It was written in jest.
It was simply a joke.
I'm sure.
Your current job, sir, as a director of the EPA carries with it the responsibility of protecting average citizens from exposure to toxic materials, does it not? - It does.
- True or false.
The report you were getting thrown out was actually a study that suggests a link between Greencoat and non-Hodgkin's lymphoma, the disease Edgar Soriano has? - True, but that report d - True or false.
Your email bragging about getting this same report thrown out was written to a current executive at Amerifarm? True.
That corner office you have waiting for you at Amerifarm, does it have a nice view? Objection, Your Honor.
Withdrawn.
Nothing further, Your Honor.
[DOOR BUZZES.]
Mr.
Bell.
Hi.
Jake Reilly.
I'm an attorney at Strait & Associates.
Oh, as in, Elijah Strait? Yeah, I was actually given your name by his wife, Carolyn.
- Did you know her? - Mm.
No, just him, from seeing him in papers.
But this is great.
Elijah Strait.
[LAUGHS.]
He Well, he's handled some of the biggest civil rights cases - in the past 20 years.
- That's right.
- And that's what this is.
- Mm-hmm.
This is a violation of my civil rights.
- Kay, well, Mr.
Bell, we - Not just a petty complaint.
Not a nuisance lawsuit.
This is about more than applesauce.
- Applesauce? - Yeah.
See, for the past ten years, FCI has been serving world-class applesauce.
I mean, I'm talking little plastic tubs of heaven.
Six months ago? They stop.
"Budgets cuts," they said.
[CHUCKLES.]
But I know better.
Mr.
Bell, I'm not here about applesauce, okay? I'm here because even a cursory look at your trial shows that you have several grounds for appeal.
Now Carolyn Strait felt that there was something wrong Okay, okay.
Let me just save you the shoe leather, pretty boy.
There's no pot of gold at the end of this rainbow.
[SOFT DRAMATIC MUSIC.]
I'm guilty.
[DOOR BUZZES.]
Thank you.
Emerson said you were looking for me.
Yeah, any idea why your mom wanted me to work on the George Bell murder case? I don't understand.
I thought this guy admitted he was guilty.
You really think your mom would have a file on the guy if it were that simple? So word around the office is that your ex-husband is the Chief of Detectives.
I was hoping you could introduce us.
Ah, there's there's things in the investigation that don't make sense, so a look at the actual police files would go a long way.
- Are you two not on good terms? - No, no, we're fine.
We just had a a strict no work lines crossed policy.
I assume that died with the marriage? - That's charming.
- Thank you.
Thank you.
[INDISTINCT CHATTER.]
Hey, Robbie.
How you holding up? Some days are better than others.
- Jake, is it? - Yeah.
Thought you said you were gonna come alone.
Jake is lead on the case, so he's the one that needs to see the files.
Come by tomorrow? - Mm-hmm.
- Say 3:00? I'll have them waiting for you, but they don't leave my office.
- Absolutely.
- Kay.
Thank you, Robbie.
I'm doing this 'cause I loved your mom, so as far as I'm concerned, she's the one asking.
[SCOFFS LIGHTLY.]
Okay.
[SIGHS.]
Yeah, now it makes sense.
- What? - Cowboy still loves you.
That's how you saw that? Did you break his heart? [CELL PHONE RINGS.]
You broke his heart.
- Hi.
- I got a call from Sanford.
He wants to discuss a settlement.
[INDISTINCT CHATTER.]
I can carve $200,000 out of legal fees for the Sorianos.
Obviously, there would have to be an NDA and they have to drop the suit.
200,000? - You're off by a couple zeroes.
- Sydney.
Their medical expenses alone are $400,000.
You'd just be paying off some of their creditors.
Syd.
Thomas, what's going on? You guys had a good week, but you're not gonna win.
Please tell me you didn't just drag us out here to do the whole, "I'm doing you a favor" routine.
Otherwise, this is a giant waste of our time Sydney, either let this man talk, or wait outside.
[MELLOW MUSIC PLAYING OVER RADIO.]
My daughter doesn't always know when someone's trying to do a kindness.
200K is all I can give without Amerifarm shutting me down.
I know you're probably gonna say no But You and I have been doing this a long time, Elijah.
We both know a man tells another man when the sky is about to fall.
[SOFT TENSE MUSIC.]
Next time you ask me to walk out of a meeting, I'm gonna keep walking.
You have to do something about that anger.
It just makes you see everything in black and white.
"People are complicated.
They make mistakes.
" You know, that speech was a lot more compelling before I realized you were just talking about yourself.
Change the topic, it's not gonna solve the problem.
What do you suggest I do, Dad? Maybe check into a hotel, blow off some steam, screw some of mom's friends? Stop, stop.
Stop making this about me.
If you could drop the attack dog act for just one minute, wait, instead of lashing out, just one minute, you'd stop thinking Sanford was trying to screw us and ask yourself why is he trying to warn us? - Dr.
Reeger, you've spent the last - Your Honor.
At this time, we are lodging a formal objection to Dr.
Reeger's testimony.
She is simply not qualified to testify to the subject matter on trial today.
She studies cancer.
She has never studied Greencoat or any similar product.
It's like asking a blood expert to testify about fingerprints.
- That's absurd.
- Sustained.
What? You can't possibly The objection is sustained.
Call your next witness, Ms.
Strait.
Dr.
Chen, you have a PhD in industrial chemistry.
- What would - Objection, Your Honor.
I'm sorry, but we have the same problem with Dr.
Chen.
- Sustained.
- Are you kidding me? That's a warning, Ms.
Strait.
Mr.
Lynch, how much did Amerifarm pay you Objection, Your Honor.
- Beyond the scope.
- Sustained.
Mr.
Lynch, what did you charge Amerifarm in the years Objection.
Scope.
Sustained.
Mr.
Lynch, what was your salary in the year - Your Honor.
- Sustained.
Ms.
Strait, do you have any relevant questions? Just one, Your Honor.
How much is Amerifarm paying you? [SOFT TWANGY MUSIC.]
[CELL DOOR RATTLES.]
That's perfect, yep.
Yep.
You said it would work because you've changed, but she hasn't.
[STAMMERS.]
She's reckless, she thinks she's smarter than everyone, and she doesn't listen.
Blowing up in front of a jury says we think we're losing.
- That's a terrible message to send.
- [DOOR OPENS.]
[SOFT DRAMATIC MUSIC.]
He's right.
Well, forget about today.
But make sure Edgar's ready for tomorrow.
We need an expert An expert Judge Collins cannot disqualify.
We need to get that fast - 'cause we are out of witnesses.
- Let's go.
Anthony.
- You're not gonna talk to her? - No.
I can talk all I want.
If she doesn't wanna listen at a certain point, that's on her.
That girl grew up with a hero for a father, a hero she found out was all too human.
Every time somebody told her how lucky she was, think how that pulled her apart to keep your secrets behind that beautiful smile.
Elijah, you're my friend and I love you, but don't be an ass.
You helped build that wall around her, and you will keep knocking it down.
All this time, I told myself that I quit because I resented you for not being the man that I thought you were.
[SCOFFS.]
And because you resented me for how I saw you.
And and maybe that is all true, but what's also true is that I don't think I can handle losing on this side of the law.
Because at my last job, I slept like a baby.
I mean, I Sure, I wanted to win, but I didn't care if we lost.
And now I look at Edgar Soriano And I look at his wife [VOICE CRACKING.]
And his daughter.
How do you do it, Dad? [LAUGHS SOFTLY.]
I mean, how do you do it? How do you handle the pressure when winning or losing means everything? Poorly.
For years.
[SIGHS.]
That's how I nearly lost your mother.
- [SNIFFS.]
- Look, Sydney.
I don't know if we'll work as colleagues or as a family, but I do know that I can teach you how to hold on to your sanity and do this job.
And if you can learn how to channel all of this passion that you have Sydney, you can change the world.
Come on.
Why would you say that you were guilty of murdering a 16-year-old girl if you were innocent? You're sure? The witness stories don't add up.
Timeline is wrong.
And, Della, if I If I didn't know better, I I'd say they actually framed this guy.
Well, thank God Carolyn found him.
Well, it's too bad he doesn't want anyone's help.
He insists that he's guilty, which means I gotta figure out how to change this lunatic's mind, or else an innocent man is gonna end up rotting in jail.
What do you need? You can start by telling me why the hell Carolyn gave me this in the first place.
What do you need? [INHALES DEEPLY.]
- You do trust and estate law.
- Mmhmm.
People come to you to talk about what happens to their families after they die.
The way I see it, life in prison is about as close to dying as you're gonna get.
So I'm asking you.
Why would George Bell lie? When new clients sit on this couch, we talk about assets, money, property, but after about an hour or so, the conversation always comes around to the same thing.
Legacy.
After they're gone, how will their lives have shaped the future? For me, that legacy is my son.
For Elijah, it's Sydney.
Legacy is why Edgar Soriano has the strength to fight, even with tumors in every organ of his body.
You wanna know why George Bell tells people he's guilty? Find out why he's chosen guilty as his legacy.
[JUNGLE'S "PLATOON".]
[INDISTINCT CHATTER.]
I'll knock you down Brother, please Go tell who you want to Behind my back And the love beneath Whispered into Briana! Plaintiff calls Edgar Soriano.
Mr.
Soriano, how long did you use the product? 15 years before my illness forced me to stop working.
And when did you first start having symptoms? After about three years.
When you noticed your skin lesions weren't getting any better, you called Amerifarm's 800 number? Yes, I couldn't help but think perhaps there was connection.
And what did the product rep tell you? That they had never heard of anything like what I was reporting.
So you didn't know you were actually the 451st call of its kind? No.
It's like, I know that Amerifarm was referring to her, but I can't find her anywhere.
I checked online databases.
I ran a search You don't need to know where she is to find her.
You just need to know where she's been.
Alumni relations.
[DEEPER VOICE.]
Hello? Yes, this is Dr.
Nancy Deemer, class of '89.
Mr.
Soriano, I wanna go back to the events of November 6th, 2014.
That was the day the nozzle on your sprayer had its cataclysmic failure and basically fell apart.
- Yes.
- Mr.
Soriano, you testified that when that happened, you grabbed the hose, you jumped onto your vehicle, and you drove off while holding it, thereby drenching yourself from head to toe in their product.
Yes.
Sir, at the risk of sounding cynical, please tell the jury why would you expose yourself like that if you really thought Greencoat was killing you.
The well that fed the school's water was only a few yards away.
If I would've done nothing, the chemical would have reached it.
I couldn't let that happen.
I I couldn't let it reach the children.
No further questions.
Mr.
Soriano, before we begin, would you like some water? Anything at all to make you more comfortable? No, thank you.
Mr.
Soriano, you used Greencoat for 15 years.
Yes.
And you believe it is the reason you have cancer? Yes.
Mr.
Soriano, do you drink diet soda? Yes.
Spend time in the sun? Yes.
Been around secondhand smoke? Yes.
Do you eat red meat? Yes.
Do you drink from plastic bottles? [VOICES FADING.]
Yes.
Mm-hmm.
[HEAVY BREATHING.]
[SOFTLY.]
Oh, my God.
We're not gonna win, are we? Sydney! [SUSPENSEFUL MUSIC.]
Emerson, what're you doing here? I, um, I found something in an email to a German subsidiary of Amerifarm.
It said, "Redakt/ND.
" ND, like, non-disclosure, right? But in German, you don't say non-disclosure.
You say "Geheimhaltung.
" So it's like [POPS.]
ND's not a term.
It's a person.
Emerson, what are you saying? Briana and I tracked down a doctor that worked on Greencoat, and we're pretty sure she proved that it causes cancer.
I was so excited about my new test, I wasn't paying attention to the results.
Before I knew it, lawyers were in my lab, shutting me down and telling me if I said anything, they'd bankrupt me.
Dr.
Deemer, if I may, what exactly were the results of your test? That past a certain level of exposure, Greencoat is 500 times more carcinogenic than cigarettes.
[CUP CLATTERS.]
I don't think I have to tell you how much your testimony will mean to this case.
- Testimony? - Yes.
I'm afraid there's been some misunderstanding.
I told you what I did to help you, but I'm not going to testify.
- But ma'am, we'll need your - They'll ruin my life.
I have a family.
Edgar Soriano has a family too.
Excuse me.
[SOFT DRAMATIC MUSIC.]
[BIRDS CAWING.]
I've been fighting these companies pretty much my whole life, so I know what they do.
They tell you they're gonna fix the problem, get you a new job somewhere where you feel good again, and then years go by.
Nothing happens.
What they count on is fear.
They make you feel complicit when you're not.
Edgar Soriano isn't the only victim here, Dr.
Deemer.
This moment is It's the moral arc of the universe coming round to give you the chance to hold them accountable for forcing you to live all of these years with that guilt and regret.
Oh, I spoke to some friends in high places, so from now on, you get applesauce with every meal.
You're a good man, Jake.
George, you didn't start telling people that you were guilty until after you were convicted.
You did that so that your wife and your son could move on, so that they wouldn't have to live a shell of a life waiting.
And it worked.
And she she met a good man.
And they have a family.
And then your son Your son is a sophomore at Georgetown.
And he's on the debate team, which means in a couple years [LAUGHING.]
He's probably gonna try and take my job.
[LAUGHS.]
They all have lives, George.
They have rich, beautiful, messy lives.
And now it's time you had one too.
Okay, Jake.
Okay.
Plaintiff calls Dr.
Nancy Deemer.
- Objection! - Objection! Your Honor, they want her to testify about the results of a test that there's no record of.
It's impossible for us to impeach the testimony, and it is prejudicial to the point of farce.
Your Honor, there's no record because they destroyed the record.
Too often, trials are decided without us knowing the truth.
We have the truth sitting right out there, and all we ask is that she be allowed to tell her story.
Mr.
Strait makes a compelling argument.
However, with no way to support or impeach what Dr.
Deemer would say, I must side with the defense.
Dr.
Deemer may not testify to any testing she may or may not have done.
- If I - Thank you, Your Honor.
- What if we stay broad? - They'll shoot us down.
Okay, maybe if we ask about her lab Same problem.
Judge Collins won't let her say anything about her work.
And her work is all that matters.
No.
It's not all that matters.
Dr.
Deemer, during your time as a research chemist at Amerifarm, did you ever hear about our client, Mr.
Soriano? - No.
- You never met him? You only know him because of this case? That's right.
Is there anything you'd like to say to him? Objection, relevance.
Say to Edgar and his family? Your Honor.
Ms.
Strait, where are you going with this? I'm sorry.
I'd like to say I'm sorry to him and his family.
- Objection! - Prejudicial! Dr.
Deemer, you will refrain from answering the question I'm sorry, Mr.
Soriano.
This did not have to happen.
- The witness is excused.
- They knew the dangers.
They came to my lab Instruct this witness to stop speaking now! The jury will disregard all of her answers.
- You can't just silence the truth.
- Objection, Your Honor! [OVERLAPPING SPEECH.]
- [GAVEL BANGING.]
- This witness cannot be heard.
There will be order in my court! You to the judicial board for review.
Been a lawyer almost 40 years now.
Could be one 400 more, and I never would've come up with something as brilliant as that one question you asked in there.
You gave us a chance, Sydney.
[SOFT DRAMATIC MUSIC.]
My mother died not too long ago.
It was sudden and I miss her, but the truth is, she had a wonderful life because she got to live it on her terms.
That's all any of us wants.
Isn't it? A chance to take on life on our terms.
Edgar Soriano didn't get that chance because known risks about the safety of Greencoat were willfully withheld from him.
Our society is a living thing.
It grows, it evolves, often for the better, but sometimes, things go off course.
More and more, values like fairness and decency are vanishing before our very eyes.
That's where the law comes in, because out there, the fight may be fixed, but in here, we get to say what kind of world we want this to be.
Ladies and gentlemen, right now, we live in a world where companies like Amerifarm think it's okay to hide truths from us.
And in this world, what we've sacrificed is the chance to live life on our terms because like Edgar Soriano, we are making choices without all the information because companies like Amerifarm are lying to us in order to make more money.
That's not right.
Someone has to speak up, and right now, that's the 12 of you.
Your verdict will be both your message and your voice.
So use it here, today, and make this a better world for all of us.
That was some inspiring stuff.
[INDISTINCT CHATTER.]
Do you know who teared up? Robbie.
- Jake - I saw him.
You know, the Chief of Detectives sitting in on the close of a civil case I'm sure that means nothing.
What happened with George Bell? - He's on board.
- Mm-hmm.
You know, it's gonna be a battle to get him out, and an even bigger fight to get him any kind of restitution.
It sounds like he's got the right attorney.
Well, while you're feeling warm and fuzzy about me, I should tell you that the files Robbie showed me are gonna be pivotal to the case.
No, I'll do my best to keep him out of it - [SIGHS.]
- But the truth is, doing right by George is gonna make things really difficult for your ex.
Wish I could say it was the first time I did that to him.
[PHONE DINGS.]
Verdict.
As to question one, did Greencoat cause harm to Mr.
Soriano? How do you answer? Yes.
Since you answered in the affirmative, we proceed to question two.
Was Amerifarm aware of the potential dangers of their product? - How do you answer? - Yes.
Since you answered in the affirmative, we proceed to question three.
Did Amerifarm withhold knowledge of these dangers in an attempt to avoid responsibility? Yes.
Since you answered all three in the affirmative, you must assess and assign damages.
In the matter of Soriano v.
Amerifarm, we, the jury, award $1.
4 million in compensatory damages, and $45 million in punitive damages.
[EXCITED CHATTER.]
You're gonna be okay.
You're gonna be okay.
Juror number three, is that your verdict? Yes.
Juror number four, is that your verdict? - Yes.
- Juror number five, - is that your verdict? - Yes.
Juror number six, is that your verdict? - Yes.
- You know this win is a roadmap for the whole class action, right? That's 85 people that have a chance now.
Juror number seven, is that your verdict? Yes.
Juror number eight, is that your verdict? - - Yes.
[ROUSING MUSIC.]
[SCREAMS.]
[BREATHING HEAVILY.]
[DOOR CLICKS.]
[UPBEAT FUNKY MUSIC PLAYING.]
- Amazing, amazing.
- That was amazing.
She wins cases.
She buys drinks.
Sydney, yours is a welcome return.
Here, here.
[LAUGHTER.]
To new beginnings.
ALL: To new beginnings.
[GLASSES CLINK.]
And to family.
Family.
Whoo! - Yeah, go Pa! - [CHEERS AND APPLAUSE.]
If Cresser Mining doesn't go for it, then I say we just file immediately.
You wanna take the first chair? Let's just see how much I dislike them.
[OTIS REDDING'S "THE DOCK OF THE BAY" PLAYING OVER RADIO.]
Sitting on the dock of the bay What? 2:30 on a Saturday afternoon, and I have no idea what to do with myself.
I know that sounds silly.
No, Dad.
It doesn't sound silly.
I think it's just gonna take some time for all of us.
I'm glad you're back, Sydney.
Me too.
Speaking of that, I wanted to talk changes to the firm, starting with my car allowance.
Car allowance? It's a boutique operation.
And then there's vacation time.
- I never take vacation.
- Well, maybe you should.
Hey, Dad, how long you staying today? What did he just call you?
What I say and how I say it will determine the life they have.
This is Edgar Soriano.
And this is the high school where he worked as a custodian for 15 years.
This is his wife, Maria, who now supports the family by working double shifts since Edgar got sick.
And this is their daughter, Eva, who plans to go to medical school so she can cure her dad.
Edgar is my client.
It's my job to find him justice.
Everyone likes to talk about how this kind of work is noble or rewarding, but what they don't tell you is, if you lose, it destroys you.
[SCREAMS.]
Mr.
Davis, before we begin, would you like some water? Anything at all to make you more comfortable? No.
Mr.
Davis, in your complaint, you stated that you have chewed Kentucky Red tobacco since you were 14.
During that time, did you ever use a competitor's product? Sometimes.
But you believe that Kentucky Red is the reason for your throat dysphagia? - I do.
- Mr.
Davis, have you been tested for sexually transmitted diseases? - Hang on now - Untreated STDs are a known cause of his illness.
I just wanna know if he's been tested.
I don't need to be tested.
I'm happily married.
Mr.
Davis, are you aware your wife has had three affairs in the last ten years? Counsel, if you're planning to attack this woman - I will end this deposition - Mr.
Davis, is it possible any of the prostitutes you visited in the last ten years could've given you a sexually transmitted disease? Okay, we are done here, Ms.
Strait.
Yes, we are.
[OVERLAPPING ARGUING.]
[SOFT INDISTINCT CHATTER.]
You really do look down on us.
I thought that was just a figure of speech.
Carla, what part of "my father isn't welcome here" didn't you understand? [TENDER MUSIC.]
The part where your mother dies.
What? [BIRD CAWS.]
[INDISTINCT CHATTER.]
I don't know if I can do this.
I'm serious, Bri.
I mean, five days ago, Mom and I are having lunch and laughing at all the horrible dates I'm going on, and now she's just gone from a stroke.
When my mother passed, my best friend was with me every step of the way.
I intend on doing the same thing for her.
Okay.
My wife was my light.
[CLEARS THROAT.]
And, uh, terrifies me to think that she's gone.
I remember, I think it was our second date, I [LAUGHS.]
I just finished telling her how impressive I was gonna be as a big money lawyer.
And she gave me that stare - [GUESTS CHUCKLING.]
- That Carolyn stare that our daughter Sydney inherited.
She said, "Why measure yourself by money when you have a chance to change the world?" So, uh, that's the infamous Sydney.
You two stay in touch? Nah.
I haven't talked to her since the day she walked out three years ago.
[INDISTINCT CHATTER.]
[MUSIC PLAYING SOFTLY.]
Your mother gave me updates every week she saw you.
Me too.
She'd get a kick out of this, wouldn't she? Two of us sitting here on the porch.
Especially this quietly.
Can I show you something? What do you think? I think there's a reason Amerifarm is 66 and 0 in lawsuits against Greencoat.
68 and 0.
They won two more last week.
- Oh.
- Seriously.
You work for these companies now You mean the dark side? You know how they think.
Tell me.
How would you beat me? Part of a class-action? 86 clients.
24 states.
Okay.
First thing I'd do is avoid your client.
I'd scour the 86, find someone who plays like he's in it for the money, make him the face for the jury.
Then I'd drag you into a war of experts.
Mine would be EPA certified, and yours would be "guns for hire.
" And finally, I'd nail you on causation.
"Prove Greencoat made him sick.
" You won't be able to, and Amerifarm will be 69 and 0.
I'm sorry.
You just you can't win.
Could you win? If you were representing the Sorianos, could you win this case? I want you to come back to the firm, Sydney.
Dad.
I want you fighting for what's right.
Yes, by my side.
It's where you belong.
We both know it.
Your mom did too.
I appreciate the offer, but there's a reason it was a disaster the first time.
We're both alphas.
Two alphas just don't mix.
Not to mention we're total opposites with how we do the job You're conservative.
- I wage war.
- Strengths.
Our differences could be our strengths this time.
- You're serious.
- For 35 years, I've had some of the best legal minds pass through my office, and one of the brightest? - I let walk away.
- I don't like you, Dad.
Have you forgotten that? I can't just ignore how you treated me when we worked together.
And I'm not gonna forgive you for all the years that you cheated on mom.
I don't see a hero.
I see a hypocrite.
Well, that's no reason to become some vampire selling justice to the highest bidder.
You hate me? Fine.
You're never gonna forgive me.
Okay.
Get back in the fight, Sydney.
If not with me, somewhere else.
Because in case you haven't noticed, the world's running out of heroes.
Why would it be any different? If I came back, why would it be any different? You are Elijah Strait.
You are beloved and famous in your field.
People like you don't just change, Dad.
- [LAUGHING.]
Why would you even try? - Because, wh When you lose the love of your life, you realize that that you don't wanna miss even one moment with your incredible daughter.
[ALABAMA SHAKES' "I FOUND YOU".]
If I'm gonna love you With all of my heart And if there is no more time This always remains Even as the world spins itself apart [UPBEAT HONKY-TONK MUSIC.]
[PHONES RINGING.]
[SIGHS.]
Strait & Associates.
One moment.
Thank you.
Guess hell froze over, huh? [CHUCKLES.]
Come here.
- Aww, Della.
- Oh.
Your mom is smiling down right now, you know that? I'm gonna have to get on the horn with Vanderbilt, tell them their top two students are back on the same side.
Just so we're clear one, two.
Only 'cause I helped you in Con Law.
You keep telling yourself that.
[LAUGHS.]
Hey, I heard you had another daughter.
- Four to one.
- [LAUGHS.]
I'm outnumbered in my own house.
His girls are a delight.
You only say that 'cause you get to leave after you babysit, which reminds me, Aunt Della, is it you or your wife who's been bringing over ice cream? Anthony, I'm a sixth generation woman of the South.
Spoiling other people's children is in my DNA.
[LAUGHTER.]
- Yeah, that's her.
- Oh, Sydney.
Meet Emerson.
Paralegal, assistant, and all around in-house genius.
Yeah, it's, um, nice to finally meet you.
You too.
Anyone that He's an acquired taste.
Ah.
[KNOCKING ON DOOR.]
Have the calls started? Calls? What calls? Oh, I bet an hour after news got out, your phone was ringing off the hook.
"Elijah's bringing back his daughter.
What does that mean for a rainmaker like you, Jake?" In fairness, they weren't as eloquent as that.
Give me 30 days.
After that, if you feel Sydney being here compromises you in any way, I'll make sure you get a job at any firm you want.
Can I use the 30 days to start places bidding against each other, drive my price up? I'd be disappointed if you didn't.
But in the meantime, I found that in Carolyn's study.
It's a teacher she thought was wrongfully convicted of killing a student.
You know how she was.
Memphis Saint of Lost Causes.
Why me? I mean, I haven't done a criminal case since before I worked for you.
I don't know.
But if there's one thing my wife was a genius at, it was matching people to a purpose.
- The Sorianos are here.
- Mm.
Mean a lot if you took a look, Jake.
[DOOR CLOSES.]
And in the final phase of the trial, we'll present evidence as to loss of quality of life.
We'll call on your friends, Maria, and Eva, if you're still up for it.
Okay, then.
That's everything.
The trial itself will take about ten weeks, but still on track for a Spring 2020 start.
Edgar, something we should know? My tumors have spread faster than the doctors anticipated.
They've revised their timeline.
We're very sorry to hear that.
Is there any way we can move the trial to this year? Unfortunately, trials like this can only move so fast Unless we switch to the alternate strategy.
[SOFT DRAMATIC MUSIC.]
The alternate strategy.
We start by breaking from the class action and file individually for an expedited trial due to your new prognosis.
Then we pare the case down.
Instead of telling our story in three months, we tell it in three weeks, focusing on three keys.
Key one is you.
I think a jury will love you.
I want them to hear your story in your words.
In politics, they say it's not the crime that gets you.
It's the cover-up, so We show that Amerifarm engaged in deliberate, and malicious cover-up of debates, reports, anything at all that suggests that they knew Greencoat was dangerous Am I going too fast? No.
Once the jury is convinced there's been a cover-up, we call our expert witnesses and we keep our message simple.
Greencoat can cause cancer.
Amerifarm hid that.
Let's the jury connect the dots.
And I would get to testify? If we break from the class action, your trial could start in a matter of weeks.
Without all the resources and protections that a class action brings, including bargaining power for a settlement.
Do we wanna settle, or do we wanna win? [SIGHS.]
- Thank you.
- Thanks again.
Of course.
We'll talk soon.
- Sydney, a word in my office.
- Sure.
[SOFT TWANGY MUSIC.]
How bad? Two hours.
She's been here two hours, and already she's upended two years worth of work.
Mr.
James, as head of research for Amerifarm, you oversaw 143 safety studies of Greencoat.
But you presented only 80 of those to the FDA when applied for approval.
Why not present all the studies? Well, some were inconclusive.
The data in others contained errors - How'd you know it was an error? - Excuse me? How did you know it was an error? - Not really sure I - Well, when you say "error," what you actually mean is a result that didn't fit your mandate to show Greencoat was safe, is it not? You're twisting my words.
No, sir.
Your words are twisted.
On the right is the paper presented by you, a world-respected biopharmacological researcher, in which you declare the active ingredient in Greencoat to be harmless to human beings.
And on the left is the same paper, written eight weeks earlier not by you, but by Mrs.
Sally Jenkins, a marketing executive for Amerifarm.
Is it fair to say she wrote this report for you? She gave input.
In fact, the only change you made was to add your signature.
Wasn't it? That's correct.
Hm.
"If I can get this one thrown out, they'll have to save me a corner office.
" Then you added a little smiley face there at the end.
It was written in jest.
It was simply a joke.
I'm sure.
Your current job, sir, as a director of the EPA carries with it the responsibility of protecting average citizens from exposure to toxic materials, does it not? - It does.
- True or false.
The report you were getting thrown out was actually a study that suggests a link between Greencoat and non-Hodgkin's lymphoma, the disease Edgar Soriano has? - True, but that report d - True or false.
Your email bragging about getting this same report thrown out was written to a current executive at Amerifarm? True.
That corner office you have waiting for you at Amerifarm, does it have a nice view? Objection, Your Honor.
Withdrawn.
Nothing further, Your Honor.
[DOOR BUZZES.]
Mr.
Bell.
Hi.
Jake Reilly.
I'm an attorney at Strait & Associates.
Oh, as in, Elijah Strait? Yeah, I was actually given your name by his wife, Carolyn.
- Did you know her? - Mm.
No, just him, from seeing him in papers.
But this is great.
Elijah Strait.
[LAUGHS.]
He Well, he's handled some of the biggest civil rights cases - in the past 20 years.
- That's right.
- And that's what this is.
- Mm-hmm.
This is a violation of my civil rights.
- Kay, well, Mr.
Bell, we - Not just a petty complaint.
Not a nuisance lawsuit.
This is about more than applesauce.
- Applesauce? - Yeah.
See, for the past ten years, FCI has been serving world-class applesauce.
I mean, I'm talking little plastic tubs of heaven.
Six months ago? They stop.
"Budgets cuts," they said.
[CHUCKLES.]
But I know better.
Mr.
Bell, I'm not here about applesauce, okay? I'm here because even a cursory look at your trial shows that you have several grounds for appeal.
Now Carolyn Strait felt that there was something wrong Okay, okay.
Let me just save you the shoe leather, pretty boy.
There's no pot of gold at the end of this rainbow.
[SOFT DRAMATIC MUSIC.]
I'm guilty.
[DOOR BUZZES.]
Thank you.
Emerson said you were looking for me.
Yeah, any idea why your mom wanted me to work on the George Bell murder case? I don't understand.
I thought this guy admitted he was guilty.
You really think your mom would have a file on the guy if it were that simple? So word around the office is that your ex-husband is the Chief of Detectives.
I was hoping you could introduce us.
Ah, there's there's things in the investigation that don't make sense, so a look at the actual police files would go a long way.
- Are you two not on good terms? - No, no, we're fine.
We just had a a strict no work lines crossed policy.
I assume that died with the marriage? - That's charming.
- Thank you.
Thank you.
[INDISTINCT CHATTER.]
Hey, Robbie.
How you holding up? Some days are better than others.
- Jake, is it? - Yeah.
Thought you said you were gonna come alone.
Jake is lead on the case, so he's the one that needs to see the files.
Come by tomorrow? - Mm-hmm.
- Say 3:00? I'll have them waiting for you, but they don't leave my office.
- Absolutely.
- Kay.
Thank you, Robbie.
I'm doing this 'cause I loved your mom, so as far as I'm concerned, she's the one asking.
[SCOFFS LIGHTLY.]
Okay.
[SIGHS.]
Yeah, now it makes sense.
- What? - Cowboy still loves you.
That's how you saw that? Did you break his heart? [CELL PHONE RINGS.]
You broke his heart.
- Hi.
- I got a call from Sanford.
He wants to discuss a settlement.
[INDISTINCT CHATTER.]
I can carve $200,000 out of legal fees for the Sorianos.
Obviously, there would have to be an NDA and they have to drop the suit.
200,000? - You're off by a couple zeroes.
- Sydney.
Their medical expenses alone are $400,000.
You'd just be paying off some of their creditors.
Syd.
Thomas, what's going on? You guys had a good week, but you're not gonna win.
Please tell me you didn't just drag us out here to do the whole, "I'm doing you a favor" routine.
Otherwise, this is a giant waste of our time Sydney, either let this man talk, or wait outside.
[MELLOW MUSIC PLAYING OVER RADIO.]
My daughter doesn't always know when someone's trying to do a kindness.
200K is all I can give without Amerifarm shutting me down.
I know you're probably gonna say no But You and I have been doing this a long time, Elijah.
We both know a man tells another man when the sky is about to fall.
[SOFT TENSE MUSIC.]
Next time you ask me to walk out of a meeting, I'm gonna keep walking.
You have to do something about that anger.
It just makes you see everything in black and white.
"People are complicated.
They make mistakes.
" You know, that speech was a lot more compelling before I realized you were just talking about yourself.
Change the topic, it's not gonna solve the problem.
What do you suggest I do, Dad? Maybe check into a hotel, blow off some steam, screw some of mom's friends? Stop, stop.
Stop making this about me.
If you could drop the attack dog act for just one minute, wait, instead of lashing out, just one minute, you'd stop thinking Sanford was trying to screw us and ask yourself why is he trying to warn us? - Dr.
Reeger, you've spent the last - Your Honor.
At this time, we are lodging a formal objection to Dr.
Reeger's testimony.
She is simply not qualified to testify to the subject matter on trial today.
She studies cancer.
She has never studied Greencoat or any similar product.
It's like asking a blood expert to testify about fingerprints.
- That's absurd.
- Sustained.
What? You can't possibly The objection is sustained.
Call your next witness, Ms.
Strait.
Dr.
Chen, you have a PhD in industrial chemistry.
- What would - Objection, Your Honor.
I'm sorry, but we have the same problem with Dr.
Chen.
- Sustained.
- Are you kidding me? That's a warning, Ms.
Strait.
Mr.
Lynch, how much did Amerifarm pay you Objection, Your Honor.
- Beyond the scope.
- Sustained.
Mr.
Lynch, what did you charge Amerifarm in the years Objection.
Scope.
Sustained.
Mr.
Lynch, what was your salary in the year - Your Honor.
- Sustained.
Ms.
Strait, do you have any relevant questions? Just one, Your Honor.
How much is Amerifarm paying you? [SOFT TWANGY MUSIC.]
[CELL DOOR RATTLES.]
That's perfect, yep.
Yep.
You said it would work because you've changed, but she hasn't.
[STAMMERS.]
She's reckless, she thinks she's smarter than everyone, and she doesn't listen.
Blowing up in front of a jury says we think we're losing.
- That's a terrible message to send.
- [DOOR OPENS.]
[SOFT DRAMATIC MUSIC.]
He's right.
Well, forget about today.
But make sure Edgar's ready for tomorrow.
We need an expert An expert Judge Collins cannot disqualify.
We need to get that fast - 'cause we are out of witnesses.
- Let's go.
Anthony.
- You're not gonna talk to her? - No.
I can talk all I want.
If she doesn't wanna listen at a certain point, that's on her.
That girl grew up with a hero for a father, a hero she found out was all too human.
Every time somebody told her how lucky she was, think how that pulled her apart to keep your secrets behind that beautiful smile.
Elijah, you're my friend and I love you, but don't be an ass.
You helped build that wall around her, and you will keep knocking it down.
All this time, I told myself that I quit because I resented you for not being the man that I thought you were.
[SCOFFS.]
And because you resented me for how I saw you.
And and maybe that is all true, but what's also true is that I don't think I can handle losing on this side of the law.
Because at my last job, I slept like a baby.
I mean, I Sure, I wanted to win, but I didn't care if we lost.
And now I look at Edgar Soriano And I look at his wife [VOICE CRACKING.]
And his daughter.
How do you do it, Dad? [LAUGHS SOFTLY.]
I mean, how do you do it? How do you handle the pressure when winning or losing means everything? Poorly.
For years.
[SIGHS.]
That's how I nearly lost your mother.
- [SNIFFS.]
- Look, Sydney.
I don't know if we'll work as colleagues or as a family, but I do know that I can teach you how to hold on to your sanity and do this job.
And if you can learn how to channel all of this passion that you have Sydney, you can change the world.
Come on.
Why would you say that you were guilty of murdering a 16-year-old girl if you were innocent? You're sure? The witness stories don't add up.
Timeline is wrong.
And, Della, if I If I didn't know better, I I'd say they actually framed this guy.
Well, thank God Carolyn found him.
Well, it's too bad he doesn't want anyone's help.
He insists that he's guilty, which means I gotta figure out how to change this lunatic's mind, or else an innocent man is gonna end up rotting in jail.
What do you need? You can start by telling me why the hell Carolyn gave me this in the first place.
What do you need? [INHALES DEEPLY.]
- You do trust and estate law.
- Mmhmm.
People come to you to talk about what happens to their families after they die.
The way I see it, life in prison is about as close to dying as you're gonna get.
So I'm asking you.
Why would George Bell lie? When new clients sit on this couch, we talk about assets, money, property, but after about an hour or so, the conversation always comes around to the same thing.
Legacy.
After they're gone, how will their lives have shaped the future? For me, that legacy is my son.
For Elijah, it's Sydney.
Legacy is why Edgar Soriano has the strength to fight, even with tumors in every organ of his body.
You wanna know why George Bell tells people he's guilty? Find out why he's chosen guilty as his legacy.
[JUNGLE'S "PLATOON".]
[INDISTINCT CHATTER.]
I'll knock you down Brother, please Go tell who you want to Behind my back And the love beneath Whispered into Briana! Plaintiff calls Edgar Soriano.
Mr.
Soriano, how long did you use the product? 15 years before my illness forced me to stop working.
And when did you first start having symptoms? After about three years.
When you noticed your skin lesions weren't getting any better, you called Amerifarm's 800 number? Yes, I couldn't help but think perhaps there was connection.
And what did the product rep tell you? That they had never heard of anything like what I was reporting.
So you didn't know you were actually the 451st call of its kind? No.
It's like, I know that Amerifarm was referring to her, but I can't find her anywhere.
I checked online databases.
I ran a search You don't need to know where she is to find her.
You just need to know where she's been.
Alumni relations.
[DEEPER VOICE.]
Hello? Yes, this is Dr.
Nancy Deemer, class of '89.
Mr.
Soriano, I wanna go back to the events of November 6th, 2014.
That was the day the nozzle on your sprayer had its cataclysmic failure and basically fell apart.
- Yes.
- Mr.
Soriano, you testified that when that happened, you grabbed the hose, you jumped onto your vehicle, and you drove off while holding it, thereby drenching yourself from head to toe in their product.
Yes.
Sir, at the risk of sounding cynical, please tell the jury why would you expose yourself like that if you really thought Greencoat was killing you.
The well that fed the school's water was only a few yards away.
If I would've done nothing, the chemical would have reached it.
I couldn't let that happen.
I I couldn't let it reach the children.
No further questions.
Mr.
Soriano, before we begin, would you like some water? Anything at all to make you more comfortable? No, thank you.
Mr.
Soriano, you used Greencoat for 15 years.
Yes.
And you believe it is the reason you have cancer? Yes.
Mr.
Soriano, do you drink diet soda? Yes.
Spend time in the sun? Yes.
Been around secondhand smoke? Yes.
Do you eat red meat? Yes.
Do you drink from plastic bottles? [VOICES FADING.]
Yes.
Mm-hmm.
[HEAVY BREATHING.]
[SOFTLY.]
Oh, my God.
We're not gonna win, are we? Sydney! [SUSPENSEFUL MUSIC.]
Emerson, what're you doing here? I, um, I found something in an email to a German subsidiary of Amerifarm.
It said, "Redakt/ND.
" ND, like, non-disclosure, right? But in German, you don't say non-disclosure.
You say "Geheimhaltung.
" So it's like [POPS.]
ND's not a term.
It's a person.
Emerson, what are you saying? Briana and I tracked down a doctor that worked on Greencoat, and we're pretty sure she proved that it causes cancer.
I was so excited about my new test, I wasn't paying attention to the results.
Before I knew it, lawyers were in my lab, shutting me down and telling me if I said anything, they'd bankrupt me.
Dr.
Deemer, if I may, what exactly were the results of your test? That past a certain level of exposure, Greencoat is 500 times more carcinogenic than cigarettes.
[CUP CLATTERS.]
I don't think I have to tell you how much your testimony will mean to this case.
- Testimony? - Yes.
I'm afraid there's been some misunderstanding.
I told you what I did to help you, but I'm not going to testify.
- But ma'am, we'll need your - They'll ruin my life.
I have a family.
Edgar Soriano has a family too.
Excuse me.
[SOFT DRAMATIC MUSIC.]
[BIRDS CAWING.]
I've been fighting these companies pretty much my whole life, so I know what they do.
They tell you they're gonna fix the problem, get you a new job somewhere where you feel good again, and then years go by.
Nothing happens.
What they count on is fear.
They make you feel complicit when you're not.
Edgar Soriano isn't the only victim here, Dr.
Deemer.
This moment is It's the moral arc of the universe coming round to give you the chance to hold them accountable for forcing you to live all of these years with that guilt and regret.
Oh, I spoke to some friends in high places, so from now on, you get applesauce with every meal.
You're a good man, Jake.
George, you didn't start telling people that you were guilty until after you were convicted.
You did that so that your wife and your son could move on, so that they wouldn't have to live a shell of a life waiting.
And it worked.
And she she met a good man.
And they have a family.
And then your son Your son is a sophomore at Georgetown.
And he's on the debate team, which means in a couple years [LAUGHING.]
He's probably gonna try and take my job.
[LAUGHS.]
They all have lives, George.
They have rich, beautiful, messy lives.
And now it's time you had one too.
Okay, Jake.
Okay.
Plaintiff calls Dr.
Nancy Deemer.
- Objection! - Objection! Your Honor, they want her to testify about the results of a test that there's no record of.
It's impossible for us to impeach the testimony, and it is prejudicial to the point of farce.
Your Honor, there's no record because they destroyed the record.
Too often, trials are decided without us knowing the truth.
We have the truth sitting right out there, and all we ask is that she be allowed to tell her story.
Mr.
Strait makes a compelling argument.
However, with no way to support or impeach what Dr.
Deemer would say, I must side with the defense.
Dr.
Deemer may not testify to any testing she may or may not have done.
- If I - Thank you, Your Honor.
- What if we stay broad? - They'll shoot us down.
Okay, maybe if we ask about her lab Same problem.
Judge Collins won't let her say anything about her work.
And her work is all that matters.
No.
It's not all that matters.
Dr.
Deemer, during your time as a research chemist at Amerifarm, did you ever hear about our client, Mr.
Soriano? - No.
- You never met him? You only know him because of this case? That's right.
Is there anything you'd like to say to him? Objection, relevance.
Say to Edgar and his family? Your Honor.
Ms.
Strait, where are you going with this? I'm sorry.
I'd like to say I'm sorry to him and his family.
- Objection! - Prejudicial! Dr.
Deemer, you will refrain from answering the question I'm sorry, Mr.
Soriano.
This did not have to happen.
- The witness is excused.
- They knew the dangers.
They came to my lab Instruct this witness to stop speaking now! The jury will disregard all of her answers.
- You can't just silence the truth.
- Objection, Your Honor! [OVERLAPPING SPEECH.]
- [GAVEL BANGING.]
- This witness cannot be heard.
There will be order in my court! You to the judicial board for review.
Been a lawyer almost 40 years now.
Could be one 400 more, and I never would've come up with something as brilliant as that one question you asked in there.
You gave us a chance, Sydney.
[SOFT DRAMATIC MUSIC.]
My mother died not too long ago.
It was sudden and I miss her, but the truth is, she had a wonderful life because she got to live it on her terms.
That's all any of us wants.
Isn't it? A chance to take on life on our terms.
Edgar Soriano didn't get that chance because known risks about the safety of Greencoat were willfully withheld from him.
Our society is a living thing.
It grows, it evolves, often for the better, but sometimes, things go off course.
More and more, values like fairness and decency are vanishing before our very eyes.
That's where the law comes in, because out there, the fight may be fixed, but in here, we get to say what kind of world we want this to be.
Ladies and gentlemen, right now, we live in a world where companies like Amerifarm think it's okay to hide truths from us.
And in this world, what we've sacrificed is the chance to live life on our terms because like Edgar Soriano, we are making choices without all the information because companies like Amerifarm are lying to us in order to make more money.
That's not right.
Someone has to speak up, and right now, that's the 12 of you.
Your verdict will be both your message and your voice.
So use it here, today, and make this a better world for all of us.
That was some inspiring stuff.
[INDISTINCT CHATTER.]
Do you know who teared up? Robbie.
- Jake - I saw him.
You know, the Chief of Detectives sitting in on the close of a civil case I'm sure that means nothing.
What happened with George Bell? - He's on board.
- Mm-hmm.
You know, it's gonna be a battle to get him out, and an even bigger fight to get him any kind of restitution.
It sounds like he's got the right attorney.
Well, while you're feeling warm and fuzzy about me, I should tell you that the files Robbie showed me are gonna be pivotal to the case.
No, I'll do my best to keep him out of it - [SIGHS.]
- But the truth is, doing right by George is gonna make things really difficult for your ex.
Wish I could say it was the first time I did that to him.
[PHONE DINGS.]
Verdict.
As to question one, did Greencoat cause harm to Mr.
Soriano? How do you answer? Yes.
Since you answered in the affirmative, we proceed to question two.
Was Amerifarm aware of the potential dangers of their product? - How do you answer? - Yes.
Since you answered in the affirmative, we proceed to question three.
Did Amerifarm withhold knowledge of these dangers in an attempt to avoid responsibility? Yes.
Since you answered all three in the affirmative, you must assess and assign damages.
In the matter of Soriano v.
Amerifarm, we, the jury, award $1.
4 million in compensatory damages, and $45 million in punitive damages.
[EXCITED CHATTER.]
You're gonna be okay.
You're gonna be okay.
Juror number three, is that your verdict? Yes.
Juror number four, is that your verdict? - Yes.
- Juror number five, - is that your verdict? - Yes.
Juror number six, is that your verdict? - Yes.
- You know this win is a roadmap for the whole class action, right? That's 85 people that have a chance now.
Juror number seven, is that your verdict? Yes.
Juror number eight, is that your verdict? - - Yes.
[ROUSING MUSIC.]
[SCREAMS.]
[BREATHING HEAVILY.]
[DOOR CLICKS.]
[UPBEAT FUNKY MUSIC PLAYING.]
- Amazing, amazing.
- That was amazing.
She wins cases.
She buys drinks.
Sydney, yours is a welcome return.
Here, here.
[LAUGHTER.]
To new beginnings.
ALL: To new beginnings.
[GLASSES CLINK.]
And to family.
Family.
Whoo! - Yeah, go Pa! - [CHEERS AND APPLAUSE.]
If Cresser Mining doesn't go for it, then I say we just file immediately.
You wanna take the first chair? Let's just see how much I dislike them.
[OTIS REDDING'S "THE DOCK OF THE BAY" PLAYING OVER RADIO.]
Sitting on the dock of the bay What? 2:30 on a Saturday afternoon, and I have no idea what to do with myself.
I know that sounds silly.
No, Dad.
It doesn't sound silly.
I think it's just gonna take some time for all of us.
I'm glad you're back, Sydney.
Me too.
Speaking of that, I wanted to talk changes to the firm, starting with my car allowance.
Car allowance? It's a boutique operation.
And then there's vacation time.
- I never take vacation.
- Well, maybe you should.
Hey, Dad, how long you staying today? What did he just call you?