L.A. LAW {LA LAW}: JUSTICE SWERVED (TV)
Summary
One in this series of legal dramas set in the Los Angeles law firm of McKenzie Brackman. In this episode, Victor defends Mrs. Lafferty, one half of a married couple accused of murdering their infant son. In a meeting, Douglas is annoyed at being repeatedly told by the others to "move along," adding that he is sure of the Laffertys' guilt. He privately confesses to Leland that he failed to perform sexually on a date the previous night, blaming his memories of Sheila for the trouble, and Leland suggests that he talk to a therapist. In court, a doctor offers evidence of abuse on the Laffertys' son, though Victor argues that the boy died of Sudden Infant Death Syndrome and was bruised from the CPR attempts. Stuart and Ann have lunch and decide to head to a motel for the afternoon, but Stuart is pulled over and arrested for suspected drunk driving. Ann, upset, declares that she is his lawyer and attempts to bail him out right away, but Stuart is forced through the entire embarrassing booking process. On the stand, Mr. Lafferty describes the night of his son's death, and the prosecutor highlights the baby's serious medical problems and suggests that he murdered him to avoid future bills and stress. He denies it, but admits that he attempted to put the child up for adoption without his wife's knowledge, but was told that he could not be placed.
Douglas visits a professional, who explains that she is a surrogate partner and will help him through his sexual issues through touch as well as discussion. Michael defends Stuart and assures him that a long-delayed trial will help him to evade punishment, though Stuart is still humiliated to be in the position of defendant when he is spotted in court by another lawyer acquaintance. Mrs. Lafferty visits Victor privately and explains that she found an article about SIDS in her husband's desk that predates the baby's death, suggesting that he did indeed kill him and made it look like crib death. She admits that he entered the nursery alone that night, and Victor pushes her to repeat her story on the stand, though she is distressed at the thought of accusing her husband. She goes through with it, however, admitting in court that she is now unsure of his innocence because of the article and the adoption reveal. Mr. Lafferty's lawyer John Trischuta berates Victor for tricking them, but Victor protests that he is compelled to defend his client to the best of his ability.
Douglas and his therapist work on hand-caressing, and she suggests that his extreme nervousness around naked women is related to guilt over his failed marriage. Michael questions Stuart about the specific timing of his drinking at lunch, hopeful that he can make the charge go away. On the stand, Mr. Lafferty suggests that his wife is now accusing him to cover up her own guilt, stating that she planted the SIDS article and was in fact seeing a therapist because she felt that she did not love her child. Michael sweet-talks A.D.A. Ellen Harris, pointing out that Stuart was just barely over the legal limit and is a good man and a respected lawyer, and she relents. Victor and the prosecutor deliver their closing arguments, pointing out how both spouses have blamed the other for the crime. Douglas and his therapist attempt to touch and kiss while naked, but Douglas faints, suggesting that his issues need further work. Ann congratulates Stuart on the dropped charges, but Stuart points out that he was indeed tipsy and was merely "lucky" not to have hurt someone. Mr. and Mrs. Lafferty are both found not guilty, as the evidence does not clearly point to one or the other, and when Victor spots them subtly touching hands in the elevator, he realizes that they were working together all along. Commercials deleted.
Details
- NETWORK: NBC
- DATE: March 29, 1990 10:00 PM
- RUNNING TIME: 0:46:40
- COLOR/B&W: Color
- CATALOG ID: B:55296
- GENRE: Drama, legal
- SUBJECT HEADING: Drama, legal
- SERIES RUN: NBC - TV series, 1986-1994
- COMMERCIALS: N/A
CREDITS
- David E. Kelley … Executive Producer, Writer
- Rick Wallace … Co-Executive Producer
- Alice West … Coordinating Producer
- William M. Finkelstein … Supervising Producer
- Michael M. Robin … Producer
- Elodie Keene … Producer
- Robert M. Breech … Co-Producer
- Monica Wyatt … Associate Producer
- Menachem Binetski … Director
- Terry Louise Fisher … Created by
- Steven Bochco … Created by, Writer
- Bryce Zabel … Writer
- Mike Post … Music by
- Harry Hamlin … Cast, Michael Kuzak
- Susan Dey … Cast, Grace Van Owen
- Corbin Bernsen … Cast, Arnie Becker
- Jill Eikenberry … Cast, Ann Kelsey
- Alan Rachins … Cast, Douglas Brackman, Jr.
- Michele Greene … Cast, Abby Perkins
- Jimmy Smits … Cast, Victor Sifuentes
- Michael Tucker … Cast, Stuart Markowitz
- Susan Ruttan … Cast, Roxanne Melman
- Blair Underwood … Cast, Jonathan Rollins
- Larry Drake … Cast, Benny Stulwicz
- Richard Dysart … Cast, Leland McKenzie
- William Converse-Roberts … Cast, Wayne Lafferty
- Bruce Ornstein … Cast, Lawyer John Trischuta
- Joan McMurtrey … Cast, Elizabeth Lafferty
- Earl Boen … Cast, Judge Walter L. Swanson
- Jordan Baker … Cast, D.A. Marcia Fusco
- Robyn Peterson … Cast, Marilyn Hopkins
- Elena Stiteler … Cast, Ellen Harris
- Ethan Phillips … Cast, Dr. Sam Waibel
- Diana Muldaur … Cast, Rosalind Shays
- John Frederick Jones … Cast, John Williams
- Richard Grove … Cast, Officer Pratt
- Tina Panella-Hart … Cast, Reporter #1
- Orin Kennedy … Cast, Reporter #2
- Cal Gibson … Cast, Reporter #3
- Lita Stevens … Cast, Foreperson
- Richard Dunn … Cast, Cop #1
- Virgil Wilson … Cast, Cop #3
- Cheryl Carter … Cast, Desk Sergeant
- Don Pugsley … Cast, Davis
- Kelly H. Kleinman … Cast, N.D. Officer
- Pamela Roberts … Cast, Clerk #1
- Peter Jolly … Cast, Clerk #2