L.A. Law (TV Series)

Bound for Glory (1990)

George Dickerson: Jim Haas

Quotes 

• Jim Haas : I know that he liked to wear his hair short and I knew he joined that group. But kids go to stuff like this, I thought he'd grow out of it.

  Lawyer William Willis : Kids don't usually commit murder, sir.

  Jim Haas : I had no idea he could have ever do something like that.

  Lawyer William Willis : Well, what if you had, Mr. Haas? What if you had any inkling at all your son could attack somebody the way he went after Nathan Jackson?

  Jim Haas : I would have tried to stop him. I don't know what I want to succeed or not, but I sure as hell would've tried.

  Lawyer William Willis : I have no further questions.

  Ann Kelsey : Did you ever tell your son not to join the skinhead group?

  Ann Kelsey : He was a mixed-up kid, Ms. Kelsey. He never listen to me much.

  Ann Kelsey : Did you try?

  Jim Haas : As best I could.

  Ann Kelsey : As best you could? But wouldn't that group sometimes hold their meetings in your garage?

  Jim Haas : Well, they weren't meetings. A few don't come over. And Keith and them would hang out in the garage enough.

  Ann Kelsey : And you also let your son hang not see posters in his bedroom in your house. Isn't it possible, Mr. Haas, that your son has led to believe that you approve all this?

  Jim Haas : Nah, I never told him I approved.

  Ann Kelsey : Did you ever say, "take him down?" Did you ever say, "I don't want posters in my house that read, "Death to race mixing are niggers get out?"

  Jim Haas : Frankly, I'm a parent like everybody else. Praying to God every night just to hang on to my kid.

  Ann Kelsey : So you condone his bigotry?

  Jim Haas : I didn't condone anything. Maybe we tolerated some of that stuff more than we should have, because we didn't want him run out one day and never coming back.

  Ann Kelsey : Oh, I get it. What a relief it must be to know that after he finishes kicking blacks to death, he'll be home for supper.

  Judge Grace Van Owen : Ms. Kelsey!

  Lawyer William Willis : Objection!

  Jim Haas : If I thought he was gonna do what he did. I would have broken his legs.

  [Ms. Kelsey returns to her seat. Mr. Haas addresses to Mr. Jackson and Mrs. Jackson the Plaintiffs] 

  Jim Haas : Mr. Jackson, Mrs. Jackson, you gotta believe me when I tell you that I'm sorry.

• [the two lawyers Ann Kelsey and William Willis brings Charles Jackson, Mrs. Jackson, Jim Haas and Pauline Haas to the chambers of Judge Grace Van Owen] 

  Judge Grace Van Owen : Okay, exactly where are we?

  Lawyer William Willis : We've offered 35,000, Your Honor, and they've rejected it.

  Judge Grace Van Owen : 35 may seem low, but according to the financial statements submitted the defendants are pretty judgment-proof. You could be chasing an empty bag.

  Ann Kelsey : They have a house, Your Honor.

  Judge Grace Van Owen : Yes, they do. Valued at $92,000, carrying a mortgage of 41,000, leaving them with an equity of 51,000. It could take a long time to execute the attachment and the sale. You really want to go through all that for the extra 16?

  Charles Jackson : My son's life was worth more than $35,000, judge.

  Judge Grace Van Owen : Of course it was, Mr. Jackson. But I'm sure your lawyer has told you this lawsuit is going to be very difficult for you to win. Suing parents for the crimes of their children is a pretty novel approach, Mr. Jackson.

  Charles Jackson : I know that. And Ms. Kelsey tells me that because of that, a lot people will be watching what happens here. That's what I'm after, Your Honor. I want people noticing this.

  Judge Grace Van Owen : Can you tell me what that accomplishes?

  Charles Jackson : If I win, it says he should've done something. And they says that parents cannot raise their children to be racists, murderers, and then just unleash them on the world.

  Jim Haas : I'm just a working stiff, Mr. Jackson.

  Charles Jackson : I'm a working stiff, too.

  Jim Haas : That's right. Uh, the truth is... we're probably more alike than we are different.

  Charles Jackson : No, see, your son is not dead. Mine is. And I don't want him dying for nothing. Something's gonna come out of this.

  Judge Grace Van Owen : Gentlemen, that's enough. You want to go forward?

  Ann Kelsey : Yes, we do.

  Judge Grace Van Owen : Summations at 2:00, then.

• Judge Grace Van Owen : Has the jury reached a verdict?

  Foreperson : We have, Your Honor.

  Judge Grace Van Owen : What say you?

  Foreperson : In the matter of Jackson vs. Haas, we find for the plaintiffs and award the sum of $150,000.

  Judge Grace Van Owen : The jury is discharged with the thanks of the court. This matter is concluded. Court is now adjourned.

  [Congratulations to the plaintiffs Charles Jackson and his wife Mrs. Jackson. They hug each other. But the two defendants Jim Haas and his wife Pauline Haas has something they want to say to Mr. Jackson and Mrs. Jackson] 

  Jim Haas : You can take my house, but that's all I got.

  Charles Jackson : I don't want your house, Mr. Haas. I got what I wanted.

  Jim Haas : Is there anything I can give you?

  Charles Jackson : No.

  Jim Haas : I'm sorry. I'm so sorry.

  Charles Jackson : I know you are.

  [Mr. Jackson and his wife Mrs. Jackson leaves and exit the courtroom. Ann Kelsey has glared at the skinhead's parents and she leaves. Jim Haas comfort his wife Pauline]