L.A. Law (TV Series)

Petticoat Injunction (1988)

Michael Fairman: Judge Douglas McGrath

Quotes 

• Arnie Becker : And what we have here is an Executive Producer. Using her power to ruin the career of my client.

  Carol Koyama : All we have is an actor vested with no creative control whatsoever trying to stop a telecast.

  Arnie Becker : Making him a crossdresser is gonna cause irreparable harm, Your Honor. And take a look at the picture that they're releasing to the newspapers.

  Judge Douglas McGrath : Isn't it a little late to be squawking now, Mr. Becker? The episode supposed to air in 2 days.

  Arnie Becker : My client was assured that it would be cut and edited to have socially redeeming value.

  Carol Koyama : Give me a break.

  Arnie Becker : But what has resulted is a trashy piece of evidence of exploitation deliberately designed at destroying his career.

  Carol Koyama : How can you stand here as an officer of the court and lie like that?

  Arnie Becker : It's the truth, Your Honor, Miss Needham has been recklessly vindictive and I won't stand for it.

  Carol Koyama : You're the ones being vindictive here.

  Judge Douglas McGrath : All right! Quiet.

  [Two attorneys stop arguring] 

• Judge Douglas McGrath : Mr. Becker, I see no contractual right which allows your guy to control the creative development of the character he plays.

  Arnie Becker : Your Honor, there's an implied covenant of good faith in every contract and she has breached it with this malicious attempt to stain his image.

  Carol Koyama : Your Honor, I know it's unusual, but I'd like to put my client on the stand.

  Arnie Becker : What?

  Judge Douglas McGrath : This is not an evidentiary hearing.

  Carol Koyama : I know that. But the issue concerns enjoining a program that costs over $1,000,000 to produce. Now before you consider such an extraordinary remedy, I'd like you to be fully informed.

  Arnie Becker : Fine, I demand the right to cross-examine and a one-day continuance to prepare.

  Carol Koyama : Oh, please.

  Judge Douglas McGrath : Hey, if you want to stick her up here, then he's got the right to cross. We'll convene tomorrow at 10 a.m. Now both of you leave, and take the media with you.

• Arnie Becker : Miss Needham, isn't it true that you and my client engaged in a bitter contract dispute before this season?

  Jamie Needham : It was negotiations. I certainly harbor no bitterness.

  Arnie Becker : Oh, come on, Miss Needham. One of his demands was they direct 3 episodes next year, right? And you found that totally unacceptable, didn't you?

  Jamie Needham : I objected to the notion of an actor being vested with directing responsibilities, yes.

  Arnie Becker : And the network forced you to cave in because they knew he was more important to the show than you, right?

  Carol Koyama : Objection, what's the relevance of this?

  Arnie Becker : I'll tell you the relevance. She perceives my client as a threat to her control. So she is trying to humiliate him with storylines to induce him to breach his contract.

  Jamie Needham : He's no threat to me, I made him.

  Jack Seiling : You made me?

  Arnie Becker : Jack.

  Jack Seiling : You didn't make me.

  Judge Douglas McGrath : Sit down, Mr. Seiling, or I'll throw you out of here.

  Jamie Needham : I had just write you out completely. I would win an Emmy for it.

  Judge Douglas McGrath : Miss Needham.

  Jack Seiling : I'll stop the whole damn show.

  Jamie Needham : You'll do what I tell you to do.

  Judge Douglas McGrath : Miss Needham.

  Arnie Becker : Your Honor, this woman's malice is self-evident.

  Judge Douglas McGrath : Everybody shut up.

• Arnie Becker : Judge, I'd like to call my client to the stand now.

  Carol Koyama : What?

  Judge Douglas McGrath : This is a motion session, Mr. Becker, not a trial. And your case is so weak I don't see what possible good it would do?

  Arnie Becker : I know it's unorthodox, Judge, but she's had a chance to have her say. I think in the interests of justice, Mr. Seiling should have his chance, as well.

  Carol Koyama : Well, then I'm gonna want a day to prepare just like he got.

  Judge Douglas McGrath : All right, we reconvene tomorrow at 10.00 A.M. And this is the last day. I mean it. I'm gonna give this guy 10 minutes and that's it. After that, no more witnesses.