A child's collapse in school from mortal injuries leads to an investigation that uncovers a family steeped in horrific abuse.A child's collapse in school from mortal injuries leads to an investigation that uncovers a family steeped in horrific abuse.A child's collapse in school from mortal injuries leads to an investigation that uncovers a family steeped in horrific abuse.
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- TriviaThis episode is based on the 1987 Lisa Steinberg case. Joel Steinberg, a disbarred New York criminal defense attorney, attracted international media attention when he was accused of murder and then convicted of manslaughter in the November 1, 1987, death of a six-year-old girl, Elizabeth (Lisa Steinberg). He and his live-in partner Hedda Nussbaum had illegally adopted the girl. Steinberg had reportedly been hired by a single mother to locate a suitable adoptive family for Lisa, but he instead took the child home and raised her with Nussbaum. Having never filing formal adoption papers, Steinberg and Nussbaum were therefore never scrutinized as adoptive parents.
- GoofsThroughout the trial, objections aren't handled properly. Whenever an objection is raised, the judge must make a ruling on its validity before testimony can continue--unless the questioner withdraws the question. If the judge overrules an objection, the question must be answered. Many questions remain unanswered even after the judge has overruled the objections.
In addition, throughout the trial, the judge allow ADA Stone to make arguments (rather than ask questions) after the defense has objected to a specific question. A judge isn't likely to allow either side to make arguments until the judge has ruled on the validity of the objection in question. An appeal to the defendant's conviction could be made based on the judge's mishandling of Mr. Stone--while objecting to more than one objection, Mr. Stone makes arguments that belong in opening or closing arguments, not the presentation of evidence.
- Quotes
Executive A.D.A. Ben Stone: I didn't hear you knock.
Shambala Green: That's 'cause I didn't. If I'd have knocked, you would've heard it.
Executive A.D.A. Ben Stone: I don't doubt that.
- ConnectionsFeatured in The 43rd Annual Primetime Emmy Awards (1991)
Featured review
Disclaimer
Nearly every Law And Order episode is taken from some headline somewhere if not within New York City itself. But this early episode came with a disclaimer at the end pointing out the very specific differences between the infamous Lisa Steinberg homicide and this episode.
A little girl is found in school unconscious and she's taken to the hospital and dies eventually. Investigation by George Dzundza and Chris Noth leads to the arrest of both parents played by David Groh and Marcia Jean Kurtz.
Groh is one evil monster in this episode. Hard to believe that the love of Rhoda Morgenstern's life could be the same guy. In real life Steinberg was a lawyer, here he's a snake oil psychologist. The better to control and manipulate his family.
But the real heart of the episode is the performance of Kurtz as the perfect battered spouse and probably participant in the child abuse. She's frightening in both her docility and the fact she's also incredibly narcissistic. Not two dual emotions to get easily, but Kurtz pulls it off.
Michael Moriarty was probably his most outraged best in prosecuting these two. Nicely done all around.
A little girl is found in school unconscious and she's taken to the hospital and dies eventually. Investigation by George Dzundza and Chris Noth leads to the arrest of both parents played by David Groh and Marcia Jean Kurtz.
Groh is one evil monster in this episode. Hard to believe that the love of Rhoda Morgenstern's life could be the same guy. In real life Steinberg was a lawyer, here he's a snake oil psychologist. The better to control and manipulate his family.
But the real heart of the episode is the performance of Kurtz as the perfect battered spouse and probably participant in the child abuse. She's frightening in both her docility and the fact she's also incredibly narcissistic. Not two dual emotions to get easily, but Kurtz pulls it off.
Michael Moriarty was probably his most outraged best in prosecuting these two. Nicely done all around.
helpful•321
- bkoganbing
- Jul 12, 2012
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