A Civil Action (1998)

Share this quote on facebook It's like this. A dead plaintiff is rarely worth more than a living severely-maimed plaintiff. However, if it's a long, slow, agonizing death as opposed to a quick drowning or car wreck, the value can rize considerably. A dead adult in his 20s is generally worth less than one who is middle aged. A dead woman less than a dead man. A single adult less than one who's married. Black less than white. Poor less than rich. The perfect victim is a white male professional, 40 years old, at the height of his earning power, struck down at his prime. And the most imperfect: well, in the calculus of personal injury law, a dead child is worth the least of all.

Share this quote on facebook I can appreciate the theatrical value of several dead kids. I mean, like that. Obviously, that's good. That is all this case has going for it. That's not enough. Get rid of it.

Share this quote on facebook [to law students] Now, the single greatest liability a lawyer can have is pride. Pride... Pride has lost more cases than lousy evidence, idiot witnesses and a hanging judge all put together. There is absolutely no place in a courtroom for pride.

Share this quote on facebook [to secretary] Every credit card application we send in, we get two more in the mail. Here's one from some bank I've never heard of, in North Dakota. Fill it out. Fill them all in. It's the last great pyramid scheme in America.

Share this quote on facebook Jerome: What's your take?
Jan: They'll see the truth.
Jerome: The truth? I thought we were talking about a court of law. Come on, you've been around long enough to know that a courtroom isn't a place to look for the truth.

Share this quote on facebook Al: You've never been here before? What kind of Harvard man are you?
Jan: The Cornell kind.

Share this quote on facebook James: [regarding the case and the following settlement] Mrs. Anderson, you're looking at four guys who are broke. We lost everything trying this case.
Anne: How can you even begin to compare what you've lost, to what we've lost.

Share this quote on facebook James: [seeing Uncle Pete for another loan after Schlichtman's firm is in serious financial trouble] You'll never guess what I did last night. You'll like this. I pledged $200.00 to a tele-evangelist. I'm not kidding. He said, "Give and ye shall receive." I called him right up. I know, I know what you're thinking. You're thinking, "Gordon's losing it. He's falling apart. He's probably buying lottery tickets." I bought a few, I'll admit it. I know. But seriously, the jackpot's $45 million. That's just this week. You should see the lines out there.
Uncle Pete: [nods to a bugle in Gordon's pocket] Is that a gun?
James: What? This? No. No, this is for you.
[empties bags that was in his pocket full of coins]
James: My Krugerrands. I've had them forever. I want you to have them. And... this is the deed to my house. And here is Conway's and Crowley's and Jan's. See? I come bearing gifts. We really need the money.