25. Warrior: Season 3 (2023)
Interestingly enough, Warrior is based upon the life of the late Bruce Lee. Even more fascinating, this show is produced by his daughter, Shannon. The action-packed program speaks of an athletic Chinese man who immigrates to San Francisco in the late 1800’s. From there, the character is embroiled in violent wars within his community as a member of an organized crime group. With that said, his main goal in coming to the states is to find his long-lost sister. Season 3 debuted on June 29, 2023 — and the finale is set to air on August 17, 2023.
24. Peaky Blinders: Season 6 (2022)
Starring Cillian Murphy, Peaky Blinders long has been a favorite of those who enjoy period pieces, the UK, and gritty violence dramas. Set in Birmingham, England, the Shelby family continually deals with a plethora of issues primarily revolving around gambling, violence, and smuggling. The show raged on for six seasons — with the final episode of said season airing in April of 2022. With that said, it’s an often revisited show for its brilliant accuracy coupled with strong, compelling performances. The last installment of the show — which is slated to be a film — reportedly had begin production months ago before the SAG strike took place.
23. Winning Time: The Rise of the Lakers Dynasty: Season 2 (2023)
Winning Time takes us back to the late ’70’s — where Dr. Jerry Buss began assembling one of the most talented dynasties we’ve ever seen on a basketball court. Of course, the lynchpin behind this fortune was none other than Magic Johnson. Soon, an elderly Kareem Abdul-Jabbar and a a host of other teammates came together to form the “Showtime” period for the franchise. John C. Reilly absolutely knocks it out of the park with his portrayal of Dr. Buss.
22. Deadloch: Season 1 (2023)
Deadloch isn’t a widely known show within the United States. However, there’s a groundswell of interest stemming from streaming services. Accessible on Amazon Prime, it’s an 8-episode Australian program which pairs equal parts comedy and mystery on the island of Tasmania. The scenery is gorgeous, the acting (particularly from Kate Box and Alicia Gardiner) is quite strong, and the storylines are fun. We’re hoping a second season of Deadloch is in the cards sooner than later.
21. Star Trek: Strange New Worlds: Season 2 (2023)
Star Trek fans are a loyal bunch. Ranging from multiple generations, Trekkies will devour any Trek-centric content — especially if adapted and evolved to the present day. It’s not surprising to see Strange New Worlds fit the criteria. Debuting in 2022, this show has rolled out two seasons of this installment. The Paramount+ show has proven to be quite popular, and the streaming numbers reflect this statement quite strongly. Fans of the show will be elated to learn that a third season is in the plans down the road.
20. Full Circle: Limited Series (2023)
Max has rolled out quite the show in Full Circle. This miniseries pairs power writer/creator Ed Solomon with famed director Steven Soderberg. Essentially, the series focuses on the minutiae in present-day New York. Underneath the surface, the viewers learn of an unsavory underbelly marred in crime. The cast of characters — featuring the likes of Timothy Olyphant, Dennis Quaid, Claire Danes, Zazie Beetz — are somehow all connected.
19. Twisted Metal: Season 1 (2023)
The genre of post-apocalyptic settings has a way of resonating with people. Maybe that’s a commentary on the cynical nature of the world today. Or, it’s quite possibly a reprieve from some of the more depressing elements we all deal with. Nonetheless, this show — based on a video game — is drawing rave reviews from those steaming on Peacock. It involves strong acting performances from Neve Campbell, Anthony Mackie, Will Arnett, Chloe Fineman, Jason Mantzoukas, Thomas Haden Church, Stephanie Beatriz, and famed professional wrestler Samoa Joe.
18. Suits: Season 1 (2011)
Suits is one of those shows that has enjoyed a major revival/renaissance every since joining the streaming world. It wasn’t on a major network during its original airing. However, now on Netflix, more eyeballs can digest the show than ever. People also seem to gravitate towards the legal world, where shenanigans and high stakes are simultaneously delved into. Patrick Adams and Meghan Markle (yes, that Meghan Markle) are among the stars of the show.
17. Fisk: Season 1 (2021)
We head back to Australia for Fisk. An ABC program in its native country, folks stateside are now getting a chance to see the 12-episode/2 season show on Netflix. The show revolves around a lawyer named Helen Fisk. With her life at a crossroads professionally and personally, she moves to another city with the hopes of starting over and experiencing something new. The comedy is led by veteran actress Kitty Flanagan.
16. Reservation Dogs: Season 3 (2023)
Reservation Dogs is one of those shows who enjoys a cult following. It’s a black comedy of a show which is primarily set in Oklahoma on a Native American reservation. It follows a group of indigenous kids aiming to get out and eventually make their way to California. The cast features tremendous representation from the Native American community. In the process, the writing is quirky, hilarious, and poignant. The third and final season of the show can be streamed on Hulu.
15. Good Omens: Season 2 (2023)
You can stream Good Omens on Amazon Prime. As seen in this image, the show is led by the dynamic duo of Michael Sheen and David Tennant. Crafted from a noel, you see here the duality of an angel and a demon. Essentially in a big turn of events, both work together on Earth to ensure that the world doesn’t come to a cataclysmic end. Sheen and Tennant are not only brilliant in their roles, but they’re also quite funny.
14. Special OPS: Lioness: Season 1 (2023)
Anything with Taylor Sheridan attached to it general draws many eyeballs. This Paramount+ show strays from his usual romps in the classic American West in favor of a more modern tale. Veteran actor Zoe Saldana is a CIA agent going undercover to spy on someone viewed as a potential terrorist. The ensemble cast for this show is quite good. Nicole Kidman and Morgan Freeman are main players in this first season. Featuring this sort of starpower, it’s no secret as to why this show has been a favorite among streamers.
13. The Summer I Turned Pretty: Season 2 (2023)
Amazon Prime is also the hosting streaming service for the teen drama The Summer I Turned Pretty. As has been the case for many shows lately, this one was also adapted from a novel trilogy. The first two seasons of the show have garnered much in the way of popularity and intrigue. So much, in fact, that a third season was already announced just as the second season had gotten underway. Prominent themes in this story include early romance, coming-of-age moments, and heartbreak.
12. Hijack: Season 1 (2023)
Idris Elba is certainly a draw himself. For whatever reason, people also go crazy for plane-themed shows which are both treacherous and drama-filled. Roll it all into one package, and you’ve got one of the most popular shows streaming right now. Hijack clearly sums up the central storyline in this show. Shown on Apple TV+, Elba’s character is aiming to try and prevent the hijacking of a plane ride from Dubai to the U.K. Each episode drops more and more breadcrumbs as to the past with many of these characters — as well as other situations happening simultaneously with the flight itself.
11. The Lincoln Lawyer: Season 2 (2023)
David E. Kelley (The Practice, Ally McBeal, Boston Legal) has done it again! The famed developer/producer/creator of television series has crafted The Lincoln Lawyer — a Netflix show based after a number of books. While the show did well in Season 1, the second season has really taken off among those who love a good story splicing together elements of law and crime. While the cast is mostly a group of relatively unknown actors, the biggest star from a name recognition standpoint is Neve Campbell.
10. The Witcher: Season 3 (2023)
The Witcher is a story which unsurprisingly has a gigantic following. It’s composed of many themes (fantasy, adventure, drama, action, love) that people gravitate towards. Taking place in a fictional realm with all sorts of magical elements, it stars — among others — Henry Cavil, Freya Allan, Eamon Farren, MyAnna Buring, and Anya Chalotra. The medieval world built here by Lauren Schmidt Hissrich (originally via writer Andrzej Sapowski) is rich, deep, and brilliant. Even more exciting for fans: Reports indicate that Liam Hemsworth will be joining the cast for Season 4.
9. The Crowded Room: Limited Series (2023)
Apple TV+ recently released this miniseries entitled The Crowded Room. Based on a non-fiction novel from the ’80’s, the series brought plenty of hype to those who love to stream. This was mainly based upon the fact that the show is led by two “A-List” actors in Tom Holland and Amanda Seyfried. The two play off one another quite well, with Holland being an accessory to murder — and Seyfried being an interrogator. In this show, Holland really delves beneath the surface to give an impactful performance.
8. Secret Invasion: Season 1 (2023)
Disney+ is rolling out a Marvel series which is not shy when it comes to starpower. The two protagonists in this story — Nick Fury (Samuel L. Jackson) and Talos (Ben Mendelsohn) — are joined by a host of very well-known actors. We’re talking about a cast featuring Dermot Mulroney, Emilia Clarke, Christopher McDonald, Olivia Colman, and Kingsley Ben-Adir. If you’re a fan of the superhero genre, this show is probably right up your alley.
7. Dark Winds: Season 2 (2023)
AMC+ is the streaming service for this 1970’s period piece in which we follow two Native American cops patrolling a Navajo region of Arizona. The second set of six episodes recently came out this past July. Based upon a set of mystery novels, the two protagonists Joe (Zahn McClarnon) and Jim (Kiowa) grapple with a number of issues in their hometown. Rainn Wilson also plays a role in the first season of the show. McClarnon’s performance in particular has garnered critical acclaim.
6. The Lost Flowers of Alice Hart: Season 1 (2023)
Amazon show The Lost Flowers of Alice Hart has been drawing rave reviews in recent weeks since its debut on Aug. 4, 2023. Adapted from a novel written Australian creator Holly Ringland, we see Sigourney Weaver player lead the cast as a grandmother. Her granddaughter came from a tumultuous background — paving the way for her to now live with Weaver’s character on a flower farm. Filmed in Australia, the scenery in this miniseries is truly striking. The themes of family strife, secrets, and uncovered truths are also quite relatable to those watching.
5. Foundation: Season 2 (2023)
Based upon a number of stories written by the famed Sci-Fi mind of Isaac Asimov, Foundation has become one of the five-most popular shows currently streaming across all platforms. Apple TV+ plays host to this show — which has two seasons filmed (and a third reported to be on the way). Using Asimov’s text as a template, Foundation is a very in-depth story featuring fascinating characters and some real conflict. British actor Jared Harris (Mad Men) is one of the more notable leads on the show.
4. Painkiller: Limited Series (2023)
Painkiller is a show which has been widely spoken about in many circles across the United States. It hits close to home, as it describes the opioid epidemic which has ravaged many parts of the country. We see the operation from a systemic level. One notable doctor built a pharma company whose crowning achievement was creating OxyContin. We also see it at a grassroots level — where your average family member requires higher and higher doses, ultimately becoming addicted. Directed by Peter Berg (Friday Night Lights), the show includes Matthew Broderick, Taylor Kitsch, Uzo Aduba, Sam Anderson, and West Duchovny.
3. The Bear: Season 2 (2023)
The legend of The Bear only grew and grew with this second season. As more eyeballs watched the first installment, the gritty, anxiety-ridden show really stepped up the pace in the second season. More character development in terms of the fringe players took place. A plethora of big-time guest stars (Molly Gordon, Jamie-Lee Curtis, Bob Odenkirk, Sarah Paulson, Olivia Colman, Will Poulter, John Mulaney) added to the richness of the show. From there, you still retained the brilliance of both Jeremy Allen White and Oliver Platt.
Two words…Christmas Episode.
2. Heartstopper: Season 2 (2023)
Teen-centric shows have a rich history of exploding into culture touchstones when showcased on Netflix. This British show called Heartstopper literally encompasses everything one would want in your typical comedic romp — though it also explores important themes within the LGBT community. There’s young love, the process in finding out who you are, the drama associated with high school, and everything in-between. The season of the show was very well received. As such, a third is already in the plans down the line. The rather unknown cast of teens is complemented by the brilliance of Olivia Colman.
1. Only Murders in the Building: Season 3 (2023)
Any show with Steve Martin and Martin Short as the leads figures to be pure comedic gold. Throwing in the sweet, likable nature of Selena Gomez not only bridges together multiple generations, but it gives her a platform to further showcase her acting chops against two heavyweights. Then — when you realize this could reportedly be Martin’s last acting gig — your ears suddenly perk up. This mystery-dramedy is truly one of the best shows on any streaming platform. Season 3 is particularly great with the additions of Meryl Streep and Paul Rudd.
Crazy Courtroom Tales Involving Lawyers and Clients
25. Age Has Its Advantages
As a young attorney, I had started a claim that an insurance company was dragging out a case in bad faith. This was in hopes that my elderly client would die before they had to pay him. I was requesting that the trial date be given priority due to my client’s advanced age. The judge was no spring chicken himself, and seemed skeptical when he asked exactly how old my client was. He was maybe thinking that my client was in his 70’s — and must merely seem ancient to a baby lawyer like me.
When I responded that my client was 92, and the case has already gone on for 5 years, the judge was visibly shocked. He immediately granted my motion for priority, shutting down the insurance company’s attorney’s attempt to respond. They wrote us a check for a million dollars the next week.
24. “Judge, Case-In Point…”
I was on the losing end of this one. I was representing a pro bono defendant who was attempting to regain custody of her children. The Family Division attorney was laying out his case to the judge for why my client wasn’t ready, and his final point was that my client had refused emotional counseling to avoid violent fits of rage that she had inflicted on her children.
On cue, my client jumps up screaming: “F*** YOU JUDGE LADY! YOU A STUPID C****! F*** Y’ALL FOR TAKING MY F****** KIDS YOU F****** C****!”
I just caught the opposing attorney’s smirk of satisfaction as I got up to usher my client out of the courtroom.
23. Simple Yet Effective
I was prosecuting some kid. He had an ‘anti-social behavior order’, which meant that he was not supposed to go to a certain street. He had pleaded not guilty on the basis that he had not been there.
I opened my cross-examination by holding up a map and pointing at the street. I said to him “You went here, didn’t you?”. He said “Yes”.
In England, we don’t say “I rest my case”. Instead, I looked up at the bench, said “no further questions…” and sat down.
It might not seem cool, but I got the defendant to admit the offence with one question. That never happens!
22. Just Like How Joe Pesci Would’ve Done It!
Opposing counsel decided that I had coached my witness and gave him lines to repeat. They assumed that he was lying. Short version is that he asked the witness if he spoke to me before he testified. Witness said he had. Attorney looked like he thought he had me.
Attorney asked the witness what I told him, what instructions I gave him. Witness looked him dead in the eye and said, “First thing he told me was to tell the truth no matter what. He said the lawyer is never the one who goes to jail, that he isn’t going to jail for me, and if I lie, I’m on my own.”
Attorney looked like someone took the air out of him. Everyone in the courtroom simultaneously looked at me. Only time I’ve smirked or laughed in court. I wanted to put my feet up on the table like I was Vincent LaGuardia Gambini, hands behind my head, and say, “I’m done with this guy!”
21. When Did It Become Reading Time in the Courtroom?
Not a ‘case winning’ moment, but a ‘motion winning’ one for sure (think of cases like a big conflict — with motion hearings as little conflicts).
Opposing attorney was insisting that ‘Rule A’ meant they could do X. I tried, multiple times, to point out ‘Rule A’ literally did not say that.
During the hearing, the judge reached behind them, grabbed their ‘Rules of Civil Procedure’ (basically a dictionary of rules), placed it in front of the other attorney, and said “Show me where Rule A says X”.
Other attorney did not take the hint, read rules out loud for a brutal five minutes. I then gave the book back. I said “Judge I have nothing to add.” It was pretty fun.
20. Caught in the Act!
This involved my wife (not me) — and it was during sentencing.
“Mr. Defendant (local gang boss), you stated you are not and have never been in a gang.”
“That’s correct.”
“Do you have any tattoos?”
“Yeah, I have a tiger on my calf and one on my chest that says GD 4 Life?”
“What does GD stand for?
“Gangster Disciples. . . but, I mean. . . .”
“No further questions, you honor.”
(elee0288)
19. The Clothes Say It All
Complaining witness accused my client of harassment/stalking. Said she told him numerous times that she wanted nothing to do with him. My client claimed they were dating, but whenever she got mad at him, she’d call the police and say he was harassing her.
On the stand, she testified that she’d never dated him, never invited him into her home, wanted nothing to do with him. She presented a photo on her phone of him sitting on her porch to prove that he had come to her property.
I asked the judge permission to look at the photos before and after the porch photo for context.
Girl had dozens of photos of the guy, who was clearly her boyfriend. I showed her one such picture:
This is Mr. So-and-so, right? (yes)
In this photo, he’s on a bed? (yes)
The bed is yours? (yes)
The bed is in your bedroom? (yes)
You took this photo of him? (yes)
He’s smiling in the photo? (yes)
And in this photo, he’s wearing your brassiere? (yes)
No further questions, your honor.
18. Hit By The Long Arm of the Law
My sister got t-boned by a car. It caused a concussion when I was younger. Long story short, we were in court with the judge. He asked the driver if he had ever sped before.
“No, your honor, I never speed.” This was his reply.
The judge asked him a couple more times if he was sure. The driver was adamant that he never sped, and never had before.
A few minutes later, my sister’s lawyer gave the judge some paperwork. She read it, and said to the driver, “It seems that you have some past driving violations. Can you tell me what they are for?”
“………… speeding…”
The driver had to pay the medical bills for my sister.
17. Sir…I Don’t Think That’s Legal
A man, led in by the sheriffs in cuffs and shackles, was charged with possession of a controlled substance and manufacturing (which in that state is unspecified). He could have been selling or growing/producing. He started speaking with the judge directly. His case was going well for him. Seemed like he would get a light sentence if he got anything more than probation.
The judge told him that he understands life gets hard and people make mistakes. He (judge) said that the defendant seemed like a good kid — and would do better in life now that he knows the consequences he could have faced. I’m not sure if the case was dropped or what the sentence was, but the guy said thank you. He then proceeded to pulled out a joint and light it right there. Smoking weed in a courtroom. In jail rags and chains. I don’t know where he could have gotten it, but it’s safe to say his light sentence got much heavier.
16. A Rasta Win!
I was in court as an witness. In an unrelated case to mine, a large bank had a huge team of expensive lawyers. This is the UK — so gowns and wigs, lots of pomp and self-importance. The bank was trying to take possession of a small farm owned by a gentleman who decided to defend himself. Not really relevant, but the gentleman was a Rastafarian — and the smell of marijuana was noticeable even from where I was sitting.
Anyway, the lawyers (at that time probably getting $2,000 a day each) sounded like they had flicked through the papers that morning. However, the guy had prepared brilliantly. Although he faltered a bit, he made compelling points.
The Rastaman won.
PS: He also presented police documents proving that no illegal plants were growing on his farm!
15. What…Exactly is Going On Here?
When I first started, I was doing domestic abuse cases. I was presenting a woman suing her husband for divorce and child custody. Her husband could not keep a lawyer losing two out of two pretrial hearings.
During the trial, he asked for delay to get a new lawyer — but the judge said no. He then called himself to the stand. He asked a question to himself, ran up to the witness box and answered it, then rushed back and asked himself another question. For twenty minutes this continued.
(tink2013)
14. What Kind of Lawyer Are You?
I’m not a lawyer, but I was defending myself against a debt collector for a debt. The case was so old, I could not even remember for sure that it was mine.
Me to the debt collector: Can you provide the actual contract bearing my signature along with a chain of title to the debt?
Debt collector’s lawyer: Crickets…
I look at the judge.
Judge to lawyer: Well can you?
Debt collector’s lawyer while looking through paperwork: Um…Well… No, not at this time Your Honor.
Judge: Case dismissed.
(Note: To prove that a debt collector owns your debt, they must prove how it came to own it. Often, old debts are sold and resold over and over again to a number of subsequent debt buyers. When this happens, the debt collector must prove each and every assignment by showing a “chain of title” reaching all the way back in history to the original creditor. More often than not, for old debts, it is impossible for the collector to show this.)
13. My Client Wasn’t Exactly Behind Honest
I was on the losing end. Represented a guy who had bought a company and the company failed spectacularly within months due to a number of reasons I could attribute to the seller. They had clearly lied about the company’s finances to induce him to buy. I was suing to rescind the deal, have your s***** company back, and give my guy his money back. I laid out my huge case and thought I had it in the bag, and then opposing counsel asked my guy:
“Isn’t it true that you listed this business for sale a month ago?”
“Yes.”
“And you did sell it correct? You signed a purchase and sale?”
“Yes, but he never finished paying me, he has more payments to make. I’ll just give his money back when you guys give me my money back.”
My idiot client had me suing over a company that he had legally sold. F***** never told me. Game over on the spot.
12. Here’s a Neat Trick
Not a lawyer, but this is my favorite story in traffic court.
I got a ticket for going 75 mph on I-88 (Near Chicago).
The officer wrote on the ticket I was going 88 mph on I-75. (Detroit south to Miami, not near Chicago).
I show up wearing a suit, because I have one suit, and I may as well wear it.
Judge calls on me asking me if I’m a lawyer. I say I am not, but I get to go first because I’m the only one in a suit.
Judge looks at the ticket, says “You were going 88 on I-75? Officer X, what does this ticket say? Isn’t I-75 out of our jurisdiction?”
At this point I open my mouth and shut it — because I have the right to remain silent. I may as well show the ability to be silent as well.
Officer says “Your honor, at my age I have no idea what I wrote.”
Judge gives him a look, and throws my license back at me, in the plastic bag, says “You are free to go.”
Always wear a suit to traffic court.
(deleted)
11. Gang Affiliation
I was in a gang related jury trial for attempted murder. Defendant was a known Crip, and the victim was a Blood. Against his attorney’s advice, the defendant testified. Defendant had a tattoo on his arm that said “BK”. I asked him what “BK” meant and he replied with “Blood Killer”.
I was shocked he said what it actually meant, but in retrospect, I guess I shouldn’t have been since he actually decided to testify.
10. Read The Fine Print
Several years ago, there was a big drug bust in my town where the cops arrested about a dozen people in this garage. The police charged them with manufacture/delivery/possession with intent to deliver a controlled substance (drug dealing), conspiracy, and criminal organization (known as RICO in other places). I was appointed to represent one of the people found in the building when the drug task force raided the place.
The police filed an eight page affidavit of probable cause (most are one to two pages for most other cases) detailing their surveillance of this criminal enterprise and the comings and goings of various participants and their roles in the enterprise. I read all eight pages and realized that the only place my client’s name appeared was on page seven, where it said “The following individuals were present at the garage when the warrant was executed: Person 1, Person 2, Person 3….” So he was there the day the drug task force raided the place — but there was no mention of his involvement in the criminal enterprise.
His bail was set at $250,000 (which is ridiculously high. The District Attorney refused to agree to a lower amount at his preliminary hearing. I filed a motion for bail reduction and showed up at the hearing. The DA calls the case, I approach the front, and the Judge jumps right in before I could even open my mouth (usually counsel makes their arguments first, the judge asks any questions of us he has, then he makes his decision). The Judge looks directly at me and says he’s read the affidavit of probable cause. He says what is alleged in there is pretty serious, and a big deal in our small town.
He noted how the task force had the place under surveillance for weeks to build their case, which ultimately resulted in their raid. If the allegations can be proven, the defendants are facing some serious consequences….BUT he says, now turning to face the DA, he saw that my client’s name appeared ONLY ONCE in the ENTIRE affidavit, and it makes no mention of his involvement in the drug enterprise.
The Judge asks the DA, “Why shouldn’t I grant defense’s motion for bail reduction?”
The DA stammers “Uh uh uh we have uh evidence that this defendant was uh involved with picking up the material from Philadelphia and transporting it here.”
The Judge looks at her again and says, “Did I miss that in the affidavit?” She replies no, they just recently found that out. The Judge turns to me and asks me if I have anything to add. There I was, fully prepared to make this passionate argument for why my client’s bail should be reduced: The deficiencies in the affidavit, my client’s advanced age, his lack of a criminal record in the past 20 years, etc. I stood there trying my best not to smirk and said “I have nothing to add, your Honor”.
Motion granted, bail reduced.
(xLiquidx)
9. Solving The Case Yourself = Jail Time, Buddy!
Pro bono case. I was representing a woman who was trying to get a permanent protective order against her boyfriend.
I ask her if he has contacted her since the temporary order was issued (which is a crime).
She says yes, he called her three times.
Defendant: “Objection, your honor!”
Judge: “State the grounds for your objection, please.”
Defendant: “The facts! I only called her once!”
I close my file and sit down.
(prolyde)
8. Gotcha!
I had a family trial where the other party (the mother) had refused my client access to his kids for years. She just generally lied about everything. I can’t remember the exact details, but I know I caught her in a stupid lie about when she got pregnant by showing that the date of conception is not the day they count from to determine how far along the pregnancy is. She was going on about how terrified she was of my client. My favorite part was when I presented her with his phone bill — showing how she called him like 70 times over a few days during the period in which she had just explained she was in serious fear of him.
Stuff like that doesn’t happen very often because we have a discovery process, and I had provided the phone bill to her lawyer ages before. In essence, she should have known it was coming, but I think it was a combination of a crazy client who can’t stop herself from lying and a legal aid lawyer who had half a foot into retirement and just didn’t care anymore. Most of court is pretty boring, there are rarely the ‘gotcha!’ moments you see on tv.
Actually, it drives me crazy when lawyers on tv get that moment and then say “No further questions.” Yes! There are further questions! Catching someone in a lie does totally make your case…there are tons of other questions!
(amgirl11)
7. Double-Dipping: Wedding Style
Was waiting with now ex-wife in divorce court. Ours was mostly mutual, so it was somewhat painless.
The couple before us was an older divorced couple arguing over back child support.
HER: “He has not paid me in 3 months. I gave him an extension but still nothing.”
HIM: “I don’t have any money right now, times are tough. I’m trying the best I can.”
HER: “You honor, ask him where he was 2 weeks ago?”
JUDGE: “Where were you 2 weeks ago”
HIM: “I went to Florida and got remarried on the beach.”
Bailiff: “CLICK. CLICK”. {The guy was hauled away in cuffs}.
(deleted)
6. Karma is a B!
So I typically do Plaintiffs work for corporations. However, one of my clients was getting sued by a former contractor for work allegedly performed right before he was fired in the amount of $150k. I had never dealt with opposing counsel. She was about my age (32) and seemed nice heading up to trial.
The day of our pretrial (just five days before trial) she tells me in the elevator, “I hope you know I’m going to kick your a** in trial.” I laughed and she said, “No really, you are screwed.”
Trial comes, and she drags out her case over five days. I start to get the impression her client made up the invoices with her help. She finally rests her case and I called her client as my only witness.
He immediately testified his attorney showed him how to make the invoices. The judge wouldn’t allow them into evidence, she lost her case, and was sanctioned $5k for falsifying evidence. She appealed and the court of appeals ripped into her. Needless to say, I didn’t get my a** kicked.
5. Represent Yourself!
Not a lawyer, but I won a traffic court case with no words and just a piece of paper.
I was given a ticket for reckless driving of 100+ mph at 2 a.m. on a Monday night after coming home from work. Problem being, my 4 cylinder Chevy s10 had a governor on the engine that did not allow the car travel more than 87 mph.
I printed specs from Chevy and highlighted the line. Judge smirked and said I could go, but “Slow down, cause something tells me you were still speeding.”
That moment of eye contact with the cop on the way out…priceless.
4. Mic Drop!
I’m not a lawyer, but I shut down the courtroom with this one. So I was a witness for the state in prosecuting a DUI case. In this case, I was a medic that did a blood draw. I was to testify about why I did or did not recall if the defendant was intoxicated at the time I found him in police custody.
I didn’t recall a whole lot about the specifics beyond what I wrote in my chart, but I knew for a fact I recalled him being intoxicated. The defense pressed me on why I thought he was drunk. The details I remembered: I had to do multiple sticks because he wouldn’t sit still. He was an impatient punk making snide remarks. The defense kept pressing me on why I thought he was drunk though — that’s not enough according to them.
I talked about how I probably see more drunk people than sober people, how many blood draws I do, the signs and symptoms I’m trained to observe in alcohol intoxication, how this is backed up by often learning their BAC at the ER, so I can correlate behavior with approximate levels of drunkenness. Still, none of that was good enough.
Did I smell alcohol on him? I don’t recall that specifically right now one way or another. Did I give him breathalyzer? No I did not. Did he admit he was drinking? Not to me.
“So why then can you sit there in good faith and tell the jury you’re so confident you remember he was intoxicated when you clearly have no memory of such a thing?!”
I replied with all honesty: “If you really must know, after all that, I went back to the ambulance, looked at my partner and said, ‘Man, that guy was a drunk a******’. So I remember at the time being convinced he was both of those things.”
The defense seemed rather taken aback and had no further questions. I was ushered out of a very quiet courtroom save for a few Snickers from the Jury.
3. “I’ll Park Where I Want To!”
Got a parking ticket for parking in an unmetered space. Yes, you read that right. I’d parked in what would normally be a metered space, but the parking meter had been removed, and there was just an empty pole. I tried contesting online and got refused, so I went to court.
The meter guy was called up to testify, and he reported that he’d seen me in the space on such and such a day at such and such a time. Judge asked me if I wanted to cross-examine, I said no. Judge asked me if I had parked there, I said yes. Judge ruled I was guilty, and I asked if I could ask a question, he said yes.
“What ordinance was I cited against?”
Judge asked the meter guy, all he said was that I wasn’t allowed to park there, and that he’d seen me parked there several days in a row for longer than the allowed time in a metered zone. He then decided it was time to cite me. I kept my mouth shut. Judge asked the prosecutor what the ordinance was. He didn’t know. Judge asked the clerk to look it up. They didn’t find one. I knew they wouldn’t because I’d done my research beforehand.
Judge ruled Not Guilty.
He also laughed and told me I was better at keeping my mouth shut when I should than many lawyers he’d seen. (Presumably because had I admitted to parking longer than the allowed time in a metered zone, he could have cited me there for that).
In retrospect, I should have asked the question when the Judge asked if I wanted to cross-examine the meter guy, but it was still a really satisfying outcome.
2. Don’t Discriminate on Height, Please!
I actually saw this exchange in a courtroom:
Judge: “So Miss you’re in here for a … seat cushion violation? Wait is that even a thing?”
Def: “Yes, your honor.”
Judge: “State, is this a thing?”
State: “Yes.”
Judge: “How tall are you Ma’am?”
Def: “About 5-feet tall.”
Judge: “State, are you serious? This is the dumbest case I’ve ever seen. Dismissed.”
(It’s a thing, if you’re below a certain height in Florida you have to have a seat cushion. A 5-foot tall woman should have no issue).
(zerbey)
1. Ring, Ring!
When I was around 16 I worked as a test shopper. As such, I’d end up in court sometimes to testify that someone had sold me cigarettes.
There was one time where a man was claiming he had sold me cigarettes because the compliance officers never tried to properly train him as a store owner. The officers told him they tried to call him several times, and he was being incredibly difficult to get a hold of.
The officers even had a ridiculous amount of notes that described all the times they tried to contact him. When they pointed out all this to him, his defense turned into “I don’t own a phone, so it was up to them to try something else to train me.”
With absolutely perfect timing, his phone starting audibly ringing in his pocket the second he finished saying he didn’t own one.
Our side’s lawyer is now a judge, and she still says that was one of the most perfectly timed things that’s ever happened to her.