L.A. Law (TV Series)

Victor/Victorious (1989)

Michael Tucker: Stuart Markowitz

Quotes 

• Stuart Markowitz : No, it's not a good offer. 40,000 is not good.

  Abby Perkins : It's all the client loss, Stuart. We're not get any punitives and it's seems to me that...

  Stuart Markowitz : His out-of-pocket loss was 40, Abby. That doesn't take into account loss of profits. It doesn't take into account interest. And this thing's on a 4 year payout schedule, which means the present-day value is about 32.

  Abby Perkins : Which is still not bad considering the cost of a trial.

  Stuart Markowitz : Abby, the client doesn't bear that cost. You took it on a contingency, remember?

  Abby Perkins : Even so, Stuart, anti competition cases are tough to win. And I'm not sure we should roll the dice with wobbler.

  Stuart Markowitz : You have a strong case here, Abby. That's why the offers is as good as it is. I think you can get at least 65.

  Abby Perkins : I disagree. Look, even if we win on liability, which, to me, is very iffy. The upside award in this is gonna be in the low 50s.

  Stuart Markowitz : I think you're wrong.

  Abby Perkins : Thank you, but that's my decision. I'm gonna recommend to the client that he take it.

  Stuart Markowitz : Fine, but I gotta tell you if he ask me, I'm gonna recommend otherwise.

  Abby Perkins : Stuart, I'll talk to the client. I don't need you giving him mixed signals about this deal.

  Stuart Markowitz : Whoa. Whoa. I'm co-counsel, here, Abby. I have a duty to protect Mr. Chang's interests as well.

  Abby Perkins : I'm the one who hired you.

  Stuart Markowitz : Yeah, on the client's behalf, which means I have an affirmative obligation to...

  Abby Perkins : Well, then I'll just remove that obligation as of this moment!

  Stuart Markowitz : I beg your pardon?

  Abby Perkins : You're fired.

  Stuart Markowitz : You're firing me?

  Abby Perkins : I'm sorry, but your services are terminated, as is your obligation to speak to my client. You can send me your bill.

  [Abby leaves. But Stuart has been under a lot of pressure] 

• Abby Perkins : What possible justification do you have for turning my client on me?

  Stuart Markowitz : I didn't turn your client. Why? Did he leave you?

  Abby Perkins : Yes, he did, Stuart. You know he did.

  Stuart Markowitz : No, I don't know, Abby. He came to my office very uncertain about the deal you were trying to slide past him.

  Abby Perkins : I resent that characterization.

  Stuart Markowitz : It is precisely accurate, Abby. I am a precisely accurate kind of guy and I had severe misgivings about the way I handled that meeting with him, because I led him to believe that what you were doing was OK. You sold him down the river, Abby. I waved to him from the dock. He deserved better.

  Abby Perkins : Oh, come on, Stuart. You would have negotiated that deal to death. You'd like nothing better than to bat those profit projections back and forth to the end of recorded history. But for people who live in real time, Stuart, including Mr. Chang, they have bills to pay.

  Stuart Markowitz : Oh, is that it, Abby? Bills to pay? Did you push for a settlement because you have bills to pay?

  Abby Perkins : It was a decent offer.

  Stuart Markowitz : Did you push for the settlement because you have bills to pay?

  Abby Perkins : I'm out of money, Stuart. I'm also out of credit. And I was stiffed by two clients for fees that I was counting on, but I would never sell out my own client.

  Stuart Markowitz : Yeah, because he walked before you had a chance to. Abby, good lawyers don't screw their clients.

  Abby Perkins : Well, what am I supposed to do, Stuart, lose my practice, close up shop?

  Stuart Markowitz : Ask for a loan, for God's sake! Here! I have money!

  [Slam the money on the table] 

  Abby Perkins : Stick your money, Stuart! Stick your money and your moralizing!

• Stuart Markowitz : That's it, that's it.

  [Completely massaging his shoulders] 

  Stuart Markowitz : Ah. Ah. Ah.

  Ann Kelsey : I can't tell if I'm helping or hurting.

  Stuart Markowitz : You're alternating.

  [But suddenly opening the door is Abby Perkins a visitor] 

  Abby Perkins : Excuse me.

  Ann Kelsey : Abby.

  Stuart Markowitz : Come in.

  [Abby wants to talk with Stuart] 

  Ann Kelsey : Why don't I go and...

  Abby Perkins : No, Ann, I, um... I just came to apologize to your husband. He was right on target yesterday. And the righter he was, the madder I got, so I hope that he'll accept a blanket apology, because a point-by-point will just remind him of what a complete jerk I am.

  Ann Kelsey : Stuart?

  Stuart Markowitz : Forget it.

  Abby Perkins : Thank you.