L.A. Law1986

Elliott Oppenheim:
As the evidence clearly as established, Michael Kuzak violated Disciplinary Rule 3101. And aiding the Unauthorized Practice of Law.

Victor Sifuentes:
If the Committee, please. In order to assess Mr. Kuzak's ethical conduct, I'd believe it first necessary to appreciate the circumstances under which it occurred.

Judge Donald Tytell:
In other words, you got an excuse.

Victor Sifuentes:
The discovery that Richard Mathers was unlicensed to Practice Law came more than half way through the trial.

Ralph DeSuvio:
The issue here is that the court didn't learn of it until after the verdict. Then from only Mr. Mathers himself.

Victor Sifuentes:
Well, if you can just stand back from the code for one moment. I think that you see that the only motivation here was a fair settlement.

[Judge Gregg takes off her classes]

Judge Constance Gregg:
We don't stand back from the code, Mr. Sifuentes. We enforce it.

Victor Sifuentes:
I understand that, ma'am. I...

Judge Constance Gregg:
Furthermore, this isn't some net picking technical violation we're talking about.

[Judge Gregg looking up this file]

Judge Constance Gregg:
These charges indicate conduct indirect violation of a lawyer's obligation as an officer of the court.

Victor Sifuentes:
All Mike Kuzak did was try to avoid having Richard Mathers' fraud force his clients into protracted litigation into considerable further expense.

Judge Donald Tytell:
That's not the concern of this Committee.

Michael Kuzak:
Well, with all due respect, maybe it should be.

Victor Sifuentes:
Mike.

[Kuzak has something to say. Judge Tytell listening]

Michael Kuzak:
If the only question here is, did I or did I not violate the code? Let's not stop wasting each others' time. I did. You'd only talking about lawyer's obligation as an officer of the court. What about my obligation to my client?

Elliott Oppenheim:
Your first loyalty is to the legal system.

Victor Sifuentes:
The purpose of which is to administer justice. Richard Mathers was a highly skilled practitioner. There's no argument about that. Mr. Kuzak and he went head to head. Both clients received skilled, compromised representation. Tell me what that is if not justice.