By Charles F. Otey, Esq.
“We always knew Hollywood played fast and loose with the rules of evidence,” Justice Gerard Rosenberg observed after taking part in the recent Kings American Inn of Court presentation titled “Reel Justice: Ethical Issues in the Movies.”
“Thanks to the excellent panel headed by Justice [Barry] Kamins and Justice [Ellen] Spodek, our membership was able to examine firsthand many of the movies which pretend to depict actual courtroom scenes, but often distort the law and even reality,” he added. Heading the Inn this year is the charismatic trial lawyer Helene Blank.
Elated over the quality of the presentation was Justice Arthur Schack, an Inn Master, who said, “I think ‘Reel Justice’ was terrific. The movies, of course, took dramatic license with rules of evidence and ethical behavior. On the other hand, My Cousin Vinny demonstrates how a lawyer qualifies an expert witness, when the Joe Pesci character qualifies Marisa Tomei as a tire expert.”
But Justice Schack thought Runaway Jury was “too over the top” where “juror John Cusack is able to get himself on a particular jury, take it over and deal with ethically challenged Gene Hackman and Dustin Hoffman.”
Unsurprisingly, Justice Schack came up with a significant list of other films with particular relevance to the legal profession. Two of these were Anatomy of a Murder, in which Jimmy Stewart defends Ben Gazzara on a murder charge and The Verdict, where Paul Newman tries a medical malpractice case for the little guy against “big-law” James Mason and the legal establishment.
Dittenhoefer Sees Relaxed
‘Public Standards’
Inn Treasurer Marc Dittenhoefer posited a probative insight on “Reel Justice,” summing up a number of trends and observations. We present his observations in their entirety:
“What is interesting to me is how much has changed in terms of what the public is willing to accept from lawyers on film now as opposed to some 30 or 40 years ago. It seems that in that period of time, public standards have relaxed markedly — at least on celluloid.
Apt, brief and a bit tongue in cheek was Carl Landicino, the election law expert, who wrote, “All I can say is that good professional ethical conduct does not make for a good movie.”
Inn Panel Delivers
On the ‘Reel’ Issue
Justices Kamins and Spodek praised their panel of well-rehearsed and dedicated members including Jordan Tucker, Janet Levien, Domenick Napoletano, Lisa Sokol, Maria Garsasoules, Doron Leiby and Jeffrey Miller.
The movies reviewed, by the way, were My Cousin Vinnie (for which Brooklyn native Marisa Tomei won her Oscar), The Suspect (with Cher and Dennis Quaid), War Of The Roses, Runaway Jury, The Jagged Edge, And Justice For All and The Firm.
President-elect and a founder of the Inn is Justice Gerard Rosenberg. Other officers are Counselor Rosario Marquis D’Apice, Treasurer Marc Dittenhoefer and Secretary Justice Ellen Spodek. Inn Masters include Justice Abraham Gerges, an Inn founder; Civil Administrative Justice Sylvia Hinds-Radix; retired Appellate Division Justice Gabriel Krausman; Harvey Weitz; Justice Arthur Schack; Justice Marsha Steinhardt, an Inn founder; Steven Goolnick, Steve Finkelstein and Dave Chidekel. President emeritus is former Justice Edward Rappaport.
Other court notables taking part included Appellate Division Justice Cheryl Chambers, Kings Administrative Justice for Civil Matters Sylvia Hinds-Radix, Justice Neil Jon Firetog, Justice Martin Schneier, Justice Karen Rothenberg, Justice ShawnDya Luisa Simpson, J.H.O. Jules Spodek, J.H.O. Ira Harkavy, Judge Miriam Cyrulnik, Judge Robin Garson and Chief Supreme Court Clerk Tom Kilfoyle.
Among other members enjoying — or enduring — the way the profession is depicted on film were Victoria Wickman, Stephen Williamson, Paul Weitz, Lois Ottombrino, Carmen Pacheco, Joanne Quinones (who heads the Brooklyn Women’s Bar Association), Joseph Rosato, Don Savatta, Scott Star, Alan Tractman, Stephn Markman, Gus Mallas, Frances Malfa, Betty Lugo, Victoria Lombardi, Doron Leiby, Adam Levien, Andrew Leftt, Carl Landicino, Ned Kassman, Susan Iannelli, Andrea Hill, Steve Harkavy, Damen Guez, Michael Good, Evan Goldberg, Lara Genovesi, Michael Fishbein, Lawrence DiGiovanna (who’s headed the Brooklyn Bar and the Bay Ridge Lawyers Association!) Melissa Bonaldes, Jon Besunder and Stacy Baden.
Bay Ridge Lawyers
Help ‘Toys for Tots’
The Bay Ridge Lawyers Association (BRLA), led this year by President Stephen D. Chiaino, is moving ahead with its big and popular Holiday Party at the Lai Yuen Restaurant on Fourth Ave. in Bay Ridge the evening of Dec. 9.
Chairing the party, which is headlined as a “Toys for Tots Drive,” is Rose Ann C. Branda, a former president of the BRLA and the Brooklyn Bar Association. In her announcement, barrister Branda notes that “This year the Bay Ridge Lawyers encourages our members and guests to bring one unwrapped toy to the party. All toys will be donated to the children of our servicemen and women residing at the Fort Hamilton Army Base.” Lending an experienced had in the evening’s arrangements is Judiciary Chair Ray Ferrier, a past BRLA president.
The Toys for Tots theme, adopted this year by the BRLA, is a popular one in Bay Ridge initiated several years ago by former Kings Justice Beth Bonina — then a community organizer — who is sister of former BRLA presidents Andrea and John Bonina Jr.
President Chiaino also notes that his group’s next meeting will take place November 18 at J.T.’s Third Avenue restaurant featuring Hon. Jeffrey Sunshine, the Supervising Judge for Matrimonial Matters, Kings County. His topic: “Matrimonial Law Update: 2009.”
Officers assisting President Chiaino this year are Vice President Boris Zivitov, Secretary Helen Z. Gallette, Treasurer Pasqualino Russo, Corr. Secretary Joann Monaco. The immediate past president is Hon. K. Lai.
PRO BONO BARRISTER is a weekly column dedicated to telling about the good that lawyers do. Send your comments or suggestions to this writer care of this newspaper or to COTEYESQ@aol.com.
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