L.A. Law (TV Series)

Prince Kuzak in a Can (1987)

Harry Hamlin: Michael Kuzak

Photos 

Quotes 

• Mrs. Fields : I came out of the Video Store, and I walked across the street to my car.

  D.D.A. Gylkowski : So you had a clear view of the crosswalk?

  Mrs. Fields : Yes.

  D.D.A. Gylkowski : Mrs. Fields, would you please tell us what happened next?

  Mrs. Fields : The young lady was in crosswalk, and then the car came out of nowhere knocked her down. It didn't even stop. He kept right on going.

  D.D.A. Gylkowski : Mrs. Fields, I know this all happened very fast, but did you get a good look at the driver?

  Mrs. Fields : He was a white man, about 40 years old and he had a mustache.

  D.D.A. Gylkowski : Would you recognize him if you saw him again?

  Mrs. Fields : I believe I could.

  D.D.A. Gylkowski : Do you see him today in this courtroom?

  Mrs. Fields : Yes. Right there.

  [the juries turned and look at the defendant. Sitting with his lawyer Michael Kuzak] 

  Judge Morris Hood : Please stand, sir, and state your name for the record.

  [the man rise] 

  'Not Sears' Jason Cooper : Jason Cooper, Your Honor.

  [That is not Sears. He is not the client represented by Michael Kuzak] 

  Mrs. Fields : What?

  Michael Kuzak : The record will indicate, Your Honor, that the witness has failed to identify the defendant, Joseph Sears who was sitting right behind me. Mr. Cooper is a paralegal working in my office. He's assisting me on this case.

  D.D.A. Gylkowski : Your Honor, I ask that Mr. Kuzak be sanctioned for this deceptive maneuver.

  Michael Kuzak : Hey, I do not have to tolerate that.

  Judge Morris Hood : Take it easy, Mr. Kuzak. Continue, Ms. Gylkowski.

• [Here at Judge Armand's courtroom, D.A. George Handleman got his stuff packed. But suddenly Michael Kuzak have a word with D.A. Handleman] 

  D.A. George Handleman : Hi, Mike.

  Michael Kuzak : You want to tell me you're thinking, George? You got a million drug busts backing up like sewage. There aren't enough courtrooms to handle your current caseload of axe murderers, and yet you continue to press for a jury trial on a lousy hooker beef?

  D.A. George Handleman : Hello, George, how are you? I'm fine, Mike, thanks. Smogs a bitch, ain't it?

  Michael Kuzak : Can we cut through the crap here, please?

  D.A. George Handleman : You want to slow down and tell me what you're talking about?

  Michael Kuzak : Lurline Connors. This case never should have gone to court in the first place. And if it hadn't, there's an outside chance that Sid Hershberger would be alive today.

  D.A. George Handleman : Sid wanted that trial, not me. I offered him a lousy fine and credit for time served, so get the hell off my back before I knock you down.

  Michael Kuzak : I'm sorry. I thought that...

  D.A. George Handleman : Think again.

  Michael Kuzak : Well, is the offer still good?

  D.A. George Handleman : Of course it is. I'm not looking to build a career on 50 buck hooker trial for God's sake.

  [D.A. Handleman walk away, but Kuzak offers an apology] 

  Michael Kuzak : George...

  [Mr. Handleman turned back to Kuzak] 

  Michael Kuzak : I'm sorry about the attitude. I've been under a lot of pressure.

  D.A. George Handleman : Forget it. You took his caseload, didn't you?

  Michael Kuzak : Yeah. Don't ask me why, because I don't know.

  [Thinking straight] 

  Michael Kuzak : I'll see you in court.

  D.A. George Handleman : Mike, are you right?

  Michael Kuzak : Yeah. Why?

  D.A. George Handleman : Because I'm not. Ever since Sid ate his gun, I've been having nightmares. I'm afraid to go to sleep at night. I'm depressed, I'm anxious. I had to go back to my shrink. That's the most awful thing I've ever seen in my life. Man, it makes you stop and think about stuff you don't want to stop and think about.

  [Mr. Handleman will be leaving] 

• Mrs. Fields : They look a lot alike.

  D.D.A. Gylkowski : I agree.

  Michael Kuzak : Objection.

  D.D.A. Gylkowski : Withdrawn. Mrs. Fields, I show a photograph and ask you if you recognize it.

  Mrs. Fields : Yes. The police showed me about ten pictures on the night of the accident. I picked this one out as being the man driving the car.

  D.D.A. Gylkowski : At this time, I would like to introduce into evidence a picture of Mr. Joseph Sears taken at the Culver City Police Department at the time of booking.

  Michael Kuzak : No objection, Your Honor.

  D.D.A. Gylkowski : No further questions for Mrs. Fields, Your Honor.

  Michael Kuzak : No questions.

  Judge Morris Hood : You may step down.