L.A. Law (TV Series)

Ex-Wives and Videotape (1990)

Andy Romano: Lawyer Barney Dowe

Quotes 

• Lawyer Barney Dowe : In 23 years of practice, Your Honor, I've never been as outrageous I am at this moment. This woman stands to have her entire career ruined because that man wants to take moments of intimacy between a husband and wife and make them into pornography.

  Arnie Becker : Your Honor, the tape is what it is, my client is not making it into anything.

  Judge Grace Van Owen : He is making it public, Mr. Becker, and I have agreed to seal this courtroom for the reason that to reveal the very existence of this tape could cause irreparable damage.

  Lawyer Barney Dowe : Your Honor, that's exactly what Mr. Vogel wants to do is vehement in spitefulness for his former wife were matched only by his greed.

  Arnie Becker : Your Honor, that's just nonsense, the property settlement between these two people itemizes everything that goes to Miss Peters, it gives all rights in the remainder to my client.

  Judge Grace Van Owen : Mr. Becker, is there any indication that Miss Peters would have knowingly authorized the distribution of this tape?

  Arnie Becker : My client's an accomplished photographer, he took a great many pictures of his wife, in each case, she authorized their use.

  Lawyer Barney Dowe : Mr. Becker, we're not talking about photographs here. We're talking about videotape footage of marital acts.

  Judge Grace Van Owen : Without getting overly graphic, gentlemen. Can you give me a sense of what is in this tape?

  Lawyer Barney Dowe : [sighs]  Several variations quotas.

  Arnie Becker : Compared to what's out there is pretty wholesome stuff.

  Lawyer Barney Dowe : It won't be any to wholesome some guy standing and apply the booth, slamming quarters into the damn thing to see it.

  Arnie Becker : This would be intended for home video market only.

  Judge Grace Van Owen : OK, I have heard enough. Mr. Becker, your client is enjoying from exhibiting this tape commercially. Miss Peters retains the right to determine how her name and likeness are to be used. Nothing in this divorce agreement anticipated this. Nothing in it gives him the right to do it.

  Lawyer Barney Dowe : Your Honor, we also requested that Mr. Vogel turnover all extra copies now under his control.

  Judge Grace Van Owen : That I cannot order. The agreement clearly grants all possession of the tape to Mr. Vogel and I simply don't have the authority to supersede it.

  Rochelle Peters : What about private screenings for, um, 50 or 60 of his closest friends?

  Lawyer Barney Dowe : Your Honor, what's going to happen when this tape starts to circulate privately among friends, party to party.

  Arnie Becker : That's not going to happen.

  Lawyer Barney Dowe : Please, Mr. Becker. Who among us has not seen the Rob Lowe tape? Anyone? Anyone?

  Judge Grace Van Owen : Listen, I have done all I can do. And in fact, given my relationship with Mr. Becker's firm, I may well be forced to recuse myself before this matter comes to trial. Which by the way would be just fine with me.