What is the subject matter of the film/movie The Verdict is?
The Verdict is also a courtroom drama, directed by
Sidney Lumet. This movie is adapted from a novel written by Barry Reed. It is
about an alcoholic lawyer who had lost all his hopes in his family and career.
To regain his self -esteem and his confidence, he took a medical malpractice
case. He was getting a heavy amount for out of court settlement, but he
rejected that offer. He wanted to be loyal for his career for once. He visited
the victim and decided to fight for it. This story is all about loyalty,
humanity, and gaining self-esteem. This broken man had a chance to gain his
lost confidence, and he grabbed it without a delay.
What is the theme of the film/movie The Verdict is?
Frank Galvin tests our sense of humanity. I had a
sympathetic feeling for this lawyer who has seen better times in his past. From
my perspective, this movie is about a negligence case that the lawyer had to
settle. Negligence can be precisely defined as a court action based on torts. A
tort, in law jurisdictions, is a civil wrong that causes someone else to suffer
resulting in legal responsibility for the person who commits such tortious
acts. Here, the doctors were held responsible for the negligence shown towards
their patients. I realized the enormity of the crime committed, and I strongly
support the lawyer's act of declining the offer of an out-of-court settlement.
From my perspective, the lawyer had a wish to spread awareness about the
punishments the court can impose on the doctors, and the authorities in such
cases of negligence, that may cost the life of the patients. An out-of-court
settlement could never have sent such a strong message to the society, and
therefore, the risk he took was justified. Frank's ethically eloquent and
intense closing speech to the jury is compelling.
But, there were certain situations where my
previously held opinions were challenged. Frank Gavin had been offered a large
settlement amount of $210,000, but he turns down the offer without even
consulting his client. Lawyers are supposed to make recommendations to their
clients instead of taking decisions themselves. The other professional
irresponsibility comes to the scene where the offer is made and turned down in
the presence of the judge. The movie also raised a serious issue of the extent
of representation when it comes to corporations. The lawyers cannot communicate
directly with the represented persons
Conclusive and common reflection/reaction to The Verdict:
The movies put me in a dilemma over the extent of ethics
involved while defending such critical cases. The emotions and the agony of the
client cannot push the lawyer beyond rules and law. The lawyer can still strive
to find efficient ways to defend the case without compromising his ethics.