L.A. Law (TV Series)

Hello and Goodbye (1993)

Brian Reddy: Eric Simms

Quotes 

• [Back here in is the Los Angeles Courthouse in Los Angeles. The testimony continues crossing the examination is Eric Simms, Station Manager of KINX News] 

  Phyllis Wodjack : Mr. Simms, as Station Manager of KINX News, have you set a policy governing the way that your reporters cover the news?

  Eric Simms : Yes. We tell our people to get as close as possible to the event, without breaking the law, of course.

  Phyllis Wodjack : Did Mr. Reeve conform to station policy when covering the self-immolation of Mr. Collins?

  Eric Simms : Yes.

  Phyllis Wodjack : Assisting a suicide is against the law, isn't it?

  Eric Simms : Gordon didn't assist a suicide. He didn't pour the gasoline. He didn't offer a match. He was there to record an event.

  Phyllis Wodjack : How do you respond to the plaintiff's charge that the very act of videotaping encouraged Mr. Collins to kill himself?

  Eric Simms : We've been hit with these charges before. During the riots, we were accused of fermenting the looting, simply because we showed pictures of people looting. But that doesn't change the fact that what was happening was news.

  Phyllis Wodjack : But you could be selective in what stories you pursue.

  Eric Simms : Editorial decisions shouldn't be made by courts. Start telling us what we can and can't cover, and that's the slippery slope to tyranny.

  Phyllis Wodjack : Thank you. Your witness.

• Melina Paros : Thank you. Mr. Simms, are you aware that Mr. Collins notified two other news groups of his planned suicide, only the elected not to cover it citing ethical considerations?

  Eric Simms : When we made that tape available, every station in this city aired it, including the networks and the cable news programs.

  Melina Paros : Last year, didn't you speak to a group of UCLA journalism students, exhorting them to "strive for journalistic integrity?"

  Eric Simms : I did. And that's the same thing I try to empress upon my employees.

  Melina Paros : Last November, did you air footage of a game warden being eaten by an alligator? A skydiver whose parachute didn't open? A home video of a grandmother as she was being gunned down by a drive-by shooting?

  Eric Simms : Yes.

  Melina Paros : And as your October 31st staff meeting, did you exhort your employees to seek out such sensational stories?

  Eric Simms : We're a small station, Ms. Paros, fighting for our share of the audience. Yes, I went after those stories, because that's what people want to watch. And that's why we beat our competition during that Sweeps period.

  Melina Paros : Was Mr. Reeve at this October 31st meeting?

  Eric Simms : Yes.

  Melina Paros : On what date did Mr. Reeve photograph the immolation of Mr. Collins?

  Eric Simms : I believe it was November 5th.

  Melina Paros : Thank you. Nothing further.

• [Here at the witness room. Melina and her plaintiff Belinda Collins sitting quietly. Coming from outside, Phyllis Wodjack and her two defendants Gordon Reeve and Eric Simms has arrived at the witness room, have a seat, talk, and make the offer] 

  Melina Paros : What's your offer?

  Phyllis Wodjack : Mr. Collins made 40,000 a year when he was let go. Assuming he remained healthy, he had another 10 years of earnings. Add loss of love and affection, we're round it up to 500,000, present value of 385.

  Melina Paros : Belinda?

  Belinda Collins : Okay. On one condition. I want you to go on TV and take responsibility for what you did. I want you to say that what you did was immoral.

  Eric Simms : Mrs. Collins, I can't allow Gordon to do that, even if he wanted. We'd be inviting lawsuits from every person who didn't like what we put on the air.

  Belinda Collins : Then I reject your offer.

  [Belinda declines the offer. Phyllis Wodjack is taking Eric Simms outside and leave. While Melina is outside the witness room, waiting for Belinda, but Gordon Reeve want to owe Belinda an apology of how Gordon feel, ashamed and terrible about what happened to Belinda's late husband Bill Collins] 

  Gordon Reeve : Mrs. Collins, I want you to know that. I feel terrible about what happened to your husband, and if I had it to do over... I wish I had done something.

  Belinda Collins : Why didn't you say that under oath?

  [Belinda is leaving with Melina and Gordon will be alone]