#123 "Possession is Nine Tenths of the Law"
Guest starring John Ritter as "Father Andrews" and Orson Bean as the Arch-Bishop
Lynn represents a priest who is on trial for the murder of a church member who he believes was possessed by the devil. He claims he was trying to exorcise the devil out of her, while the prosecution claims it was the result of a bad relationship. A shocking secret is discovered when we realize Andrés' past is not as simple as it seems when the threat of deportation rears its ugly head.
Music featured in this episode: Holly Cole's "Make It Go Away" from her release Dark Dear Heart.Danni is representing a woman who is suing her husband for half of their $48 million dollar fortune that they made together. It appears that he would rather use the money to fly food to African children in an effort to fight hunger. When Danni gets disgusted by the greed of her client, she passes her onto Rex, who along the way discovers that the husband is merely pretending to use the money for charitable reasons when he really is just trying to keep his soon-to-be ex-wife from getting her share. Randi represents a mentally-challenged couple who are trying to keep custody of their 12-year-old daughter. Michael has been hanging around Lynn's house and she's starting to get drawn in when a summons makes its way to Lynn just in time to throw a red flag on this burgeoning relationship.
Guest starring Red Buttons
Lynn is representing a cop who is thrown in jail after breaking a restraining order that his estranged wife has placed on him. Wanting to be with his kids, Lynn understands and finds a soft spot that leads her to represent his case in court. However, as the custody trial gets underway, we start to see what this man is capable of, which leads him to dire measures that Lynn won't soon forget. Danni pleads the case of Tom Levine, former childhood television icon of the famous "Buddy's Roundup." It seems he is in possession of the real puppet, Buddy, and the owner's family wants it back. After a couple glasses of wine with Lynn, Randi gets in a minor fender bender that we discover is not her fault. However, when the officer suspects that she has had a drink or two, he attempts to test her for a DUI. She refuses and ends up spending the night in jail. Although her case is dismissed, this scare gives Randi a chance to think of what could have happened if she hadn't been so lucky.
During research for Cassie's science report on the environment, Lynn realizes she's not living environmentally sound, so she sets out to make some changes. Rex and Randi team up to represent two brothers who are gang members. One is a murder suspect and the other can identify him at the scene. Randi and Rex work together to try and make sure the RIGHT one ends up serving the time. In the end, it comes with a heavy price and a threat on Rex's life. Danni represents the firm's cleaning woman who miraculously has $500,000 appear in her bank account over a period of time. Claiming she thought she won some lotteries she participated in, Danni attempts to help the woman keep her pot of gold.
#119 - "Playing God" (formerly "Choices")
Lynn goes to court with Gloria Rivers, a woman who runs a foundation that helps children who were born to crack-addicted mothers. She is being taken to court by a woman who was paid $200 by Gloria to get herself sterilized so she wouldn't give birth to anymore babies that she wouldn't be able to raise. During Lynn's misfortunes in court, Michael is making his presence known by giving Lynn a lot more in their divorce settlement. Wanting to know what's up, Lynn discovers that Michael is on the fast track in trying to make a reconciliation happen between them. Danni represents a woman who is planning to send her 6-year-old son off to boarding school in Bhutan because he is supposedly the reincarnation of the High Lama and the boy's father is fighting her in court to stop this from happening.
Rex represents a 78 year old woman accused of drug dealing when it is discovered she is providing medication to the elderly at discount prices. Danni and Randi work together to fight for a Childrens' Services employee, and Danni's friend, who years ago kidnapped a child who had been abused at the hands of his parents. Lynn and Michael try to work together to go camping with the kids for Cassie's birthday. It doesn't work.
Guest starring Bo Derek and Ginna Carter, Dixie's real-life daughter, as "Mary Beth")
Lynn pleads the case of a woman, Janelle, who has worked hard to come back from tough times, in order to gain back custody of her little boy, Adam. It appears that Y2K has caused all of her files to disappear and Lynn sets out to beat the clock so a second chance doesn't escape them. Rex starts what appears will be a battle over support payments to his wife, Camille (that no one knew about). True emotions between them keep it from getting ugly. Meanwhile, Randi attempts to communicate with her daughter, although relations remain strained. It seems that Mary Beth can't get over the fact that Randi took the life of her father, even if he was an abuser. But on the up side, Randi finds out she's a grandmother!
Lynn represents a woman who is suing a televangelist for child support when she believes her nephew is his son. Having greatly loved the now deceased mother of the boy, the minister decides he will gladly pay child support, even after finding out that he really isn't the father. Danni represents a woman, who once was a man, and is now suing for custody of her/his daughter.
Rex and Randi represent a couple whose mentally disturbed son has been found guilty of first degree murder of a young girl. Her parents are now suing the parents of the boy for negligence. After discovering that the adopted boy came from a mother who had bipolar disorder, the firm fights to win this case, claiming he inherited his problems. In the meantime, Danni finds herself representing a man who is fighting his ex-wife for $1 million in lottery winnings that she won before the divorce was final. The ex-wife's new boyfriend is Danni's father.
Lynn represents a woman who has been on the run with her daughter after discovering her husband had molested their child. The father has been trying desperately to locate them so he can throw his ex-wife in jail and regain custody of his daughter. With the help of the man's parents, Lynn works to make sure this man is never allowed to see his daughter again. Danni represents her celebrity hairstylist in a case when he badmouths a potential client in front of a salon full of people because she was not graced with good locks.
Music featured in this episode: Jonatha Brooke's "Is This All?" from her release Plumb.Guest starring Gary Cole
Viveca passes the bar and joins Rex's practice. Her first case is to represent a college football star who illegally parked in a handicapped parking space, putting a paraplegic in danger of being seriously injured. Rex asks for Lynn's help in a case involving a client who spent time in jail for accidentally killing his wife and who now wants back custody of his daughter.
In an effort to boost his public profile, Rex takes the case of a 10-year-old boy, Calvin, who is being prosecuted for murdering another little girl for her bike. Realizing he's in over his head, he asks for Lynn's help in the case, which she reluctantly agrees to. Although charges are eventually dropped, Rex realizes that this boy's life will never be the same. That people will always see him as a murderer. Randi represents a bookstore owner who claims his toughest competition cast a spell on him and ruined his business. Danni entertains the thought of Don's marriage proposal, but decides it's better to break off their fling.
Guest starring Carl Reiner and David Faustino
Lynn finds herself unwillingly acting as the mediator between a couple who are friends of hers. Their eight year old son is dying of AIDS and no one wants to make the decision of whether he should live his last days on medicines that make him miserable, but will prolong his life or to let him die. In the meantime, Danni is representing her 77 year old father after he is involved in a hit and run accident and he's the "runner." Rex enlists the help of a cameraman to shoot a new commercial highlighting his "skills," but finds out the cameraman really wants to be a filmmaker and makes a scathing documentary about Rex and his practices as an ambulance-chasing lawyer.
Rex represents a woman who is being charged with killing her child and abusing the other. For the first time, Rex finds himself a little more emotionally involved in a case, and he doesn't like it. Randi's new client is the spokesman for Mr. Chips potato chips - a terrier named Arthur. It seems that the dog is too old to properly promote the product and Randi is claiming age discrimination. Lynn finds herself tightening the budget around the company and stooping so low as to "troll" for new clients at Rupie's school and the gym.
Guest starring Susan Dey
Lynn and Michael square off over visitation rights for the kids during Thanksgiving. They're also squaring off in court in a battle between an ex-employee of a lingerie company and the owners who fired her after she had a double mastectomy. Meanwhile, Rex is representing the son of a well-known and experienced thief who attempts to follow in his father's footsteps but just doesn't have the brains to pull it off.
Lynn and Randi find themselves short on cash and hunting down clients that haven't paid. Wielding her "thunder," Randi viscously goes after one of them and ends up claiming quite a pot of gold. Rex finds himself representing a man who was accused 30 years ago of bombing the Federal Building, but we find out that his client is lying about being guilty. Danni gains a new client in Carnell Hall, a Los Angeles Laker, who is being sued by a one night stand for child support.
Danni and Rex find themselves at opposite ends of a case involving kids on a soccer team seeking a restraining order against their parents. Seems that the overzealous parents are ruining the game and the kids want to put a stop to it. Andrés comes to Randi asking for her help in representing a housepainter friend of his who has money owed to him from a wealthy former client. They butt heads when Randi tests Andrés' lawyer skills. Lynn finds herself in the rare position of representing an Afghani couple who are trying to stay in the country though the man is wanted for burglary back in their homeland. Lynn battles with doing what she thinks is right and what the law says.
Guest starring Marion Ross and Alan King
Lynn represents a couple who is trying to gain custody of their grandchild after their deceased daughter writes in her will that the nanny should be granted guardianship of the child. Lynn discovers how far people will go in order to get their way, regardless of how it will effect this little child. Rex's homeless brother shows up after a two year absence and Rex sets out to help him get his life in order. Danni finds herself in the position of representing an old Hollywood actor, Hy Adlin, who is suing a paper because he believes that they ruined his career by plublishing that he was dead.
Music featured in this episode: Holly Cole's "All The Pretty Little Horses" from her release Dark Dear Heart.
Lynn works with a family friend who finds out that his rebellious teenage daughter has made a list of people that she wants to kill. Lynn also finds herself in an odd predicament when Stacey, the "other woman" in Michael's life, comes looking for a job after their relationship sours. Danni finds herself in an ongoing love triangle with her engaged ex- boyfriend, Don. Danni is shocked when she finds out that Randi and her assistant have quite a "working relationship."
Randi finds herself in a particularly difficult position - representing a correctional officer who is accused of raping an inmate. And, Randi knows this officer from the jail, where she served her sentence. She finds it difficult to separate her personal experiences with what is required of her as an attorney. Lynn starts to represent a popular, teenage, A-list actor, Cameron Carpenter, in a divorce case against his seventeen year old bride. With millions of dollars on the line, everyone is shocked that the couple are arguing over a video game. Danni is still representing her former college flame and finds it continually more difficult after a kiss between them starts to complicate things.
Lynn tries the case of a divorced mother who is trying to win custody of her children from their racist father. Danni has a new client, Don, who also happens to be an ex-boyfriend. She thinks that the prospects of reuniting are definitely a thought, until she meets his new fiancee. Money-hungry Rex sees dollar signs when he represents a man who was injured by a piece of falling whale blubber. It turns out that the only was to get rid of a beached whale…is to blow it up. However, Rex's client may negotiate Rex right out of his big payday.
Rex and Lynn represent a couple seeking damages from a physician because he neglected to tell them their child would be born with Downs Syndrome. Danni goes from divorce lawyer to marriage counselor when she represents a woman whose marriage could be worked out with a little honest communication and a little Viagra. Randi drops a bomb that her colorful past includes murdering her abusive husband and serving jail time. Lynn sets out to show her ex-husband just how hard it is to be both a professional and a full-time parent.
After the initial shock wears off of losing her husband AND her clients all in the same day, Lynn Holt sets out to rebuild her life and her law practice. With some help from Danni Lipton, an ambitious almost-junior partner, Lynn sub-leases her offices to two other lawyers, Rex Weller and Randi King. Rex is a somewhat unscrupulous slick-talking attorney, while Randi is a man-hating defense lawyer. Lynn also finds herself representing a woman who is trying to win back custody of her children after falling into the perils of drug use once again.
Music featured in this episode: Holly Cole's "Make It Go Away" from her release Dark Dear Heart.
