It is day one for Trevor Elliott’s trial in The Lincoln Lawyer season 1 episode 7.
The Lincoln Lawyer: Case File for season 1 episode 7
‘Lemming Number Seven’
Written by Zach Calig
Directed by David Grossman
Who exactly is juror #7? Despite the rules for juror anonymity, Mickey asks Cisco to find out more about juror #7 as well as Sergei Kosevich. Trevor Elliott’s trial begins on schedule.
Lorna helps Hayley when she has a run in with a fellow soccer player and Lorna decides about law school. Maggie has a close call when getting details from Tanya Cruz about Angelo Soto.
Let us investigate further our case file for The Lincoln Lawyer S1E7 ‘Lemming Number Seven’.
Refresh your memory:
- Angelo Soto has been indicted on human trafficking charges. He is accused of using Filipino immigrants as slave labor in his nursing care facilities.
- Tanya Cruz is Angelo Soto’s girlfriend. She is pregnant with Soto’s daughter. Tanya began working for Soto as an immigrant and found favor with the businessman. She knows he uses illegal practices in his business and wants to raise her daughter away from him. Tanya has agreed to work with the District Attorney’s office to prosecute Soto. Mickey is representing Tanya’s interests while she agrees to help the DA.
- Jan Rilz was murdered alongside Lara Elliott in her Malibu beach house. He was having an affair with Lara and other married women including Neema Shavar who is now divorced from Anton Shavar. Jan filed a restraining order against Anton over a threatening interaction.
- Carol DuBois is the insurance agent that Lorna visited because she was also a client of Jan Rilz. Carol shared that she financially supported Jan’s plans for a yoga retreat in Joshua Tree.
- Trevor Elliott admits that Juror #7 has been bribed by the defense but claims no knowledge of the details. It is a mystery as to how he could have been identified and bribed prior to jury selection. Lorna has doubts about him really being an engineer after seeing his messy car.
- Sergei Kosevich is the father of Pavel Kosevich, Trevor’s college roommate. Trevor told Mickey that Kosevich, who is known for his mafia associations, financed Parallax. Trevor claims Kosevich will do anything necessary to ensure that the business acquisition goes through, so he gets his money back.
A dangerous favor
Mickey sits on his patio overlooking the city the night before the trial begins. Cisco startles him when he approaches. Mickey has called Cisco there to speak in person about a favor.
Mickey tells Cisco he needs a favor that could threaten his investigator’s license if caught. Loyal to a fault, Cisco asks Mickey who he wants him to murder. Mickey quickly confirms that is not what he is asking him to do.
Mickey asks Cisco to get information on bribed juror #7 despite the anonymity laws in place. The attorney also wants Cisco to find out all that he can about Sergei Kosevich.
Cisco does not understand why Mickey is worried since the bribery crime already took place without Mickey’s participation. Would not client confidentiality protect Mickey? Mickey explains that the crime of jury tampering does not take place until the jury deliberates. He would be responsible for not reporting a crime that has not yet happened.
Cisco agrees to help and understands that the plan to file a continuance would have generated a new jury pool. Someone killed Jerry to keep juror #7 on board.
Changing Lincolns
Once again, we see Mickey talking to Izzy as they drive down the same mysterious desert road. Izzy asks what happens if an attorney is required to report a future crime, but reporting would endanger the attorney’s life. The camera shifts to current time outside Mickey’s house.
Izzy has arrived to drive Mickey to court for trial. Mickey gets a call from Griggs about the idea of Jerry paying a bribe. Knowing that the Lincoln is bugged, Mickey quickly exits the car, pops the hood and removes a part from the engine.
Of course, the car will not start when Izzy turns the key. Mickey gets Izzy to play along with the faux car problem. He asks her to drive him to court saying they will pick up a different Lincoln later in the day. Izzy is confused but complies.
Mickey has eliminated the audio surveillance, at least for now.
At trial
Everyone settles into the courtroom. Lorna is surprised to see Carol DuBois take a seat in the gallery. Maggie and Hayley are also on hand to support Mickey.
Judge Stanton calls for opening statements. Golantz begins for the prosecution ensuring the jurors that he will clearly prove that Trevor Elliott is guilty. Mickey makes a joke about the jurors needing a break after Golantz’s lengthy statement.
We flash to the desert road and Mickey tells Izzy that he likes to use opening statements for raise doubts that will make the juror anxious to learn more. He also points out the unique opportunity during opening statements to occupy the close up and personal space right in front of the jury called “the proving grounds”.
Mickey points out to the jury that Golantz referred multiple times to a gun that has not even been found. Furthermore, his client Trevor Elliott has never owned or shot a gun. The defense attorney refers to the police having “tunnel vision” ignoring any other possible suspect or motive in the murders.
Bathroom break
During a break, Lorna encounters Carol DuBois in the ladies room. Carol has harsh words for Lorna as she criticizes lawyers. Carol assures Lorna that she will be at the trial to watch Trevor Elliott receive a guilty verdict for killing her dear friend Jan. Lorna quickly points out that she is not a lawyer and makes a quick exit from the restroom.
In the hallway, Maggie talks to Detective Lankford about the deal with Tanya Cruz. Lankford makes a snide remark about the possibility of Mickey messing up the deal.
Maggie approaches Mickey and shares the good news that she has secured a year of relocation and support for his client Tanya Cruz. The deal was made possible with the help of her boss Janelle Simmons and the Victims Compensation Fund.
Mickey asks about Hayley and Maggie points at that she is busy looking at her phone. Maggie mentions that she needs to find a ride to soccer practice for Hayley. Lorna quickly volunteers hoping to get away from Carol DuBois. Maggie thanks her and Mickey offers for Hayley to spend the evening at his house doing homework while he gets ready for trial day two.
Back in session
Deputy Murray is on the stand. He has just completed his first year on patrol. Golantz’s strategy is to allow Murray to emphasize Trevor’s demeanor when the deputies arrived. A video of the deputies arriving on scene plays in the courtroom.
Murray suggests that Trevor did not show much emotion and declared his innocence on at least three different occasions. He also points out that when they arrived, Trevor appeared to be casually scrolling through email on his phone.
Cross
On cross-examination, Mickey points out that Deputy Murry is not a psychologist or an expert in reading someone’s emotions. He also refers to Murray’s relatively short time on the job. Mickey shoots down the idea of Trevor checking his email, suggesting he may very well have been searching for news reports about a murderer in the area.
Haller makes an issue of Murray’s partner holding a gun on Trevor right away even though he was not under arrest. Mickey goes on to catch Murray almost calling a Trevor a “suspect” before quickly switching to the word “subject”. The Lincoln Lawyer counters that being handcuffed could very well make him feel the need to declare his innocence.
Murray attempts to justify the handcuffing as a safety precaution before the scene was cleared. But why did the deputies put Trevor in the car with his hands cuffed behind him and no way to exit the car with the safety locks in place? Their actions seem biased towards Trevor being a suspect.
Next up Detective Kinder
There is another brief break before the next witness is called. Golantz and Haller are in the restroom at the same time. Golantz tells Mickey that he is glad Mickey was not on the case the whole time. He thinks Mickey would have tried to keep the video of Trevor with deputies out of discovery unlike Jerry who allowed it.
Detective Kinder takes the stand and testifies that Trevor Elliott failed to tell authorities that his first stop at the house was the garage where he saw his wife’s vehicle. This means Trevor knew Lara was there. Kinder also shares that Trevor waited five minutes before calling 911.
The screen shifts to the ongoing desert road dialogue between Mickey and Izzy. Mickey tells Izzy that you do not want to end a trial day with the prosecution. As the defense, you want to have the last word of the day leaving the last impression on the jurors.
Sure enough, Mickey asks to cross-examine Kinder even though it is nearly 4:30 pm. He assures Judge Stanton that he only has a couple of questions. The judge obliges.
Mickey asks Kinder who else they investigated for the murders. When Kinder says no one else was investigated, Mickey asks why Anton Shavar was not considered. After all, Jan Rilz, the other victim, had recently asked for a restraining order against Shavar for threatening him. There you go, Mickey has the last word of the day as court recesses for day one.
Drama at soccer
Lorna finds herself on the soccer field breaking up a shoving match between Hayley and one of the other soccer players named Misha. Lorna makes both girls apologize. Coach Jo asks Lorna who she is, and Lorna confidently replies that she is Hayley’s ex-stepmother.
Later in the car, Lorna asks Hayley about the fight with Misha. Hayley explains that the other players are giving her a hard time about her dad defending Trevor Elliott. They all see him as a guilty rich guy using his status to get away with murder.
Lorna tells Hayley that she admires both her mom and dad for the important services they provide their clients. She calls Maggie a hero for fighting for justice and commends Mickey for providing a fair defense that everyone deserves knowing that at least one of them could be innocent.
Hayley appreciates Lorna’s input and wonders why she is not a lawyer herself.
Meanwhile at the OB/GYN
Tanya arrives to her OB/GYN appointment with Soto. She signs in and grabs a key for the ladies room. Maggie is waiting for Tanya in the restroom to get her testimony about Soto. Maggie is surprised that Soto also came to the appointment. Tanya says she insisted.
Maggie explains that she is wearing a wire to record their conversation since she is not able to testify in the proceedings. Tanya shares a story about a fellow immigrant friend that worked in one of Soto’s facilities. This woman spoke with an immigration lawyer about the working conditions and what options she had.
Tanya was surprised that Soto did not get angry when he learned of the meeting with the lawyer. That evening Tanya drove Soto to the Namayan Flower Shop. Tanya waited outside for some time wondering what was going on. Soto brought flowers to Tanya.
Unfortunately, Soto told Tanya the next day that he sent her friend back to her home country. Tanya knew it was a lie and believed her friend had been killed.
Soto grabs a key
Soto notices that Tanya has been gone for a while. He grabs a restroom key and confronts her about what is taking so long. She tells him that if he plans to ask questions about her pregnant body, he should not come to the appointments. He searches the restroom and sees a closed stall.
Soto slams the stall open, but no one is there. The camera shifts to Maggie walking to Lankford’s car. She made it out unnoticed.
Cooking with Teddy
Mickey stops at the Road Saints’ clubhouse. Teddy describes his grilling method as he prepares a steak. Mickey asks Teddy if he will help him. Teddy reminds Mickey that he “owes [him] for Cisco” already. He suggests that he may not want to owe Teddy for much more. But, yes, he will help Mickey. With what we wonder?
Back at the car, Izzy fears that Mickey was there to buy drugs. He assures her that he was not there for that. He proceeds to tell her about the surveillance device in the other Lincoln. Cisco now searches the other Lincoln every day along with Izzy’s car, much to her surprise.
Staking out the flower shop
Lankford and Maggie sit outside the Namayan Flower Shop watching and taking surveillance photos. They talk about difficulties sharing work stories with their respective exes. Lankford also gives Maggie a heads up that Detective Griggs asked him about Mickey. Maggie wonders why and Lankford says Griggs knew he had been on a case opposing Mickey. Maggie wonders if she should be concerned for Mickey. Lankford says there should not be a problem if Mickey has not done something wrong.
The attorney and detective note the tagging on the sides of the shop and the absence of tagging on the shop itself. They surmise that the shop is paying taxes to the gang or perhaps part of the gang. Maggie recognizes the tags as belonging to “BNG” from a prior case. Lankford will talk to Hollywood Division to ask for gang names.
Meeting with Hollywood Division
Detective Kyle Winters and Detective Lopez arrive to give information to Maggie and Lankford. Winters recalls working on a case across from Mickey. Lankford tells Maggie it was the Jesus Menendez case he spoke to her about. Detective Lopez formerly worked in vice and is familiar with gang member names.
Winters and Lopez suggest that Maggie and Lankford look into Alvin Aquino who is currently on parole after a murder conviction. He makes deliveries for the Namayan Flower Shop.
Cisco tails #7
Cisco follows juror #7 home. At nightfall, he watches as the juror throws out his trash. Cisco climbs into the dumpster to look through the trash bag for information.
Lorna calls Cisco as he stands in the dumpster searching the trash. Lorna announces that she has decided to return to law school. Cisco is supportive but interrupted by a resident asking why he is digging through the trash. The resident threatens to call the police. Cisco urges him not to saying he is just looking for something his girlfriend threw out after a fight.
Cisco reports to Mickey
Hayley works on homework while Mickey prepares for trial the next day. Hayley wonders when Mickey is going to ask about her altercation with Misha. Mickey will talk to her about it later.
Cisco arrives to tell Mickey that juror #7 is a fraud. He is not an engineer and does not live in Palos Verdes. His name is McSweeney, and he has a police record. As far as Sergei Kosevich, he appears to be very dangerous with ties to the mafia. Cisco says Sergei’s son Pavel was Trevor’s roommate just like he told Mickey.
Cisco describes Sergei as very dangerous. He recalls members of the Road Saints who struggled to live with what they were asked to do for the club. Cisco fears for Mickey and his family if he disappoints Sergei.
Trial the next day
There is a delay in starting trial. Judge Stanton calls Golantz and Mickey to his chambers. Stanton announces that he received an anonymous communication about juror #7 misrepresenting himself. The name on the jury summons is Rodney Bankland, but Rodney Bankland reports that he never received the jury notice in the mail.
The man impersonating Bankland did not show up to jury this morning. Stanton questions Mickey who feigns disbelief that the judge would think he was a participant in jury tampering. Stanton is ready to call a mistrial, but Mickey implores him to use an alternate juror and keep going.
Mickey believes a mistrial and delay would negatively affect thoughts about Trevor. Golantz is fine with going ahead with trial because he feels so confident in his case. The judge agrees and trial will resume the next day.
Trevor’s response
Trevor is angry with Mickey and assumes he is responsible for the judge learning of the tampering. Mickey claims he is not responsible and that this now allows them to win legitimately. Trevor is not so sure and expresses fears about a reaction from Kosevich.
Back on the mysterious desert road, Mickey talks to Izzy about exceptions to client confidentiality. He explains that an attorney must report a crime that is about to happen unless the attorney can put a stop to the crime. Hmm. . .
Checking on Maggie
That night Mickey makes a call to Maggie to check in with her. She asks about the investigation into Jerry’s murder to find out if there is an issue with Griggs and Mickey like Lankford alluded to. Mickey says he does not know anything more about the investigation and does not mention any concern with Griggs.
As Mickey talks on the phone, he looks into Maggie’s front window to see Maggie and Hayley sitting on the couch. They do not know he is right outside driving by. They say goodnight on the phone.
As Mickey drives away, he sees two of the Road Saints sitting in a truck. He nods to them and drives on. We assume that the favor Mickey asked of Teddy was protection for Maggie and Hayley.
Sidebar
I enjoy the relationship between Hayley and Lorna. I think Lorna cares very much for Hayley and wants to be of support to her. Likewise, Hayley seems to appreciate having another adult in her life that she can trust, getting the perspective of someone other than her parents. Also, Lorna taking charge of the situation at the soccer game was delightful!
Closing argument
I am getting nervous for Mickey as he leans on the Road Saints for support and becomes further embedded in Trevor’s entanglements with Kosevich. While he tries to comply with the law, the lines seem to grow fuzzier.
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