1. Philadelphia A Movie Project by: Rigoberto Garcia William Gibbs Jena Grady Cameron Harkey Mari Jo Hunter Mahmood Hussain http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cl4B9AU45P4&feature=related

2. Main Characters Andrew Beckett – Tom Hanks A gay lawyer that works for Wyant and Wheeler that is fired after it is discovered that he is sick with AIDS Joe Miller – Denzel Washington An personal injury attorney who represents Andrew in the lawsuit against the firm Charles Wheeler – Jason Robards Head of the law firm Wyant and Wheeler Belinda Conine –Mary Steenberger Attorney for Wyant and Wheeler

3. Summary Andrew Beckett is a young lawyer that is hired at one of Philadelphia’s largest law firms Wyant and Wheeler One of the senior partners at the law firm gives Andrew a very important case. During this time Andrew has lesions which are a very noticeable sign of AIDS. Another partner notices the lesions on Andrew’s forehead that Andrew claims is a bruise caused by a racquetball. While staying at home to cover his lesions, Andrew finishes his paperwork for the case and leaves it at the office for his assistant to file before the statue of limitations for the case. Andrew later receives a call from his assistant that cannot find the paperwork until the very last minute in a different location that Andrew put it in and all copies on the computer hard drive deleted. A day later Andrew is fired for his incompetence.

4. Summary Andrew believes that the paperwork was hidden in order for the firm to have a reason to fire him and to hide that they were actually firing him to Andrew having AIDS Andrew goes to several lawyers to take his case, and eventually goes to Joe Miller who at first declines his case and later accepts it after witnessing the discrimination Andrew faces and changing his beliefs about people with AIDS. When the case goes to court, the partners continually attack that Andrew was incompetent and that he tried to hide that he has AIDS. Andrew is hospitalized after collapsing during final cross-examination. Jury awards him lost earnings and punitive damages and Andrew dies a couple of days later.

5. How Andrew had a Prima facie case… Basic Duties of Employee – Duty of Care Americans with Disabilities Act of 1990 – Definition of an individual with a disability: – “has a physical or mental impairment that greatly limits on or more major life activities” – Reasonable Accommodation v. Undue Hardship

6. Voir Dire 12 Jurors must be selected by the two attorneys. Prospective Jurors can be excluded from the trial for a number of reasons.

7. Finding Guilt Criminal – Beyond a Reasonable Doubt Civil – Preponderance of evidence

8. Opening Statements The opening statement is each sides chance to give an overview of what is being presented and how they will prove that they are right. They will lay out each step and talk about why the steps are important. The plaintiff’s attorney or prosecutor will be allowed to speak first (Arizona Superior Court). The defense will then have the choice between presenting their opening statement immediately after the plaintiff’s attorney or after the plaintiff’s side has presented their case (Superior Court of California).

9. Plaintiff’s Case Plaintiff bears the burden of proving the fault of the defendant in the trial. This is done through: Evidence Presentation Witness Testimony and Deposition Voir Dire Defense Witness Cross-Examination

10. Witness Questioning Witnesses are sworn in under oath. They are obligated to tell the truth under penalty felony perjury charges. Witnesses help the attorneys present their case to the judge and jury through personal recollection of experience or events, expert testimony and personal reference.

11. Defendant’s Case The defense is tasked with the undertaking of refuting the plaintiff’s case and presenting the defendant’s perspective of the situation. To prove their case, the defense uses: Evidence Presentation Witness Testimony and Deposition Voir Dire Plaintiff Witness Cross-Examination

12. Jury Deliberation After both sides present their cases and closing arguments, the jury is tasked, in private, to find the fault or responsibility in the case and assess damages if found necessary.

13. Verdict After Deliberating, the jury gives the judge their opinion on the case.

14. Damages Assessed by Jury and/or Judge. Damages can ranges from monetary to desisting of action by either party depending on the verdict. Damages can be assessed to both plaintiffs and defendants. Ex. Punitive Damages:$4,882,000 Lost Wages: $147,000 Action: Cease Construction on Consecrated burial ground.

15. Appeals Verdicts can be overturned or stayed by an Appellate Court. The responsibility of the Appellate Court is to find whether or not the law was followed properly in the trial in question. NOTE - It is important to remember that the case is not being re-tried.

16. Questions (REWARDS FOR ANSWERS) Do you think that Andrew Beckett was fired for the fact that he was infected with AIDS, or because he was homosexual? Do you think it was fair that Andrew Beckett was fired for concealing the fact that he had AIDS? Do you think that the damages assessed (Punitive Damages:$4,882,000 Lost Wages: $147,000) were fair? Why or Why not? If you were Wyant Wheeler (The big bad law firm), what would you do?