Quotes
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Ann Kelsey : Let me make some introductions. Gerald Samuels, Leland McKenzie, our Senior Partner.
Leland McKenzie : Mr. Samuels.
Ann Kelsey : Douglas Brackman.
Gerard Samuels : Nice to meet you.
Leland McKenzie : Please sit.
Douglas Brackman, Jr. : How's everything in Washington?
Gerard Samuels : Well, at this point, everyone's still getting used to everyone else.
Ann Kelsey : Are you spending most of your time there?
Gerard Samuels : I go back and forth. One aspect of political life is remaining in a state of continual availability.
Douglas Brackman, Jr. : In other words, when your President needs you, they are no excuses.
Gerard Samuels : Right.
Douglas Brackman, Jr. : God, I love that.
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Leland McKenzie : [laughing] What's your background, Mr. Samuels? How did you come to be a part of the Clinton inner circle?
Gerard Samuels : Well, I was pretty much of an academic. I got my doctorate in labor relations and organizational development at MIT. I got to know Bob Reich pretty much through attending conferences. I think I delivered a paper he was particularly interested in at one point. And we got to be friends. Plus when I moved out here I got to know Mickey Kantor.
Douglas Brackman, Jr. : Through Bob Reich?
Gerard Samuels : No, actually, we were introduced by a friend who worked at Manatt, which was also Mickey's firm.
Leland McKenzie : I'm curious, how come you didn't take this to Manatt?
Gerard Samuels : Well, it was our feeling we wanted this to be handled by a firm without Washington connections.
Douglas Brackman, Jr. : And, tragically, that's us.
Ann Kelsey : How can we help you, Mr. Samuels?
Gerard Samuels : For a number of years now, mental hospitals have been releasing patients into the community without making any real adequate provision for follow-up care. As a result, two things are happening: people who are in need of treatment haven't been getting it. And our cities have been inundated with, uh... disoriented, sometimes dangerous individuals who constitute a threat to themselves as well as those around them. I want to bring a test case by suing San Fernando Psychiatric.
Leland McKenzie : Now, generally, you need a relationship or a nexus to the event you're suing over.
Gerard Samuels : I'm a concerned citizen. We believe that's nexus enough.
Ann Kelsey : And when you say we, who are you referring to?
Gerard Samuels : I'm referring to various individuals at the highest levels of the Clinton Administration.
[Douglas was impressive]
Douglas Brackman, Jr. : I think you've got a great case.
[Ann Kelsey will like that]
