Law & Order (TV Series)

Suicide Box (2003)

Gregory Hines: Carl Halpert

Quotes 

• M.E. Gail Berardi : As one of the assistant medical examiners, it was my function to perform autopsies.

  Carl Halpert : And you performed the autopsy on Eric Thomas, did you?

  M.E. Gail Berardi : That was eight years ago. I don't remember, but if the records show that I did, I won't argue.

  Carl Halpert : I show you what has been marked Defendant's Exhibit D. Do you recognize it, Dr. Berardi?

  M.E. Gail Berardi : Those are my initials, yes.

  Carl Halpert : Please tell the court what it is.

  M.E. Gail Berardi : We call it the M.E.'s Summary Report.

  Carl Halpert : It contains the bottom line on the case?

  M.E. Gail Berardi : That's correct. Typically, there are detailed reports found inside the folder.

  Carl Halpert : Mm-hmm. But, alas, this one's empty. Could that mean the that detailed work you spoke of was not performed in this case?

  M.E. Gail Berardi : Absolutely not. I couldn't have completed the summary if I hadn't done the work.

  Carl Halpert : And you know it was a suicide because this little box is checked?

  M.E. Gail Berardi : That's correct. While at the M.E.'s Office I performed thousands of autopsies, and I followed the exact same procedure with each of them.

  Carl Halpert : Okay, tell us what happens after you check the little suicide box.

  M.E. Gail Berardi : The case is deemed closed.

  Carl Halpert : And the detectives stop working?

  M.E. Gail Berardi : That's correct.

  Carl Halpert : So, hypothetically, if a detective was stumped or if he just didn't feel like investigating the case, you could help him out by making a little check here . . .

  M.E. Gail Berardi : That is absurd.

  Carl Halpert : But it's possible.