Final Argument

When Denver lawyer Adam Larsen agrees to defend a malpractice lawsuit against Josie Ballantine, a high-powered real estate broker who also happens to be his girlfriend, he has no idea he is plunging headlong into murder. The plaintiff’s counsel, Daniel T. Scadman, is the meanest, most aggressive lawyer in Colorado. Tempers flare during Josie’s deposition and Larsen intervenes. During the break that follows, Scadman is found, bludgeoned to death, on the floor of Larsen’s conference room. Jack Quinlan, the local furniture mogul who is suing Josie, is outraged by the murder of his lawyer. He hires Scadman’s law partner to sue Larsen and the other attorneys who were present when Scadman was killed. As Quinlan’s lawsuit against Josie moves close to trial she abruptly fires Larsen, placing her faith -- and apparently much more -- into the eager hands of her young insurance lawyer. Larsen turns his attention to defending himself against Quinlan’s second lawsuit, and quickly finds all of the other lawyers in the case aligned against him. Within hours after Larsen’s suspicions lead him to confront a corrupt court reporter, she is found dead -- and Larsen must react quickly to keep from being framed for her murder. A vanished malingerer and an old newspaper article begin to cast light on Scadman’s death; but before the fog fully clears Larsen receives a desperate plea from Josie. A secret from her past has suddenly emerged, turning the Quinlan real estate trial into a disaster. Having a few secrets of his own, Larsen rushes into the hostile courtroom. Ready or not, he must act.