The Paper Chase (1973)

[@lauriesolis1074]

I had an archaeology professor just like this. We were all terrified of him. Most students avoided him, but I know that I learned more from him than the 'nicer' professors because he toughened me up and pushed me to always do my absolute best. Funny story - 20 years later I had emailed him to thank him and let him know my accomplishments and he answered me, "Yes. Well, that's what you were supposed to do." LOL. I died - that was so him. I still love and respect that man.

[@sambascom2884]

How was he terrifying?? What did he mean when he said that's what you're supposed to do??

[@johntomlinson6849]

Sounds like a bumptious bully

[@mottthehoople693]

@@sambascom2884 lol hahahhaha

[@mottthehoople693]

@@johntomlinson6849 lol what a softcock....

[@JMarieCAlove]

There’s nothing wrong about a nicer professor because they can still toughen you up and shape the same way. But why would you need to be toughened up? You have to want to do your best on your own if you want a certain career that you love and thrive on. Having a professor should never be intimidating or other students be afraid enough to avoid that kind of professor. It’s almost like how teachers were when my parents were in elementary school in the 1940s and 50s, strict and intimidating, raised their voices and humiliate the student. Luckily both my mom and dad did very good in school, the their teachers put the fear in them to be good students. My parents are in their 80s and think kids have it too easy now. It’s also ok for school teachers and college professors to be strict and tough but not to the point where students hate their teachers in the end. lol

[@Studio-62]

The dark haired student with the beard in the back row was my high school English teacher, Mr. Edelstein. He told us about his role when I was his student in Toronto in the mid 70s, where the interior shots were filmed. He said Lindsay Wagner was a real “hippie chick”.

[@KennethKetchum]

wOW what a great teacher and experience you had. loving this movie brings back memories of how i became litigation paralegal. not all of us became lawyers but I now work for DANY, the real law-and-order. such an inspiring film. hats off to your teacher. thanks for sharing.

[@LeonAllanDavis]

I used to have a law professor who would outline a case then ask the question: "what should the verdict be?" After ten minutes of back and forth, he would say, "the correct answer is, I don't know; you don't know; and the judge doesn't know. Only a jury knows and all too often, they get it wrong."

[@theridz1981]

See that's what I would think is the hardest part about being a trial lawyer. For all your knowledge of the law. Years of studying interpretations of the law. Having an understanding when it applies, and when it doesn't. It's all going to come down garbage men, plumbers, gas station attendants.... people who do not understand the law the way you do. And if you can't get them to understand in a matter of a couple of days (8 years of law school simplified for them in 2-5 days) Then you've lost.

[@LeonAllanDavis]

@@theridz1981 Left a reply but it didn't link to your comment. It's there however...

[@theridz1981]

@@LeonAllanDavis huh?

[@LeonAllanDavis]

@@theridz1981 Sorry...I left a reply to your post but it didn't properly link. I thought it might appear close by...

[@paradoxdea]

It was truly a trick question.

[@r5t6y12]

"Loudly Mr. Hart, fill this ruuummmm with your intelligence".

[@darrowdapper9659]

Rhum

[@thomasb1033]

The neck shrug to follow was epic

[@tod3msn]

What is often misunderstood about Professor Kingsfield character and the “Paper Chase Movie” is that it is a salute to the ideals of education because Professor Kingsfield has dedicated his life to educating students to be the best lawyers they can be and is not interested in wealth or power but rather the expansion of the mind. Legal education is used because it is integral to society and many shows are about lawyers. People can relate to the topic but the real point of the show is the power of education and those who dedicate their lives to it.

[@americancitizen7937]

I wish my professors had been this guy!

[@protamine4]

I have been practicing for 25 years but whenever I see this movie and especially this scene my hands get sweaty. I also remember right before classes first started I made sure I checked to see if there were reading assignments posted (there were).

[@LongHuynh-bx5ll]

They always were

[@commonsense9474]

I’ve been practising 13 years i know exactly what you mean.

[@nysguy07]

One of the best movies ever. Perfect cast led by Houseman.

[@christophersantana5895]

nysguy07 don't forget Lindsey Wagner.

[@plusfour1]

Houseman did win an Oscar for his performance

[@nysguy07]

@@plusfour1 Of course he did, well deserved.

[@yulongutk]

I am from China, I saw this movie when I was a middle-school student. I came to the US for my graduation school, after tremendous effort, I found a job and settled here with my career, my wife and I raised one son, ... I cannot deny how this movie changed my life and spirit for decades. And that spirit goes on.

[@bertroost1675]

Ni de laojia zai na?

[@travellerworld8966]

So you watched this film in China ? How was it possible ? was in on Chinese TV ?

[@yulongutk]

@@travellerworld8966 Yes, in sometime between 1980s and 1990s. Hard to believe China was so open in the past.

[@travellerworld8966]

@@yulongutk I see. Thanks to Deng Xiaoping's open policy, you could find an opportunity. But it's completely different story now under Xi's dynastry in closed China. Shame.

[@JameBlack]

​@@yulongutkwhy didnt you study the law in China?

[@tjo1984]

I just started law school and the first case I read in contracts was Hawkins v McGee, the "hairy hand" case. This professor stated the facts of the case exactly right. I love my contracts professor, but she can be tough on cold calls. This guy isn't so bad!

[@nicholasbyrd1964]

So what's the answer? what should the doctor pay?

[@liamharney4997]

@@nicholasbyrd1964 the difference in value between a perfectly good hand (what he was promised) and a working hand that is hairy (what he got). That value is determined by the jury if there is one.

[@velvetbees]

I have never studied law, but I thought they might consider the income the child could potentially make over a lifetime vs the income he would likely make with the hairy hand. With a child there isn't any actual work history to base it on, so I am probably wrong. But it is one way of looking at calculating loss for a personal injury.

[@tjo1984]

@@velvetbees the only claim that survived in this case was a contracts case, not a personal injury case.

[@amardeepalhan4038]

I studied Carlill vs Carbolic smoke ball....😮

[@toddyoung1160]

I loved this and great to see again. I also watched the dramatic TV series religiously as a teenager. One of the best TV events in my life time. Training a mind to think rather than react to surroundings has been one of the best outcomes for me imaginable.

[@miryamishot]

I threw up my first day too but I waited until I got home

[@thefrankonion]

there's nothing like a bit of the socratic method to make you throw up

[@terriok1]

That is NOT what someone practicing the Socratic method is supposed to do. The purpose is so elicit higher thinking skills! It hardly takes someone with brains to threaten to or actually do humiliate a student. It is antithetical to what the Socratic method intends to do! Hope you’ve recovered nicely, Frank!

[@MikeyMikeHq]

I'd make the teacher puke because of my vast intellect

[@Stingball22]

@@terriok1 Don't be such a wimp. It's a movie. Whatever his method was it worked quite well and made for good cinema.

[@MP-dn4cp]

@@terriok1 Sounds like you've never been to law school...

[@JR-zv6qm]

Graduated NYU Law School in the late '80's. Would have paid 2x if I knew I would have a professor like Dr. Kingsfield. Well earned Oscar for Mr. Houseman.

[@laminage]

Life Lesson from this Scene. Always Be Prepared! Can you imagine going into Court and not knowing the facts of a Case.

[@laminage]

If Hart had graduated from Harvard Law School, it would mean he would have been practicing Law for 40 Years. I wished that there was a Sequel showing how his life and the others were after Law School.

[@andreaostrovletania]

He became some corrupt bastard boomer.

[@beboboymann3823]

@@andreaostrovletania I'm sure as a bastard boomer he contributed quite a bit to the economy in heavy taxes so millineal snowflakes could sit in mommie's house and watch Ellen on TV all day long. Look back at all you have....boomers conceived it, boomers mined the raw materials for it, boomers made it. Everything millineals cherish have been engineered and manufactured by bastard boomers. You haven't done shit.

[@terencewinters2154]

A yale professor has written a book telling where they all are - trapped serving the ruling class.

[@terencewinters2154]

The meritocracy trap is the name of the book

[@terencewinters2154]

At least kingsfield sees a victim here hairy hand.

[@flatoutt1]

for me as an aussie ,this is one of the most brilliant rewarding series to come out of the states .i still remember some of the lessons he taught his class.ie cooperation when he brought chaos to the library when they were all hogging books ,by suspending the rules [a bit like the 30 years war on a mini, mini, mini scale ] and how when they graduated and were being tempted by all kinds of nefarious schemes .he kept an eye on them .and pulled a few of them out of a few ditches . every part of their class was a teaching experience . first to expose their ignorance and make it obvious to them what they didn't know .bart erhman does the same to his first year students who think they're very righteous ,holy and knowledgeable ,by asking them how many books are in the new testament . whoever had a part in bringing this to the screen we owe you all a debt . pat yourself on the back for contributing to humanity ,above and beyond .thank you from this gratefully impacted aussie .

[@HaleyyWhaleyy18]

This just gave me ptsd. I hated cold calls

[@romevi]

Now that I'm done with law school and have taken the bar, I rewatch this and think, "Huh. That professor wasn't so bad."

[@Ermac97]

At the time that I'm writing this reply it says that your comment was posted about 4 months ago. Considering the bar exam is offered twice a year; February and July, my guess is that you took the February bar. So, did you pass?

[@tendrams]

RIGHT! He is actually teaching! There was one particular faculty member in my doctoral program who did much less in that we were, for example, never taught how to solve the problems facing us but rather taught mathematical proofs of why a particular theorem that could be used to solve the problem facing us was true. LOL! In some cases, I would have killed to have a professor this involved and direct. Intimidating, sure...but at least honest.

[@kylesykrebs]

Accurate af

[@lotusgrl444]

lol right!

[@nancyryan7971]

Ok I'm 67 but remembering the film the professor doesn't look as old to me now ha ha

[@jpsned]

1:55 I love how Houseman/Kingsfield rolls his "r" on "grafted." 👍

[@jeffersonianideal]

I was fortunate enough to have a professor with the demeanor of Charles Kingsfield in college, though I did not know how favored I was at the time.

[@bcnihao]

My contracts prof. coached John Houseman on acting like a contracts prof. And we started the course with the case of Hawkins v. McGee.

[@rcnelson]

True law school anecdote: the professor calls upon a student to discuss the facts of a certain case. He couldn't. The professor, apparently feeling a little Kingsfieldish, gave the student a dime and told him to call his parents and tell them he would never be a lawyer. The student took the dime and started back to his seat. He paused, turned around, and told the professor to take his dime back and use it to call all of his friends.

[@xdfbsdfh7949]

R C Nelson what does this mean?

[@chrismc10]

I laughed

[@pix046]

But this was when a dime was a dime and did you know it shows a scene later with evidence in his study that Kingsfield was mates with half the nation's presidents and supreme court judges? He probably would have needed a million dollars to call them all. In 1973 money.

[@andreaostrovletania]

Professor has no friends.

[@alexandra.willitts6988]

xdfbsdfh, the "joke" that R C Nelson was making was a reference to the "socratic method". There is always another response to the previous response. Always another question to follow the last question. He was basically saying that the student should suggest to the professor that he do what he JUST suggested the student do.

[@valeriecheersbrown4829]

I loved the Socratic Method and this movie and I honestly do believe should be introduced in elementary and secondary education because when taught in college to me it is too late if you are not a critical thinker or fast on your feet when asked a question! Should be taught in elementary school if you ask me and just my opinion! lol

[@terriok1]

I taught like that, Valerie, to little kids. But I’d never ever humiliate a student like that! As if Contracts in law school at Harvard is pursuing the Holy Grail! There’s no excuse for it.

[@RM-eu8gi]

research! And taught to

[@mx4690]

@@terriok1 That's not humiliating. That's simply asking you to do your work and use your brain.

[@sdearing6375]

@@terriok1 he would not have been humiliated if he had been prepared. Also - lawyers need to handle humiliation. K at Harvard is indeed the Holy Grail for law students

[@mattfoley6082]

I can laugh at this from a safe distance of age 58. But I know damn well I'd be scared shitless if I were Hart.

[@laminage]

Join The Club! I first read The Book then I saw The Movie. Kingsfield was Grade A Gangsta! However now that I am older, I understand the method of his Madness. In Three Years the chosen few who survive will be Lawyers and if they don't know The Law their Client may go to Prison for something they didn't do, or a Client can get off of a crime for what they did. Also someone could get screwed over in a Case.

[@judithlipner3525]

OH god - that happened to me my first day of law school - but I was prepared and had to recite and debate Hawkins for 45 minutes. I got sick afterwards!

[@bcnihao]

Congratulations on making it through the 45 minutes.

[@terriok1]

Hawkins? Glad you made it! By the way, they’ve omitted logic games from the LSAT!

[@ahmada7333]

@@terriok1 forever?!!?!?!??!

[@westsidebilling]

That was my daily experience in school from K-12

[@isabelamacavei1333]

Mine in the math class throughout the high school (in Europe).

[@dirk_diggler46558]

I got called on in law school oh so many years ago, and I just flat out said I didn’t read the case. Professor moved onto next student, who also said he didn’t read it. Professor unloaded on him.

[@ijahassan]

my fav series during childhood which inspired me to be a lawyer...and I had a lecturer exactly like prof kingsfield...

[@ChrisTheBroadcaster]

"...inspired me to be a lawyer..."--Similarly, to at least some extent, Houseman's performance specifically inspired me to, generally, look at professions wherein prejudice against older-aged practitioners was not only not predominant, but the opposite might be true--i.e., prejudice in favor of older professionals was at least possible. That mindset, since seeing the film (in / near Cambridge, MA, in fact) in my 70 years moved me toward a couple areas: (1st) Acting. For obvious reasons. I'm a true "working actor" if not someone you might have "seen...", a member, out of the Los Angeles office, of the Screen Actors Guild, Am. Asscn. of TV & Radio Artists, etc. (So, no--except for a national series of commercials for the Professional Golfers Ascn., you've probably not "seen me.") (2nd) I've been a GS 9, 11 and 12 in federal employment. There, at least it's "on the books" that, one's older age cannot be a detriment to employment nor promotion, assuming one could "do the job." PS I do type very fast--and, obviously, have too much time on my hands at the moment; ..............perhaps a hobby.

[@TheGhostfacekilla86]

I am reading this case right now! haha. I love this movie.

[@larrylevy3962]

I've known professors (and teachers in K-12) who had tones like this. Once or twice, in the presence of such teachers, I think, "Like them!" meaning his or her students.

[@pagefire2]

I went to a catholic high school in the 70's. I still have these nightmares.

[@mhikl4484]

jack mayhoffer But remember. Socrates was loved by his students. He set them free to question and study without fear. The man’s a personal hero. Namaste and care, mhikl

[@terriok1]

Me too, Jack!

[@laminage]

Did you ever see Catholic Boys aka Heaven Help Us. There was a Brother Constance (A Jesuit Priest) who was a Teacher who was a "Bully" to say the very least. This was 1965. He took a Paddle and hit a Young Man on the hands when he didn't tell on a Classmate.

[@ICanPlayElton]

this movie documents the early 70's so well.

[@MaidenUtah1]

As this was filmed and set in 1973, Kingsfield is of age to being a WW 2 Veteran. Wouldn't surprise me a bit if he was in the OSS or flew a B-24 thru Ploesti.

[@nudist1033]

Wow, Hawkins vs McGee was a real case in New Hampshire in 1929. Wikipedia has it.

[@aisthpaoitht]

nudist1033 Yes it is a fundamental case in contracts law.

[@colbyjones7486]

nudist1033 yes... it’s a law school asking for facts of the case... of course it’s real

[@antiquax]

They're all real cases. The family of Hawkins never knew the case's importance or that it was taught in law school until this movie's release

[@DrPalsgraf]

Yeah, we actually covered that case in Contracts.

[@bmasin13]

I'm sure Garrett and Daily (however they're spelled) had no idea they'd become fundamental cases

[@tommym321]

The correct answer is that the damages are to be measured between a perfect hand (what was promised) and what was given (a hairy hand), and since based in contract rather than tort, no damages for pain and suffering.

[@garysmith1863]

He’s an even greater driver’s ed teacher

[@Tempestzzzz]

Sometimes you eat the bar...other times the bar eats you.

[@Rpodnee]

I think the thumbs down are from people with social anxiety who got singled out in school haha.

[@cabalofdemons]

Issue Rule Analysis Conclusion Though I'm a CRAC man my self

[@patricktatum786]

Issue ,ruling, reasoning,and conclusion

[@petergroves81]

Never thought about it before - but that takes the soul out of the law. The cases become mere equations, not stories.

[@LindaGarey]

@@petergroves81 In science: Purpose, Procedure, Results, Conclusion

[@Zoomer30_]

The scene where Hart vists Kevin about his outline made my ears bleed. Back when people played never ending elevator music in their homes.

[@SlyWZRD]

this movie is the best.

[@petergroves81]

Planning to show this to my students one day!

[@isabelamacavei1333]

You might as well be a Drill Instructor :)

[@scott1564]

My first day contracts class went a lot like this (I'm convinced the prof sought out who he thought wasn't prepared). Kingsfield treated this guy much better than my prof (who was far meaner than Kingsfield) treated my classmate, who admittedly was a bit of goof-ball.

[@sambascom2884]

May I ask more about how your teacher was meaner??

[@scott1564]

@@sambascom2884 I can't recall how he put it exactly, but he all but called one unprepared student "dumb" the first day of class; he wasn't very cordial or accommodating during office hours; one student in class missed the start of the final, thinking it was the next day; the front office called him, he busted ass down to the school -- once he got there, he knocked on the prof's door, who was on the phone and stayed on it for another 10 minutes, ignoring the student. I could probably tell a few more, but I've forgotten many as its been a LONG time ago. However, I will say he softened up a lot the second semester so I think a lot of what he did first semester was either an act or he had personal things going on.

[@moncorp1]

They make money the old fashioned way.....they earn it.

[@parcivale]

Smith-Barney. I remember those ads.

[@johnhunger7207]

Damn, i miss college!

[@wrlord]

I so wish law professors were like this today. Mine mostly sucked. Not all, but mostly.

[@mikeharty4536]

Many years ago in my contracts class we had a very ornery prof from the old school who one day humiliated an unsuspecting 1l and dropped dead of a coronary that very weekend.

[@terriok1]

I hope the prof was the one who dropped dead. There’s no excuse for humiliating an un aggressive student!

[@BenAliGtor]

It's really no different from OCS. "Sound off like you've GOT a pair, Candidate !!" Because if you can play an imperious professor like Kingsfield (based upon Bull Warren of Harvard), handling an appellate court justice during orals is easy.

[@DeadExposureDF]

I had a "dragon" professor for criminal law the first semester of my 1L. This woman was the nicest person out of class, but in class, she made a point of being cruel. I know what hazing is, I know what it looks like. I got my own little taste of it as a brother in a fraternity. I knew immediately this woman's goal was to weed out the weak through "academic hazing." And goddamn, she did. Each student would come to class terrified of being called on, never mind the other classes we had to stay up 12-15 hours a night reading for, we were damn Ph.D.'s in criminal law. When you were the unluckiest mook in the world and got called on, ALL eyes fell on you. EVERY fact needed to be recited, EVERY rule of law needed to be discussed and articulated to show mastery. If there was even a slight falter in your ability to speak in front of your classmates and to the professor, she would zero in on it and exploit it. I'll never forget the day I got called on. There were only a couple weeks left in the semester and I thought, moronically, I was in the clear. I had read the case, but only half-assed it. I'll never forget those eyes peering into my soul as I tried to articulate why some fuckin rapist shouldn't be guilty of the crime and his culpability under a common law or MPC jurisdiction.

[@terriok1]

That’s NOT her job! If a student can’t pass tests, then they know that field is not for them. She should have focused on making criminal law fascinating - which it can be. I took several law courses and fortunately never encountered a prof hell bent on humiliation, although I met a few in other courses. Performing in front of a room of peers has nothing to do with the skills you acquire as a lawyer. Judges can be temperamental but you learn to just state your case. The best lawyers do their homework, and lots of it, and then get their case in the record. And how much time do most of them actually spend in Court, unless they are PDs or State's Attorneys? Humiliating half- terrified students is NOT the way you EVER teach! The best teachers boost their students up. Instilling confidence would far better serve students but it takes real effort on the part of the teacher. Instilling fear in your students is ANTITHETICAL to their education and would be easy. Someone like that likely treats other people that way and is NOT someone to emulate!

[@Satchel334]

Intense. Genius.

[@greg55666]

It's just amazing the difference between what practicing law actually is and what this movie makes you think it is.

[@symunir9022]

+greg55666 Movie drama includes artistic license, to interpret reality for entertainment. When reality is shown for what it is, without engaging the license, it is called a documentary.

[@greg55666]

+Sy Munir That wasn't really my point.

[@greg55666]

+Pedro Henrique Barreto de Lima No no you guys aren't getting what I'm saying at all. This movie (and the book) (and in fact, some law professors) make you think the law, and law school, is filled with intelligent people engaged in intellectual battle. It's not true. Lawyers are morons. And being smart is, if anything, a handicap to being a lawyer. I'm not complaining about the movie. I am saying the movie makes the law look so great. In reality it is NOT. I'm not making the usual complaint of an insider, something like, "in real life the bailiff would call order before the judge comes out not after or something pointless like that." I'm saying that lawyers are morons. How many intelligent people do you know in your life, maybe two? Well, the percentage is far higher in real life than it is in the law, and the percentage is certainly not high in real life.

[@greg55666]

+Pedro Henrique Barreto de Lima Because I am surrounded by them all day every day. Trust me, I know whereof I speak. If you want to randomly defend strangers, surely you can find someone better to defend than lawyers.

[@greg55666]

+Pedro Henrique Barreto de Lima I KNOW it is hard to believe. What you have to understand first of all is that there is zero feedback. It absolutely does not matter AT ALL whether you are smart or not smart, moral or not moral, articulate or not articulate as a lawyer. Those things count for exactly nothing. The stupidest shittiest lawyer you can imagine will win exactly as much as one who is smart. The judges are actually dumber and more unethical than most attorneys. They do not decide their cases based on whose argument is right or most compelling, they just give it a basic listen, decide who they like more, and decide that way. As a lawyer your only job is to feed the judge a plausible argument, so that if you're lucky enough that he likes your client more than the other, he has a way to justify deciding for you. That's the first thing. Now here is the really invidious part about it. Imagine you ARE smart and ethical and interested in these subtle legal questions. So you argue cases, and you make truly good arguments. The other side are a bunch of unethical morons. The judge is an unethical moron. So rather than an intellectual grappling with the issues, even though the other side's arguments would literally get you laughed out of law school, the judge decides with the other side anyway because he likes corporations more than little people. What would happen? The actually smart and ethical people very quickly QUIT the law to do something else, so there is an unending race to the bottom. I know several people who have law degrees and are smart and ethical, and every one of them is no longer a lawyer. It's not that you could not be smart and become a lawyer, it's that you could not be smart and REMAIN a lawyer. It is too soul-crushingly stupid and pointless an exercise. (There are of course fringe places where you can try to make a difference, working for some non-profit group for the environment or gay rights or women's rights or whatever. Those are the cases that prove the rule.)

[@nyonelove7617]

We only discussed offer and acceptance in the first week . . .

[@davidcoates6201]

Oh Christ. I had a torts professor like this. Launches right at the guy sitting next to me on the first day of class asking him to explain some really obscure legal distinction about types of trespass which we had only read about IN LATIN. Yeah, the Kingsfields are still there.

[@pix046]

John Houseman is superb in this. That commanding accent. The case mentioned - ://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hawkins_v._McGee

[@wisdomcb]

Would it be an assumption on the professor's part for posting class reading in two halls Hart must have seen it?

[@ClearWayFamilyLawyers]

It's a good way to learn, but you are forced out of fear

[@mx4690]

Yes, you should've done your reading. If you didn't, let your professor know before the class and most professors will understand and not cold call you. Also, the professor briefed the case for him and asked him a question that could be answered based on the information provided in the brief. He should've given his best shot trying to provide an at least logically coherent answer on one possible remedy. If you can't do this, maybe law school isn't the place for you.

[@Afghanen]

Did you hand in your assigment Mr Beeeeeerg?

[@nonyobussiness3440]

Shows the importance of a scientific education that science majors get compact to history majors

[@elgarchamberlain4030]

59 HIGH STREET 03570 HAWKINS VS MCGEE where it all began!!!BUY THE HOUSE BE A PART OF THE LEGEND.

[@sce2aux464]

I'd like them to do a movie version of One L.

[@terriok1]

Did John Houseman win an Oscar for this role?

[@franciscoguerrero4564]

Irish PirateQueen yes, for supporting actor

[@terriok1]

@@franciscoguerrero4564 Thank you, Francisco!

[@MaidenUtah1]

My education goes as far as Spicolli High in Southern California. I must say, nothing says "summer's over" like the Rushmoresque Houseman. Sometime's his voice sounds like it's coming from a grave.

[@sackfulofnews]

Socrates Method. Always tangles the tongue of the person receiving it.

[@Ckuback]

first case in my contracts class...

[@misskingstonjamcutie]

Mine too lol. Love that case. My second favorite after Lucy v. Zahmer

[@chrisc9098]

Are all law schools this intense or is this just Harvard Law?

[@nottalackey3587]

Chris C It is only intense if you follow rules by people who don't know what they are doing. I worked two full time jobs and was made by the university to go full time (23 affirmative action students got to go part time, all flunked out). Out of necessity, since I wasn't going to be prepared, I eventually didn't ever go to class. I just got the law exam cram books for each subject and read them before finals. I studied about 10-15 hours per semester per class. I have 3 college degrees and it was by far the easiest to earn. It is only difficult because the students are taught to work hard, not smart.

[@misskingstonjamcutie]

notta lackey The fact that you felt the need to mention that "23 affirmative action students" flunked out leads me to believe that you are a disgusting racist!! How do you know they are affirmative action students? And why was that at all relevant to your point? Ppl drop out of law school everyday for many reasons, so what?!? To answer the previous question, law school wasn't intense for you because clearly you were a slacker and couldn't keep up, as indicated by the fact that you admitted you didn't go to class. That might work out for you but I am sure the vast majority of ppl that try to not go to class and cram at the end will fail miserably. Law school is intense for the ppl that actually apply themselves and consistently do the work and show up to class throughout the entire semester. The workload is heavy and never ending so of course it is an intense experience. There is a reason why law school is deemed the second hardest next to med school so don't come on here and try to tell ppl that it's so easy and they don't even need to go to class. Working smart doesnot mean to just not show up to class. smh

[@nottalackey4046]

misskingstonjamcutie 1. I knew they were affirmative action students because the dean told me when he denied me the exemption he had given them. I was told that, unlike them, if I wanted to go part time I could transfer to another law school.2. Afffirmative action is ipso facto racist, not those that oppose it. 3. It was the point of my post that the workload was only heavy because it was needlessly so, like doing long division manually instead of using your calculator. They taught us to read and outline 30 page cases when the point could be picked up in 2 minutes by reading a summary. 4. Far from being a slacker, my first year I won the class best brief award, but otherwise I was dumb enough to do exactly what they told me. After I learned shortcuts, my grades soared while my effort dropped 90%. The Charge of the Light Brigade created hundreds of heroes, but posthumous heroes. Why fight life's battles stupidly? 5. I did not go to class because I couldn't while working 70-80 hours a week. I had to adopt a triage lifestyle and that was cut. However, if I had gone to class it would have been a poor investment of time. Teaching Socratically requires a gift. It is an art, not a science, and most law profs who don't have the gift are too proud to admit it, so almost nothing is accomplished in their classes. There is a reason why no other discipline is taught Socratically. It is a sign of maturity to admit you don't have a gift, and it is an insult to your class when you don't have the gift to not teach by lecture (but it does allow the faculty member to go about unprepared). I also felt that if I was going to teach the class I should be paid for it, not write tuition checks.

[@ChrisTheBroadcaster]

Christopher Haskell 1 second ago "...inspired me to be a lawyer..." comment a few herein. Similarly, Houseman's performance inspired me toward professions wherein prejudice against older-aged practitioners was not only not dominant, but also the opposite, prejudice in favor of older professionals was at least possible. That mindset, since seeing the film (in / near Cambridge, MA, in fact) in my 70 years moved me toward a couple areas: (1st) Acting. For obvious reasons. If not someone you might have "seen," am member, out of the Los Angeles office, of SAG AFTRA. (So, no--except for a national series of commercials for the Professional Golfers Ascn., you've probably not "seen me.") (2nd) I've been a GS 9, 11 and 12 in federal employment. There, at least it's "on the books" that, one's older age cannot be a detriment to employment nor promotion, assuming one can "do the job." PS I do type very fast--and, obviously, have too much time on my hands at the moment; ..............perhaps a hobby.

[@SamM-d3m]

I would check other cases of "hands damaged by surgery" see what they paid then calculate a median amount times his age with respect to life expectations

[@BenAliGtor]

And actually, Hart's answer isn't too far off: value of the defendant's unperformed performance, less value accrued to the plaintiff as result of defendant's actions as performed, notwithstanding an existing agreement between the parties regarding special damages (Hadley v. Baxendale) = entitled damages.

[@kathymonahan7594]

Is there a yway you could up.oad some videos of the paper chase

[@jpsartrean]

Shouldn't the Doctor also pay damages on the loss of the potential opportunity (if any) to receive a restored hand, presuming a competent skin grafter could have achieved such a restoration?

[@Beson-SE]

The best sadistic teacher since Stig Järrel played the latin teacher in Ingmar Bergman's movie Torment (Hets) in 1944.

[@terriok1]

Sadistic is about right, Johan!

[@billmason2785]

The Dr should pay nothing, with a signed release liability.....

[@colbyjones7486]

It’s not as bad as it shows. If you don’t read it or don’t know how to read a case, they don’t treat you like that.

[@hiddenfromhistory100]

"First, let's kill all the lawyers" - Shakespeare

[@catmandanryan]

Professor Zinnecker Rocks!!!!!!!!!!!

[@jpsartrean]

Ironic to mention the R2d K here... There is a scene in The Paper Chase where Hart gets into the so-called 'Red Set'... and flips thru notes from Williston, the Reporter for the First Restatement (and as an ardent Formalist, someone who would probably despise the R2d).... lol

[@dineshisrani1977]

The docter could have thought of another solution, being a docter. You can't experiment with people's lives. One can't measure the damages in this case

[@ronj9448]

Hence why they were in court

[@waterhead001]

What is the right answer?

[@omiolo]

I could handle law school, but I can't handle a mustache like that.

[@taposirusmagna5433]

1869 BEACON ST SUFFOLK LAW 1970 - 1985 >>>PIERSON V. POST. SAW THIS AT CLEVELAND CIRCLE CINEMA 73.

[@TBadalov]

I would personally hate such a professor to the full depth of my heart. Even if I understood later how good he was, I would still hate him.

[@commonsense369]

I am curious, what is the monetary amount?

[@jpsartrean]

@ClassValedictorian Not sure about that in situation like this... the boy's 'expectation interest' in the 'benefit of his bargain' is of such a 'specialized' nature - it has been awhile since Contracts, but because the Contract was breached (perhaps arguably due to impossibility of performance), shouldn't the damages be based on restoring the boy to pre-breach status along with whatever 'costs' he lost in entering into the bargain to begin with?

[@ms.annthrope415]

This movie probably did such damage to the craft of teaching law. All sorts of professors believed that they could terrorize their law classes like Kingsfield.

[@kingarthur380]

1869 BEACON STREET OFF THE KUFF WHITE FENDER STRATOCASTER

[@thenotsofantasticman3353]

Reminds me of mr.Snape but a lot better because there at Harvard

[@jennifer86010]

The doctor claimed he could restore the hand 100%. Any patient and any lawyer knows only God can do such a thing. We also know that no legitimate physician EVER makes any claim of restoration, cures or healing. The only claims doctors make involve their best guess at diagnosis, and treatment, hoping some form of healing or improvement will take place. The boy should sue for breach of contract (if it was in writing) and for an amount of medical bills. If he was a concert violinist, he could sue for loss of hand function and try to collect the amount money he would make in the remainder of his career. But if he wasn't a violinist but just a normal office worker, he could only sue for medical bills, provided the had regained function, then use a razor to shave the damn hand so it looked more normal. This case also hinges on a jury trial vs. a judge trial. Juries award huge sums. Judges are more stingy,

[@wastoidjunkie]

He does resemble a musketeer.

[@strikeryachts]

He should of sent him here and gave him 2500 bucks. Who can remove my pubic hair? You can buy home waxing kits in drugstores and beauty supply stores, but if you've never had waxing done before it's best to visit a salon so you can see how it's done. Other options for hair removal are laser hair removal and electrolysis, although these can be expensive.

[@displayfireworks]

That question sounded like those Facebook things people post.

[@halodaler]

Why not start the semester with contract formation rather than damages?

[@pauldockree9915]

Of Course the late John Houseman (RIP) was a producer of Citizen TRUMP caned wasn't he? Hold your hand out you naughty boy. His role in The Fog seems apt to mention here. Old Seaman (and I wrote that line very carefully) Hairy Hand aficionados'

[@kesselster]

It's a trick question: minors cannot contract, only the parents can. The damages could be: NIED, possible loss of consortium, pain and suffering, the cost of medical bills. This would be a tort law case, not a contract law case.

[@Ichliebegermany]

+James Maxwell in the case, the doctor was anxious to repair the hand, but the parents were not as willing. Hawkins waited till he was 18 and then went to the doctor for the surgery.

[@kesselster]

+Kyle Hofmeister Was this a real case? Do you have the citation for it?

[@Ichliebegermany]

Yes it is a real case. It is also a very famous case. The first case I ever read in my contracts class because it gives the basic format for what is a breach of contract. The citation is Hawkins v. McGee, 84 N.H.114 (1929). Hawkins hand was never returned to the way it was or to any state that was promised by McGee. He eventually died in the 50's.

[@kesselster]

+Kyle Hofmeister I haven't heard of it yet. Thank you; I'm going to read it now. What type of law do you practice now?

[@Ichliebegermany]

i am in law school currently, which is why Hawkins v. McGee is fresh in my mind.

[@Canadiana71]

Anybody know the answer??? :-)

[@rickyj5547]

There was a tv show

[@nadirrabah6756]

Oh this dude..? (The professor) 😁😁😁

[@kingarthur380]

1869 BEACON STREET

[@coatesdj]

@moleculo89, we started with damages on day one (and with Hawkins v. McGee) on day one at Minnesota. Any school that uses the Dawson/Harvey/Henderson/Baird contracts textbook does the same. There are reasons for this.

[@ricardoagila3115]

Hart is Alan Dershowitz.

[@enverpasha55]

Bhahahaha. So accurate.

[@sikandarabbas4492]

SD