The Verdict, released in 1982, revolves around the redemption of a hack lawyer, Frank Galvin (played by Paul Newman), whose life is eventually turned around by a personal injury action in which he represents a young woman who is permanently comatose because a doctor gave her the wrong anaesthesia. Essentially, the film delivers an answer, a verdict to the question, who is Frank Galvin?
Frank has fallen on bad times, divorced by his wife, middle-aged and a heavy drinker, he resorts to finding cases by going to funeral parlours and wakes to tout for business. He has had only four cases in the last three years—all of which he has lost. His last chance at salvation is the medical practice case which has fortuitously come his way. The case is significant because it contains a strong moral element—the paralysis of a patient by a negligent doctor. At first, Frank is
