Under the Influence

Episode aired Jan 7, 1998
TV-14
47m

IMDb RATING

8.2/10

430

YOUR RATING

CrimeDramaMysteryThriller

Three people are killed when a possible drunk driver runs them over. A.D.A. McCoy is bent on getting a questionable death sentence in the case, but Ross believes that he is trying to get rev... Read allThree people are killed when a possible drunk driver runs them over. A.D.A. McCoy is bent on getting a questionable death sentence in the case, but Ross believes that he is trying to get revenge for Claire Kincaid's death.Three people are killed when a possible drunk driver runs them over. A.D.A. McCoy is bent on getting a questionable death sentence in the case, but Ross believes that he is trying to get revenge for Claire Kincaid's death.

See production info at IMDbPro

IMDb RATING

8.2/10

430

YOUR RATING

11User reviews

See production info at IMDbPro

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User reviews11

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Related interests

James Gandolfini, Edie Falco, Sharon Angela, Max Casella, Dan Grimaldi, Joe Perrino, Donna Pescow, Jamie Lynn Sigler, Tony Sirico, and Michael Drayer in The Sopranos (1999)

Storyline

Did you know

Trivia
This episode appears to be based on two separate cases/incidents:
The legal debate over filing first-degree murder charges for homicides caused by impaired driving.
The 1996 hit-and-run incident at Wake Forest University committed by Thomas R. Jones. He was sentenced to life in prison in 1997 for his role in the deaths of 2 students and the injury of 4 others while under the influence of Xanax, Percocet, Fioricet, and beer.

Goofs
Bernard Dressler chose to drink alcohol. He cannot turn around and say that he didn't know what he was doing. It is black letter law.

Correction: But he can claim diminished capacity, which is also black letter law, since people do things while intoxicated they wouldn't normally do. It's considered a mitigating circumstance that can qualify for a less serious charge, such as manslaughter instead of murder.

Quotes
Jamie Ross: You won, Jack. Just call Dressler's lawyer.
Jack McCoy: The discussion is over, Jamie.
Jamie Ross: I'm not done!
Jack McCoy: I am! This is the District Attorney's office. We prosecute criminals. If you could stop thinking like a defense attorney, maybe you'd grasp the concept.
Jamie Ross: I know why I'm here. I think you're the one who's forgotten.