It is not often you get to quote the Marx Brothers in a courtroom. A few weeks ago, I had used Joe Pesci’s “Grits” remarks from “My Cousin Vinnie” when comparing how long it took two breath technicians to perform the same actions. It was pretty funny except for the second “grits” cook. But back to the case at hand. Another video that will show my client staggered to the rear of the car and swayed, etc… Well not according to what I see on the video. The explanation from the MDTA officer is you cannot see the slight body movement from the camera angle. We watch it multiple times, but we just cannot see it! He also fails to give the correct instructions on the walk and turn, which we can hear.
It comes time for closing argument and I invoke the urban legend version of this which is Groucho saying “Are you going to believe me, or your lying eyes?” In fact it was Chico dressed as Groucho (The President of Freedonia) who utters this to Margaret Dumont in the movie Duck Soup:
Mrs. Teasdale:
Your Excellency, I thought you’d left!
Chicolini:
Oh no, I no leave.
Mrs. Teasdale:
But I saw you with my own eyes!
Chicolini:
Well, who you gonna believe, me or your own eyes?
The judge starts laughing and says we are probably the only 2 that know of the Marx Brothers. The prosecutor chimes in that she does know of them and their work. Well the judge believed his own/lying eyes.