Directed by Richard Dobbs
Written by Matt Witten & Aaron Zelman
The detectives investigate the death of Hector Santiago, an undocumented laborer. It's discovered that his injuries were caused in a car crash with two other illegal workers; all were involved in a scam to stage car accidents for the insurance money. Their employer recruits his undocumented staff to stage the crashes, then refers them to a pair of lawyers named Petrie and Sanders - who are charged with homicide.
The jury is sympathetic to the defendants, who continue to deny they knew about the insurance fraud. But McCoy calls a witness whose husband died in another crash as part of the scam. Petrie and Sanders told her the accident was staged, then threatened her that she would be caught and deported if she tried to drop the claim. Both defendants are found guilty, and when they're eventually released from jail, the DAs plan to have them sent straight back by charging them with the murder of the witness' husband too. However, all the insurance payouts are now void and Santiago's family won't receive any compensation. He has died for nothing.
This episode contains examples of:
- Ambulance Chaser: Petrie and Sanders.
- Bittersweet Ending: Petrie and Sanders are both convicted of Santiago's murder and their insurance fraud; they also have the option to charge them with the murder of another man that was also involved in their fraud and died. Plus, Dr. Raleigh is given a lighter sentence for his role in the fraud and death. Sadly, however, Santiago's death was in vain, as their insurance payouts ended up null and void; the families of the other victims also get nothing.
- Evil Lawyer Joke: The defense lawyer refers to this in his summation, saying that such stereotypes are why people believe the worst about his clients.
- Frivolous Lawsuit: The entire scam was based around these.
- The Illegal: Santiago and the other occupants of the car.
- Insurance Fraud
- Make an Example of Them: Lewin wants to do this because of how callously the defendants treated the lives of vulnerable people.
- Ripped from the Headlines: Likely based on a 1996 case where State Farm Insurance Co. sued a large number of doctors and lawyers alleged to have staged auto accidents for the insurance payout.
