What is the true story behind A Few Good Men and Don Macari's first trial at Guantanamo Bay?
Answered at 18:02 in Lessons from 40 Years in Law: Trial Preparedness, Client Trust, and Firm Growth · The Managing Partners Podcast: Law Firm Business Podcast
What is the true story behind A Few Good Men and Don Macari's first trial at Guantanamo Bay?
Macari's first trial involved 10 Marines charged with attempted murder after performing a Code Red (blanket party) that injured Private Alvarado at Guantanamo Bay. The incident stemmed from Alvarado reporting a fence line shooting incident to NIS (now NCIS), leading his commanding officer to imply the Marines should punish him. Macari's client, David Cox, refused a plea deal because he claimed he was just following orders. Seven other Marines took administrative discharges, but Cox and two others went to trial; Cox was found guilty of simple assault when the jury found there was an implied order. The case was adapted into a Broadway play by Aaron Sorkin and later became the 1992 film A Few Good Men directed by Rob Reiner, starring Tom Cruise, Jack Nicholson, Demi Moore, and Kiefer Sutherland.
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In short
Macari's first trial involved 10 Marines charged with attempted murder after performing a Code Red (blanket party) that injured Private Alvarado at Guantanamo Bay.
Don Macari, Founder and Managing Partner at Macari Law Firm · Lessons from 40 Years in Law: Trial Preparedness, Client Trust, and Firm Growth · The Managing Partners Podcast: Law Firm Business Podcast · answer at 18:02
Key takeaways
- Macari's first trial involved 10 Marines charged with attempted murder after performing a Code Red (blanket party) that injured Private Alvarado at Guantanamo Bay.
Quote to remember
“You still have to be able to personally connect with your client, and you've got to know the law, you've got to know the facts, and you've got to understand where they're coming from.”
— Don Macari
The full answer · about 4 min
Macari's first trial involved 10 Marines charged with attempted murder after performing a Code Red (blanket party) that injured Private Alvarado at Guantanamo Bay. The incident stemmed from Alvarado reporting a fence line shooting incident to NIS (now NCIS), leading his commanding officer to imply the Marines should punish him. Macari's client, David Cox, refused a plea deal because he claimed he was just following orders. Seven other Marines took administrative discharges, but Cox and two others went to trial; Cox was found guilty of simple assault when the jury found there was an implied order. The case was adapted into a Broadway play by Aaron Sorkin and later became the 1992 film A Few Good Men directed by Rob Reiner, starring Tom Cruise, Jack Nicholson, Demi Moore, and Kiefer Sutherland.
Key facts
- Don Macari has been practicing law for 41 years
- Over 200 jury trials conducted throughout his career
- Founded his personal injury firm in 2000 with 12 other people
- Firm has grown from 13 people to over 100 people
- Entering 26th year as a firm (as of the episode)
People, companies and topics mentioned
More answers from this episode
- 7:55What are the key lessons Don Macari learned from over 200 jury trials in his 41-year legal career?
- 9:42Why does Don Macari emphasize personal connection and body language in client relationships despite advances in AI and technology?
- 11:39How does the contributory negligence rule in North Carolina and Virginia compare to comparative negligence in other states?
- 23:27What advice does Don Macari give to young attorneys starting their own law firms?