Barter

"Barter"
←	L&O, Episode 7.12	→
Production number: K1110 First aired: 12 February 1997
	{{{nNthProducedInSeries}}}th of 456 produced in L&O
←	{{{nNthReleasedInSeries}}}th of 456 released in L&O	→
	{{{nNthReleasedInAll}}}th of 1271 released in all
Written By René Balcer & Eddie Feldmann Directed By Dan Karlok

Plot

After the treasurer of an apartment co-op is shot to death in the building's garage, the detectives discover that the killing may have been a case of mistaken identity. The trail soon leads the detectives to a maze of contract killers, other murders and a ruthless sociopath bent on killing anyone in his path.

Cast

Main cast

• Jerry Orbach as Detective Lennie Briscoe
• Benjamin Bratt as Detective Rey Curtis
• S. Epatha Merkerson as Lieutenant Anita Van Buren
• Sam Waterston as Executive A.D.A. Jack McCoy
• Carey Lowell as A.D.A. Jamie Ross
• Steven Hill as D.A. Adam Schiff

Guest cast

• George DiCenzo as Sam "Bunny" Russo
• Scott Bryce as Steven Tashjian
• Victor Argo as Enrique Flores
• Greer Goodman as Defense Attorney Tucker
• Dana Reeve as Susan Tashjian
• Scotty Bloch as Mrs. Ganz
• Meg Mundy as Harriet Keenan
• Tom Brennan as Art Ganz
• Cynthia Darlow as Kay Jensen
• Brian Howe as John Mack
• Jordan Leeds as Joseph Kaiser
• Bruce Kronenberg as Eric Hoffman
• Olga Merediz as Judge Louise Castillo
• Kay McClelland as Kathy Burns
• George T. Odom as George Holden
• Mary Peterson as Linda Krinsky
• Thomas Bellin as Dave Sheehan
• Alec Phoenix as Peter Messina
• Vince Pacimeo as Detective Martino
• Timothi-Jane Graham as Trainer
• Christopher Loomis Brown as Car Dealer
• James Goodwin Rice as Mark Poletti
• Ellen Tobie as Mrs. Poletti
• Michael Devries as William Varden
• Joe Passaro as Owner
• Anne Chapin as ER Doctor
• Andy Umberger as Guard
• Robert Gomes as First Uniform Policeman
• Robert Jimenez as CSU Technician
• John E. Brady as Coroner's Assistant

References

• Utah
• People v. Sanders
• People v. Bostic

Quotes

Adam Schiff: How do you propose to convict Mr. Russo?

Jamie Ross: Flores confessed. We can't use it against him, but maybe we can use it against Russo.

Adam Schiff: Yeah. He lent money to someone who killed two people. Since when is that a crime?

Jamie Ross: It proves one element of the fact pattern.

Adam Schiff: The only pattern here is that you have no facts!

“	Can we swing by my house? I would really like to see the new Christmas lights.	”
–Sam Russo

Background information and notes

Episode scene cards

1	2
Kort Brothers & Associates 127 Liberty Tuesday, December 5	Co-Op Of Mrs. Harriet Keenan 153 East 73rd Street Tuesday, December 5

3	4	5
Beachwood Loan CO. Brooklyn, NY Thursday, December 7	Jensen Management Services 78 East 56th Street Monday, December 11	Champlain Insurance CO. Queens, NY Monday, December 18

6	7
Chambers of Judge Louise Castillo Tuesday, January 9	Supreme Court Trial Part 42 Monday, February 5

8
Sam "Bunny" Russo is currently serving a sentence of life without parole. Three months after testifying against Russo, Steven Tashjian was gunned down outside his office. The killers remain at large. His assets, including his co-op, were liquidated to settle his debts.

Previous episode: "Menace"

"Barter" Law & Order Season 7

Next episode: "Matrimony"