The Problem of Conflicting Out as a Tactic of Abuse

<p dir="ltr">In the movie <i>Marriage Story,</i><i> </i>Nicole (Scarlett Johansson) and Charlie (Adam Driver) are divorcing. They have a young child, and the main issue is the child’s parenting arrangements. In the movie, Charlie is the more reluctant spouse, and he has finally booked a consultation with a lawyer. When he arrives at the law firm, he is told by the receptionist that the lawyer he was there to meet cannot see him because Nicole already did. The lawyer has been conflicted out. It turns out that Nicole has met with several lawyers, at her sister’s insistence, before finally retaining the lawyer portrayed by Laura Dern. In the movie, this seems innocent enough. It appears she met with these lawyers because she was trying to find the perfect lawyer for her, and she wanted to please her sister by following through on her recommendations. In a big city like Los Angeles, it also does not seem problematic because, as Charlie discovers, there are a lot of lawyers that Nicole had not met with.</p><p><br></p>