The Burial

In 1995, funeral home owner Jeremiah O'Keefe faces severe financial pressure after losses from a Ponzi scheme and demands from the Mississippi State Insurance Commission. He enters a contract with the Loewen Group to sell three funeral homes, insisting that Loewen not sell funeral insurance as part of the deal. The move aims to stave off bankruptcy and preserve his business.

Four months after signing, the Loewen Group delays payment for the purchase and does not honor the oral agreement not to sell funeral insurance. O'Keefe's hope to secure his business begins to fade as the deal's terms crumble and financial strain mounts.

An enraged O'Keefe hires Willie E. Gary, a flamboyant Florida personal injury lawyer, after Dockins suggests a different approach to win over a presumably black jury. To pay for Gary's services, O'Keefe remortgages his home. The switch signals a new, high-stakes legal battle ahead.

Loewen counters with a black-led legal team fronted by Mame Downes, aiming to blunt the jury's sentiment and secure a win. The strategy leverages diversity on the defense side to challenge O'Keefe's case.

During the trial, Downes questions O'Keefe's character and ties his finances to a convicted felon, challenging Gary's strategy. In response, O'Keefe replaces Gary with his white contract lawyer Mike Allred as lead attorney to try a different approach.

Dockins produces a witness insinuating Loewen overcharges minority communities. Downes cross-examines Allred and reveals that his grandfather was a Ku Klux Klan member, complicating the defense's credibility.

Gary defends Allred, triggering the black legal team to walk out of the courtroom. With the team gone, Allred withdraws from the case to give the remaining lawyers a better chance at winning the verdict.

Dockins uncovers evidence that Loewen exploited the National Baptist Church by selling overpriced packages to its members. The revelation reframes the case and strengthens O'Keefe's position.

Facing the evidence and Loewen's lack of remorse, the jury awards O'Keefe $500 million in damages—$100 million in compensatory damages and $400 million in punitive damages. The verdict marks a significant victory against the corporation.

Two years after the verdict, Ray Loewen is fired from his position and the Loewen Group heads toward bankruptcy. The company struggles under the weight of the civil judgment and ongoing financial pressures.

After the closing credits, Willie E. Gary makes a cameo appearance in person, underscoring his role and lasting impact on the case. The film closes with this final nod to the lawyer who led the high-stakes litigation.