 In 2005,Bernstein had obtained the rights from the City of Los Angeles to produce a brand new prime time TV series entitled Public Defender, based on the true criminal cases from the Los Angeles Public Defender's office from years past.Bernstein also discovered the
21-year-old European model-turned-actress and entrepreneur Simona Fusco.On Sunday, April 30, 2006, Bernstein died at age 68 after suffering a stroke.