A couple of weeks ago, I was in court to help pick a jury in a high-value case. During that early phase of jury selection, the gallery was full to capacity with potential jurors, the counsel and parties were present, the...more
It is common advice for witnesses in the courtroom or representatives at counsel table: keep a poker face. That advice — avoid scowls, grimaces, and other head-shaking reactions while you’re being observed by a jury — has...more
Government regulators can often play a role in civil litigation. In some cases, they’re involved as parties. More often, however, their role is as a proxy. In those situations, jurors might look at whether the defendant...more
There is a case currently playing out in the Southern District of New York, Major League Baseball Players Inc.,v. Underdog Sports, Inc. There is a common dynamic called out right there in the caption: One side is the “Major...more
Early on in the jury selection process, the judge will often ask the panel, “We all know that jury duty can be inconvenient, but who believes they would experience an unreasonable hardship by serving in this case?” Hands will...more
Most of those who work in civil litigation are now familiar with the “anchoring effect,” and know that suggesting a number has an influence when it comes to damages. But attorneys may not know just how powerful that effect...more
It is an important debate, and one that is likely only going to be settled on a case-by-case basis: when addressing damages, does a civil defendant embrace the idea of a counter-anchor, take the small risk of appearing to...more
Persuasion is at the core of what litigators do, not exclusively, but particularly in court. Despite that, aspiring lawyers train on a legal model that emphasizes some aspects of persuasion (like evidence and logic) while...more
Maybe it is because monitors are a lot less expensive than they used to be, but I’m seeing more and more of them cropping up, often in the same places. Conference rooms or spaces for larger presentations that used to have a...more
After receiving many warnings from the court and counsel on what they’re about to see, the jurors are finally shown the injury photos. Some of them frown, one covers her face, many look away after a quick glance, and a couple...more
I write this blog principally for litigators, but sometimes it is worth remembering that transactional attorneys are also advocates who, depending on the circumstances, may also have persuasive goals. The point of seeking to...more
The now one-year-old coronavirus pandemic has caused courtrooms across the country to move many of their functions, as well as some full jury trials, into an online space. On the wisdom of that move, there are broadly two...more
The lawyer preparing their case likely goes through a long list of, “What will they think about…” questions, relating to the facts, the evidence, the arguments, and the law. Eventually, that attorney might get to the...more
Every day, we are reminded that we live in a new age that can be called “post-truth.” We pay a lot of attention to external sources of misinformation, whether it is motivated public figures, partisan news networks or...more
Trial lawyers understand the need to refine and to help fit the main point of their case into the smallest possible container. In complex litigation, however, that quest for a bottom line can be elusive. You might have your...more
9/10/2019
/ Bench Trial ,
Contributory Negligence ,
Defense Strategies ,
Discovery ,
Evidence ,
Jury Trial ,
Litigation Strategies ,
Professional Liability ,
Standard of Care ,
Trial Practice Guidance ,
Trial Preparation ,
Young Lawyers
In the real world, disputes are often settled by someone with more or better knowledge, or at least someone claiming to have more or better knowledge. The courtroom, however, is different. It is a setting that is designed to...more
When an alleged hazard exists and causes a person to be injured, then maybe a business might think about fixing it. But would the fix amount to a confession and cause the business to own that prior liability? That’s the...more
Our trial system is based on the ideal of a neutral fact-finder. And as much as the social science tells us that this blank slate does not actually exist, it remains true that jurors will try very hard to keep an open-mind....more
Next time you’re in a public place, look around at all the people and what they’re doing. Looking at their phones? Yes! Nearly all of them. Now, some might be working. Some could be keeping up on the news or reading great...more
The title asks a provocative question: “When it comes to jury trials, should you tell a story or stick to the facts?” The piece in the “Your Voice” section of the current ABA Journal is written by Drury Sherrod, a litigation...more
4/15/2019
/ Closing Arguments ,
Defense Strategies ,
Evidence ,
Juror ,
Jury Trial ,
Litigation Strategies ,
Opening Statements ,
Statement of Claim ,
Trial Practice Guidance ,
Trial Preparation ,
Voir Dire
When civil litigation is being discussed by those outside the courtroom and outside the legal field, what stands out is often the perception, at least, of very high damages. The high-dollar figure being awarded, based on a...more
4/12/2019
/ Best Practices ,
Calculation of Damages ,
Damages ,
Defense Strategies ,
Evidence ,
Expert Witness ,
Jury Trial ,
Jury Verdicts ,
Litigation Strategies ,
Punitive Damages ,
Trial Preparation
Unlike many other moments in trial, the opening statement is often defined in terms of what it isn’t. It isn’t evidence, and it isn’t argument. So, what is it? It is a preview of what the evidence will be. That creates a...more
We know that when presenting to jurors, the goal is not just to present, but to engage, to relate, to adapt, and ultimately to persuade. You don’t want to simply lay information in front of jurors and hope they will pick it...more
1/29/2019
/ Best Practices ,
Closing Arguments ,
Defense Strategies ,
Evidence ,
Juror ,
Jury Trial ,
Litigation Strategies ,
Opening Statements ,
Trial Practice Guidance ,
Trial Preparation ,
Young Lawyers
So you’re picking an expert witness for your case. What kind of person do you want? Someone with the highest credentials from the best institutions? Someone with a lot of on-the-ground experience in this area? Someone who is...more
So the case is complex. Maybe it involves a tricky multi-stage legal question. Or maybe it requires understanding some arcane point on patents. Or perhaps it requires grappling with the workings of an unfamiliar technology....more