I am about to start a jury trial involving a collision in which the driver, whose family we represent, was burned to death in a fire that started from the collision. I don’t know about  you, but I like to have a one sheet list of the issues and the main theme or points as well as a one sheet reminder. I keep both handy and in front of me to remind me to stay in control and to make things short as well as simple. I also use it as reminder to stay on point and not be distracted. Here’s the format for the simplicity reminder. You might want to have something different or perhaps you don’t need a visual reminder the way I do, but this is my idea.

By the way, the note from 2004 is from Gerry Spence. I had told him I was trying a case against obnoxious defense lawyers and was concerned about my reaction. That was his advice to me.

BE BRIEF, BE SIMPLE & GET TO THE POINT

1.       Be Calm –   Stay calm & confident

2.    Be Poised – stop, listen & think – act

3.     Be Slow  –  Pace & timing – slow down

4.     Be Clear –  Short & clear [Use analogies]

5.     Be Nice    –  Always act professionally

                 ✢ WAIT          ✢ SMILE         

                ✢ LISTEN       ✢ FOCUS    

David’s advice to Solomon:

“Be strong and courageous, and do the work. Do not be afraid or discouraged”     (1 Chron 28:20)

August 3, 2004

You are a kind and mostly humble person. You will be patient, not annoyed. Kind, not aggressive or complaining. you will never raise your voice, never glare, never frown or rise in anger. You will, at most, look patiently down and await the ruling of the court and continue. Gerry 

 OCCAM’S RAZOR: Whenever there are several possible explanations, the simplest is the usually the correct one             

 

• •MIRROR FACIAL EXPRESSION , POSTURE, RATE & TONE OF SPEECH FOR 1 MINUTE