At a recent trial lawyer’s convention I attended in Boston I wrote down some ideas speakers suggested regarding jury selection. One lawyer from New Mexico gave a great talk about questions which put the jurors in the shoes of your client and help them become involved in the situation so they have personal concern. In defending a client accused of murder when she shot an ex husband who had come into her home at night she asked questions like: :…
Here are four books every trial lawyer should be familiar with. The first, Words that Work by Frank Luntz is written by the long time adviser to the National Republican party and confidant of Karl Rove. The master of Republican framing has written a book that trial lawyers need to read and contains words trial lawyer need to use. Don’t Think of An Elephant by George Lakoff is written by the leading U.S. expert on framing. A friend of the…
The National Law Journal of July 23rd has an article entitled "Manipulating Science" by Jon Haber. It is worth reading. Haber correctly begins by saying "Corporations will stop at nothing to make and protect their profits, even when they put America lives at risk. Then, when they are shown to be knowingly marketing dangerous products, they typically employ every possible tactic to avoid accountability." How true in my experience over almost fifty years of law practice suing big business and…