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Author: Paul Luvera

Luvera practiced plaintiff law 55 years. He is past President of the Inner Circle of Advocates & Washington State Trial Lawyers Association. Member ABOTA, American College of Trial Lawyers, International Academy, International Society of Barristers and the American Trial Lawyers Hall of Fame. Book Luvera on Advocacy available at Trial Guides Publishing Email paul@luvera.org
PRINCIPLES OF DEBATE FOR TRIAL LAWYERS

PRINCIPLES OF DEBATE FOR TRIAL LAWYERS

Todd Graham the director of debate at Southern Illinois University. He wrote an  analysis in a special to CNN of the Florida Republican debate which I thought had some ideas about debate that might be useful in lawyer’s presentations. He said what he teaches, as the technique for debate is argue, attack, respond and presence. By argue, he means you need to state your case. Make your argument in support of your position. Attack refers to the need to point out the weakness…

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CROSS EXAM REGARDING BALANCING COST vs BENEFIT

CROSS EXAM REGARDING BALANCING COST vs BENEFIT

COST  vs RISK ANALYSIS 1.         Analyzing What is Reasonable (1)        SHOULD CONSIDER: (a)        LIKELIHOOD OF INJURY HAPPENING (b)        SERIOUSNESS OF HARM IF IT DOES HAPPEN 2.         Cost vs Benefit Analysis (1)        SHOULD CONSIDER: (a)        COST OF INFORMING (b)        DIFFICULTY AND TIME TO WARN (c)        THE BENEFIT FROM GIVING THE WARNING (d)        WHETHER METHOD OF INFORMING INVOLVES ACCEPTED PROCEDURE IN INDUSTRY (e)        WHAT HARM CAUSED BY GIVING WARNING a.         THE LIKELIHOOD OF THE HARM b.         THE SERIOUSNESS OF THE HARM COMPARED…

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SMALL STEPS IN IMPROVING OUR TRIAL SKILLS CAN MAKE A BIG DIFFERENCE

SMALL STEPS IN IMPROVING OUR TRIAL SKILLS CAN MAKE A BIG DIFFERENCE

Even small steps of improvement can make a big difference in our lives. We need not think in terms of giant steps of improvement all at once because even small steps can make a big difference in our lives. Columnist Sydney J. Harris has pointed out that we can learn from sports the lesson that even a small improvement can mean major progress. Sports are full of examples where a small difference means a great improvement or even the difference between…

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