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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
TEN TRUTHS ABOUT LEARNING HOW TO LEARN

TEN TRUTHS ABOUT LEARNING HOW TO LEARN

Over the 55 years I was involved in a plaintiffs trial practice I gave literally hundreds of talks around the country and even internationally. I learned that one can share unique and important ideas about successful plaintiffs trial practice and about 10%, at best, of the lawyers in attendance will effectively implement them. The overwhelming majority of them will listen, think that it is an interesting idea and then promptly forget about it returning to their usual practices. Those who…

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CROSS EXAMINATION IDEAS

CROSS EXAMINATION IDEAS

One of the most satisfying, but often challenging parts of a trial is the cross examination of witnesses, especially expert witnesses.  As John Henry Wigmore has famously said:  “Cross examination is beyond any doubt the greatest legal engine ever invented for the discovery of truth.” However, Louis Nizer, a great New York trial lawyer, also has observed it can be risky for the cross examiner: “In cross-examination, as in fishing, nothing is more ungainly than a fisherman pulled into the…

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DEALING WITH JUDGES WHO ABUSE THEIR POWER BY VIOLATING THEIR JUDICIAL DUTY OF BEING FAIR & IMPARTIAL

DEALING WITH JUDGES WHO ABUSE THEIR POWER BY VIOLATING THEIR JUDICIAL DUTY OF BEING FAIR & IMPARTIAL

The trial of Paul Manafort has been in the news. I read in the New York Times about the  conduct of United States district judge Thomas Ellis III. He is a 78 year old senior judge for the Eastern District of Virginia appointed by Ronald Reagan. His courtroom demeanor is best summarized by what he said at one point which was: “I am a Caesar in my own Rome.” That’s exactly how he has been acting throughout the trial, especially…

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