Most lawyers are convinced that focus studies are an invaluable method of getting helpful feedback regarding cases. There are a variety of ways of conducting these studies. One can use a telephone survey like the calls you get when there is a pending election. One can also conduct a case study with a group at a meeting place. This technique can involve numerous approaches from a full mock trial to simply showing documents to the group for a spontaneous reaction….
In a recent auto collision case the defendant admitted liability. There was no dispute that the plaintiff had very serious injuries and that there was substantial economic loss. The defense lawyer in argument suggested a specific minimum dollar verdicts for the consortium claims and a specific amount for the injured person. The defense figure was about half of the plaintiff’s figure. You would consider the defense numbers a fixed floor and the jury likely to bring in a verdict in…
Sheryl Gay Stolberg wrote in last Sunday’s New York Times about the Congressional hearings involving appointee Elizabeth Warren to head up the consumer protection agency. Warren is a Harvard law professor who exhibited a lot more courage then any other recent appointees by not taking bullying from Republican committee members and member Patrick McHenry a North Carolina Republican, in particular. The Republican committee members had already made it clear they had no intention of voting in her favor. When McHenry continued…