The spence trial college approach to cross examination

The spence trial college approach to cross examination

The Spence Trial College conducts regional seminars around the country. At this year’s regional seminar in Washington,the topic was cross examination. The college approach involves: (1) role reversal: Become the witness; identify what the witness is afraid of/devoted to/motivated by and why (2) What is the story that advances your case? Determine what story you want told by: witnesses, client, experts and the juror’s story as well as the universal story. My talk affirmed this approach and consisted of these…

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Gerry spence defends geoff fieger

Gerry spence defends geoff fieger

Wyoming lawyer Gerry Spence has been defending Detroit lawyer Geoff Fieger in Federal Court on charges of illegal political contributions. He’s charged with having his staff contribute to the campaign of John Edwards and then reimbursing them for the contribution – a crime under federal election laws. The government has to prove intent to violate the law and the defense is that Fieger, and his partner who is also charged in the case, did not believe they were violating any…

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The evil of preemption&immunity for negligent conduct

The evil of preemption&immunity for negligent conduct

The New England Journal of Medicinehas published a perspectivebyLeonard H. Glantz and George J. Annas "The FDA, Preemption and the Supreme Court" that has provocative ideas about the subject. They acknowledge the obvious fact that:"Everyone would like to be immune from lawsuits" but, note that providing immunity deprives injured people of their day in court. Immunity, they point out, undermines the tort system’s goal of deterring unreasonably dangerous actions or omission. In 1992, the U.S. Supreme Court in Riegel v….

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