The article discusses the increasing (and unnerving) trend of escalating trial costs. I have proposed an affordable solution to this challenge – a slightly modified version of a summary jury trial that can be used as a “mini-trial” after initial discovery has been completed, but well before the close of discovery. This process, which would need to have some binding effect, would de-clutter the trial discovery process, particularly in patent cases, and create a shorter, more efficient and cost-effective litigation alternative.