The defense lawyer, calm and friendly through the trial, got to the podium after we finished closing. His turn. He set his notes down. I noticed his hands clench the podium sides, knuckles whitening. He began, angry, wandered…more
Originally published in Plaintiff Magazine, March 2012.
The defendant’s key witness, who said in a police report that our client had crossed the street during a red light, disappeared into the ether before a deposition was…more
WHEN DISASTER STRIKES
Dear Friends, Clients and Colleagues:
You read about disasters in the news on a regular basis. And you know there’s a chance something could happen to you. Those of us in California…more
About one-third of all Americans—through birth, divorce, and remarriage—are part of a stepfamily. But many of the laws governing familial relationships have lagged far behind this reality.
A good example is…more
January 1 usually means new statutes take effect, and this year is no exception. There are two we feel are important to highlight this year for the practitioner and the consumer. (For those of you who aren’t…more
Protecting your family’s financial safety and security in the face of uncertainty and risk takes planning and effort. Unfortunately, we frequently meet with people who have suffered an injury or death that, in addition…more
As printed in Plaintiff Magazine, February 2012
Today, a horseman teaches us about cross-examination. Some time ago, I took a course on communication that focused on horses. I’m not a horse person, nor do I…more
Originally published in Plaintiff Magazine, January 2012.
A friend of ours, in the not too distant past, put out a job offer. He narrowed it down to the final two, after interviews. His first pick? A young woman, we’ll call…more
As printed in Plaintiff Magazine, December 2011
Thunk! It arrived on my desk with the kind of weight that said, “I am a substantial pleading.” I looked up at my assistant, whose eyebrows and shoulders rose in a vaguely…more
Presented as part of the American Board of Trial Advocates‘ Masters in Trial on Jury Selection, September 23, 2011
In 1899 the Supreme Court of California, in Lombardi v. California Street Railway Company, 124 Cal.311,…more
Originally published in Plaintiff Magazine, November 2011
My partner and I were sitting in the hotel the night before trial. Across from us sat the defense lawyers for the forklift manufacturer and the company’s general…more
Originally published August 2011.
It’s a warm summer weekend and you are basking in the sun on your deck with your family, enjoying a cold drink and the enticing smell of a sizzling steak on the barbeque. The last thought…more
Originally published in February 2011.
Winter is well upon us. While we are in California, wet and snowy weather affects everyone. One of the saddest aspects of our work is the realization that many of the cases we handle…more
Charlotte Langley agreed with Jane Barfield to watch Jane’s eight-year-old son, Jason, at the Langleys’ home. Charlotte’s nine-year-old son Joey phoned his friend Shane, also nine, and told him to come over with his BB gun…more
As printed in Plaintiff Magazine, October 2011
A few weeks ago I heard a noise from the bathroom. Our toilet kept running, ever so slightly, after getting flushed. I’ve addressed home plumbing problems before. I will…more
