Closing Argument: Opportunity and Challenge
How to Make Clear, Quick and Effective Objections
More on Cross-Examination: Building a Case Brick by Brick
Podcast - Cross-Examination: Don't Ask One Question Too Many
Podcast - The Ten Commandments of Cross-Examination
Podcast - Refresh vs. Impeach: Know the Difference
The Justice Insiders Podcast: Jarkesy’s Implications for the Administrative State
Podcast - Cross-Examination of Expert Witnesses
Cross-Examination: The Three C’s of Impeachment
Cross-Examination: How to Effectively Impeach with a Prior Inconsistent Statement
Cross-Examination: Finding Control
DE Under 3: OFCCP Must Shut Down its Administrative Court Prosecutions as a Result of SCOTUS’ SEC Jury Trial Case Decision
Podcast - Cross-Examination: Don't Argue - Elicit Facts
Cross-Examination: Asking the Right Leading Questions
Podcast - Cross-Examination: The Importance of Organization
Understanding When to Cross-Examine
Podcast - Cross-Examination: Basic Approaches
The "Why" of Cross-Examination
Basic Points to Consider in Redirect Examination
Direct Examination: Offering Exhibits
On September 4, the U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of Pennsylvania dismissed a plaintiff’s attempt to enjoin FINRA from proceeding with a disciplinary hearing against the plaintiff. The plaintiff’s disciplinary...more
As a trial attorney, you’ll often enlist expert witnesses to evaluate claims, clarify complex evidence, write an expert witness report, and offer authoritative opinions. Because time and money can be tight during trial prep,...more
As a presentation technology consultant, I have been sitting in the hot seat for almost 25 years. I average one trial a month with about 75% being medical malpractice (med mal) cases. I work with both plaintiff and defense...more
Wenzel v. Homeowners Choice Prop. & Cas. Ins. Co., Fla. 4th DCA, 4D2023-0088, Apr. 24, 2024 - Following a jury trial, the circuit court entered a directed verdict for the insurer and set aside the jury’s verdict, concluding...more
Texas courts have recently provided guidance on what constitutes improper jury argument, focusing specifically on unsubstantiated anchoring. Trial counsel routinely use strategies to enhance the persuasiveness of their...more
In SEC v. Jarkesy, the Supreme Court considered whether the Seventh Amendment permits the SEC “to compel respondents to defend themselves before the agency rather than before a jury in federal court.” The Court held that the...more
Inflated jury verdicts in the first two preterm infant formula cases tried in the country have raised significant concerns for manufacturers and the broader medical community. These cases not only spotlight the legal...more
In Simers v. Los Angeles Times Communications LLC, Plaintiff T.J. Simers was a well-known columnist for the Times, who after 23 years of employment, suffered a medical issue at the age of 62. Upon resuming his duties, the...more
In our post at the end of June of this year we analyzed the Supreme Court’s decision in SEC v Jarkesy, which held that the right to trial by jury in an Article III Court contained in the Seventh Amendment to the Constitution...more
First impressions are crucial—especially when you’re delivering an opening statement to a court of law, establishing and framing the crux of a case for judges and jurors when a trial begins. Clarity, conciseness, resonance,...more
By including a jury trial waiver in an M&A purchase agreement, the parties agree to waive their rights to a jury trial in any dispute under the M&A agreement. Jury trial waivers may also extend to disputes under all of the...more
Litigation attorney Dan Small shares insights and strategies for delivering a compelling closing argument in this episode of "The Trial Lawyer's Handbook" podcast series. He explains the challenges of delivering a closing...more
In the wake of the U.S. Supreme Court's recent Jarkesy decision, the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission ("SEC") dismissed two contested Rule 102(e) proceedings against accountants, suggesting that the agency believes...more
Babcock New Haven, LLC v. Vaheed Teimouri and Teimouri & Associates, Fla. 5th DCA, 5D2023-1525, May 3, 2024 - This appeal followed a trial court’s entry of a final order dismissing Babcock New Haven, LLC’s lawsuit for failure...more
As reported in Public Citizen’s Consumer Law & Policy Blog, the Pennsylvania Supreme Court recently agreed to review Chilutti v. Uber Technologies, Inc., in which a divided panel of the Pennsylvania Superior Court (and later...more
When a case proceeds to trial, a legal team may face a critical decision about whether to have it adjudicated by a jury of peers or a single judge. Both options can offer benefits depending on the merits and subject matter...more
On August 28, 2024, the Sixth Circuit in Huang v. Ohio State Univ., 6th Cir., No. 23-03469 (Aug. 28, 2024) –—in a case with broader implications for the employment status of graduate students—reversed the Southern District of...more
The Supreme Court of Virginia taught appellate practitioners yet another hard lesson in how procedural pitfalls can scuttle otherwise compelling appeals. In Eckard v. Commonwealth, the pitfall was failing to get the complete...more
The Seventh Circuit recently analyzed when a party has a right to a jury trial for claims of aiding and abetting breaches of fiduciary duties arising out of a merger. The Court acknowledged that the Delaware-law claims at...more
Every trial lawyer I know believes that they are adapting their communication in order to get the jury — or, for that matter, the judge — to understand. At the same time, they will still try to be concise, correct, and...more
In this episode of "The Trial Lawyer's Handbook" podcast series, litigation attorney Dan Small addresses the art of making effective objections during trial, highlighting the importance of preparation, quick thinking and...more
In today’s legal landscape, the defense industry faces the unprecedented challenge of Nuclear Verdicts®. They pose a financial threat to businesses and individuals alike. It is vital for defense attorneys to embrace a...more
The US Court of Appeals for the Seventh Circuit affirmed a district court’s denial of a jury trial, concluding it was harmless error because the defendant would have been entitled to a directed verdict regardless. Overwell...more
Hot seat operator, trial technician, trial presentation specialist, courtroom presentation specialist—a rose by any other name is just as critical to helping you gain a winning edge. Today’s trials, whether bench or jury...more
Trial graphics are instrumental in conveying your story to today’s jurors. Presenting an understandable argument to a jury usually involves technology-driven visual communication in the form of demonstrative exhibits and...more