Closing Arguments: Focus and Organization
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
Podcast - Impeaching with a Deposition
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
Podcast - Cross-Examination: Don't Argue - Elicit Facts
Cross-Examination: Asking the Right Leading Questions
Podcast - Cross-Examination: The Importance of Organization
Work This Way: A Labor & Employment Law Podcast - Episode 20: Tips for Court Cases with Judge Dennis and Judge Wilkins of Maynard Nexsen
Understanding When to Cross-Examine
Podcast - Cross-Examination: Basic Approaches
The "Why" of Cross-Examination
Basic Points to Consider in Redirect Examination
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
When it comes to the delicate task of preparing a witness for deposition or trial, everyone has their own style. It is also true that every witness will have their own needs. Some know the drill already and just need to...more
In this episode of "The Trial Lawyer's Handbook" podcast series, litigation attorney Dan Small breaks down the "three C's of impeachment," drawing from his experience in a notable grain elevator explosion case. He highlights...more
In this episode of "The Trial Lawyer's Handbook" podcast series, litigation attorney Dan Small explains how to impeach a witness' credibility through prior inconsistent statements. He emphasizes the importance of carefully...more
Just what is it that wins a trial case? It’s not a simple matter of providing a bullet list of facts. The subject matter and fine points of evidence can be complex and difficult to follow, and the trial attorneys rarely have...more
In this episode of "The Trial Lawyer's Handbook" podcast series, litigation attorney Dan Small explains why eliciting facts, not engaging in arguments, is the most effective strategy when cross-examining a witness. He advises...more
In this episode of his "The Trial Lawyer's Handbook" podcast series, litigation attorney Dan Small highlights the impact of verbal clutter in legal proceedings. He stresses the importance of asking concise, clear questions,...more
Litigation attorney Dan Small continues his insightful "Trial Lawyer's Handbook" podcast series with a new episode focused on opening statements. Drawing from his extensive trial experience, Mr. Small offers practical tips...more
In this episode of his "The Trial Lawyer's Handbook" podcast series, litigation attorney Dan Small sits down with Frank Vecella, principal at McKool Smith and former head of litigation for Ericsson, for an in-depth discussion...more
It’s always seen in courtroom dramas—the smirking attorney who drives a witness into an emotional frenzy that leads to an admission of perjury, guilt, or confusion. The real experience is rarely as flamboyant as TV episodes...more
Before they swear to “tell the truth, the whole truth, and nothing but the truth,” witnesses need to be prepared for the process and challenges of testifying in a trial, deposition, or other legal proceeding. How you...more
From the now decades old asbestos litigation to pharmaceuticals and product liability cases to the newly developing PFAS or “forever chemical” lawsuits, mass tort litigation has increasingly become the tool of choice by which...more
By Dr. Ken Broda-Bahm: To be clear, testifying isn’t acting. Testifying is telling the truth. And with apologies to those who will point out that good acting is telling the truth as well, there are some important differences...more
While views may vary, we believe firmly that witness preparation should involve asking witnesses the tough questions, for several reasons: First, we would argue it is better to pose a tough or uncomfortable question up...more
IMS Senior Jury Consulting Advisor Dr. Merrie Jo Pitera explains why themes are important for testimony, how to prep witnesses for cross, and what attorneys can gain from working with consultants. Listen, watch, and/or read...more
IMS Senior Jury Consulting Advisor Dr. Merrie Jo Pitera explains why themes are important for testimony, how to prep witnesses for cross, and what attorneys can gain from working with consultants. View the transcript here:...more
IMS Senior Jury Consulting Advisor Dr. Merrie Jo Pitera joins podcast host and IMS Client Services Advisor Adam Bloomberg to discuss the goals of witness preparation, what makes a witness credible, and how witnesses can...more
Over the years, we have heard much consternation from our clients regarding a plaintiff strategy called the “Reptile Approach.” We have seen this approach become more and more popular—not to mention effective—during...more
Witnesses, I’d like to have a word. You know the most important audience for your testimony — the jurors in the courtroom with you, or the future jury who might someday see a clip of your deposition? That audience is kind of...more
You have your witness on the stand in direct examination. You have finished laying out the positive story that you want to tell, but you have one more thing to do before handing that witness over to the other side...more
As you are putting on your case at trial, and you go to call your next witness, there’s always a reaction from the jury box. It’s an opportunity for fresh attention from them, but it is often a bit of a mystery...more
When thinking about the title for this post, I came awfully close to saying that certainty “matters more” than accuracy, but I thought that perhaps it might sound too cynical. But that stronger version is supported by the...more
If you remember even a few images from kindergarten, you probably remember the time when your teachers would lay out the mats — that was the cue that it is naptime. One might say that the similar cue in a courtroom is when...more
It sometimes happens in the course of testimony: After what might have been a longer or misdirected answer, the witness will receive a stern admonition from either the questioning attorney, or worse, the judge...more
In popular culture, a trial often hinges on a single moment – an accidental admission of guilt or sudden epiphany from a budding lawyer. But when a matter heads to a final arbiter in the real world, a legal team will have...more