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
Trial by Tech: The Evolution of the Digital Courtroom – Speaking of Litigation Video Podcast
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
Recent stats show an interesting trend in the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Fourth Circuit: oral arguments are held in just 13% of cases. This differs from other circuits like the D.C. Circuit, where almost 50% of cases get...more
For civil defense attorneys, “bond” is a four-letter word in more ways than one when it comes to appeals, because appeal bonds only come into play when something didn’t go right at the trial level. That being said, when the...more
The risk of a large verdict has always been a major factor in any litigation. In recent years, the potential for a punitive damages instruction reaching a jury and a consequent verdict has grown as well. US juries have not...more
In many federal courts of appeals, the statement on oral argument occupies a prime position in a brief. It is often the first substantive statement a judge reads. Yet so few advocates use this valuable “real estate” to...more
In nearly all areas of the law, the parties’ submission of proposed orders to the trial court is a ubiquitous and long-standing practice. And for nearly just as long, the judiciary has recognized the significant due process...more
Trials happen fast. Trial counsel are rightly preoccupied with preparing to give opening statements or closing arguments, preparing to examine or cross-examine witnesses, or simply keeping track of admitted exhibits....more
As an appellate lawyer with considerable experience in both state and federal appellate courts, I often receive calls from colleagues who are either in the midst of trying a case, or who have just received a decision or...more
Accordingly, we hold that the voluntary disclosure of a privileged attorney-client communication constitutes a waiver of the privilege as to all other communications concerning the same subject matter when the trial court...more
In British Columbia, cross-examination on affidavits in the context of pre-trial applications is not as of right, as is the case in many other Canadian jurisdictions. Absent agreement, a party seeking to do so in B.C....more
It may seem odd to have an appellate lawyer participate during a trial. But a new decision from the Michigan Court of Appeals shows that a second set of eyes, with a view toward appeal, can benefit both clients and lawyers at...more
For more than a century, oil and gas has remained the backbone of Texas’s economic growth. Despite repeated rumors that oil and gas is on the way out as an energy source, the industry continues to adapt and grow to meet new...more
Whether it’s during a deposition or during trial, the job of preserving errors for judicial review is a vital part of the litigator’s professional obligation to his or her client. Many trial outcomes turn on evidentiary...more
There’s a great argument that lawyer advocacy in an arbitration is more essential than at a trial in court. This is the last post of the 10 most horrible, terrible, no good, “bang your head against the door” mistakes that I...more
Los Angeles County Superior Court just announced its Bench Trial Pilot Program directed toward personal injury cases assigned to the PI Hub at Spring Street Courthouse, and it is not hard to see that this program may be the...more
In the US District Court for the Western District of Texas, Judge Alan Albright’s closely watched patent trial is underway...more
We tend to think of “bias” as it applies to juries, but courts can have their own deep-seated practices. For example, judges will often prefer voir dire questions that focus on the juror’s own assessment of the influence of a...more
It is taking a while to get back to normal, isn’t it? As states and businesses are starting to re-engage after the coronavirus isolation, courts are taking their time. The chances for routine scheduling, particularly for...more
The key to successful oral advocacy is effective preparation. In this podcast, Carlton Fields attorneys Gary Sasso, Peter Webster, and Christine Davis discuss the importance of mock oral arguments in preparing for oral...more
The importance of watching for and properly preserving issues for appeal cannot be understated. This is especially true in high stakes cases involving significant exposure or those having significant precedential value where...more
The equitable doctrine of judicial estoppel prevents a party from asserting a claim in a legal proceeding that is inconsistent with a claim taken by that party in a previous proceeding. Generally, the doctrine is raised by a...more
The Appellate Court: An exciting forum of oral advocacy; a check on the process and the decisions of our trial courts; a second chance for parties to make their case; and a place where novel and important legal principles...more
This checklist is intended as an overview to help trial lawyers preserve the record for appeal. It is not exhaustive of all steps necessary to preserve error in every situation. Certain rules may vary by state/federal...more
Attorneys who appear in both state and federal courts must be familiar with the differences between the two systems. While some rules have harmonized over time, other procedures are entirely distinct. As a matter of...more
In September, the Appellate Division of the Supreme Court of the State of New York implemented new statewide practices rules that apply in each of New York’s four judicial departments. ...more
The Utah Court of Appeals recently decided Camco Construction, Inc., et al. v. Utah Baseball Academy, Inc., et al., 863 Utah Adv. Rep. 58, 2018 UT App 78. The case involved the plan of Athletic Performance Institute LLC...more