Help jurors feel for injured parties; 'I bring the decedent back alive in the courtroom,' so damages don't seem futile
Article Abstract:
Airplane-crash plaintiff's lawyer Aaron J Broder won a $19 million jury award against Pan Am airlines for the death of young executive Michael Pescatore in the 1988 explosion of Pan Am Flight 103 over Lockerbie, Scotland. To the jury he strove to present a young man with a brilliant future but also a deeply sympathetic future. Aggressive cross-examination of Pan Am's economist exposed questionable projections of Pescatore's earnings, overcoming the defense tactic of minimizing damages.
Publication Name: The National Law Journal
Subject: Law
ISSN: 0162-7325
Year: 1996
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Put positive spin on problem facts
Article Abstract:
Criminal defense attorney Brad D. Brian feels that establishing a theory that can be convincingly sold to a jury and making every aspect of the trial relate to this theory is important. He says that putting a spin on any holes in the theory is not a problem, as long as the theory itself remains viable. He does not beleive in putting defendants on the stand. Brian's work in the Thomas Spiegel case is discussed.
Publication Name: The National Law Journal
Subject: Law
ISSN: 0162-7325
Year: 1995
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Undermine victim's credibility
Article Abstract:
Criminal defense attorney Henry F. Owens believes that the secret to winning is undermining the state's witnesses. In doing so, attorneys must be careful not to illicit for the witness the sympathy of the jury. Inconsistencies make the best target for pursuit, and once a witness is known to have lied about one thing it is easy to get a jury to dismiss their entire testimony.
Publication Name: The National Law Journal
Subject: Law
ISSN: 0162-7325
Year: 1995
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