Secrets

Golden Rule

Though the jury has the difficult task of appraising what your loss means to you, I am prohibited from asking them the one question that would most efficiently sketch a context for them: "If you lost your arm (or ten years of your life, or your child) as my client did, what would it take to offset that for you?"

His Pants Are on Fire

Imagine that I know that the Defendant or his expert witness is lying to the jury in your case. The most I can do is try to reveal the lie. I can't go the next step and tell the jury, "He lied to you." The Judge won't tell the jury this, either. This is not usually a problem, as I have faith that the jury can recognize the lie when shown the facts. But it can become a problem if the jury wonders, though that man sure seemed to be lying, wouldn't Mr. Lenahan or the Judge have said so?

Attorney's Fees

Most civil lawsuits about injuries can be divided into two types. Suits on behalf of injured businesses, and suits on behalf of injured people. There is an enormous difference between the law that applied. If a business sues for its injuries, it is usually the case that it can seek to be compensated for the attorney's fees it was forced to invest to get justice.

But when a person sues for injuries, not only does that law not usually allow for the possibility of attorney's fees, but the law prohibits my informing the jury that any fees will come from the award.

Win/Win Opportunity Declined

During the course of your case, we will look to extend an opportunity for settlement that presents a win/win for the parties. For example, if a jury is predicted to find that the proper damages are $500,000, offering to resolve the case for $485,000 would save both sides money. The Defendant would save $15,000 and you would not have to invest the time and money that a trial always consumes.

But, no matter how reasonable the offer, your jury will never know that you tried to resolve the matter without a trial.

Aything Admitted at Mediation

Very few cases ever go to trial without first going to mediation. Mediation is a process where the sides discuss proposed terms of settlement. If they agree, your case ends then. If there is no agreement, it goes forward. Clients are often frustrated to hear a Defendant admit the wrongs and injuries at mediation, and then deny them at trial. This can happen because nothing said at mediation can be shared with the jury.

Just Insurance

As we tell our clients before they hire us, our goal is to help them, not hurt the Defendant. As a practical matter, this means that almost every case is designed to seek the Defendant's Insurance only. (One exception is when we are pursuing the truly evil: the murderer, the slumlord, the molester et cetera.) Yes, if the jury knew this, it would be easier for them to see that what you are asking for is clearly reasonable.