JURORS SPEAK
Reactions
can vary significantly from juror to juror, and case to case.
From focus groups and trial simulations we gain crucial insights
that can change the course of an argument or strategy before
a case goes to trial. Equally important are the comments
from actual jurors in post-trial interviews, providing a
lasting value to our clients in future cases. Find out what
really goes on in deliberations!
Evaluating and Preparing Witnesses:
Number one for jurors is comprehension. Witnesses benefit from
our preparation sessions designed to enhance communication skills
and improve credibility.
Too
much complexity—
“This is where I learned you should never argue with
a mathematician. I didn’t understand a word he said.”
Knowing
your facts—
“He was an impressive witness. The lawyers carried
into court 9 boxes of calculations; we couldn’t ignore
nine boxes. His credibility was high because he handled his
figures well... Try as he did, opposing counsel could not get
him to reduce his estimates much.”
Creating
Credibility—
“He
looked at the jurors when he spoke, and you could see he
was intent on just understanding the question. And he had
a memory; some of these people couldn’t remember.
He remembered, and I know they all could; you can’t graduate
from Berkeley and not remember. He was a
very honest man and he was a very good witness…”
How
Jurors’ Life
Experiences Affect a Trial:
The
details of your case can induce sympathy or bias in jurors,
which is why jury selection is critical. Our consultants
are experts at evaluating how jurors’ life experiences
can shape their reactions to a case.
Dealing
with Hard Times—
“For
one individual and the lawyers to get millions of dollars
is completely outrageous. I’m a teacher and
can’t get pencils in the classroom. It was a hard decision
for me to make.”
Facing
Pressure—
“The descriptions of plaintiff’s disability
all rang true to me. I’ve been a pilot and can remember
flying through the clouds with wings iced up and got panicky
like the plaintiff would have. I know the feeling.”
Judging
Business Ethics—
“If you were a manager or private business owner
you may see the way the company managed the business as common
sense. A lot of the jury wasn’t in that frame of mind.
They saw it as profiteering. I argued that just because there
is pressure on the employees and there is efficiency, that
doesn’t mean they are immoral or wrong.”
Theme Development and Graphics:
Our assistance with theme development and graphics can make
your arguments more powerful.
Missing
Themes—
“The
lawyers should have tried to give it some consistency… Stick
to a subject, so there is some sort of a theme… because
it was all over the map.”
Finding
the Right Graphic—
“The
visual timeline was important because you could see the period
of time in which all these events took place: here he was
getting a different job. It helped to show the coincidences
that the plaintiff wanted to emphasize.”
What
you never want to hear…
“The most horrible days up there were days where
you couldn’t get it… There were several days when
it was too complicated… I felt lost sometimes… I’m
sure they were trying to get to a point, and they probably
got there but I never knew it.”
And how to avoid it!
Even in
the most complicated trials, it is essential that you keep
your audience. Once the jury’s attention is lost,
regaining their focus or their favor is difficult. From jury
selection to closing arguments, Bonora D'Andrea can help you
make a more articulate, compelling and impressive case for your
client.
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