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Critical Communications    |    Records & Depositions    |    Litigation Psychology


A closer look at real-time feedback devices
Every so often, a client will ask us about usage of hand-held feedback devices, often called Perception Analyzers or “moment-to-moment” data collection systems, for utilization in jury research projects. Being trained researchers at heart, we have conducted extensive research on these devices and ...
George R. Speckart, Ph.D. - Litigation Psychology
— April 2021 — 21 views Confirmatory research Exploratory research Jury consulting Litigation psychology Mock trials Research Scientific method Trial consulting


Is fear of science costing your firm? - part 2
In the first part of this topic , we introduced the role of science and prediction in litigation and an overview of the jury research industry. In part two, we examine the importance of predictive validity and how it is achieved to provide actionable insight. * * *   * * Establishing Qualificati...
George R. Speckart, Ph.D. - Litigation Psychology
— March 2021 — 158 views Confirmatory research Exploratory research Focus groups Jury consulting Litigation psychology Mock trials Research Scientific method Trial consulting


Is fear of science costing your firm? - part 1
After spending thirty years working with trial teams, the same types of questions seem to continually surface: “How much will a jury award?”  “Will this theme be persuasive?”  “What kinds of jurors will be most receptive to my case?”  Scrutiny of the underlying factual issues underlying these ques...
George R. Speckart, Ph.D. - Litigation Psychology
— March 2021 — 173 views Confirmatory research Exploratory research Focus groups Jury consulting Litigation psychology Mock trials Research Scientific method Trial consulting


Alternative exploratory research designs in litigation - part 3
In part 1 of this topic , we introduced the concept of alternative formats for Exploratory Research and detailed the specifics of a traditional Focus Group. In part 2 , we described two alternate Focus Group designs: Graphics Research and Juror Profile Research. In this final section, we explain...
George R. Speckart, Ph.D. - Litigation Psychology
— March 2021 — 178 views Exploratory research Focus groups Jurors Litigation psychology Mock trials Presentations Research Scientific method Trial consulting Witness training


Litigation Psychology Podcast #59 - Best practices for large cases
Trial attorneys and partners Thomas Segars & James Weiss from Ellis | Winters join the podcast to talk with Dr. Bill Kanasky about high exposure litigation and their process to approach these cases. Tom and Jamie share the importance of getting started early and the work they do on thinking about ...
CSI - Courtroom Sciences Inc
— March 2021 — 271 views Depositions Jurors Jury consulting Litigation psychology Mock trials Nuclear verdicts Trial consulting Witness training


Alternative exploratory research designs in litigation - part 2
In part 1 of this topic , we introduced the concept of alternative formats for Exploratory Research or “different types of Focus Groups” and detailed the specifics of a traditional Focus Group. In part 2, we describe two alternate Focus Group designs: Graphics Research and Juror Profile Research....
George R. Speckart, Ph.D. - Litigation Psychology
— February 2021 — 203 views Exploratory research Focus groups Litigation psychology Mock trials Research Scientific method Trial consulting


Scientific evaluation of juror damage awards post-COVID
Few individuals would argue that COVID-19’s aftermath has left potential jurors in a heightened state of emotion. Our own research at Courtroom Sciences, Inc. has confirmed these assumptions as well.   This becomes problematic when considering that jurors in a heightened state of emotion have les...
Steve Wood, Ph.D. - Litigation Psychology
— February 2021 — 277 views COVID-19 Jurors Jury consulting Litigation psychology Mock trials Research Trial consulting


Alternative exploratory research designs in litigation - part 1
Pre-trial or “jury research” is sometimes bifurcated into two categories , the first being Exploratory Research – projects designed to initially “see what’s out there,” investigate the substantive terrain of a case, and find out “what sticks” thematically in terms of case arguments, issues, and e...
George R. Speckart, Ph.D. - Litigation Psychology
— February 2021 — 205 views Exploratory research Focus groups Litigation psychology Research Scientific method Trial consulting


Discovery obligations during the pandemic
Having resolved discovery disputes related to the COVID-19 pandemic for almost a year, trial courts have considered myriad creative discovery objections concerning whether and how litigants must present their witnesses for deposition testimony. With increased familiarity and experience resolving w...
Jae Ellis - Courtroom Sciences, Inc.
— February 2021 — 271 views Court reporting COVID-19 Depositions Paralegals


The Litigation Psychology Podcast #56 - Trucking & Covid-19
This episode of The Litigation Psychology Podcast focuses on how the trucking and transportation industry responded to the pandemic and the impressions, attitudes, and beliefs that jurors have toward transportation and trucking companies. Dr. Steve Wood discusses research that CSI has conducted ...
CSI - Courtroom Sciences Inc
— February 2021 — 315 views COVID-19 Jurors Litigation psychology Research Trucking & transportation Witness training


Litigation trends in 2021 - part 2
In part 1 of this topic , we covered litigation trends and developments including an increase in settlements, changing juror perceptions, the fragile state of witnesses, and considerations, risks, and opportunities around essential workers. In the final part of this topic, we dive into nuclear ve...
CSI - Courtroom Sciences Inc
— January 2021 — 439 views Anti-reptile COVID-19 Crisis Enterprise risk management Jury consulting Litigation psychology Nuclear verdicts Reptile Trial consulting Witness training


The Litigation Psychology Podcast #52 - Mental health of witnesses
In this episode of The Litigation Psychology Podcast, Bill Kanasky, Ph.D. and Alyssa Parker, Ph.D. discuss the sensitive but hugely important topic of mental health. Mental health has always been a factor in litigation but since the onset of the Coronavirus pandemic, it has become broader and more...
CSI - Courtroom Sciences Inc
— January 2021 — 402 views Anti-reptile COVID-19 Depositions Health care / med mal Litigation psychology Mental health Reptile Trial consulting Witness training


Defense strategy during the pandemic
The U.S. Census Bureau estimates 37% of Americans experienced symptoms of anxiety or depression during mid-December 2020 ( U.S. Census Bureau, Household Pulse Survey, 2020 ). Defense attorneys returning to the courthouse for trials in coming months will face a jury venire composed of many people ...
Melissa Loberg, Ph.D. & Lorie Sicafuse, Ph.D.
— January 2021 — 442 views COVID-19 Jurors Jury consulting Litigation psychology Research Trial consulting


Litigation trends in 2021 - part 1
If 2020 taught us anything, it is that making predictions about the future is foolhardy. Though the unexpected is likely to be woven into every aspect of our lives and businesses, there often are trends and developments that are worth being aware of and prepared for. Considering that approach, th...
CSI - Courtroom Sciences Inc
— January 2021 — 495 views COVID-19 Depositions Jurors Jury consulting Litigation psychology Mental health Mock trials Research Trial consulting Witness training


The Litigation Psychology Podcast #51 - Attorney demeanor
In this week’s podcast, trial attorneys Paul Motz, Shareholder, Segal McCambridge Singer & Mahoney and Matt Moffett, Partner, Gray, Rust, St. Amand, Moffett & Brieske, LLP, join CSI Litigation Consultants Dr. Steve Wood and Dr. Bill Kanasky to discuss the topic of attorney credibility and attorney...
CSI - Courtroom Sciences Inc
— January 2021 — 507 views Anti-reptile Confirmatory research Depositions Exploratory research Focus groups Insurance defense Jurors Jury consulting Litigation psychology Mock trials Nuclear verdicts Reptile Research Trial consulting Witness training


Jury selection in intellectual property cases - part 2
In part 1 of this topic , we laid the groundwork that two different sets of profile characteristics were needed to reliably identify plaintiff and defendant juror types:   Those who would tend to find (non)infringement and those who would tend to find (in)validity. Part 1 included an analysis of...
George R. Speckart, Ph.D. - Litigation Psychology
— December 2020 — 402 views Jurors Jury consulting Litigation psychology Research Trial consulting Witness training


Jury selection in intellectual property cases - part 1
Introduction In the early days of patent litigation – when real inventors were suing corporations ( Kearns v. Ford Motor Company ) or corporations were suing each other ( Procter & Gamble v. Kimberly Clark , a.k.a “diaper wars” or Dow v. Exxon Chemical ) -- the scientific approach that was taken i...
George R. Speckart, Ph.D. - Litigation Psychology
— December 2020 — 431 views Focus groups Jurors Jury consulting Litigation psychology Research Scientific method


Survey: Covid-related attitude changes toward industries
* Introduction * All of us have been significantly impacted by the COVID-19 crisis. Most of us have experienced significant changes in how we socialize, work, and educate our children. Not only are our behaviors affected by the crisis, our way of viewing the world is also affected during this ti...
Lorie Sicafuse, Ph.D. - Litigation Psychology
— December 2020 — 480 views Anti-reptile COVID-19 Jurors Jury consulting Litigation psychology Reptile Research Trucking & transportation


The Litigation Psychology Podcast #45 - Nuclear verdicts
CSI Litigation Consultant Dr. Steve Wood joins the podcast to discuss the causes of nuclear verdicts and the myth of social inflation. Dr. Wood and Dr. Kanasky explain the psychology behind the concept of social inflation and why it is being promoted so much. They also talk about how you can leve...
CSI - Courtroom Sciences Inc
— November 2020 — 535 views Focus groups Jurors Jury consulting Litigation psychology Mock trials Nuclear verdicts Trial consulting Witness training


The Litigation Psychology Podcast #44 - Healthcare Litigation
Jason Long, Attorney with London | Amburn Attorneys at Law joins the podcast to discuss several healthcare litigation topics. Jason and Dr. Bill Kanasky talk about what the impacts of Covid-19 have been - both good and bad - on witness training , depositions, and some lessons learned thus far. Th...
CSI - Courtroom Sciences Inc
— November 2020 — 556 views Anti-reptile COVID-19 Depositions Health care / med mal Jurors Jury consulting Litigation psychology Reptile Research Trial consulting Witness training