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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 [1] at Courtroom Sciences, Inc. has confirmed these assumptions as well.   This becomes problematic when considering that jurors in a heightened state of emotion have ...
Steve Wood, Ph.D. - Litigation Psychology
— February 2021 — 55 views COVID-19 Jurors Jury consulting Litigation psychology Mock trials Research Trial consulting


Litigation Psychology Podcast #58 - Zoom trials
Shareholder and defense attorney Heather Snider from Segal McCambridge Singer & Mahoney in Chicago joins the podcast and shares her experience with a recent 5-day Zoom bench trial, including what worked, what didn't, how technical issues and objections were handled, and more. Heather and Dr. Bill ...
CSI - Courtroom Sciences Inc
— February 2021 — 79 views Anti-reptile Depositions Litigation psychology Reptile Trial consulting Witness training


Alternative exploratory research designs in litigation - part 1
Pre-trial or “jury research” is sometimes bifurcated into two categories [1] , 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, an...
George R. Speckart, Ph.D. - Litigation Psychology
— February 2021 — 50 views Exploratory research Focus groups Litigation psychology Research Scientific method Trial consulting


Litigation Psychology Podcast #57 - Storytelling in litigation
Trial attorney Brent A. Turman from Dallas firm Bell Nunnally & Martin, LLP joins the podcast to discuss the value and impact of storytelling in litigation. Brent has a fascinating background that has helped him develop his storytelling skills, which he applies to cases he works on. Brent worked o...
CSI - Courtroom Sciences Inc
— February 2021 — 122 views Jurors Planning Presentations


Impact of pandemic-related mental stress on witnesses
Dr. Alyssa Parker, CSI Litigation Consultant, is featured on the Best's Insurance Professional Resources podcast discussing the impact of pandemic-related mental stress on witnesses. Click the image to view the episode. None [1]   [2] watch the podcast [3] [1] http://www.ambest.com/video...
CSI - Courtroom Sciences Inc
— February 2021 — 159 views COVID-19 Depositions Insurance Litigation psychology Witness training


The Litigation Psychology Podcast #56 - Trucking & Covid-19
This episode of The Litigation Psychology Podcast focuses on how the trucking and transportation industry [1] responded to the pandemic and the impressions, attitudes, and beliefs that jurors have toward transportation and trucking companies. Dr. Steve Wood discusses research [2] that CSI has cond...
CSI - Courtroom Sciences Inc
— February 2021 — 171 views COVID-19 Jurors Litigation psychology Research Trucking Witness training


How jurors evaluate cases and determine liability - part 2
In None [1] part 1 of this article , we established the process and decision-making approach that jurors utilize in determining witness credibility and liability, including their evaluation of communications. In part 2, we take a deeper dive into the communications aspect. * * * * * The real “te...
George R. Speckart, Ph.D. - Litigation Psychology
— February 2021 — 173 views Jurors Jury consulting Litigation psychology Mock trials Scientific method Trial consulting Witness training


Litigation Psychology Podcast #55 - Managing witness mental health
Trucking defense attorney Mike Bassett joins the podcast to discuss the steps that he takes before he begins working with a witness: establishing trust, understanding their backstory, addressing their concerns and questions and establishing their state of mind. Without the proper pre-preparation, ...
CSI - Courtroom Sciences Inc
— February 2021 — 198 views COVID-19 Depositions Litigation psychology Planning Trucking Witness training


How jurors evaluate cases and determine liability - part 1
At trial during the plaintiff’s case for In re  Burlington Northern Inc., 822 F.2d 518 (5 th Cir. 1987), lead defense counsel was viewing videotaped deposition testimony for the first time from one of the key witnesses, a CEO, and founder of one of the defendant companies.  “I nearly fell out of m...
George R. Speckart, Ph.D. - Litigation Psychology
— January 2021 — 263 views Jurors Jury consulting Litigation psychology Mock trials Scientific method Trial consulting Witness training


Litigation Psychology Podcast #54 - Mental health in litigation
Trucking defense attorney Mark Perkins shares his personal experience with mental health and how he handles and addresses it. Mark and Bill Kanasky, Ph.D. talk about the ways the legal industry has, and has not, addressed mental health issues. They also discuss how the personal struggles that witn...
CSI - Courtroom Sciences Inc
— January 2021 — 354 views COVID-19 Depositions Litigation psychology Planning Trucking Witness training


Four lethal but preventable mistakes in civil litigation - part 2
In part 1 of this topic [1] , we wrote about how a n increasing number of cases are being resolved based upon their  perceptual  value  at  the  jury  level, rather than their realistic economic worth and how this often results in a defendant corporation having to pay significantly higher settleme...
Bill Kanasky, Jr., Ph.D.
— January 2021 — 227 views Depositions Jurors Witness training


The Litigation Psychology Podcast #53 - Mental health & trucking litigation
Our focus on mental health issues in litigation continues with trucking attorney Larry Hall, Shareholder with Sandberg Phoenix law firm in St. Louis, MO. Larry is the head of the transportation group and has extensive experience in trucking litigation. Larry and Dr. Bill Kanasky discuss the histor...
CSI - Courtroom Sciences Inc
— January 2021 — 313 views COVID-19 Depositions Litigation psychology Planning Trucking Witness training


Four lethal but preventable mistakes in civil litigation - part 1
An increasing number of cases are  being resolved based upon their  perceptual  value  at  the  jury  level, rather than their realistic economic worth.  Plaintiff attorneys have become experts at taking  small, relatively benign cases and turning them  into expensive “runaway trains” or "nu...
Bill Kanasky, Jr., Ph.D.
— January 2021 — 254 views Jurors Litigation psychology Witness training


Litigation trends in 2021 - part 2
In part 1 of this topic [1] , 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...
CSI - Courtroom Sciences Inc
— January 2021 — 308 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 — 272 views Anti-reptile COVID-19 Depositions Litigation psychology Med Mal 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 [1] ). Defense attorneys returning to the courthouse for trials in coming months will face a jury venire composed of many peop...
Melissa Loberg, Ph.D. & Lorie Sicafuse, Ph.D.
— January 2021 — 305 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 — 337 views COVID-19 Depositions Jurors Jury consulting Litigation psychology 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 — 350 views Anti-reptile Confirmatory research Depositions Exploratory research Focus groups Insurance Jurors Jury consulting Litigation psychology Mock trials Nuclear verdicts Reptile Research Trial consulting Witness training


The Litigation Psychology Podcast #50 - Best practices for video depositions
Video has become common for depositions, mediations, and witness trainings during these days of physical distancing. But appearing on video for these virtual sessions isn't the same as being in person and requires a specific approach and attention to detail to different things. Jackie Arguijo, Vid...
CSI - Courtroom Sciences Inc
— December 2020 — 336 views Depositions Presentations Webinars Witness training


Jury selection in intellectual property cases - part 2
In part 1 of this topic [1] , 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 [2] included an analy...
George R. Speckart, Ph.D. - Litigation Psychology
— December 2020 — 303 views Jurors Jury consulting Litigation psychology Research Trial consulting Witness training