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Litigation Psychology Podcast #80 - The danger of safety
Steve Wood, Ph.D. and Bill Kanasky, Jr., Ph.D. discuss the litigation risks and dangers for companies that make statements like "Safety is our top priority." Steve and Bill talk about how and why that seemingly innocuous statement is neither true nor accurate and how the plaintiff's bar has succes...
CSI - Courtroom Sciences Inc
— July 2021 — 34 views Anti-reptile Communications Litigation psychology Nuclear verdicts Reptile Trucking & transportation Witness training


Advantages of desktop videoconferencing for depositions
Now that there is again a choice (in most cases) of conducting depositions in-person or remotely, how do you decide which approach is best? Although there are several factors to consider, you should know that CSI offers convenient and cost-effective desktop videoconferencing for depositions. Attor...
CSI - Courtroom Sciences Inc
— June 2021 — 185 views Court reporting Depositions


Litigation Psychology Podcast #76 - Young attorneys
Our guest for this episode of The Litigation Psychology Podcast is Punam Kaji, Assistant General Counsel for Ben E. Keith. Punam is focused on employment and litigation matters for the company and is the 2021 winner of the Outstanding Young Lawyer Award of Tarrant County (TX) Young Lawyers Associa...
CSI - Courtroom Sciences Inc
— June 2021 — 151 views Witness training


Improving witness (and attorney) performance on direct examination - part 2
In part one of this topic, we discussed the risks associated with not preparing for direct examination to the same degree that witnesses are prepared for cross examination. We introduced the first of three common errors that  can damage witness credibility during direct testimony, which is overes...
Bill Kanasky, Jr., Ph.D.
— June 2021 — 274 views Litigation psychology Trial consulting Witness training


Litigation Psychology Podcast #75 - Frequently asked questions
A special episode for the 75th edition of The Litigation Psychology Podcast. Dr. Bill Kanasky answers questions that have come in from podcast viewers and listeners. The questions asked and answered: - Should I do my mock tria l in the actual venue of the lawsuit? - How should I handle confident...
CSI - Courtroom Sciences Inc
— June 2021 — 184 views COVID-19 Depositions Jurors Jury consulting Litigation psychology Mock trials Nuclear verdicts Trial consulting Witness training


Improving witness (and attorney) performance on direct examination - part 1
*Introduction* Cross-examination of defendant witnesses often represents the most stressful, vulnerable time of a trial for both witness and defense counsel. For the witness, surviving the emotional and mental  chess match of a plaintiff attorney’s manipulative pattern of leading questions is ofte...
Bill Kanasky, Jr., Ph.D.
— June 2021 — 373 views Litigation psychology Trial consulting Witness training


Litigation Psychology Podcast #74 - Emotional witnesses
Attorney Matt LaBeau with Collins Einhorn Farrell joins Dr. Steve Wood to discuss preparing emotional witnesses for deposition. Matt talks about the different types of emotions that witnesses might be struggling with (sadness, anger, nervousness) and how important it is to identify in advance if y...
CSI - Courtroom Sciences Inc
— June 2021 — 185 views COVID-19 Depositions Litigation psychology Reptile Witness training


Litigation Psychology Podcast #73 - Cognitive fatigue
In this episode of The Litigation Psychology Podcast, Dr. Bill Kanasky talks about preventing nuclear settlements at deposition by doing a better job of managing the cognitive fatigue of witnesses during deposition testimony. Scientific evidence makes clear that witnesses begin to fatigue mentally...
CSI - Courtroom Sciences Inc
— June 2021 — 194 views Anti-reptile Depositions Litigation psychology Nuclear verdicts Reptile Settlements Witness training


Why you need a witness expert
A Witness Expert is a highly trained expert in psychology and communication science that can accurately assess your witness’s strengths and weaknesses, and then teach them the skills needed to become an effective, persuasive witness. A Witness Expert has one ultimate goal: ensuring optimal witness...
CSI - Courtroom Sciences Inc
— June 2021 — 223 views Litigation psychology Witness training


Litigation Psychology Podcast #72 - Trucking and construction litigation
Eric Miersma, Attorney with Balestreri Potocki & Holmes, and a former commercial truck driver, joins the podcast to discuss both trucking and construction litigation. Eric compares and contrasts the two different types of litigation, noting that construction players often have lots of experience w...
CSI - Courtroom Sciences Inc
— May 2021 — 217 views Depositions Jurors Jury consulting Litigation psychology Nuclear verdicts Trial consulting Trucking & transportation Witness training


Litigation Psychology Podcast #71 - Mental health awareness
May is Mental Health Awareness Month. Whitney Burkett, Associate Attorney with Anderson, Rasor & Partners, and CSI Litigation Consultant Dr. Alyssa Parker join Dr. Steve Wood to discuss mental health, and in particular the mental health of witnesses. Whitney and Alyssa discuss the importance of as...
CSI - Courtroom Sciences Inc
— May 2021 — 230 views COVID-19 Mental health Witness training


Nurse depositions gone bad - part 3
In  part 1 of this topic , we gave an example of a nurse's deposition and how easily it can go badly. In part 2 , we highlight some of the most common aspects of the nursing profession  that create the greatest pitfalls for nurses in the  deposition. In this final part, we cover prevention str...
CSI - Courtroom Sciences Inc
— May 2021 — 365 views Depositions Health care / med mal Litigation psychology Witness training


Litigation Psychology Podcast #68 - Cross examination
With in-person trials beginning to ramp up again after the shutdowns caused by COVID-19, dusting off trial skills becomes important. In this episode of The Litigation Psychology Podcast, Dr. Bill Kanasky speaks to trial attorneys Paul Motz of Segal McCambridge and Georgianne Walker of May Oberfell...
CSI - Courtroom Sciences Inc
— May 2021 — 476 views COVID-19 Litigation psychology Trial consulting Witness training


Nurse depositions gone bad - part 2
In part 1 of this topic , we gave an example of a nurse's deposition and how easily it can go badly. In part 2, we highlight some of the most common aspects of the nursing profession  that create the greatest pitfalls for nurses in the  deposition. * Nurses Must Have Answers –  * *Always* ...
CSI - Courtroom Sciences Inc
— April 2021 — 309 views Depositions Health care / med mal Litigation psychology Witness training


Litigation Psychology Podcast #67 - Virtual depositions
Colleen Burke, James Hunter, and Kari Melkonian, Attorneys with Michigan law firm Collins Einhorn Farrell join Dr. Steve Wood to discuss the topic of virtual depositions. The group shares their experiences thus far with doing online depositions, including how they got started and what they've lear...
CSI - Courtroom Sciences Inc
— April 2021 — 477 views COVID-19 Depositions Witness training


Nurse depositions gone bad - part 1
* Introduction  * Across the country, malpractice litigation creates a painful scenario for the health care industry, causing incalculable financial losses and rendering emotional turmoil to the health care  professionals  who  have  been  positioned  unwittingly  as pawns in the game. These pawn...
CSI - Courtroom Sciences Inc
— April 2021 — 375 views Depositions Health care / med mal Litigation psychology Witness training


Training witnesses with technical backgrounds - part 3
In part 1 of this topic , we introduced the subject of GENs (geeks, eggheads, and nerds) and in part 2 we discussed the challenges faced by GENs in testifying. For the conclusion of this topic, we cover important points to keep in mind in training GENs to testify. * Training GENs to Testify * * ...
CSI - Courtroom Sciences Inc
— April 2021 — 303 views Litigation psychology Witness training


Training witnesses with technical backgrounds - part 2
In part 1 of this topic , we introduced the subject of GENs (geeks, eggheads, and nerds) and how their social awkwardness and interests outside of popular culture can make working with them a challenge in depositions or in trial where risks should be minimized. We also touched on the changes taki...
CSI - Courtroom Sciences Inc
— April 2021 — 313 views Litigation psychology Witness training


Training witnesses with technical backgrounds - part 1
Here’s a quiz: Can you identify the source for these famous Nerd lines? · “Ray, when somebody asks if you’re a god, you say yes!” · “This is what makes time travel possible: the flux capacitor!” · “The force is strong with this one.” · “Hey Yoooou Guys!” Answers appear at the end of this post. If ...
CSI - Courtroom Sciences Inc
— April 2021 — 343 views Litigation psychology Witness training


Litigation Psychology Podcast #63 - Reptile and anchoring
Attorney Nick Rauch with Larson King in St. Paul, Minnesota joins the podcast and talks with Dr. Bill Kanasky about his recent article in For the Defense on counter anchoring and the reverse reptile and how he has used reverse reptile in depositions. Nick explains the concepts of anchoring and cou...
CSI - Courtroom Sciences Inc
— March 2021 — 414 views Anti-reptile Depositions Litigation psychology Reptile Witness training