Vol. 20/No. 3 September 2008 Archive

  • Shortly after the July issue of TJE published, we received an email from an attorney-reader in response to the Christie Brinkley divorce coverage wherein the court-appointed psychologist described Peter Cook, as a "narcissist with an insatiable ego who needs constant reassurance that he is a terrific guy" (CBS News.com, 7/8/2008).”I […]

    The Preparation of Narcissistic Witnesses: “I’m Better Than I Need To Be!”

    by Douglas L. Keene, Ph.D. Shortly after the July issue of TJE published, we received an email from an attorney-reader in response to the Christie Brinkley divorce coverage wherein the court-appointed psychologist described Peter Cook, as a "narcissist with an insatiable ego who needs constant reassurance that he is a terrific guy" (CBS News.com, 7/8/2008).”I […]

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  • Shortly after the July issue of TJE published, we received an email from an attorney-reader in response to the Christie Brinkley divorce coverage wherein the court-appointed psychologist described Peter Cook, as a "narcissist with an insatiable ego who needs constant reassurance that he is a terrific guy" (CBS News.com, 7/8/2008).”I […]

    The Preparation of Narcissistic Witnesses: Mirror, Mirror, on the Wall…

    by Charlotte A. Morris, M.A. Shortly after the July issue of TJE published, we received an email from an attorney-reader in response to the Christie Brinkley divorce coverage wherein the court-appointed psychologist described Peter Cook, as a "narcissist with an insatiable ego who needs constant reassurance that he is a terrific guy" (CBS News.com, 7/8/2008).”I […]

    Continue Reading...

  • Shortly after the July issue of TJE published, we received an email from an attorney-reader in response to the Christie Brinkley divorce coverage wherein the court-appointed psychologist described Peter Cook, as a "narcissist with an insatiable ego who needs constant reassurance that he is a terrific guy" (CBS News.com, 7/8/2008).”I […]

    The Preparation of Narcissistic Witnesses Without Losing Your Own Sanity

    by Lisa DeCaro Shortly after the July issue of TJE published, we received an email from an attorney-reader in response to the Christie Brinkley divorce coverage wherein the court-appointed psychologist described Peter Cook, as a "narcissist with an insatiable ego who needs constant reassurance that he is a terrific guy" (CBS News.com, 7/8/2008).”I […]

    Continue Reading...

  • Many attorneys are masters of verbal presentation; however, in most litigation, words are no longer enough.  Jurors are reluctant to take anyone’s words at face value.1   When only listening to oral presentations, jurors develop unanswerable questions, suspicions or alternative explanations, of which neither they nor attorneys in the case […]

    The 3 Cs in Using Visual Communication to Tell Legal Stories: Communication, Credibility, and the Central Image

    by Amy Pardieck Many attorneys are masters of verbal presentation; however, in most litigation, words are no longer enough.  Jurors are reluctant to take anyone’s words at face value.1   When only listening to oral presentations, jurors develop unanswerable questions, suspicions or alternative explanations, of which neither they nor attorneys in the case […]

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  •   “Winning will depend on not wanting other people to lose.” –R. Wright. Nonzero. History, Evolution and Human Cooperation  INTRODUCTION Using mediation, conflicts can often be resolved rapidly, economically and at an early stage, with a satisfying outcome for the clients involved. From the perspective of ‘game theory’ mediation revolves […]

    Solution Focused Mediation

    by Fredrike P. Bannink   “Winning will depend on not wanting other people to lose.” –R. Wright. Nonzero. History, Evolution and Human Cooperation  INTRODUCTION Using mediation, conflicts can often be resolved rapidly, economically and at an early stage, with a satisfying outcome for the clients involved. From the perspective of ‘game theory’ mediation revolves […]

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  • Ever tried a case in which a jury has awarded damages?  If so, you probably know that the model of the jury as a group of rational decision makers who evaluate all the available evidence to make an informed damage award is not a useful or accurate one.  Instead many […]

    Some Juror Rules for Determining Damages

    by David Davis, Ph.D. Ever tried a case in which a jury has awarded damages?  If so, you probably know that the model of the jury as a group of rational decision makers who evaluate all the available evidence to make an informed damage award is not a useful or accurate one.  Instead many […]

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  • Oftentimes, our ultimate goal when interacting with others is to change their mind and eventually their behavior. This change is called persuasion (Brock & Green, 2005). The judicial process is itself a display of social interaction with the ultimate goal of persuasion, from the authoritative figure of the judge to […]

    Using the Science of Persuasion in the Courtroom

    by Edward Burkley, Ph.D. and Darshon Anderson Oftentimes, our ultimate goal when interacting with others is to change their mind and eventually their behavior. This change is called persuasion (Brock & Green, 2005). The judicial process is itself a display of social interaction with the ultimate goal of persuasion, from the authoritative figure of the judge to […]

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  •   “It’s honestly the best class I have taken in law school. This class is preparing students to be lawyers, not just how to act like one or read cases.”  DePaul Law School student, 2008   “What you are providing to your students is important and inspirational. These future lawyers […]

    Lawyers Learning to Communicate

    by Patricia McEvoy, Ph.D.   “It’s honestly the best class I have taken in law school. This class is preparing students to be lawyers, not just how to act like one or read cases.”  DePaul Law School student, 2008   “What you are providing to your students is important and inspirational. These future lawyers […]

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  • In Parts One and Two of this series (see the May 2008 and July 2008 issues of The Jury Expert) I taught that litigation has many assumptions about testifying and witness preparation. Those assumptions are false but do not operate at full awareness.  In part Three, I continue with additional […]

    Witness Preparation: Hidden False Assumptions, Real Truths, Recommendations

    by David Illig, Ph.D. In Parts One and Two of this series (see the May 2008 and July 2008 issues of The Jury Expert) I taught that litigation has many assumptions about testifying and witness preparation. Those assumptions are false but do not operate at full awareness.  In part Three, I continue with additional […]

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  • Many understand the concept of venue — the place where a trial is to be held.  A change of venue is a popular strategic move, such as in the movie A Time to Kill where the defense attorneys seek, and are denied, a change of venue that would move a […]

    A Jury of Your Peers: Venue, Vicinage and Buffer Statutes

    by Jason C. Miller Many understand the concept of venue — the place where a trial is to be held.  A change of venue is a popular strategic move, such as in the movie A Time to Kill where the defense attorneys seek, and are denied, a change of venue that would move a […]

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