Vol. 21/No. 5 September 2009 Archive

  • Over the years, the use of graphic, and at times gruesome, visual imagery in the courtroom has become commonplace. In the criminal setting, particularly trials involving violent crime, prosecutors make every effort to put grisly photographs of the victim and crime scene in front of the jury. These photos are […]

    The Impact of Graphic Injury Photographs on Liability Verdicts and Non-Economic Damage Awards

    by Bryan Edelman, Ph.D. Over the years, the use of graphic, and at times gruesome, visual imagery in the courtroom has become commonplace. In the criminal setting, particularly trials involving violent crime, prosecutors make every effort to put grisly photographs of the victim and crime scene in front of the jury. These photos are […]

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  • "You can see a lot by just looking," Yogi Berra once said, and this adage is quite relevant to civil case mediations. Currently, in the United States, there are approximately 250,000 civil case mediations per year (Wall & Chan-Serafin, 2009), but we know very little about what happens within them. […]

    Civil Case Mediations: Observations and Conclusions

    by James A. Wall, Jr., Ph.D. and Suzanne Chan-Serafin, Ph.D. "You can see a lot by just looking," Yogi Berra once said, and this adage is quite relevant to civil case mediations. Currently, in the United States, there are approximately 250,000 civil case mediations per year (Wall & Chan-Serafin, 2009), but we know very little about what happens within them. […]

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  • How jurors choose their presiding juror.

    Identifying Leaders

    by Barbara Rich Bushell, Ph.D. How jurors choose their presiding juror.

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  • In 2005, Nicholas Minucci – a White man – assaulted and robbed Glenn Moore – a Black man. Throughout the attack, Minucci repeatedly referred to Moore as a "nigger." Based on this evidence, the state prosecuted this as a hate crime. Although tragic, the details surrounding the crime were not […]

    Hate Crimes and Revealing Motivation through Racial Slurs

    by Gregory S. Parks, J.D., Ph.D. and Shayne Jones, Ph.D. In 2005, Nicholas Minucci – a White man – assaulted and robbed Glenn Moore – a Black man. Throughout the attack, Minucci repeatedly referred to Moore as a "nigger." Based on this evidence, the state prosecuted this as a hate crime. Although tragic, the details surrounding the crime were not […]

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  • Make technology come alive for your audience by giving it a voice. Anthropomorphism connects our everyday experience with the world of bits and bytes.

    Anthropomorphism in Technical Presentations

    by Jason Barnes Make technology come alive for your audience by giving it a voice. Anthropomorphism connects our everyday experience with the world of bits and bytes.

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  • In 1995, Dr. Suzanna Gratia-Hupp testified that her inability to legally carry a handgun prevented her from stopping a 1991 Killen, Texas restaurant massacre. Dr. Gratia-Hupp had a 38 SPL Smith handgun in her car and pointed that out to legislators after the murders shook the state of Texas. Her […]

    Will It Hurt Me In Court? Weapons Issues and the Fears of the Legally Armed Citizen

    by Glenn E. Meyer, Ph.D. In 1995, Dr. Suzanna Gratia-Hupp testified that her inability to legally carry a handgun prevented her from stopping a 1991 Killen, Texas restaurant massacre. Dr. Gratia-Hupp had a 38 SPL Smith handgun in her car and pointed that out to legislators after the murders shook the state of Texas. Her […]

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  • In the July edition of The Jury Expert, Tenney, Cleary and Spellman presented the findings of their research on the power of alternative explanations in criminal defense strategies. They found that "TODDI" ("This Other Dude Did It") strategies significantly reduced mock jurors' perceptions of the likelihood of a defendant's guilt. […]

    Alternative Cause Strategies in Product Liability Litigation: The Need for Affirmative Defenses

    by Sean Overland, Ph.D. In the July edition of The Jury Expert, Tenney, Cleary and Spellman presented the findings of their research on the power of alternative explanations in criminal defense strategies. They found that "TODDI" ("This Other Dude Did It") strategies significantly reduced mock jurors' perceptions of the likelihood of a defendant's guilt. […]

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  • (September's favorite thing is from The Jury Expert Editor, Rita Handrich, PhD who also contributes regularly to the Keene Trial Consulting blog: The Jury Room.) Despite warnings that it's on the way out (since growth is tapering off), that 20% of content is marketing (I'd guess more than that), and […]

    September 2009’s Favorite Thing

    by Rita R. Handrich, Ph.D. (September's favorite thing is from The Jury Expert Editor, Rita Handrich, PhD who also contributes regularly to the Keene Trial Consulting blog: The Jury Room.) Despite warnings that it's on the way out (since growth is tapering off), that 20% of content is marketing (I'd guess more than that), and […]

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  • Recent days have been filled with news about (very public) rude and disrespectful behavior from athletes, celebrities, and politicians. Pundits and pollsters are telling us what it means about our society and about the deepening political divisions in our country. Media outlets are covering the frenzy intently and ‘civility’ is […]

    Editor’s Note: On civility, racial slurs, graphic pictures & anthropomorphism

    by Rita R. Handrich, Ph.D. Recent days have been filled with news about (very public) rude and disrespectful behavior from athletes, celebrities, and politicians. Pundits and pollsters are telling us what it means about our society and about the deepening political divisions in our country. Media outlets are covering the frenzy intently and ‘civility’ is […]

    Continue Reading...