Saturday, August 31, 2019

Don’t Whine! Win Juror Votes with Witness “Can Do” Attitude (Part II, Defense)



 If plaintiff’s counsel’s task is to make sure the client/witness doesn’t alienate jurors with a purely “they done me wrong” victim mentality, defense’s is different.

“Don’t whine” might be better stated “Don’t defend,” which is mightily challenging for defendants on the stand, who generally believe they are unjustly accused. Yet the defendant who argues with opposing counsel, whose testimony is a litany of “Yes, buts” and who attempts to evade plaintiff’s counsel’s most basic questions, will not find favor with jurors.

Instead, explain to your defense witnesses that during cross, at best, they will only be able to give a qualified “yes” or “no” (as in “At that time, yes” or “In that situation, no”), and at all costs must not argue with opposing counsel (“That’s not how it was, I/they. . .”).

Reassure your witness by role-playing with them how direct will go, not just by telling them “Don’t worry, I’ll unscramble all that in direct.”

The “can do” attitude for defense witnesses comes through on direct, when the witness, if and as is appropriate, educates jurors to the witness’ role, their experience, their situation. An attitude of imparting information, of sharing an experience, will gain far more sympathy with jurors than witness belligerence.

Friday, August 2, 2019

Win Juror Votes with Witness’ “Can Do” Attitude


When your primary witness is the plaintiff, said witness is likely to complain on the stand, elaborating a litany of  “He/she/they done me wrong.” Perfectly understandable; why else would your client have brought suit? However, to juror ears, an unending stream of complaints sounds like whining, and jurors don’t like whiners.

Jurors prefer people who, despite their misfortunes, are valiant, are giving their lives the best shot they can. No, your plaintiff client needn’t stiff-upper-lip it to where they maintain through gritted teeth/wired jaw; “All is well.” That isn’t their current reality. Instead, show that your client is valiant by making sure, during direct, to reveal the ways in which your client is doing the very best that they can to survive/heal/improve their situation despite horrendous odds.

Now you have a potential winner in juror eyes, not a whiner-loser.