Discussing damages—whether in voir dire or closing—is perhaps the most stressful, awkward part of the trial process. The plaintiff’s attorney faces a tough choice: some jurors may bristle at the discussion of big numbers before trial, while others may feel broadsided if a large number is the last thing they hear before they leave to deliberate.
There are so many choices lawyers face when discussing damages in jury selection and closing: Should I mention a specific number? Should I use voir dire to discuss damages or liability? Should I focus on getting potential jurors to admit bias, or should I try to precondition jurors about the value of the harms?
In this webinar, jury consultant Harry Plotkin and trial lawyer David deRubertis discuss the benefits and limitations of different approaches to asking for large awards. Discover unique approaches to handling money in jury selection, and asking juries for huge verdicts in closing.
You will learn:
- How to discuss compensation without rubbing jurors the wrong way
- The right and wrong ways to explain damages in voir dire
- When—and when not—to mention specific numbers to your jury
- How to communicate the concept of millions (without mentioning the word “millions”)
- How to frame damages in a way that motivates conservative jurors to action
Additionally, this webinar will focus on the process of jury selection. Discover:
- Which voir dire questions can mislead you into striking jurors capable of big damages
- How your jurors’ answers to liability questions may be more important than their answers to damages questions
- How to challenge “conventional wisdom” in jury selection, and target only the truly unreceptive jurors for removal
Plotkin and deRubertis will also discuss scenarios where your judge won’t allow specific numbers in jury selection, as well as situations where your noneconomic damages far exceed your client’s financial losses. Don’t miss this opportunity to learn unique strategies for winning bigger verdicts at trial.
Click here for Access Instructions for On Demand Programs.
Each user must register individually as they will need their own login to access the program.
