The Art of Litigation http://theartoflitigation.com Fri, 03 Sep 2010 01:34:33 +0000 en hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.0 Associate Tragedy http://theartoflitigation.com/associate-tragedy/ http://theartoflitigation.com/associate-tragedy/#comments Fri, 03 Sep 2010 01:34:33 +0000 Woodruff http://theartoflitigation.com/?p=332

]]> http://theartoflitigation.com/associate-tragedy/feed/ 0 The $38 Quadrillion Lawsuit http://theartoflitigation.com/the-38-quadrillion-lawsuit/ http://theartoflitigation.com/the-38-quadrillion-lawsuit/#comments Wed, 25 Aug 2010 22:33:22 +0000 Woodruff http://theartoflitigation.com/?p=328 A plaintiff has filed a lawsuit seeking $38 quadrillion. I won’t go into the details, but last time I checked $38 quadrillion was a lot of money.

]]> http://theartoflitigation.com/the-38-quadrillion-lawsuit/feed/ 0 How a Bill Becomes a Law http://theartoflitigation.com/how-a-bill-becomes-a-law/ http://theartoflitigation.com/how-a-bill-becomes-a-law/#comments Thu, 19 Aug 2010 23:41:27 +0000 Woodruff http://theartoflitigation.com/?p=320

]]> http://theartoflitigation.com/how-a-bill-becomes-a-law/feed/ 0 Grammar Can Be Fun http://theartoflitigation.com/grammar-can-be-fun/ http://theartoflitigation.com/grammar-can-be-fun/#comments Tue, 20 Jul 2010 02:40:54 +0000 Woodruff http://theartoflitigation.com/?p=311 Really! Grammar can be fun. Just check out these blogs if you don’t believe me.

http://www.unnecessaryquotes.com/
http://www.apostropheabuse.com/

HT: Raymond Ward

]]> http://theartoflitigation.com/grammar-can-be-fun/feed/ 0 Public Speaking for Lawyers http://theartoflitigation.com/public-speaking-for-lawyers/ http://theartoflitigation.com/public-speaking-for-lawyers/#comments Wed, 07 Jul 2010 02:19:45 +0000 Woodruff http://theartoflitigation.com/?p=293 Every year I teach a Public Speaking for Lawyers class. During that class the students complete a number of different presentations. Persuasive, informative, group, and impromptu scenarios are all covered.

A great way to improve your speaking is to watch or read great speeches. Thanks to the internet this has become a much easier task. With that in mind, I recommend American Rhetoric. It is a great site with over 5,000 of the greatest American speeches.

]]> http://theartoflitigation.com/public-speaking-for-lawyers/feed/ 0 Quotation http://theartoflitigation.com/quotation-3/ http://theartoflitigation.com/quotation-3/#comments Wed, 07 Jul 2010 00:32:09 +0000 Woodruff http://theartoflitigation.com/?p=302 “Lawyers have played a critical role in our country’s history. Our nation could not have been founded without the efforts of lawyers like Thomas Jefferson, John Adams, James Madison, and others. Many of the signers of the Declaration of Independence and about one-half of the signers of the Constitution were lawyers. Lawyers serve in elected and appointed positions in federal, state, and local governments. In large measure, ours is a society led by lawyers.”

James D. Gordon III, “Lawyers and the Rule of Law,” Life in the Law: Service & Integrity, 2009, 298

]]> http://theartoflitigation.com/quotation-3/feed/ 0 Look to Hollywood and Madison Avenue for Inspiration http://theartoflitigation.com/look-to-hollywood-and-madison-avenue-for-inspiration/ http://theartoflitigation.com/look-to-hollywood-and-madison-avenue-for-inspiration/#comments Mon, 28 Jun 2010 21:47:28 +0000 Woodruff http://theartoflitigation.com/?p=274 One of the key components to a good case is a theme. The theme should speak to the judge or jury. It does not need to be long or complicated, a simple sentence works best. For example, everyone remembers Johnnie Cochran’s “if it doesn’t fit, you must acquit.”

If you are not creative, or have hit a wall in the creative process, look to Hollywood and Madison Avenue for inspiration. Billions of dollars are spent by the movie and advertising industries to create messages used to sell stories and products. Watch television commercials, successful movies, and advertisements to help get the creative juices flowing. You might even find your theme.

]]> http://theartoflitigation.com/look-to-hollywood-and-madison-avenue-for-inspiration/feed/ 0 Famous Trials http://theartoflitigation.com/famous-trials/ http://theartoflitigation.com/famous-trials/#comments Mon, 21 Jun 2010 22:09:41 +0000 Woodruff http://theartoflitigation.com/?p=269 Douglas Linder at the University of Missouri – Kansas City School of Law has created a webpage of famous trials. It contains transcripts, biographies, and other information. The earliest trial included is that of Socrates (399 B.C.). The most recent trial covered is the prosecution of Moussauri in 2006. It is a great source of information.

Famous Trials.

]]> http://theartoflitigation.com/famous-trials/feed/ 0 Gerry Spence Demonstrating Cross-Examination of an Expert Witness http://theartoflitigation.com/gerry-spence-demonstrating-cross-examination-of-an-expert-witness/ http://theartoflitigation.com/gerry-spence-demonstrating-cross-examination-of-an-expert-witness/#comments Mon, 14 Jun 2010 22:23:37 +0000 Woodruff http://theartoflitigation.com/?p=258 “Live as if you were to die tomorrow. Learn as if you were to live forever.” — Mahatma Gandhi

I am always reading books and articles by other trial lawyers. Once in a while I get to watch one of the few great trial lawyers ply his or her trade. Here is Gerry Spence demonstrating a cross-examination of a defense expert.

]]> http://theartoflitigation.com/gerry-spence-demonstrating-cross-examination-of-an-expert-witness/feed/ 0 Great Moments in Deposition History II http://theartoflitigation.com/great-moments-in-deposition-history-ii/ http://theartoflitigation.com/great-moments-in-deposition-history-ii/#comments Thu, 10 Jun 2010 21:29:51 +0000 Woodruff http://theartoflitigation.com/?p=260 Actually, it’s probably one of the not-so-great moments in deposition history.

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