Our Trial & Jury Consulting Services |
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Before Trial |
During and Post-Trial Jury Selection |
Before Trial
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Community Attitudes Surveys:Our research techniques and sophisticated graphics have been
developed exclusively for successful litigation. Using these
procedures, the firm helps attorneys understand the biases,
prejudices, and perceptions that jurors will likely bring with
them into the courtroom. This knowledge enables our clients
to more accurately predict jury behavior and respond appropriately. |
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Case-Issue Focus Groups:Utilized to develop trial strategy during the discovery period and also give the attorney a first glimpse of the case through the eyes of a typical juror. The focus group provides information on:
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Verdict Analysis:Aimed at assisting trial counsel in developing effective trial strategies based upon case issues and to help counsel understand the impact of their strategy on the jury decision-making process. Verdict Analysis provides the client information on:
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Trial Simulation:Designed to assess, in a dynamic trial-like setting, the relative strength and importance of juror attitudes. Trial simulations accomplish three important goals: |
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Judges Panel:A Judges Panel is a phase of research designed to uncover the issues from which major case strategies and tactics will be developed for a bench trial. The primary objective is to understand how judges evaluate case issues and make decisions. With this service, our consultants are able to make recommendations to the attorneys about: |
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Damages Study:The objective of this study is to estimate the range of damages that jurors
may award in a case, how they are calculated, and the issues and testimony
upon which they are based. |
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Demonstrative Evidence Study:We assess the effectiveness of graphic evidence as it illustrates
various issues and concepts in a trial and then make presentation
modification recommendations to the trial counsel. |
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Real-Time Response:Enables us to observe the mock jurors' immediate response
to evidence being presented at that moment. |
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Witness Research:Utilized to understand how jurors will potentially react to
a key witness during testimony. The information is used to
assist counsel by making strategic suggestions for content
focus and behavior changes in the witnesses. |
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Online Jury Research:At Hennington and Associates, we offer online jury research. This service allows data to be collected from a large representative sample of mock jurors from a specific venue in an efficient and cost-effective way. Online jury research can be used to conduct community attitude surveys that will determine the characteristics that differentiate plaintiff and defense oriented jurors. Through the use of online jury research, we pre-screen mock jurors to ensure that the respondents possess the qualifications required for jury service in the specified venue. Mock jurors will have to sign a confidentiality agreement prior to their participation in order to ensure that the client’s concerns have not been compromised. Respondents will also provide their perceptions of a case through a secure website. Our objective is to present the case in an honest and straightforward fashion in order to gage how jurors truly feel when presented with a case. Online research is a great tool to measure people’s immediate responses to the stimuli they have been presented. |
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Jury Selection and Trial Monitoring Services:Voir Dire Questionnaire DesignBased on case-specific analysis and an extensive database of
litigation research, preferred-plaintiff and defense juror profiles
are developed along with jury questionnaires and voir dire questions
based on these profiles. |
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Jury Selection Database:We have an extensive database that can provide trial counsel
with a generic jury profile, jury questionnaire, or vior dire
questions, without extensive research projects. This is designed
for last-minute preparation or cases where resources are scarce.
These tool are only designed for general information but can
still provide extra insight. |
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Theme Development and Presentation Design:Using existing database information, pre-trial research, and
principles of educational psychology and communication theory,
our staff assembles a trial communication strategy that details
what and how information should be presented in court. The
overall purpose of Theme Development is to ensure that the
desired message is received and retained by the trier-of-fact. |
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Opening Statement /
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Witness Preparation:Because most trials depend heavily on the strength of witness
testimony, the witness' confidence, credibility, likability,
and clarity while on stand are essential to the positive presentation
of the case. We prepare witnesses by giving them an accurate
feel for the trial as well as skill-building coaching. This
skill-building increases the witness' ability to respond to
questions, control the level of detail in their answers, heighten
jury perception of their level of knowledge, and show conviction
in their responses. |
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Witness Deposition Preparation:The objective of this service is to prepare the witness to
produce a deposition document that is a truthful yet precise
response to the question that is asked of them. Emphasis is
also placed on enabling the witness to remain controlled, calm,
and resourceful during the testimony. A further goal is to
prepare the witness not to reveal any personal attitudes or
reactions that might provide opposing counsel with tactical
information that they could use for further discovery or trial
examination. |
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Video Depositions:The goal of preparation in these sessions is to teach the
witness the specific skills necessary to produce a tape which,
even when edited by opposition, will present a credible image
of the witness. |
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Demonstrative Exhibits:A critical component of the successful case is the effective
utilization of graphics and demonstrative exhibits. Based upon
the information obtained from various jury and issue research
projects, we will design exhibits to reinforce salient messages
and themes that are important in the presentation of the case. Embarking
on a Demonstrative Exhibit effort will enable the trial attorney
to present a psychologically coordinated case to the jury. |
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During and Post-Trial
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Jury Selection:Involves consultant observation and analysis of the potential
jurors, the voir dire questioning and responses on the potential
juror questionnaires and relates these specific responses and
behaviors to the pre-designed preferred-plaintiff and defense
profiles. |
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Trial Monitoring:The consultant is present during trial to monitor juror reactions
to opening statements, particular witnesses, motions, or demonstrative
evidence and prepares daily or weekly reports to give to counsel
about aspects the jurors appear to be confused about, their
non-verbal reactions, as well as witness rehabilitation and
education. |
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Judicial and Opposing Counsel Profiles:The goal of this service is to enable the litigation team
to assess the courtroom style of the assigned judge and opposing
counsel, and help counsel decide what tactical changes in case
presentation must be made to create a more positive result.
The profiles created by the consultants can also be used to
prepare witnesses for testifying on cross-examination or as
adverse witnesses. |
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Media Management:This service is centered around strategizing a proactive media
campaign for counsel in high-profile, media-centered cases.
It involves controlling the amount and the type of media exposure,
creating ground rules and contacts for communication, creating
strategies for counteracting negative press, restricting press
communications to reinforce case themes, as well as holding
practice sessions for the attorneys, witnesses, and client
spokespeople to help prepare them for speaking neutrally or
positively to the press. |
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Witness Preparation:Because most trials depend heavily on the strength of witness
testimony, the witness' confidence, credibility, likability,
and clarity while on stand are essential to the positive presentation
of the case. We prepare witnesses by giving them an accurate
feel for the trial as well as skill-building coaching. This
skill-building increases the witness' ability to respond to
questions, control the level of detail in their answers, heighten
jury perception of their level of knowledge, and show conviction
in their responses. |
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Post-Trial Interviews:Involves the consultant interviewing the jurors post-trial
about trial issues and their responses to these issues. The
consultant then formulates these findings into a final report
which provides suggestions that will promote rapid learning
for future litigation. |
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