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Ted’s Top Ten from 2011

Here are a few of my most popular and favorite articles from the past year. Thanks for reading and sharing this blog!

Apples to Apples: Two iPad Apps for Trial Presentation - TrialPad v. Evidence
JANUARY 12, 2011 – This article offered the first head-to-head comparison of the first two trial presentation apps for iPad, and quickly found itself at the top position for all-time most popular articles, where it remains today. There are now others, including Exhibit A and ExhibitView for iPad, which I will be reviewing very soon.

iPad Apps for Lawyers: iJuror, JuryTracker, Jury Duty, WordPerfect Viewer
JANUARY 24, 2011 – What is it about those iPad app reviews? Readership on this blog increased exponentially in 2011, largely attributed to the many iPad app reviews I’ve written. This article explores several apps for jury selection and monitoring, and is comfortably in the second position for all-time most popular articles.

Judiciary Opinions on Technology in Trial
MAY 3, 2011 – Often, litigators make certain assumptions about the Judge and jury, which are not always on the mark. One such assumption is that Judges don’t care for the use of technology in court. Here are a few noteworthy quotes for the doubters.

Samsung Nexus S: BlackBerry Replacement or iPhone Alternative?
MAY 18, 2011 – I’ve never really used a device just because it’s the cool thing to do. I do love my iPad, but I don’t believe it is a true laptop replacement – regardless of what others might say. Same goes for my phone. I did my homework, and found that the Google phone would be a better tool than the iPhone, and on a better network (Sprint) that still features an unlimited data plan. This particular article was also very popular in the non-legal tech channels.

Casey Anthony Verdict: Was it Wrong?
JULY 5, 2011 – It’s hard to believe this happen this past year – it already seems so long ago. Our justice system was put to the test, as was our perception of trial coverage by the media. Whether you agree or not, the verdict stands.  This article was very popular in both the legal and non-legal audience.

Trying Your Case in 3 Hours: California’s Expedited Civil Jury Trials Act
SEPTEMBER 6, 2011 – Written for CAOC Forum Magazine, this article was mentioned as one of the most-read posts on LinkedIn. While the basics of trial preparation are similar, you’d better have everything ready to go in an abbreviated trial.

I Am Troy Davis
SEPTEMBER 21, 2011 – This was perhaps the saddest article I’ve ever written. Regardless of your position on capital punishment, we must not allow our judicial system to be manipulated in the interest of convenience or to satisfy public rage.

 Ten Questions to Ask Your “Hot Seat” Provider
NOVEMBER 7, 2011 – Due diligence should go beyond the storefront. Make sure the person who will actually be working with you is qualified. Don’t just accept the sales pitch.

Ten Qualities of Top Trial Presentation Professionals
NOVEMBER 20, 2011 – Hmm, looks like I was on a roll here. If you are considering bringing in an outside vendor to assist with your next trial, this article offers another check-list of qualifications you should be looking for.

12 Top Legal Sites You Should Check Out
DECEMBER 4, 2011 – You can’t accuse me of tooting my own horn with this one. In fact, I’ve listed several of my favorite sources of legal and technology information. In less than a month, it has found a home on my all-time most popular articles, at number 3. Readers have added several of their own suggestions. Feel free to add yours.

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Five factors to ignore the iPhone 4S


1- Great similarity between the iPhone 4S and iPhone 4 In terms of design

2- IPhone to issue 5 in the second quarter of 2012

3- You can get a new experience through the wonderful system of the Android operating system or the new Windows Phone

4- Apple to be able to solve the problem of the battery, this imbalance will make many reluctant to a lot before buying the device.

5- If your experience any other device screen at least 4 more - you'll notice the difference in screen size and some people would like to increase the size of the iPhone screen.
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5 factors to buy the iPhone 4S



1-Device the iPhone 4 powered by A4, while the iPhone 4S works A5 dual-core processor, which means that the device has become the fastest in receiving and processing orders.

2-For the camera front, there is no difference between the two almost camera is front of the devices strongly 0.3 MP clearly normal or so-called PAL VGA, As for the camera background situation is different, the strength of the camera in the iPhone 4 of 5 MP and can take pictures of the quality of HD or what is known as 720P high-definition quality at 30 frames per second, while the iPhone 4S quality image quality 8 MP 1080P at 30 frames per second.

3-Personal Assistant will remind you your appointments and important answers to the questions posed by them, and with the existence formally on the iPhone 4S nothing prevents from buying the device for its services, in particular, and it works in three languages​​, English, French and German.

4-If you are a people who store a lot of movies and programs on your mobile phone, and complain of the inadequacy of the 32GB of memory in your iPhone 4 Apple has had to add a third machine with an area of up to 64GB

5-IPhone applications store is the best ever and it contains more than 500 thousand application, it is true that the Android store has a large number of applications and certification, but many do not reach the quality of the iPhone applications store, while delayed both Windows and BlackBerry Store in the number of applications.


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Facebook is planning to launch a mobile advertising service in Q1 2012


Facebook is reportedly planning to enter the mobile advertising business by the end of Q1 2012. The company is considering putting its Sponsored Stories ads, which feature friends’ interactions with brands, into the mobile News Feed, according to two people with knowledge of the matter cited by Bloomberg. Facebook’s new advertising service was originally supposed to arrive earlier this year, but the plan was delayed, so don’t be too surprised if it happens again.
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Mobile Living: Life on the Road


No, I’m not talking about hitting the road in an RV. I’m talking about the out-of-town trial, and a few things you might not otherwise think about until you need them – which would then be too late. I’ll offer a few thoughts here, and feel free to add yours at the end of the article.

Internet Connection– Honestly, I can’t imagine being without a decent connection these days, when only a few years ago, it was a pure luxury. In most courthouses in major cities, you can get a decent cell-phone signal. If you can do that, and if you have a smart phone that doubles as a Wi-Fi Hotspot, you’re set for providing access to several laptops, iPads, or other devices. There are also services such as Courtroom Connect in many courtrooms, in addition to a free public service in some (usually intended for jurors). All due cautions apply to each.

Printing, Scanning, Copying – These common, simple daily functions must not be overlooked, and ideally, you will be able to do a decent job of each in both the war room and the court room. While the war room should have equipment available to handle the expected volume, you should also be able to scan or print something in the courtroom, if necessary. There are a number of portable scanners and printers on the market, and mine fit into my carry-on bag which I take to court with me each day. I’d rather not print 10 copies of 12 different exhibits in a big hurry, but I can handle the occasional (or frequent) emergency.
With that, you might also consider using 3-hole pre-drilled paper if you’re putting everything into binders, so you don’t have to worry about punching the pages. One more tip is to bring along a high-capacity stapler, since many exhibits are too thick for a standard staple (over about 20 pages). You should also check out local resources for vendors.

Redundancy – You should always have a current backup of your trial database available. When you’re at home, this may be simple, but when you’re on the road, although dealing with the “blue screen of death” is no longer a routine issue, problems still occur. I recommend have a second laptop of the same make, model and configuration, in addition to a full copy on an external hard drive, which may be used to transfer from one to the other (leaving a third copy on the drive itself). I’m not a big fan of data sync software either, and I have seen it fail. There’s nothing quite like the feeling you get when you realize something has gone wrong. At least if you’re handling it manually, you will know what you did, and likely have a quick recovery available. Also, over-writing database files doesn’t always go as expected, so I will first delete the old set, and then copy over the updated set. Thumb drives and cloud services such as Dropboxcan also be helpful.

Other Devices – iPads, Tablets and other devices can also help to make your life a bit more comfortable. If you have one, you know what I mean. If you don’t, you probably won’t understand until you get one. Although there are even apps for trial presentation which I’ve reviewed here, such as TrialPad, Exhibit A, Evidence, and now ExhibitView (currently on sale for $29.99, which I’ll be reviewing soon), most of the cases I handle are far too complex for the capabilities of the iPad. On smaller matters, however, using the iPad in trial could be fun. I have successfully used mine in several CLE presentations.

Use Caution With Room Services – If you’re looking for an easy way of upsetting an otherwise happy client, go ahead and turn in your expense report with a long list of top movies, fine dining, cocktails, and sending out all of your suits you’ve been meaning to get dry-cleaned. Just because you’re living in a hotel doesn’t mean you’re on vacation. Although your extravagant indulgences may be strategically distributed throughout the duration of your stay, think of how it’s going to look on paper – one right after another.

Okay, off to court. Have a great day!


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How To Enable Facebook Timeline


1. Log into Facebook

2. Enable developer mode, if you haven’t already. To do this, type “developer” into the Facebook search box, click the first result (it should be an app made by Facebook with a few hundred thousand users), and add the app


3. Jump into the developer app (if Facebook doesn’t put you there automatically, it should be in your left-hand tool bar)

4. Create a new app (don’t worry — you wont actually be submitting this for anyone else to see/use). Give your shiny new app any display name and namespace you see fit. Read through and agree to the Platform Privacy agreement. This is the step you need to be verified for.

5. Ensure you’re in your new app’s main settings screen. You should see your app’s name near the top of the page

6. Look for the “Open Graph” header, and click the “Get Started using open graph” link.

Create a test action for your app, like “read” a “book”, or “eat” a “sandwich”


7. This should drop you into an action type configuration page. Change a few of the default settings (I changed the past tense of “read” to “redd” — again, only you can see this unless you try and submit your application to the public directory), and click through all three pages of settings

8. Wait 2-3 minutes

9. Go back to your Facebook homescreen. An invite to try Timeline should be waiting at the top of the page

And you’re done! We’ve seen this work quite a few times now, so it should work without a hitch for just about anyone.
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Facebook Emoticons Chat Code 2011







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Facebook Emoticons Chat Code 2012



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How to use smileys in Facebook chat


Facebook is the most popular social networking site in the world with an alexa rank of just #2, Recently I have been receiving many emails and I am constantly asked about smileys in Facebook chat, There are lots of smileys in Facebook chat but lots of people dont know about it, You can you smileys in Facebook chat and increase your Chatting experience, Below I am placing 2 charts which will contain smileys in Facebook chat along with their code


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Facebook Emoticons 2012



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Facebook Smileys


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TimeLine will start the day in Facebook!


Today, Facebook will start rolling out their new “Timeline” profile to everyone. Some of you may have enabled it already, but for the rest, the change is dramatic and will turn Facebook profiles as we know them upside down. Your Facebook profile will now (or soon) take the shape of a timeline going all the way back to the day you were born.

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12 Top Legal Sites You Should Check Out


Many of us have our own short-list of web sites we check frequently to keep current on topics of interest. Whether you found your way to this site through a web search, clicked on a Twitter, Facebook or LinkedIn link, I appreciate that you’re reading the Court Technology and Trial Presentation Blawg. Of course, I also greatly appreciate those who share this site with others. Web traffic and readership are pure motivation to bloggers, as are comments and compliments.

I am going to share a few of my favorite blogs which I enjoy reading regularly. I hope you’ll enjoy my list, which will focus on legal technology, jury selection, graphics and trial presentation. Feel free to add some of your favorites in the comments area.

1.    Law Technology News-- The mother of all legal technology sites, this site is a Law.com publication, headed up by Monica Bay, a household name in legal technology. Articles are original, fresh and timely, and they also have a print publication available. Authors include a staff of excellent writers, and LTN features many familiar names in the profession.

2.     The Red Well -- This site features a directory and preview links to current articles provided by a select group of bloggers. Topics include Jury Selection, Litigation Graphics, Trial Presentation, and Communication for Lawyers.

3.      The Jury Expert -- This site is not actually a blog, but rather a very highly-regarded monthly collection of articles, provided by members of the American Society of Trial Consultants. Authors vary monthly.

4.     LinkedIn Trial Technology -- With nearly 2000 members, this is the largest online group focusing on the intersection of law, technology, and visual communication.

5.      Lawyer Tech Review -- This site features a bi-lingual (English and Spanish) collection of articles covering all the latest tech-toys a lawyer could want. A favorite is the App Friday series, where legal luminaries are asked about the apps they use. Attorney Geri Dreiling is the Editor, with Enrique Serrano providing the Spanish version of the site.

6.       Bow Tie Law -- Attorney Josh Gilland explores legal technology and its application in case law, and covers e-discovery frequently.

7.    Deliberations -- The “official” blog of the American Society of Trial Consultants features articles by Jury Consultant Matt McCusker.

8.    Cogent Legal Blog -- Morgan Smith and company offer a great deal of insight on how to communicate visually, using graphics and animations. Smith, an attorney, is the primary author, with contributions from others.

9.    The Litigation Consulting Report -- Ken Lopez features helpful topics focusing on using graphics to speak to jurors. Some great ideas.

10.   igetlit.comInformation Graphics & Litigation -- Jason Barnes offers great insight on visual communication techniques based on his years of experience in the profession.

11. Litigation PostScript -- Dr. Ken Broda-Bahm provides perspectives of a Jury Consultant. Lots of great “how-to” info on jury selection and analysis.

12.   Litigation Support Technology & News -- Joseph Bartolo and Frank Canterino scour the net for you to offer a collection of summaries of current articles found on many popular blogs.

I’d gladly recommend any or all of these sites to those who are interested in the modern practice of law. Of course, there are many more, and feel free to add your own in the comments section, and use the Twitter, Facebook, Google+ and other social media buttons to share this collection. As a disclaimer, I will mention that I have contributed to numbers 1, 2, 3, 4, 5 and 12 listed above.


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Free $50 Adwords Coupon On 2011/11/30



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Google Plus: The New Global Buzz


While there is so much buzz about Google Plus, name of Pop star Britney Spears has become a lot famous due to the same. It has been told that the star is being followed by as much as over 743,000 users. There has been a lot talked about the new offering of Google from the time it made way in the market, with expectations that it might even surpass the euphoria of Facebook also.

If reports from Contactmusic. com are to be referred, she has surpassed the number of followers of that of Google's CEO Larry Page till now. Launched in July, Google Plus has become a point of discussion in recent times. Even the pop sensation has been ardently followed by over 11.3 million on Twitter. However, there are likes of Lady Gaga, Justin Bieber, Katy Perry and Kim Kardashian ahead there.


While there are people from entertainment industry getting the attention, it has even caught the attention of many renowned politicians.

There are many who have made their presence felt on Google Plus. Among those is US President Barack Obama whose account has been a “verified account” tick mark.

It’s not being personally handled by Obama, but it has been made sure that this would act as an interface between public and the US president while elections would kick off. “We’re still kicking the tires and figuring this out, so let us know what you’d like to see here and your ideas for how we can use this space to help you stay connected to the campaign”, as per the first Presidential post.

The man is known to have already ventured Twitter and Facebook since he was a US Senator running for the highest office in the land, and with him entering Google Plus. It’s not hard to guess that power of social media networking speaks for itself.
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Ten Qualities of Top Trial Presentation Professionals

Dr. Conrad Murray, Michael Jackson Trial (see video below)

Back in the day, when I was the firm-wide in-house Trial Consultant for Brobeck, trial presentation software and technology were actually quite similar to what we use today – at least with respect to the way the exhibits are organized and presented in trial. Sure, computers and software have come a long way, but the biggest difference is the fact that more lawyers are using it. So, what are a few of the key qualities that seem to be a common thread among the nation’s leaders in trial presentation? I think you’ll find that many of these are also the traits shared by successful litigators.

1.       Trial Experience
There is a reason this profession is often referred to as the “hot-seat.” There is nowhere to turn, or nobody else to blame when (not if) something goes wrong, and only experience can help develop the knowledge of how to immediately correct most any issue, and in such a manner than nobody else even realizes there was a problem.

2.       Confidence
This comes naturally with actual trial experience, as noted in #1 above. If there is a lack of experience, there will also be a lack of confidence. Typically, a lack of confidence is easy to spot, and often, the reasons for this shortcoming become apparent in trial. A truly confident trial presentation professional will appear cool and calm, even when they’re under a great deal of pressure.

3.       Obsessiveness
In addition to trial experience, there is nothing like preparation to bring peace of mind to the trial team. During trial prep and the trial itself, there are no adequate excuses for not getting something ready in time. If this means working 16+ hour days, and not going to sleep until everything is ready for the next day, then so be it.

4.       Makes it Look Easy
Maybe you’ve seen at attorney working with a trial professional, and noted how it appeared as if every step was rehearsed – almost as if they both knew exactly what to do, and when. On the other hand, perhaps you’ve witnessed (or been part of) of a trial presentation meltdown, where exhibits weren’t presented in a timely manner, and frustration was apparent on the part of the attorney and trial presenter – not to mention the Judge and jury. The best trial presentation professionals are able to anticipate where the next callout or highlight should be, and will just make it happen.

5.       Above-average Work Ethic
One thing I have learned in my years working with some truly great attorneys is that you must be willing to work harder than opposing counsel. While hard work won’t turn a bad case into a good one and win, laziness can make you lose. Great attorneys are relentless. So are their trial teams. Gerry Schwartzbach once told me quite simply, “We will out-work them.” David Boies once asked his weary trial team, “Do you want to sleep, or do you want to win?”

6.       Data Management Expert
One problem with those who find that trial presentation software is actually pretty easy to learn (at least the basics), is that it doesn’t make you a file management expert. Unless you are capable of organizing tens of thousands of pages, you shouldn’t attempt to do so. One of the most common causes for problems in trial presentation is poor data management.

7.       Computer and Software Expert
While nobody can know everything, an experienced trial presentation professional will be familiar with most programs used by law firms, including litigation support applications. They will also be able to assist with computer problems, spreadsheets, and graphics. They will certainly be intimately familiar with their trial presentation software, and will know how to make the most of all features. Paralegal skills and experience can also be a plus.

8.       Resources
One life-lesson I learned many years ago was that the smartest people are not necessarily those who have all of the answers – but rather, those who know where to find the answers. Whether that means knowing where and how to search the Internet, or having a list of fellow professionals handy, there should rarely be a situation that cannot be resolved. It can also mean finding a way to get 3 copies of 20 exhibits scanned and printed at 2:00 AM.

9.       IT Expert
One quality that is often overlooked is the ability to simply “make things work.” This can mean installing and wiring an entire courtroom, setting up the remote war room, or getting everyone connected to the network. When working out of town in a remote war room, chances are you didn’t bring along your IT department with you. There is far more to this business than putting exhibits up on a screen.

10.   Top Firms and Cases
Never hesitate to check the background of your provider. If you’ve never heard of them, and/or if they don’t have an impressive list of clients and cases, chance are they don’t have the experience necessary to support your trial. Unless you’re willing to provide training wheels, don’t waste your time with someone who is just getting into this business.

Here’s an example of a total FAIL in the recent Michael Jackson trial of Dr. Conrad Murray, as described in #4 above, courtesy of Chris Ballard, of Video and the Law.
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The next social network: Microsoft Socl


Earlier this summer, a teaser page appeared at Socl.com revealing Tulalip, an oddly named service from Microsoft promising a new way to "Find what you need and Share what you know." Facebook and Twitter sign-ins were offered, and the design was reminiscent of Windows Phone's tiles. It turns out Microsoft has been testing this service with a select group of "friends," and this week, I got an early look at Socl — "Tulalip" appears to be dropped — a curious site that's coming out of the FUSE research group that will eventually be rolled out to the public. The site mixes search, discovery, and, go figure, a social network. How's it hold up? Read on.

Ignoring for the moment that the interface looks a lot like that other social network, Socl offers a bare bones, three column layout, with basic navigation in the left rail, a social feed down the middle, and invites and video party options (more on that soon) on the right. As usual, you can follow other friends, but you won't find any list-making tools. Core to the experience is the large search field at the top that asks, "What are you searching for?" effectively creating a new type of status update. You can also toggle the field to a traditional status update. With Socl, you've got the option to post to your feed either a note that you're searching for "live Prince covers" or that you're 'live at a Prince concert." Entering a search term or status update drops it into your feed with appropriate Bing results, where your friends will have the option to comment, like, or further tag it. Clicking 'tag' adds the search term to your personal list of tags, and you can sort your friends' searches and status updates by type (i.e. web, video, news, images).


While tagging seems like a decent idea in theory — I theoretically want to track topics I'm interested in — I can't imagine going back to a simple tag search for news, browsing, or much of anything, really, and Socl's implementation doesn't advance what Google's doing with saved searches. I've got a mix of trusted friends, publications, and hundreds of RSS feeds to get a broad mix of focused news and information on topics I'm interested in, and tag searches for Politics, Film, or Technology, for example, aren't going to offer much. And, there's a big difference tagging an interest and actually searching. I might like the band Yo La Tengo, but I'm never searching only for that 'tag.' Instead, it'll be a Google-ese mix like 'yo la tengo scores ost 2008 album,' which isn't going to look good in any design and isn't really relevant to me or my followers outside of last Thursday night

Note that Socl is a research project, so it's possible that it won't ever get released as a mainstream product, but we're hearing it's still going to be tested publicly. Socl is starting late to the game, so it's no surprise that you can plug into the potential traffic firehose that is Facebook. While all of your searches and tags are visible to your friends on Socl, I've been told your Socl activity can be limited via Facebook's lists. Otherwise, there's not much here in the way of interacting privately with other users on Socl; no private messages, no @replies, and none of the curated, semi-private groups like Google's circles.

Socl ultimately needs to better show how yet another social network and search tool can help users find the information they're looking for; without mobile support or integration across the rest of the Microsoft world, Socl's got a big hill to climb. We're hearing Microsoft is nearing the end of its private testing period and will roll this out to a bigger public audience through an invite system. Stay tuned.
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A Day in Trial


There is an increasing interest in using trial presentation software to help persuade jurors in litigation of all types. Once considered the domain of the mega-firms with their billion-dollar clients, trial presentation technology has now trickled down to the point that it can be used in most any matter. The decision is no longer whether or not to use it, but how to get the most out of it, while staying within the budget. There are a few common options.

You may want to have an attorney handle it. At first glance, this appears to be a perfect match. Another attorney billing on the case, and they are already familiar with the exhibits and the case. From a client’s perspective, however, the billing rate is likely quite a bit higher than that of a trial technician, but even more importantly, it takes a great deal of time to manage the database, prepare exhibits and deposition clips, and present the evidence. If the assigned attorney has little else to do, it could work. If there are other “normal” trial responsibilities, adding a menu of tasks that require constant attention and maintenance may not be a good fit.

Another way to staff your trial presentation is to pull a paralegal and have them do it. However, as in the example above, chances are you’ve already assigned a full day’s workload on your paralegals, and unless you’re able to relieve them of all of their other chores during trial, burnout may be on the near horizon. It is not realistic to expect anyone to work two full-time jobs, and that is about what it amounts to.

Other considerations are familiarity with the software, protocols, and the case itself. Trial presentation software is not unlike many other specialized programs that unless you use them regularly, you are not really comfortable or familiar with the features. In trial, you don’t have time to search the Help Menu for solutions, or call for support when you have a problem. It’s all on you, and if you cannot make it work in a matter of seconds, you may find yourself using the hard copy exhibits.

Whether in-house or outsourced, a full-time trial presentation technician or consultant is generally going to be the best option available. Someone whose sole function is to ensure that every exhibit is accessible, and presented to the jury as needed. The more experience they have in this role, the better things will flow, and the trial presentation database should be their primary function. All other tasks should take secondary roles, as it often requires 14-16 hours per day or more during trial to keep everything rolling smoothly. Once counsel is finished preparing for the next day’s witnesses and retires for the evening, the trial tech goes to work, getting all exhibits and testimony ready to go, backing up the database, and adding new documents. They will also be familiar with the courtroom presentation equipment, and how to deal with the Court staff.

Although it may seem counter-intuitive to bring in someone who isn’t already familiar with your case, this can actually be one of the greatest assets of a consultant. It is true that they don’t know the case, or how you view things. Neither will your jurors, and if you have someone willing to share an objective “outsider’s” perspective, that’s the closest you can get to the mind of your jurors. Don’t expect (or ask) them to see it your way, and don’t attempt to convince them. You don’t need another pat on the back or a “yes-man.” Just ask for their feedback, and take advantage of any insight they have to offer.


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Ten Questions to Ask Your “Hot Seat” Provider


First, I’ll define the term “Hot Seat.” In litigation, this is used to describe the role of the trial presentation technician or consultant – the one responsible for managing and presenting the evidence to Judge and Jury. Any delay in presenting the requested exhibit can seem like an eternity. One miscue on their part, such as bringing up the wrong exhibit, can immediately result in a mistrial – hence the term, “hot seat.”

1.       How much will it cost?
Make sure to get the “real numbers” in any estimates you receive, and see if there are hidden extras, such as overtime, travel, equipment, weekend or holiday charges, project management fees, etc.

2.       How much do you personally make?
Cost does not always equal value, and hourly rates do not necessarily indicate the level of competency of the individual actually providing the services. This may be a very personal question, but if the hourly rate is $250, and your hot-seat tech is making $25 of that, there’s a problem.

3.       How many actual court trials have you personally handled the “hot seat” in?
This should be a realistic number, and is not the same question as, “How many cases have you worked on in any capacity?”

4.       Have you ever been involved in a trial similar to this?
Your “hot seat” person will be comfortable, and thus more effective, in familiar surroundings. Although it would be unrealistic to expect experience with the exact case type, things like the size and value of the matter, venue type, data formats, and general type of litigation are all helpful qualities.

5.       What extra value do you have to offer the trial team?
In some cases, the answer may be zero, and that is fine. In others, similar case experience, case feedback, jury monitoring, or other extras may help make the decision whether or not to hire.

6.       May I see your bio?
Don’t expect to see a résumé, as you’re not hiring an employee. However, you have every right to request a bio of the person(s) who will be assigned to your case. Make sure you’re getting what you pay for.

7.       How long have you been doing this type of work?
A few years can be a reasonable amount of time to master most of this. Unless you’re knowingly hiring a trainee (can you spell m-a-l-p-r-a-c-t-i-c-e?), make sure they’re not learning on your dime, and at the expense of your case.

8.       Can you assist with Opening Statement and Closing Arguments?
Depending on the case, it can often be helpful to have another set of eyes looking at things, and offering ideas on how to tell the story visually. This may or may not be something you need or are willing to pay for in your case.

9.       Are you capable of producing on-site graphics?
Any hot-seat technician should be able to make at least minor changes on the fly as needed. There’s simply not always time to engage the “graphics team,” regardless of wherever they may be located.

10.   What sets you apart from your competitors?
This can apply both to the company, and the individual(s) assigned. However, hiring a well-known company does not necessarily mean that the person they will assign is the best for you. Make sure it’s a good fit from top to bottom.

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Google Fresh




Google has just announced that it has updated its search algorithm to promote the latest relevant results where it makes sense to do so.

The company explains “Given the incredibly fast pace at which information moves in today’s world, the most recent information can be from the last week, day or even minute, and depending on the search terms, the algorithm needs to be able to figure out if a result from a week ago about a TV show is recent, or if a result from a week ago about breaking news is too old.”

35% of searches should be affected, Google says. These include, recent events or hot topics; regularly recurring events, and topics that are frequently updated (such as ‘the best Digital SLR camera’.

As the image below shows, when Google determines that displaying the latest results is the best option, it will show them in order of time posted.

The move follows last year’s introduction of a new indexing system called Caffeine which improved the speed at which Google can crawl the latest content on the Web.

Google has been wrestling with the problem of ‘freshness’ for some time. It was discussed in a 2007 New York Times article, in which a part of Google’s algorithm called ‘Query Deserves Freshness’, or ‘QDF’ was discussed. This has been used in search engine results for some time (more about how it used to be triggered here). Today’s update appears to leverage QDF in a new way.
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Trial Presentation: Greatest Hits Volume 3

As I have explained in the past, this blog is my passion and hobby, but not my profession. As a result, you will periodically see uneven posting schedules at times, when professional demands require more time. Even so, although the level of traffic during the longer gaps decreases somewhat, it still remains strong. The best compliment I can get on my blog is that people read, enjoy, and share. Thanks for your ongoing support! 

Here are few of the most popular articles recently on Court Technology and Trial Presentation. If you're interested in a topic you don't see here, try the Search feature. If it has to do with trial presentation and technology, chances are you'll find something on your topic.

Courtroom Projectors, Screens, and MonitorsA few tips on what works in the courtroom, and what doesn’t. Should you rent or buy? Do courtrooms already have everything you need? 

Presenting Evidence in Trial - The Belli SeminarThis article features the importance of visual evidence presentation. The best in the profession seem to share a common thread. Comments like “It looks too flashy,” or “I want the jury to focus on me” just don’t make much sense these days. 

iPad Apps for Lawyers: iJuror, JuryTracker, Jury DutyA few top apps for voir dire and jury monitoring are covered here. There is a great deal of interest in bringing the iPad to trial, and it weighs less than a box of books and legal pads. 

Can't See the Forest For the TreesDuring preparation for trial, a team learns the fine details and strengths of a case. What is often overlooked during trial is that jurors may not understand even the most basic elements of the case. To make assumptions in this regard may lead to disaster. 

Comparison of TrialDirector, Sanction, and VisionaryI am often asked which is better, or which do I prefer. Although my personal preference is TrialDirector, I am always happy to use whatever the client needs. Trial presentation software is a tool, and is only as good as the person working with it.


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Facebook Emoticons Chat Code






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New Facebook Emoticons




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Facebook Emoticons


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Presenting Evidence in Trial - The Belli Seminar


I had the honor last week of speaking at the Belli Seminar, an event organized by the Santa Clara Trial Lawyers Association, held at the Lincoln Law School, in San Jose. A day-long collection of non-stop 10-minute presentations, the seminar was moderated by none other than Melvin Belli Jr., and featured many well-known speakers, including Mark Geragos, Jury Consultants Amy Singer and Tammy Metzger, Tommy (Prince of Torts) Malone, Gerry Spence Trial Lawyers College President Jude Basile, and several top Plaintiff’s attorneys from California, Washington, Texas and New York. I can honestly say that this was one of the best and most educational events I’ve ever attended.

While any of the faculty could have easily covered the entire day on their own, the unique part of this program was that it truly forced each presenter to give the “best of their best,” since we all had only 10 minutes for each presentation, followed by five minutes for questions. My notes and “take-homes” are likely nearly identical to what they’d have been, had each speaker covered an hour or more.

What was interesting to me was that many of the presentations covered similar topics, but each showed a unique approach to the same end goal. Some used no technology at all, while others did. One interesting point brought out by one of the speakers was the desire to put an “image” into your jurors’ minds. I helped to demonstrate how to do that, and how to make sure it’s the right image, and that they all have the same image in mind. Carefully-crafted words often cannot replace a visual display of the evidence.

Image by LegalVision, San Francisco

Jury Consultant Tammy Metzger covered the Reptilian Brain and reading micro-expressions. This was fascinating stuff that you may not even notice – even though you can “feel” the emotions of others around you.

Jury Consultant Amy Singer discussed the Casey Anthony trial, and how she directed the analysis of over 40,000 social media followers. She also shared a demonstration on how to do it even on smaller or low profile cases.

The program wrapped up with a brief Voir Dire of 8 jurors. This was a great learning experience, as was the discussion afterward.

I’ve never seen this type of program presented before, but leave it to Silicon Valley to drive the innovation. For the record, I was the only one presenting from my iPad (using TrialPad). When I asked, well over half of the attendees raised their hands, claiming to own an iPad. The Silicon Valley Plaintiffs Bar is certainly ahead of some other groups I've presented to. Thanks to Ed Vasquez for putting this together and inviting me. After a long week in trial, it was time well spent.

Just received a nice thank-you note John Shepardson, Belli Seminar Chairman:

Thank you so much for presenting at the seminar.  The visuals are huge in what we do, and Mel Belli was a pioneer in Demonstrative Evidence.  Please keep in touch.  The feedback from our members has been hugely positive.


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Courtroom Projectors, Screens, and Monitors



Many courtrooms today are set up with nearly everything you’ll need to simply plug in to the system and present your evidence. Judges generally encourage and appreciate the use of technology, since it tends to speed up the trial process, and has the added benefit of making the evidence easier to follow and understand for the jury. Although it is sometimes assumed that jurors will think electronic trial presentation looks too flashy, or that your client has spent a lot of money, post-trial surveys prove that this is not the case.


Projector
A popular article I’ve written covers one simple item: Best Projectors for Courtroom Presentations. I discussed there that you would need a minimum of 3000 lumens in a well-lit courtroom, and that you should avoid anything with DLP technology, since it will turn your nice yellow document highlighting to a pea-soup green color. There is no point in using inferior equipment when the exhibits cannot be clearly viewed by the entire jury.

Another issue today would be whether to purchase a wide-screen or standard projector. Although it would appear that the wide-screen, or 16:9 format already dominates the television market, it’s not quite there when it comes to available screens. Most screens you’ll find are standard (or 4:3) format, meaning you’ll end up with a blank band on top of and below your exhibits. Fortunately, there are some models that will accommodate either. I would recommend considering one of those.

Also, you might want to consider a short-throw lens. Some projectors come with them, and some have optional extra lenses which may be used. The benefit here is that the projector may be placed only a few feet from the screen, making it less likely that you will continually be walking between the screen and projector. Although you probably won’t notice when part of the image is on your suit, others will, and it is very distracting.


Screen
Many courtrooms have a screen installed. Some are large enough, and some were apparently installed by the lowest bidder, regardless of size. Generally, you’ll want at least a 7 or 8 foot screen in a courtroom. One model I like is the InstaTheater, by DaLite. It stores in a tube, and does not require a tripod, so it fits well in a congested courtroom. It may also be placed on top of a table, if necessary.


Large Plasma or LCD Monitors
Another option you will find installed in some courtrooms is a large monitor, instead of a projector and screen. While they may be adequate for watching the news, sports, or movies at home, when you consider that they are only about half as large as a standard screen, you will likely find that they’re not really the ideal solution for trial presentation to a large audience. You can use more than one, but you also lose the effect of having one common focal point for all to view, and you can forget about using a laser pointer on it. Some cases require the color and clarity that only this type of monitor can provide.

Individual Monitors
You may want to install separate monitors for the Judge, witness, and each counsel table. This will allow everyone to view an exhibit right in front of them, which is necessary in some courtrooms, where not everyone will have a clear view of the screen. The added benefit is that this system may be used to preview evidence before it has been admitted into evidence, leaving the projector off. Once an exhibit has been admitted, the projector is then turned on for the jury.

Audio System
Don’t forget this critical detail if you have anything that you want others to hear. One example that is frequently overlooked is the videotaped deposition. Unless you have a decent speaker set connected, nobody will hear the audio from your laptop.


Switcher
In order to control which party has access to the courtroom system, some sort of switching device must be installed. A matrix switch or switchable distribution amplifier may be used for this purpose. Some judges will also want their own “kill switch,” in order that the might disable the projector if necessary, although this was more common several years ago, when the use of technology was new and untested.

Gaffer’s Tape
Don’t even dream about using anything but professional gaffer’s tape to secure all of your electrical, video, and audio cables. Gaffer’s tape is designed to not leave any residue, nor to pull the fabric from the court’s carpeting. Duct tape will certainly hold the cables in place, but you might find yourself replacing the carpeting if you try using it.

Equipment Rental or Purchase
Most Trial Presentation Consulting firms have all of this available, which means that you don’t have to ship the equipment, install the system in the courtroom, tape cables, and make sure that everything is in good working order. You can also purchase and handle of this yourself, if you’re so-inclined. No matter whether you rent or purchase, make sure you install and test it before trial. You and your client do not want the Judge to tell you that if you can’t make it work, you’ll not be able to use it.

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Can't See the Forest For the Trees


As a trial team develops a case, going through discovery, depositions, and possibly several attempts at settlement, each step in the process takes them deeper into the fine details of the matter. Mock Trials, Focus Groups, Settlement Conferences, Mediation, and other forms of Alternative Dispute Resolution can all be helpful in further sharpening the level of understanding and knowledge of the case. By the time a case is ready for trial, the entire team will know the case inside-out, and will likely be familiar with its technical aspects, events which may be plotted onto a timeline, and which witnesses will be most helpful to your case. You should also have a good idea which witnesses are good candidates to be set up for impeachment, and will have their depo testimony excerpts ready to attack their credibility.

You might also have a series of demonstrative graphics, and maybe even an animation to help convince your jurors that yours is the "right" side in this case. All of this preparation and review can make you so familiar and knowledgeable about the case that you may even understand it better than your client. One thing is certain -- you will view it differently than your client, since you also understand how everything fits into the litigation process, and what is permissible in court. As part of a trial team, you are also likely to view things a bit more objectively.

Can't See the Forest For the Trees

If you have retained a Trial Presentation Consultant, you will have the advantage of working with someone who is extremely familiar and comfortable with stress, the trial process, and handling many different tasks at once. Unlike many attorneys or other in-house legal professionals who are in trial only once or twice a year, a professional Trial Presentation Consultant is involved in many trials each year. The high stress of trial is something they deal with on a daily basis, and this too can be valuable to the team. So is it worth spending the extra money on a consultant who bills as much as some attorneys? Do they bring so much knowledge to the case that they are critical to the efficient presentation of the evidence?

While I would love to try and convince you that I am so smart and know so much that I can guarantee you will win your case if you hire me, the truth is, one of my greatest assets to your client and trial team is not what I know. Rather, it is what I don't know. I bring no assumptions of the basic facts, no knowledge of what is important in the case, and no biased perspectives. A good Trial Presentation Consultant brings a fresh pair of eyes -- not yet tainted by months or even years of preparation. They can be the closest thing you have to a juror, and in fact, will generally offer daily feedback during trial, from the perspective of a shadow juror.

If you do bring in an outside consultant, you should provide them with a set of trial briefs -- but not only from your side. In order to help identify issues which might be overlooked, or to help spot holes in the case, it is helpful for an objective observer to see what the other side has to say, as well. A good consultant comes in with a fresh perspective, and their opinion should not be taken lightly.

In addition to trial preparation, graphics, war room support, and trial presentation in the courtroom, a good Trial Presentation Consultant can act as a thirteenth juror. Even with all that, the real value-added service is often not as a result of what they know -- it's what they don't know.

Related Articles:
The Stress of Trial
Trial Presentation in Large and Complex Cases
Effective Use of Exhibits in Closing Argument Helps Win $12.2 Million Verdict
Is it worth the risk not hiring a Trial Presentation Consultant?


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