Transcript Slide 1
How You Can Win Friends & Influence Juries How to Bullet-Proof Your Business by Understanding What Juries Really Think & Do K i r k W i l l i s Texas Super Lawyer www.KirkWillis.com
1
Corporate Justice • My path to Texas Super Lawyer and more Suit Becoming a lawyer 12 Strangers www.KirkWillis.com
2
Stop letting 12 strangers determine your future waiter perception child afraid of dark big concern www.KirkWillis.com
3
What is your legal concern?
• What keeps you up at night?
• What is the biggest complaint that can lead to a lawsuit?
www.KirkWillis.com
employer trust kiss and tell-what e-mail cost 4
The true costs of a jury trial • $50,000 investment in preparation and research • $12,000 in props and trial needs • Up to two years in time working-up the case for trial • Research into clients record keeping and interviews www.KirkWillis.com
5
Jury Trial 101 • We start with the end in mind 1)Jury Selection 2)Opening 3)Evidence 4)Defense case 5)Rebuttal 6)Closing abc awareness basic plan protection close gap tv bad www.KirkWillis.com
6
The problem with too much TV If it doesn’t make sense It can’t be true.
Witness and evidence must be one.
www.KirkWillis.com
7
Who makes the real decisions?
1)You should work hardTry your hardestKeep your wordEveryone should have same chanceA wrong should be rightedBe Polite www.KirkWillis.com
8 Judge rules
Know Your Client • First impression • Attire • Ability to express articulate story • Likeability factor • Credibility • Expectations www.KirkWillis.com
The role of judges • How much of the outcome is determined by the judge?
diligence on judge contributions, school, prior work knee jerk www.KirkWillis.com
10
Action/Reaction • How many of us have ever been sued?
• What is your knee jerk response to the threat of a law suit?
www.KirkWillis.com
11
Know Your Opponent • The Opponent – Investigation – Background check – credit – Corporation – Partnership • – – – Opposing Counsel Other attorney Yellow pages Web site www.KirkWillis.com
12
How successful juries are created community members jury recall www.KirkWillis.com
13
Within 3 hours Jury Recall Showing Telling 70% 60% After a few days 20% 10% Both 85% 65% www.KirkWillis.com
14
Jury Statistics 18-24 Age 8% Male Gender 46% Education Elementary 1% 54% High School 25-34 35-49 50-69 70 18% Female 41% 32% 4% College Grad. School 35% 44% 20% www.KirkWillis.com
15 care and feeding
The care & feeding of juries • Picked with care • Fed with information educate indoctrinate www.KirkWillis.com
16
Checklist for jury trials • 1.
2.
3.
Winning Companies Indoctrinate Educate Eliminate www.KirkWillis.com
culture example jury selection employees check list 17
Checklist for jury trials 1)They will lieNot much from direct questionsIndirect questionsBooksPolitical backgroundReal life experiences (Teacher gave me a “C”) www.KirkWillis.com
18 statistics
Ethnicity Caucasian 80% Afro-American Hispanic 15% 1% Asian 1% Native American 0% Other 1% Jury Statistics Income Level Less than $10,000 $10,000 - $19,999 $20,000 - $29,999 6% 7.9% 16.4% $30,000 - $39,999 18.32% $40,000 - $49,999 14.62% $50,000 - $74,999 Over $75,000 21.23% 13.47% www.KirkWillis.com
19
Cookin’ • Some things go together • Some things do not females-bar fight employment case handling jury www.KirkWillis.com
20
What I have learned about juries • You don’t persuade jurors • You have to identify people who will come over to your side • This is a teachable process know how to communicate age-how learn www.KirkWillis.com
21
The perfect jury • Don’t choose the perfect jury www.KirkWillis.com
22
What juries really decide….
• Your dollar amounts • Your company name and reputation • Your frame of mind • Your time usage • Your trust in the legal system www.KirkWillis.com
23
What lawsuits can cost • • • Lose insurance Can’t walk into better A rated company and get best coverage No claims get better rates www.KirkWillis.com
24
If threatened with a lawsuit • Do you write them a check?
• Or fight?
consultations work training end in mind www.KirkWillis.com
25
Jury Trial 101 • We start with the end in mind 1)Jury Selection 2)Opening 3)Evidence 4)Defense case 5)Rebuttal 6)Closing abc awareness basic plan protection close gap tv bad www.KirkWillis.com
In my consulting work for businesses, this is what I have learned we can do.
• • • Fight back Work smart when it comes to Jury selection Take a hard look at our business practices and clean house up front www.KirkWillis.com
27
In my consulting work for businesses, this is what I have learned we can do.
• • • Seek clarity on what is the right approach to take with the lawsuit Act as your partner in the process Develop winning catch phrase www.KirkWillis.com
28
Catch Phrases • They work • “If it don’t fit” • Death bed confessions • Keith Sweat www.KirkWillis.com
29
Thank You!
Kirk Willis MEMBER 469-893-1870 [email protected]
www.KirkWillis.com
30
FIGHT BACK IN THE COURTROOM!
www.KirkWillis.com
31