Attorneys defending a personal injury case must strike a delicate balance between vigorously representing their client without coming across as cold and unsympathetic to a plaintiff’s condition. And in the latest episode of CVN’s Trial Technique Spotlight, Shane Read, one of the country’s preeminent trial presentation experts, analyzes how Allison Brown masterfully struck that balance in her opening statement at a talc trial against Johnson & Johnson, laying the groundwork for a defense verdict in the case.

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Miami, FL— The timeline surrounding the development of a smoker’s respiratory disease served as a key point of dispute as trial opened against R.J. Reynolds last week over the woman's death from the condition. Sikes v. R.J. Reynolds, 2008-CA-000310.

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Socorro, NM— Philip Morris prevailed late last month at trial over the bladder cancer a New Mexico man claims was caused by the company's cigarettes. Ferrer v. Philip Morris, D-725-CV-201900132. 

Some studies show jurors often make up their minds about a case by the conclusion of opening statements. It’s one reason why distilling your case to a brief, powerful statement during openings is so crucial. And in a new CVN video series, renowned trial presentation expert Shane Read analyzes how Mark Lanier used such a statement to set the stage for a blockbuster talc trial verdict. 

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Miami, FL— Jurors last week handed down a $0 verdict in a punitives-only proceeding against R.J. Reynolds over its role in the 1996 throat cancer death of a Florida man. Ledo v. R.J. Reynolds, 2008-CA-000113.