Dr. Lazar Greenfield, details the blood filter he developed that bears his name. Greenfield said his filter could possibly have stopped a clot of the size attorneys allege caused Margaret Roberts to suffer a debilitating stroke. 

Jacksonville, FL—The developer of a filter designed to protect against catastrophic complications from blood clots told jurors his device may have stopped the clot attorneys claim left a Florida woman with lifelong brain damage, as trial continued against the woman’s physicians. Margaret and Darryl Roberts v. Dr. Gregory Pavlat M.D., et al., 2011-CA-007017.

Adam Trop delivers opening statements in Roland Ledoux's suit against Philip Morris and R.J. Reynolds for the lung cancer death of Ledoux's wife Patricia Ledoux. 

Miami—Attorneys for a Florida widower whose wife died from lung cancer told jurors her disease was caused by a tobacco industry conspiracy that addicted her to nicotine for more than 40 years, as trial opened Monday against the nation’s two largest cigarette makers. Roland Ledoux v. R.J. Reynolds, et al. 2007-CA-43991.

As critical as a well-prepared closing is, sometimes the moments with the biggest impact are delivered as a counterpunch to a remark by opposing counsel.  That’s how James Butler framed the 60 seconds of silence during rebuttal argument in Walden v. Chrysler Group LLC.

During opening statements, Bruce Anderson tells jurors that lack of communication between Drs. Gregory Pavlat and Benjamin Moore caused Margaret Roberts' stroke.

Jacksonville, FL—As trial began Wednesday in a suit over a stroke that left a woman with life-long brain damage, attorneys argued whether lack of communication between doctors who treated the woman for blood clots ultimately caused the stroke.  Roberts v. St. Vincent’s Medical Center, 2011-CA-007017.

By the time opening statements begin, the average juror has already been overwhelmed with information. Voir dire, instructions from the bench, even the courtroom environment are all new and confusing to many jurors, making it difficult for them to fully understand details delivered in an opening. Under these circumstances, too many charts, models, and graphs intended to explain key terms can, in the wrong circumstances, confuse and distract the overwhelmed juror. Particularly where complex terms and ideas are central to a case, opting for a basic, simple demonstration of a theory can often be a powerful tool. That's the route The Cochran Firm's Jane Lamberti took in explaining the deadly buildup of fluid in a sleep center patient's lungs.