joe - have you ever had a plaintiff attorney start/do their opening in this way ..
1. "this case is about one rule.
all (doctors, cities, drivers, etc) have a duty to not needless harm others."
blah blah blah
"when a person causes another harm, they are responsible for the harm that they caused ..."
2. "Now let me tell you a story . . . (tells facts of case in a story narrative focusing on the defendant's conduct)
3. "who we are and why we are here ... my name is blah blah blah and I represent blah blah blah .."
4. explain burden of proof, what the witnesses will say, what the defense expert will say and why he is a paid-for opinion favorable to the person paying him ....
5. "the american justice system in the finest and fairest in the world . . . you took an oath to not allow any bias or undue influence on your verdict .. the word verdict means 'to speak the truth' and at the end of this case this is what you are going to be asked to do, to speak the truth and to be the conscientious of the community .. i promise to not waste your time and i will do my best to only put on the witnesses and evidence i think you need to hear and consider for you to make an informed decision and in return I ask that you listen to what the people have to say when they take the stand ... "
this trial approach is called "reptile" developed by don keenan and david ball. ive been flown around the country to their various seminars and million dollar club plaintiff attorneys are eating it up ... the DRI has seminars on how to combat reptile
i assume you know about pat malone and rick friedman "rules of the road" . .
link to a pat malone closing, not his greatest that ive read but he is the best imo.
Reporter's Official Transcript Of Proceedings (Mr. Malone's Closing Argument) | Jones v. Prince George’s County, Maryland | Patrick Malone & Associates P.C. | DC Injury Lawyers - JDSupra