Author Archive | Melissa Pigott

If the cake is bad, what good is the frosting?

A Point of View

Melissa Pigott, Ph.D.

On April 21, 2020

Category: Business Partnerships, Business personalities, Entrepreneurship, Getting the Job Done, Jury Consultants, Litigation Consultants, Litigation Research, Magnus, Magnus Insights, Magnus Research, Marketing your Business, Small Business Success, Trial Consultants, Trial Consulting

David and I become inspired to write our blog posts in a variety of ways, including by sources that many people would not find particularly inspiring. As an example, this post was inspired by a fortune cookie that was included in a recent delivery from a local Chinese restaurant. Many so called fortunes found inside […]

Another View

David H. Fauss, M.S.M.

On April 21, 2020

If the cake is bad, what good is the frosting? I guess this is similar to the adage about not judging a book by its cover. The book cover, or the frosting, can cover up what is worn or rotten inside. Cutting the cake, looking under the hood, or beyond a glossy cover, reveals what […]

We Can’t Make our Clients Do Anything

A Point of View

Melissa Pigott, Ph.D.

On April 14, 2020

Category: Business Frustrations, Entrepreneurship, Getting the Job Done, Jury Consultants, Jury Research, Litigation Consultants, Litigation Research, Magnus, Magnus Insights, Marketing your Business, Small Business Success, Trial Consultants, Trial Consulting

David and I recently attended a meeting with attorneys and their clients regarding a case for which they were considering retaining Magnus. The clients of the attorneys are a group of wealthy, sophisticated people who are accustomed to getting their way in all aspects of their lives. These individuals are from a variety of professional […]

Another View

David H. Fauss, M.S.M.

On April 14, 2020

Many years ago, after we had completed a mock jury project for a first time client and he had resolved the case, I made a follow up call to him to ask his impressions. He said everything was great, but he did have one complaint, he said, “You should have made me do this sooner.” […]

Theo

A Point of View

Melissa Pigott, Ph.D.

On April 7, 2020

Category: Business Relationships, Business Travel, Careers, Common Courtesy, Getting Through Life and Work, Jury Consultants, Magnus, Magnus Insights, Travel, Trial Consulting

I spend a lot of time in hotel rooms. During my career as a jury/trial consultant, I have traveled across the U.S.A. to work with attorneys. Part of my travel experience is staying in hotels in the cities where I am working. In places where Magnus works on a frequent basis, such as David’s hometown, […]

Another View

David H. Fauss, M.S.M.

On April 7, 2020

Category: Business Relationships, Business Travel, Careers, Common Courtesy, Getting Through Life and Work, Jury Consultants, Magnus, Magnus Insights, Travel, Trial Consulting

Anonymity is the norm when traveling. Different flights, different airports, different hotels, and different restaurants. It is a relatively rare situation to end up getting acquainted with someone who works in one of these places. And, if you do see a familiar person from time to time on subsequent trips, the connection is generally perfunctory. […]

In a flock of pigeons, be the flamingo

A Point of View

Melissa Pigott, Ph.D.

On March 31, 2020

Category: Careers, Employment, Getting Through Life and Work, Magnus, Magnus Insights, Managing Employees

A few years ago, in some faraway location where the Magnus team was conducting mock jury research, I noticed a woman who was wearing a bright pink shirt that was festooned with sequins. I love glittery things and I walked closer so that I could see the details on her shirt. Her shirt had lovely […]

Another View

David H. Fauss, M.S.M.

On March 31, 2020

Category: Careers, Employment, Getting Through Life and Work, Magnus, Magnus Insights, Managing Employees

Flamingos have pizzazz. They get attention just by standing around and foraging for crustaceans in a pond. They stand out against the water, sky, or foliage. Camouflage is not their strong suit. There are times when keeping one’s head down, and trying to go unnoticed, makes sense. This is especially true if the bullets, real […]

Judges are People: Some are nice and others, not so nice

A Point of View

Melissa Pigott, Ph.D.

On March 24, 2020

Category: Business Frustrations, Business personalities, Common Courtesy, Getting the Job Done, Getting Through Life and Work, Litigation Consultants, Magnus, Magnus Insights, Mental Health, Psychology, Trial Consulting

Judges are people, just like the rest of us. There are many types of judges, young, old, women, men, smart, not so smart, nice, and not nice. In my years of working as a jury/trial consultant, I have encountered many judges. I have met judges during hundreds of jury selections; I have made presentations with […]

Another View

David H. Fauss, M.S.M.

On March 24, 2020

I’m sure in most professions there are good and bad. I can’t think of any profession without such outliers at the extremes. I don’t get to observe many judges in action, I’ve met plenty, but seeing them in action is in Melissa’s bailiwick, not mine. Most judges I know are courteous and professional, but I […]

Introduce yourself to the property manager

A Point of View

Melissa Pigott, Ph.D.

On March 17, 2020

Category: Business Relationships, Careers, Common Courtesy, Employment, Getting the Job Done, Getting Through Life and Work, Magnus, Magnus Insights, Managing Employees, Small Business Success

Magnus Research Consultants has been headquartered in the same location since 1996. In the first few years in our office space, the owner of the building also had an office in the same building. He retired, then passed away, leaving his family in charge of his vast business holdings. When the building owner moved out, […]

Another View

David H. Fauss, M.S.M.

On March 17, 2020

Category: Business Relationships, Careers, Common Courtesy, Employment, Getting the Job Done, Getting Through Life and Work, Magnus, Magnus Insights, Managing Employees, Small Business Success

I wholeheartedly agree with Melissa. Ray is an interesting guy and, as with many relationships, it is beneficial to spend time getting to know people who impact one’s life, whether on a regular or infrequent basis. Running a business involves many moving parts, whether it is the property manager, the teller at the bank, the […]

Excuses versus Legitimate Reasons for Jury Duty Dismissal

A Point of View

Melissa Pigott, Ph.D.

On March 10, 2020

Category: Jury Behavior, Jury Consultants, Jury Deliberations, Jury Research, Litigation Consultants, Litigation Research, Litigation Tips, Magnus, Magnus Insights, Magnus Research, Trial Consultants, Trial Consulting

This is the third, and final, post about my recent experience with jury duty in Fort Lauderdale, Broward County, Florida. As readers of David’s and my blog know, I have spent much of my career as a jury/trial consultant assisting attorneys selecting hundreds of juries. In addition, I have conducted numerous scientific studies of jury […]

Another View

David H. Fauss, M.S.M.

On March 10, 2020

Not only have Melissa and I heard the question, “How do I get off of jury duty?” too many times to count, but Melissa hears the excuses on a regular basis. And, I’ve taken random calls, from strangers, asking how to “get off” jury duty on several occasions. Melissa reports to me that some judges […]

Free Advice on Selecting a Jury

A Point of View

Melissa Pigott, Ph.D.

On March 3, 2020

As a follow up to my previous post regarding my day of jury duty, this post will involve some free advice to attorneys. I rarely provide free advice, but my observations during my jury service warrant it. When the plaintiff’s attorney in the automobile accident case on which I was a prospective juror began to […]

Another View

David H. Fauss, M.S.M.

On March 3, 2020

Because I don’t do in court jury selection consultation, my critique of the attorneys I’ve observed is more limited. But, for the jury on which I was selected, I had a few observations. The primary one was the fact that the attorneys for the prosecution and the defendant – a public defender, did a POOR […]

A Jury Consultant’s View of Jury Duty

A Point of View

Melissa Pigott, Ph.D.

On February 25, 2020

I recently had the privilege of being summoned to appear for jury duty in Broward County, Florida, where I have lived for almost 30 years. Unlike almost everyone I know, I was not dismayed, afraid, or angry to receive my jury summons. I was, in fact, somewhat happy about it, as well as hopeful that, […]

Another View

David H. Fauss, M.S.M.

On February 25, 2020

I’m not certain, but I think I’ve been called for jury duty about 5 times since moving to Broward County in 1991. On two occasions, after arriving at a very early hour, and spending several hours in the jury assembly room enduring the tedious process, I was sent home without going to a courtroom. On […]

Reverse Hardships: Who Wants to Be Here?

A Point of View

Melissa Pigott, Ph.D.

On February 18, 2020

Category: Getting the Job Done, Jury Consultants, Magnus Insights, Magnus Research

I have assisted attorneys in selecting juries since 1991. That’s a long time. I have been involved in hundreds of jury selections across the U.S.A., from Alaska to Florida. Never, until recently, have I witnessed a judge asking a large panel of potential jurors the following question: “Who wants to serve as a juror on […]

Another View

David H. Fauss, M.S.M.

On February 18, 2020

Category: Getting the Job Done, Jury Consultants, Magnus Insights, Magnus Research

In that I do not do the in-court consultation as Melissa does, it is difficult to comment on this experience directly. But, it is refreshing to hear of a positive action, an improvement, made to the jury selection system. Having a judge “think out of the box” (oh, how I hate that overused phrase), and […]

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Author Archive | Melissa Pigott

A Point of View

Melissa Pigott, Ph.D.

Another View

David H. Fauss, M.S.M.

A Point of View

Melissa Pigott, Ph.D.

Another View

David H. Fauss, M.S.M.

A Point of View

Melissa Pigott, Ph.D.

Another View

David H. Fauss, M.S.M.

A Point of View

Melissa Pigott, Ph.D.

Another View

David H. Fauss, M.S.M.

A Point of View

Melissa Pigott, Ph.D.

Another View

David H. Fauss, M.S.M.

A Point of View

Melissa Pigott, Ph.D.

Another View

David H. Fauss, M.S.M.

A Point of View

Melissa Pigott, Ph.D.

Another View

David H. Fauss, M.S.M.

A Point of View

Melissa Pigott, Ph.D.

Another View

David H. Fauss, M.S.M.

A Point of View

Melissa Pigott, Ph.D.

Another View

David H. Fauss, M.S.M.

A Point of View

Melissa Pigott, Ph.D.

Another View

David H. Fauss, M.S.M.

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