Author Archive | Melissa Pigott

Check out his family

A Point of View

Melissa Pigott, Ph.D.

On January 3, 2017

Category: Getting Through Life and Work, Life Outside of Work, Litigation Consultants, Trial Consulting, Work-Life

When I was growing up in the small town of Fort Myers, Florida, where my family has lived since the 1920s, meeting someone new always involved finding out their parents’ names, which street they lived on, and other details my mom and dad believed were pertinent in deciding whether or not I would be permitted […]

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Another View

David H. Fauss, M.S.M.

On January 3, 2017

Category: Getting Through Life and Work, Life Outside of Work, Litigation Consultants, Trial Consulting, Work-Life

I am from the (relatively) big city of Jacksonville. Compared to Ft. Myers in the 60s and 70s, it might as well have been New York! I never had background information on my friends, other than those in a close circle around our family’s church. My junior high and high school was one that attracted […]

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Don’t beat around the bush

A Point of View

Melissa Pigott, Ph.D.

On December 27, 2016

Category: Uncategorized

I approach life, and dealing with people, in a direct manner. Some people, in fact, might describe me as terse or abrupt. I do not intend to be rude when interacting with others; I am just fond of getting to the point, as quickly as possible and by using as few words to do so […]

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Another View

David H. Fauss, M.S.M.

On December 27, 2016

Category: Uncategorized

It is interesting to observe communications styles.  Melissa describes hers well, and perhaps because of her, I have learned to become more direct in the past 30 years since we met.  But, it is also my experience as a photographer that trained me to be direct, to ensure that my human photographic subjects are portrayed, […]

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Crazy Mock Juror Story #5: Disappearing acts – where do they go?

A Point of View

Melissa Pigott, Ph.D.

On December 20, 2016

Category: Litigation Consultants, Litigation Tips, Psychology, Trial Consulting

In this series of “crazy mock juror stories,” I have been writing, until now, about specific instances involving mock jurors who conducted themselves in less than stellar ways.  I have many more funny stories, as well as others which are anything but funny, about my life among research participants, including mock jurors.  As a social […]

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Another View

David H. Fauss, M.S.M.

On December 20, 2016

Category: Litigation Consultants, Litigation Tips, Psychology, Trial Consulting

We know that occasionally a mock juror has become ill and left the research. We know that emergencies at home or with friends have caused a few mock jurors to depart early. But, despite making efforts to track them down even after the research, a few mock jurors have, over the past 25-30 years, vanished. […]

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Crazy Mock Juror Story #4: In the Keys, wear shoes if you please

A Point of View

Melissa Pigott, Ph.D.

On December 13, 2016

Category: Uncategorized

My work as a trial consultant has taken me to many places. When people ask me where I have worked, I always say, “I’ve worked almost everywhere from Alaska to the Virgin Islands.” When it comes to traveling for work, I’ve been there and done that. This being said, my home state of Florida has […]

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Another View

David H. Fauss, M.S.M.

On December 13, 2016

Category: Uncategorized

I missed this one when it happened, and it wasn’t because I was in Key West at the beach!  But, it is apropos of the Keys to have barefoot mock jurors.  I don’t know if it is still the case, but lawyers regularly handled matters in court in Key West in short sleeves and with […]

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Crazy Mock Juror Story #3: Shopping Spree

A Point of View

Melissa Pigott, Ph.D.

On December 6, 2016

Category: Jury Consultants, Litigation Consultants, Litigation Tips, Psychology, Trial Consulting

When scheduling mock jury research, I deliberately search for boring places where we can work without distraction. Sometimes, this is not possible, however, I try hard not to work in hotels or market research facilities with tempting amenities. Tempting amenities provide too many distractions for our mock jurors (and sometimes, to our clients) that have […]

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Another View

David H. Fauss, M.S.M.

On December 6, 2016

Category: Jury Consultants, Litigation Consultants, Litigation Tips, Psychology, Trial Consulting

It is frustrating how much time, and shoe leather, is wasted searching by these oblivious souls. We were all sweating this one, it was a big case, with the head of a major law firm as lead lawyer and the head the firm’s litigation department as the “opposing” lawyer for the day. Plus, their clients […]

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Crazy Mock Juror Story #2: Fore!

A Point of View

Melissa Pigott, Ph.D.

On November 29, 2016

Category: Jury Consultants, Litigation Consultants, Litigation Tips, Psychology, Trial Consulting

This is the second post in the series about “Crazy Mock Juror Stories.” Anticipating the reader’s question, “Is she making this up?” the answer is, “These are true stories; really they are!”. I have often thought it is too bad we have to give the mock jurors restroom/smoking breaks. A common occurrence has been for […]

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Another View

David H. Fauss, M.S.M.

On November 29, 2016

Category: Jury Consultants, Litigation Consultants, Litigation Tips, Psychology, Trial Consulting

Fore, as in forewarned! Jurors, mediators, and judges are people, just like the rest of us. People do strange things. I don’t know whether the subject matter, that is, the case being mock tried, was so boring that the juror/golfer found it more interesting to spend his time chipping away than return on time. But, […]

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Crazy Mock Juror Story #1: If we’re in Miami, that must be cocaine

A Point of View

Melissa Pigott, Ph.D.

On November 22, 2016

Category: Litigation Tips, Psychology, Trial Consulting

This is the first in a series of posts based on a general theme, “Crazy Mock Juror Stories.” I have been working with human research participants since 1977; in the early days of my studies and career, we psychologists referred to anyone who participated in our research as “subjects.” Now, the socially acceptable term is […]

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Another View

David H. Fauss, M.S.M.

On November 22, 2016

Category: Litigation Tips, Psychology, Trial Consulting

I was in the office the day of this particular event, but not directly participating in the mock jury research. However, when the hunt was on for the missing mock jurors, I became aware that something was amiss, especially upon seeing Melissa’s (that is, Dr. Pigott, during business hours) expression. Clearly something was wrong, but […]

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Do you really know what I’m thinking? Do you want to know?

In this final post inspired by a dreadful meeting David and I recently attended, I will cover a dangerous game played by some people. These people, none of whom are psychologists (or our counterparts in the medical field, psychiatrists), have an inflated sense of self and often believe other people share in their belief that […]

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There are several takeaway lessons from the fateful meeting which prompted this series of posts. One is definitely “know what you don’t know.” A favorite professor of mine once told me about the difference between smart, and not so smart, people. The smart ones know they don’t know it all and try to learn what […]

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A woman can be, and is, the boss

I have written several previous posts about sexism and its prevalence in many aspects of today’s society. Although there are numerous examples of the removal of gender barriers in many segments of the business world, there remains, in my opinion, an assumption among many people that, being “the boss” means being a man (and a […]

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I have always been cognizant of the risks of assumptions – there is that adage about assuming which works pretty well. I want to know who’s who and would never want to “step in it” as the person Melissa describes. My career is fairly unique in that I have mostly had women bosses. Even now, […]

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Find out who you’re meeting with

A Point of View

Melissa Pigott, Ph.D.

On November 1, 2016

Category: Careers, Common Courtesy, Employment, Getting the Job Done, Marketing your Business, Small Business Success

I prepare for every meeting with every client and potential client by researching them via the many sources available for finding out about people. In that most of my clients are attorneys, it is relatively simple to find out about them by looking at their firm’s website, attorney ratings services, and their bar association. Prior […]

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Another View

David H. Fauss, M.S.M.

On November 1, 2016

Category: Careers, Common Courtesy, Employment, Getting the Job Done, Marketing your Business, Small Business Success

Once again a post was inspired by 1 particular, and unusual, meeting. But, to Melissa and me, it had many problems which are now turned into opportunities to discuss and thus is born another post. Melissa covers the reasons to do one’s homework prior to a meeting. We like to know something about those with […]

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