Archive | Jury Deliberations

Top Reasons to Do Litigation Research

A Point of View

David H. Fauss, M.S.M.

On March 16, 2023

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

It seems that “top 5 or top 10″ lists are popular in many areas. They are often entertaining; the show “Family Feud” is built on them. Late night talk shows thrive on them, going back at least to Johnny Carson. Thus, I thought I’d list a few of the top reasons for conducting mock jury, […]

Another View

Melissa Pigott, Ph.D.

On March 16, 2023

The top 5 reasons David mentioned about conducting mock jury or focus group research are on point. I have no additional reasons to add, therefore, I will make a general comment. In the 30 years David and I have owned Magnus, including the almost 10 years we have been writing our twice weekly blog, we […]

Jury is Greater than the Sum of Individual Juror Parts

A Point of View

Melissa Pigott, Ph.D.

On January 10, 2023

Social psychology is the scientific study of how people behave in groups. There are many areas of research within social psychology, however, they share a common focus on how individual and group interactions are shaped by one’s external environment, specifically, other people. Numerous research findings have demonstrated the impact of the group on individual performance, […]

Another View

David H. Fauss, M.S.M.

On January 10, 2023

Groups are found in many environments. Work teams, church or other volunteer groups, are the norm in our world. But, nowhere other than juries are group efforts and group decisions more important in our society. Juries, especially those which require unanimous verdicts, work hard to achieve their goal. The study of juries as groups by […]

Holiday Plans

A Point of View

David H. Fauss, M.S.M.

On December 22, 2022

Category: Business personalities, Careers, Entrepreneurship, Getting the Job Done, Jury Consultants, Jury Deliberations, Life Outside of Work, Litigation Consultants, Litigation Research, Magnus, Magnus Insights, Magnus Research, Marketing your Business, Mental Health, Psychology, Small Business Success, Trial Consultants, Work-Life

I’m writing this near year end, but as is often the case, things are hectic as we wrap up the work for the year, and prepare for work early in the new year. Melissa and I have diligently tried for all these years to treat the last 2 weeks of the year as a break, […]

Another View

Melissa Pigott, Ph.D.

On December 22, 2022

David and I often work on holidays and during vacations. Our business, and the world of litigation, don’t close just because we are not in the office. I have distinct memories of: (1) doing an intake on a new case on Christmas Eve, in my mom’s Florida room, mere minutes before we opened our gifts: […]

Almost Like Cheating

A Point of View

David H. Fauss, M.S.M.

On November 24, 2022

I keep a list of things clients have said during or after working with us on mock jury research. These tidbits illustrate the eye opening reactions some attorneys have when observing jurors deliberate. One of my favorites was from (now retired) Pete Burkert in Fort Myers, FL. After a series of mock juries, he said, […]

Another View

Melissa Pigott, Ph.D.

On November 24, 2022

Pete Burkert’s quote is memorable, even after many years have passed. Until his and his partner, Kim Hart’s, retirement, Magnus enjoyed decades of working with these 2 extremely fine attorneys. Mr. Hart had worked with us several times before we worked with his law partner, Mr. Burkert, and Kim called to tell me what Pete […]

Not Everyone in Purple Thinks the Same Way

A Point of View

David H. Fauss, M.S.M.

On August 25, 2022

Maybe it wasn’t really purple, more like lavender. The polo style shirts by 2 male senior citizens on one of our mock jury panels were very similar. I wasn’t present to witness the events first hand, but I have seen the video of the deliberations many times. The venue was a community where many senior […]

Another View

Melissa Pigott, Ph.D.

On August 25, 2022

I know several people who adore the color purple (I am not among them). It is rare, however, to see 2 male senior citizens wearing purple clothing in the same room. In fact, the mock jury David is referring to is the only time I have ever seen 2 men of any age wearing purple […]

Lessons Learned the Hard Way

A Point of View

Melissa Pigott, Ph.D.

On July 5, 2022

Category: Careers, Entrepreneurship, Getting the Job Done, Jury Consultants, Jury Deliberations, Jury Research, Litigation Consultants, Litigation Research, Magnus, Magnus Insights, Magnus Research, Small Business Success, Travel, Trial Consultants, Trial Consulting, Workplace Technology

I make mistakes, a lot of them. A few minutes ago, David pointed out my most recent mistake, for which I apologized. I almost always take responsibility for my mistakes and I try to correct them when it is possible to do so. Fortunately, none of my mistakes have resulted in seriously negative outcomes for […]

Another View

David H. Fauss, M.S.M.

On July 5, 2022

Some of the lessons learned at the top of my list are not really mistake driven, but lessons learned due to many of the unique aspects of doing trial consulting work, including working with highly successful, demanding clients (attorneys) on difficult and complex cases. And, further, while we are not doing “rocket science,” there are […]

Are They Paying Attention?

A Point of View

David H. Fauss, M.S.M.

On June 9, 2022

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

My post about whether the mock jurors take it seriously reminded me of another aspect of this client related surprise. Watching a group of people, mock jurors, listen to the case arguments in a mock trial can sometimes be misleading. Some mock jurors are clearly engaged, others have their eyes closed, others are frantically taking […]

Another View

Melissa Pigott, Ph.D.

On June 9, 2022

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

Similar to some attorneys’ concern about whether the mock jurors take their participation seriously is their concern about whether the mock jurors are paying attention. And, just as it pertains to the issue of the mock jurors taking the case, and their participation, seriously, I have found that most of them pay attention. There is […]

Do They Always Take it Seriously?

A Point of View

David H. Fauss, M.S.M.

On June 2, 2022

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

A client, who had never observed a Magnus mock trial, asked the question which is the title of this post during a recent mock trial. The “they” is the mock jurors. The “it” is the case. The answer is YES! The rest of the story is that, despite the mock jurors knowing they are only […]

Another View

Melissa Pigott, Ph.D.

On June 2, 2022

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

It is difficult for new clients to understand the seriousness with which most of Magnus’ mock jurors conduct themselves during mock jury research. Everyone who attends a mock jury, of course, knows they are part of a research exercise, thus, the word “mock” precedes the word “jury.” Not only do the attorneys recognize we are […]

Commercial Litigation: Benefits of a Trial Consultant, Part 3

A Point of View

David H. Fauss, M.S.M.

On May 12, 2022

Category: Getting the Job Done, Jury Consultants, Jury Deliberations, Jury Research, Litigation Consultants, Litigation Research, Litigation Tips, Magnus, Magnus Insights, Magnus Research, Marketing your Business, Trial Consultants, Trial Consulting

In the 3rd post in the commercial litigation series, I want to bring some points together. We’ve discussed that executives are accustomed to being in charge, to being the “boss,” and that as litigants, it is often frustrating for them not to be. Also discussed is the fact their perspective may not align with decision […]

Another View

Melissa Pigott, Ph.D.

On May 12, 2022

When executives make important business decisions, they must have all available data in order to make the correct decision. When making the correct decision has an impact on the company’s bottom line, it is imperative to assess every nuance that could impact the company’s future. In the world of litigation, the bottom line of a […]

Commercial Litigation: Benefits of a Trial Consultant, Part 2

A Point of View

David H. Fauss, M.S.M.

On May 5, 2022

Category: Getting the Job Done, Jury Behavior, Jury Consultants, Jury Deliberations, Jury Research, Litigation Consultants, Litigation Research, Litigation Tips, Magnus, Magnus Insights, Magnus Research, Marketing your Business, Trial Consultants, Trial Consulting

This is part 2 of the benefits of a jury or trial consultant in commercial litigation. As noted in the prior post, in commercial litigation, high powered people are often involved. We have been involved in many cases in which these parties were “out for blood.” Even though the cases were “only about money,” the […]

Another View

Melissa Pigott, Ph.D.

On May 5, 2022

Magnus has worked on numerous commercial cases in which things between or among the parties became personal. Some people wrongly believe that, because commercial cases are mostly about money (as opposed to compensating someone for an injury), they are boring and impersonal. This belief is a misconception because, although commercial cases involve a plaintiff suing […]

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Archive | Jury Deliberations

A Point of View

David H. Fauss, M.S.M.

Another View

Melissa Pigott, Ph.D.

A Point of View

Melissa Pigott, Ph.D.

Another View

David H. Fauss, M.S.M.

A Point of View

David H. Fauss, M.S.M.

Another View

Melissa Pigott, Ph.D.

A Point of View

David H. Fauss, M.S.M.

Another View

Melissa Pigott, Ph.D.

A Point of View

David H. Fauss, M.S.M.

Another View

Melissa Pigott, Ph.D.

A Point of View

Melissa Pigott, Ph.D.

Another View

David H. Fauss, M.S.M.

A Point of View

David H. Fauss, M.S.M.

Another View

Melissa Pigott, Ph.D.

A Point of View

David H. Fauss, M.S.M.

Another View

Melissa Pigott, Ph.D.

A Point of View

David H. Fauss, M.S.M.

Another View

Melissa Pigott, Ph.D.

A Point of View

David H. Fauss, M.S.M.

Another View

Melissa Pigott, Ph.D.

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