Archive | Litigation Consultants

Don’t Confuse Expenses with Investments

A Point of View

David H. Fauss, M.S.M.

On February 6, 2020

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

This post is prompted by a comment made by someone with whom we frequently work in our litigation consulting business. He remarked how he hoped clients would recognize the value of our work, and his work, and see it as an investment, not just another litigation expense or cost. As I explained to someone yesterday, […]

Another View

Melissa Pigott, Ph.D.

On February 6, 2020

The quote David mentions was made by Bob Howe, who is an investigator with whom I have had the pleasure of working during jury selection. A mutual client retained Bob for an upcoming case but was initially undecided about whether to retain me. It seems that, in today’s litigation world, the services of a private […]

I spend more time with lawyers than psychologists/colleagues

A Point of View

Melissa Pigott, Ph.D.

On January 21, 2020

Category: Business personalities, Business Relationships, Careers, Getting Through Life and Work, Giving Back, Jury Consultants, Life Outside of Work, Litigation Consultants, Magnus, Magnus Insights, Magnus Research, Psychology, Trial Consultants, Trial Consulting

I have been a social psychologist for my entire career, however, my occupation has not been in the traditional trajectory within my field. Most social psychologists are university professors. In fact, it is somewhat frowned upon for social psychologists to work in occupations outside academia. My major professor has always looked down upon my work […]

Another View

David H. Fauss, M.S.M.

On January 21, 2020

Melissa has introduced me to more psychologists, and types of psychologists, than I ever knew existed when we first met. At that time, I was hanging around colleagues in my world of photography. While the photographers were visually creative, I came to learn and appreciate the creative minds of her psychology colleagues. Their conceptualization of […]

Whistleblowing isn’t easy

A Point of View

David H. Fauss, M.S.M.

On January 16, 2020

Category: Business Frustrations, Business Partnerships, Business personalities, Business Relationships, Careers, Employment, Getting Through Life and Work, Giving Back, Jury Consultants, Litigation Consultants, Magnus, Magnus Insights, Magnus Research, Mental Health, Partnerships, Psychology, Trial Consulting

Much has been in the news lately about people blowing whistles on allegations of corruption and abuse. Without discussing these specific situations, I want to address the act of sounding an alarm, or blowing a whistle. I have written something on this previously, but it warrants revisiting. I will start by saying that, if you […]

Another View

Melissa Pigott, Ph.D.

On January 16, 2020

To the uninitiated, whistle blower means the same thing as tattletale. In fact, dictionary definitions of both terms list them as synonyms, along with others, such as betrayer, informant, nark, rat fink, and snitch. In my view, there are different circumstances that lead to the characterization of people who “tell on” others. For example, in […]

Pro bono work – why do it

A Point of View

Melissa Pigott, Ph.D.

On January 14, 2020

Category: Business Partnerships, Business Relationships, Careers, Entrepreneurship, Giving Back, Jury Consultants, Jury Research, Litigation Consultants, Magnus, Magnus Insights, Magnus Research, Psychology, Trial Consultants, Trial Consulting

In the almost 30 years David and I have owned and operated Magnus Research Consultants, we have been privileged to work on several high profile pro bono cases. Pro bono means “for the public good” and it is usually performed by attorneys for free, that is, at no cost to their clients. Many lawyers are […]

Another View

David H. Fauss, M.S.M.

On January 14, 2020

The pro bono cases on which we’ve worked have been some of the most personally rewarding cases we have handled. While the intellectual rewards of the work we do are often felt, in these cases, it has been something special. The cases have been unique, cases with questions no one has had to answer previously, […]

Social Media Monitoring doesn’t end when the jury is seated

A Point of View

David H. Fauss, M.S.M.

On January 9, 2020

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

Background checks conducted of prospective jurors are becoming, or should be becoming, routine. We’ve written about this before, see https://magnusinsights.com/2019/01/juror-background-checks/. Though there are some constraints on these practices imposed by courts and each state’s bar rules, they are here to stay. When I say “background checks,” I am referring to searches of both public information […]

Another View

Melissa Pigott, Ph.D.

On January 9, 2020

I spoke with an attorney not long ago who told me that, if he were a judge, no one would be permitted to perform social media searches or background checks of prospective jurors. It’s a good thing he is not a judge because the judges who preside over the court cases in which I am […]

No one hires me for a happy event

A Point of View

Melissa Pigott, Ph.D.

On January 7, 2020

Category: Business Frustrations, Business personalities, Careers, Employment, Getting the Job Done, Getting Through Life and Work, Jury Consultants, Life Outside of Work, Litigation Consultants, Litigation Research, Litigation Tips, Magnus, Magnus Insights, Magnus Research, Mental Health, Psychology, Trial Consultants, Trial Consulting, Work-Life

Just as none of Magnus’ clients retain us for easy cases, none of our clients retain us for anything remotely happy. In order for Magnus to become involved with an attorney and his/her client, something terrible has happened. We have worked on cases involving tragic deaths, including murder and multiple fatalities in accidents; horrific burns; […]

Another View

David H. Fauss, M.S.M.

On January 7, 2020

My mother once asked why I didn’t make a calendar of nice things instead of courthouses (which I did for 20 years). She said she thinks only bad things happen in courthouses. We then had a discussion about the good things that happen there such as weddings, and, most importantly, people seeking and getting justice. […]

Most lawyers who hire me are nice to me

A Point of View

Melissa Pigott, Ph.D.

On December 24, 2019

Category: Business Frustrations, Business personalities, Business Relationships, Careers, Common Courtesy, Employment, Entrepreneurship, Getting the Job Done, Getting Through Life and Work, Jury Consultants, Litigation Consultants, Magnus, Magnus Insights, Magnus Research, Managing Employees, Psychology, Small Business Success, Trial Consultants, Trial Consulting

People are people, regardless of their profession. There are some people who are popular and well liked and there are others who are not well liked. Attorneys, of course, are people and, as such, there are some attorneys who are well liked and well respected by their colleagues and then, there are others, whom no […]

Another View

David H. Fauss, M.S.M.

On December 24, 2019

Many of our clients are feared by their opponents, and sometimes, their own staff and litigation team. I don’t know if the latter is a good thing, but I’ve seen it as an overall positive. Being feared by the opposition is probably generally positive as long as the fear is because the attorney’s litigation skills […]

Why I like spending time with lawyers

A Point of View

Melissa Pigott, Ph.D.

On December 17, 2019

Category: Business Frustrations, Business personalities, Careers, Employment, Entrepreneurship, Getting the Job Done, Jury Consultants, Litigation Consultants, Magnus, Magnus Insights, Magnus Research, Mental Health, Psychology, Trial Consultants, Trial Consulting

Many people, including mock jurors and other research participants, courthouse personnel, friends, and attorneys, ask me if I am an attorney. Invariably, when this happens, I am wearing a dark, conservative business suit, the attire preferred by many attorneys with whom I am acquainted. I always answer, “No, I am not an attorney. I am […]

Another View

David H. Fauss, M.S.M.

On December 17, 2019

I share Melissa’s enjoyment of working with attorneys and on their challenging cases. We’ve written before about the intellectual stimulation of doing so. Neither of us grew up in a family of lawyers, as many of our clients did, but we grew up with a familiarity with lawyers, law enforcement (me), and courthouses (Melissa). Either […]

If you want something done right…

A Point of View

David H. Fauss, M.S.M.

On December 5, 2019

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

I recently heard a program on NPR involving an incredible story that the host presented as a situation when the person involved should have “done it himself.” The story was from China, where someone hired a hitman to eliminate a competitor. The hitman subcontracted the job to someone else and that person hired someone else […]

Another View

Melissa Pigott, Ph.D.

On December 5, 2019

The DIY attitude is another example of many people’s inability to recognize their limitations. I was searching for flooring not too long ago and discovered numerous references to DIY flooring, including instructional videos on how to install all types of flooring, from laminate to tile. I didn’t want to know how to install flooring (by […]

Blue Intake Forms

A Point of View

David H. Fauss, M.S.M.

On November 28, 2019

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

As someone who thrives on forms and checklists, I also know that it is critical to improve them, as well as update them. I learned this practice from my photography mentor, Jon Peters. I’ve adapted what I did as a photographer, that is, providing a service to clients, to what I/we do as trial consultants, […]

Another View

Melissa Pigott, Ph.D.

On November 28, 2019

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

David loves forms. He enjoys devising them and he enjoys having everyone who works at Magnus complete them. He even has forms prepared for our clients to complete, to ensure we are doing everything they want us to do on their behalf. For the most part, I don’t share David’s fondness for forms. Although I […]

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Archive | Litigation Consultants

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

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

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

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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