Archive | Litigation Research

Different Direction

A Point of View

David H. Fauss, M.S.M.

On February 25, 2021

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

Last week I got a call from a paralegal who asked me to provide a proposal for a mock trial for a commercial case. She told me that, although she’d been a paralegal for 25 years, she had never shopped for a trial consultant. I walked her through the process, provided her with information on […]

Another View

Melissa Pigott, Ph.D.

On February 25, 2021

If you think about it, and I certainly have, “We are moving in a different direction” or “We are moving in another direction” is meaningless drivel. This statement has somehow become common when it comes to rejecting job applicants, consultants’ proposals, and people, in general. In preparing for my part of David’s post, I have […]

Ghosting

A Point of View

David H. Fauss, M.S.M.

On February 18, 2021

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

Ghosting. This is a relatively new term used to indicate what might otherwise be called “radio silence,” that is, a loss of communications. Despite the many ways we can now communicate, via email, text, direct messaging, “zoom” calls, or even the good old phone or maybe “snail” mail, it amazes me that we often end […]

Another View

Melissa Pigott, Ph.D.

On February 18, 2021

Ghosting is rude, unprofessional, and, when it comes to friends and family, mean. I have been ghosted on several occasions, by long time friends who chose to cut me out of their lives for unknown reasons. One of these friends remained out of touch for about 20 years, another, for 7 years, and another, 6 […]

No One Has Ever Said They Wish Their Jury Research Had Been Later

A Point of View

Melissa Pigott, Ph.D.

On February 16, 2021

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

In almost 30 years of owning and operating Magnus Research Consultants, David and I have been fortunate to have few complaints from clients. When there have been complaints, they have been of the following type: (1) “Your report is too long and comprehensive; it took too long for me to read”; (2) ”The charts summarizing […]

Another View

David H. Fauss, M.S.M.

On February 16, 2021

This topic is salient because I had the discussion again recently, “What is your lead time for conducting research? My client wants to put it off as long as possible, because maybe they can settle…” I patiently explained that the ramp up period, once we’ve provided a proposal, agreed on the research design, gotten approval […]

Mercy of the Court

A Point of View

David H. Fauss, M.S.M.

On February 11, 2021

Category: Business Frustrations, Entrepreneurship, Getting the Job Done, Jury Consultants, Jury Research, Litigation Research, Small Business Success

Twice this week, when talking with clients, or prospective clients, I’ve been told they are waiting on the judge to do something. The language they used was “I’m at the mercy of the court.” Their lamentations are painful reminders of the nature of our work. Often the idea of “mercy of the court” is mentioned, […]

Another View

Melissa Pigott, Ph.D.

On February 11, 2021

Category: Business Frustrations, Entrepreneurship, Getting the Job Done, Jury Consultants, Jury Research, Litigation Research, Small Business Success

“I’m at the mercy of…” usually means one is powerless to protect oneself from someone or something. When attorneys tell David and me they are at the mercy of the Court, this expression doesn’t have the same ominous meaning that it does in other contexts. Often, attorneys mention being at the Court’s mercy as a […]

PowerPoint Exhibits: Good-Bad-Ugly

A Point of View

David H. Fauss, M.S.M.

On January 21, 2021

Category: Business Frustrations, Careers, Getting the Job Done, Jury Consultants, Jury Research, Litigation Research, Litigation Tips, Magnus, Magnus Insights, Magnus Research, Small Business Success, Trial Consultants, Workplace Technology

I had an interesting conversation today with a client who was preparing a PowerPoint presentation for an upcoming mock trial. As we discussed his plan, he mentioned that he was planning to use 20 slides for a 10 minute presentation. I tactfully suggested that 1 slide every 30 seconds is too many. This led to […]

Another View

Melissa Pigott, Ph.D.

On January 21, 2021

Death by Powerpoint. That’s what I call the majority of Powerpoint and other, similar, electronic presentations. I have witnessed countless attorneys “kill” their audience with electronic presentations that contain words, then more words, then even more words. These well meaning attorneys, in their quest to educate the jury about their case, put everything they can […]

Listen as Much as, or More Than, You Talk

A Point of View

Melissa Pigott, Ph.D.

On January 5, 2021

Category: Business Frustrations, Business personalities, Business Relationships, Careers, Common Courtesy, Getting the Job Done, Jury Consultants, Litigation Consultants, Litigation Research, Magnus, Magnus Insights, Magnus Research, Trial Consultants, Trial Consulting

Sometimes, these posts almost write themselves. This is one of those times. I am a regular reader of advice columnists in newspapers. (Yes, I still read newspapers, several, in fact, on a daily basis.) “Dear Abby” recently provided some sage advice that included a suggestion for the reader to “listen as much as you talk.” […]

Another View

David H. Fauss, M.S.M.

On January 5, 2021

To borrow from Alex Lifeson of Rush – “Blah blah blah. Blah blah blah, blah, blah, blah.” Some of you may recognize this from Alex’s speech following Rush’s induction into the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame. It was an amazing thing to hear and watch – because one could, or at least I could, […]

When is the Last Time You Learned Something?

A Point of View

Melissa Pigott, Ph.D.

On December 29, 2020

Category: Business Frustrations, Careers, Jury Consultants, Jury Research, Litigation Research, Magnus, Magnus Insights, Magnus Research, Trial Consultants, Trial Consulting

One of the strangest objections I have heard, relatively often, during my career as a jury/trial/litigation consultant goes something like this: “Well, I have been a VERY successful trial lawyer for many, many years and I have never, ever, hired a trial consultant. What in the world could I possibly learn from you, or another […]

Another View

David H. Fauss, M.S.M.

On December 29, 2020

Category: Business Frustrations, Careers, Jury Consultants, Jury Research, Litigation Research, Magnus, Magnus Insights, Magnus Research, Trial Consultants, Trial Consulting

This phenomenon exists in many contexts, but given that Melissa and I have spent decades working with attorneys, it hits us from time to time, right between the eyes. One of my college professors told me that a sign of intelligence is knowing what you don’t know. I think about this whenever I hear the […]

I’ll ask my parents

A Point of View

David H. Fauss, M.S.M.

On December 24, 2020

Category: Business Frustrations, Business Travel, Careers, Employment, Getting the Job Done, Jury Consultants, Jury Research, Litigation Research, Magnus, Magnus Insights, Magnus Research, Managing Employees, RoadWarrior, Small Business Success, Trial Consultants

One source of material for these posts over the years has been the things Melissa and I have heard from employees that took us by surprise. This one is among my favorites, after the fact. We usually hire recent college graduates for our Research Associate position. Many years ago, we hired a typical, fresh from […]

Another View

Melissa Pigott, Ph.D.

On December 24, 2020

Many people have asked me if I have any kids. I don’t know why they ask this personal question, but I always respond with, “Yes, I have had between 40 and 50 kids; they are of were my employees.” As David said, recent college graduates have been Magnus’ Research Associates since we founded Magnus in […]

Technology simplifies our lives, right?

A Point of View

David H. Fauss, M.S.M.

On December 10, 2020

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

Another clean out story. In purging the old equipment to prepare for the Magnus’ move to new office, we came across VCRs, VHS tapes, cassette recorders, cassette tapes, DVD duplicators, and more. These are a history of the technology evolution in our lives. Yet, it was also a reminder of simpler times. When we first […]

Another View

Melissa Pigott, Ph.D.

On December 10, 2020

I don’t endorse the premise that technology simplifies our lives. Sometimes, it does, sometimes it doesn’t, and sometimes, there is no noticeable difference between old and new technology within the realm of simplicity. I don’t mind change; in fact, I thrive on it. And, it is relatively easy for me to learn new ways of […]

Gaffer’s Tape

A Point of View

David H. Fauss, M.S.M.

On November 19, 2020

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

Perhaps it seems a bit silly to write about something as low tech as tape, but here I go. Gaffer’s tape is a special tape that looks somewhat like duct tape. And, yes, it is “duct” tape, not “duck tape; it originated as a product to use for HVAC duct work. Duct tape is the […]

Another View

Melissa Pigott, Ph.D.

On November 19, 2020

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

I am a huge fan of gaffer’s tape. It protects Magnus’ mock jurors, clients, employees, and me from tripping over all of the wires and cords that would, absent it, cause a tripping hazard. I like the fact that it sticks on the heavy industrial carpet found in most hotel and research facility conference rooms. […]

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Archive | Litigation Research

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

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.

A Point of View

David H. Fauss, M.S.M.

Another View

Melissa Pigott, Ph.D.

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