2's Company - MagnusInsights.com

About this blog

After more than 25 years operating a trial consulting practice together as co-founding partners of Magnus Research Consultants, Inc. and Magnus Graphics, Inc., and more than 30 years of marriage, Dr. Melissa Pigott and David Fauss decided to share some of their thoughts, experiences, pet peeves, and perspectives on operating a small “mom & pop” business. The intended audience for their writings is other business owners, as well as employees of small businesses. Trial consulting is a professional service business, as was David’s photography business. There are many unique issues faced by professional service providers; Melissa and David share some of their insights on running a successful business.

Catching Juror with her Pants Down

A Point of View

David H. Fauss, M.S.M.

On December 29, 2016

Category: Careers, Employment, Getting the Job Done, Managing Employees, Small Business Success, Trial Consulting

Melissa recently initiated a series of blog posts about Crazy Juror stories. In writing these posts, I was reminded of another crazy juror story, which wasn’t really that crazy, but it is now in our company folklore and we continue to chuckle about it. A number of years ago, we were working on a large […]

Another View

Melissa Pigott, Ph.D.

On December 29, 2016

Category: Careers, Employment, Getting the Job Done, Managing Employees, Small Business Success, Trial Consulting

The expression, “caught with your pants down” has, for many years, had a literal interpretation for those of us at Magnus. (The Detroit experience was memorable for several other reasons, including hearing one of my employees inform our client that she wished she were a princess living in a castle, but that has been covered […]

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 […]

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, […]

You should have made me do it sooner

A Point of View

David H. Fauss, M.S.M.

On December 22, 2016

Category: Getting the Job Done, Litigation Tips, Marketing your Business, Psychology, Trial Consulting

It is very rare that we ever get complaints from clients so it took me aback a few years ago when a client said, “I have one complaint.” The client was a defense attorney handling a very tragic case involving an electrocution and death. Few things are as horrible as electrocutions. He was defending the […]

Another View

Melissa Pigott, Ph.D.

On December 22, 2016

Category: Getting the Job Done, Litigation Tips, Marketing your Business, Psychology, Trial Consulting

As much as I believe my professional advice should be accepted, particularly by clients who have hired me to provide them with my advice, I have never, ever, been able to “make” or “force” a client to accept my advice. The consequences of an attorney’s failure to act upon my advice have, unfortunately, been dire, […]

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 […]

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. […]

Insights for Success

A Point of View

David H. Fauss, M.S.M.

On December 15, 2016

Category: Getting the Job Done, Litigation Tips, Marketing your Business, Psychology, Small Business Success, Trial Consulting, Trial Science, Work-Life, Workplace Technology

For many years, Magnus has used “Insights for Success” as a tag line in many of our marketing materials. We have recently reevaluated this concept in the process refining our materials. “Insights for Success” has much meaning, and history, to us. We at Magnus firmly believe that the trial consulting work we do helps clients […]

Another View

Melissa Pigott, Ph.D.

On December 15, 2016

Category: Getting the Job Done, Litigation Tips, Marketing your Business, Psychology, Small Business Success, Trial Consulting, Trial Science, Work-Life, Workplace Technology

As David wrote, “insights for success” has a long history in our company. We have been asked, countless times, for our success rate over the years we have been in business. Although it may appear, on the surface, that measuring our success is an easy task, in reality, defining success has proven to be quite […]

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 […]

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 […]

The Psychology of Litigation

A Point of View

David H. Fauss, M.S.M.

On December 8, 2016

Category: Getting the Job Done, Litigation Tips, Marketing your Business, Psychology, Small Business Success, Trial Consulting, Trial Science, Work-Life, Workplace Technology

This is a topic I came up with because I’ve been thinking about what is it Melissa and I really do as trial consultants and in our company, Magnus Research. We know what we do, but it is sometimes difficult to come up with ways to explain it. And, especially as we encounter lawyers who […]

Another View

Melissa Pigott, Ph.D.

On December 8, 2016

Category: Getting the Job Done, Litigation Tips, Marketing your Business, Psychology, Small Business Success, Trial Consulting, Trial Science, Work-Life, Workplace Technology

My education and training in social psychology was aimed toward the pursuit of a career in academia. However, experiences in graduate school led me to the realization that I would be more suited for a career in applied social psychology (in the “real world”) than becoming a college professor. My skill set is broad, such […]

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 […]

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 […]

What have you got to lose by doing mock jury research?

A Point of View

David H. Fauss, M.S.M.

On December 1, 2016

Category: Business Frustrations, Getting the Job Done, Litigation Tips, Psychology, Trial Consulting, Trial Science, Work-Life, Workplace Technology

Advance warning, this post is positively self serving to our means of earning a living – trial consulting. Every once in a while, and more often than I think it should happen, I hear comments from prospective clients who say something like “my client or my co-counsel doesn’t think doing mock jury research is really […]

Another View

Melissa Pigott, Ph.D.

On December 1, 2016

Category: Business Frustrations, Getting the Job Done, Litigation Tips, Psychology, Trial Consulting, Trial Science, Work-Life, Workplace Technology

It is a well known social psychological phenomenon that most people prefer schema congruent information over information that is incongruent with their schemata. (The reader is probably asking himself/herself, “What does this mean, in laypersons’ terms?”.) Most people have a certain way of viewing the world that, for them, is more important than reality, the […]

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 […]

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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About this blog

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

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.

About Magnus