- Where they live/who they live with/family make-up
- Occupation (and relevant occupations of spouse, children, parents, close friends and relatives)
- Familiarity with litigants, lawyers, the case, etc. . . .
- Prior experience as jurors
- Prior experience with lawyers (as clients, as witnesses, etc. . . . )
- Prior litigation experience (and satisfaction with the exposure)
- If went to trial . . .
- If settled/resolved . . .
- The fact that this case has not resolved – could be the fault of either or both sides.
- Too many “frivolous” lawsuits?
- What about frivolous Defenses?
- Judge this case on its own merits?
- Too many “runaway” jury verdicts in the news?
- Newspapers don’t report on defense verdicts on cases where the plaintiff should have won.
- Willing to award reasonable damages?
- Advertising lawyers on T.V. – Embarrassment to all.
- Willingness to act as the trier of fact?
- Judge credibility of witnesses?
- Expert witnesses
- Analyze the basis of their opinions. (The moon is not made of green cheese.)
- Burden of Proof – Hold me to it, but willingness to reward the appropriate side with your verdict if burden of proof is met.
- Plaintiff goes first
- No intention to invade privacy.
- Listen to all the evidence of both sides.
- Plaintiff gets the last word.
- Willingness to award “Non” economic damages – pain and suffering.
- Willingness to turn plaintiff away with zero
- Willingness to award large sum if the law so provides and the numbers add up.
- If juror is affiliated with insurance industry . . .
- Willingness to disregard bias in favor of insurers and bias regarding evaluation of case value.
- Although there are claims without merit, many claims with merit/value are brought
- Jury system’s importance to the democratic process.
Contact Aitken * Aitken * Cohn today to learn more.