I was born into a family filled with lawyers and doctors, but I was determined to be neither of the two. I had no interest in blood and gore and zero interest in filing briefs or being an attorney. Despite these “strongly held beliefs,” my father continued to tell me from the age of three that I would be an attorney. Perhaps his badgering unconsciously led me to the legal field, or maybe I won in the end as I do not practice law, but I have found a love of the courtroom and the mental challenge of reshaping cases.
Before discovering my path, I attended Duke Law School where I received my JD and a master’s in psychology. During my first semester of law school, a professor presented one day on jury selection and mentioned David Ball’s name, who conveniently was in Durham. In that moment, I found my passion and career path. I cold-called David as a young, nervous student, introduced myself, told him I wanted to do what he does, and invited him to lunch. For unknown reasons, he agreed, seemed to like me well enough, very likely paid for lunch, and offered to mentor me while I was in school. I will forever be grateful as he set me on my path of a career I love.
I was also fortunate to be taught by Professor Neil Vidmar, who owns half of the recordings of the Arizona Project from 1996 when cameras were allowed into deliberation rooms of real juries. I spent my days in class, and my afternoons at coffee shops sitting side-by-side with David Ball while he taught me the ins and outs of focus group research, case analysis, opening statement, and trial strategy. At night, I would wander onto a dark campus and, entrusted with a key to his office, sit at Neil Vidmar’s desk watching Arizona Project deliberation tapes and taking notes. The rest, they say, is history. I thrive on the challenge of altering case themes and strategy, testing cases with mock trials, and helping attorneys become stronger advocates.
I also have two young kids who love seeing my face on mock trial videos as I analyze results and who challenge me to balance my work with their young, busy, important lives.
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Sach Oliver · Joe Fried Winning the Most Common Tractor Trailer Case in AmericaCoffee & Snacks
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Sach Oliver · Joe Fried Winning the Most Common Tractor Trailer Case in AmericaCoffee & Snacks
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Sach Oliver · Joe Fried Winning the Most Common Tractor Trailer Case in AmericaLunch
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Michael CowenGetting Big Justice in Big Rig CasesCoffee & Snacks
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Joseph CamerlengoLectureCoffee & Snacks
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Aaron BroussardWhat Does It Take to Be a Great Plaintiff Lawyer? It’s Not What You ThinkBreakfast
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Melissa ScartelliCharting the Path to Verdict: Strategic Decisions in Medical Negligence TrialsCoffee & Snacks
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Taylor ErnstLectureCoffee & Snacks
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Brian PanishLectureLunch
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Ben B. RubinowitzJury SelectionCoffee & Snacks
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Kimball Jones9-Figure Framing: Winning Punitive Damages in TrialCoffee & Snacks
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Al FoecklerBlack Hat Justice Opening StatementBreakfast
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Kurt ZanerCreating Drama at Trial – How to Tell a Story in Trial Through Dramatic Theatrical TechniquesCoffee & Snacks
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Sagi ShakedLectureCoffee & Snacks
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Kurt ZanerWriting a Story – Win Your Case in a Page and a HalfLunch
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John RomanoStorytelling in Cross-Examination of Defense Damages & Causation WitnessesCoffee & Snacks
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Edward CiarimboliFrom the Windshield to the Boardroom: How FedEx’s Camera Systems Prove Control, Knowledge and ResponsibilityCoffee & Snacks
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Tim MckeyEnsuring Your Legacy: How the Best Firms Create Lasting Systems and Succession SuccessBreakfast
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Andrew PickettFrom Herniated Disc to $6.7 Million Verdict: Preparation, Strategy, and Trial ExecutionCoffee & Snacks
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Andrew Robb · Brittany Sanders Robb Maximizing Recoverable Damages Before Trial: Framing Your Case for Actual RecoverabilityCoffee & Snacks
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Tom BosworthLectureLunch
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Patrick KangHow We Built An Eight-Figure Practice On Just Toxic Mold Litigation.Coffee & Snacks
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Dan AmbroseCross ExaminationCoffee & Snacks
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Eric CastelblancoSue Your Slumlord: The Ins and Outs of Habitability Law in CABreakfast
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Orlando De CastroverdeHow To Get A 1.7m Verdict On A Neck Injection CaseCoffee & Snacks
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George MoschopoulosStrip the Noise: How to Frame Employment Cases for Verdict Coffee & Snacks
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J. Russell PateIsland Justice: Restaurant Fall; $7M Verdict on $235,000 OfferLunch
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Sarah HavensDon’t Let the Defense Frame Your Case: From “Impossible” Case to 10M Trial Result