OTLA Trial Lawyer Fall 2020

45 Trial Lawyer • Fall 2020 segment of the focus group and the stu- dents’ reaction ultimately changed the direction of the case. A jury of law students Would I do it again? Absolutely. While our approach may have been un- conventional, we received valuable in- sight on the level of medical education we should provide to eliminate potential biases that could arise from our plaintiff ’s illness. We learned our demonstrative exhibits need work — more solid color here, less writing there. The law students’ perspective on the video testimony we showed led us to restrategize how we will present defendants at trial. As previously noted, it truly takes one individual who is a reflection of these law students to take the jury’s verdict in a different direc- tion. Although the law students in this focus group were paid for their time, it was still exponentially less than what it would have cost to hire a third-party company to coordinate a focus group. Whether you have a complex medical malpractice case or not, a law student focus group adds value to the develop- ment and polishing of legal theories be- fore trial. The students’ eager nature re- sults in vigorous questioning of the evi- dence presented, which requires the at- torney to rethink the purpose of the evi- dence intended to be presented at trial and employ a different approach if neces- sary. The students we encountered were outspoken and did not sugarcoat their opinions regarding the case, the evidence presented or even the attorneys who presented. Shangar Meman specializes in plaintiff ’s personal injury, medical malpractice and employment liability law. She contributes to the OTLA Guardians at the Sustaining Member level. Meman is an associate at- torney at Pickett Dummigan McCall, 210 SW Morrison St., Fourth Floor, Portland, OR 97204. She can be reached at 503- 575-9743 or [email protected].