Today's Jurors’ Mixed Feelings About Corporations

Aug. 6, 2009 - PRLog -- MALIBU, CALIF.-- National research (Harris Interactive, 2009) shows that a majority of Americans place “a lot” of blame on banks (76 percent), Wall Street (57 percent) and big business (55 percent) for the country's current woes. In these difficult and trying times, juror attitudes are changing, says Dr. Noelle Nelson, trial consultant and author of  the booklet, "101 Winning Tips: How to Give a Good Deposition & Testify Well in Court" (http://www.noellenelson.com/Trial_Consulting.cfm).

   "It is inevitable that among your jurors there will be those who are recently un-employed, some for the first time in their work-lives, and those who have lost savings, homes, opportunities, even careers," says Nelson. "This has corporate defendants very concerned, for if corporations have often fared poorly in jurors’ eyes, they are doing even worse now."

    This is hardly cause for plaintiff's counsel to celebrate, cautions Nelson." With the public’s disdain for corporate greed and malfeasance, comes the public’s disapproval of any case that smacks of the frivolous or the not 'truly' justified, especially if a plaintiff’s win would mean a cut in jobs for employees."

   At least some of the jurors in any given panel understand the consequence of large awards. "Don’t forget that among the currently unemployed are many who were in the upper-middle white collar strata of the workforce," says Nelson. "These unemployed are able to educate their less-informed fellow jurors on the realities of what happens to employees, their jobs, wages and benefits, when corporations are hit with huge verdicts."

   Whether representing plaintiff or defendant, attorneys must keep in mind the current composition of the jury pool and current juror attitudes. "This will go far in helping you win your case," Nelson says.

Contact:
Diane Rumbaugh
Rumbaugh Public Relations
805-493-2877
diane@rumbaughpublicrelations.com

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Noelle C. Nelson, Ph.D., is a trial and business consultant who provides trial/jury strategy, witness preparation and focus groups for attorneys. She is the author of the booklet, "101 Winning Tips: How to Give a Good Deposition and Testify Well in Court." Her published books include "A Winning Case" (Prentice Hall) and "Connecting With Your Client" (American Bar Association). www.dr.noellenelson.com, e-mail: nnelson@dr.noellenelson.com.