Case Theme and Trial Notebook

• Author: Edward L. Birnbaum/Carl T. Grasso/Justice Ariel E. Belen
• Pages: 403-414

CASE THEME,

TRIAL NOTEBOOK

14-1

CHAPTER 14

CASE THEME AND TRIAL NOTEBOOK

I. INITIAL PREPARATION

§14:01 Benef‌its of Early Trial Prep

§14:02 Prepare Trial Folder

§14:03 Review File

§14:04 Alternatives to File Review

II. DEVELOPING CASE THEMES

A. General Points

§14:10 Def‌inition and Purpose

§14:11 How to Develop

§14:12 How to Use

B. Plaintiff ’s Themes

§14:20 Selection and Examples

§14:21 Damages

C. Defendant’s Themes

§14:30 Selection

§14:31 “Negative Defense” Themes

§14:32 Aff‌irmative Defense Themes

§14:33 Damages Defense Themes

D. Relationship Themes

§14:40 Use of Relationship Themes

§14:41 “Outsider,” “Intruder,” “Meddler” Themes

§14:42 “Trust” and “Reliance” Themes

§14:43 Cross-Claims, Interpleader, and Impleader: “Pointing the Finger”

III. TRIAL NOTEBOOK

§14:50 Purpose

§14:51 Organization and Content

§14:52 Discovery Summary

§14:53 Exhibit Lists

§14:54 Issue/Proof Charts

§14:55 Trial Notebooks and Laptop Computers