Developing Your Visual Strategy

• Author: Jim Wren
• Pages: 295-334

11-1

11. Visual

Strategy

Chapter 11

Developing Your Visual

Strategy

I. Wrong Approaches to Visual Strategy

§11:01 Ignoring Visuals

§11:02 Relying on What Is in the File

§11:03 Always Using the Same Approach

§11:04 Waiting Until Trial

§11:05 Relying Completely on a Consultant

II. Principles for Effectiveness

A. Organizing Around the Damages Story

§11:10 Include the Jurors in the Story

§11:11 Building Visuals to Tell the Right Damages Story

§11:12 Setting

§11:13 Choice

§11:14 Conflict

§11:15 Consequence

§11:16 Crisis

§11:17 Climax

§11:18 Resolution

B. Planning the Visuals

§11:20 Start Early in Discovery

§11:21 Equip Your Key Jurors

§11:22 Complement the Testimony

C. Selecting the Tools

§11:30 Four Primary Tools

§11:31 PowerPoint

§11:32 Trial Presentation Programs

§11:33 Foam Boards

§11:34 Notepad Flip Charts

Proving Damages to the Jury

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11. Visual

Strategy

III. Developing the Visual Strategy and Evidence

A. Initial Planning

§11:40 Start With a Quality System

§11:41 Plan Your Strategy Personally

§11:42 Focus on the Story

§11:43 Use a Storyboard to Strip the Story to Its Essentials

B. Translate the Damages Story into Visuals

§11:50 Know the Clients and Work Through Key Questions

§11:51 What Are the First Images That Come to Mind?

§11:52 What Anecdotal Stories and Images Go With Each Stage?

§11:53 What Images Go With the Anger Points?

§11:54 What Is Surprising About the Story?

§11:55 What Concepts Are Difficult to Explain Verbally?

§11:56 What Are Strong Images for the Core Values?

§11:57 What Are Metaphors for the Story?

§11:58 What Are the Pivotal Issues?

§11:59 What Are Strong Images for the Themes?

§11:60 What Images Evoke Your Framing Strategy?

C. Implement the Plan

1. Use Good Design Principles

§11:70 General Points

§11:71 Simplify the Visual Presentation

§11:72 Minimize the Use of Bullet Point Lists

§11:73 Use Local Newspaper Fonts

§11:74 Use Visual Cues to Help the Jury Keep Up

§11:75 Employ Good and Consistent Visual Architecture

2. Move From Ideas to Implementation

§11:80 Steps for Implementing the Ideas

§11:81 Prepare to Make Visuals Interactive

§11:82 Decide the Setup Before Trial

§11:83 Practice the Visuals and Have Backup Plans

§11:84 Maintain Status as the Authority Figure

§11:85 Prepare for Admissibility Issues

IV. Common Admissibility Issues

§11:90 Proper Foundation—Generally

§11:91 Foundation for Photographs and Diagrams

§11:92 Foundation for Video

§11:93 Visual Display as Unfairly Prejudicial

§11:94 Visual Display as Argumentative

§11:95 Surprise or Failure to Disclose in Discovery

§11:96 Hearsay Within the Visual Display

§11:97 Improper Impeachment With Video Deposition

§11:98 Other Routine Objections

Developing Your Visual Strategy

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11. Visual

Strategy

V. Visual Examples For All Seven Stages

§11:110 Setting

§11:111 Choice

§11:112 Conflict

§11:113 Consequence

§11:114 Crisis

§11:115 Climax

§11:116 Resolution

VI. Samples

11-1 Copy of Bar Tab

11-2 Words of the Applicable Standards

11-3 Deposition Excerpt and Cab Ride Sign

11-4 EMS Record and Photograph of Scene

11-5 Last Family Picture

11-6 Defendant’s Pleading

11-7 Discovery Requests

11-8 Rule Next to Verdict Form Damage Categories

11-9 Picture of Survivors

11-10 Contradictory Comparisons

11-11 Check-off Chart

11-12 Admission

11-13 Damage Summary

11-14 Series of Slides Building a Chart

11-15 Chart Components

11-16 Fonts for Headlines and Text

11-17 Sample Flip Chart Page

11-18 Standards for Medical Diagnosis

11-19 Defendant’s Options and Choices

11-20 PowerPoint Slide 1 Supporting Timeline of Defendant’s Choices

11-21 PowerPoint Slide 2 Supporting Timeline of Defendant’s Choices

11-22 PowerPoint Slide 3 Supporting Timeline of Defendant’s Choices

11-23 PowerPoint Slide 4 Supporting Timeline of Defendant’s Choices

11-24 Timeline of Defendant’s Choices

11-25 Demonstrating the Mechanism of Injury

11-26 Past and Future Medical Costs in a Summary Listing

11-27 Past and Future Medical Costs Sorted by Condition

11-28 Key Components in Lost Earnings Calculation

11-29 Concepts and Calculations for Lost Earnings Capacity

11-30 Opinions and Bases of Opinions of Vocational Expert

11-31 Summary Outline Chart for Vocational Expert

11-32 Simplified Outline of Life Care Plan

11-33 Demonstration of Source and Reason for Pain or Disability

(Whiplash Injury)

11-34 Comparative Chart for Loss of Household Services