File Review, Proof Rubric, Trial Logs and Checklists

• Author: Beth D. Osowski
• Pages: 55-150

(Rev. 3, 10/12)

CHAPTER 1

FILE REVIEW, PROOF RUBRIC, TRIAL

LOGS AND CHECKLISTS

I.REVIEWIN G CASE 120 DAYS BEFORE TRI AL

§1:01Review Gets You Orga nized

§1:02Calen dar for 120 Days Before Trial

§1:03Refresh ing ReviewIs Trial Pr epar ation

II.CLAIM S, D EFEN SES , AND PLEAD INGS IND EX

§1:10Claim s and Defen ses

§1:11Plea dings I ndex

§1:12Key Fed eral Tor t Claims Act Con sider ation s

§1:13Motions for Sum mary Ju dgment

III.ELEMENTS-OF-PROOF R UBR IC

§1:20Review Ju ry Instr uction s and Ver dict Form s for Elem ents of Claim s and

Defenses

§1:21Sepa rately Cover E ach Elem ent

§1:22Sam ple Elem ents -of-Proof Ru bric

§1:23Usin g Jur y Inst ructions to Develop P roof Rubric

§1:24Sam ple Jury Instr uction : Negligen ce

§1:25Sam ple Jury Instr uction : Pain and Su ffering

§1:26Sam ple Jury Instr uction : Failu re to Mitigate

§1:27Sam ple Jury Instr uction : Comparative Negligence

IV.OTH ER LITIGATION FILES

§1:40Review Ent ire File

§1:41Discovery Re view and Discovery Ind ex

§1:42Take Notes in Logs and Rubr ics

V.RECORD SUMM ARIES

§1:50Recor d Sum maries

§1:51Sam ple: Med ical Recor d Sum mary

§1:52Build ing and Using a Medical Recor d Sum mary

Trial Preparation Tools1-2

§1:53Incorpor ate Medica l Informa tion Int o Proof Ch art and Trial Logs

§1:54Med ical Specia ls

§1:55Checklist: Med ical Specia ls

§1:56Elect ronic M edical Records H ints

VI.WORKIN G LOGS

§1:60Overview of Logs

§1:61Motion-in -Limine Topics Log

§1:62Dem onstrative Eviden ce Log

§1:63Qua ntifying Pain and Su ffer ing Log

§1:64Theme Log

§1:65Evident iary Concerns Log

§1:66Term inology Log

§1:67Rese arch I ssues Log

§1:68Genera l “To- Do” Log

§1:69Not es Log

§1:70Chea t Sheet

§1:71Sett lemen t Thou ghts Log

VII. CHECKLISTS

§1:80Evidence for E ach Elem ent in Proo f Ru bric

§1:81Checklist of Logs

§1:82Checklist: Coun tdown Calend ar

VIII. FORMS

A.COU NTD OWN CALENDARS

For m 1-01120-Day Cou ntdo wn Calen dar

For m 1-01.160 -Day Coun tdown Calend ar

For m 1-01.2180-Day Countdown Cale ndar

B.SAMPLE COMPLETED LOGS AN D RU BRICS

For m 1-02Plea dings I ndex Form

For m 1-03Employm ent Recor d Sum mary Form

For m 1-04Med ical Recor d Summa ry Form

For m 1-05Med ical Specia ls Form s

For m 1-06Dem onstrative Eviden ce Logs Form s

For m 1-07Qua ntifying Pain and Su ffer ing For ms

For m 1-08Theme Log For ms

For m 1-09Motion-in -Limine Topics Log Form

For m 1-10To-Do Log F orm

C.B LANK LOGS AN D RU BRICS

For m 1-11Pack et of Blan k Logs and Ru brics for Use at 120-Day Review

For m 1-12Plea dings/ Discovery Index

For m 1-13Med ical Recor ds/ Employment Record s Summary

For m 1-14Elem ents -of-Proof Ru bric

For m 1-15Motion in Lim ine Top ics Log

For m 1-16Dem onstrative Eviden ce Log

For m 1-17Qua ntifying Pain and Su ffer ing Log

For m 1-18Theme Log

For m 1-19Evident iary Concerns/ Resear ch Issues Log

(Rev. 3, 10/12)

1-3 File Review, Proof Rubric, Trial Logs and Checklists

For m 1-20Term inology Log

For m 1-21To-Do Log

For m 1-22Chea t Sheet

For m 1-23Med ical Specia ls Form

For m 1-24Sett lemen t Thou ghts Log (Per sona l Injur y Case)

D.S AMPLE 120 -DAY REVIE W-CAR V. BU S ACCID ENT

For m 1-30Review of Complaint and Answer

For m 1-31Review of Plea dings

For m 1-32Review of Discovery

For m 1-33Review of Deposit ion Tra nscripts

For m 1-34Review of Med ical Recor d Summa ry

For m 1-35Review of Med ical Specia ls

For m 1-36Review of Mem os and Ot her Docum ents in Facts Section

For m 1-37Review of Jur y In structions

For m 1-38Comp leted Elem ents-of-P roof Rubric for Sa mple Case

For m 1-39Comp leted Motion-in-Lim ine Topics Log for Sample Case

For m 1-40Comp leted Dem onstr ative Eviden ce Log for Sa mple Case

For m 1-41Comp leted Quant ifying Pain and Su ffer ing Log for Sample Case

For m 1-42Comp leted Them e Log for Sa mple Case

For m 1-43Comp leted Evide ntiar y Concern/ Rese arch Log for Sa mple Case

For m 1-44Comp leted Term inology Log for Sa mple Case

For m 1-45Comp leted To-Do Log for Sam ple Case

For m 1-46Comp leted 120-Day Cou ntdown for Sam ple Case

For m 1-47Comp leted Sett lemen t Thou ghts Log for Samp le Case

E.SAMPLE RESPONS ES TO SU MMARY J UDGMENT MOTION S

For m 1-60Par tial Response to Sum mary Ju dgmen t Motion: Sum mar y Jud gment

Stand ards and Bur dens

For m 1-61Par tial Response to Sum mary Ju dgmen t Motion: J udgment Is to Be

Grant ed Only in Unus ual Cases

For m 1-62Par tial Response to Sum mary Ju dgmen t Motion: Greater Negligen ce as

a Matter of Law

For m 1-63Par tial Response to Sum mary Ju dgmen t Motion: No Duty

For m 1-64Par tial Response to Sum mary Ju dgmen t Motion: No Notice

For m 1-65Par tial Response to Sum mary Ju dgmen t Motion: Figh ting

Inter pret ation of Exclusiona ry Term in Insur ance P olicy

For m 1-66Par tial Response to Sum mary Ju dgmen t Motion: Atta cking In sura nce

Policy