Preparation and Presentation of Closing Argument

• Author: Edward L. Birnbaum/Carl T. Grasso/Ariel E. Belen
• Pages: 359-388

CLOSING

ARGUMENT

30-1

CHAPTER 30

PREPARATION AND PRESENTATION

OF CLOSING ARGUMENT

I. BASIC CONCEPTS

A. Right to Give Closing

§30:01 Statutory Authority

§30:02 Waiver

§30:03 One Closing Per Party

§30:04 Fair Comment on Evidence

B. Court’s Involvement

§30:10 Presence of Judge

§30:11 Control by Judge

C. Appellate Review

§30:20 Standard of Review

§30:21 Recording Summation

§30:22 Disallowing Recording Is Reversible Error

D. Effective Advocacy

§30:30 Help Jurors Convince One Another

§30:31 Use Repetition

§30:32 Explain Theories of Case

§30:33 Plaintiff’s Theories

§30:34 Defendant ’s Theories

E. Order of Presentation

§30:40 Inverse Order to Opening

§30:41 Right to Open First and Close Last

§30:42 Defendant’s Considerations

§30:43 Plaintiff’s Considerations

II. PREPARE CLOSING

A. Get Organized

§30:50 Revisit Issues

§30:51 Marshal All Information

§30:52 Rehearse

B. Substance

1. Focus the Jury

§30:60 Beginning the Summation

§30:61 Argument Not Evidence

§30:62 Preview Jury Instructions

§30:63 Mention Verdict Form

§30:64 Revisit Themes

CLOSING

ARGUMENT

New York Trial Notebook 30-2

2. Review the Trial

§30:70 Revisit Opening Statements

§30:71 Revisit Evidence

§30:72 Confront Problem Areas

§30:73 Revisit Witness Testimony

§30:74 Revisit Deposition Testimony

§30:75 Revisit Exhibits

§30:76 Using Exhibits

§30:77 Revisit Pleadings and Discovery

C. Discussing Witness Credibility

1. General Points

§30:90 Propriety

§30:91 Unfair Comment

§30:92 Improper Vouching

2. Experts

§30:100 Fair Attack on Opposition’s Expert

§30:101 Unfair Attack on Opposition’s Expert

§30:102 Your Expert’s Credibility

D. Discussing Damages

1. General Points

§30:110 Specifying Amount

§30:111 Settlements

§30:112 Punitive Damages

§30:113 Pain and Suffering

§30:114 Loss of Services

2. Per Diem Measure

§30:120 General Rule

§30:121 “Harmless Error” Exception

§30:122 Defense Techniques

E. Financial Arguments

§30:130 Consequences of Verdict

§30:131 Hardship on Plaintiff

§30:132 Target Defendant

§30:133 Defendant’s Inability to Pay

§30:134 Defendant’s Ability to Pay

§30:135 Plaintiff’s Financial Condition

§30:136 Reference to Public Finances

F. Concluding

§30:150 Apologize for Behavior

§30:151 Remind Jury of Obligations

§30:152 Thank Jury

III. PRESENTATION

A. General Points

§30:160 Use the Courtroom

§30:161 Notes

§30:162 Speaking to Jurors

§30:163 Gauge Jury Reaction

§30:164 Be Consistent

§30:165 Be Candid

§30:166 Avoid Humor

§30:167 Complex Cases

§30:168 Addressing Damages

B. Using Emotion

§30:180 Defendant’s Counsel

§30:181 Plaintiff ’s Counsel