Focus Groups

Please put this up on my Blog and website (Under Trial Lawyers notebook next.

Here is the introduction.

I am a believer in focus groups. I do them early pre-suit to learn about my case by presenting my fact scenario and then asking: What do you think? What else would you like to know?
Then I will go into questions on responsibility. The key is to get the folks in the group talking and see where it all goes.

On occasion this approached has helped me in my decision to accept or reject. It has also told me of course how not to try the case and what I need to get out in paper discovery and informal discovery.

Following paper discovery I will do another focus group and show the paper discovery and then ask again, What do you think? What more would you like to know? Then again move to questions of responsibility, How do you feel about -----? You then move into more direct open ended questions. What are you thoughts on who is responsible for a safe work place? Tell me more about that?

Now this prepares me for my deposition phase and question lines.

Then for the finale we then show our documentary evidence and video taped deposition segments to another focus group and asked more pointed questions on responsibility, comparative fault and on to general, special and punitive damages.

This might sound like an expensive proposition but there are relatively in expensive ways of doing this on your own with some practice. Amongst our office we know enough folks that we always get interested bunches of conservative types. The more conservative the better.

Attached is another law firms great suggestion on do it yourself low budget Focus Groups which I whole heartedly endorse.

All the best in your next focus group project.

Mike Maggiano

Simple Steps to Conduct Your Own Focus Group

A Guide to Finding the Right Medical Care

Dear Friends,

Finding the appropriate medical care can be difficult. I’ve come across a book that can serve as a guide to finding the appropriate medical care. Pat Malone’s The Life You Save: Nine Steps to Finding the Best Medical Care-and Avoiding the Worst serves as a roadmap to finding the best care. This book is for anyone who comes in contact with any type of medical provider and it will bring you the peace of mind of knowing that you are making the right choices because you have the information necessary to do so. As an experienced medical malpractice attorney and most importantly as a husband, parent and friend I ask that you add this book to your collection. During this holiday season it may be the most important thing you give to someone close to you.

If you want to read more about it or to order it please visit www.lifeyousave.com.

Kind regards,

Michael Maggiano

98,000

Once again we are reading about a big push to limit suits against doctors and hospitals. The rhetoric of too many frivolous lawsuits never seems to have a factual basis when pushed for real hard facts. Click here for the real story: www.98000reasons.org.

I have attached a message from the American Association for Justice.

What do you think?

Mike Maggiano


Click on image to make it larger.

David Ball's Article on Public Respect and Trust

Dear Friend,

I just came across the following article written by nationally known trial consultant, David Ball,PhD, which I felt should be printed in full because of its great importance to consumers and their lawyers who work to protect their rights.

It was emailed to me by Alan Blumenfeld and Katherine James of Act of Communication. I strongly urge all lawyers working to communicate the rights of the public to visit their website, www.actofcommunication.com and visit their e-magazine Knowledge Tank.

Public Respect and Trust: How to restore and deserve it by David Ball, PhD

Truckers Insist on Keeping Computers in the Cab

All too often a trucker is emailing, calling or even checking his computer at 65 miles per hour which translates into distractions while covering over 90 feet per second.

The link below will provide interesting information on the pros and cons of converting a tractor Cab into a "Home Office."

All too often the truth of what the trucker was doing just before a collision is missed when the data is easily available through some early e -discovery and investigation.

NYTimes: Truckers Insist on Keeping Computers in the Cab

New study concludes that malpractice kills 195,000 per year

Source: New Jersey Association for Justice Personal Injury e-mailing list

These days we hear a constant refrain from media pundits and politicians that there can be no meaningful health care reform without tort reform. They maintain that the way to save real health care dollars in the process of revamping the health care delivery system is to include provisions in the legislation that would put an end to “frivolous” lawsuits.

The truth is that the only thing frivolous is the failure to appreciate the fact that the American Health Care System kills more American Citizens than all of our enemies in all the battles and wars around the globe. A new study concludes that malpractice kills 195,000 per year.

http://www.healthgrades.com/media/DMS/pdf/InhosptialDeathsPatientSafetyPressRelease072704.pdf

Once you have read this please write to your legislators sending on the above website link. Yes it is time for a change, but in our health care system not our Civil Justice System.

C-Span's America and the Courts

Friends: May I recommend you go to C-Span's America and the Courts airing October 4, 2009. Or visit the C Span website archive section and watch the interviews. C Span's documentary: Supreme Court - Home to America's Highest Court is fascinating and uplifting. I found of particular interest the archived interview of Justice Ginsberg at Northwestern Law School on September 15, 2009. She discusses Loving v. Virginia as the most important case and why we should all be using our law licenses to do good and give back something to the community. She also discusses why she sided with Justice Scalia on the Confrontation Clause cases. The site is www.c-span.org.