This podcast episode discusses California wildfire litigation, focusing on the legal claims, evidence, and challenges in proving liability against utility companies. Plaintiff attorneys describe common claims (negligence and inverse condemnation), damages (property destruction, landscaping, economic and non-economic losses), and the difficulties of proving liability due to destroyed evidence. The bankruptcy of PG&E is examined as a case study, highlighting the unfairness of the bankruptcy system for wildfire victims. Finally, watch a preview replay(Prior to the 2025 LA Wildfires) of a full interview with plaintiff attorneys Mike Kelly and Gerry Singleton, who have extensive backgrounds in fire litigation.

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Unlock courtroom success with our latest podcast episode, where we explore the innovative Jury Simulator tool transforming trial preparation. Learn how machine intelligence creates virtual focus groups with AI-powered jurors, enabling attorneys to test and refine their strategies in a sophisticated and cost-effective manner. Hear firsthand from lawyers who use this technology to anticipate juror reactions and uncover case weaknesses, while AI analyzes demographic data, social media activity, and cognitive biases to provide a realistic glimpse into jury behavior. Discover how the Jury Simulator blends human insight with machine intelligence to enhance legal strategies, from virtual focus groups to real-time feedback during depositions, revolutionizing legal practice and paving the way for a future where technology and tradition work together to ensure fairer, more informed judicial decisions.

For a deeper dive into these groundbreaking advancements and their impact on the legal field, listen to the full story on our sister podcast station, Science of Justice. Gain exclusive insights, expert interviews, and comprehensive analyses that will enrich your understanding of how technology is reshaping justice.

Learn more @ https://scienceofjustice.com/

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Listen to the full episode at : ScienceofJustice.com 

At the SoJ, we believe in simplifying legal proceedings while prioritizing unbiased examination of evidence and human experience. Through our expert interviews, we provide valuable insight into juror perception, enabling informed decision-making. Our focus on Real Science, Real Data, in Real-Time ensures accuracy and timeliness.

New episodes at ScienceofJustice.com 

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In this monumental episode join Brian, Dr.Chris, and the real-life Moneyball stars as they discuss how the advanced strategy used in professional sports can also be applied in the courtroom. Learn how to optimize your case for maximum value by using analytics to identify the strongest arguments, evidence, and even team members.   So if you’re looking to take your courtroom strategy to the next level, don’t miss this episode! Tune in now to get an inside look at how the "teams" use data-driven litigation strategies. Hear stories of success and failures, tips and tricks to help you succeed, and gain insight into how analytics are critical tools for today's practitioners. 

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Brian Beckcom is a trial lawyer with years of experience under his belt. Specializing in Maritime law,  he made headlines for representing the interests of Richard Phillips in  Abdiwali Abdiqadir Muse  - the trial made famous by Tom Hanks' portrayal of 'Captain Phillips'. As a result, companies began to employ independent security contractors to protect their vessels and crews and saw their safety & profit margins improve. In our exclusive interview, trial lawyer Brian Beckcom will share his insights into Maritime law and discuss the implications of applying data science to trial preparation.

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When it comes to trials, the stories you tell can make or break your case. Whether it's the story of a BP/Deepwater Horizon explosion, a George Floyd Civil Rights Case, or even two back-to-back Bakersfield record verdicts, we've seen the power of storytelling in courtrooms time and time again.

It's not just about what you say—it's about how you say it. When you're crafting your argument during trial, you need to think about more than just facts: You need to consider how those facts will affect jurors' opinions and judgments of your client. In order to do this effectively, you need to be able to craft compelling narratives that connect with people on an emotional level—and that's where our team comes in to measure that impact before your actual delivery!

Panel:

Jeffery Breit @  Breit Biniazan 
Daniel Rodriguez @ Rodriguez & Associates
Antonio Romanucci @ Romanucci & Blandin

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Bonus Track - [Office Hours] Russell Nicolet and I take a look at what makes a good case summary and how this fits into an overall strategy for a mock jury or big data research focus groups.

 About the speakers here:

Russell Nicolet is the founder and managing partner at his family's law practice with over a dozen offices throughout MN & WI dedicated to helping his clients and other plaintiff lawyers through innovative industry collaborations.

Dr. Christopher Brydges is an accomplished Behavioral Scientist at Jury Analyst with experience in market research, data analytics, and survey design.

Christopher holds a Ph.D. in psychology from the University of Western Australia and is an internationally recognized expert in the field of behavioral statistics and research design.

With over ten years of experience in academia and working as a statistician internationally, he has published 39 peer-reviewed papers to date.

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Kenneth Foard McCallion a Former DOJ/NY State Prosecutor and still top civil litigation attorney discusses his newest book with another world-class attorney John Uustal, our show host. Listen to some of the behind-the-scenes landmark legal cases of our time.  John and Ken compare their sovereign immunity breakdowns. 

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We caught up with our “superhero” as his colleagues refer to him in a rural venue, where any high verdicts chances are slim but we all did the proper math on a premises liability case and Jason didn't back down! (prediction was ~8% diff)

A self-reported old dog with “new tricks” finds some buried treasure. Jason is Morgan & Morgan’s go-to last-minute specialist talks tech and his role in the giant.

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What does improv have to do with trial advocacy? Everything. In fact, you could argue that the two are one in the same. They both rely on stories and how you tell those stories.
Brian Breiter & Joseph Limbaugh sit down with this week's host Moze Cowper 

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Punitive damages are awarded to a plaintiff in addition to compensatory damages. 

Punitive damages are awarded when the defendant's conduct is especially egregious. In addition to compensatory damages, punitive damages are intended to punish the defendant for his or her actions and discourage similar conduct in the future. Punitive damages may be available when the defendant is particularly malicious or when the defendant’s actions are intentional.

Punitive damages are awarded at the discretion of the jury and are based on their opinion of what amount is necessary to deter similar conduct in the future. In some states, punitive damages are limited by statute or case law.

The amount awarded by the jury is usually based on several factors:

the maliciousness or willfulness of the defendant's acts

the degree of aggravation or harm caused by those acts

the financial resources of the defendant

In most cases, punitive damages are only available in civil cases where compensatory damages are available.

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