SAN DIEGO (March 14, 2022) – The inaugural Nuclear Verdicts Defense Institute will take place June 23-26, 2022, in San Diego, led by an esteemed faculty of legal defense experts, including top trial attorneys, a specialist in jury psychology, and a certified faculty member for the National Institute of Trial Advocacy and professor at the University of San Diego School of Law. The Nuclear Verdicts Defense Institute is the only trial academy uniquely developed to teach experienced defense attorneys how to stop Nuclear Verdicts® – large, unsubstantiated jury awards that typically exceed $10 million. Through psychology workshops, expert panel discussions, small group activities, and demonstrations, experienced defense trial attorneys will practice and learn the advanced trial skills for defusing juror anger and defending against astronomical jury verdicts throughout this three-day immersive educational experience. At its conclusion, each attendee will receive accreditation as a Nuclear Verdicts Defender, certified in the methods for defending against Nuclear Verdicts®.
Based on the strategies first set forth in the #1 best-selling book, “Nuclear Verdicts®: Defending Justice for All,” the Institute seeks to change the way the defense industry tries cases. “Defense attorneys are notoriously secretive about their trial strategies and have not changed the ways they try cases for decades,” says Robert Tyson, author of “Nuclear Verdicts®: Defending Justice for All” and Managing Partner of civil defense law firm Tyson & Mendes. “Meanwhile, plaintiffs’ attorneys are generally more collaborative, and have made major tactical changes to trying cases that are driving a trend toward increasingly huge jury verdicts. The Nuclear Verdicts Defense Institute will break down defense silos, teach best practices, and engage defense trial attorneys in learning the most effective techniques for addressing plaintiffs’ attorneys evolving trial tactics.”
The Institute – the only advanced trial academy designed specifically for the defense – will feature a renowned faculty of legal experts, including:
Robert Tyson, a noted trial attorney and author of “Nuclear Verdicts®: Defending Justice for All,” which presents a set of unique defense methods designed to drive down damage awards. With a goal of minimizing astronomical jury verdicts, Tyson is keenly focused on sharing his successful trial methods with the insurance and defense industries. He is especially known for his groundbreaking work on Howell v. Hamilton Meats, a reverberating decision that set the stage to save insurers and corporate defendants over $10 billion each year – reshaping personal injury litigation across California.
Linda Lane is a professor at the University of San Diego School of Law. Professor Lane was previously a litigation partner with Morrison & Foerster LLP, specializing in product liability and aviation defense. A certified faculty member for the National Institute of Trial Advocacy, she now teaches trial advocacy skills and experiential advocacy practicum at USD School of Law.
According to Tyson, the Nuclear Verdicts Defense Institute will also explore the reasons behind the surge in Nuclear Verdicts®. “The number one emotional motivator of a nuclear verdict is anger, not sympathy,” says Tyson. “Because of this, plaintiffs’ attorneys are increasingly employing tactics to incite juror anger. As a result, the average jury award has skyrocketed in the last 5 to 10 years. To prevent this, defense attorneys must learn new trial skills and change the way they communicate with juries. The Nuclear Verdicts Defense Institute was designed to train them how to defuse juror anger and stop Nuclear Verdicts®.”
The Nuclear Verdicts Defense Institute’s advanced curriculum teaches the critical skills needed to defuse juror anger and combat plaintiffs’ attorneys evolving strategies to drive up damage awards. Attendees will not only learn what the methods are but also how to employ them at trial. The Institute also offers an opportunity for experienced defense trial attorneys to network and build community during and after the program.
Attendees must apply and be accepted to the Nuclear Verdicts Defense Institute. For more information or to access the online application, visit nuclearverdictsdefense.com.
Media Contact:
Ashley Bendas / Jean Walcher, J. Walcher Communications
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