Oregon Civil Trial Skills

Agenda / Content Covered

1. Creating a Trial Notebook - Your Blueprint for Trial
   9:00 - 9:45, Tab Wood, Andrea R. Meyer, Hansary A. Laforest
   1. Countdown to Trial: What You Need to Do and When
   2. Traditional vs. Electronic Trial Notebooks
   3. What to Include, What to Exclude, and How to Organize
   4. Developing Key Sections of the Trial Binder
   5. Using the Notebook and Troubleshooting From the Courtroom
2. Voir Dire and Jury Selection Tactics
   9:45 - 10:00, Geordie Duckler
   1. The Written and Unwritten Rules of Jury Selection
   2. Juror Questionnaires and Research Tips
   3. How Jurors Think: What You Need to Know
   4. Building Rapport and Getting Jurors Talking
   5. Asking the Right Questions the Right Way
   6. The Big DON'Ts of Voir Dire Questions
   7. Avoiding Socially Desirable Response Bias
   8. Jury Selection Strategy: Who to Strike and How
3. The Secrets to a Powerful Opening Statement
   10:15 - 11:00, Geordie Duckler
4. Evidence Presentation, Objections, and Admission
   12:00 - 1:00, Katie Jo Johnson
   1. Rules and Procedures Governing the Introduction and Exclusion of Evidence
   2. Motions in Limine: The Trial Lawyer's Best Friend
   3. Using Documentary Evidence
   4. Spotlight on Email, Social Media, and Smartphone Evidence
   5. Lay and Expert Witness Testimony
   6. Direct Examination Tips
   7. Demonstrative and Illustrative Evidence
   8. Hearsay and Other Objections: When to Use Them and How to Respond
5. Key Cross-Examination Strategies Every Lawyer Must Know
   1:00 - 2:15, Tab Wood, Andrea R. Meyer, Hansary A. Laforest
   1. Preparing for the Cross-Examination
   2. Maintaining Control of the Witness and Direction of the Examination
   3. Cross-Examining Experts
   4. Tips for Cross-Examining Difficult and Special Witnesses
   5. Witness Impeachment Tactics
6. Closing Arguments and Jury Instructions
   2:30 - 3:30, Geordie Duckler
   1. Do's and Don'ts of Closing Arguments
   2. Organizing Your Closing Arguments
   3. Effectively Using Evidence
   4. Rebutting Arguments and Addressing Bad Facts
   5. Practical Insights on Discussing Damages
   6. Concluding Your Closing
   7. Jury Instructions: Standard and Special
7. Ethics for Trial Lawyers
   3:30 - 4:30, Katie Jo Johnson
   1. Ethical Duties Toward the Tribunal
   2. Ethics of Evidence
   3. Improper Arguments
   4. Communicating With Witnesses
   5. Ex Parte Communications
   6. Juror Investigation, Contact, Bias in Jury Selection, and Jury Tampering

Accreditation Details:

Geordie Duckler is an attorney at The Animal Law Practice, where he has been a trial attorney for more than 30 years, actively engaged in the litigation, defense, and trial of civil and criminal cases and appeals of all types across the country, in both state and federal court, specializing in animal law. As a popular lecturer, the most recent of his many public presentations was "Dirty Litigation Tactics: How to Deal with the “Rambo” Litigator," a CLE he conducted for National Business Institute in Portland, Oregon in December of 2017. As a nationally known practitioner, Dr. Duckler has been profiled extensively in the media about his cases, including The Oregonian, The Tribune, Willamette Week, The National Law Journal, Court TV Radio, Geraldo, Newsweek, The New Yorker and Bark. He has also been featured on National Public Radio, on the BBC, and in two National Geographic nature documentaries. Dr. Duckler earned double B.S. degrees from Oregon State University; his M.S. degree from University of Oregon; his J.D. degree from Northwestern School of Law at Lewis and Clark; and his Ph.D. degree from University of California, Los Angeles.

Katie Jo Johnson is a partner with the Portland law firm of McEwen Gisvold LLP. Her practice focuses on real estate, business and construction litigation, as well as legal malpractice defense. Prior to entering private practice, Ms. Johnson served as a judicial clerk to the Honorable Jerome LaBarre in the Multnomah County Circuit Court. She is a member of the Oregon and Washington State bars, and serves as an elected member of the Oregon State Bar House of Delegates. Ms. Johnson earned her bachelor's degree, cum laude, from Seattle University; and her J.D. degree, cum laude, from Lewis & Clark Law School.

Hansary A. Laforest is an attorney with Sussman Shank LLP where he is a trial attorney with over nine years of courtroom experience in both the state and federal court. His practice focuses on handling civil and commercial litigation matters across a variety of industries, and ranges from tort litigation to complex contractual disputes. Mr. Laforest graduated from Fordham University School of Law. During his time at Fordham, he served as a coach and competitor on the school's arbitration team. Upon graduation, he was honored for his community service with the 2011 Student Leadership Award, and the 2011 Archibald R. Murray Public Service Award. He is admitted to practice in Oregon, Texas, and New York.

Andrea R. Meyer is an attorney with Sussman Shank LLP. She is a litigator whose practice focuses on business and real estate litigation. Ms. Meyer counsels individuals and businesses on a number of issues, including business owner disputes, contract disputes, foreclosure matters, and boundary line disputes. In addition to her litigation work, she is a member of the Board of Dollar for Portland, a non-profit organization that focuses on relieving the overwhelming medical debt of Portland individuals and families. Ms. Meyer earned her B.S. degree in psychology and social science from Portland State University; and her J.D. degree from Lewis & Clark Law School. She is admitted to practice in Oregon, the U.S. District Court for the District of Oregon, U.S. Court of Appeals for the Ninth Circuit, Washington State Bar, U.S. District Court for the Western District of Washington, and the U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of Washington.

Tab Wood is a partner with Sussman Shank LLP in the firm’s litigation department (chair). He represents individuals and businesses across diverse industries in a variety of civil litigation cases. Mr. Wood is a seasoned litigator with substantial trial and courtroom experience, and experience crafting effective, practical trial strategies. He earned his B.A. degree in English with a minor in Spanish, from Sewanee: The University of the South; and his J.D. degree (associate editor of the Oregon Law Review) from the University of Oregon School of Law. Mr. Wood is admitted to practice in Oregon State Bar, United States District Court for the District of Oregon, Washington State Bar, United States District Court for the Western District of Washington, Idaho State Bar, United States District Court of Idaho, and the Ninth Circuit Court of Appeals.