Agenda / Content Covered

Morning Session - 9:00 - 12:00
Panelists: Hon. Eric H. DuBois, Hon. Benjamin B. Garagozlo, Hon. Gisela T. Laurent, Hon. Michael J. Rudisill, Hon. Margaret H. Schreiber, Hon. Elizabeth J. Starr, and Hon. Kevin B. Weiss
Moderator: T. Kevin Knight

1. Navigating the Local Civil Court Procedure: Concrete Rules and Unwritten Etiquette
2. Initial Pleadings: Laying out the Legal and Factual Issues of the Case
3. Answers to Common Questions Asked in Case Conferences
4. Case Scheduling: Fast-Tracking Options and Handling Conflicts and Delays
5. Summary Judgment Motions and Hearings
6. Cooperation Between Counsel
7. Judges' View of Discovery
   1. Common Discovery Dispute Issues
   2. When You Should and Should Not Make Objections
   3. What is Appropriate for a Privilege Log
   4. When to Use a Motion to Compel
   5. How to Avoid Messing Up the Timing
   6. When are Sanctions a Possibility?
8. Pre-Trial Briefs that Promote Settlement
9. Unacceptable Pre-Trial Litigation Tactics

Afternoon Session - 1:00 - 4:30
Panelists: Hon. Eric H. DuBois, Hon. Benjamin B. Garagozlo, Hon. Gisela T. Laurent, Hon. Michael J. Rudisill, Hon. Margaret H. Schreiber, Hon. Elizabeth J. Starr, and Hon. Kevin B. Weiss
Moderator: T. Kevin Knight

10. Seeking the Judge's Guidance Outside of Scheduled Conferences
    1. When is it Appropriate to Contact the Judge or the Clerk?
    2. What Questions are Acceptable?
    3. Is it Ok to Contact the Judge During a Deposition?
11. Jury Selection and Juror Requests: What is Appropriate?
12. Types of Evidence Judges Value Most/Least
13. Witness Selection and Testimony: What Works and What's a Waste of Time for Everyone
14. Legal Ethics (2:30 - 3:30)
    1. The Meaning of "Justice" and the Role of the Judges and Attorneys in Upholding it
    2. Candor Toward Tribunal
    3. The Duty of Zealous Representation in the Courtroom Setting
    4. How Judges and Lawyers can Work Together to Improve the Justice System
15. Trial Presentation Do's and Don'ts
16. How to Confuse the Jury: Top Mistakes Judges Have Seen
17. Effective Ways of Handling Facts in Controversy at Trial

HON. ERIC H. DuBOIS is an Orange County Judge in the Ninth Judicial Circuit.

HON. BENJAMIN B. GARAGOZLO is a Brevard County Court Judge in the Eighteenth Judicial Circuit.

HON. GISELA T. LAURENT is an Orange County Judge in the Ninth Judicial Circuit.

HON. MICHAEL J. RUDISILL is a Seminole County Circuit Court Judge in the Eighteenth Judicial Circuit.

HON. MARGARET H. SCHREIBER is an Orange County Circuit Court Judge in the Ninth Judicial Circuit.

HON. ELIZABETH J. STARR is an Orange County Judge in the Ninth Judicial Circuit.

HON. KEVIN B. WEISS is an Orange County Circuit Court Judge in the Ninth Judicial Circuit.

MODERATOR - T. KEVIN KNIGHT is a senior partner in the law offices of de Beaubien, Simmons, Knight, Mantzaris & Neal, LLP. Mr. Knight is board certified as a trial lawyer by both The Florida Bar and the National Board of Trial Advocacy. He has litigated several cases related to personal injury claims, insurance defense and other trial related areas. In addition to his litigation practice, Mr. Knight has worked in the transactional areas of real estate sales and leasing, computer publishing and software development, corporations, and employment contracts. He earned his B.S.B.A. degree, summa cum laude, from the University of Central Florida and his J.D. degree from Stetson University. Mr. Knight is a member of the Orange County Bar Association and The Florida Bar.