Tort Bench and Jury Trials in State Courts, 2005

U.S. Department of Justice, Office of Justice Programs, Bureau of Justice Statistics has posted a statistical addition covering the tort bench and jury trials in state courts in 2005.

[The report] discusses tort cases concluded by a bench or jury trial in a national sample of jurisdictions in 2005. Topics include the types of tort cases that proceed to trial, the differences between tort cases adjudicated by judges and juries, and the types of plaintiffs and defendants represented in tort trials. The report also covers plaintiff win rates, punitive damages, and the final award amounts generated in tort trial litigation. Lastly, trends are examined in tort trial litigation in the nation’s 75 most populous counties, based on comparable data in 1996, 2001, and 2005.

The Art of Cross-Examination

Peter Small has a useful post on TheStar.com titled The Art of Cross-Examination, "it's a powerful tool that can lead to surprises, but only when used with suitable finesse." As also mentioned on Law Is Cool, Peter interviewed several lawyers for useful cross-examination tips that even you might find interesting. And just to stick with our latest 10-tip-list, a U.S. Law Professor Irving Younger shares the following list of 10 tips regarding cross-examination:

1. Be brief.
2. Use short questions, plain words.
3. Always ask leading questions.
4. Don’t ask a question to which you do not know the answer.
5. Listen to the witness’s answers.
6. Don’t quarrel with the witness.
7. Don’t allow the witness to repeat his or her direct testimony.
8. Don’t permit the witness to explain his or her answers.
9. Don’t ask the “one question too many.”
10. Save the ultimate point of your cross for summation.