Profile: Andrew Gillin
“I love the contingency-fee model, where someone with $50 in the bank can take on General Motors.”
Stephen Ellison

How to win court approval for your class-action settlement
Learn to avoid delays that occur if the court rejects or requires modification of your settlement.
Bryan Schwartz and

Defenses to the “Rule of Thumb” in domestic violence civil suits
Many of the defenses have time-bars or other limitations. In this third of a three-part series, the author explores statutes of limitations, laches, self-defense, consent, and the implications of res judicata.
Rick Friedling

The Google-izing of legal research
Google’s new Legal Scholar is online, with free California and Federal law. We also have tips on honing your search with Google, and a great listing of Web sites useful to all of us.
Janabeth Fleming Taylor  

Trial Practice and Procedure
Course-and-scope decisions give hope to victims of auto accidents
Could a business owner be liable if his employee has an accident while talking on a cell phone in the car?
William Veen and Oliver Vallejo

Managing your Office
How to avoid “dick surgery”
A new software program can help you not only avoid embarrassment in your pleadings and motions, but also speed up your keyboarding.
Michael Mortimer

Settlement Matters
The truth about deception in mediation
Timely advice for minimizing your risk of being exploited in a negotiation where the other party is lying.
Jeffrey Krivis

Appellate reports
Including Hertz Corp. v. Friend: For the purposes of federal diversity jurisdiction, a corporation’s principal place of business is its “nerve center” — typically its HQ.
Jeffrey Isaac Ehrlich

From the Trial Consultant’s Seat
Maximize the impact of your cross-examination
These tips on cross-examination can help you to persuade the jury to see things your way.
Noelle C. Nelson, Ph.D.

 

Another look at how to treat the witness in cross-examination
Why confrontation should be firm, but never vicious.
Katherine James

Commentary and Opinion
Letters to the Editor
A few more of our readers offer responses to columnist Gary Gwilliam’s take on the differences between men and women in resolving cases.

Cocktail party talking points: Are medical malpractice suits out of control?
Here’s ammunition to use when you get into a debate at the next cocktail party.
Robert Eisele and Stephanie Eisele