1. Welcome to Today’s Webinar!
Our presentation ~
MEDIATION ADVOCACY:
PUTTING THE POWER
IN POWERPOINT
is scheduled to begin at 10 a.m.
Please Stand By
2. Upchurch Watson
White & Max
is proud to sponsor
today’s Webinar,
“Mediation Advocacy:
Putting the Power in
PowerPoint” with the
University of Florida
Levin College of Law
Institute for Dispute
Resolution.
May 7, 2013
Mediation Advocacy: Putting the Power
in PowerPoint
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3. Mediation Advocacy: Putting
the Power in PowerPoint
With Sandra C. Upchurch
of Upchurch Watson White & Max
and Edward H. Thompson
of Seipp, Flick & Hosley, LLP
4. PowerPoint
WHEN TO USE IT
May 7, 2013
Mediation Advocacy: Putting the Power
in PowerPoint
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5. Common formats for the
mediation opening statement
Purely verbal presentation
Verbal presentation with
“old school” visual aids
Video production
Multimedia presentation with
electronic presentation program
(PowerPoint)
May 7, 2013
Mediation Advocacy: Putting the Power
in PowerPoint
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7. PowerPoint
WHY TO USE IT
May 7, 2013
Mediation Advocacy: Putting the Power
in PowerPoint
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8. Why PowerPoint?
Easy, economical, flexible.
Effectively communicate your message.
Lawyer can adjust tone, content, and
pace according to circumstances.
Essential for telephonic/web-based
mediations.
Showcases your skills.
May 7, 2013
Mediation Advocacy: Putting the Power
in PowerPoint
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10. Why use PowerPoint?
The mediator’s perspective:
It’s your only opportunity to address and
persuade opposing party – don’t waste it.
To help explain
something better –
sometimes a picture
is worth a thousand
words.
May 7, 2013
Mediation Advocacy: Putting the Power
in PowerPoint
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11. Effective uses of PowerPoint
The mediator’s perspective:
Deposition testimony
Timelines
Photographs
Maps
Diagrams
Jury forms/instructions
Verdict form
May 7, 2013
Mediation Advocacy: Putting the Power
in PowerPoint
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12. Why Use PowerPoint?
THE LITIGATOR’S
PERSPECTIVE
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in PowerPoint
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13. HYPOTHETICAL CASE:
DOE V. STARCAR CORP.
Auto Products Liability/
Crashworthiness Defect Allegation
May 7, 2013
Mediation Advocacy: Putting the Power
in PowerPoint
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14. Part 1:
Setting the tone with
the opposing party
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in PowerPoint
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16. Mediation
May 7, 2013
Privileged & Confidential
JOHN DOE V. STARCAR
CORPORATION
May 7, 2013
Mediation Advocacy: Putting the Power
in PowerPoint
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17. THIS CASE IS NOT ABOUT
SYMPATHY
StarCar deeply regrets that Mr. Doe was
injured
However:
StarCar didn’t cause crash
StarCar didn’t cause injuries
Juries understand: sympathy does not
equal liability
May 7, 2013
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in PowerPoint
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18. PLAINTIFF’S BURDEN OF
PROOF
You must prove that the subject StarCar
Sedan was:
Defective and
Unreasonably dangerous and
Defect caused Mr. Doe’s injuries
Unanimous verdict required
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19. FIRST QUESTION THE JURY
WILL ANSWER:
WAS THERE A DEFECT IN THE
SUBJECT STARCAR SEDAN THAT WAS
A CAUSE OF THE PLAINTIFF’S
INJURIES?
__ YES
__ NO
May 7, 2013
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in PowerPoint
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20. IF THE ANSWER TO THE FIRST
QUESTION IS “NO”…
…then the verdict is for StarCar and the jury
will not answer any questions about
damages
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in PowerPoint
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21. Subliminal Messages
to the Opposing Party
PART 1 CONTINUED:
SETTING THE TONE
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in PowerPoint
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22. Subliminal Messages to
Opposing Party
I KNOW YOU’RE
ANGRY AND
HURTING
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in PowerPoint
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23. Subliminal Messages to
Opposing Party
MY CLIENT ISN’T THE
REASON WHY
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in PowerPoint
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24. Subliminal Messages to
Opposing Party
MY CLIENT WILL
SETTLE FOR A
REASONABLE
AMOUNT TODAY
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Mediation Advocacy: Putting the Power
in PowerPoint
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25. Subliminal Messages to
Opposing Party
OR WIN A DEFENSE
VERDICT AT TRIAL
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in PowerPoint
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26. Subliminal Messages to
Opposing Party
SO PLEASE BE
REASONABLE
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in PowerPoint
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27. Part 2:
Getting opposing counsel’s
attention
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in PowerPoint
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28. Getting opposing counsel’s
attention
(or the attention of the
sophisticated opposing party)
PART 2
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in PowerPoint
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30. YOU’VE HIT MY CLIENT
HARD IN THE PAST
BUT THIS TIME YOUR
CASE IS LOUSY
AND YOU KNOW IT
AND I KNOW IT
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in PowerPoint
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31. AND MY CLIENT
KNOWS IT
AND YOUR CLIENT IS
ABOUT TO KNOW IT
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in PowerPoint
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32. AND IF YOU REALLY
BELIEVE OTHERWISE,
WATCH THIS
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in PowerPoint
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33. MR. DOE
CLAIMS VEHICLE WAS DEFECTIVE
BECAUSE IT FAILED TO PROTECT
HIM IN CRASH
CLAIMS HE WAS GOING 30 MPH
CLAIMS HE WAS WEARING HIS
SEATBELT
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in PowerPoint
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34. EVIDENCE SHOWS
VEHICLE WAS NOT
DEFECTIVE
MR. DOE WAS DRIVING HIS
VEHICLE AT LEAST 80 MPH
MR. DOE WAS NOT WEARING
HIS SEAT BELT
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in PowerPoint
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36. EVIDENCE SHOWS
VEHICLE WAS NOT
DEFECTIVE
CONSIDER STARCAR SEDAN’S
NATIONAL TRIAL RECORD:
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37. EVIDENCE SHOWS
VEHICLE WAS NOT
DEFECTIVE
CONSIDER STARCAR SEDAN’S
NATIONAL TRIAL RECORD:
40
DEFENSE VERDICTS
10 PLAINTIFF’S VERDICTS
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in PowerPoint
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38. EVIDENCE SHOWS
MR. DOE WAS DRIVING HIS
VEHICLE AT LEAST 80 MPH
PHYSICAL EVIDENCE
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in PowerPoint
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39. EVIDENCE SHOWS
MR. DOE WAS NOT WEARING
HIS SEATBELT
PHYSICAL EVIDENCE
EYEWITNESS TESTIMONY
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in PowerPoint
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40. WHAT HAPPENED
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41. CRASH AT INTERSECTION
OF US 17 AND US 92
Plaintiff traveling westbound on US 92
toward intersection with US 17
Citrus carrier northbound on US 17
slowly rolls through red light
Plaintiff enters intersection and
collides with side of citrus carrier
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in PowerPoint
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43. PHYSICAL EVIDENCE
DOES NOT LIE
CRASH DAMAGE PROVES
VEHICLE SPEED WAS AT
LEAST 80 MPH AT IMPACT.
STARCAR TESTED THIS
MODEL VEHICLE IN A 30
MPH FRONTAL BARRIER
CRASH TEST.
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in PowerPoint
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45. SUBJECT VEHICLE AFTER 80 MPH
CRASH WITH CITRUS TRUCK
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in PowerPoint
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46. PHYSICAL EVIDENCE
DOES NOT LIE, cont.
CONDITION
OF DRIVER’S
SEATBELT SYSTEM PROVES
MR. DOE WAS NOT
WEARING HIS SEATBELT
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in PowerPoint
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53. Mary Roe Deposition
taken 12/17/12, page 60
Q. Did you see a seatbelt on the driver?
A. No.
Q. Did you unbuckle any seatbelt?
A. No.
Q. Did you cut any seatbelt off of him?
A. No.
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in PowerPoint
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54. PowerPoint advocacy to the
mediator and via the mediator
PART 3
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in PowerPoint
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55. Advocacy to the mediator
Deliver
a separate PowerPoint
presentation to mediator rather than to
opposing party and counsel.
Builds credibility with mediator.
Encourages mediator to beat up on
your opponent, not you!
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in PowerPoint
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56. Advocacy via the mediator
Deliver
opening statement PowerPoint
presentation to mediator rather than to
opposing party and counsel.
Mediator modulates message to
opponents according to circumstances.
Avoids conflict, promotes settlement.
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in PowerPoint
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57. PowerPoint: How to use it
Outline your speech first; then create your
PowerPoint
Consider sharing it in advance of
mediation
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in PowerPoint
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58. Some great PowerPoint tips
www.youtube.com/watch?v=MjcO2ExtHso
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in PowerPoint
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59. More PowerPoint tips
Emphasis should be what you are saying and how you are saying
it not the PowerPoint
No animation
Never turn your back on your audience
Go to black slide if no slide related to point you are making
Don’t exaggerate or overstate
You do not need a slide for every point you are making
Slides should be consistent with color, font, format, etc…
Always arrive early to test equipment
Call facility in advance to be sure equipment available
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in PowerPoint
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61. MEDIATION
ADVOCACY:
PUTTING THE
POWER IN
POWERPOINT
THANK YOU FOR JOINING US!
Course #
1302767N
Edward H. Thompson
1.5 C.L.E.R.
Sandra C. Upchurch
EThompson@seippflick.com
supchurch@uww-adr.com
407-804-6201
800-264-2622
www.law.ufl.edu/academics/
institutes/idr
Robin Davis, Director
davisr@law.ufl.edu
uww-adr.com