The Roundtable is the simplest way to find out -- fairly and objectively -- how real people respond to the claims in a high-stakes lawsuit.  The cost of a standard Roundtable in most jurisdictions is $12,000.

The Roundtable is easy. An informed paralegal can prepare the facts, documents, testimony and feedback questions using a pattern Juror Packet we have created from past Roundtables.

First Court conducts the Roundtable by videoconference, using six live jurors in the trial venue. You discover, in several real-time feedback sessions, how real jurors respond to the key arguments in your case. You get six individual verdicts, written answers to your key questions from each juror, a sixty minute deliberation, one group verdict, all the juror notes, extensive background information on the juror demographics, and a recording of the entire four hour proceeding.

Preparation

You call us at (701)-400-7727.  We cover the topics on the Checklist. We will then send you a model Juror Packet for organizing your documents, testimony and feedback questions.

Jurors

As part of the Checklist your trial team tells us the kind of jurors that typically serve in your venue. We recruit jurors to fit the bill: six average citizens from the trial venue to spend four hours in a conference center.  Before they serve, the potential jurors go to our jury recruiting website to answer questions about their attitudes and backgrounds.   See a sample of this at www.privatejury.com.  To get a more personal feel for each potential juror we then interview the best candidates on the telephone. The interviews cover the topics that concern you. We pay each serving juror around $200.

Roundtable Direction

With the help of a local hostess from the conference center, First Court moderates the Roundtable session by videoconference, saving you a great deal of travel time and money.

Openings

After a brief introduction, we give the jurors a Statement of Basic Facts, and ask for their feedback. The feedback consists of written comments to the questions you approved, and a conversation in which we solicit the jurors’ comments and questions in real time.
We suggest that you allow our studio advocates to videotape the Opening Arguments for each side. There is a small added cost for this extra service, but today’s jurors are very comfortable watching people argue on a TV screen. Video arguments add emotional impact to the Roundtable, and help each party’s case come alive.

First Evidentiary Session

We then present arguments and evidence on issue A, followed by feedback. Here you can address liability issues. You can address causation. You can show pictures and animations. You can present a battle of the experts, either through dueling Affidavits, witness summaries, or through videotape. We then gather written and oral feedback on issue A.

Second Evidentiary Session

Same again for issue B. Here you can present evidence from both sides on damages.  Day-in-the-Life video.  Competing Life Care plans.  Economist testimony.

Closing Summary

Here we typically show videotape of lawyers arguing the case for both sides. We like to see the attorneys give the jurors a summary of how each side wants them to complete the Verdict form, and why. We can also read to them a couple of the most critical jury instructions. We then ask each juror to complete an Individual Verdict form. Finally, we give the foreperson a group Verdict form, and ask them to reach a unanimous Verdict.

Report

The entire four hour Roundtable is video recorded for your review. You will receive all the documents generated by the jurors, including written answers to your key questions, the recorded  feedback sessions, six individual verdicts (completed before the group deliberation), a 60 minute group deliberation, one group verdict, and extensive background information on each juror.  You have the option of ordering a more detailed Report, including our analysis of the Roundtable and our suggestions for strengthening your case, after the Roundtable is over.