Blog — Karen Koehler

Posts in Trial Life

Keep your head to the sky

Keep your head to the sky

Judges don't like it when us attorneys can't stop bickering. They are irritated by having to deal with our exchanges of snipes, digs and downright insults.

Last month after a trial ended, two jurors followed me down to the courthouse lobby. They wanted to talk about what happened. Both commented on how impressed they were that the attorneys acted in a civil manner. Sure we disagreed with each other and objected and there were tense moments. But we were not overly disrespectful like the lawyers they saw on television. They appreciated that.

Trial Life, Tips for AttorneysKaren KoehlerApril 18, 2017jury, pick your battles

Life after trial

Life after trial

I believe that lawyers take too much credit when a trial is won and too much responsibility when a trial is lost.

Of course this is our j.o.b. We are in it to win it. Our client's well being is our number one top absolute priority. And regardless of the reasons why sometimes we cannot convince the judge or jury of our position - it totally bites when we lose.

Trial Life, Tips for AttorneysKaren KoehlerNovember 22, 2016lawyer life

48 Hours

48 Hours

4:30   Slide sideways out of bed. Do everything necessary to get out of house.
5:15     Drop Nala off at downtown dog lounge.
5:45     Arrive at SeaTac. Park. Walk. Get thru security. Wait. Board.
7:00    Lift off. Eat lemon luna bar.  Pull up P case on ipad. Exhibits have been loaded into Trialpad. Scroll through them. Nod off. Child kicks seat. Get back to work. Eat too many grapes.

Trial Life, Lawyer as HumanKaren KoehlerOctober 29, 2016lawyer schedule, courthouse

The day voir dire didn't start 'til 4:00: and an updated voir dire do's an don'ts list

The day voir dire didn't start 'til 4:00: and an updated voir dire do's an don'ts list

Trial day 1:

Instead of doing her usual acrobatic routine, Nala is curled up around my feet. On the little rug in front of the sink. I glance up at the little crystal clock on the shelf. It says 6:10 which means it is 7:10 since the clocks sprang forward Sunday. Haven’t changed it yet. The mental math keeps me sharp. Or so I tell myself.

Trial LifeKaren KoehlerMarch 28, 2016voir dire, trial diaries

Dear Karen - Do you wear suits to trial, if not what's your typical "trialwear"

Dear Karen - Do you wear suits to trial, if not what's your typical "trialwear"

A male news anchor from Australia wore the same suit every day for a year - changing his shirt and tie - and no one noticed. He did this to prove a point after becoming frustrated with the constant criticisms levied by the public against his female co-anchor's appearance.

"No one has noticed; no one gives a s**t. But women, they wear the wrong colour and they get pulled up. Women are judged much more harshly and keenly for what they do, what they say and what they wear."

Tips for Attorneys, Trial LifeKaren KoehlerJuly 16, 2015lawyer style, women

Argument by iphone

Argument by iphone

Alarm goes off. Am already conscious. Tissues surround me. Am ill.

Have to be in court by 8:45. Go through the motions. Get there in time. Judge S is late. We are set to argue before a jury trial starts at 9. They are at the voir dire phase. The prosecutor and defender are chatting.

Trial LifeKaren KoehlerMarch 17, 2015tech for lawyers

Yakkie the Goose: Direct exam of an eye witness

Yakkie the Goose: Direct exam of an eye witness

The defense is bringing in a memory expert from back east. To say the surviving brother's memory is not real.

This is an asbestos-mesothelioma trial. The exposure happened in the 1970s. The only witnesses who can identify the product are the brother (who was then eight) and the deceased.

Trial LifeKaren KoehlerNovember 7, 2014direct exam, experts, wrongful death

When children testify: Direct Exam of a 10 year old son in his father's wrongful death case

When children testify: Direct Exam of a 10 year old son in his father's wrongful death case

Children may be scared to testify in a trial. But being on a witness stand can also be empowering for them. They are having their day in court. They are participating in an integral part of our country's foundational structure. They are helping the process of determining the truth.

Trial LifeKaren KoehlerOctober 28, 2014direct exam, wrongful death

Cross exam of the expert - why jab when you can stab.

Cross exam of the expert - why jab when you can stab.

Prologue:

Shellie: I'm addicted to Drop Dead Diva. You were right.
K3: I know - isn't it entertaining.
Shellie: Who would have thought.
K3: It is such a ludicrous concept, but executed so brilliantly.
Shellie: I love how she flicks her hair over her shoulder when she scores a point.
K3: You get the case in the morning and try it in the afternoon.

Tips for Attorneys, Trial LifeKaren KoehlerSeptember 2, 2014cross examination

Trial diary excerpt: The case of the chunk

Trial diary excerpt: The case of the chunk

This trial diary excerpt is from 2011 King County Superior Court.

Trial day 1

Am not smiling as leave the courtroom. Judge Hill has just chewed me out. All my energy is turning inward. Breathe in. Breath out. Walk down the stairs to the car. And leave.

Trial LifeKaren KoehlerAugust 27, 2014voir dire, trial diaries

And on the tenth day, the Court declared a mistrial...

And on the tenth day, the Court declared a mistrial...

Tomorrow we were supposed to be giving closing arguments.
Instead, today the Court sent everyone home.
Can't write about what exactly happened. This case is going to be tried again.
But can tell you what it's like to have a Judge say they're granting a defense motion for mistrial.
This is the third time I've had the experience.

Trial LifeKaren KoehlerApril 22, 2014mistrial

Ellie - the courthouse dog

Ellie - the courthouse dog

Am resting on a sandy beach somewhere nice and warm. Every so often someone gives me a tasty little treat and a sip of ice water. The breeze gently rustles my fur. Seagulls caw in the background.

Ellie – time to wake up, she says.

Trial LifeKaren KoehlerApril 16, 2014direct exam, courthouse

Damages Opening Statement: catastrophic brain injury case

Damages Opening Statement: catastrophic brain injury case

Both sides used extensive demonstrative exhibits during opening. Basically we agreed that I could use what I wanted so long as they could use what they wanted.

The transcript is not very accurate (understatement). The courtroom was video recorded. If we wanted a quick transcript, at the end of the day the bailiff would copy the recordings and provided them to a court reporter. The reporter would then transcribe from the videos with only moderate success.

Trial LifeKaren KoehlerFebruary 25, 2014brain injury, opening statement

The angry juror: a trial diary story

The angry juror: a trial diary story

This excerpt is from a 2012 trial.

Trial day 2

Arrive early to get everything set up for opening. The Prolumina (tech) guy is there to run everything for Nick the defense lawyer. He is playing with our big tv. We are chit chatting and my computer won’t boot up. Are you kidding me. Hard start it. Nothing. Not panicked at all. Which sounds ridiculous. Should be hyperventillating.

Trial LifeKaren KoehlerOctober 22, 2013opening statement, trial diaries

Tips for attorneys: direct exam of a daughter

Tips for attorneys: direct exam of a daughter

This is a trial diary excerpt from 2011:

Four more witnesses testify – but only want to talk about one of them. The 38 year old daughter.

How do you turn a witness into someone a jury will connect with. Well, for starters you stop believing you have magical persuasive powers. Presenting a family member means getting out of the way so they can show their love. It means creating a safe place. It means embracing the human condition. Not in a data collecting, data spouting lawyerly way.

Tips for Attorneys, Trial LifeKaren KoehlerSeptember 6, 2013direct exam, witness, trial diaries

The joys of trying a case...at the last moment: a trial diary story

The joys of trying a case...at the last moment: a trial diary story

This morning am in a bright red ruffled shirt with the obligatory black. Here is my confession. Want to wear an old favorite pair of heeled Franco Sarto boots. They will look great with the outfit. There is just one catch. You see, they have been up on the back top shelf patiently waiting for me to take them to the repair shop. For over a year. The toes are a bit pointed and the soles have partially rubbed off at the tips. Looking up at them as they hang over the shelf, you can see the white rubbed away part. No holes. Not quite. But still a bit shoddy. Yet they would be perfect. So (and this is the confession part), pull down the boots. Pull out a black magic marker. Scribble all the white away. And presto. The outfit is now complete.

Trial LifeKaren KoehlerJuly 23, 2013car accident, personal injury

How Allstate made the jurors wait to start...for over 6 hours: a trial diary story

How Allstate made the jurors wait to start...for over 6 hours: a trial diary story

Trial day 1

Instead of doing her usual acrobatic routine, Nala is curled up around my feet. On the little rug in front of the sink. I glance up at the little crystal clock on the shelf. It says 6:10 which means it is 7:10 since the clocks sprang forward Sunday. Haven’t changed it yet. The mental math keeps me sharp. Or so I tell myself.

Trial LifeKaren KoehlerJune 6, 2013insurance, trial diaries, voir dire

Trial Cross of a defense neurosurgeon: using paper cups, water and a raincoat

Trial Cross of a defense neurosurgeon: using paper cups, water and a raincoat

Prologue: Plaintiff had back surgery. She had returned to work only just the past week, when she was hit hard by a bad driver. Ultimately she needed a second surgery due to the crash. The bad driver admitted fault and her company paid. But she didn't have enough insurance. So our client, Ms. P made a claim under her Underinsured Motorist Policy. Which is what you are supposed to do. Allstate, her insurance company, required her to sue them as that is what the UIM policy says has to happen. Ms. P sued Allstate. Then went thru Mandatory Arbitration. But Allstate didn't like the verdict so they appealed it and forced a jury trial. Their main witness was Dr. Blue, a retired neurosurgeon. During the direct exam, he tells the jury that Ms. P's additional problems after the crash, are related to her pre-existing conditions that had been mildly strained. He says her second surgery wasn't related to the crash.

Trial LifeKaren KoehlerApril 21, 2013cross examination, trial diaries, witness, experts

Say hi to my daughter: the tale of a grumpy Allstate lawyer

Say hi to my daughter: the tale of a grumpy Allstate lawyer

This is an excerpt from my trial diary day 3. In most car crash cases, the jury is never told about insurance. This old rule makes no sense in our current world. This case is brought against Allstate for failure to pay an underinsured motorist claim (UIM). The person who hit M did not have enough insurance. They paid what they had. Now M seeks to recover the balance from her own UIM coverage. Allstate has a "sue us" clause in their policy. This means, if they don't agree to pay the UIM claim, they force their own insureds to file a lawsuit. This is what happens here.

Trial LifeKaren KoehlerMarch 18, 2013insurance, trial diaries

Excerpt of opening statement from a traumatic brain injury case

Excerpt of opening statement from a traumatic brain injury case

We used a ton of visuals in this case. Opening was filled with animations, blow up charts, video, and story boards. In this brief excerpt you can hear what was said to weave in all the images. As with all transcripts, I leave in all the typos as well as all my word flubs. I say "you know" too much. That's for sure.

Trial LifeKaren KoehlerMarch 11, 2013brain injury, opening statement