Top 10 reasons why generic fake blog photos suck
Top 10 reasons why generic fake blog photos suck

Bloggers are told one of the best ways to capture audience attention is to use a cool photo.

Yeah.  That'll do it.   After all a picture is worth a thousand words.

Here's how it plays out.  You are surfing the internet.  Voila.  You see a shiny brand new professionally done photo of a big truck driving down the road.  That definitely captures your interest so you click on the photo which is part of a blog that is talking about dangerous trucks.  And then by clicking on that blog you end up attached to a lawyer's website.  And now you can hire them.  Or at least think about hiring them if in the future you get hit by a truck.

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Karen Koehlerwriting
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.

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Karen Koehlerinsurance, trial diaries, voir dire
Mistrial - book review
Mistrial - book review

Good trial lawyers tell pretty good stories.

Mistrial by Mark Geragos and Pat Harris is a nonfiction book of pretty good short stories tied together with a more lofty agenda: addressing  the institutional erosion of the defense of reasonable doubt.

Here are the good things about the book:  It is written in a punchy attention grabbing style and the stories are of the sensational variety.   Both lawyers know what they're talking about.

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Karen Koehlerbook review
Dealing with Death Wednesday - a tirade
Dealing with Death Wednesday - a tirade

Yesterday night Noelle didn't come home.  I worried about her.  Even though I figured she was staying at her friend Leda's house.  Noelle is 19.  Old enough to think that she doesn't have to check in every single minute of the day with me.  I have a hard time with that. Cristina and Alysha, her older sisters, know that 19 is not my magic cut off number.  Because I still call them and ask where they are every single day as well.

Today am working on two different cases where two kids Noelle's age, didn't come home ever again.  Here's the story of one of them.

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Karen Koehlercar accident, insurance, wrongful death
Pollyanna goes to business school: Lawyernomics 2013
Pollyanna goes to business school: Lawyernomics 2013

Back when I was an  defense lawyer, this is how the firm got business.  The partners golfed with, rubbed shoulders at clubs with, went golfing and to four star dinners with insurance and corporate key persons.  The firm maintained these relationships and periodically was able to build a new relationship with yet another company.  These relationships could last for decades.

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Karen Koehlerlegal marketing, lawyer seminar
Diary of a mediation in Spokane
Diary of a mediation in Spokane

The alarm is ringing.  Try to ignore it, but know cannot.  Look at the phone/clock and it is 4:30.  As in a.m.  Put on ugly red glasses.  Only wear them when no one can see me.  Like now.  Lie there til 4:45.  Finally jump up because  have to make a plane.  Open the drapes.  There is a gigantic full moon that seems to be shining a path across puget sound right into my bedroom.

Rush around. Put on black clothing.  Tell Nala to get up.  Out the door.  Drop her at doggie daycare.  Make it to the airport by 6.  Stand in sluggish security line.  Even the special Spokane shuttle line is clogged.  No worries.  Have time to get a scone and bottle of water from D'Lish.

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Karen Koehlerlawyer life, lawyer schedule, traveling lawyer, mediation
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.

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Karen Koehlercross examination, trial diaries, witness, experts
The 4 lamest words used to conduct direct exam of a fact witness
The 4 lamest words used to conduct direct exam of a fact witness

Drive up to the gate.  Pay $15 for a parking pass.  Drive 100 feet forward and turn left.  Find a space and park.  Am barefoot.  Slip on shoes.  Exit car.  Walk around the side of the building.  Open the doors.  Am now inside the UW school of law.    Head down the hallway to room 138.  Open the door.  It's a big theater styled space.  Walk down the stairs to the front.  Give Bill Bailey a hug.  He’s a full time professor there for now.  This is the big lecture class for the trial advocacy program.

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Karen Koehlerdirect exam, teaching, witness