1987 | 1988 | 1989 |
1991 | 1992 | 1993 |
1994 | 1995 | 1996 |
1997 | 1998 |
1999 | 2000
| 2001 | 2002 | 2003
| 2004 | 2005 |
2006 | 2007 |
2008 |
2009 | 2010 |
2011 | 2012 |
2013 | 2014 |
2016 | 2017 |
2018
Return to Media References Main Page
92/02/29: "Forget hardball, it's softball the lawyers want," Austin-American
Statesman (regarding "Looking For A New Place To Practice? The 10 Best Cities for
Lawyers" in American Bar Association Journal)
92/08/00: "A (admittedly unscientific) survey," Attorneys Marketing Report,
at 1 (regarding "Looking For A New Place To Practice? The 10 Best Cities for
Lawyers" in American Bar Association Journal)
92/08/25: "Graphics and Visualization: Drawing on All Your Resources," New
York Law Journal (use of computers in litigation) (note that this article contains
several misinterpretations of my statements):
"Lawrence E. Savell, a litigation associate at Chadbourne & Parke in New York,
expressed concerns about the propriety and impact of computerized visuals in civil cases.
He cited the fact that historically jurors were witnesses to an event.
Through the use of modern graphical presentations, he said they are 'coming full circle'
to this perspective as graphics are becoming a modus in modern jurisprudence to
approximate the position of the person whose conduct is being assessed. For example,
a simulation of a crash enables panel members to become visual witnesses to the incident.
"One of Mr. Savell's major concerns is that computer visuals, no matter how
impressive, must ultimately aid the finder of fact in clarifying the events at issue.
In this regard, while a number of courts generally favor permitting the
introduction of new forms of evidence, parties in such cases must strictly comply with all
applicable state and federal evidentiary standards to insure accuracy, relevance and
fairness. Mr. Savell said that evolving interpretations of these evidentiary
requirements will continue to keep pace with rapid changes in technology.
"He also advised diligence in matters where the litigants' stature and resources
are plainly disparate. For instance, if mega-company A is suing small startup B, A
should carefully consider the equities in relying upon costly whiz bang graphics when B
lacks sufficient resources to analyze A's evidence properly or prepare comparable graphic
support. This is to avoid the likelihood that jurors will perceive this as even more
of a David v. Goliath (citations omitted) situation than they otherwise would have.
"Mr. Savell attributed the growth of graphics in litigation to the plummeting
costs of hardware and software, the emergence of specialists to prepare presentations, and
vendors' responsiveness to litigators' technical needs. More importantly, he pointed
out that while television is centrally important in people's lives and raises their
expectations for visual quality, current technology can readily reproduce the same caliber
of appearance in court. However, he cautioned that litigators must balance their
visuals between appearing 'too slick' as opposed to 'too sophisticated,' to avoid
alienating jurors with technical overkill.
"Moreover, for lawyers relying on visuals to support their own expert's testimony,
Mr. Savell strongly recommended extensive rehearsals with the expert using the display.
Preparation insures the expert a comfort with the technology and avoids potentially
damaging cross examination by opposing counsel about 'how it works.'"
92/12/16: "Holiday Cards: Santa's Elves Vs. Humbugs," The New York Times,
at C1, C10 (available in LEXIS-NEXIS News Library) (unusual holiday cards):
"It's doubtful that anyone can surpass in innovation the greetings sent by
Lawrence Savell, a senior associate in the Manhattan law firm of Chadbourne &
Parke.
Five years ago, Mr. Savell had an audiocassette made that featured him playing the guitar
and singing his own composition called 'I Dreamed I Saw Santa Workin' in the Library' (law
library, that is). The next year he increased the number of original compositions to two,
one of them called 'It's Going to Be a Billable Christmas.' He then moved on to a video,
and this year it's a musical video called 'In a Holidaze.' The videos, which cost about
$1,000, go to 250 to 300 friends, family members, colleagues and 'people I meet on
planes.'
"'They're not overly professional,' he said, 'but they're pretty impressive for a
lawyer.'"
| 