Legal Video Insights
HOW Making a Video in a Wrongful Death Case Counts and WHY the Case Settled for $3.8 Million
“She was the light and life of our family” said Jessica Thomas’ brother upon reflection of his twin sister. A Life Cut Short: Jessica Thomas was a single woman just one day shy of her 40th birthday when her life was tragically cut short in a serious motor vehicle crash with a tractor trailer that […]
How was Video used in $37.6 Million Twins Med Mal Case? Like this…
Judge Awards $37.6 Million in Med Mal Case – The State’s Second Ever Largest Monetary Award For Medical Malpractice “All four plaintiffs (the parents and twins) have suffered injuries as a result of the defendant’s negligence” wrote Superior Court Judge Mark Taylor of this case. “I think the judge found in favor of our side […]
Attorney sets the Record Straight using Video Traffic Forensics
Security cameras can be found almost everywhere, and a surveillance recording capturing an accident makes for a compelling piece of evidence. But what happens when a key piece of the story happens just outside the frame? The victim of traffic accident came to Attorney David Leff, with an unfortunate story. He sustained serious injuries when […]
Video Proves Effective Prescription for Polypharmacy Opiate Abuse Case
There’s an art, and a science, in telling a compelling true-life story on camera. On the one hand you need to get the facts and figures, the names, places, and circumstances that address the events in question. On the other hand, you need to capture the emotion, the intention, to portray the real and genuine […]
Capture the Recovery with a Day in the Life Video
What makes a Day in the Life Documentary video such a powerful piece of evidence in personal injury litigation? More than any other reason perhaps is the fact that it not only captures the extent of the damages suffered by the plaintiff, but, done over time, can chronicle recovery. There is nothing more compelling than […]
Preparing to Produce your Day in the Life Documentary
The Day in the Life Documentary video production is an essential piece of evidence in personal injury litigation. Preparing a successful and compelling Day in the Life Documentary, while still considering the rules of evidence takes careful planning and a skilled video production crew. Before discussing your Day in the Life Documentary video production, you […]
Trials Will Resume On… (are you ready with your digital litigation tools?)
Recently on their CTLA podcast, “Pod Ipsa Loquitur,” Mike Walsh and John Kennedy talked with Chief Administrative Judge for Civil Matters Judge Jim Abrams about the reopening of Connecticut courts in the face of the COVID-19 pandemic. Will the courts be opening in November as Connecticut Chief Justice Robinson suggested recently in the Hartford Courant? […]
“Like Lighting a Match”
“It’s like lighting a match,” said attorney Dale P. Faulkner of Faulkner and Graves, discussing how the pre-existing osteoarthritis condition lay dormant in his client. “The fear of an impending broadside crash caused him to grip the steering wheel so tightly as to cause a flare up in the joints in his hands. He knew […]
Air Space Condominium: The CT Supreme Court Made it Legal, Video Makes it Understandable!
The creation of an Air Space Condominium in Connecticut is a legal structure that gives developers, investors, banks and property owners a way to maximize return on property investment, offer future liquidity and flexibility and, where banks and lenders are concerned, can help with restructuring and modifications of loans supported by distressed real estate assets. […]
Don’t Miss this Powerful Zoom Feature
Zoom’s most under-utilized feature: On-screen presentation of exhibits Presenting on-screen exhibits during remote video depositions is a powerful feature of these applications but requires learning a complex new technology or adding a trained trial technician to your deposition. The features available are quite effective and are similar in some ways to our electronic trial presentation services or […]
Remote Video Depositions: Overcoming the Limitations and Utilizing the Features
Recording Quality: Know the Difference Many video conferencing software applications offer built in recording capabilities and it’s important to understand the quality of video you are getting with these options and the limitations they can present. While do-it-yourself Zoom recordings may appear as an easy solution they have severe limitations that make them ill-suited for high quality video […]
Remote Video Depositions Explained
Some of the changes brought about by the COVID-19 pandemic will likely not go away when things go “back to normal.” Remote recorded depositions are one of the services that you’ll find comes in handy even when social distancing becomes a distant memory. Watch our short explainer video to learn just how easy we make […]
Are You Guilty of Being “That” Zoomer?
When meeting in-person, it’s easy to set up a quiet, private place to meet one on one. Given the times we live in, finding a private corner for yourself might not be as easy to come by. When talking in front of a camera, it’s important to be aware of yourself and your surroundings. Watch […]
5 Unprofessional Video Conference Mistakes to Avoid
With video conferencing becoming an essential way to communicate between colleagues and clients, it’s important to be mindful of how you represent yourself on screen. From the expression on your face to the scenery behind you, what’s caught on camera will be reflected on the screen for others to see. When having a meeting via […]
3 Reasons Why Picture in Picture Video Depositions are Here to Stay
Improved technology means picture in picture video depositions have finally come into their own. There are many reasons why they are so effective, here are three big ones. 1. Deponent is always on camera. Even when visual evidence is presented. Picture in picture video depos use a secondary source, be it an Elmo document camera […]
Ex-insurance insider reveals why insurance companies undervalue your case and what to do about it.
Insurance adjusters use algorithms to reduce a human tragedy to cold, quantifiable data. These numbers generally determine their view of what a case is worth, and inform the offer they’re willing to make. “They’re all sad, all compelling, but they’re paper.” -Bill Ronalter Plaintiff’s attorney Bill Ronalter of Shipman and Goodwin has insider insight into […]
Attorneys Reveal How They Use Digital Tools to Win Cases
No one wants to be outmatched when it comes to their evidence presentation, but a little planning is needed to most effectively use the powerful digital tools now available. Multimedia technology has precipitated a revolution in the way evidence is conveyed to the courtroom. Video, high definition imagery, and diagrammatic graphics allow us to paint a clearer […]
Medical Malpractice – Early Mediation – Know When to Show Them
Sometimes it makes sense to show your cards as quickly as possible, and save everybody’s time. This was the decision Attorney Pam Cameron, of Moore, O’Brien & Foti arrived at recently as she brought a medical malpractice case to mediation. This was a tragic case of an expectant mother who desired a home birth, only […]
Update: New Evidence Presented in “The Mysterious Case of Billy B”
An elderly Connecticut woman suffers from dementia and is moved into a nursing facility. Her home is left abandoned by her conservator when he moves to California. Eventually the house becomes dilapidated and the town sends the conservator a notice because the property is now violating a blight ordinance, but there is no follow up. […]
Dueling Animations
Geomatrix recently worked with Westport attorney Jeffrey S. Bagnell to out-gun SIG Sauer, Inc, one of the world’s largest gunmakers, in a product liability lawsuit in U.S. District Court in Virginia. Bagnell originally filed the $10 million suit in federal court in April 2018 against the gunmaker after Loudoun County Virginia Sheriff’s Department officer Marcie […]
How to Help an Insurance Adjuster Sell Your Case
Attorney Joseph G. Walsh wants to give the insurance adjusters looking at his cases as much help as possible. For nearly thirty years, Walsh, of Cohen and Wolf, P.C. in Danbury, Connecticut has been helping obtain appropriate compensation by trial or settlement for his clients. For many of these cases he’s counted on a strategy […]
Maximizing Non-Economic Damages in a Wrongful Death Case
Calculating economic damages is pretty clear cut. Lost wages and loss of future earning capacity is a mathematical equation. The figure arrived at is hard to dispute. Non-economic damages are much more subjective and require a completely different approach in order to ensure fair compensation. Dave Kritzman of Beck & Eldergill recently shared his experiences […]
The 60 Million Dollar Men
Shipman and Goodwin attorneys, Jim Bergenn and Bill Ronalter use video as a tool to reach a settlement on every significant case. According to Ronalter: “I think for attorneys that handle larger cases catastrophic injury and death cases, if they’re not doing some type of video, I think they’re missing the boat. Without question you’ve […]
Three Pronged Legal-Video Strategy Leads to Successful Mediation of Fall-Down Case
The litigation-video “toolbox” has a variety of powerful tools available to lawyers. Top attorneys know what is available and when to use each one for maximum effect. Attorney (and mediator) John Kennedy, of Kennedy, Johnson, Schwab & Roberge recently planned a triangulated video offensive in an attempt to bring about a successful outcome for a […]
Halloween Horror Story Humanizes Case with Video and Reaps Rewards
“I thought I lost her that day. I thought she was going to die.” (Plaintiff’s husband) In 2015, a Halloween outing turned into a real-life horror story for a West Haven woman and her family. After stopping at a popular Newtown restaurant for lunch, it wasn’t long before the active grandmother’s life was turned upside […]
$32 million Jury Award In Swimming Injury Case
In a lawsuit on behalf of an Iraq War veteran who was paralyzed in a swimming accident, a video produced by Geomatrix Productions helped the plaintiffs win an unparalleled jury award for a personal injury premises liability case in Rhode Island. On the weekend of July 25, 2014, Connecticut residents Brett and Stacie Smith were […]
$13.5 million Settlement Includes $1.5 million for Loss of Parental Consortium
Gayle Sullivan and Charles Price of McEnery Price Messey & Sullivan talked with us about a case they settled for $13.5 million. They shared insights into the use of a legal settlement video and the decision to bring a loss of parental consortium claim in the case. Gayle Sullivan, Esq: Our client Allison Vandermaelen got […]
Case Study: $3.8 Million Settlement for Family of Retired Grandmother
Michael Jainchill, Esq. – RisCassi & Davis: “The Janet Pulver case resolved through a mediation. Judge Elaine Gordon was our mediator. What made Janet Pulver perfect for video really had to do with the nature of the loss that was suffered in that particular case. Ordinarily in a wrongful death case you have somebody who […]
Settlement Video with Victim’s Family Helps Win $2.9 Million Settlement Against City of Hartford
How does an attorney convey the soul of a decedent to those responsible for deciding damages? The best possible way is to hear it directly from the loved ones of that person – the ones who can speak from the heart about a father, a son, a brother and a friend. That’s exactly what a […]
Emotional Settlement Video Brings Judge to Tears
“Scrapbooks are all we have of her now.” The haunting words spoken by a dear friend of a woman struck and killed by a car in 2015 are among many uttered by her loved ones in a emotional settlement video produced by Geomatrix Productions for the Stamford law firm of Wocl Leydon, LLC. The video […]
Case Study: Attorney Credits Settlement Video for Results that Help a Family Heal after a Devastating Crash
At a young age and into her adulthood, Kami Allen didn’t let her disease get her down. Although she was born with Osteogenesis Imperfecta, a brittle bone disorder, she was able to lead an active life, get married and have a career and children. But on the day of her accident, her life changed in […]
Case Study: In a Challenging Case, Life Altering Injuries are Brought to Light with Video
When representing plaintiffs in a personal injury case, one challenge that can arise is how to illustrate the plaintiffs’ injuries if they are currently not visible. This was the case for the law firm of Walsh Woodard LLC in West Hartford, Connecticut when they represented two young women, cousins and best friends in their twenties, […]
Case Study: Attorneys Show Belief in Clients with Compelling Video that Nets $1.325 Million Settlement
A person’s home is supposed to be a safe sanctuary. But when that sanctuary is threatened by an intruder, it may never feel the same again. In May 2015, five Salem Connecticut residents experienced the trauma of an attempted home invasion perpetrated by a mentally unstable resident of a nearby group home. The resident, who […]
New White Paper Gives Litigators Needed Tools to Gain the Edge on Digital Trials
Multimedia technology has revolutionized the way evidence is presented to judges and juries in the courtroom. But navigating this new landscape of digital trials can be confusing and cumbersome for litigators seeking to win the greatest settlements for their clients. Now, Geomatrix Productions has made this task much easier with the publication of our new […]
Case Study: Settlement Video Helps to Win $5.3 Million for Family
In May, 2016, a 74-year-old New York man and his wife were driving from New York to Connecticut in anticipation of attending their grandson’s baptism. As they rounded a bend in the road, an SUV driven by a 19-year-old male crossed the center line and struck them head-on. Their car crashed into the guardrails and […]
Case Study: Defective Highway (When 99.9 % isn’t good enough.)
Jim Bergenn, Esq. “In a defective highway case, if you are point one percent at fault you recover nothing. Most lawyers won’t take the cases. I took took one particular case where there was a bicyclist whose bike tripped over a pot-hole. He went over the handlebars, and even though he had a helmet he […]
Visualizing Liability to Influence Judgments
Is it possible that a PowerPoint presentation can make the difference between winning or losing a case? There is scientific evidence to show that PowerPoint can help achieve the desired results. According to formal studies conducted by Neil Feigenson of Quinnipiac University, and Jaiyhun Park of Baruch College[1], a well-designed PowerPoint presentation was shown to […]
Think Outside the Box – Break an Impasse – Settle a case
Great lawyers are gifted in two areas: their knowledge of the law their ability to present and persuade The rules of evidence dictate how a legal argument is presented in court. However, during pretrial, great lawyers realize they are not as restricted, and can creatively use their gift of persuasion to better represent their clients. […]
Feel the Pain, Win the Case
In the book, Experiencing Other Minds in the Courtroom, Neal Feigenson describes how the value of visual evidence is significantly impacted by who creates it, how it is made, and how it is presented. His ground-breaking research is of critical importance for personal injury lawyers today because the use of video is expanding exponentially in […]
This video helped beat the odds.
In the unfortunate event of a vehicular accident where a pedestrian is killed, it’s unlikely to consider the potential for the deceased to be at any fault. Sadly, in the case of a trucking accident this circumstance did occur. With a difficult case to both illustrate and prove the attorney turned to Geomatrix Productions to aid him […]
Portraying Pain: How a five-minute video helped grant justice for Ismael Alvarado
Ismael Alvarado’s leg had been pinned between the back end of the pickup truck and the large industrial trash compactor. He begged the driver to call 911, but she was so traumatized at the sight of the bones protruding from his shin that she collapsed in hysterics. Smearing blood across the surface of his cell […]
Five Essential Legal Video Questions Answered
She has a story - choose the right video company to tell it. Not everyone with a camera can produce a video that will stand up in court. Video prepared for litigation has the Rules of Evidence to consider. A firm that specializes in legal video production will provide a level of service far different [...]
How Do I Prepare for an Electronic Trial?
Check out the Geomatrix white paper “Litigation in the Software Age” to get an in depth understanding of how to best present your digital evidence.
How Do I Schedule a Video Deposition?
Savvy litigators are using video depositions as a powerful discovery tool. At trial, jurors rely heavily on nonverbal communication like eye contact and body language to judge the veracity of a witness, making video testimony invaluable. A video deposition is like any deposition. A court reporter is normally present to swear in the witness [...]
How Do I Edit a Video Deposition for Trial?
When playing a video deposition in court before a jury, attorneys are faced with the question of how to make redactions from the video testimony. There are several options for editing recorded deposition videos. Objections, colloquy, etc. can be dealt with in several ways. Here are three deposition editing techniques Geomatrix uses to prepare your [...]
How Do I Work With a Trial Technician?
Learning how to utilize electronic evidence such as video depositions at trial is much easier than you might expect. Directing your trial tech to an exhibit is not any harder than directing your witness to one. The difference is that everyone in the room will be able to see it, which will make questioning a [...]
How Do I Get a Deposition Synchronized?
Synchronized video depositions are a useful tool! The video and transcript will show simultaneously on the screen and the software included allows easy keyword and page/line searching. You can also create clips of pertinent sections of the deposition. These clips can be used with other witnesses With opposing or co-counsel With other experts With [...]
How Do I Play a Video Deposition in Court?
Plan Video Production Ahead of Time. Call to schedule the playback a week before your trial. In addition to helping the techs plan their schedules, it also allows time for video editing. File the Video Production Equipment Permission Form. JD-CL-90 is the form you need to file with the court in order to bring [...]
Questions to consider producing your Day in the Life Documentary
The Day in the Life Documentary video production is an essential piece of evidence in personal injury litigation. It not only captures the extent of the damages suffered by the plaintiff, but, done over time, can chronicle recovery. There is nothing more compelling than “being there” as a severely injured client struggles to learn [...]
5 Reasons Why You Should Sync Your Video Deposition
Synchronizing a video deposition to the transcript is a necessary step to enable “final hour” video edits to be done at trial. However, “syncs” are also a great tool for trial preparation. Having a sync of your party opponents and their expert witnesses allow you to identify and create relevant video clips to use for […]
Mediation, Arbitration or Settlement Programs …or, Oh No, What Do I Do Now?
Mediation, Arbitration or Settlement Programs …or, Oh No, What Do I Do Now? Cathie Reese, President of Geomatrix Productions, will be the guest speaker at the Central Connecticut Paralegal Association Dinner Meeting on Thursday, April 19 in East Windsor. She will offer insight into how Mediation, Arbitration and Settlement Programs are produced and how you [...]
Using the Video Deposition at Trial
Using the Video Deposition at Trial Video depositions have come a long way since VHS recording was the method of choice in the mid-70’s. Video depositions are often used when a witness is unavailable for trial. Edited versions are played before the jury when the Court rules in advance on objections. But that’s only one [...]
Timing the Day in the Life Documentary
Timing the Day in the Life Documentary The Day in the Life Documentary is an essential component of the personal injury lawsuit. There is no better way to illustrate damages than a well-produced video. The devastation brought upon a family when a catastrophic injury occurs should be captured soon after the incident. When years pass, [...]
Three Questions to Consider About Your Litigation Video
Three Questions to Consider About Your Litigation Video Video for use in litigation is not one size fits all. At Geomatrix, we approach every video with the unique needs of the individual case in mind. There are several line items we use in determining cost, including consultation, video recording and video editing time required to [...]
Video Helps Facilitate Settlement
Video Helps Facilitate Settlement The family of a 73-year-old man who was killed after getting hit in the head by a felled tree will collect $950,000 after settling their lawsuit against the tree company hired by the town of Simsbury, CT. Attorney John Houlihan of RisCassi and Davis noted that initially the two sides were [...]
Michael D’Amico: Words of Wisdom
Michael D'Amico: Words of Wisdom Michael A. D’Amico, Esq, of D’Amico, Griffin, and Pettinicchi, LLC talks about why he uses electronic evidence at trial. “Any case that’s worth trying is worth a good presentation of evidence.”
Michael D’Amico on Working with Electronic Trial Presentations
Michael D'Amico on Working with Electronic Trial Presentations Michael A. D’Amico, Esq, of D’Amico, Griffin, and Pettinicchi, LLC, discusses the benefits of presenting electronic media at trial. With electronic trial presentations, the only limit is your own imagination.
Michael D’Amico on Taking the Stress Out of Trial Presentations
Michael D'Amico on Taking the Stress Out of Trial Presentations Michael A. D’Amico, Esq, of D’Amico, Griffin, and Pettinicchi, LLC explains how Geomatrix Productions takes the stress out of putting together a seamless electronic trial presentation.
Michael D’Amico on Using Electronic Evidence at Trial
Michael D’Amico on Using Electronic Evidence at Trial Michael A. D’Amico, Esq, of D’Amico, Griffin, and Pettinicchi, LLC gives a brief case study of how he has used electronic evidence at trial.
Michael D’Amico on Impeaching a Witness Using a Synchronized Video Deposition
Michael D’Amico on Impeaching a Witness Using a Synchronized Video Deposition Michael A. D’Amico, Esq, of D’Amico, Griffin, and Pettinicchi, LLC explains how to use a synched video deposition at trial.
Michael D’Amico on the Benefits of Videotaping Depositions
Michael D’Amico on the Benefits of Videotaping Depositions Michael A. D’Amico, Esq, of D’Amico, Griffin, and Pettinicchi, LLC talks about why he videotapes most of his depositions.
Five Essential Legal Video Questions Answered
Five Essential Legal Video Questions Answered She has a story – choose the right video company to tell it. Not everyone with a camera can produce a video that will stand up in court. Video prepared for litigation has the Rules of Evidence to consider. A firm that specializes in legal video production will provide a level of [...]