In other words, if you are looking for some tough litigation love, give me a call.

#norestforthelitigator

8/8

Today my 5th trial/arbitration of 2025 starts in Flint, Michigan.

I’ve never had this many cases actually go to trial in a single year in my 18+ years of practicing. Will there be 6 for 2026?

#norestforthelitigator

The first trial I ever did I parachuted in weeks before to second chair it. After that trial ended I remember saying that’s what I wanted my career to be- trials- and preferably ones where I came in last minute.

1/4

#norestforthelitigator

At most law firms and legal jobs I’ve worked at I eventually get pigeonholed as the person who gets all the “weird” cases. And, so far, the same is true at my current firm.

#norestforthelitigator #lawandmotionninja

1/5

You know you are getting on in years when you are no longer eligible for “Rising Stars”. But aging into being a full grown “Super Lawyer” isn’t a bad consolation prize.

1/4

#norestforthelitigator #lawandmotionninja

If you’ve been waiting to hear how my Newton Defense in the pinecone case worked out, results are in.

The defendant that I wrote this motion for summary judgment for is getting dismissed from the case.

Gravity always wins, even in legal briefs.

#lawandmotionninja #norestforthelitigator

My gut said, spine. So I prepared a cross based on the opposite of what I would have tried to prove up if I was opposing counsel.

My gut was right.

So what sets me apart from other trial attorneys? I over prepare and I over deliver.

#norestforthelitigator

4/4

One of the important things I've learned in my 18+ years of practicing law is that you can't be afraid of going off script, but going off script effectively requires you to actually listen to what is being said.

What do I mean by this?

1/5

#norestforthelitigator #trialattorney

Yesterday (yes Easter Sunday) was my 42nd birthday.

Today I head up to Sacramento with #TeamTempleCoffee (IYKYK) to start Phase 2 of a 6+ week trial.

We won a compete defense verdict in Phase 1 (which I first chaired) and I’m hoping for a repeat in a few weeks.

#norestforthelitigator

Do you all remember that Sacramento #benchtrial I #firstchaired back in January? Well after submitting lengthy written closing and reply briefs in February and March we just learned that we won a COMPLETE DEFENSE JUDGMENT!!!

#norestforthelitigator #defenseverdict #defensejudgment #trialattorney

I recently put together my first ever “application" for a legal client. Yes, I’ve had more potential client meetings than I can count, but never a full on written pitch.One of the components was a sort of modified CV where everyone highlighted a few recent cases.

1/4

#norestforthelitigator

But now it is back to reality. So I’m cranking some of my favorite holiday albums and wrapping up a draft of a motion for summary judgment/adjudication in a very interesting case and prepping for a bench trial that is set to start in January.

#norestforthelitigator

4/4

Without appearing or even having to file an answer, Ms. Decker was able to negotiate a settlement for her clients of $40,500.

#norestforthelitigator #negotiation

2/2

And even though I wasn’t living with this case as long as our clients or the rest of the trial team, it still seems a little unreal to me that after all the long nights it’s all over... well, at least for these clients. For me it is onward to the next trial in June.

#norestforthelitigator

4/4

This year I have parachuted into two trials last minute (one as first chair- another as second chair), joined a third trial with a little more notice (as second chair), and first chaired two arbitrations.

2/4

#norestforthelitigator

The result was a complete defense verdict and the case settled, for less than the last 998, right before openings of the Phase 2 Jury Trial (elder neglect, negligence, fraud, financial elder abuse, and wrongful death), which Ms. Decker was also on the trial team for.

#norestforthelitigator

4/4

I was planning last week to do one of those day in the life of videos... but I was so busy that that didn’t happen. (Who else felt last week’s “short” week was like an extra long week crammed into 4 days?) So here’s the written version of a week in the life of an Of Counsel at a national firm:

It was a great result for our client and a reminder that being a discovery bulldog can have big payoffs. (P.S. Plaintiff side attorneys, don’t forget to thoroughly vet your clients, because defense counsel sure as hell will.)

#norestforthelitigator

4/4

Case 5: The Good Faith Settlement

Ms. Decker was added to this case, which had been pending for quite some time, involving the alleged sex trafficking of a minor.

1/3

#norestforthelitigator #goodfaithsettlement