Don't Eat the Bruises: How to Foil Their Plans to Foil Your Case

by Keith Mitnik

Up to 70 percent of jurors will have made their decision by the end of opening statements. Attorney Keith Mitnik has developed a successful method to show you how to win at the start and dismantle the defenseâ€s case while trying yours. Keith Mitnik lives in courtrooms. When heâ€s not in trial, the senior trial counsel for Morgan & Morgan, the largest personal injury law firm in America, spends his time mentoring his firm's younger lawyers and inventing cutting-edge courtroom strategies. In Donâ€t Eat the Bruises, Mitnik reveals his result-producing methods for the first time in print. Drawing from the hard-won experience of his prolific and innovative career, Mitnik offers an approachable and proven system for trying and winning cases. Exploiting juror bias, taking things out of context, and overemphasizing imperfections at trial are all “bruisesâ€â€”cheap tricks that the defense uses to distract from facts and well-constructed cases. Mitnik offers strategies for dealing with these issues in jury selection, opening statement, and beyond, with a heavy focus on dismantling defenses based on bias, sympathy, and prejudice at the very beginning of your case. Don't Eat the Bruises is an easy to read book that provides you with practical advice on effective legal skills. Whether youâ€re a new lawyer seeking guidance for your first auto case or a seasoned advocate looking for a fresh approach to your upcoming medical malpractice trial, Mitnikâ€s framework provides you with practical tools for winning. Don't Eat the Bruises will give you the skill and confidence to get out of your office and into the courtroom to seek full justice on your next case.

Genres: Law

Unknown Binding

Published November 30, 2015

Reviews

[Joanna · Rating 4 out of 5]

A book only of interest to trial attorneys, this is a practical handbook targeted at personal injury plaintiff's attorneys. I don't handle personal injury cases, but I found lots of useful information here about how to think about voir dire and how to talk with potential jurors about bias in ways that can help everyone understand the importance of a fair panel to hear a case. Nothing in the book struck me as completely revolutionary, but it's put together here in a highly readable and entertaining format.

[Morgan Lyons · Rating 4 out of 5]

I'd classify this as a must-read for any aspiring plaintiff attorney. Learning Mitnik's approach to voir dire alone probably justifies the book's exorbitant price tag, though I think his damages models, power of analogy section, and note-cards during closing technique are all very helpful too.
Is Mitnik a little high on himself? Sure. And I'm often leery of unequivocal guarantees (which he makes in spades), but there's no denying his staggeringly successful track record, so he's gotta be doing something right.
I will definitely be keeping this book close-by for reference in all of my future trials.

[Jason · Rating 5 out of 5]

Excellent book for trial attorneys. Great insight and well written. Definitely recommend for plaintiff attorneys who actually try (or want to) cases.

[Destiny · Rating 2 out of 5]

If you’ve never tried a case before, read it. If you’ve tried more than 10, but no PI cases, skim it.