Chapter SevenSO HELP ME GOD
93THE MOST IMPORTANT WITNESS IN ANY CASE IS THE PLAINTIFF. IF the jury can identify with her and agree that she is doing what’s right by bringing a lawsuit to recover damages for events that happened to her, then the battle is half won. On the other hand, if the plaintiff comes off as a whiner, an angry person, or someone who’s exaggerating or looking for a windfall, then problems are created that may be insurmountable. This is not shocking. People have empathy for someone who was cheated, but they don’t like woe-is-me crybabies.
Someone who appears angry, upset, tearful, or vindictive can really turn a jury off. A good cross-examiner can exploit this very effectively, making the plaintiff her own worst enemy. In ...
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