Customer Reviews

Polarizing the Case: Exposing and Defeating the Malingering Myth

5 star:		(3)
4 star:		(1)
3 star:		(0)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

Polarizing the Case has proven to be an indispensable tool in preparation and conduct of jury trials. This book was written by an attorney in the trenches. It is not a philosophical or theoretical book on the author's view of trials; instead it is a practical tool that helps trial lawyers in every phase of the trial. It practically spoon feeds the reader with actual deposition and trial testimony to expose defense examiners and counter defense arguments. I started to tab the pages however it became clear that this book is literally a how-to for lawyers, so I decided to dismantle the book and literally scanned in each page.

I attribute a lot of Rick's suggestions and rhetoric to my 5 recent trial wins. Polarizing the Case should be titled how to effectively deal with jury bias in 2008 and is essential for any lawyer trying personal injury cases. It could also be titled, how to deconstruct the defense case with medical literature, proper heurists & schemas, and lines of questioning in every part of the trial. I've read all David Ball's books, Eric Oliver, Jim Purdue, Gerry Spence, etc., and I can say without a doubt this is the most practical and useful trial book. It is also very different from his Rules of the Road book. I would highly recommend this book for any serious practicing trial lawyer.

I hear it all the time from other lawyers; "the defense had their doctor evaluate my client and they think my client is not injured." This book helps the practitioner bring common sense back to case presentation and combat the issue head on. The book demonstrates techniques to use to get the defense expert to commit or not commit to their assertion that the plaintiff is exaggerating or lying. Either way, the testimony can be neutralized. I bought the book because I was not able to attend a local seminar by the author. I recommend the book to anyone who tries plaintiff personal injury cases.

As a practicing personal injury attorney, I found this book as good as any other PI attorney help books. And I must confess I love "practice pointers" type books. For me, I really enjoyed how Rick's approach is so intuitive and easy to follow. Nothing fancy really, just establish for the jury what the defense is truly trying to do and let the jury make up their own minds. By employing the strategies in this book the jury is usually left with two choices; your client is honest and was in fact injured, or he or she is a fraud and deserves nothing. After reading this book deposing the defense doctor became something to look forward to as opposed to something to dread.

Five stars for this book without hesitation.

My husband (an experienced malpractice/personal injury attorney) says the book is really good and well worth the money.