Trial Director for IPAD!!!!

TDMobile is a simple, easy to use evidence management and presentation tool designed specifically for use with the iPad. With TDMobile, you can create a case folder, add exhibits to your case through a Dropbox™ or iTunes® account and interact with your evidence using the annotation and presentation tools. Or... prepare complex exhibits in TrialDirector and export to TDMobile for presentation.

TrialDirector for the iPad

• Case Management on the Go!
  Manage multiple case folders
  Create new case folders right on the device
  Import entire folders from Dropbox with folder structure intact
  Import files one at a time from Dropbox
  Export a workbook from TrialDirector specifically for use with TDMobile.  

         
Annotation Features

• TDMobile gives TrialDirector users their favorite annotation and markup tools including:
• Callout Tool - Use multiple callouts from different pages. Callouts can be zoomed, rotated, and placed anywhere on the screen.
• Pen Tool - Multiple colors supported
• Highlight tool - Bright and fully transparent Redaction tool
• Laser Pointer tool
• Whiteboard tool

Video Playback

Export your video from TrialDirector with embedded closed caption to an MPEG-4 format. TDMobile supported formats include industry standards such as:

• H.264 video up to 1080p
• MPEG-4
• Motion JPEG (M-JPEG)

Other Features

TDMobile also has the ability to freeze output on an external display while you prepare a different exhibit on the iPad. Zoom and Rotate your exhibits with normal iPad touch gestures.

Judge declares mistrial in Roger Clemens perjury case

....this is why you ALWAYS want to be working with a professional trial consultant.

The judge in the Roger Clemens federal perjury trial abruptly declared a mistrial on the second day of testimony after the government inadvertently allowed the jury to hear statements from a U.S. congressman discussing the credibility of one of the key witnesses against the former All-Star baseball pitcher.

U.S. District Judge Reggie Walton was livid Thursday that a video screen was left on in the courtroom while he and the lawyers privately discussed an issue away from the jury, and yet the jurors could clearly see written comments by U.S. Rep. Elijah E. Cummings (D-Md.) during a 2008 House hearing in which Clemens testified he never used steroids or other enhancement drugs.

"Sadly, I have reached this conclusion," Walton said.

At issue was an earlier ruling in which the judge said he would not allow outside testimony or evidence from others about the credibility of certain key witnesses, including Andy Pettitte, a former teammate of Clemens.

Yet appearing on the screen was a transcript of comments by Cummings discussing Pettitte's wife and Pettitte's credibility as one of the lead government witnesses against the seven-time Cy Young award winner.

The government was supposed to have redacted such comments, and was instructed to keep them away from the jury of 10 women and two men so as not to prejudice their deliberations.

"We'll never know what impact that will have on how this jury decides this case, when we have a man's liberty's at stake," said Walton, visibly angry. "I am troubled by this. The government should have been more cautious."

He added, "I don't see how I unring the bell" and keep the jury from considering what Pettitte's wife said and what Cummings thought of it.

"In my view, Mr. Pettitte's testimony is going to be critical as to whether this man goes to prison, and I can't in good faith leave this case where a man's liberty is at risk when the government should have assured we are not in this situation."

Prosecutors said the error was inadvertent. But Rusty Hardin of Houston, Clemens' chief defense attorney, seized on the problem and immediately asked for a mistrial.

"I like this jury," he said. "But…"

On the screen were written comments from Cummings discussing how Laura Pettitte has said her husband "told me he had a conversation with Roger Clemens and Roger admitted to him using human growth hormones." Clemens has insisted he never told Pettitte that he used HGH or steroids, even though his friend and former New York Yankees teammate has said otherwise.

Yet Cummings, from his comments, seemed to believe Pettitte over Clemens.

Cummings' comments were then addressed to Clemens, and his sworn statements that he never told Pettitte he used the drugs.

"If that were true," Cummings' comments continued on the video, "why would Laura Pettitte remember her husband telling her about that?"

Clemens had been charged with perjury, obstruction of justice and making false statements in the latest criminal trial dealing with Major League Baseballplayers and steroids and other enhancement drugs.

Before ending the trial, the judge left the bench to confer about what to do. But he severely admonished the prosecutors.

"Government counsel doesn't do just what government counsel can get away with doing," he said. "And a first-year law student knows you can't alter the credibility of one witness with clearly inadmissible evidence."

A chagrined judge then dismissed the jury.

"Ladies and gentlemen," he told jurors, "we have taken about a week out of your life. We expended a lot of your taxpayers money to reach this point. Unfortunately there are rules we play by and those rules are designed to insure that both parties receive a fair trial."

The judge continued a gag order precluding Clemens and attorneys and prosecutors discussing the case -- at least until a hearing on Sept. 2 to decide how or whether to jump start the case.

As he left the courtroom, Hardin said, "I would have liked to have gone forward. But we just didn't have a choice."

Richard.serrano@latimes.com

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Debunking the Myths of Litigation Exhibits & Presentations

I recently attended a legal conference where I discussed the services of our company – Med Art & Legal Graphics – with attorneys from across the country. It was good to see many old friends who have used our demonstrative evidence exhibits & trial presentations with much success. Still, I ran into a fair number who said, “I don’t use that kind of stuff.”

Granted, not all cases require exhibits. However, I feel I should address some…um…myths (for lack of a better term) I have heard from attorneys regarding the use of “that kind of stuff.”

This is the third in a 5-part series of the most common myths regarding the use of demonstrative exhibits and litigation presentation tools.

MYTH 3: Graphic exhibits won’t be admissible.

When exhibits are prepared by Certified Medical Illustrators, then reviewed and approved by the treating physician or other expert to be true, fair and accurate, they are always accepted into evidence.

A skilled attorney will have her/his exhibits prepared by a professional – like Med Art & Legal Graphics -- who works with experts to get the necessary approval every step of the way. This applies equally to crime scene exhibits, accident orientation depictions and all other illustrative mediums.

For those of you DIY folks, take note of what Ed Josiah of GREYHAWK North America has to say in his treatise, “Demonstrative Evidence Evidentiary Issues & Laying a Proper Foundation:”

“When casually measured and hastily prepared diagrams are used to pinpoint specific placement of crucial evidence, or to verify eyewitness visibility, they step over the boundary of their original intent and may create a false picture of the evidence.”

Don’t risk exhibit inadmissibility: Contact the professionals at Med Art & Legal Graphics Company – 888-715-0784. Or, visit our website at www.med-art.com.

Note: For statutory guidelines, see Federal Rules of Evidence 901, 902, and 1001-1004.evidence.

30 Top Tips for Working With Acrobat 9

Med Art has found the BEST TIPS for ACROBAT ...so here they are, share them with only your closest friends!

Don't Short-Change Yourself at Trial

Have everything you think you need for trial DIGITIZED and in your trial software. If a document pertains to your case, have it scanned and accessible from your presentation database. If a video clip might be admissible, have it digitized and accessible. A small investment in document imaging or video prep will often times save countless headaches and rush expenses at trial time.

This is not the time to be penny wise and pound foolish.

For sound advice on trial presentation needs your first step is to call Med Art & Legal Graphics.  Trial is too important to leave to the last minute or to people who aren't qualified. In most cases you have sent years developing a case that you don't want compromised because your message was damaged by a faulty and confusing delivery. 

Don't Overextend and Become Underexposed

Don’t overextend your software: Programs such as Microsoft PowerPoint and Corel Presentations are great for linear presentations such as opening/closing arguments or mediation/arbitration arguments. However, for complex litigation and witness examination – the ability to display documents quickly and in any order illustrates to the jury that you are making an effort to be organized and efficient with their time. Courtroom specific annotation tools such as TrialDirector, TrialPro, Sanction and others offer simple document annotation tools, video manipulation, and nonlinear exhibit access in one streamlined package.

Don’t overextend yourself: If your trial involves hundreds of documents and graphic exhibits, or countless hours of video clips; trust the database and clip preparation to a qualified courtroom technology consultant so that you can remain focused on your case without distraction.
...originally posted by Alex Rosen


For sound advice on trial presentation needs your first step is to call Med Art & Legal Graphics.  Trial is too important to leave to the last minute or to people who aren't qualified. In most cases you have sent years developing a case that you don't want compromised because your message was damaged by a faulty and confusing delivery.