This page contains a Flash digital edition of a book.
ates a linear presentation, much like PowerPoint, that is suitable for showing to a jury or mediator.


G) Search within PDF documents: click the “Document” drop-down menu, click “Recognize text using OCR,” and click “Start.” Once the process is finished, you can search for text within a PDF document by clicking “Find” on the “Edit” drop-down menu.


Acrobat enables you to make com-


ments and notes directly on the PDF document, to share comments with oth- ers across e-mail, to organize documents using bookmarks, and to create forms. It is a dynamic product with incredible potential for the educated user.


Tip No. 8: Use A Case Presentation Program (i.e., Trial Director, Sanction)


Adobe and PowerPoint are useful for


presenting information during opening statements and closing arguments. How- ever, in document-intensive cases, such as medical malpractice, commercial cases, or personal injury cases with extensive medical records, you may need trial pre- sentation software with more capabilities than Adobe or PowerPoint can provide. For example, if you are cross-examining a witness who begins to discuss something you were not prepared to address at that moment, it takes precious time for you


to fumble with your computer to find the slide or document you need. Case presentation programs like Trial Director and Sanction are equipped to handle the uncertainties of trial. Using these systems, the first step is to scan all of your case documents into the computer. Each group of documents will have a specified prefix code, and each document will have an individual identification number. When a witness addresses something out-of-turn, these case presentation programs can instantly access the document you need, and can magnify, highlight, and mark up documents on the “big screen” for the jury. This provides for a more interactive examination that will, at the very least, keep the jury interested. Single-user licenses can be ordered on-


line from www.sanction.com and www. trialdirector.com for about $600 each.


Tip No. 9: Scan Your Documents Creating an internal document scanning


system can make you more productive. If you are doing some last-minute early- morning deposition preparation out of the office, you can still access docu- ments even when your colleague is home asleep. By investing in a relatively inexpensive


high-speed scanner, you can convert mounds of documents into PDF or TIF formats. The originals may be disposed of or, if that is too nerve-racking for you, at least filed away in an unused corner


of the office. These documents, when scanned and saved onto your server, are accessible to the entire office at the same time, can be copied quickly to your hard drive while out-of-town at depositions or trial, and are ready to be e-mailed or printed. Additionally, a laptop computer and high-speed Internet connection can allow you to access these documents from home or when you are traveling.


Tip No. 10: Google Desktop Alerts If you want to keep up on current


events regarding a certain topic, defen- dant, corporation or witness, you can request Google to automatically perform a specified search and report the results to you via e-mail. Go to http://www. google.com/alerts, type in your search terms and choose whether you want to be notified once a day, once a week, or instantaneously when the news comes in. Links to the new web pages will be e-mailed to you automatically.


Conclusion It’s a brave, new world out there. But


you don’t need to be an engineer, com- puter scientist, or eight-year old to divine the mysteries of modern technology. All you need is some initiative, and a com- mitment to give yourself and your clients every possible advantage.


Publish an article in the Trial Reporter


Do you have an article that would interest more than 1,200 plaintiff lawyers? Contact us. Have you tried something different that helped you on your latest win? Share it. Is there a legal topic that you would like to see published in theTrial Reporter? Let us know.


Contact the MTLA office today or visit the MTLA Publications section of the Website (www.mdtriallawyers.com) to read article guidelines and upcomingTrial Reporter publication dates.


Contact Judith LaVoie Phone: (410) 539-4336 Email: Judith@mdtriallawyers.com


40 Trial Reporter Summer 2006





Page 1  |  Page 2  |  Page 3  |  Page 4  |  Page 5  |  Page 6  |  Page 7  |  Page 8  |  Page 9  |  Page 10  |  Page 11  |  Page 12  |  Page 13  |  Page 14  |  Page 15  |  Page 16  |  Page 17  |  Page 18  |  Page 19  |  Page 20  |  Page 21  |  Page 22  |  Page 23  |  Page 24  |  Page 25  |  Page 26  |  Page 27  |  Page 28  |  Page 29  |  Page 30  |  Page 31  |  Page 32  |  Page 33  |  Page 34  |  Page 35  |  Page 36  |  Page 37  |  Page 38  |  Page 39  |  Page 40  |  Page 41  |  Page 42  |  Page 43  |  Page 44  |  Page 45  |  Page 46  |  Page 47  |  Page 48  |  Page 49  |  Page 50  |  Page 51  |  Page 52  |  Page 53  |  Page 54  |  Page 55  |  Page 56  |  Page 57  |  Page 58  |  Page 59  |  Page 60