---
title: 2015 July
url: https://www.advocatemagazine.com/issues/2015-july
---

# [2015 July](https://www.advocatemagazine.com/issues/2015-july "2015 July")

[![Advocate July15 cvr ezine](https://www.advocatemagazine.com/images/issues/2015/07-july/Advocate-July15-cvr-ezine.jpg)](https://www.advocatemagazine.com/ezines/2015/July2015/html5/Advocate-July15-issue.html)

Articles in this issue:

## [Sanctions in the Case Management Conference and discovery](https://www.advocatemagazine.com/issues/2015-july/sanctions-in-the-case-management-conference-and-discovery "Sanctions in the Case Management Conference and discovery")

Sanctions lurk in the background of virtually every court appearance. The most common are with Case Management Conference procedures and discovery

[Rolf M Treu](https://www.advocatemagazine.com/authors/rolf-m-treu "Rolf M Treu")

## [Damage caps in the headlines](https://www.advocatemagazine.com/issues/2015-july/damage-caps-in-the-headlines "Damage caps in the headlines")

Amtrak crash damages capped – We’ve heard this one before

[Stuart Zanville](https://www.advocatemagazine.com/authors/stuart-zanville "Stuart Zanville")

## [Medical liens: Dealing with bias and character issues at trial](https://www.advocatemagazine.com/issues/2015-july/medical-liens-dealing-with-bias-and-character-issues-at-trial "Medical liens: Dealing with bias and character issues at trial")

Emboldened by [case]Howell[/case], the defense takes aim at medical liens introduced to prove past meds

[Thomas C. Zaret](https://www.advocatemagazine.com/authors/thomas-c-zaret "Thomas C. Zaret")

## [Abraham Lincoln teaches cross-examination](https://www.advocatemagazine.com/issues/2015-july/abraham-lincoln-teaches-cross-examination-2 "Abraham Lincoln teaches cross-examination")

Reflecting on the use of Lincoln’s techniques to accomplish better outcomes in our own examination of adverse witnesses

[Michael L. Stern](https://www.advocatemagazine.com/authors/michael-l-stern "Michael L. Stern")

## [Don’t surprise me](https://www.advocatemagazine.com/issues/2015-july/don-t-surprise-me-2 "Don’t surprise me")

Surprises during trial cause confusion and delays – a list of “Oh no” events to avoid

[Anthony J. Mohr](https://www.advocatemagazine.com/authors/anthony-j-mohr "Anthony J. Mohr")

## [In the words of Mark Twain…](https://www.advocatemagazine.com/issues/2015-july/in-the-words-of-mark-twain-2 "In the words of Mark Twain…")

Ten lessons for trial lawyers in the words of a master

[Gregory W. Alarcon](https://www.advocatemagazine.com/authors/gregory-w-alarcon-2 "Gregory W. Alarcon")

## [Checking in to Los Angeles Superior courtrooms](https://www.advocatemagazine.com/issues/2015-july/checking-in-to-los-angeles-superior-courtrooms-2 "Checking in to Los Angeles Superior courtrooms")

Attorneys’ failure to properly check in with a courtroom assistant can delay their matters and slow down the court. And please, keep the court informed if you are going to be delayed or cannot appear as scheduled

[Elizabeth R. Feffer](https://www.advocatemagazine.com/authors/elizabeth-r-feffer "Elizabeth R. Feffer")

## [Ex parte applications in personal injury court](https://www.advocatemagazine.com/issues/2015-july/ex-parte-applications-in-personal-injury-court-2 "Ex parte applications in personal injury court")

The “Fastpass”: Going to the head of the line to have your motion heard without the usual 16 court-days notice

[Michael J. Raphael](https://www.advocatemagazine.com/authors/michael-j-raphael "Michael J. Raphael")

## [Sanctions in the Case Management Conference and discovery](https://www.advocatemagazine.com/issues/2015-july/sanctions-in-the-case-management-conference-and-discovery-2 "Sanctions in the Case Management Conference and discovery")

Sanctions lurk in the background of virtually every court appearance. The most common are with Case Management Conference procedures and discovery

[Rolf M Treu](https://www.advocatemagazine.com/authors/rolf-m-treu "Rolf M Treu")

## [Medical liens: Dealing with bias and character issues at trial](https://www.advocatemagazine.com/issues/2015-july/medical-liens-dealing-with-bias-and-character-issues-at-trial-2 "Medical liens: Dealing with bias and character issues at trial")

Emboldened by [[case]]Howell[[/case]], the defense takes aim at medical liens introduced to prove past meds

[Thomas C. Zaret](https://www.advocatemagazine.com/authors/thomas-c-zaret "Thomas C. Zaret")

## [Five lessons I learned in my first year as a plaintiff’s personal injury lawyer](https://www.advocatemagazine.com/issues/2015-july/five-lessons-i-learned-in-my-first-year-as-a-plaintiff-s-personal-injury-lawyer-2 "Five lessons I learned in my first year as a plaintiff’s personal injury lawyer")

A client without legal representation may not have a David v. Goliath outcome

[Michael Rubinstein](https://www.advocatemagazine.com/authors/michael-rubinstein "Michael Rubinstein")

## [Using a trial theme effectively throughout your case](https://www.advocatemagazine.com/issues/2015-july/using-a-trial-theme-effectively-throughout-your-case-2 "Using a trial theme effectively throughout your case")

A stong, carefully chosen theme brings clarity and simplicity to the presentation of your case

[Ricardo Echeverria](https://www.advocatemagazine.com/authors/ricardo-echeverria "Ricardo Echeverria")

## [Five simple strategies for more effective voir dire](https://www.advocatemagazine.com/issues/2015-july/five-simple-strategies-for-more-effective-voir-dire-2 "Five simple strategies for more effective voir dire")

You often don’t have enough time to identify every bad juror, but that doesn’t mean your voir dire cannot be effective

[Mary E. Alexander](https://www.advocatemagazine.com/authors/mary-e-alexander "Mary E. Alexander")

## [Try more cases](https://www.advocatemagazine.com/issues/2015-july/try-more-cases-2 "Try more cases")

Trying more cases increases the value of the cases you settle, and when you win it is p-o-w-e-r-f-u-l

[Genie Harrison](https://www.advocatemagazine.com/authors/genie-harrison "Genie Harrison")

## [Drafting and using jury questionnaires effectively](https://www.advocatemagazine.com/issues/2015-july/drafting-and-using-jury-questionnaires-effectively "Drafting and using jury questionnaires effectively")

A nuts and bolts guide to creating and using a jury questionnaire

[Sonia Chopra](https://www.advocatemagazine.com/authors/sonia-chopra "Sonia Chopra")