--- title: 2025 January url: https://www.advocatemagazine.com/issues/2025-january --- # [2025 January](https://www.advocatemagazine.com/issues/2025-january "2025 January") [![Advo Jan25 cvr ezine](https://www.advocatemagazine.com/images/issues/2025/01-january/Advo-Jan25-cvr-ezine.jpg)](https://www.advocatemagazine.com/ezines/2025/January2025/html5/Advocate-Jan25-issue.html) Articles in this issue: ## [Volunteers are needed for great charity events in 2025](https://www.advocatemagazine.com/issues/2025-january/volunteers-are-needed-for-great-charity-events-in-2025 "Volunteers are needed for great charity events in 2025") “Write it on your heart that every day is the best day in the year.” — Ralph Waldo Emerson [Michelle M. West](https://www.advocatemagazine.com/authors/michelle-m-west "Michelle M. West") ## [High-stakes speed run](https://www.advocatemagazine.com/issues/2025-january/high-stakes-speed-run "High-stakes speed run") How to try a big-exposure case in three and a half days. Hint: Keep the story simple and organized. Here are tools to help you do that. [Drew Teti](https://www.advocatemagazine.com/authors/drew-teti "Drew Teti") [Dustin Collier](https://www.advocatemagazine.com/authors/dustin-collier "Dustin Collier") ## [Eight overlooked appellate decisions every PI trial lawyer should know](https://www.advocatemagazine.com/issues/2025-january/eight-overlooked-appellate-decisions-every-pi-trial-lawyer-should-know "Eight overlooked appellate decisions every PI trial lawyer should know") You’re familiar with [[case]]Howell[[/case]] and [[case]]Sanchez[[/case]], and you’ve made a [[case]]Kennemur[[/case]] objection. Explore these lesser-known decisions to enhance your trial skills [Matthew Whibley](https://www.advocatemagazine.com/authors/matthew-whibley "Matthew Whibley") ## [Arguing punitive damages](https://www.advocatemagazine.com/issues/2025-january/arguing-punitive-damages "Arguing punitive damages") You are now arguing on behalf of society to not only punish the bad conduct but to prevent it from happening again [Ricardo Echeverria](https://www.advocatemagazine.com/authors/ricardo-echeverria "Ricardo Echeverria") ## [Federal trial procedure](https://www.advocatemagazine.com/issues/2025-january/federal-trial-procedure "Federal trial procedure") A guide to mastering federal trial procedures, especially “local, local rules” [Christian Contreras](https://www.advocatemagazine.com/authors/christian-contreras "Christian Contreras") ## [A cinematic approach to storytelling at trial](https://www.advocatemagazine.com/issues/2025-january/a-cinematic-approach-to-storytelling-at-trial "A cinematic approach to storytelling at trial") Narrative approaches to trial advocacy amplify the strengths of dramatic storytelling [Alan Romero](https://www.advocatemagazine.com/authors/alan-romero "Alan Romero") ## [Maximizing non-economic damages in wrongful-death trials](https://www.advocatemagazine.com/issues/2025-january/maximizing-non-economic-damages-in-wrongful-death-trials "Maximizing non-economic damages in wrongful-death trials") A methodical overview of successful methods employed by trial lawyers to empower jurors to award substantial verdicts in wrongful-death cases [Andrew A. Talebi](https://www.advocatemagazine.com/authors/andrew-a-talebi "Andrew A. Talebi") [Raphael Javid](https://www.advocatemagazine.com/authors/raphael-javid "Raphael Javid") ## [Exploring Medicare in the context of [[case]]Audish v. Macias[[/case]] (2024)](https://www.advocatemagazine.com/issues/2025-january/exploring-medicare-in-the-context-of-case-audish-v-macias-case-2024 "Exploring Medicare in the context of [[case]]Audish v. Macias[[/case]] (2024)") Practical tips on challenging and overcoming [[case]]Audish v. Macias[[/case]], based on a recent case tried to verdict in Orange County [Greyson M. Goody](https://www.advocatemagazine.com/authors/greyson-m-goody "Greyson M. Goody") ## [Tips from a prosecutor turned plaintiff’s counsel](https://www.advocatemagazine.com/issues/2025-january/tips-from-a-prosecutor-turned-plaintiff-s-counsel "Tips from a prosecutor turned plaintiff’s counsel") Leverage courtroom dynamics to secure justice for personal-injury clients [Allyson Ostrowski](https://www.advocatemagazine.com/authors/allyson-ostrowski "Allyson Ostrowski") ## [Roll the tape](https://www.advocatemagazine.com/issues/2025-january/roll-the-tape "Roll the tape") Effective use of videotaped depositions at trial [Teresa Johnson](https://www.advocatemagazine.com/authors/teresa-johnson "Teresa Johnson") ## [Four underutilized rules of evidence at trial](https://www.advocatemagazine.com/issues/2025-january/four-underutilized-rules-of-evidence-at-trial "Four underutilized rules of evidence at trial") Dealing with experts’ wild scenarios of causation, the disappearing plaintiff, impeachment documents and publications referred to at trial [Khail A. Parris](https://www.advocatemagazine.com/authors/khail-a-parris "Khail A. Parris") ## [A plaintiff’s own pre-treatment negligence cannot support a finding of comparative fault](https://www.advocatemagazine.com/issues/2025-january/a-plaintiff-s-own-pre-treatment-negligence-cannot-support-a-finding-of-comparative-fault "A plaintiff’s own pre-treatment negligence cannot support a finding of comparative fault") A med-mal defendant should not be permitted to use the plaintiff’s own pre-treatment negligence to support a finding of comparative fault [Benjamin Ikuta](https://www.advocatemagazine.com/authors/benjamin-ikuta "Benjamin Ikuta") ## [Proving retaliatory animus through circumstantial evidence](https://www.advocatemagazine.com/issues/2025-january/proving-retaliatory-animus-through-circumstantial-evidence "Proving retaliatory animus through circumstantial evidence") Methods for establishing an employer’s retaliatory motives through indirect evidence [Arya Rhodes](https://www.advocatemagazine.com/authors/arya-rhodes "Arya Rhodes") ## [Humanizing the plaintiff in civil-rights trials](https://www.advocatemagazine.com/issues/2025-january/humanizing-the-plaintiff-in-civil-rights-trials "Humanizing the plaintiff in civil-rights trials") Whether it be a plaintiff with a criminal history, or issues with substance abuse, the jury’s perception is one that must be shaped from the inception of the case [Denisse O. Gastélum](https://www.advocatemagazine.com/authors/denisse-o-gastelum "Denisse O. Gastélum") ## [To oversell or undersell, that is the mini question](https://www.advocatemagazine.com/issues/2025-january/to-oversell-or-undersell-that-is-the-mini-question "To oversell or undersell, that is the mini question") Do you talk about good facts or bad facts in your mini-opening statement? [Christopher Montes de Oca](https://www.advocatemagazine.com/authors/christopher-montes-de-oca "Christopher Montes de Oca") ## [Joint and several liability needs our protection – again](https://www.advocatemagazine.com/issues/2025-january/joint-and-several-liability-needs-our-protection-again "Joint and several liability needs our protection – again") Public entities seek to avoid liability [Jacquie Serna](https://www.advocatemagazine.com/authors/jacquie-serna "Jacquie Serna") ## [Stronger together](https://www.advocatemagazine.com/issues/2025-january/stronger-together "Stronger together") Each of us can learn something valuable from one another [Aaron Hicks](https://www.advocatemagazine.com/authors/aaron-hicks "Aaron Hicks") ## [“Here we go yo”](https://www.advocatemagazine.com/issues/2025-january/here-we-go-yo "“Here we go yo”") “Here we go yo, here we go yo, So what, so what, so what’s the scenario?” [Martin I. Aarons](https://www.advocatemagazine.com/authors/martin-i-aarons "Martin I. Aarons")