Just Verdicts

Anybody can do a focus group. With the prevalence of virtual platforms nowadays, it is so much easier to do focus groups that there’s really no excuse not to. And it doesn’t have to cost a lot of money, either. If you aren’t doing focus groups, you’re probably doing yourself, your case, and your client a disservice.

In this episode of Just Verdicts (formerly Trial & Medical Error), med mal litigators Brendan Lupetin and Greg Unatin discuss the nuts and bolts of putting together, conducting, and using the knowledge from virtual focus groups. What’s an effective approach for getting the most out of your focus groups? Do twice as much listening as you do talking, and take notes. 

Tune in to learn more about how to conduct virtual focus groups so that you can pare down your case and distill it down to its essentials. 

☑️ Brendan Lupetin | LinkedIn

☑️ Greg Unatin | LinkedIn

☑️ Lupetin & Unatin, LLC

☑️ Connect: Facebook | LinkedIn | YouTube

☑️ Subscribe: Apple Podcasts | Spotify | Google Podcasts

• When is the best time to conduct a focus group for a personal injury or med mal case?
• Hidden benefits from doing focus groups early
• What to look for from “focus groupers”
• The basics of conducting your own virtual focus group: from logistics, to number of people, to gathering feedback, and more

Ready to refer or collaborate on med mal, medical negligence, and catastrophic injury cases? Visit our attorney referral page at PAMedMal.com/Refer. We handle cases in Pennsylvania and across the United States.

In a med mal case, it's easier for people to hold an entity responsible–like a hospital–and make them pay, rather than blaming an individual–like a doctor. Therefore, how you work up a med mal case matters.  It’s the difference between working up a case that is easier to win versus a case that is harder to win. What kind of case do you want? 

In this episode of Just Verdicts (formerly Trial & Medical Error), hosts Brendan Lupetin and Greg Unatin discuss the difference between a “system failure” case and an “event” case. The hosts explain the difficulties in presenting “event” cases to a jury, and strategies for how to re-frame an “event” case into a “system failure” case. Tune in to this episode to hear Brendan and Greg share past experiences presenting these kinds of cases to the jury and tactics for preparing your next med mal case for trial.

☑️ Brendan Lupetin | LinkedIn

☑️ Greg Unatin | LinkedIn

☑️ Lupetin & Unatin, LLC

☑️ Connect: Facebook | LinkedIn | YouTube

☑️ Subscribe: Apple Podcasts | Spotify | Google Podcasts

• Tactics for working up med mal cases—an “event” case versus a “system failure” case
• Why it’s tough for a jury to say that an individual doctor was negligent
• Why you need effective intake on “event” cases
• How to turn an “event” case into a “system failure” case

Ready to refer or collaborate on med mal, medical negligence, and catastrophic injury cases? Visit our attorney referral page at PAMedMal.com/Refer. We handle cases in Pennsylvania and across the United States.

Medical malpractice cases are complicated for the jury. You have to help them understand the medicine, the deviation, how the mistake was made, and why the mistake led to the harm. You have to try to simplify the case as much as possible.

In this episode of Just Verdicts (formerly Trial & Medical Error), med mal litigators Greg Unatin and Brendan Lupetin discuss using the “reptile” in their medical malpractice cases, a “rule” approach to trial. They reflect on what has and hasn’t worked for them in the courtroom as well as their opinions on using one or multiple rules. Tune in to hear practical tips on how to present your case “rule” to the jury during a medical malpractice case.

☑️ Brendan Lupetin | LinkedIn

☑️ Greg Unatin | LinkedIn

☑️ Lupetin & Unatin, LLC

☑️ Connect: Facebook | LinkedIn | YouTube

☑️ Subscribe: Apple Podcasts | Spotify | Google Podcasts

• The benefits of using “rules” as a framework in your med mal case
• Why you need to provide your rules to your experts
• Why you should tie your rules to the jury instructions
• Is there a place for a boiled down rule that describes the standard of care basically?

Ready to refer or collaborate on med mal, medical negligence, and catastrophic injury cases? Visit our attorney referral page at PAMedMal.com/Refer. We handle cases in Pennsylvania and across the United States.

Learn from your losses. It’s the same for med mal trial attorneys as it is in life.

In this episode of Just Verdicts (formerly Trial & Medical Error), med mal litigators Brendan Lupetin and Greg Unatin discuss a recent orthopedic medical malpractice case they took to verdict–a case they felt had real merit, but did not end up going their way. Brendan reflects on what he would have done differently, what he would have done the same, and why he feels the verdict was not in their client’s favor. Tune in to hear the lessons Brendan and Greg are taking away from their loss, and how to gain insight from a loss at trial.

☑️ Brendan Lupetin | LinkedIn

☑️ Greg Unatin | LinkedIn

☑️ Lupetin & Unatin, LLC

☑️ Connect: Facebook | LinkedIn | YouTube

☑️ Subscribe: Apple Podcasts | Spotify | Google Podcasts

• Background on the client’s ankle surgery, resulting compartment syndrome, and what led to the medical malpractice case.
• The typical pitfalls that come with an orthopedic surgery medical malpractice case, and why this case was different.
• How having a believable client is a key factor in taking on a case like this.
• Why the case was incredibly polarizing.
• How Brendan used focus groups and jury research to approach some of the sore spots anticipated in the case.
• The Client’s letter vs. the Doctor’s letter.
• How do you combat a jury’s preference for a doctor, especially one that is credible?
• What would Brendan have done differently if he tried the case again?
• Wanting to win too much vs. always believing you have a winning case.

“Trial is a battle of impression more than it is logic.” As a plaintiff’s attorney your job is to do a deep dive and understand the minutiae of the medicine–along with the specifics of the case, the claims, and the causation–so you can tell the story of the plaintiff in a language that the jury can understand.

In part 2 of this 2-part episode series of Just Verdicts (formerly Trial & Medical Error), med mal litigators Brendan Lupetin and Greg Unatin outline their approach in trial during their recent concussion case victory. You’ll learn tips on how to best present the case to the jury and hear how they won a $900,000 verdict for pain and suffering in a case which only received a $75,000 settlement offer. 

☑️ Brendan Lupetin | LinkedIn

☑️ Greg Unatin | LinkedIn

☑️ Lupetin & Unatin, LLC

☑️ Connect: Facebook | LinkedIn | YouTube

☑️ Subscribe: Apple Podcasts | Spotify | Google Podcasts

• How to prepare for direct examinations of medical experts. 
• Pros and cons of pre-recorded video depositions of experts versus live depositions.
• How luck factors in at trial.
• How to form your opening statement and connect with the jury.
• How to choose lay witnesses for trial.
• Importance of showing the before and after effects of the plaintiff’s injury. 
• “Sponsorship Theory” of evidence applied to selecting witnesses.
• How to form closing arguments to win.
• Brendan’s Trial Tip of the Day: Using “anchor” numbers to persuade a jury to award an appropriate amount.

Concussion cases can be difficult. The injury is invisible. The jury is skeptical. But there is a formula to success. Do you know it?

Tune in to the debut episode of Just Verdicts (formerly Trial & Medical Error) as seasoned med mal litigators Brendan Lupetin and Greg Unatin share the tactics they used to win a favorable verdict in a recent concussion case. In this part 1 of a 2-part series, you’ll learn about the type of evidence that is crucial to get a strong verdict in this type of case, and more.

☑️ Brendan Lupetin | LinkedIn

☑️ Greg Unatin | LinkedIn

☑️ Lupetin & Unatin, LLC

☑️ Connect: Facebook | LinkedIn | YouTube

☑️ Subscribe: Apple Podcasts | Spotify | Google Podcasts

• How “really good treaters” benefit you at trial.
• The one type of evidence that is crucial in proving the “invisible” injury.
• The significance of a plaintiff's likability and willingness to work hard in preparing for trial.
• The importance of seeking fresh perspectives and checking biases in evaluating a case.
• What you need to do to understand the true impact of your client’s injury.
• What to do to contrast treating doctors with defense-hired experts.
• How to handle your emotions during cross-examinations.
• How to frame damages for the jury in your opening statement.

Are you a trial lawyer seeking a competitive edge in medical malpractice cases? This is the lawyer podcast for you. On Trial & Medical Error, we share novel insights and legal strategies to help you confidently tackle the most complicated cases.

Hosted by Pennsylvania medical malpractice attorneys Brendan Lupetin and Greg Unatin, founders of Lupetin and Unatin, Attorneys at Law in Pittsburgh, this podcast delivers a wealth of knowledge derived from extensive experience in the courtroom. Every episode brings you closer to the heartbeat of medical malpractice law, offering unique insights into trial law strategies, in-depth analyses of real-life cases, and engaging interviews with renowned trial lawyers.

We cover topics including navigating complex laws, decoding medical terminology, gathering records, consulting with experts, conducting interviews, proving negligence, and selecting the right jury for your case.

So, whether you're seeking to build trust with your clients, sharpen your trial skills, or deepen your understanding of the medical field and surrounding legal issues, the Trial & Medical Error injury law podcast equips you with the tools you need to excel. So, join our personal injury lawyers as we bridge the gap between medicine and law, unlock groundbreaking trial techniques, and pave the way for a more enlightened, effective, and ethical practice.

Ready to refer or collaborate on med mal, medical negligence, and catastrophic injury cases? Visit our attorney referral page at PAMedMal.com/Refer. We handle cases in Pennsylvania and across the United States.