Courtroom Stories & Tactics | RVA Trial Lawyers

"I tell my prosecutors that being a public defender was one of the most important things for my career as a prosecutor, even though I only did it briefly. And it's a reason why I have a strong preference for hiring former public defenders and defense lawyers in my office." We sat down with Ramin Fatehi, Commonwealth’s Attorney for Norfolk, Virginia. From growing up in Iran to serving as a public defender in Richmond, Ramin now leads one of Virginia’s largest prosecutor’s offices. In our conversation, we talk about: Ramin shares candid insights into the policies and values that guide his office, and why he believes the future of prosecution must move beyond punishment to also include prevention and community trust. It was a privilege having Ramin join us. Courtroom Stories & Tactics | RVA Trial Lawyers Available on Spotify, Apple, YouTube, and at RVATrialLawyers.com Based out of Richmond, Virginia, Courtroom Stories & Tactics by RVA Trial Lawyers exists for lawyers who try cases to juries on behalf of people. Through our podcast, we hope to learn from them, support them, connect them, inspire them, and preserve their work for future trial lawyers. If you are willing, we would greatly appreciate it if you left us a 5-Star Google Review by clicking here. Your review will help people find us. Also, if you would like to subscribe to the RVA Trial Lawyers Newsletter, you can do so here. Thank you! Sharif Gray and Nael Abouzaki

"You often think, if someone's going through a hard time, what is the way that you can help them? And here was something I had to offer. I felt like this is something I can do. This is something I can give to them." - Gray Broughton In this special episode, Nael interviews the team at Broughton Injury Law Firm, including founder Gray Broughton, attorney Zac Grubaugh, and our own Sharif Gray. We explore their career paths, the firm's origin and mission, and the importance of stepping out of comfort zones to grow as attorneys. Gray shares the story about the case that inspired him to start the firm, while all three discuss their transitions from military legal roles to personal injury trial work. We also cover trial strategies, emphasizing the need to connect emotionally with juries and the importance of genuine connection in the courtroom. It was a privilege having Gray and Zac join us. Courtroom Stories & Tactics | RVA Trial Lawyers Available on Spotify, Apple, YouTube, and at RVATrialLawyers.com Based out of Richmond, Virginia, Courtroom Stories & Tactics by RVA Trial Lawyers exists for lawyers who try cases to juries on behalf of people. Through our podcast, we hope to learn from them, support them, connect them, inspire them, and preserve their work for future trial lawyers. If you are willing, we would greatly appreciate it if you left us a 5-Star Google Review by clicking here. Your review will help people find us. Also, if you would like to subscribe to the RVA Trial Lawyers Newsletter, you can do so here. Thank you! Sharif Gray and Nael Abouzaki

"I just owned the bad facts. I talked about them, I mentioned them to the jury. I'm making eye contact with the jury, they're making eye contact with me. And I just had this feeling like, 'I think we've got a good shot here.' It was like this osmosis going on." Personal Injury Lawyer Dillon Hobbs of Birmingham, Alabama joined us to discuss his trial experience, the nuances of truly understanding and communicating with clients, and how putting yourself in their shoes is in fact a skill to be developed. We explore questions of confidence, risk, choosing cases, living with the results - even when they don't go your way - and how to lean into the "bad facts" to turn them around to your advantage. Dillon also emphasizes the importance of getting early career trial experience, and talks about the evolving landscape of personal injury law in Alabama, as we discuss some of the differences between Alabama and Virginia. It was a privilege having Dillon join us. Courtroom Stories & Tactics | RVA Trial Lawyers Trial lawyers do not become great overnight. It takes persistence, a relentless work ethic, a willingness to learn from mistakes, a burning passion for the craft, an authentic self, and the courage and vulnerability to enter the arena time and again. Those who become great trial lawyers also become great people. Through their work, they grapple with the realities of the human condition and in the process cultivate character, principle, integrity, leadership, strength, compassion, and perseverance. Based out of Richmond, Virginia, Courtroom Stories & Tactics by RVA Trial Lawyers exists for lawyers who try cases to juries on behalf of people. Through our podcast, we hope to learn from them, support them, connect them, inspire them, and preserve their work for future trial lawyers. If you are willing, we would greatly appreciate it if you left us a 5-Star Google Review by clicking here. Your review will help people find us. Also, if you would like to subscribe to the RVA Trial Lawyers Newsletter, you can do so here. Thank you! Sharif Gray and Nael Abouzaki Courtroom Stories & Tactics | RVA Trial Lawyers

"Practice means you're doing intentional movements. Practicing typically indicates you have a coach giving you feedback, or somebody's giving you feedback. If you haven't been trained, how do you know what's appropriate?" Dan Ambrose, founder of Trial Lawyers University (TLU), joins us to share the story behind one of the most influential training series for trial lawyers in the country. In just five years, TLU has become a must-attend training for trial lawyers serious about improving in and out of the courtroom. We talk about the importance of training and practice in trial law, and Dan highlights the difference between gaining experience and mastering the performance skills essential for courtroom success. Dan also shares his journey from a criminal defense lawyer in Detroit to a personal injury consultant and educator. It was a privilege having Dan join us. Courtroom Stories & Tactics | RVA Trial Lawyers Trial lawyers do not become great overnight. It takes persistence, a relentless work ethic, a willingness to learn from mistakes, a burning passion for the craft, an authentic self, and the courage and vulnerability to enter the arena time and again. Those who become great trial lawyers also become great people. Through their work, they grapple with the realities of the human condition and in the process cultivate character, principle, integrity, leadership, strength, compassion, and perseverance. Based out of Richmond, Virginia, Courtroom Stories & Tactics by RVA Trial Lawyers exists for lawyers who try cases to juries on behalf of people. Through our podcast, we hope to learn from them, support them, connect them, inspire them, and preserve their work for future trial lawyers. If you are willing, we would greatly appreciate it if you left us a 5-Star Google Review by clicking here. Your review will help people find us. Also, if you would like to subscribe to the RVA Trial Lawyers Newsletter, you can do so here. Thank you! Sharif Gray and Nael Abouzaki Courtroom Stories & Tactics | RVA Trial Lawyers

"Having done so many focus groups, you get a good, fine-tuned ear for what is clear testimony and what is not. The goal of this method is for people to be as comfortable as they can, but then have confident, clear testimony that is very credible." Trial Consultant Elizabeth Larrick joins us today to discuss the importance and methodology of both witness preparation and focus groups. Elizabeth shares her journey from being a plaintiff's trial lawyer to running her own consulting firm. We cover the witness prep method she learned under the guidance of the Keenan Trial Institute, the psychological aspects of prepping witnesses, the use of visual aids, and common mistakes lawyers should avoid. We then delve into how focus groups can enhance a lawyer's approach to cases by providing diverse perspectives and fostering better case framing. Elizabeth shares practical advice for both seasoned and aspiring trial lawyers on how to improve their litigation skills and client interactions. It was a privilege having Elizabeth join us. Courtroom Stories & Tactics | RVA Trial Lawyers Trial lawyers do not become great overnight. It takes persistence, a relentless work ethic, a willingness to learn from mistakes, a burning passion for the craft, an authentic self, and the courage and vulnerability to enter the arena time and again. Those who become great trial lawyers also become great people. Through their work, they grapple with the realities of the human condition and in the process cultivate character, principle, integrity, leadership, strength, compassion, and perseverance. Based out of Richmond, Virginia, Courtroom Stories & Tactics by RVA Trial Lawyers exists for lawyers who try cases to juries on behalf of people. Through our podcast, we hope to learn from them, support them, connect them, inspire them, and preserve their work for future trial lawyers. If you are willing, we would greatly appreciate it if you left us a 5-Star Google Review by clicking here. Your review will help people find us. Also, if you would like to subscribe to the RVA Trial Lawyers Newsletter, you can do so here. Thank you! Sharif Gray and Nael Abouzaki Courtroom Stories & Tactics | RVA Trial Lawyers

"The middle of a trial is the only place I've ever been where the thought came over me, 'This is where you belong. Right here. In this chaos.' Having some control over a situation that most people feel is totally out of control. You're in the eye of the storm, and it's calm there." - John Merrick Personal Injury Lawyers John Merrick and Les Brock spent a combined 25 years defending insurance companies and other large corporations, before moving to defend individuals and their families in personal injury and wrongful death cases, as well as businesses in payment claims, fraud and other business torts. We talk today about that journey, taking the big step nearly 7 years ago to go out on their own, the lifestyle implications, business acumen required and complete mindset shifts involved. John and Les share what they've learned about valuation, taking cases to trial, working with claims adjusters and the contrasts between big firms and a small, nimble firm like their own. It was a pleasure having John and Les join us. RVA Trial Lawyers: Virginia's Trial Lawyer Podcast Trial lawyers do not become great overnight. It takes persistence, a relentless work ethic, a willingness to learn from mistakes, a burning passion for the craft, an authentic self, and the courage and vulnerability to enter the arena time and again. Those who become great trial lawyers also become great people. Through their work, they grapple with the realities of the human condition and in the process cultivate character, principle, integrity, leadership, strength, compassion, and perseverance. Based out of Richmond, RVA Trial Lawyers exists for Virginia’s trial lawyers. Through our podcast, we hope to learn from them, support them, connect them, inspire them, and preserve their work for future trial lawyers. If you are willing, we would greatly appreciate it if you left us a 5-Star Google Review by clicking here. Your review will help people find us. Also, if you would like to subscribe to the RVA Trial Lawyers Newsletter, you can do so here. Thank you! Sharif Gray and Nael Abouzaki RVA Trial Lawyers: Virginia's Trial Lawyer Podcast

"What is going to drive damages has little to do with what the client is going to say about their therapy records, and instead is going to have everything to do about the conduct of an organization and/or perpetrator. That's what drives the value." Guy D'Andrea is a passionate defender of victims of abuse, and has pursued justice against many notable religious institutions, boarding schools, massage therapists, healthcare providers and more. Today he shares what brought him to this work, how his team works up sexual assault cases and, when there unfortunately remain so many such cases across the country, how his team handles this volume. Most of all, Guy highlights how his experience in criminal trial work has given him the skills to pivot and adapt in any courtroom, to any situation. The takeaway from this conversation for young lawyers is to go get that experience! A tenacious and compassionate advocate for victims and survivors of abuse and assault, Guy D'Andrea is a seasoned former prosecutor and now civil trial lawyer, and is fiercely dedicated to representing those who have suffered sexual and physical assaults/abuse in institutional settings. It was a privilege having Guy join us. RVA Trial Lawyers: Virginia's Trial Lawyer Podcast Trial lawyers do not become great overnight. It takes persistence, a relentless work ethic, a willingness to learn from mistakes, a burning passion for the craft, an authentic self, and the courage and vulnerability to enter the arena time and again. Those who become great trial lawyers also become great people. Through their work, they grapple with the realities of the human condition and in the process cultivate character, principle, integrity, leadership, strength, compassion, and perseverance. Based out of Richmond, RVA Trial Lawyers exists for Virginia’s trial lawyers. Through our podcast, we hope to learn from them, support them, connect them, inspire them, and preserve their work for future trial lawyers. If you are willing, we would greatly appreciate it if you left us a 5-Star Google Review by clicking here. Your review will help people find us. Also, if you would like to subscribe to the RVA Trial Lawyers Newsletter, you can do so here. Thank you! Sharif Gray and Nael Abouzaki RVA Trial Lawyers: Virginia's Trial Lawyer Podcast

"We have the mindset that each case we're going to file suit on, we're intending to take it to trial. Absent a material difference or client ambivalence that arises later, we're taking them all to trial. But sometimes the insurance companies start to be more reasonable at the end when they know something big might hit them." Beau Correll leads a busy plaintiffs personal injury law firm, anchored in Virginia's Northern Shenandoah Valley, and today we talk about how he and his team balance a steady workload of cases and clients across three locations. From investing in his team's training and education, to putting solid systems in place, adding value along every stage of the process, splitting responsibilities between staff, and recognizing when to lean into certain cases, it's an impressive example of management and organization. It was a privilege having Beau join us. RVA Trial Lawyers: Virginia's Trial Lawyer Podcast Trial lawyers do not become great overnight. It takes persistence, a relentless work ethic, a willingness to learn from mistakes, a burning passion for the craft, an authentic self, and the courage and vulnerability to enter the arena time and again. Those who become great trial lawyers also become great people. Through their work, they grapple with the realities of the human condition and in the process cultivate character, principle, integrity, leadership, strength, compassion, and perseverance. Based out of Richmond, RVA Trial Lawyers exists for Virginia’s trial lawyers. Through our podcast, we hope to learn from them, support them, connect them, inspire them, and preserve their work for future trial lawyers. If you are willing, we would greatly appreciate it if you left us a 5-Star Google Review by clicking here. Your review will help people find us. Also, if you would like to subscribe to the RVA Trial Lawyers Newsletter, you can do so here. Thank you! Sharif Gray and Nael Abouzaki RVA Trial Lawyers: Virginia's Trial Lawyer Podcast

"Just because the jury can't use words, doesn't mean they can't talk to you, it doesn't mean they can't communicate with you. So really listen and really talk." Andrew Caple-Shaw joined us on RVA Trial Lawyers: Virginia's Trial Lawyer Podcast. Andrew is the managing partner at Act of Communication and a professional actor with nearly four decades of experience. He brings the art of performance and a deep understanding of human behavior to the courtroom and to witness preparation—training lawyers to communicate with clarity and confidence and helping witnesses testify effectively. Andrew shares how emotional sincerity, narrative structure, and storytelling elevate a lawyer’s ability to persuade. We talk about what it means to be truly authentic in front of a jury, why listening and curiosity are essential trial skills, and how societal changes—from shrinking attention spans to evolving cultural norms—are reshaping jury decision-making. We also dig into the art and science of voir dire, practical techniques for witness preparation that focus on emotional truth, and the transformative role trial lawyers can play when they lead with vulnerability and presence. It was a privilege having Andrew join us. RVA Trial Lawyers: Virginia's Trial Lawyer Podcast Trial lawyers do not become great overnight. It takes persistence, a relentless work ethic, a willingness to learn from mistakes, a burning passion for the craft, an authentic self, and the courage and vulnerability to enter the arena time and again. Those who become great trial lawyers also become great people. Through their work, they grapple with the realities of the human condition and in the process cultivate character, principle, integrity, leadership, strength, compassion, and perseverance. Based out of Richmond, RVA Trial Lawyers exists for Virginia’s trial lawyers. Through our podcast, we hope to learn from them, support them, connect them, inspire them, and preserve their work for future trial lawyers. If you are willing, we would greatly appreciate it if you left us a 5-Star Google Review by clicking here. Your review will help people find us. Also, if you would like to subscribe to the RVA Trial Lawyers Newsletter, you can do so here. Thank you! Sharif Gray and Nael Abouzaki RVA Trial Lawyers: Virginia's Trial Lawyer Podcast

"All you can do is guide and arm your good jurors to go in there and fight for you." Michael Cowen is one of the most respected voices in the personal injury practice area. Over nearly 30 years, he has tried more than 100 cases and built a reputation for being both a skilled trial lawyer and a generous teacher. Michael started his career in corporate law in New York but chose to return home to Texas and fight for injured people—and he’s never looked back. His work gives him purpose, and he’s driven by a commitment to growth, integrity, and justice. In this episode of RVA Trial Lawyers, Michael and Sharif dive into: Michael also shares his reflections as host of Trial Lawyer Nation and what he’s learned from the hundreds of conversations he’s had with trial lawyers across the country. It was a privilege having Michael join us. RVA Trial Lawyers: Virginia's Trial Lawyer Podcast Trial lawyers do not become great overnight. It takes persistence, a relentless work ethic, a willingness to learn from mistakes, a burning passion for the craft, an authentic self, and the courage and vulnerability to enter the arena time and again. Those who become great trial lawyers also become great people. Through their work, they grapple with the realities of the human condition and in the process cultivate character, principle, integrity, leadership, strength, compassion, and perseverance. Based out of Richmond, RVA Trial Lawyers exists for Virginia’s trial lawyers. Through our podcast, we hope to learn from them, support them, connect them, inspire them, and preserve their work for future trial lawyers. If you are willing, we would greatly appreciate it if you left us a 5-Star Google Review by clicking here. Your review will help people find us. Also, if you would like to subscribe to the RVA Trial Lawyers Newsletter, you can do so here. Thank you! Sharif Gray and Nael Abouzaki RVA Trial Lawyers: Virginia's Trial Lawyer Podcast

"Focus groups give you a lot of time to practice things that you don't get to practice in court. Getting your feet wet where you can do it without spending a bunch of money is really the only way you can do it these days." Jessica Brylo is a trial consultant specializing in jury selection, case framing, focus groups, and trial strategy. She has more trial experience than most practicing lawyers, so she knows what works and what doesn't. Jessica joined us on RVA Trial Lawyers and helped us better understand the role of focus groups in learning about juror attitudes and framing cases effectively, and the significance of preparing for trials through mock trials and data analysis. It was a privilege having Jessica join us. Find Jessica's focus group reference guide here: Junk In, Junk Out: A Guide to Conducting Your Own Focus Groups Correctly. RVA Trial Lawyers: Virginia's Trial Lawyer Podcast Trial lawyers do not become great overnight. It takes persistence, a relentless work ethic, a willingness to learn from mistakes, a burning passion for the craft, an authentic self, and the courage and vulnerability to enter the arena time and again. Those who become great trial lawyers also become great people. Through their work, they grapple with the realities of the human condition and in the process cultivate character, principle, integrity, leadership, strength, compassion, and perseverance. Based out of Richmond, RVA Trial Lawyers exists for Virginia’s trial lawyers. Through our podcast, we hope to learn from them, support them, connect them, inspire them, and preserve their work for future trial lawyers. If you are willing, we would greatly appreciate it if you left us a 5-Star Google Review by clicking here. Your review will help people find us. Also, if you would like to subscribe to the RVA Trial Lawyers Newsletter, you can do so here. Thank you! Sharif Gray and Nael Abouzaki RVA Trial Lawyers: Virginia's Trial Lawyer Podcast

"It's really important when you meet your client to develop that authentic connection. Because if I have an authentic connection with my client, we always have a better connection than the defense." Chris Finney joined us on RVA Trial Lawyers. We discuss how he built his law practice, his commitment to doing trial work the right way, and the importance of building genuine relationships both in and out of the courtroom. Chris is the founder of Finney Injury Law in St. Louis, Missouri, a personal injury law trial practice. Chris is known for his authenticity, his heart, and his dedication to helping those in need. It was a privilege having Chris join us. RVA Trial Lawyers: Virginia's Trial Lawyer Podcast Trial lawyers do not become great overnight. It takes persistence, a relentless work ethic, a willingness to learn from mistakes, a burning passion for the craft, an authentic self, and the courage and vulnerability to enter the arena time and again. Those who become great trial lawyers also become great people. Through their work, they grapple with the realities of the human condition and in the process cultivate character, principle, integrity, leadership, strength, compassion, and perseverance. Based out of Richmond, RVA Trial Lawyers exists for Virginia’s trial lawyers. Through our podcast, we hope to learn from them, support them, connect them, inspire them, and preserve their work for future trial lawyers. If you are willing, we would greatly appreciate it if you left us a 5-Star Google Review by clicking here. Your review will help people find us. Also, if you would like to subscribe to the RVA Trial Lawyers Newsletter, you can do so here. Thank you! Sharif Gray and Nael Abouzaki RVA Trial Lawyers: Virginia's Trial Lawyer Podcast

"The toughness and resilience of clients of mine, to see those people pick themselves up off the mat and carry on with life as best they can, is inspiring." Rand Robins joined us on RVA Trial Lawyers. Rand initially studied journalism but found the investigative skills lent themselves well to gathering evidence. He steadily compiled a notebook of contacts and networks, through phone calls, lunch meetings and quick chats over coffee, that led him to the medical malpractice field, where he has gained extensive jury trial experience. In today's episode, we reference a well-known video from the Cleveland Clinic called "Empathy: The Human Connection to Patient Care." We highly encourage you to check Born and raised in Richmond, Rand graduated from the University of North Carolina and earned his law degree from the Washington College of Law at American University. He is dedicated to mentoring middle and high school kids from tough backgrounds and is a board member of UP RVA, an organization that provides support to motivated young people seeking to better themselves through hard work and discipline. It was a privilege having Rand join us. RVA Trial Lawyers: Virginia's Trial Lawyer Podcast Trial lawyers do not become great overnight. It takes persistence, a relentless work ethic, a willingness to learn from mistakes, a burning passion for the craft, an authentic self, and the courage and vulnerability to enter the arena time and again. Those who become great trial lawyers also become great people. Through their work, they grapple with the realities of the human condition and in the process cultivate character, principle, integrity, leadership, strength, compassion, and perseverance. Based out of Richmond, RVA Trial Lawyers exists for Virginia’s trial lawyers. Through our podcast, we hope to learn from them, support them, connect them, inspire them, and preserve their work for future trial lawyers. If you are willing, we would greatly appreciate it if you left us a 5-Star Google Review by clicking here. Your review will help people find us. Also, if you would like to subscribe to the RVA Trial Lawyers Newsletter, you can do so here. Thank you! Sharif Gray and Nael Abouzaki RVA Trial Lawyers: Virginia's Trial Lawyer Podcast

"I think it's wonderful work. I'm grateful every day that I get to do, for money, something that I find incredibly interesting. I think personal injury is the best kept secret—the brightest young attorneys should want to do this kind of work." Maureen Farrell joined us this week on RVA Trial Lawyers. We discuss her work as a personal injury trial lawyer, her willingness to take on challenging disputed liability cases, and how she loves helping her clients through incredibly difficult and stressful times in their lives. Maureen has more than 15 years of experience in civil litigation, including business disputes, fraud and fiduciary duty cases, and complex personal injury claims. She has tried cases to jury verdict, including the largest fiduciary duty jury verdict in Texas in 2023. It was a privilege having Maureen join us. RVA Trial Lawyers: Virginia's Trial Lawyer Podcast Trial lawyers do not become great overnight. It takes persistence, a relentless work ethic, a willingness to learn from mistakes, a burning passion for the craft, an authentic self, and the courage and vulnerability to enter the arena time and again. Those who become great trial lawyers also become great people. Through their work, they grapple with the realities of the human condition and in the process cultivate character, principle, integrity, leadership, strength, compassion, and perseverance. Based out of Richmond, RVA Trial Lawyers exists for Virginia’s trial lawyers. Through our podcast, we hope to learn from them, support them, connect them, inspire them, and preserve their work for future trial lawyers. If you are willing, we would greatly appreciate it if you left us a 5-Star Google Review by clicking here. Your review will help people find us. Also, if you would like to subscribe to the RVA Trial Lawyers Newsletter, you can do so here. Thank you! Sharif Gray and Nael Abouzaki RVA Trial Lawyers: Virginia's Trial Lawyer Podcast

"All the best verdicts that I've had, in the opening statement, the jurors' eyes are bugging out and their jaws are hitting the floor. And they tell you afterwards, 'I didn't realize this case was so strong, and I'm sorry that I questioned it in voir dire. But then I heard your case in opening.' So that's where you want them. You don't want to oversell it before you actually panel the jury." Harry Plotkin joined us on RVA Trial Lawyers. We discuss his work as a trial consultant, how to approach jury selection, and how to identify potential jurors who will give you the best chance of winning your case. Harry is a nationally-renowned jury consultant and leading voice in the field of jury decision-making, psychology, and persuasion. He has helped shape the outcome of over one thousand trials across the country in nearly every state. It was a privilege having Harry join us. RVA Trial Lawyers: Virginia's Trial Lawyer Podcast Trial lawyers do not become great overnight. It takes persistence, a relentless work ethic, a willingness to learn from mistakes, a burning passion for the craft, an authentic self, and the courage and vulnerability to enter the arena time and again. Those who become great trial lawyers also become great people. Through their work, they grapple with the realities of the human condition and in the process cultivate character, principle, integrity, leadership, strength, compassion, and perseverance. Based out of Richmond, RVA Trial Lawyers exists for Virginia’s trial lawyers. Through our podcast, we hope to learn from them, support them, connect them, inspire them, and preserve their work for future trial lawyers. If you are willing, we would greatly appreciate it if you left us a 5-Star Google Review by clicking here. Your review will help people find us. Also, if you would like to subscribe to the RVA Trial Lawyers Newsletter, you can do so here. Thank you! Sharif Gray and Nael Abouzaki RVA Trial Lawyers: Virginia's Trial Lawyer Podcast

"The magic that happens in a case at trial is a lot of times built on the seemingly mundane efforts to get discovery, to take depositions, to request more discovery based on those depositions, to request more depositions based on that discovery, this kind of osmotic relationship between written discovery and depositions, kind of doing the doing and the more evidence you can develop, the more work you put in, the more magical it becomes." Kenny Berger joined us on RVA Trial Lawyers. We discuss his work as a personal injury trial lawyer, the recent $26 million settlement he and his team secured for a young boy who was severely burned at a resort in Myrtle Beach, and his commitment to getting real justice for the people he represents. It was a privilege having Kenny join us. RVA Trial Lawyers: Virginia's Trial Lawyer Podcast Trial lawyers do not become great overnight. It takes persistence, a relentless work ethic, a willingness to learn from mistakes, a burning passion for the craft, an authentic self, and the courage and vulnerability to enter the arena time and again. Those who become great trial lawyers also become great people. Through their work, they grapple with the realities of the human condition and in the process cultivate character, principle, integrity, leadership, strength, compassion, and perseverance. Based out of Richmond, RVA Trial Lawyers exists for Virginia’s trial lawyers. Through our podcast, we hope to learn from them, support them, connect them, inspire them, and preserve their work for future trial lawyers. If you are willing, we would greatly appreciate it if you left us a 5-Star Google Review by clicking here. Your review will help people find us. Also, if you would like to subscribe to the RVA Trial Lawyers Newsletter, you can do so here. Thank you! Sharif Gray and Nael Abouzaki RVA Trial Lawyers: Virginia's Trial Lawyer Podcast

"It sucks when we lose, but when we win and hopefully you win more than you lose on our side, it's life changing. I can't get that from any other job. And to know 10 years down the line, and now I've been in practice long enough, 15 years down the line, somebody sends me a card out of the blue and they just say, I was thinking about you. Or in a death case, they reach out and say this was the anniversary of his death and I think of you and I thank you for what you did for my family. That's priceless." Stephanie Grana joined us on RVA Trial Lawyers. We discuss her work as a personal injury trial lawyer, her commitment to improving the Virginia legal community, and her passion for helping those injured through no fault of their own get the justice they deserve. It was a privilege having Stephanie join us. RVA Trial Lawyers: Virginia's Trial Lawyer Podcast Trial lawyers do not become great overnight. It takes persistence, a relentless work ethic, a willingness to learn from mistakes, a burning passion for the craft, an authentic self, and the courage and vulnerability to enter the arena time and again. Those who become great trial lawyers also become great people. Through their work, they grapple with the realities of the human condition and in the process cultivate character, principle, integrity, leadership, strength, compassion, and perseverance. Based out of Richmond, RVA Trial Lawyers exists for Virginia’s trial lawyers. Through our podcast, we hope to learn from them, support them, connect them, inspire them, and preserve their work for future trial lawyers. If you are willing, we would greatly appreciate it if you left us a 5-Star Google Review by clicking here. Your review will help people find us. Also, if you would like to subscribe to the RVA Trial Lawyers Newsletter, you can do so here. Thank you! Sharif Gray and Nael Abouzaki RVA Trial Lawyers: Virginia's Trial Lawyer Podcast

"Find out how this accident affected them. Talk to their spouse, talk to their cousins, their best friends. No matter how big or small, it has affected that person in some way. Maybe they had a good car that was paid for and now they have a car payment. Maybe they had to miss work and can't pay their bills. Maybe they missed their kid's graduation. There's always something about a case that if you delve into it, you'll find some nugget that you can use." Donald Marcari joined us on RVA Trial Lawyers. We discuss his work as a personal injury trial lawyer and a Navy JAG Officer, his first jury trial that inspired the movie "A Few Good Men", and his love for helping people getting justice in the courtroom. It was a privilege having Don join us. RVA Trial Lawyers: Virginia's Trial Lawyer Podcast Trial lawyers do not become great overnight. It takes persistence, a relentless work ethic, a willingness to learn from mistakes, a burning passion for the craft, an authentic self, and the courage and vulnerability to enter the arena time and again. Those who become great trial lawyers also become great people. Through their work, they grapple with the realities of the human condition and in the process cultivate character, principle, integrity, leadership, strength, compassion, and perseverance. Based out of Richmond, RVA Trial Lawyers exists for Virginia’s trial lawyers. Through our podcast, we hope to learn from them, support them, connect them, inspire them, and preserve their work for future trial lawyers. If you are willing, we would greatly appreciate it if you left us a 5-Star Google Review by clicking here. Your review will help people find us. Also, if you would like to subscribe to the RVA Trial Lawyers Newsletter, you can do so here. Thank you! Sharif Gray and Nael Abouzaki RVA Trial Lawyers: Virginia's Trial Lawyer Podcast

Mark W. Bennett (45:24.671) Sharif. And it's an art form. You know, there lots of rules, rules of separate procedure, rules of evidence, rules of criminal procedure. I get all that. But the bottom line is most part of trial work is the gray area. And so my philosophy always was, as a lawyer was, unless the judge has stopped me, I haven't gone far enough. Mark W. Bennett (45:51.254) And if the judge stops me, I have to be very graceful in apologizing and backing off. But you can get away with a lot of stuff before a judge is going to stop you. And you can't be fearful of pushing the boundaries because we don't know where those boundaries end. And they're different for every judge you practice in Brownhoof. The boundaries can be very different. And so... Mark W. Bennett (01:05:45.772) You have to have the desire and passion to be the best that you can be. And that takes an incredible amount of hard work. You have to find role models. It's good to read about it, but you have to watch and, and you have to second chair really good trial lawyers. And then you have to be fearless. You have to be fearless. Cause Mark W. Bennett (01:06:14.7) Not every trial is going to go like you thought it was going to go. Things are going to go south and you have to pick yourself up and learn from that and not be discouraged by it. The word is gritty. You have to be gritty. I Jerry Spence is a great example. He flunked the Colorado bar. mean, the yeah, the Colorado bar once, I think maybe twice, he lost his first state civil jury trials. RVA Trial Lawyers: Virginia's Trial Lawyer Podcast Trial lawyers do not become great overnight. It takes persistence, a relentless work ethic, a willingness to learn from mistakes, a burning passion for the craft, an authentic self, and the courage and vulnerability to enter the arena time and again. Those who become great trial lawyers also become great people. Through their work, they grapple with the realities of the human condition and in the process cultivate character, principle, integrity, leadership, strength, compassion, and perseverance. Based out of Richmond, RVA Trial Lawyers exists for Virginia’s trial lawyers. Through our podcast, we hope to learn from them, support them, connect them, inspire them, and preserve their work for future trial lawyers. If you are willing, we would greatly appreciate it if you left us a 5-Star Google Review by clicking here. Your review will help people find us. Also, if you would like to subscribe to the RVA Trial Lawyers Newsletter, you can do so here. Thank you! Sharif Gray and Nael Abouzaki RVA Trial Lawyers

"At the end of the day, what's behind dunking a basketball and what's behind being a badass cha-cha dancer is the same feeling. It's human, it's innate, and it's very real and powerful. And that's where decisions are made, like we talked about earlier. The biggest fallacy in what we do is the idea that people make decisions based on logic. They don't. And even the idea that they do is not true." Joe Fried joined us on RVA Trial Lawyers. We discuss his work as a personal injury trial lawyer; the importance of authenticity, vulnerability, and connection with jurors; how framing and storytelling can influence decisions; and the need to understand oneself as a trial lawyer. It was a privilege having Joe join us. RVA Trial Lawyers: Virginia's Trial Lawyer Podcast Trial lawyers do not become great overnight. It takes persistence, a relentless work ethic, a willingness to learn from mistakes, a burning passion for the craft, an authentic self, and the courage and vulnerability to enter the arena time and again. Those who become great trial lawyers also become great people. Through their work, they grapple with the realities of the human condition and in the process cultivate character, principle, integrity, leadership, strength, compassion, and perseverance. Based out of Richmond, RVA Trial Lawyers exists for Virginia’s trial lawyers. Through our podcast, we hope to learn from them, support them, connect them, inspire them, and preserve their work for future trial lawyers. If you are willing, we would greatly appreciate it if you left us a 5-Star Google Review by clicking here. Your review will help people find us. Also, if you would like to subscribe to the RVA Trial Lawyers Newsletter, you can do so here. Thank you! Sharif Gray and Nael Abouzaki RVA Trial Lawyers: Virginia's Trial Lawyer Podcast