Dickerson Oxton - July 2022

Dickerson Oxton - July 2022

816-268-1960 | 913-428-8220 www.dickersonoxton.com

JULY 2022

ANIMAL BITES

CAR ACCIDENTS

MEDICAL MALPRACTICE

The Art of Listening How It Makes Good Attorneys Great

BICYCLE/ MOTORCYCLE ACCIDENTS

Listening doesn’t seem to come naturally to most people. It’s easy to get tied up in your thoughts instead of absorbing what someone else is saying. While we’re considering how to respond, we can sometimes find ourselves simply waiting for the other person to finish talking. It’s a selfish impulse, but it’s also a human one. Listening is something we need to learn, and that takes practice. July 18 is World Listening Day, and I can honestly say that I’ve become a much better listener the longer I’ve been an attorney. I spend a great deal of time listening to other people as I conduct depositions, interview witnesses, talk to clients, and ask questions of experts in court. If I don’t listen, I can’t do my job, so I need to employ techniques to focus on what people are truly saying. I’m a notetaker at heart, but taking notes can counterintuitively distract from the listening process. You may be recording everything a person is saying, but it’s challenging to process the information when you’re focused on writing it all down. Now, I use a digital transcription service called Otter.ai. It takes notes on my behalf, and I can playback the audio if something in the text doesn’t look right. Other times, I’ll have another attorney or staff member join the meeting and make it their sole job to take notes and ensure I don’t forget anything later. It’s crucial that I put down the notebook and the laptop and be present with my clients — most people just want someone to listen to them. An accident is a traumatic event, and people need the opportunity to share how they’re feeling without judgment. Clients need to feel safe and comfortable with their attorneys, and I can hardly expect them to feel comfortable if I show disinterest by repeatedly asking the same questions. It’s just as essential that I keep an open mind. We deal with countless car wrecks at our firm, and many scenarios are similar. If you’re not careful, they can start to blend together — and you can start making some assumptions or think you

know what happened better than the people who were there. Each case has its unique aspects, and by letting my biases color what I’m hearing, I could do the client a great disservice.

BRAIN & SPINAL CORD INJURIES

The same is true in a courtroom. Believe it or not, there is such a thing as being overly

BURN INJURIES

prepared for a witness exam. It’s easy to plan out everything that will happen and a lot more challenging to be in the moment. Many attorneys approach witnesses thinking: “I’ll ask this question, then they’ll respond with this answer, then I’ll ask this question …” That’s such a big mistake, and I recently went to a legal conference in Montana that touched on why. A very famous trial attorney, Nicholas Rowley, demonstrated his method of interviewing witnesses in a very natural manner. This relaxed approach is why he’s the best at what he does. You might say he’s “winging it,” but having a genuine conversation with a witness is much more valuable than putting on a show. It’s easy for many attorneys to forget that! People in this field often enjoy the spotlight. But the case isn’t about us — it’s about the witnesses, the experts, the client, and the facts. They deserve the jury’s full attention, not the counsel. I’ve also found that when you really listen to what a witness is saying, they don’t always respond with exactly what you’d expect. You gain much more valuable information by focusing on their words than by sticking to your prep notes. I’ll never claim to be perfect, but learning how to listen has made me a better attorney, family member, and friend. I encourage everyone to take the time to cultivate it. It’s a little hard to accept at first, but not everything is always about us. And once we learn to focus on other people, the world becomes much more interesting. –Chelsea Dickerson

CONSTRUCTION INJURIES

NURSING HOME ABUSE

SLIP & FALL ACCIDENTS

BOATING ACCIDENTS

TRUCK ACCIDENTS

PHARMACEUTICAL & DRUG INJURIES

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Summer’s biggest event is almost here, and we couldn’t be more excited for our local Fourth of July celebrations. Kansas City has plenty of ways for your family to gather, eat, and play this year. Here are our top picks for families that want to celebrate their patriotism in style. KC RIVERFEST RiverFest was a little smaller last year, but that doesn’t mean it wasn’t a good time. Our city’s biggest celebration is located at Berkley Riverfront Park on July 4, and the event will feature food, live music, and children’s activities. And it all ends with one of the biggest fireworks shows in the Midwest. As we’re writing this newsletter, details on the 2022 KC RiverFest are limited, but the organizers have indicated they intend for the show to go on! Stay updated on the latest by visiting KCRiverFest.com. STARS AND STRIPES PICNIC The National WWI Museum and Memorial will be holding an event for Independence Day, and there could hardly be a more fitting location. Every year, musicians, local vendors, and restaurants all gather to help the community have fun and remember the true spirit of the 4th. There’s no need to visit a second event because fireworks will be held onsite. This year the event is on July 2; check out the details at TheWorldWar.org/stars-and-stripes-picnic before planning your visit. WAYS TO CELEBRATE TH Stars, Stripes, and S Somebody’s Watching Me Your Car’s >Page 1 Page 2 Page 3 Page 4

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