Dudley DeBosier Injury Lawyers - Summer 2020

Dudley DeBosier Injury Lawyers - Summer 2020

SUMMER 2020

“While my specialty is courtroom litigation and I’m constantly learning more, I feel incredibly privileged to work with all the talented, intelligent folks at Dudley DeBosier.” Baton Rouge 225-444-4444 1075 Government St. Baton Rouge, LA 70802 Denham Springs 225-444-4444 419 S. Range Ave. Ste. A Denham Springs, LA 70726 Lafayette 337-444-4444 2800 W. Pinhook Rd. Ste. 9 Lafayette, LA 70508 New Orleans 504-444-4444 622 Baronne St. New Orleans, LA 70113 Shreveport 318-800-8000 4300 Youree Dr. Ste. 250 Shreveport, LA 71105 Houma 504-444-4444 7887 W. Main St., Ste. 101 Houma, LA 70360

Reading the Room STEVEN DEBOSIER’S ORIGIN STORY AND THE IMPORTANCE OF JURY PSYCHOLOGY

My name is Steven DeBosier, and I am one of the three partners at Dudley DeBosier Injury Lawyers. You met one of my best friends, Chad Dudley, in our last edition! This time, I want to introduce myself and talk about something near and dear to my heart: why being a lawyer is so important to me. Unlike most, my parents actually worried when I told them I wanted to attend law school — I suppose it made sense in context. I grew up in Baton Rouge and am the youngest of seven kids. All my older siblings have become engineers, in large part because my dad was so adamant about us going into engineering. But even as a kid, I was better at debate than anything else. I was excited when I realized how that skill can help people, so I’ve known since high school that I wanted to become a lawyer. But my parents didn’t want me to study prelaw or political science. As a civil engineer and architect, my dad thought law couldn’t be as promisingly steady as an engineering degree. I didn’t want to upset them, but at the same time, I knew I could do anything once I had an engineering degree. So, I went to college and studied engineering. After completing my undergrad, I picked up bartending as I attended law school. I’ve always enjoyed interacting with people, so it was the best job I could’ve had while attending school. I don’t regret the path I took in the slightest. I tell my kids this often: When you wake up in the morning, get ready, drive to work, stay at work, and drive home, you spend a minimum of half your waking hours doing your job. If you dislike your job, you dislike half your life. I knew sticking to my expertise with debate and people would pay off, and

defense lawyer, I know what insurance companies will do to protect themselves, but if you can present the facts of your case and get the jury on your side, then corporations can’t use a lot of their tricks. Jury psychology can change your entire outlook in court and make your stance far more empowering to your case. Psychology is both fascinating and revealing in a courtroom. For example, you have to wonder as a lawyer, even if you’re not up against an insurance company: Why would someone sit for two minutes in their car to come up with what happened rather than tell the truth? While my specialty is courtroom litigation and I’m constantly learning more, I feel incredibly privileged to work with all the talented, intelligent folks at Dudley DeBosier. I did a lot of work between law school and coming to the firm that would become Dudley DeBosier, but one of the most important things is this: I’m so glad I met my partners, Chad and James. They’re my two best friends. Chad is the ultimate guy at what he does. He can read an entire book at lunch and tell me all the information I need to know from it. He’s like my personal CliffsNotes. Then, there’s James. Not only is James great at litigation, but he’s also a caring, loving family man. We each have our roles, and James’ role is litigation and hugging. There isn’t anyone who gets away without a James hug. It’s a great dynamic, and the friendship doesn’t stop there. We spend hours on end hanging out with each other and our families, even outside of work. Engineering still has a unique influence on my perspective of law. There’s a lot of science involved in car wrecks, for example. But the biggest advantages I have at Dudley DeBosier are the amazing people I work with and my perspective of the court. We give consultations to hundreds of other firms, professionals, and individuals across the nation who trust our expertise. Should you ever need an attorney — though I hope you don’t — I hope you’ll let me and my closest friends take care of you.

I’ve been able to do what I love every day — fight for those who don’t have the resources to fight for themselves. My intuition about people did reveal something important to me that law school didn’t teach: jury psychology. It doesn’t matter what kind of argument you make if you can’t effectively prove your point is the correct one. As a former

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The Timeless Charm of the Drive-In Movie

What Is Jury Psychology?

PLUS, HOW TO CREATE YOUR OWN OUTDOOR CINEMA

Summertime is synonymous with many childhood experiences: hours splashing in the pool, sleepaway camp, and snow cones, to name a few. A quintessential summer destination that isn’t as common these days is the drive-in theater, yet many childhood memories are built on this little bit of nostalgia. The first drive-in theater opened in 1933 in Camden, New Jersey. At the time, films cost 25 cents per person, plus 25 cents per car, and drive-ins usually got movies in the second run, after they’d shown at indoor theaters. The trend started off slow, but by the ‘50s, Americans had fully embraced the outdoor theater experience. The ‘80s brought a charismatic Michael J. Fox to audiences in “Back to the Future,” and shortly after, “The Sandlot” hit the big screen and gave us lines that we’d quote for the next decade (“You’re killin’ me, Smalls!”). As of 2018, USA Today estimated that only about 330 drive-in theaters still exist in the United States. But if you don’t have one in your area, there’s a way you can enjoy the outdoor movie experience without having to leave your backyard. Your outdoor cinema starts with a projector. If you don’t have one, they are readily available to purchase at most big-box stores. For playing the movie, you’ll need a laptop and streaming service or a DVD or Blu-ray player. You’ll connect these devices to your projector through an HDMI port. As long as you’re not broadcasting to the whole neighborhood, stereo or computer speakers should be just fine, but you can also opt for a Bluetooth speaker that will give your audio a big boost. Next, you’ll need a flat surface to display the movie. A plain, white bedsheet makes a good screen, or you can make your own with white fabric from craft stores or online. Cushions, blankets, and outdoor hanging lights add a fun touch to your cinema. Just be sure to turn the lights off before the movie begins — and silence those cellphones!

Having a Public Perception of Your Case

To explain the importance of jury psychology, we should look at a study that examines exactly that. “Jury Decision Making: Implications For and From Psychology” by the Association of Psychological Science is one of many studies on the topic, but it especially explains one point very well: Your impression on the jury can be just as important as your impression on the judge. Although a diminishing number of cases are decided by a jury, they still decide the fate of thousands of cases a month and often influence civil lawsuits as well. Lawyers often fight to control the narrative of a case because they need to win over the jury, not just the judge. The narrative of the case can almost be just as important as the evidence. Why are psychologists so interested in juries? Well, juries provide a wonderful demonstration of a lot of psychological theory and prediction. According to the study, “The manner in which jurors perceive, interpret, and remember evidence [...] can be described in terms of fundamental cognitive and social psychological concepts.” This includes the jury’s group processes in the course of the trial, which means you can compare theory and reality in a close-to-linear fashion. The study describes juries as a “real-world laboratory” for real and theoretical issues related to “reasoning, memory, judgment, decision-making, attribution, stereotyping, persuasion, and group behavior.” What does this mean for your case? Your attorney can use insights derived from psychologists to better understand how the public interprets evidence presented in court. Most jurors don’t have legal training when it comes to evidence. They’re everyday people who may not always have much understanding of legal proceedings. An attentive attorney will know how to present your evidence and strengthen your case. The attorneys at Dudley DeBosier work diligently in every field to win your case. If you need one of our expert lawyers, just give our office a call for your free case consultation.

Once your setup is complete, select your movie, get the popcorn popping, and enjoy some movie magic right in your backyard.

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Dealing With a Long Case? HOW TO HANDLE CASES WITH A LIFE SPAN OF YEARS

How can I relieve the stress of my case?

For those whose entire lives have changed in an instant, their personal injury cases can take an incredible amount of time to process. This stressful process can be daunting, especially considering that it can take years. So why does your case take so long, and how should you approach it?

Taking care of yourself during this time couldn’t be any more important. Wherever you can, you should try to afford yourself some space from your phone and shut off your mind from your case. Anything that gives you great

Why is my case taking so long?

comfort or nostalgic feelings, from watching a good TV show to making new or old recipes, can improve your mental health. Stress will only worsen your health, which is especially threatening to your physical recovery. Try to get a massage or soak in a bath to help with the stress and body tension, and do whatever it takes to enjoy the present moment as much as you can. Meditation and slow breathing, even while in the courtroom, can also help you relieve your body tension.

A city can only employ so many civil workers and judges; often, your case’s timeline is constricted by court calendars. This can affect the length of your case before you ever begin an actual trial, if no settlement can be made. Then, there’s evidence gathering. It’s important to gather as much accurate evidence as you can. But assembling documents, finding physical evidence, hiring experts to testify about the evidence, and talking to witnesses, can take months.

Having a great attorney can help take the pressure off. Pick an attorney that has had experience with your type of case. Don’t overthink your case and the details of the incident, which you no longer have control over; your attorney will be happy to do that for you.

Of course, if the two parties can’t work out a settlement, taking the case to trial will elongate the case’s life span. Though, how long it takes exactly will depend on its complexity.

Sudoku

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1075 Government St. Baton Rouge, LA 70802

Inside THIS ISSUE

Steven DeBosier’s Origin Story

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The Timeless Charm of the Drive-In Movie

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What Is Jury Psychology?

How to Deal With a Long Case

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How to Help Your Epiphytes Thrive

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All About Epiphytes

Because they are unique, your epiphyte houseplant needs specific care to thrive. Submerge the leaves of smaller air plants in a shallow bowl of water once a week for an hour (times may vary depending on your area’s humidity). Then, remove the plant from the water and let it dry upside down to remove excess moisture. If you choose to house your orchid or staghorn fern in a pot, use a soil specifically made for them and add some sphagnum moss to keep the roots aerated. Mist your plant every couple days and provide the leaves with a more thorough watering once a week to achieve the level of moisture they would receive in the rainforest while allowing the roots to breathe. You can also mount your epiphyte on a wood panel, as some orchid collectors do. True enthusiasts are very careful to match the wood with the type of tree the plant would grow on in the natural world, but driftwood, cork, and large pieces of bark work well too.

HOW TO CARE FOR YOUR ORCHIDS, AIR PLANTS, AND FERNS

Perched high in the trees in the rainforest, epiphytes reach for the drops of water that splash down from above. The plants take what they need and let the rest drip down to the forest floor. While these organisms originated in the wild, epiphytes like orchids, air plants, and staghorn ferns have become popular houseplants because of the unique, delicate greenery they bring to your space. Epiphytes are part of the Bromeliaceae family, a group that also includes terrestrial species like pineapples. The leaves of the plants in this family are arranged in a rosette, or circular shape, and they have tiny scales that help the plant absorb moisture and protect itself from harsh sunlight. Unlike many plants, epiphytes don’t take in all the water they need from their roots. They also absorb water and nutrients through their leaves. Their roots don’t grow in the dirt, either. Instead, they help these plants cling to the trees or other plants they naturally grow on. If you’ve ever seen a tree with another plant growing off of it at a botanical garden in a warmer, humid environment like Florida, that tag-along plant is an epiphyte.

Caring for your epiphyte properly will help your plant thrive and allow you to enjoy the tropical beauty of these unique organisms.

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