Tag: Court Of Public Opinion

A defendant’s public statements about a lawsuit should actually address the allegations in that…

Bottom line: Public statements about lawsuits that do not address the allegations in those lawsuits lack credibility and are not persuasive. Image credit: Ashford University Last week, California Attorney General Xavier Becerra announced that California was suing for-profit college Ashford University and its parent company Bridgepoint Education for allegedly engaging in unlawful business practices. The… Read More A defendant’s public statements about a lawsuit should actually address the allegations in that…

copostrategiesLeave a comment

District Attorney in the Penn State hazing case once again shows her public relations skills

Bottom line: The savviest prosecutors know how to engage the Court of Public Opinion. Defense attorneys should not allow prosecutors to do so unchallenged. The criminal case involving Penn State frat members whose alleged hazing of 19-year-old sophomore Timothy Piazza led to his death was back in the news this week. The news coverage of… Read More District Attorney in the Penn State hazing case once again shows her public relations skills

copostrategiesLeave a comment

Attorneys for former University of Louisville Athletic Director Tom Jurich played too much defense…

Bottom line: In the Court of Public Opinion, the best defense is always a good offense. Image credit: Andy Lyons/Getty Images After the FBI made public its federal bribery investigation during which it said it caught college coaches, Adidas employees, and college athletes in a network of bribes, the University of Louisville fired its star… Read More Attorneys for former University of Louisville Athletic Director Tom Jurich played too much defense…

copostrategiesLeave a comment

Trek Bicycle’s response to a new lawsuit against it concerning Chris Farley’s likeness might help…

Bottom line: One way to obtain the upper hand in the Court of Public Opinion is by pointing out adversaries’ inconsistencies among each other which may call into question their motives for a lawsuit. Image credit: Edie Baskin (Associated Press) Trek Bicycle is facing a new lawsuit filed by Make Him Smile, Inc., the company… Read More Trek Bicycle’s response to a new lawsuit against it concerning Chris Farley’s likeness might help…

copostrategiesLeave a comment

Paging Paula Deen: Discovery documents and testimony can be their own press releases

Bottom line: Documents and testimony unearthed during the discovery phase of a lawsuit can be newsworthy and pose problems for a litigant both in present and future legal disputes, and in the Court of Public Opinion. Image credit: Food Network When reporters cover lawsuits, they typically cover the filing of a complaint, developments in a trial,… Read More Paging Paula Deen: Discovery documents and testimony can be their own press releases

copostrategiesLeave a comment

Don’t be conflicted: Law firms that do not publicly respond to conflicts of interest lawsuits by…

Bottom line: Law firms sued by clients over conflicts of interest must respond publicly to such lawsuits because the suits’ allegations could call into question the firms’ loyalty and commitment to their clients. When an ex-client sues a law firm alleging that the firm had a conflict of interest and acted against that ex-client’s best… Read More Don’t be conflicted: Law firms that do not publicly respond to conflicts of interest lawsuits by…

copostrategiesLeave a comment

No one cares about your feelings: When commenting on a court decision, attorneys should talk about…

Bottom line: Using a public statement to describe the impact of a court decision may substantively and persuasively frame the issue for both the public and for an appellate court. Using such a statement to describe what the court did or how an attorney feels about it will do neither. Recently, the Pennsylvania Superior Court… Read More No one cares about your feelings: When commenting on a court decision, attorneys should talk about…

copostrategiesLeave a comment