Make Your Writing Easy To Read
Legal writing is most effective when it’s easy to understand. But writers often make the reader’s job harder than necessary. Here are some simple fixes: Omit extraneous detail. Consider whether exact dates, names, and other such details are important to your point. If not, omit
Emails With the Trial Judge
Before trial begins, the parties file proposed jury instructions and verdict forms. Those filings are crucial, but they are never the last word. During trial, instructions and verdict forms evolve—often significantly—through emails between counsel and the court. Those emails can be critical on appeal. The
AI: Fake Cases, Real Problems
AI can draft a plausible-sounding legal brief in minutes. It can also invent authorities in seconds. As AI tools become entrenched in legal practice, lawyers must remember that courts hold humans, not algorithms, responsible for what appears in a filed brief. Sanctions risk: We’ve all
The Perils of Special Verdict Forms
Wondering whether to use a special verdict for your trial? Here are some things to consider. Inconsistent findings require a new trial. Where the jury makes irreconcilable findings—as may happen when there are multiple causes of action with similar elements—there is no presumption in favor
What If You Win Your Appeal?
Appellate success only sometimes results in a final judgment in the appellant’s favor. Very often, the best-case scenario is more of a “mixed bag,” where a win would mean more litigation, would impact only some causes of action, or could not undo some harm already
Arbitration Appeals
Timing is everything; especially when determining the jurisdictional deadline to appeal. Appeals of arbitration-related orders present unique subtleties. The key rules are: Arbitrability. Orders denying arbitration must be immediately appealed, but do not automatically stay further proceedings in state court. On the other hand, orders compelling arbitration are
Prioritize for Persuasion
When drafting an appellant’s opening brief, it’s tempting to raise every conceivable error. But the most effective opening briefs identify the issues that matter most and present them in a logical structure that leads the court to the relief you are requesting. Here are some
Preserving Evidentiary Issues
An appellate argument that the trial court erred in admitting or excluding evidence requires a solid foundation in the trial court record. Your evidence. If the court is inclined to exclude your evidence, make an offer of proof that (1) describes the evidence in detail,
How Appeals Differ From Trial Court Proceedings
Most lawyers know that an “appeal is not a do-over.” But it’s crucial to understand just how fundamentally different the legal process is. In trial court, the questions are: “What happened, who is credible, and what, if any, remedy is available?” On appeal, the question
Time is Precious: Balancing Urgency & Quality
Unless the deadline is set by statute, writ relief can usually be sought within 60 days of the trial court’s order. But sometimes the order itself or other circumstances impose a much shorter, real-world deadline to obtain writ relief. For example, as a practical matter, an order
Who We Serve
Whether on appeal, assisting trial counsel, or advising government officials contemplating legislative action, GMSR provides unique insight into the complex laws that impact public entities.
GMSR represents insurers on appeal effectively and efficiently. We also collaborate with our clients and trial counsel on strategy for coverage, contribution and bad faith litigation before appeals begin.
GMSR offers corporate clients objective assessments on appeal, based on a deep understanding of the limitations and opportunities of appellate review.
The firm’s lawyers are team players, collaborating with trial counsel at any level from legal strategy to writing or editing trial court motions and appellate briefs.
GMSR vigorously advocates the rights of individual plaintiffs and defendants, in both state and federal appellate courts.
As part of GMSR’s long-standing commitment to social justice and equality, GMSR provides pro bono appellate services to individuals and to community organizations on issues of concern.
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